Underwater Imaging with a Moving Acoustic Lens

Abstract

The acoustic lens is a high-resolution, forward-looking sonar for three-dimensional (3-D) underwater imaging. In this paper, we discuss processing the lens data for recreating and visualizing the scene. Acoustical imaging, compared to optical imaging, is sparse and low resolution. To achieve higher resolution, we obtain a denser sample by mounting the lens on a moving platform and passing over the scene. This introduces the problem of data fusion from multiple overlapping views for scene formation, which we discuss. We also discuss the improvements in object reconstruction by combining data from several passes over an object. We present algorithms for pass registration and show that this process can be done with enough accuracy to improve the image and provide greater detail about the object. The results of in-water experiments show the degree to which size and shape can be obtained under (nearly) ideal conditions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA606500

Entities

People

  • Behzad Kamgar-Parsi
  • Edward O. Belcher
  • Lawrence J. Rosenblum

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Algorithms
  • Computer Graphics
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Data Fusion
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Electrical Engineering
  • High Resolution
  • Image Processing
  • Information Systems
  • Low Resolution
  • Pattern Recognition
  • Remotely Piloted Vehicles
  • Seabed
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Computer Vision.
  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies