The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a significant milestone with the launch of the Submersible Platform for Acoustic Characterisation and Evaluation (SPACE), a premier testing hub for sonar systems for the Indian Navy, in Kulamavu in Kerala's Idukki district.
Developed by the Naval Physical & Oceanographic Laboratory of the DRDO, the SPACE system comprises two distinct components - a floating platform on the water surface and a submersible platform that can be effortlessly lowered to any depth of up to 100 meters using advanced winch systems.
The SPACE will primarily be used for evaluating complete sonar systems, enabling quick deployment and easy recovery of scientific packages like sensors and transducers.
The technology will meet the demands for processing data and analyzing samples, which will further aid in surveying, sampling, and collecting data on air, surface, mid-water, and reservoir floor parameters using modern scientific instrumentation.
After finishing the operations, the submersible platform can be raised and docked with the floating platform.