AIR ASW ACOUSTIC PROCESSOR OPERATOR DECISION AIDS

THE ADVANCED MULTI-MODE/MULTI-VERNIER AN/AQA-7(V)10/11 AND AN/UYS-1 ACOUSTIC SIGNAL PROCESSORS PROVIDE AN ALMOST UNLIMITED NUMBER OF MODE SELECTION AND VERNIER SELECTION/PLACEMENT OPTIONS. THIS WIDE DIVERSITY OF PROCESSOR CONFIGURATION OPTIONS THUS ALLOWS THE OPERATOR TO TAILOR THE SET-UP OF HIS EQUIPMENT TO MAXIMIZE ACOUSTIC DETECTION PERFORMANCE FOR EACH TACTICAL SITUATION, THREAT(S) SCENARIO, AND SET OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED DURING AN ASW MISSION. HOWEVER, HIGH OPERATOR WORK LOADS DURING CRITICAL TACTICAL EVOLUTIONS, INEXPERIENCE, INADEQUATE TRAINING, AND/OR LACK OF READY ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL DATA LIMIT THE CAPABILITY OF OPERATORS TO OPTIMIZE THE CONFIGURATION OF THE PROCESSOR TO MAXIMIZE ACOUSTIC DETECTION PERFORMANCE. THIS PROPOSED EFFORT WILL DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING TECHNIQUES, ALGORITHMS AND LOGIC DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE ON-BOARD DECISION AIDS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF TOWED ARRAY SONARS TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF ADVANCED MULTI-MODE/MULTI-VERNIER ACOUSTIC SIGNAL PROCESSING IN ASW AIRCRAFT. THE RESULT OF THIS EFFORT WILL BE A DETAILED DESIGN FOR A FAST-RUNNING, ACCURATE ON-BOARD MODE SELECTION (OBMS) SOFTWARE PACKAGE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE PROCESSOR MODE SELECTION/VERNIER SELECTION/PLACEMENT ADVISORIES FOR ALL TACTICAL SITUATIONS, THREAT(S) SENSOR COMBINATIONS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ENCOUNTERED DURING AN ASW MISSION.