Integrated Bridge Sonar Interface and Object Avoidance

The objective of this proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility of improving situational awareness and providing automated small object collision avoidance (in-stride mine avoidance) through the integration of real-time sonar data with Electronic Charting and Display Information System - Navy (ECDIS-N). The enhanced ECDIS-N will compute a `safe' route based on mariner-entered parameters, such as cross track error, max and min speed and vessel dynamics, etc. On those ships equipped with Automatic Navigation and Track Keeping Systems (ANTS), the `safe' route can be executed hands-off. For other vessels the route will be followed using traditional helm orders issued by a conning officer. In either case, the ECDIS-N will present the mariner with an integrated picture that graphically identifies the ship's position relative to the known geospatial environment, which will now include sonar identified objects. Integration of sonar data is a natural extension of ECDIS-N. Providing a real-time integrated view of the sub-surface environment ahead of the ship will significantly reduce the human data gathering and analytical aspects of navigation in the littorals, thereby enabling the mariner to focus on higher-level mission objectives. There is also a significant potential to reduce bridge manning levels for some ship evolutions.