Surfbee Flow Scout Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV)

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The Surfbee Flow Scout is a highly versatile unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed for discharge and bathymetric measurements in shallow and challenging water environments. Built for use with the SonTek M9 and RS5 ADCP systems, the Flow Scout offers precise, stable, and reliable performance in water depths as shallow as 14 cm.

With its three-thruster design, lateral movement capability, and autonomous mission control, the Flow Scout is ideal for environments where traditional survey vessels struggle — including narrow channels, low-flow systems, and windy conditions.

Built for Shallow Water Surveys

The Flow Scout is engineered for high-performance operation in shallow water, delivering stable navigation and precise ADCP data collection while maintaining exceptional manoeuvrability.

Key performance features include:

  • Maximum forward speed of 2 m/s

  • Lateral (sideways) movement up to 0.8 m/s

  • Minimum operating depth of 0.14 m

  • Dimensions: 1.35 m x 0.7 m x 0.1 m

  • Lightweight at 11 kg (excluding batteries)

  • Rugged inflatable hull for easy transport and storage

Advanced Autonomous Navigation

The Flow Scout uses the Surfbee App via the handheld transmitter to provide advanced autonomous boat control, allowing hydrographers to focus on data quality rather than vessel positioning.

Key capabilities include:

  • GPS-guided autonomous gauging

  • Waypoint navigation and mission planning

  • Stationary and moving boat ADCP measurements

  • Live onboard camera feed

  • Precise speed and route control from the handheld transmitter

Its ability to move both forwards and sideways allows the vessel to automatically correct for wind and changing flow conditions, helping maintain straight cross-sectional survey lines for improved data consistency.

Flexible Sensor Compatibility

While optimised for SonTek M9 and RS5 ADCP systems, the Flow Scout also supports custom payloads and compatibility with other systems such as the RDI RiverPro, offering greater flexibility across different survey requirements.

Safer & Smarter Workflows

By reducing the need for manual deployment in hazardous or difficult-to-access locations, the Flow Scout improves operator safety while enhancing measurement consistency and data quality.

Integrated positioning options include both differential corrections and RTK-GNSS, with shared position data between the USV and ADCP to streamline field workflows and improve measurement accuracy.

Flexible Deployment Options

The Flow Scout can be used with its onboard GNSS system for manual towed measurements, or with its full thruster system for autonomous surveys, giving users flexibility across a wide range of field applications.

Combining shallow-water capability, advanced manoeuvrability, and autonomous survey control, the Surfbee Flow Scout is a powerful solution for efficient, safe, and precise ADCP-based water monitoring.

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