Environmental Characterization using Tactical Sensors

Environmental information is critical to successful Air ASW multistatic search operations to optimize buoy field spacing, frequency band selection, and classifier parameters in systems such as ALFS, EER and IEER. Tactically important environmental parameters are local and time-varying for shallow water ASW. This SBIR effort examines concepts for using existing fleet assets with changes limited to aircraft avionics and the Technical Support Center (TSC). A new concept for improving search performance that uses only a monostatic source and receiver was identified, analyzed and shown feasible in Phase I. The ECTS Phase II effort will develop an automated process of using tactical sensors associated with the IEER and ALFS systems to extract environmental parameters. These parameters need to be extracted accurately and soon enough to predict system performance and plan the rest of the mission. The sonar system's Tactical Decision Aide (TDA) will use these parameters to predict field performance for the existing/recorded mission and to recommend improved field or dipping plans for near-future missions in the same area. The ECTS processor will be used by the Navy when historical information has too much uncertainty for reliable mission planning.