Small aperture swath bathymetry sonar and applications

这项工作的主题是继续研究和开发核心声纳技术，使海洋和湖泊的调查成本更低、更容易、更快，同时保持或提高精度。这项研究的动机源于工业对可安装在小型自主水下航行器上的测深声纳的需求。研究的成功导致了核心声纳专利技术的广泛应用，包括条带测深、3D海底成像、声栅栏、避障和3D扇形扫描。该声纳技术目前已获得条带测深和展望应用的许可。一种带状水深测量产品正在市场上。该研究计划现在寻求研究高频海底混响的特性，从而将核心声纳技术的独特能力应用于海底分类和改进的目标检测，以用于监视应用。除了扩展应用之外，该研究计划还计划通过研究和开发一种更便宜、更容易部署的小型版本来利用声纳技术的小规模能力。该小型版本旨在将这一有效的声纳技术置于更多潜在用户的可及范围内，从而推动勘测仪器的重大转变。该研究计划为本科生和研究生以及其他研究人员提供与有效和负责任的水下工程相关的途径、方法和技能方面的培训。

The theme of this work is the continued research and development of core sonar technology that makes the survey of oceans and lakes less expensive, easier, and faster, while maintaining or improving accuracy.  The motivation for this research originated from an industrial requirement for a bathymetric sonar that would fit on a small autonomous underwater vehicle.  Success in the research has resulted in patented core sonar technology that has a broad range of applications including swath bathymetry, 3D bottom imaging, acoustic fences, obstacle avoidance, and 3D sector-scan.  The sonar technology is currently licensed for swath bathymetry and look-ahead applications, and a swath bathymetry product is on the market.  The research program now seeks to study the properties of high frequency bottom reverberation and thereby apply the unique capabilities of the core sonar technology to bottom classification and improved target detection for surveillance applications.  In addition to extending the applications, the research program also plans to exploit the sonar technology's capability of being small by researching and developing a small version that will be less expensive and more easily deployed.  It is intended that this small version will place this effective sonar technology within reach of more potential users and therefore precipitate a major shift in survey instrumentation.  The research program provides training for undergraduate and graduate students, and other research personnel in approaches, methods and skills associated with effective and responsible underwater engineering.