CHCNAV Apache 3 Single Beam Bathymetric Survey USV
The Apache 3 is a portable, shallow-draft survey boat with an integrated single-beam echosounder for lakes, rivers, reservoirs and coastal areas.
Dual GNSS for position and heading, an IMU and 4G let it follow pre-planned lines autonomously – even in current – while one person runs the whole survey from an Android controller.
Key features
- Rugged carbon hull – 10 MPa strength, 60% better impact resistance, 30% lighter.
- One-person operation – Car-portable, launched and run by one surveyor.
- Long endurance – Up to 7 h at 1.5 m/s; recharged in 3 h; hot-swap batteries.
- GNSS + IMU – Position and attitude compensate for hull motion.
- EasySail on Android – Plan, drive, log and process – no laptop needed.
- Aluminium motor guard – Twice-as-strong guard protects the motors.
At a glance
- 7 h @ 1.5 m/s, one battery set
- 6 m/s top speed
- 10 cm static draft
- ±1 cm +0.1% D sounding
- 0.1° dual-GNSS heading
- IP67 carbon-fibre hull
Supplied, installed and supported by LATNET in Calgary. Contact us for pricing.
See it in action – videos
- Authorized CHCNAV dealer in Canada
- Setup, training & local support from our Calgary geomatics team
- Shipped across Canada from Calgary
- See it before you buy – live demo or rental available
Technical Specifications & Features
CHCNAV Apache 3 USV
CHCNAV Apache 3 – one-person single-beam survey boat
The Apache 3 is a portable, shallow-draft survey boat with an integrated single-beam echosounder for lakes, rivers, reservoirs and coastal areas.
Dual GNSS for position and heading, an IMU and 4G let it follow pre-planned lines autonomously – even in current – while one person runs the whole survey from an Android controller.
Load it in the car, launch it from the shore
The 30% lighter carbon-fibre hull, removable wheels and hot-swap batteries make the Apache 3 easy for one person to transport and deploy. The adaptive sounding algorithm and attitude correction keep depths reliable over changing riverbeds. In Alberta, RTK corrections can come from the LATNET RTK network over 4G. See how single-beam, multibeam and ADCP surveys work in our 3D animations.
Why choose the Apache 3
Rugged carbon hull
10 MPa strength, 60% better impact resistance, 30% lighter.
One-person operation
Car-portable, launched and run by one surveyor.
Long endurance
Up to 7 h at 1.5 m/s; recharged in 3 h; hot-swap batteries.
GNSS + IMU
Position and attitude compensate for hull motion.
EasySail on Android
Plan, drive, log and process – no laptop needed.
Aluminium motor guard
Twice-as-strong guard protects the motors.
Lighter and stronger carbon fibre
A one-piece moulded, high-modulus carbon-fibre hull reaches 10 MPa strength with 60% better impact resistance – and weighs 30% less than before. A redesigned aluminium guard protects the motors.
Compact enough for any vehicle
At 20 kg without battery and with removable land wheels, the Apache 3 goes from car to water in minutes, cutting crew size and cost for small-water surveys.
Up to 7 hours on one battery set
A 1000 W brushless motor reaches 7200 RPM for a 6 m/s top speed. A built-in power balancing module avoids wasted energy, giving up to 7 hours at 1.5 m/s and a full recharge in under 3 hours.
Dual GNSS, IMU and adaptive sounding
Integrated GNSS and IMU sensors supply position and attitude to compensate for hull motion. The next-generation depth algorithm adapts its parameters to dynamic riverbeds and difficult water. In Alberta, RTK corrections can come from the LATNET RTK network over 4G.
Everything on one Android controller
The 10″ remote controller runs EasySail for real-time video, parameter monitoring, route planning, data logging and processing – over 4G with unlimited range or the 1.5 km radio link.
Compare CHCNAV Apache survey boats (USVs)
Five carbon-fibre, triple-hull unmanned survey boats – from a one-person single-beam boat to a multibeam platform for near-shore work.
