Automated Marine Mammal Mitigation Sensor for Multi-Static Active ASW

Signal Systems Corporation, with its partners USSI and Marine Acoustics Inc, will show, using a simulation based design approach, that it is feasible to develop a highly automated Marine Mammal Mitigation Sonar (M3S), embedded in an AN/SSQ-125 source sonobuoy, which is effective in reducing operator workload while providing marine mammal mitigation to meet NAVAIR, OPNAV N45 requirements and the US government regulator (National Marine Fisheries Service) current standards. During the Phase I Option we will construct a breadboard of M3S and demonstrate its use in water. The SSC team has proposed a sound approach that comprehensively examines the entire set of risks associated with the M3S problem: sonar performance and development risk, regulatory approval risk, sonar automation in the presence of clutter, and achieving operator workload reduction. At the conclusion of Phase I, the SSC team will have a recommend M3S architecture, Key Performance Parameters that are needed for the final system, a simulation-based design assessment of the M3S performance with respect to these KPPs, conducted bench-top tests of the leading AN/SSQ-125 design changes, specifications for a prototype M3S in Phase II, briefing materials for regulatory review and a breadboard that will be tested.