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FarSounder, Inc. is a Providence, RI, based technology company incorporated in 2001. FarSounder's underwater acoustic technology provides mariners the ability to "see- ahead," underwater, in 3D, with simultaneous range, bearing and depth information. The technology is based on research begun at the University of Rhode Island's Department of Ocean Engineering and Ocean Technology Center with assis- tance from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. Over the last six years, FarSounder engineers have been developing a range of navigational sonar systems. FarSounder's tech- nology now makes it possible to image rocks, the sea floor, whales and other obstacles underwater similar to the way that radar detects obstacles above water. The company introduced the FS-3, its first commercial- ized product, in 2004. Its early customers included Superyachts and small cruise ships. Now that its reputa- tion has spread, sales of the navigation and obstacle avoid- ance sonars are global and systems have been installed in diverse places such as Singapore, Germany, Australia, Turkey and Vancouver. According to Cheryl Zimmerman, FarSounder's president, the company received a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the Department of Homeland Security to develop a low cost underwater threat detection system. FarSounder will design, build and operate a 3-D forward seeking sonar device that will locate divers and FarSounder technology helps to Look Out Below by Maggie L. Merrill FarSounder FS-3 sonar system being demonstrated for Phase 1 of and SBIR Proof of Demonstration for the Department of Homeland Security at Pier I at the Port of Quonset, Rhode Island in November 2005. (Photo Credit: Evan Lapisky) 26 MTR July 2006 MTR#6 (17-32).qxd 7/11/2006 8:50 AM Page 26
