SBIR-STTR Award

This effort is focused on establishing an important capability of providing a comprehensive, advanced model of the three-dimensional acoustic field, including propagation, scattering, and reverberation in complex and dynamic environments. This new 3D acoustic model would feed the Navys sonar performance estimation tool with a purpose of addressing the optimal placement of sensors in complicated environments for tasks such as establishing underwater communication links or harbor surveillance. The focus of this proposal is further development of the already existing SOFAR Acoustics virtual source scattering and propagation model for predicting three-dimensional acoustic field parameters in environments characterized by complex geometries with variable boundary and propagation conditions. This tool will take into account all of the physically significant mechanism naturally occurring in this scenario including propagation, multiple-scattering, and reverberation in a highly constrained harbor environment. The approach provides a numerically efficient, broad-band model that can take into account closed boundary 3D objects or targets located in the water-column and it is therefore well suited to describe the scattering effects of blockages such as deep draft vessels and mooring dolphins. The acoustic model will be assessed for use in sonar performance estimation tools to address the optimal placement of sensors in constrained environments.

Benefit:
This effort is focused on establishing an important capability for the U.S. Navy in providing a comprehensive and advanced sonar performance model used to address the optimal placement of sensors in complicated environments for tasks including submarine detection, mine hunting, or swimmer detection. Based on the already existing components of the target scattering model, propagation and reverberation modules we have an advantage of a swift, proficient, and economical implementation and testing of an advanced and comprehensive full field 3D acoustic field prediction tool. Even though sonar operators are increasingly being asked to perform tasks including navigation or detection in confined waterways such as rivers or ports, there is currently a gap in the availability of models capable of predicting the acoustic field in such highly geometrically constrained and dynamic environments. This type of a model combined with an appropriate decision aid could address the optimal placement of sensors in complicated environments for tasks including establishing underwater communication links or harbor surveillance and would likely to become a disruptive technology in Harbor Defense, Mine Countermeasures (MCM), and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). This product is relevant to branches of the military such as the Navy and the Department of Homeland Security as well as to non-military applications. Some of non-military marine applications include private security clients in the protection of marinas and private or commercial vessels.

Keywords:
underwater acoustics, underwater acoustics, Propagation, 3D acoustic modeling, performance estimation, Sonar, Scattering