DEEP WATER PINGER LOCATOR SYSTEM

ACOUSTIC LOCATOR BEACONS OPERATE AT FREQUENCIES WHERE SIGNIFICANT SIGNAL ATTENUATION TAKES PLACE AS A RESULT OF THE ABSORPTION OF ACOUSTIC ENERGY BY SEAWATER. THIS PUTS A HARD UPPER LIMIT ON THE RANGE OF DETECTION FOR A SIMPLE LOCATING RECEIVER. FOR EXAMPLE, TO EXTEND DETECTION FROM 1.5 TO 3 NAUTICAL MILES, ABOUT 30 DB MORE SIGNAL ENERGY AT THE RECEIVER IS NEEDED. SOLUATIONS FOR LONGER RANGE DETECTION MUST ACHIEVE AS MUCH GAIN AS COST-EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION WILL ALLOW. UST PROPOSES TO INVESTIGATE SYSTEMS WHICH PROVIDE 20 TO 40 DB IMPROVEMENT IN THE ACOUSTIC DETECTION PROCESS WITH A NOVEL AND INEXPENSIVE ARRAY RECEIVER, AND TO INVESTIGATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS IMPROVED RECEIVER IN A CONFIGURATION WHICH LENDS ITSELF TO A VARIETY OF OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENTS.