Underwater sound detection system and method based on supercavitation technology

Abstract

The invention mainly relates to an underwater sound detection system and method based on a supercavitation technology, and aims to realize underwater high-speed navigation and target positioning while ensuring high detection precision. The device comprises two parts, namely a conical cavitator and a cylindrical electronic bin. The conical cavitator is used for generating a stable supercavitation phenomenon, so that the underwater resistance is greatly reduced, and high-speed movement is realized; a receiving and transmitting module is integrated in the hydrophone, and the hydrophone comprises a transmitting transducer and a uniform linear array formed by 16 hydrophone array elements, so that a larger array aperture and high resolution are ensured. And the cylindrical electronic bin undertakes subsequent processing work such as signal conditioning, acquisition, data storage and control and the like. The system adopts an active sound detection mode to realize underwater target positioning, has the characteristics of compact structure, strong maneuverability, high signal-to-noise ratio, excellent anti-interference capability and the like, and is suitable for the fields of ocean observation, target positioning, underwater detection and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention mainly relates to the field of underwater target positioning and tracking, and particularly relates to an underwater acoustic detection system and method based on a supercavitation structure. Background Art

[0002] Sound waves are the main carriers for long-distance information transmission in the marine environment. Sonar is an underwater acoustic device that uses sound waves to detect underwater targets, and is divided into active sonar and passive sonar. Active sonar determines information such as the azimuth and distance of a target by analyzing the reflected signal, and is the core tool for underwater detection.

[0003] Traditional active sonar systems mostly adopt fixed deployments (such as seabed arrays or shore-based facilities). Such systems usually have problems such as poor platform mobility and limited coverage. Moreover, early designs mostly adopted a separate transmitting and receiving structure to suppress self-noise, resulting in a large system volume and inconvenient deployment. In recent years, with the development of technologies such as towed sonar and sonar carried by mobile submersibles, the mobility of active sonar has been significantly improved; at the same time, the progress of digital signal processing and compact transducer design has made it possible to integrate the transmitter and receiver, further optimizing the practicability and adaptability of the system.

[0004] Supercavitation is a stable gaseous cavitation phenomenon formed around a high-speed underwater moving object, which can reduce the resistance of an underwater object by more than 90% and achieve extremely high-speed movement. Supercavitation technology has important applications in the fields of underwater weapons (such as high-speed torpedoes) and submersibles. Therefore, we propose an underwater acoustic detection system and method based on supercavitation technology. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Aiming at the defects in the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention provides an underwater acoustic detection system and method based on supercavitation technology, thereby adopting supercavitation technology to achieve a higher movement speed while maintaining detection accuracy, providing a new technical approach for high-speed underwater detection.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0007] An underwater acoustic detection system based on supercavitation technology includes a conical cavitator and a cylindrical electronic cabin. The conical cavitator is used to generate supercavitation to achieve high-speed navigation. An emission transducer and a receiving acoustic array are integrated inside the conical cavitator to achieve integrated transmitting and receiving. The receiving acoustic array includes 16 hydrophone elements, which are fixed at the bottom of the conical cavitator and arranged in a uniform linear array. The element spacing is about 11 mm, and the emission transducer is installed below the receiving linear array. The cylindrical electronic cabin is used for subsequent processing of the signals received by the acoustic array. The inside of the electronic cabin includes a signal conditioning circuit, a signal acquisition circuit, a data recorder, a main control board, a signal generator, a power supply board, a power amplifier, etc.

[0008] The present invention also discloses an underwater acoustic detection method based on supercavitation technology, comprising the following steps:

[0009] Step 1: The acoustic detection adopts an active detection mode. The entire set of systems is rigidly fixed in the shallow sea except for the direction, so that the system has a certain directivity. The tip direction of the supercavitation cone head faces the target, and the system can use supercavitation technology for rapid underwater movement.

[0010] Step 2: All components of the system are powered on for self-check. The main control board sends the self-check results to the host computer through the RS422 serial port. After the system self-check is completed, the host computer sends a start work instruction to the main control board through the serial port.

[0011] Step 3: The main control board inputs a trigger pulse to the signal generator. After detecting the trigger pulse, the signal generator immediately outputs a pre-stored pulse signal to the switching power amplifier, and the power amplifier drives the transducer to complete the electro-acoustic conversion.

[0012] Step 4: After the power amplifier emits the pulse signal, the main control board outputs a VGA control voltage to the signal conditioning circuit at a fixed period, so that the VGA gain of the conditioning circuit changes according to the set time-gain curve. The purpose is to ensure that the VGA gain is relatively small when the receiving end receives the signal emitted by the transducer, and the VGA gain is large when receiving the signal reflected by the target, which is convenient for subsequent analysis and processing.

[0013] Step 5: The acoustic array senses the target echo and background noise, converts the acoustic signal into an electrical signal, and the signal conditioning circuit amplifies, filters and other processes the output signal of the hydrophone.

[0014] Step 6: The signal acquisition circuit parallelly acquires the output signal of the conditioning circuit, and sends the data of the acoustic array to the network data recorder through the Ethernet, and the recorder stores the acoustic array data in real time.

[0015] Step 7: After completing the data acquisition in this active detection cycle, return to Step 3 to repeat the work process of transmitting signals - sensing echoes - collecting signals - storing data. After the detection experiment is completed, the host computer sends a stop acquisition instruction to the main control board, and the detection system stops working.

[0016] Step 8: The host computer reads the stored data from the data recorder through the Ethernet for off-line signal processing.

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0018] 1. The system conical cavitator, as the core component of the system, on the one hand, significantly reduces the fluid resistance by generating a stable supercavitation phenomenon to achieve high-speed underwater navigation; on the other hand, it adopts a transceiver-integrated design, featuring strong maneuverability. The acoustic array is arranged in a uniform linear array, which has the characteristics of a large aperture, high resolution, and long detection range compared with other forms of arrays.

[0019] 2. The system has the functions of self-check and adjusting the gain of signals in communication, enabling the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signals to be in a good condition.

[0020] 3. The system has high directivity, which can enhance the signal detection ability and effectively suppress interference and noise in non-target directions. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall layout of the supercavitation acoustic detection system of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the supercavitation acoustic detection system of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the interior of the supercavitation cone head of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 It is Figure 2 a cross-sectional view of

[0025] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the process of the supercavitation acoustic detection system of the present invention.

[0026] Wherein: 1. Host computer main control station; 2. Watertight cable; 3. Observation network junction box; 4. Electronics compartment; 401. Watertight cable power head; 402. Watertight cable communication head; 403. Threaded hole at the bottom cover of the electronics compartment; 404. Internal circuit board box; 5. Mounting bracket; 6. Supercavitation cone head; 601. Drain hole; 602. Water outlet hole; 603. 16-channel hydrophone receiving array; 604. Transmitting transducer; 605. Hole position of the electronics compartment mounting bracket; 7. Target submarine; 8. Mother ship. Detailed Embodiments

[0027] The following combines the drawings to illustrate the detailed embodiments of the present invention.

[0028] As Figures 1-5 shown, the ocean observation network includes a host computer main control station 1, a watertight cable 2, an observation network junction box 3, a mounting bracket 5, a target submarine 7, and a mother ship 8. And the present invention is an underwater acoustic detection system based on supercavitation technology, including an electronics compartment 4 and a supercavitation cone head 6. The electronics compartment 4 is mainly used for the subsequent processing of received signals, and the supercavitation cone head 6 is used for receiving and transmitting signals.

[0029] AsFigures 2-3 As shown in the figure, inside the supercavitation cone head 6, there are drainage holes 601, water outlet holes 602, a 16-channel hydrophone receiving array 603, a transmitting transducer 604, and an electronic compartment connection bracket hole position 605. The drainage holes 601 and water outlet holes 602 are located above the inside of the supercavitation cone head 6. The 16-channel hydrophone receiving array 603 is arranged in the middle of the inside of the supercavitation cone head 6. The transmitting transducer 604 is installed directly below the 16-channel hydrophone receiving array 603. The electronic compartment connection bracket hole position 605 is located at the base of the supercavitation cone head 6.

[0030] As Figures 2-4 shown in the figure, inside the electronic compartment 4, there are a watertight cable power head 401, a watertight cable communication 402, a threaded hole for the electronic compartment bottom cover 403, and an internal circuit board box 404. Among them, the internal circuit board box 404 is a key component of the electronic compartment 4, and it integrates a signal conditioning circuit, a signal acquisition circuit, a data recorder, a main control board, a signal generator, a power board, a power amplifier, etc.

