Ross Laboratories has been a leader in the design and manufacture of depth sounding equipment for over 50 years. Begun in 1953 the company produced the first compact depth sounder that was small enough to fit on both pleasure and commercial fishing boats. This was the first of many innovative products that has helped to maintain Ross Laboratories position as a leader in the marine electronics industry.
Today the company operates in a 15,000 square foot facility on the shores of Lake Union in Seattle, Washington. Moored near the office is the company’s 75 foot research vessel “Golden Dolphin” which is used for testing new products and demonstrating equipment to potential customers. Nearby Puget Sound provides over 900 feet (275m) of water allowing an ideal proving ground for new equipment.
Ross became involved in hydrographic survey in 1969 when along with NOAA and Digital Equipment Corp., they helped interface the first depth digitizer to an on board computer. This new system was installed on the NOAA ship Whiting at Norfolk, Virginia.
In 1977 the first multi-channel sweep systems were delivered to the Canadian Dept. Of Public Works and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers- Portland District. These systems dramatically increased the degree of bottom detail and information that could be collected in a very short time. Today these systems are available on a small 25 foot (8m) trailerable boat for fast response to shoaling areas on the inland waterways.
In 1994 Ross introduced the model 850 Smart Sounder, a paperless depth sounder that replaced conventional recording paper with an optical WORM drive that stores a digital representation of the actual analogue soundings for later review and editing.
Since the development of the 850, five models of single beam sounders with full color screens and USB data download are available along with both portable and fixed mount multi channel sweep systems. All have been accepted and used by surveyors around the world.
In 2006 Ross Laboratories received an Export Achievement Award from the Dept. of Commerce U.S. Commercial Services section for its effort in promoting international sales of its products.