N101-005 TITLE: Spread Spectrum Techniques for Sonar Ping Technology

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Sensors, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: ACAT IV, PMA-264, Air ASW Systems; Sea Shield

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted." The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a generic sonar system consisting of sonar source that can covertly perform an active search while also being compatible with marine life.

DESCRIPTION: Distributed or multistatic active sonar systems have the ability to detect, classify and localize targets in large areas of the search field. One major drawback of the active (ping) energy can more readily alarm the submerged target than detect it. The current active ping can also be detrimental to humans swimming, as well as marine mammal life that can suffer long-term physical impairment. A new approach is required that can realistically provide active sonar detection with ensonification energy that is less detectable to frequency swept sonar intercept receivers but whose target resonified energy can be easily ‘seen’ by the properly ciphered sonar receivers. Improved signal to noise ratio for the active sonar case is also desirable. The aircraft avionics should have minimum hardware and software impact; however, it is obvious that some command and display functions may have to be modified. Consideration should be done as to interaction of the air platform, the source and the receiver and the distribution of effort among the three elements: source, receiver and aircraft.

PHASE I: Perform a modeling and/or simulation effort to prove feasibility. Plan the development of innovative signal and information processing algorithms.

PHASE II: Develop and refine the signal and information processing algorithms based on the results of Phase I. Design and demonstrate a floating breadboard prototype system Coordinate field tests to gather and analyze data to improve and verify signal processing.

PHASE III: Transition the innovation into a new sonobuoy set as well as into an existing aircraft antisubmarine warfare (ASW) system. Convert the algorithms into source code for an aircraft sonar acoustic system and its system of sources and receivers.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: An application of this technology may also be of interest to those who study the ocean environment and often employ objectional sound levels; such as, seismic analysis (using high-powered sound) of the ocean floor in search of oil as well as in covert intrusion detection.

REFERENCES:
1. Viterbi, A. CDMA: Principles of Spread Spectrum Communication, Addison-Wesley, 1995.

2. Kopp, Carlo, "An Introduction to Spread Spectrum Techniques," 2nd Ed, 2005, online: http://www.ausairpower.net/OSR-0597.html.

3. Burdic, William S. "Underwater Acoustic Systems Analysis" Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1984.

4. Pickholtz, R. L., Schilling, D. L., and Milstein, L. B. Revisions to "Theory of Spread-Spectrum Communications – A Tutorial" IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. COM32, no. 2, Feb 1984, online: http://www.bee.net/mhendry/vrml/library/cdma/cdma.htm

KEYWORDS: Pseudo-noise; Spread Spectrum; Sonar; Antisubmarine Warfare; Ocean Mammal Mitigation; Anti-Jam Sonar

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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