HUNTSVILLE, Texas, April 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitcham
Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: MIND) ("Mitcham" or "the Company") today
announced that Klein Marine Systems, a division of Mitcham, has
developed a revolutionary, new, patent-pending technology called
MA-X that is anticipated to redefine ocean imaging.
Traditional side scan sonar imaging creates a nadir gap in the
center of the image. This gap in data requires overlapping
survey lines which leads to significant additional survey time to
achieve 100% coverage. For the operators of autonomous
underwater vehicles ("AUV"), this translates into extended mission
duration. Traditional "gap-filler" solutions tend to be expensive
or of low image quality. A cost-effective gap-filler solution
has long been sought by the industry.
MA-X is essentially the next generation of side scan sonar whose
arrays are physically mounted at an angle relative to the towfish
or AUV platform. In this way, each narrow fan-beam is oriented at a
downward and forward-grazing angle, resulting in an acoustic
track over the sea bottom that starts from the port and starboard
side and extends diagonally forward across the nadir ahead of the
platform. MA-X allows for seamless imaging of the entire
swath, including the nadir area. Klein believes this technology
will provide unmatched image quality and an estimated 40% increase
in the coverage rate and survey efficiency (i.e. fuel, survey
time).
Guy Malden, Co-CEO of Mitcham
Industries, commented, "In our opinion, MA-X represents a paradigm
shift in seafloor imaging. We believe it to be a cost-effective,
attractive and low-risk gap-filling sonar solution, capable of
being immediately adopted on AUVs of all sizes – even in
conjunction with other manufacturers' sonars, including SAS. This
MA-X technology should provide Klein with an attractive value
proposition and the ability to rapidly expand its penetration of
the AUV and towed side scan sonar market."
The immediate benefits to the users of the MA-X technology, both
military and commercial, are shorter survey time and more
predictable surveys in windows of good weather. For AUV
operators, this translates into either longer autonomy or smaller
size battery, i.e., lower cost or more payload space. In addition,
the MA-X imagery has the same interpretative characteristics as
side scan images (grazing angle, shadows) and therefore, no
operator re-training is needed.
MA-X-based products will continue to output Klein's SDF data
format and will be compatible with major third-party imaging
software applications, including automatic target recognition
software. The MA-X technology will be introduced in a variety
of Klein products, including both towed systems and payloads for
autonomous platforms.
About Mitcham Industries
Mitcham Industries, Inc. provides technology to the
oceanographic, hydrographic, defense, seismic and security
industries. Headquartered in Huntsville, Texas, Mitcham has a global
presence with operating locations in the
United States, Canada,
Singapore, Malaysia, Hungary, Colombia and the United Kingdom. Mitcham's worldwide Marine
Technology Products segment, which includes its Seamap and Klein
Marine Systems units, designs, manufactures and sells specialized,
high performance, marine sonar and seismic equipment. Through its
Equipment Leasing segment, Mitcham believes it is the largest
independent provider of exploration equipment to the seismic
industry.
Contacts:
|
Rob Capps,
Co-CEO
|
|
Mitcham Industries,
Inc.
|
|
936-291-2277
|
|
|
|
Jack Lascar / Mark
Roberson
|
|
Dennard Lascar
Investor Relations
|
|
713-529-6600
|
View original
content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mitcham-industries-announces-revolutionary-new-patent-pending-technology-that-could-redefine-ocean-imaging-300825825.html
SOURCE Mitcham Industries, Inc.