Geo-localization and Time-synchronization of Towed Acoustic Modules for Autonomous Surface Vehicles
Abstract
The rapid evolution of the physical properties of the upper ocean expected in regions with strong submesoscale features can lead tocomplex acoustic propagation effects and in turn modulate the performance of SONAR systems for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) purposes. However, limited in-situ observations of this rapid evolution make it unclear how to adequately parametrize these physical properties of the upper ocean based on the environmental variables. In this project we propose to add to two critical upgrades to our Towed Acoustic Modules for Autonomous Surface Vehicles (TAM-ASV, ONR-funded): 1) Installing low-drag towed bodies to optimize the acoustic performance of the TAM-ASV to minimize the impact of self-noise from the ASV and also by using a vibration-insulating umbilical tether allows for two-way communication (including transfer and time-synchronization using the GPS Pulse-Per-Second (PPS) of the acoustic recording from the vector sensor) between the towed-body and the ASV as well as electrical power transfer. 2) Implementing high frequency acoustic transponders (akin to a USBL system) to continuously geo-localize the TAM-ASV with high-accuracy with respect to the GPS antenna of the ASV; this will ultimately enable all acoustic and physical oceanography measurements to be jointly accurately geolocated. Those transponders also have telemetry capabilities providing a means to test the performance of underwater communications between the upgraded TAM-ASVs under various configurations in the fluctuating upper ocean. Perhaps more importantly, deploying several of these upgraded TAM-ASVs can be used emulate the operations of a small swarm of actual autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to investigate the use of joint acoustic coherent processing as well as adaptive swarming behaviors for improving the detection and tracking of low-frequency sources in a potentially complex propagation environment. Descriptive title for the project: Improved geolocalization oftowed acoustic instrument packages designed for Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs).This abstract is publicly releasable
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 06, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312237
Entities
People
- Luc Lenain
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of California, San Diego