[0031] An underwater acoustic detection method based on supercavitation technology, as Figure 5 shown in the figure, includes the following steps:

[0032] Step 1: The acoustic detection adopts an active detection mode. Connect the upper computer main control station 1 and the electronic compartment 4 with a watertight cable 2. Note that the watertight cable power head 401 and the watertight cable communication head 402 should cooperate with the observation network junction box 3. Use the mounting bracket 5 to rigidly fix it in the shallow sea except for the direction, so that the system has a certain directivity. The tip direction of the supercavitation cone head 6 faces the target submarine 7. The mother ship 8 can sail at high speed. Due to the influence of the supercavitation technology, the system also sails at high speed underwater.

[0033] Step 2: All the circuits in the internal circuit board box 404 are powered on for self-check. The main control board sends the self-check result to the upper computer main control station 1 through the RS422 serial port of the watertight cable 2. If the self-check result is abnormal, the system should be checked and the self-check should start again. After the system self-check is completed, if the upper computer main control station 1 sends a start work instruction to the main control board through the serial port.

[0034] Step 3: In the internal circuit board box 404, the main control board inputs a trigger pulse to the signal generator. After the signal generator detects the trigger pulse, it immediately outputs a pre-stored pulse signal to the switching power amplifier, and the power amplifier drives the transducer to complete the electro-acoustic conversion.

[0035] Step 4: In the internal circuit board box 404, after the power amplifier emits the pulse signal, the main control board outputs a VGA control voltage to the signal conditioning circuit at a fixed period, so that the VGA gain of the conditioning circuit changes according to the set time-gain curve. The purpose is to ensure that the VGA gain is relatively small when the transmitting transducer 604 at the receiving end emits a signal, and the VGA gain is large when the target submarine 7 reflects the signal, which is convenient for subsequent analysis and processing.

[0036] Step Five: The 16-channel hydrophone receiving array 603 senses the echo of the target submarine 7 and background noise, converts the acoustic signal into an electrical signal, and the signal conditioning circuit of the internal circuit board box 404 amplifies, filters and processes the output signal of the hydrophone.

[0037] Step Six: In the internal circuit board box 404, the signal acquisition circuit parallelly acquires the output signal of the conditioning circuit, and sends the data of the acoustic array to the network data recorder through Ethernet, and the recorder stores the acoustic array data in real time.

[0038] Step Seven: After completing the data acquisition within the current active detection cycle, automatically detect whether the host computer master station 1 sends a stop acquisition instruction to the main control board of the internal circuit board box 404. If it sends, the detection system stops working; if not, return to Step Three to repeat the workflow of transmitting signals - sensing echoes - acquiring signals - storing data.

[0039] Step Eight: The host computer master station 1 reads the stored data from the data recorder through Ethernet for offline signal processing.

[0040] The underwater acoustic detection system adopting the supercavitation technology significantly reduces the fluid resistance, realizes high-speed underwater navigation, and at the same time, with the transceiver co-located design, it has strong maneuverability, a simple system and convenient operation.

[0041] The above description is an explanation of the present invention, not a limitation thereof. For the scope defined by the present invention, refer to the claims. Within the protection scope of the present invention, any form of modification can be made.

Claims

1. An underwater acoustic detection system based on supercavitation technology, characterized in that: A mother ship (8); an upper computer main control station (1) for sending instructions and processing offline data; a watertight cable (2) connecting the upper computer main control station (1) and the electronic cabin (4); an electronic cabin (4) integrating a signal conditioning circuit, a signal acquisition circuit, a data recorder, a main control board, a signal generator and a power amplifier; a supercavitation cone head (6) internally integrating a transmitting transducer (604) and a 16-channel hydrophone receiving array (603), and being fixed to the electronic cabin (4) through the mounting hole positions (605) of the electronic cabin mounting bracket; a mounting bracket (5) for rigidly fixing the system in shallow water; a target submarine (7) serving as an acoustic reflection target.

