Baywei M4 Multibeam Sonar
Baywei M4 Multibeam Sonar
Standalone sonar for survey-platform integration
Baywei M4 is a standalone multibeam echo sounder designed for shallow-water bathymetry and integration into small survey vessels, ASVs and USVs. Its streamlined housing and compact footprint make it a practical choice for integrators who already have a navigation solution or need to select positioning and motion sensors independently. The sonar forms 512 receive beams across a sector of up to 130 degrees and provides bathymetry and side-scan outputs.
Unlike an integrated GNSS/INS model, M4 needs external position, attitude and heading measurements to produce a complete georeferenced survey. Accurate time synchronisation is also essential: the topside unit requires an NMEA ZDA timing message through its serial interface and a one-pulse-per-second signal through the BNC connection. This separation gives the integrator flexibility, but sensor alignment, offsets and timing must be managed as part of the installation.
Applications and survey workflow
M4 is suitable for rivers, lakes, sheltered coastal waters and engineering surveys from compact platforms. University teams can also use it in robotics, hydrography and underwater mapping projects. Equal-distance and equal-angle beam distributions let the operator adapt sounding coverage to the task. A narrower sector concentrates the available beams, while vessel speed and depth determine how densely successive survey lines sample the bottom.
Installation and data quality
Mount the sonar rigidly and away from engines, thrusters, air bubbles and turbulent flow. The head-mounted sound-velocity probe supports beam steering; separate water-column profiles are needed for ray tracing and should be collected as conditions change. Baywei data can be handled in established acquisition and processing packages including HYPACK, Qinsy, BeamworX and SonarWiz. The stated range and ping rate describe sonar performance limits, not a guarantee of survey accuracy under every installation or water condition.
Technical specifications
| Swath | 130° |
|---|---|
| Receive beams | 512 |
| TX / RX beam width | 1.45° / 1° ±0.1° |
| Measuring range | Up to 200 m |
| Range accuracy | <10 mm |
| Pressure rating | 60 m |
| Ping rate | 50 Hz |
| Navigation | External position, attitude and heading sensors |
| Timing | NMEA ZDA + 1PPS |
| Weight including bracket | 3.4 kg in air; 1.1 kg in water |
| Outputs | Bathymetry and side scan |