Pier-Side, Bow Sonar Calibration Methodology for Wave Piercing Hull Forms Navy SBIR FY2006.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2006.2 Topic No.: N06-139 Topic Title: Pier-Side, Bow Sonar Calibration Methodology for Wave Piercing Hull Forms Proposal No.: N062-139-0829 Firm: SeaLandAire Technologies, Inc. 1510 Springport Rd Suite C Jackson, Michigan 49202-1418 Contact: Clarence Mast Phone: (517) 784-8340 Web Site: www.sealandaire.com Abstract: New wave-piercing hull designs and non-cylindrical arrays require a new methodology for calibration of bow sonars. Solutions must be portable and not add any deck fixtures that would increase the radar cross section of the hull. Unfortunately, the optimum separation between the ship sonar and the calibration transducers can be highly variable, depending on the frequencies and beam angles of interest, the geometry of the sonar array, and the acoustic environment in the vicinity of the test site SeaLandAire and Undersea Sensor Systems, Inc. (USSI) propose a system based on an unmoored, tightly controlled autonomous mobile station keeping platform to address this opportunity. The system is highly automated, requiring very little operator effort and is very flexible, allowing for direct far-field beam-pattern measurements when the site geometry is suitable; both result in reduced test time and complexity. For cases where site geometry is not suitable for direct pattern measurement, alternative near-field techniques will be evaluated in Phase I. The team will work closely with the ship and sonar system design authority to develop system set-up, data extraction, and data processing procedures for optimum performance. Benefits: The technology to be developed under this SBIR will provide the capability of calibrating a variety of sonar and acoustic systems. All directional measurements, both for receive and source transducers, can be collected using this system. For example, a pair of these systems working together could perform an entire near or far-field measurement in azimuth, zenith, and range relative to the sensor of interest. In doing so, the open water performance of the transducer in question can be tested quickly and accurately with little human interaction. As a result, all defense and homeland security related acoustic contractors, government agencies, and testing facilities are potential users. The surface unit concept is already being developed using DoD funding through DARPA / NAVAIR and SPAWAR for surveillance and communications applications for station keeping versions of the autonomous surface vessel. Proposals have been submitted to NOAA regarding what SeaLandAire believes to be a significant opportunity in the environmental data collection community, as a mobile system can theoretically perform a mixture of Eulerian and Lagrangian operations on demand. In addition, marine wildlife research centers have also been in contact with SeaLandAire to determine the feasibility of using the station keeping autonomous buoys to track and study marine life, particularly marine mammals. Return