2. The underwater acoustic detection system based on supercavitation technology according to claim 1, characterized in that: The supercavitation cone head (6) includes a drainage hole (601), a water outlet hole (602), a 16-channel hydrophone receiving array (603), and a transmitting transducer (604); the drainage hole (601) and the water outlet hole (602) are located above the inside of the cone head for maintaining the stability of the supercavitation; the 16-channel hydrophone receiving array (603) is arranged in a uniform linear array in the middle of the cone head, and the element spacing is 11 mm; the transmitting transducer (604) is fixed directly below the receiving array (603) to achieve transceiver co-location.

3. The underwater acoustic detection system based on supercavitation technology according to claim 2, characterized in that: The electronic cabin (4) includes a watertight cable power supply head (401), a watertight cable communication head (402), a threaded hole at the bottom cover of the electronic cabin (4), and an internal circuit board box (404); the internal circuit board box (404) integrates the following modules: a main control board communicating with the upper computer main control station (1) through the RS422 protocol to control self-check, signal triggering and dynamic gain adjustment; a signal generator storing and outputting a preset pulse signal; a power amplifier driving the transmitting transducer (604) to complete electro-acoustic conversion; a signal conditioning circuit dynamically adjusting the VGA gain according to the time-gain curve to suppress the direct wave and enhance the echo; a signal acquisition circuit parallelly acquiring 16-channel hydrophone signals and transmitting them to the data recorder through Ethernet for real-time storage.

4. The underwater acoustic detection system based on supercavitation technology according to claim 3, wherein: The working logic of the dynamic gain control (TGC) module is: after the main control board emits a pulse, it outputs a control voltage to the signal conditioning circuit at a fixed period, so that the receiving end maintains a low gain when the transducer emits a signal and switches to a high gain when the target reflection signal arrives.

5. The underwater acoustic detection method based on supercavitation technology according to claim 4, characterized in that, Including the following steps: Step 1: The acoustic detection adopts an active detection mode. Connect the upper computer main control station (1) and the electronic cabin (4) with the watertight cable (2). Note that the watertight cable power supply head (401) and the watertight cable communication head (402) should cooperate with the observation network junction box (3). Rigidly fix and place it in shallow water using the mounting bracket (5) except for the direction, so that the system has a certain directivity. The tip direction of the supercavitation cone head (6) faces the target submarine (7). The mother ship (8) can sail at high speed. Due to the influence of the supercavitation technology, the system also sails at high speed underwater. Step 2: All circuits in the internal circuit board box (404) are powered on for self-check. The main control board sends the self-check results to the host computer main control station (1) through the RS422 serial port of the watertight cable (2). If the self-check results are abnormal, the system should be checked and the self-check should be restarted. After the system self-check is completed, if the host computer main control station (1) sends a start work instruction to the main control board through the serial port again. Step 3: In the internal circuit board box (404), the main control board inputs a trigger pulse to the signal generator. After the signal generator detects the trigger pulse, it immediately outputs a pre-stored pulse signal to the switching power amplifier, and the power amplifier drives the transducer to complete electroacoustic conversion. Step 4: In the internal circuit board box (404), after the power amplifier emits the pulse signal, the main control board outputs a VGA control voltage to the signal conditioning circuit at a fixed period, so that the VGA gain of the conditioning circuit changes according to the set time-gain curve. The purpose is to ensure that the VGA gain is relatively small when the receiving end transmitting transducer (604) emits a signal, and the VGA gain is relatively large when the target submarine (7) reflects a signal, which is convenient for subsequent analysis and processing. Step 5: The 16-channel hydrophone receiving array (603) senses the echo of the target submarine (7) and background noise, converts the acoustic signal into an electrical signal, and the signal conditioning circuit in the internal circuit board box (404) amplifies, filters and processes the output signal of the hydrophone. Step 6: In the internal circuit board box (404), the signal acquisition circuit simultaneously acquires the output signal of the conditioning circuit, and sends the data of the acoustic array to the network data recorder through the Ethernet, and the recorder stores the acoustic array data in real time. Step 7: After the data acquisition in this active detection cycle is completed, automatically detect whether the host computer main control station (1) sends a stop acquisition instruction to the main control board of the internal circuit board box (404). If it is sent, the detection system stops working. If it is not sent, return to Step 3 to repeat the work process of transmitting a signal - sensing an echo - acquiring a signal - storing data. Step 8: The host computer main control station (1) reads the stored data from the data recorder through the Ethernet for off-line signal processing.

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