Side-Scan Sonar Array Layout for High Resolution at Lower Cost
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side-scan sonar imaging methods require larger aperture arrays to achieve higher imaging angular resolution, leading to increased sensor and hardware costs.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost and high-resolution side-scan sonar imaging method is proposed, involving a transmitting array designed as an M-element horizontal uniform linear array and a receiving array arranged as Nr sub-arrays with smaller apertures, reducing the number of array elements while maintaining high resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a larger aperture array is used to achieve higher imaging angular resolution, then the imaging resolution is improved, but the sensor costs and hardware costs increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving array is divided into multiple sub-arrays (first sub-array, second sub-array, etc.) with smaller apertures. Each sub-array processes echoes independently to form partial imaging results, which are then combined to achieve the final high-resolution image. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high angular resolution while using fewer total array elements compared to a single large aperture array.
2Measurement precision
If a larger aperture array is used to achieve higher imaging angular resolution, then the imaging resolution is improved, but the hardware costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving array is divided into multiple sub-arrays (first sub-array, second sub-array, etc.) with smaller apertures. Each sub-array processes echoes independently to form partial imaging results, which are then combined to achieve the final high-resolution image. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high angular resolution while using fewer total array elements compared to a single large aperture array.
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 method significantly reduces the number of array elements, achieving higher angular resolution at a lower cost compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting a pulse signal by using the M-element horizontal line array, and forming a single transmitting beam
Implementation Method 2
receiving echoes by using the Nr sub-arrays, and performing a summation process of the echoes on the Nr sub-arrays
Data Source
AI summary
In order to overcome the high-cost and low-resolution problems of the conventional side-scan sonar imaging method, a low-cost and high-resolution side-scan sonar imaging method is provided. The method includes: designing a low-cost array that can be used for side-scan sonar imaging; secondly, using the designed low-cost array to perform single-line high-resolution side-scan imaging; finally, continuously moving the side-scan sonar along a forward direction, continuously repeating a transmitting process and a receiving process in step 2 to obtain K single line imaging results, and then splicing the K single line imaging results to obtain a final side-scan sonar imaging result. Compared with the conventional side-scan sonar imaging method, by reasonably arranging the transmitting array and receiving array, the proposed method can significantly reduce the number of receiving array elements, that is, the side-scan sonar imaging resolution is improved while significantly reduce the cost.