Underwater Acoustic Color Map for Target Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional underwater active target detection and classification methods rely primarily on echo intensity, leading to ambiguous interpretations and improper characterization of underwater environments.
Innovation Solution
A method that converts sampled acoustic data into a two-dimensional color map by performing a Fourier transform on each range cell, sampling it M times based on a defined color spectrum, averaging red, green, and blue values, normalizing the resulting triplets, and using them to generate a two-dimensional color display for better visual interpretation and characterization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional echo intensity-based methods are used for underwater target detection, then the system can produce images of the underwater acoustic scene, but the images present ambiguous situations that lead to improper interpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms one-dimensional echo intensity data into a two-dimensional color map representation by mapping acoustic frequency responses to visible spectrum colors. This dimensional transformation adds frequency information visualization, converting ambiguous grayscale intensity images into informative color-coded spectral displays that reveal target signatures and environmental features.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies color mapping to acoustic frequency data, where different frequency responses are represented by different colors in the visible spectrum. This allows the human visual system to simultaneously perceive multiple frequency characteristics, transforming ambiguous intensity variations into distinct color patterns that improve target identification and environmental characterization.
2Device complexity
If echo intensity is used as the primary mechanism for target detection and classification, then the system can operate with simple processing, but it cannot properly characterize the underwater environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a color mapping intermediary that translates acoustic frequency response data into visible spectrum representations. This intermediary layer processes the frequency information through Fourier transforms and maps it to color space, preserving the full frequency response information while presenting it in a visually interpretable format without requiring complex additional hardware.
3Productivity
If broadband acoustic data is processed using traditional methods, then the processing is computationally efficient, but the visual interpretation is ambiguous and lacks environmental characterization capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances visual interpretation accuracy by adding a color dimension to the display representation. The Fourier transform results are mapped to color space, creating a two-dimensional color map that preserves processing efficiency while dramatically improving the accuracy and clarity of visual interpretation through enhanced human visual system utilization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a viable alternative for underwater environment characterization, enabling more accurate detection and classification by mapping acoustic frequency responses to a visible spectrum, allowing for the identification of unique target signatures and environmental features like reverberation and shadow zones.
Implementation Method 1
A Fourier transform is performed on each range cell of each beam
Data Source
AI summary
Beams of sampled data are converted into a two-dimensional color map thereof. Fourier transforms are performed on range cells of each beam with each transform being sampled M times where M is defined by M discrete sets of red, green and blue intensity values of a color spectrum. For each range cell in each beam, each sample of the corresponding M-sampled Fourier transform is multiplied by a corresponding one of the red, green and blue intensity values from a corresponding one of the M discrete sets thereof. Each of the resulting M red values, M green values and M blue values are averaged. As a result, a triplet is defined for each range cell by the averaged values. For each triplet, the minimum thereof is used to reduce the triplet's averaged values to thereby form a corresponding re-valued triplet. The resulting array of re-valued triplets are normalized across all of the range cells with the resulting array of re-valued triplets so-normalized being used to generate a two-dimensional color display.