Point Source Localization Sonar System and Method
First Claim
1. A point source localization sonar system comprising:
- a towed hydrophone array adapted to be towed behind a ship for receiving acoustic signals in water via a plurality of hydrophones and outputting acoustic array data;
a plurality of non-acoustic data sensors incorporated in said towed hydrophone array for measurement of forward and aft depth, heading, and temperature and for outputting non-acoustic array data;
a navigational interface on the ship for determining navigation data including heading, depth, speed, latitude, and longitude;
a communication link connecting said towed hydrophone array, said non-acoustic data sensors, and said navigational interface;
a matched-field processor capable of processing the acoustic array data into frequency-wave number data; and
a non-acoustic data processor including a bathymetry database and acoustic environmental model, said non-acoustic data processor capable of processing the non-acoustic array data and navigation data and extracting data from said bathymetry database and said acoustic environmental model to generate replica data.
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Abstract
A matched-field based sonar system and method of use that supports real-time, three-dimensional acoustic source localization using a mobile, horizontal array. The system receives and processes acoustic array, non-acoustic array, and own-ship navigational data in the matched-field process (MFP). Driven by own-ship and array status, a global bathymetry database and an acoustic environmental model are used to generate replicas for the MFP. If a three-dimensional tracker is assigned, then the tracker will steer the search region to maintain contact on the target of interest. Displays are provided to the user including tracker displays (which provide tracker information), MFP ambiguity surface displays (which support contact localization), and non-acoustic and navigational displays. A control interface allows a user to control the search region in bearing, range, depth, and frequency; assign the three-dimensional tracker function; and control display processing.
13 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A point source localization sonar system comprising:
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a towed hydrophone array adapted to be towed behind a ship for receiving acoustic signals in water via a plurality of hydrophones and outputting acoustic array data; a plurality of non-acoustic data sensors incorporated in said towed hydrophone array for measurement of forward and aft depth, heading, and temperature and for outputting non-acoustic array data; a navigational interface on the ship for determining navigation data including heading, depth, speed, latitude, and longitude; a communication link connecting said towed hydrophone array, said non-acoustic data sensors, and said navigational interface; a matched-field processor capable of processing the acoustic array data into frequency-wave number data; and a non-acoustic data processor including a bathymetry database and acoustic environmental model, said non-acoustic data processor capable of processing the non-acoustic array data and navigation data and extracting data from said bathymetry database and said acoustic environmental model to generate replica data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A point source localization sonar system comprising:
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a towed, horizontal array including acoustic sensors and non-acoustic sensors capable of providing acoustic and non-acoustic data; a shipboard navigational interface capable of providing own-ship data; an external interface for receiving the acoustic, non-acoustic, and own-ship data in real-time; a two-dimensional fast Fourier transform processor for processing said acoustic data; an acoustic data preparation processor capable of processing the acoustic data into frequency-wave number data; a non-acoustic data preparation processor capable of processing the non-acoustic and own-ship data to generate replica data; a global bathymetry database for providing ocean depth under own ship to said non-acoustic data preparation processor for processing the replica data; an acoustic environmental model capable of processing the replica data; a matched-field processor including a range-focused beamformer and a voxel interpolator, whereby said matched-field processor is capable of comparing frequency-wave number data with the replica data; an ambiguity surface collector capable of creating a composite surface; a three-dimensional tracker capable of accepting the composite surface and tracking a contact; a plurality of displays capable of providing target motion analysis (TMA) in real-time; and a communication link connected to said horizontal array, said navigational interface, said external interface, said fast Fourier transform processor, said acoustic data preparation processor, said non-acoustic data preparation processor, said global bathymetry database, said acoustic environmental model, said matched-field processor, said ambiguity surface collector, said tracker, and said plurality of displays. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of point-source localization comprising the steps of:
- receiving acoustic array, non-acoustic array, and own-ship navigational data continuously;
preparing frequency-wave number data;preparing replica data; determining sound speed at an array; providing a matched-field processor; processing frequency-wave number data and replica data in the matched-field processor in real time; preparing a composite surface; and tracking a contact. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- receiving acoustic array, non-acoustic array, and own-ship navigational data continuously;
Specification