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Pier-Side, Bow Sonar Calibration Methodology for Wave Piercing Hull Forms
Navy SBIR 2006.2 - Topic N06-139 NAVSEA - Ms. Janet Jaensch - [email protected] Opens: June 14, 2006 - Closes: July 14, 2006 N06-139 TITLE: Pier-Side, Bow Sonar Calibration Methodology for Wave Piercing Hull Forms TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors, Electronics, Battlespace ACQUISITION PROGRAM: ACAT I, PMS500 DD(X) Integrated Undersea Warfare (IUSW) OBJECTIVE: Develop a methodology and the associated processing techniques to provide the capability to perform pier-side, near-field calibrations of Mid Frequency (MF) and High Frequency (HF) Sonars on wave piercing hull forms. DESCRIPTION: Current methods of calibrating MF and HF sonars are not applicable to the wave piercing hull forms on future surface combatants. Currently, calibration is accomplished by the use of hydrophones mounted on a boom located on the center axis of the hull. These hydrophones measure the near-field at a fixed distance from the array thereby allowing in-water calibration to be accomplished pier-side. Future combatant ships with wave piercing hull forms and a non-cylindrical MF and/or HF arrays require new and innovative methods for pier-side calibration. The calibration system developed should avoid the need to be mounted directly on the deck of future ships due to Radar Cross Section (RCS) considerations. The system shall be portable and able to be configured with minimal manpower and time to execute. Solutions are not constrained by shipboard storage limitations, as calibration will most likely be conducted when a ship is at a suitable port facility. PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibiliy of a methodology to conduct pier-side calibration of MF and HF sonars on wave piercing hull forms. Provide a Phase II development approach and schedule that contains discrete milestones for product development. PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a prototype based on the design concept(s) proposed in Phase I. Fabricate the critical components of the prototype system and and conduct laboratory characterization experiments. Provide a detailed test plan and conduct a scaled capabilities demonstration of the prototype. PHASE III: The small business shall work with the Navy and Industry in the implementation of the developed sonar calibration for wave pirecing hull system for DD(X) and other naval platforms. PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The nearfield calibration techniques developed under this topical area support acoustic far-field measurements within a laboratory and research institution for tanks of finite size and in-place (installed) sonar systems onboard ocean survey, mapping and marine reasearch vessels that utilize sonar systems to aid in the conduct of their respective missions. Also, the nearfied technology can be directly applied to home audiofile systems aiding in improvements in design and sound delivery. REFERENCES: KEYWORDS: SONAR; acoustic calibration; near-field; wave piercing; HF; MF TPOC: Christopher Curtis
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