Data Fusion of Electric Field and Acoustic Data Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Topic No.: N091-019 Topic Title: Data Fusion of Electric Field and Acoustic Data Proposal No.: N091-019-1550 Firm: SeaLandAire Technologies, Inc. 1510 Springport Rd Suite C Jackson, Michigan 49202 Contact: Dennis Byrne Phone: (517) 784-8340 Web Site: www.sealandaire.com Abstract: Conventional acoustic ASW methods are limited in littoral regions, where multipath caused by widely varying sound speed profiles and cluttered boundary conditions is concurrent with high ambient noise. For this reason additional detection methods are desirable. Many potential targets of interest generate incidental electric fields from the galvanic potential field generated by dissimilar metals in contact with seawater. Ultimately, these low-frequency e-fields propagate through the water and can be detected at a moderate distance with e-field sensors; when combined with the acoustic data, the fused data can provide additional performance in terms of reduced false alarm rates, tracking, and classification. The opportunity, then, is to develop a tactically deployable, hybrid e-field and acoustic buoy that can support a multilayered data fusion approach to improve airborne ASW capability in cluttered littoral regions. This program will develop a conceptual buoy design that incorporates both the acoustic sensor and the e-field sensor for tactical surveillance and classification of marine vessels. The design will include in-buoy signal processing algorithms for data fusion of the e-field and acoustic sensors to increase probability of detection. System performance metrics will be predicted through simulation. Benefits: Successful completion of Phase I and the Option Phase will support the feasibility of an air-deployed system to detect electric-field signals in the ocean. As acoustic emissions from marine vessels become quieter, there is a growing need to research advanced sensors and sensor platforms that can provide enhanced passive detection of other types of target signals. The Phase I investigation will identify and determine the feasibility of developing critical components for an air-deployed system that combines the capability to detect low-level underwater electric-field signals generated by potential targets with existing acoustic sensing capability and advanced processing and detection capability. Phase II will support development and evaluation of prototype system components. Evaluation of Phase II metrics will provide data to support continued system development. The system approach for the combined sonobuoy provides alternatives for enhancing noise limited performance in other sonobuoy programs e.g. DIFAR or VLAD. The Phase I effort will develop a detailed conceptual system model and demonstrate simulated performance. The effort will also advance processing and data fusion algorithm technology. Return