Acoustic Technology & Product Options
SMELTS works closely with leading acoustic technology partners to deliver reliable, interoperable systems that meet the real-world demands of ropeless fishing and marine research. Through open collaboration and shared engineering goals, these partnerships have helped shape a high-quality, field-proven solution we are proud to stand behind. By collaborating with industry leaders, we believe meaningful progress is possible in regards to reducing harm, improving reliability, and advancing sustainable marine operations for all.
Teledyne Marine is a global leader in underwater acoustic communication technology, recognized for developing advanced acoustic modems that enable reliable control and high-rate data transfer in environments where traditional wireless communication is not possible. Their systems are used worldwide across marine research, offshore operations, defense, and fisheries, providing dependable subsea connectivity while eliminating the cost, complexity, and risk associated with physical cables. This foundation of robust underwater communication has made their technology a natural fit for integration with SMELTS Lift-Raft and Science-Raft platforms.
Any SMELTS Lift-Raft or Science-Raft system can be optioned with Teledyne's acoustic modem technology, enabling bidirectional subsea communication and system-level data exchange during deployment and recovery operations. The modem supports transmission of operational parameters such as depth, temperature, system status, and power metrics, while also allowing coordinated communication between multiple subsea assets. This capability enables more sophisticated deployment strategies and lays the groundwork for networked underwater systems, an increasingly important concept in distributed sensing, adaptive fisheries operations, and subsea research workflows.
Teledyne provides multiple topside control solutions to accommodate a range of operational environments and vessel classes. For shallow-water and coastal operations, a compact deck-based control unit with a dunking transducer offers a straightforward, field-proven interface for issuing commands, monitoring release status, and managing power states. For more advanced applications, a portable topside system integrates acoustic positioning, command logging, and onboard processing into a self-contained interface capable of operating independently of external computing hardware. These systems support asset ranging, bearing determination, and data logging, enabling precise gear marking and post-mission analysis under varying acoustic conditions.
At the highest level of integration, Teledyne has developed a fully embedded chartplotter-based acoustic control system that consolidates subsea command, positioning, and asset management within the vessel’s navigation environment. This approach allows operators to deploy, interrogate, and recover subsea systems directly from the helm, reducing operational complexity while improving situational awareness. Collaboration between SMELTS and Teledyne has focused on ensuring interoperability, operational reliability, and real-world usability, supporting both commercial fisheries and scientific missions through systems designed to function cohesively within modern marine technology stacks rather than as isolated components.
EdgeTech is a globally recognized manufacturer of underwater technology systems, with decades of experience delivering high-reliability instrumentation for oceanographic research, subsea survey, and marine operations. With a product portfolio that spans side-scan sonar, sub-bottom profiling, bathymetry, autonomous platforms, and acoustic release systems, EdgeTech has established itself as a trusted supplier for organizations that require dependable performance in demanding underwater environments. Their systems are widely deployed to support survey operations, scientific research, and the protection of underwater critical infrastructure worldwide.
EdgeTech’s 5112 Acoustic Release for on-demand fishing has emerged as a widely adopted solution due to its balance of affordability, durability, and ease of use. Designed with direct input from commercial lobster fishermen, the system was developed to deploy and fish like conventional gear while eliminating vertical lines that pose entanglement risk to marine mammals. SMELTS systems leverage this same proven acoustic foundation, integrating the 5112 release with patented Lift-Raft technology to enhance lifting performance, reliability, and adaptability across a broader range of fisheries and operating conditions.
EdgeTech also provides multiple topside communication options that integrate seamlessly with modern fishing workflows. These include an in-hull mounted acoustic transceiver and a portable deck-based Bluetooth Low Energy unit, both of which interface with the TrapTracker application to enable GPS-based gear marking and position logging. Ongoing collaboration between SMELTS and EdgeTech has focused on refining these workflows, improving operational efficiency, and continuing to optimize system performance through iterative development. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing ropeless fishing technology in a way that supports conservation goals while remaining practical, reliable, and accessible for working fishermen.
MASSA Products Corporation is a foundational leader in electroacoustics, with more than 80 years of experience designing and manufacturing sonar and ultrasonic systems for marine, industrial, and defense applications. Founded by Frank Massa, the company’s work has shaped much of the acoustic technology in use today, supported by an extensive patent portfolio and deep in-house engineering and manufacturing expertise.
SMELTS is currently collaborating with MASSA on the development of the TrawlBlazer, designed to support intuitive, robust operation within ropeless fishing and subsea deployment. Leveraging Massa’s unmatched understanding of transducer physics and application-specific design, this effort is focused on delivering a system that prioritizes reliability, simplicity, and long-term serviceability. Development is ongoing, with the shared goal of producing a practical, field-ready solution that integrates seamlessly into SMELTS platforms while advancing sustainable marine operations.
Overall Dimensions
24" x 16.5" x 10.5"
Tank Capacity / Max Pressure
26 Cubic Feet / 3000 PSI
Lift-Bag Buoyancy
185 Lbs
Reccomended Deployment Depth
30 Fathoms
Apparent Weight
~85 lbs
Acoustic Options
EdgeTech | Teledyne
1003 Iowa Heights Road
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284
360-303-9388
info@smelts.org