Impact Subsea, a developer of underwater sensor technology for naval and security missions, outlines the continued development and global success of its ISS360 Imaging Sonar range, marking five years of sustained innovation in compact subsea imaging.
ISS360 Imaging Sonar.
The ISS360 was introduced in 2020, when it was said to be the world’s smallest scanning imaging sonar. It has since evolved into a high-definition system delivering navigation, obstacle avoidance, and target identification performance that exceeds many larger legacy scanning sonar systems used on Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs).
The ISS360 was originally designed to provide a step-change in capability for subsea vehicles, introducing inductive coupling to eliminate slip rings, one of the most common failure points in traditional scanning sonar designs.
Ongoing development has progressively expanded the platform’s performance and robustness. In 2021, a 6,000-meter depth-rated variant was released, featuring a Titanium housing and pressure-compensated components to support ultra-deepwater operations. The following year, Impact Subsea launched the ISS360HD, offering 1° acoustic angular resolution and 2.5 mm range resolution, enabling detailed target identification in zero-visibility conditions.
Enhancements in recent years have focused on integration and multi-sonar performance. In 2023, Impact Subsea made a free, open-source Software Development Kit (SDK) available via GitHub, allowing AUV developers and manufacturers to integrate the sonar directly into bespoke software environments. This enables custom interfaces and advanced vehicle autonomy.
In 2024, the company introduced the Impact Subsea Signalling Scheme (IS³), combining CHIRP with phase shift modulation and coding to reduce interference between sonars operating in close proximity. The same year also saw the release of the ISP360, expanding the product family with a profiling sonar option.
The ISS360 is positioned as an upgrade path for operators using discontinued or aging compact scanning sonars, offering higher performance across key metrics while maintaining a small form factor. Impact Subsea supports long-term system reliability through professional servicing. This includes maintaining seal integrity, O-rings, and calibration, ensuring performance throughout the sensor’s operational life.
Ben Grant, Managing Director at Impact Subsea, stated, “The ISS360 was designed to be a step-change in the miniature sonar market. Advanced acoustics enable excellent image clarity and by eliminating slip rings and utilising Titanium as standard, we provide a more physically resilient sonar. When combined with our expert service and support, the ISS360 offers a level of longevity and performance that was previously unavailable in a sonar of this size.”
Operational use in demanding environments demonstrates the maturity of the technology. The ISS360 has supported high-value recovery operations using ROVs in near-zero visibility, been integrated into REMUS AUVs for advanced obstacle avoidance, enabled high-precision reservoir inspections, and been incorporated into cable touchdown monitoring systems.
Impact Subsea confirms that development of the ISS360 and ISP360 ranges remains ongoing, with further enhancements expected in 2026, reflecting the company’s long-term commitment to advancing compact, high-performance subsea imaging sonar technology.
