The ISA500 underwater altimeter from Impact Subsea is a key component in Cornell University’s Icefin autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), developed by the Planetary Habitability and Technology Lab.
Icefin is designed to operate beneath Antarctic ice shelves, supporting under-ice exploration and oceanographic research in freezing environments.
Designed specifically for deployment in these extreme environments, Icefin is engineered to pass through narrow boreholes drilled into Antarctic ice shelves, enabling detailed oceanographic surveys in the aphotic zone—regions where sunlight does not penetrate. The AUV carries a full suite of instruments while maintaining a compact footprint suited for under-ice access.
At the heart of its precision navigation and positioning capabilities is the ISA500 underwater altimeter, which provides:
- Range measurements exceeding 120 metres
- 1 mm-level measurement accuracy
- Integrated Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) for magnetic heading (±1°), pitch, and roll (±0.2°)
- High-resolution echogram output with up to 2,000 samples per ping
- Emulation compatibility with existing sensors and systems
- Multiple depth ratings, from 1,000 m to 11,000 m
Icefin uses the ISA500 to support under-ice altitude measurements, critical for safe operation in confined, glacial environments. The instrument’s reliability and accuracy contribute directly to research focused on monitoring ice coverage, melt rates, and subglacial dynamics—factors essential to understanding and modelling the effects of climate change in polar regions.
By facilitating consistent data collection beneath Antarctic ice shelves, the ISA500 is helping researchers refine projections of global sea level rise and develop science-based climate resilience strategies.
“We are honored that our ISA500 is contributing to such groundbreaking research,” said Ben Grant, Managing Director at Impact Subsea. “Our commitment to providing innovative solutions for underwater exploration aligns perfectly with the goals of the Icefin project.”
