Reliable Target Area of Uncertainty from an Underwater Acoustic Source(s)

The overall and principal objective in the Phase I effort will be determining the feasibility of an algorithmic approach to yield reliable and reduced target AOUs in an air deployed multi-static active sonar field. The feasibility will be based on the realized accuracy gains; achieving real-time data turn-around; and the computer information processing (IP) resources needed for estimating AOUs in real time. Achieving these capabilities and demonstrating the overall feasibility requires a clear understanding of each aspect of the resultant multi-element processing information exchange. As identified in the SBIR topic discussion, the principal data input elements to be addressed in the algorithm development are: estimates of the initial buoy locations; estimates of the speed of sound in water; estimates of current velocities; and the acoustic signals [generated by the VLA source and received by the directional array sonobuoys in the deployed field].