Adaptive Beamforming for a Sonobuoy Planar Array

Adaptive beamforming can provide significant improvements in the active and passive performance of sonobuoy arrays. The algorithm must have the following properties: robust, rapidly convergent, providing increased low frequency array gain, providing effective nulling of interference, and be suitable for low cost implementation in a sonobuoy of limited size and power availability. ORINCON has identified several promising approaches to this adaptive beamforming problem. These will be evaluated in Phase I using broadband dynamic simulation with realistic interferers, reverberation, and multipath propagation. Recorded data will be used if it is available. The best algorithm in terms of performance and cost will be selected for implementation in low-cost, miniaturized hardware. Miniaturized hardware design will be accomplished during the Phase I Option period to permit early hardware delivery in Phase II.