Spread Spectrum Techniques for Sonar Ping Technology

Coherent distributed active sonar systems are of great importance for the prosecution of modern day underwater threats. Existing systems typically employ sensor management strategies that underutilize the full capabilities of the multistatic sensor field. If the distributed multistatic field could continuously transmit waveforms, which are sensitive to both high-Doppler and low-Doppler bistatic regimes, from all deployed sources simultaneously the sensor field would achieve better war-fighting performance. This project seeks to mature this concept of multi-input multi-output sonar with spread spectrum and continuous transmission capability. We will validate spread spectrum ping technology as a sensor management strategy that outperforms conventional multistatics by exploiting the spatial, temporal, and bandwidth characteristics of the sonar system. We will use Monte Carlo war-fighting analysis, in-air tests and underwater tests to mature our waveform and processing design for a multistatic spread spectrum and continuous active sonar system that improves field detection, classification and localization capability. An integral part of this work will be to prepare for a transition into the NAVAIR Multistatic Active Coherent system.