Highlight model of echoes from sonar targets

I.IntroductionTheecho-rangingapproachistheonlycffectiveapproachfordetectionandidentifi-cationofunderwatertargetifitisasilcntobkct.Echoformationisaphysicalprocessinwhichthetargetisexcitcdbyincidentwavc.Byechothecharactcristicinformationsoftargethavebcencarricd.Suchinformationsarejustfundamentalsofdetectionandiden-hficationappliedbyactivesonars.Classificationandidentificationareimportantdevelopmentsofreccntsonarsin-c1udingthehomersoftorpedocs.Thisneedsadecpunderstandingrcferredtoechobe-haviors…     

声呐目标回波的亮点模型

本文为声呐工程提供一个实用的目标模型.基于大多数声呐系统采用高频限带信号的事实,用传递函数描述目标的回波特性比较适宜.在高频情况下,构成回波的各种成分,如镜反射波、棱角波和各种弹性散射波都可以等效成某个散射中心即亮点的回波.整个目标等效成一组空间分布亮点.本文给出亮点传递函数的普遍形式,它由幅度因子、时延和相位跳变三个参量描述.一个完整的目标模型就是给定这三个参量组、利用本文给出的亮点模型可以实现窄带回波波形的模拟.     

Performances of human listeners and an automatic aural classifier in discriminating between sonar target echoes and clutter

Human listening tests were conducted to investigate if participants could distinguish between samples of target echoes and clutter obtained from a broadband active sonar experiment. For each echo, the listeners assigned a rating based on how confident they were that it was a target echo or clutter. The measure of performance was the area under the binormal receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curve, A(z). The mean performance was A(z)=0.95 ± 0.04 when signals were presented with their full available acoustic bandwidth of approximately 0-2 kHz. It was A(z)=0.77 ± 0.08 when the bandwidth was reduced to 0.5-2 kHz. The error bounds are stated as 95% confidence intervals. These results show that the listeners could definitely hear differences, but their performance was significantly degraded when the low-frequency signal information was removed. The performance of an automatic aural classifier was compared against this human-performance baseline. Results of statistical tests showed that it outperformed 2 of 13 listeners and 5 of 9 human listeners in the full-bandwidth and reduced-bandwidth tests, respectively, and performed similarly to the other listeners. Given its performance, the automatic aural classifier may prove beneficial to Navy sonar systems.     

A waveguide invariant adaptive matched filter for active sonar target depth classification

This paper addresses depth discrimination of a water column target from bottom clutter discretes in wideband active sonar. To facilitate classification, the waveguide invariant property is used to derive multiple snapshots by uniformly sub-sampling the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) coefficients of a single ping of wideband active sonar data. The sub-sampled target snapshots are used to define a waveguide invariant spectral density matrix (WI-SDM), which allows the application of adaptive matched-filtering based approaches for target depth classification. Depth classification is achieved using a waveguide invariant minimum variance filter (WI-MVF) which matches the observed WI-SDM to depth-dependent signal replica vectors generated from a normal mode model. Robustness to environmental mismatch is achieved by adding environmental perturbation constraints (EPC) derived from signal covariance matrices averaged over the uncertain channel parameters. Simulation and real data results from the SCARAB98 and CLUTTER09 experiments in the Mediterranean Sea are presented to illustrate the approach. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) for robust waveguide invariant depth classification approaches are presented which illustrate performance under uncertain environmental conditions.     

Neuro-computational processing of moving sonar echoes classifies and localizes foliage

Echoes from in situ tree trunks, similar to those observed by flying bats, are processed. A moving sonar converts echoes into spike sequences and applies neural-computational methods to classify objects and estimate passing range. Two classes of tree trunks act as retro-reflectors that generate strong echoes (SEs), identified by a locally dense spike pattern. Linear drive-by sonar trajectories cause SEs to follow hyperbolic curves specified by passing range. A glint is a collection of consecutive range readings matching expected values on a specific hyperbolic curve. Passing-range detectors compare successive SE data with expected values in a table and tally coincidences. Counters increment when coincidences occur and decrement when they do not. A glint terminates after tallying a sufficient number of coincidences and coincidence failure occurs in the maximum-count detector. Reflector roughness, deviations in sonar trajectory, and echo jitter necessitate a coincidence window to define matches. Short windows identify small glints over piecewise linear sonar trajectories, while long windows accommodate deviations in sonar speed and trajectory, and associate multiple glints observed with shorter windows. The minimum coincidence window size yielding glints classify smooth and rough retro-reflectors.     

