Advanced Forward Looking Sonar for Unmanned Vehicles

The Remote Minehunting System (RMS) AN/WLD-1(V)1 vehicle (RMV) currently does not have a forward-looking sonar (FLS), or any other underwater obstacle avoidance sensor. This means that the RMV itself, while towing a sonar array, will be "flying blind" in littoral environments that are expected to have mines and other obstacles. Operating without an FLS poses a significant risk to the vehicle, and therefore to the RMS mission. The addition of an FLS to the RMV will eliminate this risk. Sonatech is in a unique position to rapidly develop a design for an FLS for the RMS application that incorporates state-of-the-art technology and features and that can be produced with low risk. This is because Sonatech has extensive experience in high-performance FLS design and has previously developed a design concept proposed for the RMV FLS. Using a combination of existing design and technology along with development of new and modified transducer array designs, Sonatech can produce an FLS with the performance capabilities desired for the RMS, compatible with installation on the RMV.