Pier-Side, Bow Sonar Calibration Methodology for Wave Piercing Hull Forms

New wave-piercing hull designs and non-cylindrical arrays require a new methodology for calibration of bow sonars. Solutions must be portable and not add any deck fixtures that would increase the radar cross section of the hull. Unfortunately, the optimum separation between the ship sonar and the calibration transducers can be highly variable, depending on the frequencies and beam angles of interest, the geometry of the sonar array, and the acoustic environment in the vicinity of the test site SeaLandAire and Undersea Sensor Systems, Inc. (USSI) propose a system based on an unmoored, tightly controlled autonomous mobile station keeping platform to address this opportunity. The system is highly automated, requiring very little operator effort and is very flexible, allowing for direct far-field beam-pattern measurements when the site geometry is suitable; both result in reduced test time and complexity. For cases where site geometry is not suitable for direct pattern measurement, alternative near-field techniques will be evaluated in Phase I. The team will work closely with the ship and sonar system design authority to develop system set-up, data extraction, and data processing procedures for optimum performance.