miniHARP: 4-Channel High-Frequency Acoustic Recorder with Real-Time Processing for Mobile and Profiling Platform Integration

Abstract

Moored, near-seafloor sensing has long been the gold standard for high quality marine passive acoustic data collection. However, this sampling modality has limited ability to traverse different environments or depths within a mission, limited spatial coverage, and little-to-no data availability in real time. There is a need for small, low power, high-quality acoustic recording units with real-time processing for integration into a suite of mobile and profiling assets increasingly in use by DoD.A modular, miniaturized instrument design, termed miniHARP, based on Scripps# High-frequency Acoustic Recording Package, is proposed. The miniHARP can continuously and simultaneously sample four hydrophone channels at 200 kHz, as well as a tilt sensor, at extremely low power (<1W). The real-time miniHARP will store full resolution data internally (up to 8 TB) and output a full resolution real-time data stream via standard network protocols over Ethernet. An onboard deep learning-optimized (DL) open source compute module, programmable by end users, will receive the output data stream. Analytical results from computing operations such as event detections, classifications and bearings can be relayed to a surface expression, glider, or used for autonomous event triggering. The real-time miniHARP will have the appropriate size, adaptability, and longevity for deployment on profiling systems, gliders, and drifters. The real-time aspects of the system also lend themselves to integration with long term installations such as offshore wind infrastructure. Two demonstration deployments of the real-time miniHARP are proposed: First, the system will be mounted on a Wirewalker, with continuous recordings taken while the system transits vertically through the water column, and one towed by a Wave Glider, with the miniHARP system#s communications connected to the glider#s operating system, for real time data transfer.Example use cases include real-time detection and/or measurement of sounds produced by marine mammals and fish, human activities such as commercial shipping, or physical processes such asweather events. This abstract is publicly releasable.

Document Details

Document Type
DoD Grant Award
Publication Date
Jul 24, 2023
Source ID
N000142312690

Entities

People

  • Kaitlin E Frasier

Organizations

  • Office of Naval Research
  • United States Navy
  • University of California, San Diego

Tags

Readers

  • Distributed Systems and Data Platform Development
  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
  • Autonomy