The ultimate objective of this proposed work is to develop an end-to-end imaging sonar system for the study and surveillance of the sea-bottom. Specifically, the system is to exhibit advanced techniques for sonar signal processing to detect, size and classify mine targets. An image sonar processor software package will be developed. Although side-looking sonars will be included, the processor will emphasize synthetic aperture sonar applications. The processor will be designed to operate in a real-time interactive imaging environment as the primary data display in anticipation of its ultimate use by navy at sea in actual operations. The approach prop posed here takes advantage of existing long/short range, advanced state-of-the-art sonar sensors. The specialized processing algorithms to be developed will incorporate the latest results from the navy sea-bottom acoustic experimental programs. By tracing the signal/ noise degradation from the transducer-target-transducer to the data acquisition systems, including phase distortion (end-to-end approach), the processor will optimize the information for display to the field operator at the highest possible resolution. Ultimately, this processor can be implemented on on-board VLSI mini-computers provided with high density memory buffers and high speed microprocessors.
