Harbor approach-defense embedded system

• US 5,138,587 A
• Filed: 06/27/1991
• Issued: 08/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Mason, Russell I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US07/722,582
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 367/87, 367/93, 367/80, 367/11, 367/135, 367/136
• US Class Current: 367/136
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/89 for mapping or imaging

Abstract

Acoustically mapping (fingerprinting) the main channel, or `Q` routes, of aarbor, over relatively long time periods by using transducers anchored near the harbor or Q route floor. Sonar pulse returns are processed so that echoes from acoustic targets are constantly monitored and integrated over long periods of time. The integrated sonar data are used to establish a characteristic bottom-image map for the presence and location of permanent objects such as debris, underwater formations and the like. The long term, integrated record is obtained to establish a reliable acoustic fingerprint or reference mapping of the bottom. This acoustical record or map, which is quite stable over long periods of time, is used to compare newly detected acoustic variances from the established map. A combination of active and passive acoustic sensors that are installed at fixed positions submerged in the channel permit the determination of both range and bearing when an intruding object has been detected.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the presence of intrusive objects in a harbor, comprising:

a plurality of sonar pulse generator and transmitter units submerged in fixed positions in the harbor;

a plurality of sonar pulse sensors submerged in fixed positions in the harbor;

first means, coupled to the pulse sensors, for integrating over a time period of at least about one minute, pulses which originate from the pulse generator and transmitter units, and are sensed by the pulse sensors; and

second means, coupled to the first means, for continually generating an acoustical image map of the harbor from the integrated pulses, whereby the presence of a newly introduced stationary object is manifested as a change on the image map.

2. The system of claim 1, including third means, cooperating with the second means, for comparing a reference image map generated from pulses integrated over a relatively long period of time of at least one hour with a variances image map generated from pulses integrated over a relatively short period of time of at least one minute.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each sonar pulse generator and transmitter unit is coupled at the same location with one echo sensor, to form an active sensor station.

4. The system of claim 3, including a shore terminal station coupled to each of the active sensor stations, and wherein second means is located in the shore terminal station.

5. The system of claim 3, including

a plurality of passive sound sensors submerged in fixed, distributed locations in the harbor different from the locations of the active sensor stations, ea said passive sensor including means for generating a signal commensurate with the sensed sound;

and

wherein the second means, for generating an acoustic image map, is responsive to the signals generated by the passive sound sensors.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the active sensor stations are arranged along a reference line substantially representing the harbor channel center line, and the plurality passive sensors form first and second sets of passive sensors, said first and second sets of passive sensors being disposed in substantially equal laterally spaced relationships to one and the other sides of said reference line.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the passive sensors are arranged in a plurality of sensor pairs, each sensor pair comprising one and another passive sensor disposed, respectively, at one and the other side of said line.

8. The system of claim 1, including

a plurality of passive sound sensors submerged in fixed, distributed locations in the harbor different from the locations of the sonar pulse sensors, each said passive sensor including means for generating a signal commensurate with the sensed sound;

and

wherein the second means, for generating an acoustic map, is responsive to the signals generated by the passive sound sensors.

9. The system of claim 2, including

a plurality of passive sound sensors submerged in fixed, distributed locations in the harbor different from the locations of the sonar pulse sensors, each said passive sensor including means for generating a signal commensurate with the sensed sound;

and

wherein the second means, for generating an acoustic map, is responsive to the signals generated by the passive sound sensors.

10. A method for detecting intrusive objects in a harbor, comprising:

projecting a plurality of sonar pulses from fixed locations beneath the surface of the water in the harbor;

at a plurality of first locations, detecting the projected pulses and pulse echoes from objects in the harbor;

continually integrating the detected pulses and echoes over a time period of at least about one minute;

storing the integrations as a signature characteristic of the harbor over a relatively long period of time greater than one minute; and

comparing changes in the detected pulses and echoes with the signature, to detect intrusive objects that have been stationary in the harbor for a relatively short period of time greater than one minute.

11. The method of claim 10, including the steps of,

passively detecting sounds in the harbor at a plurality of second locations different from the first locations and generating commensurate signals representing detected sound signals,

time integrating the commensurate signals, and

wherein the steps of comparing changes is responsive to the time integration of the commensurate signals.

12. A system for detecting the presence of a new, intrusive object in a harbor, comprising:

a plurality of sonar pulse generator and transmitter units submerged in fixed positions in the harbor;

a plurality of sonar pulse sensors submerged in fixed positions in the harbor and responsive to echo pulses which originate from the pulse generator and transmitter units;

first means, coupled to the pulse sensors, for integrating the echo pulses over a time period of at least about one minute; and

second means, coupled to the first means, for continually generating an acoustical image map of the harbor from the integrated pulses, whereby the presence of a newly introduced object is manifested as a change on the image map resulting from the integration of new echo pulses from said object which persist longer than normal ocean transitory echoes.

13. The system of claim 12, including third means, cooperating with the second means, for comparing as reference image map generated from echo pulses integrated over a first period of time chosen to provide an image that is characteristic of the echo pulses from permanent features of the harbor, with a variance image map generated from echo pulses integrated over a second period of time that is at least about one minute but less than said first period.