非刚性表面声呐目标回波的修正几何亮点模型

基于修正的Kirchhoff近似公式,本文提出了包括幅度、时延、相位跳变和局部平面波反射系数的非刚性表面声呐目标的修正四参数几何亮点模型。用原来的和修正的几何亮点模型对刚硬、裸露和敷设消声瓦的充水椭圆锥台壳体的目标强度进行了计算。结果表明原来的三参数几何亮点模型是在高频情况下未敷瓦壳体的一级近似。对于实际壳体,无论敷瓦还是未敷瓦都应采用修正的四参数几何亮点模型计算目标强度。     

Matched-field depth estimation for active sonar

This work concerns the problem of estimating the depth of a submerged scatterer in a shallow-water ocean by using an active sonar and a horizontal receiver array. As in passive matched-field processing (MFP) techniques, numerical modeling of multipath propagation is used to facilitate localization. However, unlike passive MFP methods where estimation of source range is critically dependent on relative modal phase modeling, in active sonar source range is approximately known from travel-time measurements. Thus the proposed matched-field depth estimation (MFDE) method does not require knowledge of the complex relative multipath amplitudes which also depend on the unknown scatterer characteristics. Depth localization is achieved by modeling depth-dependent relative delays and elevation angle spreads between multipaths. A maximum likelihood depth estimate is derived under the assumption that returns from a sequence of pings are uncorrelated and the scatterer is at constant depth. The Cramér-Rao lower bound on depth estimation mean-square-error is computed and compared with Monte Carlo simulation results for a typical range-dependent, shallow-water Mediterranean environment. Depth estimation performance to within 10% of the water column depth is predicted at signal-to-noise ratios of greater than 10 dB. Real data results are reported for depth estimation of an echo repeater to within 10-m accuracy in this same shallow water environment.     

Demonstration of the invariance principle for active sonar

Active sonar systems can provide good target detection potential but are limited in shallow water environments by the high level of reverberation produced by the interaction between the acoustic signal and the ocean bottom. The nature of the reverberation is highly variable and depends critically on the ocean and seabed properties, which are typically poorly known. This has motivated interest in techniques that are invariant to the environment. In passive sonar, a scalar parameter termed the waveguide invariant, has been introduced to describe the slope of striations observed in lofargrams. In this work, an invariant for active sonar is introduced. This active invariant is shown to be present in the time-frequency structure observed in sonar data from the Malta Plateau, and the structure agrees with results produced from normal mode simulations. The application of this feature in active tracking algorithms is discussed.     

Precise bearing and automatic target tracking in digital sonar

I.IntroductionItiswellknownthatthepreciseestimationofDOA(DirectionOfArrival)oftargetisanimportantthesisinpassivesonardesign.TheoptimumestimationaccuracyexpressionforlinearrayispresentedbyLewisalldothersll-3].Basedonthepointofviewoftime-delayestimation,Carteretal.showthattheaccuracyoftime-delayestimationofreceivedsignalbetweentwodifferentchannelscanreachtheoptimumCramer-RaolowboundI4-6].Forthedigitalsonarthebearingbeamdirectionisusuallyequal-spaceddistributedwithino-36o".Inordertofindthep…     

Trading detection for resolution in active sonar receivers

This paper proposes an active sonar receivers that offers a smooth trade-off between detection and resolution. A matched filter is the optimal detector of known signals in white Gaussian noise but may fail to resolve the targets if the time separation of targets is less than the mainlobe width of the autocorrelation function of the transmitted signal. An inverse filter achieves optimal resolution performance for multiple targets in the absence of noise, but amplifies the noise outside the signal bandwidth in a manner that makes it impractical in many realistic scenarios. The proposed active sonar receiver, the variable resolution and detection receiver (VRDR) combines the matched and inverse filter properties to achieve a smooth trade-off between detection and resolution. Simulated receiver operating characteristics demonstrate that for a range of dipole sonar targets, the performance of the VRDR is superior to the matched and inverse filter, as well as another previously proposed bandlimited inverse filter.     

