Typical applications include: Drone-based bathymetric surveys River depth mapping Lake and reservoir surveys Shallow-water monitoring Waterway scour identification Submerged debris detection Navigation and obstacle avoidance Sediment movement monitoring Coastal and inland water surveys JBUAS particularly highlights the system for difficult-to-access, unsafe and hazardous locations where conventional boat or USV surveys may be less practical.

The ECT400S is a single-frequency, single-beam echosounder which uses acoustic pulses to measure water depth. It operates at 450 kHz and provides a narrow 5° conical beam, making it well suited to detailed shallow-water bathymetric surveys.

The ECT400S uses a single 450 kHz frequency and is primarily intended for water-depth measurement. The ECT D052S uses 50 kHz and 200 kHz and is better suited to applications where additional information about soft sediment and deeper subsurface material is required. JBUAS offers both systems as part of its UAV bathymetry range.

No. The ECT400S is a single-frequency bathymetric echosounder and is not designed as a dedicated sub-bottom profiler or sediment-layer measurement system. For surveys requiring information about soft sediment or organic deposits, a dual-frequency system such as the ECT D052S may be more appropriate.

The ECT400S has a specified measurement range up to 100 m at 450 kHz. However, it is primarily a shallow-water echosounder, and actual maximum operating depth will depend on the acoustic environment and survey conditions.

Yes. The manufacturer’s specified minimum range is approximately 0.15 m, while JBUAS gives approximately 0.3 m as a practical operating depth for its drone system. The actual minimum usable depth depends on the deployment configuration and water conditions.

Drone deployment allows bathymetric data to be collected in locations where boats or USVs may be difficult to operate. This can be particularly valuable for: Small or shallow water bodies Narrow rivers and channels Reservoirs Areas with restricted access Locations containing vegetation or debris Hazardous or difficult-to-access sites JBUAS states that drone bathymetry can make surveys significantly faster and more cost-efficient than conventional boat or USV approaches.

Yes. The ECT400S is designed for shallow-water surveying from surface platforms, including boats and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), as well as UAV-based deployments.

JBUAS lists an indicative ECT400S solution weight of approximately 2.1 kg, including the relevant UAV integration components. The sensor itself is considerably lighter; the final payload weight depends on the mounting, SkyHub and other components included in the configuration.

Yes. The ECT400S is suitable for UAV-mounted bathymetry and can be integrated with professional drone platforms. JBUAS lists compatibility with the DJI Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 350 RTK.

The ECT400S has a 5° conical beam width (-3 dB).

The system provides an altimeter range resolution of 1 mm, with water-column resolution of approximately 7.5 mm at the specified sampling rate. The practical accuracy of a bathymetric survey will also depend on positioning accuracy, sensor alignment, water conditions and the overall survey methodology.

The specified measurement range is approximately 0.15 m to 100 m. For practical UAV bathymetry, JBUAS specifies operation from approximately 0.3 m to 100 m, depending on conditions. Actual achievable depth depends on water conditions, seabed characteristics, acoustic noise and the survey configuration.

The ECT400S operates at a 450 kHz acoustic frequency. The relatively high frequency provides a narrow beam and good spatial detail for shallow-water surveys.

Yes. JBUAS can advise on demonstrations, system configuration and the most appropriate UAV bathymetry solution for your application. Need advice on drone bathymetry?
Contact JBUAS to discuss the Echologger ECT400S and whether a single-beam, dual-frequency or multibeam echosounder is best suited to your survey requirements.

Yes. JBUAS can provide the ECT400S together with UAV integration, UgCS SkyHub, mounting equipment, HydroMagic software and associated components as a complete drone bathymetry solution.

Yes. One of the key advantages of drone-based bathymetry is that the UAV can collect data without requiring survey personnel or a boat to enter the water. This can be particularly useful in unsafe, contaminated or otherwise difficult-to-access environments.

Yes. The ECT400S can be used for freshwater reservoir and lake bathymetry, particularly where using a boat is impractical or undesirable.

Yes. The compact UAV configuration makes it particularly useful for river-channel depth mapping, scour identification and submerged debris surveys.

The ECT400S is a Single Beam Echosounder (SBES), measuring depth beneath the sensor using one acoustic beam. A Multibeam Echosounder (MBES) uses multiple acoustic beams to measure a wider swath of the seabed during each pass. This provides considerably greater data density and is generally better suited to large-area, high-resolution seabed mapping. For targeted depth surveys, narrow waterways and smaller water bodies, an SBES such as the ECT400S can offer a simpler and more lightweight solution.

The specified operating temperature range is -10°C to +50°C.

The ECT400S has a maximum repetition/ping rate of 10 Hz.

The ECT400S is compatible with hydrographic software including HYPACK, HydroMagic, ReefMaster and HydroPro. JBUAS supplies the ECT400S with a HydroMagic software bundle as part of its integrated UAV bathymetry solution.

The ECT400S supports several data output formats, including: ASCII TXT NMEA0183 User-defined formats where supported The system also provides full water-column echo/backscatter data for suitable processing workflows.

Yes. When integrated with the UAV and SkyHub, depth measurements can be associated with the aircraft’s positioning information, allowing bathymetric data to be mapped geographically.

Yes. The ECT400S connects to UgCS SkyHub, which provides the onboard computing and sensor-integration interface for the UAV bathymetry system. The SkyHub workflow supports the ECT400 single-frequency echosounder.

Yes. When integrated with UgCS SkyHub, the ECT400S can provide a live data feed during UAV operations. This allows the operator to monitor the survey while the drone is flying rather than waiting until the operation is complete.

Yes. The ECT400S can incorporate an integrated temperature sensor with a resolution of 0.1°C.