| Apache 3 | Apache 3 Pro | Apache 4 | Apache 4 Pro | Apache 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Low-cost single-beam bathymetry | Single-beam under bridges, weedy water | ADCP discharge + multibeam | All-round: depth, flow, water quality | Multibeam + LiDAR, near-shore |
| Size | 1080 × 555 × 380 mm | 1080 × 555 × 380 mm | 1280 × 720 × 420 mm | 1280 × 720 × 420 mm | 1670 × 1000 × 510 mm |
| Weight / payload | 20 kg / 35 kg | 21 kg / 35 kg | 30 kg / 40 kg | 29.6 kg / 50 kg | 46.5 kg / 60 kg |
| Endurance | 7 h @ 1.5 m/s | 10 h @ 1.5 m/s | 10 h @ 1.5 m/s | 10 h @ 1.5 m/s | 6 h @ 2 m/s |
| Top speed | 6 m/s | 7 m/s | 6.5 m/s | 6.5 m/s | 6 m/s |
| Draft | 10 cm | 10 cm | 8.6 cm | 8.6 cm | 7.5 cm |
| Sensors | D270 single-beam | D270, GNSS RTK + INS | D270 + ADCP / HQ-400 / side-scan | D270 + ADCP / HQ-400 / SVP kit | D270 + Norbit multibeam / iLiDAR / SVP |
| Sea state | Wind 3, wave 2 | Wind 3, wave 2 | Wind 3, wave 2 | Wind 3, wave 2 | Wind 6, wave 4 |
| Apache 3 | Apache 3 Pro | Apache 4 | Apache 4 Pro | Apache 6 |
Where it works
Reservoir volume
Capacity and sedimentation surveys.
Channel surveys
Navigation channels and canals.
River cross-sections
Repeatable profiles.
Emergency response
Fast surveys after floods.
CHCNAV Apache 3 technical specifications
| Hull | 1080 × 555 × 380 mm |
|---|---|
| Material | High-strength, high-modulus carbon fibre, HPT one-piece moulding |
| Weight (no battery) | 20 kg |
| Maximum payload | 35 kg |
| Hull design | M-type triple hull |
| Draft | 10 cm |
| Waterproof | IP67 |
| Camera | 360° omnidirectional video |
| Obstacle avoidance | 0.2–40 m, 112° H × 14° V |
| Wind / wave | Level 3 wind, level 2 waves |
| Transport | Removable land-assist wheels |
| Motor | Brushless DC, 1000 W, 7200 RPM, pluggable; steering by differential thrust |
|---|---|
| Battery | 32.4 V, 23.1 Ah Li-ion, hot-swap, single or dual |
| Endurance | 7 h @ 1.5 m/s (1 battery set, expandable) |
| Charging time | 3 h |
| Maximum speed | 6 m/s |
| GNSS | BDS B1I/B2I/B3I · GPS L1C/A/L2C/L5 · Galileo E1/E5a/E5b · GLONASS L1/L2 · QZSS L1/L2/L5 (internal dual antenna) |
|---|---|
| RTK accuracy | H ±(8 mm + 1 ppm) · V ±(15 mm + 1 ppm) |
| DGNSS / single point | H ±(0.4 m + 1 ppm) / 1.5 m · V ±(0.8 m + 1 ppm) / 2.5 m |
| Heading | 0.1° @ 1 m baseline |
| Inertial navigation | 6°/h; 200 Hz IMU (≈1 m drift after 20 s outage) |
| Radio protocols | Satel 3AS, CHC, TT450, Transparent |
| Echosounder | Integrated CHCNAV D270 single-beam, 200 kHz, 5° beam |
|---|---|
| Sounding range | 0.1–200 m |
| Accuracy | ±0.01 m + 0.1% × depth |
| Resolution | 0.01 m |
| Sampling rate | 30 Hz |
| Sound velocity | 1400–1700 m/s, water temperature sensor –55 to +100 °C |
| Remote controller | 10″ 1920 × 1200 Android, 4 GB RAM / 64 GB, 5 h battery, 2.4 GHz |
|---|---|
| Communication | Standard 4G and remote control; 1.5 km radio, unlimited over 4G |
| Interfaces | 2 × RJ45, 2 × RS232, Nano SIM |
| Navigation | Manual or autopilot; local and remote data storage |
| Software | EasySail: route planning, autonomous navigation, 360° video, waveform overlay, attitude correction, export over USB/Type-C |
Apache 3 FAQ
What waters can the Apache 3 survey?
Lakes, inland rivers, reservoirs and coastal areas, including shallow water – it drafts only 10 cm.
How far can I control it?
Up to 1.5 km by radio (controller held at least 1.5 m above the water), and unlimited distance over 4G.
How long does it run?
Up to 7 hours at 1.5 m/s on one battery set, with hot-swap batteries and a 3-hour recharge.
Apache 3 or Apache 3 Pro?
The Apache 3 Pro adds GNSS+INS for under-bridge accuracy, an anti-entanglement motor guard, a 7 m/s top speed and 10 h endurance.
Get the Apache 3 from LATNET
Buy or rent the Apache 3 with training, RTK corrections and processing support from our Calgary team.
Request a quoteAll hydrographic productsApache 3 USV
Compact, high-performance marine drone with single beam echosounder and GNSS/INS technology for a wide range of hydrographic survey applications.
