6000 meters of reliability

Development, prototype build and sea test of an advanced 24 bit digital acoustic array, in a 2" diameter package, was completed in only 18 months. The array features much improved and simplified handling since 100 meter section takes considerably less volume when on the deck of a ship, tows with less tension and weighs less than half of existing 3" diameter arrays. Reliability and availability predictions indicate outstanding field deployment at system maturity. Although several classic lessons were re-learned, the development effort was completely successful and a fully functional prototype array (C-MUX I) was achieved. Design enhancements have already been completed, prototyped and tested-resulting in an improved array (C-MUX II) which is ready for production. The array will also be available in an optional configuration (C-MUX III) which concentrates the electronics in a single can for each 100 meter section-replacing the 10 individual cans of electronics distributed throughout each section of the C-MUX I and C-MUX II arrays.