FS 1616 Unmanned Platforms Echosounder/Altimeter | Frankstar,
446kHz echosounder, automatic gain echosounder, AUV echosounder altimeter, DC power echosounder, digital signal processing echosounder, echosounder for fixed platform, FS 1616 echosounder, glider echosounder, low power echosounder, miniature echosounder for ROV, ROV altimeter sensor, ultra-shallow water survey echosounder, underwater height measurement sensor, unmanned platform altimeter, unmanned platforms echosounder altimeter,

Feature

Small size, light weight
2.8 million sets of measurements
Configurable sampling period

USB Data Download

Pressure calibration before water entry

Technical Parameter

Housing material: POM
Housing pressure: 350m
Power: 3.6V or 3.9V disposable lithium battery
Communication mode: USB
Storage space: 32M or 2.8 million sets of measurements
Sampling frequency: 1Hz/2Hz/4Hz
Sampling period: 1s-24h.

Clock drift: 10s / year

Pressure range：20m、50m、100m、200m、300m
Pressure accuracy：0.05%FS
Pressure resolution：0.001%FS

Temperature range：-5-40℃
Temperature accuracy：0.01℃
Temperature resolution：0.001℃

Contact us for a brochure! 

Product Overview. The FS 1616 Unmanned Platforms Echosounder/Altimeter is a miniature echosounder from Frankstar designed specifically for unmanned vehicles. It operates at 446 kHz, a frequency intended for survey work in ultra-shallow waters down to 0.3 m. Because the unit is compact and straightforward to deploy, it suits a range of unmanned platforms, including underwater ROV, AUV, glider, and fixed platform installations. Its core role is to measure the height of the platform above the water bottom, supporting protection of flying equipment during operation. The design reflects a practical focus on small size, simple integration, and dependable acoustic performance. Frequency and depth rating can be customized to match specific customer requirements, allowing the instrument to be adapted to different mission profiles rather than applied as a fixed, one-size-fits-all solution.

Why Unmanned Platforms Need a Dedicated Altimeter. Unmanned systems rarely have room to spare. Every sensor must justify its space, power budget, and data contribution. The FS 1616 is engineered around that reality. Its compact structure simplifies mechanical integration, while DC power supply support with wide voltage input and low power consumption helps extend operational endurance. For ROV, AUV, glider, and fixed platform operators, those characteristics matter because they influence mission duration, battery planning, and the overall complexity of the vehicle architecture. When a platform must know its height above the bottom, a dedicated echosounder altimeter provides the direct measurement needed to maintain safe clearance and support controlled flight or positioning. The FS 1616 is intended for exactly this function.

Performance Through Signal Processing. Accurate survey data depends on more than the acoustic pulse alone. The FS 1616 uses new digital signal processing technology and optimized automatic gain to make surveying more accurate and reliable. These elements work together to support consistent returns in challenging shallow-water conditions, where strong bottom reflections and rapid depth changes can complicate measurement. Optimized automatic gain helps the system manage varying signal strength without requiring constant manual intervention, while digital signal processing contributes to cleaner interpretation of the returned echo. For research teams and technical buyers, the value is a measurement chain built for repeatable shallow-water work rather than a raw acoustic component alone.

Ultra-Shallow Water Capability. The 446 kHz operating frequency is suited to survey in 0.3 m ultra-shallow waters. This is a demanding environment for acoustic instruments because the distances involved are short and the window for a clean return is narrow. The FS 1616 addresses that environment directly. Whether the platform is a small ROV inspecting a shallow littoral zone, an AUV running a low-altitude track, a glider operating near the surface layer, or a fixed platform that needs to know its height above the bottom, the instrument’s stated shallow-water survey capability gives operators a defined operating envelope to plan around. Buyers evaluating sensors for shallow survey should treat the 0.3 m figure as the published starting point for the product’s intended range, with custom frequency and depth rating available for other requirements.

Platform Integration and Deployment. Deployment convenience is a consistent theme in the FS 1616 design. The structure is more compact than conventional echosounder arrangements, and it is easy to deploy on unmanned platforms. That flexibility supports several installation styles. On an underwater ROV, the unit can serve as an altimeter to maintain a known height above the bottom during inspection or survey tasks. On an AUV, it supports low-altitude navigation and terrain-relative movement. On a glider, low power consumption is especially relevant because energy is at a premium over long missions. On a fixed platform, the echosounder/altimeter can provide ongoing height measurement between the platform and the water bottom. Across all these cases, the product’s role is consistent: measure the height of the platform to the bottom of the water to protect flying equipment.

Buyer Value and Selection Considerations. For marine researchers, offshore operators, environmental monitoring teams, distributors, and technical buyers, the FS 1616 offers a focused set of attributes rather than broad, unspecified claims. It is miniature, intended for unmanned vehicles, rated for 446 kHz, capable of survey in 0.3 m ultra-shallow waters, and designed for DC power supply with wide voltage and low power consumption. It employs new digital signal processing and optimized automatic gain for more accurate and reliable survey results. It is compact and easy to deploy across underwater ROV, AUV, glider, and fixed platform installations. Frequency and depth rating can be customized on request. These are the documented characteristics on which a technical evaluation should be based. Distributors may find the product useful for customers seeking a small-form-factor altimeter for unmanned systems, while end users should map the published capabilities against their platform’s power, space, and mission requirements.

Customization for Specific Requirements. Not every unmanned platform operates under the same conditions. That is why frequency and depth rating can be customized according to customer requirements. Customization allows a buyer to discuss a configuration that better matches a particular vehicle, survey depth range, or mission objective, rather than forcing an application into a standard specification. For project teams planning a deployment, this opens a direct line of communication with Frankstar about how the FS 1616 can be adapted. Because customization is stated as an available option, the appropriate next step is to share the intended application, platform type, and required operating parameters so that the right configuration can be discussed.

A Restrained Note on Applications. The FS 1616 is positioned for unmanned platforms and for measuring platform height above the water bottom. Its documented applications include underwater ROV, AUV, glider, and fixed platform use, with shallow-water survey as a stated capability. Prospective buyers should evaluate the product against their own mission requirements and confirm configuration details directly with Frankstar. No claim beyond the official product information should be assumed.

Contact Frankstar. If the FS 1616 Unmanned Platforms Echosounder/Altimeter appears relevant to your ROV, AUV, glider, or fixed platform project, contact Frankstar to discuss your application and customization requirements. Sharing your platform type, intended operating conditions, and any specific frequency or depth rating needs will help the team respond with suitable product information and next steps.