Probing waveforms and adaptive receivers for active sonar

Active sonar systems involve the transmission and reception of one or more probing sequences, which provide a basis for extraction of target information in a region of interest. The probing sequences at the transmitter and signal processing at the receiver play crucial roles in the overall system performance. In this paper, CAN (cyclic algorithm-new) is employed to synthesize probing sequences with good aperiodic autocorrelation properties. The performance of the CAN sequences will be compared with those of pseudo random noise and random phase sequences. Two adaptive receiver designs, namely the iterative adaptive approach (IAA) and the sparse learning via iterative minimization (SLIM) method, will also be considered. IAA and SLIM will be compared with the conventional matched filter method. The performances of the algorithms will be illustrated via numerical examples, which show that CAN, IAA, and SLIM can contribute to the overall performance improvement of the active sonar systems.     

Effects of mid-frequency active sonar on hearing in fish

Caged fish were exposed to sound from mid-frequency active (MFA) transducers in a 5 × 5 planar array which simulated MFA sounds at received sound pressure levels of 210 dB SPL(re 1 μPa). The exposure sound consisted of a 2 s frequency sweep from 2.8 to 3.8 kHz followed by a 1 s tone at 3.3 kHz. The sound sequence was repeated every 25 s for five repetitions resulting in a cumulative sound exposure level (SEL(cum)) of 220 dB re 1 μPa(2) s. The cumulative exposure level did not affect the hearing sensitivity of rainbow trout, a species whose hearing range is lower than the frequencies in the presented MFA sound. In contrast, one cohort of channel catfish showed a statistically significant temporary threshold shift of 4-6 dB at 2300 Hz, but not at lower tested frequencies, whereas a second cohort showed no change. It is likely that this threshold shift resulted from the frequency spectrum of the MFA sound overlapping with the upper end of the hearing frequency range of the channel catfish. The observed threshold shifts in channel catfish recovered within 24 h. There was no mortality associated with the MFA sound exposure used in this test.     

Interaction of emitted sonar pulses and simulated echoes in a false killer whale: an evoked-potential study

Auditory evoked potentials (AEP) were recorded during echolocation in a false killer whale Pseudorca crassidens. An electronically synthesized and played-back (simulated) echo was triggered by an emitted biosonar pulse, and its intensity was proportional to that of the emitted click. The delay and transfer factor of the echo relative to the emitted click was controlled by the operator. The echo delay varied from 2 to 16 ms (by two-fold steps), and the transfer factor varied within ranges from -45 to -30 dB at the 2-ms delay to -60 to -45 dB at the 16-ms delay. Echo-related AEPs featured amplitude dependence both on echo delay at a constant transfer factor (the longer the delay, the higher amplitude) and on echo transfer factor at a constant delay (the higher transfer factor, the higher amplitude). Conjunctional variation of the echo transfer factor and delay kept the AEP amplitude constant when the delay to transfer factor trade was from -7.1 to -8.4 dB per delay doubling. The results confirm the hypothesis that partial forward masking of the echoes by the preceding emitted sonar pulses serves as a time-varying automatic gain control in the auditory system of echolocating odontocetes.     

主动声呐恒包络波形设计及其性能分析

为主动声呐设计恒包络的伪随机编码MSK调制波形。通过分析MSK信号表达式,得到波形的复包络信号。使用遗传算法优化伪随机序列,降低波形的自相关旁瓣,可减小声呐的虚警概率。通过优化复包络信号的自相关函数旁瓣值和互相关函数值,得到自相关性能和正交性能优良的恒包络波形,可以缓解多部声呐间的同频干扰。通过仿真分析波形的模糊度图,波形具有良好的频率分辨率和距离分辨率,可以取代峰均比过高的编码调相信号,满足主动声呐对运动目标的探测需求。     

