Tracking system and method
First Claim
1. A method for locating, in three-dimensional underwater space and in relation to a predetermined location, an object emitting acoustic signals comprising the steps of:
- receiving acoustic signals including the acoustic signals from the object at the predetermined location by means of a towed, horizontal array of acoustic transducers;
estimating a bearing to the object in response to the received acoustic signals;
generating beam values for signals received by said acoustic transducers from different incremental locations at incremental ranges and depths along the estimated bearing;
selecting an individual incremental location with a peak beam value; and
providing bearing, range and depth information from the predetermined location to the incremental location thereby locating the object in three-dimensional underwater space.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting, processing and tracking sonar signalso provide bearing, range and depth information that locates an object in three-dimensional underwater space. An inverse beamformer utilizes signals from a towed horizontal array of hydrophones to estimate a bearing to a possible object. A matched field processor receives measured covariance matrix data based upon signals from the hydrophones and signals from a propagation model. An eight nearest neighbor peak picker provides plane wave peaks in response to output beam levels from the matched processor. A five-dimensional M of N tracker identifies peaks within the specified limit of frequency, bearing change over time, range and depth to specify an object as a target and to display its relative range and depth with respect to the array of hydrophones.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for locating, in three-dimensional underwater space and in relation to a predetermined location, an object emitting acoustic signals comprising the steps of:
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receiving acoustic signals including the acoustic signals from the object at the predetermined location by means of a towed, horizontal array of acoustic transducers; estimating a bearing to the object in response to the received acoustic signals; generating beam values for signals received by said acoustic transducers from different incremental locations at incremental ranges and depths along the estimated bearing; selecting an individual incremental location with a peak beam value; and providing bearing, range and depth information from the predetermined location to the incremental location thereby locating the object in three-dimensional underwater space. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for locating, in three-dimensional underwater space and in relation to a predetermined location, an object emitting acoustic signals, said apparatus comprising:
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a receiver means having a towed horizontal array of transducers for obtaining acoustic signals including the acoustic signals from the object at the predetermined location; an estimating means connected to said receiver means and responsive to the processed acoustic signals for estimating the bearing to a possible object; a beam value generating means for generating beam values for signals detected from different incremental locations at incremental ranges and depths along the estimated bearing; a location selection means joined to said estimating means for selecting an individual incremental location with peak beam value; a locating means for providing the bearing to, the predetermined location to, and the range and depth of the incremental location thereby the object in three-dimensional underwater space and designating the object as a target; and a display means for displaying the location of the target joined to said locating means. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification