Sonar Beam Footprint Overlay on Nautical Charts
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging for users to understand the real-world sonar coverage provided by sonar transducers in underwater environments, as the shape and orientation of sonar beams are often unknown, making it difficult to link objects in sonar imagery with their actual locations on nautical charts.
Innovation Solution
The system presents a visual representation of sonar beam coverage on nautical charts by determining the sonar beam footprint based on the transducer configuration, depth, and orientation, allowing users to see the coverage area and track objects within the sonar beam overlay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If sonar transducers are used to detect underwater objects, then detection capability is improved, but understanding of real-world coverage and object positioning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the sonar beam coverage area on the nautical chart. This graphical overlay replicates the physical sonar beam footprint, allowing users to see where the sonar is actually pointing and covering without needing to mentally map the abstract sonar data to real-world locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary visual representation (the beam footprint overlay) that mediates between the sonar transducer's physical coverage and the user's understanding. This intermediary graphic element translates the invisible sonar beam into a visible indicator on the chart, bridging the gap between detection capability and coverage comprehension.
2Loss of information
If sonar beam coverage is visualized on nautical charts, then coverage understanding is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the nautical chart display system multi-functional by adding the beam footprint visualization capability to the existing charting functionality. The same display hardware and software platform that shows nautical charts is also used to render the sonar coverage overlay, eliminating the need for separate dedicated visualization equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sonar coverage visualization with the existing nautical chart display. Instead of creating a separate visualization system, the beam footprint overlay is integrated into the chart display, combining navigation and sonar coverage visualization functions into a single unified interface.
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 solution provides users with a clearer understanding of sonar coverage and object positioning, enhancing navigation and data utilization by visually indicating sonar beam coverage and object locations on nautical charts.
Implementation Method 1
Sonar transducer elements, or simply transducers, may convert electrical energy into sound or vibrations at a particular frequency
Implementation Method 2
A sonar sound beam is transmitted into and through the water and is reflected from objects it encounters
Implementation Method 3
The transducer may receive the reflected sound (the 'sonar returns') and convert the sound energy into electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing a sonar beam footprint are detailed herein. A system for presenting marine data includes at least one sonar transducer associated with a watercraft, a display, processor(s), and memory including computer program code. The sonar transducer emits sonar beams into an underwater environment that define a beam shape. The program code, when executed, causes, on the display, presentation of a chart and a representation of the watercraft; determines a depth corresponding to a bottom surface of a body of water at a current location of the watercraft; and determines, based on the depth and the beam shape, a sonar beam footprint corresponding to a projection of the beam shape at the depth. The program code further causes, on the display, presentation of the sonar beam footprint on the chart so as to visually indicate sonar beam coverage.