高分辨率有源声呐强混响抑制技术研究

有源声呐分辨率的提高可以抑制混响,但也使声呐包络数据的统计分布偏离瑞利分布,而更接近拖尾较重的K分布。强散射体所带来的强混响的幅值一般较大,它们使统计分布拖尾更严重,表征K分布的形状参数也越小。强混响作为目标干扰,严重影响了背景功率估计的准确性,从而降低了目标检测的性能。本文基于模糊统计理论,首先提出了用于抑制强混响的模糊统计归一化处理方法;然后对强混响和模糊统计归一化处理如何影响声呐数据分布和CFAR(Constant false-alarm rate)目标检测性能进行了仿真、研究和分析,最后对基于模糊统计归一化处理的CFAR检测性能和传统CFAR检测性能进行了仿真比较。仿真结果表明强混响目标干扰能使K分布数据的形状参数变小,而模糊统计归一化处理可抑制强混响目标干扰,增大包络数据分布的形状参数,提高形状参数估计性能和CFAR检测性能。     

连续波主动声呐的直达波抑制处理方法研究*

针对连续波主动声呐面临的强直达波干扰掩蔽目标回波的问题,该文在双基地配置已知的前提下,提出基于声屏蔽和常规方向零陷的联合抑制方法。即在精确的发射点声屏蔽的基础上,利用常规方向零陷技术减少声源附近方位的能量影响,从而达到更好地消除强直达波干扰的目的。仿真结果表明,在极低的信干比条件下,联合抑制方法比声屏蔽方法、常规方向零陷方法具有更好的干扰抑制性能。该方法可以有效减少连续波主动声呐的直达波的影响,在时间-距离模糊度图上得到清晰的目标位置。     

宽带声呐湖底沉积物分类研究

本文论述如何运用实际宽带主动声呐的回波信号识别湖底沉积物介质类型。五类湖底沉积层介质分别为:淤泥、岩石、孵石、沙、沙/砾石混合层。比较了等Q和等带宽两种子带能量频域特征提取方法,确认了等Q方法的优点。应用标准前馈BP人工神经网络结构,对五类湖底沉积层介质的平均正确识别率达到82.1%。     

The effects of high-intensity, low-frequency active sonar on rainbow trout

This study investigated the effects on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) of exposure to high-intensity, low-frequency sonar using an element of the standard Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar source array. Effects of the LFA sonar on hearing were tested using auditory brainstem responses. Effects were also examined on inner ear morphology using scanning electron microscopy and on nonauditory tissues using general pathology and histopathology. Animals were exposed to a maximum received rms sound pressure level of 193 dB re 1 microPa(2) for 324 or 648 s, an exposure that is far in excess of any exposure a fish would normally encounter in the wild. The most significant effect was a 20-dB auditory threshold shift at 400 Hz. However, the results varied with different groups of trout, suggesting developmental and/or genetic impacts on how sound exposure affects hearing. There was no fish mortality during or after exposure. Sensory tissue of the inner ears did not show morphological damage even several days post-sound exposure. Similarly, gross- and histopathology observations demonstrated no effects on nonauditory tissues.     

数字式声呐对目标的精确测向和自动跟踪问题

精确测向和自动跟踪是被动声呐的重要任务,本文给出数定式声呐精确测向的一种算法,指出最佳测向精度和基阵尺寸及频段的关系,推导了测向和延时估计的关系,利用波束主瓣附近的抛物线内插法可以精确给出目标方位并实现自动跟踪,计算机的模拟表明本文提出的方法具有良好的性能并且易于用硬件实现     

采用典型相关分析实现主动声纳直达波干扰抑制

海上多舰船编队作战条件下,来自于友舰的直达波干扰强度往往远大于期望目标回波的强度,使得主动声纳的目标探测性能大大降低。设计互相关性较小的发射信号虽然能够降低干信比,但是所获得的增益有限,而且限制了发射信号的选择空间。本文研究了一种基于信号结构特性的典型相关分析算法,大大降低了能量对于检测结果的影响。基于仿真结果进行了算法的可行性分析,结果表明它具有优秀的抗同频干扰能力。