Sofar Ocean Weather from Sofar_Ocean on Vimeo

# SPOTTER PLATFORM

## Hydrophone

Add a robust, AI-enabled hydrophone to your Spotter Platform to monitor and identify underwater sound in real time. Process data at the edge using built-in AI models or deploy your own algorithms for custom detection needs.

[**Explore Configuration**](https://spotter-configurator.sofarocean.com/?solution=spotter-sound&step=3)

### Sensor Specifications

[**Download the Spec Sheet**](https://5311899.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/5311899/Spec%20Sheets/Hydrophone_Spec%20Sheet.pdf)

| Sensor | Applied Ocean Sciences Borealis |
|--------|-------------------------------|
| Sensor Type | Piezoelectric |
| Frequency Range | 18 Hz – 25 kHz |
| Sensitivity | -203 dB re 1V/μPa |
| Self-Noise | < 31 dB re 1 μPa²/Hz |
| Power Consumption | 35 – 75 mW (mode dependent) |
| Sleep Power | < 5 mW in standby mode |
| Sampling Rates | 15k, 20.8k, 31.25k, 62.5k sps (configurable) |
| Directional Response | Omnidirectional |
| Pre-amp Gain | 26.4 dB before ADC |
| Bit Depth | 24-bit ADC (dithered to 16-bit logged) |
| Maximum Depth | 50 m |
| Power Supply | Spotter’s Li-ion battery (solar-rechargeable) |
| Operating Temperature | -5°C – 35°C |
| Size (Dia. × Len.) | ~51 mm × 254 mm |
| Weight | 0.85 kg (< 2 lb) |
| Interface Standard | Bristlemouth-native (plug-and-play) |

### Collection Modes

**Continuous**  
Always-on recording with scheduled data offload

**Duty Cycling**  
Record intermittently to extend battery/SD usage

**Event/Trigger**  
Automatic detection triggers high-resolution logging

### Data Outputs

**Waveform**  
Full acoustic waveform data for detailed analysis

**Spectral**  
Frequency domain data for sound characterization

**Event/Trigger**  
Timestamped acoustic events based on thresholds

**Sound Pressure Level (SPL)**  
Timestamped acoustic events based on thresholds

**Sound Exposure Level (SEL)**  
Cumulative sound energy measurements

## Deployment & Best Practices

**Configuration Options**  
Ideal for moored coastal deployments with one Spotter or a network. Integrate up to two more devices (e.g. pressure/current) per Smart Mooring (max 3 total).

**Depth Placement**  
Place hydrophone ≥ 5 m below surface to avoid noise interference.

**Remote Configuration & Controls**  
Direct control via Spotter Dashboard, binary/ASCII commands, and Sofar remote support.

[Explore Configuration](https://spotter-configurator.sofarocean.com/?solution=spotter-sound&step=3)

## Data Access & Analysis

**Spotter Dashboard** View real-time data and insights

**API Access** Retrieve data programmatically with our secure API

**Onboard Storage** Download data via SD card for offline analysis

**Transmission** Satellite and cellular options