Shallow Water Bottom Characteristic Measurement Sensor

"Detailed knowledge of the operational environment can beexploited to improve the capabilities of active sonar detectionand classification systems. The deployment geometry, transmitbandwidth and averaging time can all be set to optimize detectionperformance given the detection system has a detailed knowledgeof the operational environment. In addition, more detailedknowledge may also provide target classification clues derivedfrom the received echo shape. The environmental data gathered onstation could be integrated into a tactical decision aid (TDA)that is run prior to the start of the Anti Submarine Warfare(ASW) search phase of the mission.One of the more difficult parameters to measure in-situ is thebottom scattering strength vs. grazing angle. Knowledge of thebottom scattering strength is critical in shallow water operationwhere the bottom reverberation is the dominant source ofinterference. This is especially true in downward refractingenvironments. The bottom scattering strength is difficult tomeasure because bottom reverberation is a function of a number ofcomplex parameters such as the transmission loss to the bottomand the bottom loss verses grazing angle curve.This SBIR solicitation (N01-017) proposes the development of anew sensor capable of making a bottom loss measurement. To keepdevelopment and production costs manageable, this new sensor willleverage heavily on existing air deployed sonobuoy technology.The propose