Future of Aviation Pingers
UVS distributes a complete line of proven underwater locator products provided by Teledyne Benthos. These locator locator devices fall into two general categories: pingers and transponders. To locate and recover pingers, a diver with a handheld device can “listen” for, and home-in on the device. The ELP-362D Emergency Locator Beacon model of pinger is a water-activated acoustic beacon designed for use on aircraft flight recorders.
Transponders, unlike pingers, remain idle until “interrogated” by either a diver with a handheld device or by a shipboard unit. When the transponder is interrogated it transmits range and bearing data. The diver or shipboard unit simply follows (ranges) the signal emitted by the transponder to locate it.
Pingers are now in use for applications such including speedboat racers who put them in their pockets in case of a fatal crash, said Justin Manley, director of business development for Teledyne Benthos. “Extended battery life on today’s pingers (up to 90 days) is basically ready for prime time,” Manley said. “It’s not a technology problem.”
