Mechanically Steered Sonar for Neutral Buoyancy Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sonar systems for detecting and locating underwater objects with neutral buoyancy, such as moored mines, face challenges in covering a wide swath efficiently and achieving accurate three-dimensional location, particularly in terms of energy consumption and bulkiness, which is incompatible with the trend towards autonomous carriers with limited energy storage.
Innovation Solution
A mechanically steered sonar system with a single channel is used, mounted on a carrier to advance in a main direction, allowing for lateral insonification with a wide relative bearing aperture and narrow elevation aperture, combined with a side-scan sonar to image the seabed, enabling efficient detection and location of underwater objects with low energy consumption and high accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If front looking sonars with large arrays are used to cover a wide swath and locate underwater targets with good accuracy, then detection accuracy and swath width are improved, but device bulk and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection task into two separate sonar systems: a side-scan sonar for detecting objects on the seabed and a front-looking sonar for detecting objects in the water column. This segmentation allows each sonar to be optimized for its specific function with smaller, more energy-efficient arrays rather than requiring one large system to perform both functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional front-looking detection to side-scan detection by mounting the primary sonar laterally on the carrier. This dimensional change allows the sonar to cover a wide swath perpendicular to the carrier's path while using a smaller array, and combines this with front-looking sonar for vertical column detection
2Area of stationary object
If front looking sonars with large arrays are used to cover a wide swath, then swath width is improved, but device bulk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection functionality into two specialized sonars: side-scan sonar for wide swath coverage and front-looking sonar for vertical detection. This allows each component to be compact while achieving the combined coverage area of a much larger single system
Solution Approach 2:
By mounting the side-scan sonar laterally and having it scan perpendicular to the carrier's motion, the system achieves wide swath coverage in the horizontal dimension without requiring a large forward-facing array, thus reducing device bulk
3Adaptability or versatility
If cylindrical emission and reception arrays with 120 reception channels are used to insonify a toroidal zone, then detection coverage is improved, but device bulk and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detection space into two distinct zones handled by separate sonar systems: the side-scan sonar covers the horizontal plane and detects objects on the seabed, while the front-looking sonar covers the vertical water column. This segmentation simplifies the processing requirements compared to a single system attempting to detect all objects in three-dimensional space
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the seabed detection function from the overall detection system and assigns it to the side-scan sonar, leaving the front-looking sonar to focus solely on water column detection. This separation removes the complexity of simultaneously processing returns from both seabed and water column objects
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
The system provides efficient detection and location of underwater objects with high accuracy in three dimensions, suitable for autonomous carriers, and can distinguish between moored mines and free objects, achieving a balance between energy efficiency and detection capability.
Implementation Method 1
a sonar making it possible to detect the underwater objects having returned sonar echoes, that is to say returned echoes following the emission of an acoustic pulse (or acoustic ping) by the sonar
Implementation Method 2
the mechanically steered sonar being a sonar with a single emission channel making it possible to perform the insonification of a first individual sector in a first pointing direction
Data Source
AI summary
A system for detecting and locating submerged underwater objects having neutral buoyancy comprising mechanically steered sonar to image the water column comprises mechanically steered sonar with a single emission channel, to perform the insonification of a first individual sector in a first pointing direction by a single first acoustic pulse, the sonar forming a single reception channel suitable for acquiring a first acoustic signal resulting from insonification, the mechanically steered sonar being mounted on a carrier to advance in a main direction, the first pointing direction substantially lateral to the carrier and the first individual sector exhibits a wide relative bearing aperture and a narrow elevation aperture, the mechanically steered sonar comprising a mechanical pointing device to tilt the first pointing direction about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the main direction allowing the sonar to acquire first acoustic signals resulting from insonifications performed in different pointing directions.