Techniques for Automatically Exploiting Passive Acoustic Sonar Data

The current passive anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonar processing paradigm is manpower-intensive, and relies heavily on expert operators to perform the classification function. 3 Phoenix proposes to apply innovative signal processing technologies to achieve a high level of automation in the detection and classification process in order to reduce the manning and workload levels required for passive ASW. Based on our analysis of many hours of sea test data over the years, we believe that most contacts are readily identifiable by narrowband analysis, and that with the additional features described in this proposal, a high probability of correct classification can be achieved for most contacts. 3 Phoenix will develop innovative signal feature extraction algorithms and target classification architecture while leveraging mature beamforming, signal processing and tracking technologies to address the problem of automatic classification for operator alert.