2019_programme: PASSIVE DETECTION AND BEARING-ONLY TRACKING OF LARGE TIME-BANDWIDTH SIGNALS USING AN AUV MOUNTED VECTOR SENSOR



  • Session: 11. Large Time-Bandwidth acoustic signals for target detection and tracking
    Organiser(s): Tesei Alessandra
  • Lecture: PASSIVE DETECTION AND BEARING-ONLY TRACKING OF LARGE TIME-BANDWIDTH SIGNALS USING AN AUV MOUNTED VECTOR SENSOR [invited]
    Paper ID: 893
    Author(s): Terracciano Daniele Sebino, Costanzi Riccardo, Manzari Vincenzo, Stifani Mirko, Caiti Andrea, LePage Kevin, Troiano Luigi
    Presenter: Terracciano Daniele Sebino
    Presentation type: oral
    Abstract: This paper presents experimental results of passive detection and bearing-only tracking of underwater sources using a DIFAR (Directional Frequency Analysis and Recording) vector sensor installed on the eFolaga Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). Compared to classical towed arrays, the use of a compact directional sensor, such as the DIFAR vector sensor, allows easier integration within AUVs and facilitates the vehicle maneuverability. The ability to estimate the bearing of large-time bandwidth acoustic signals, especially continuous active sonar (CAS) signals between 1.8 and 3.6 kHz, has been demonstrated in post-processing. The bearing estimation method is based on the cross-product between the pressure sensor and the two orthogonal dipole sensors of the DIFAR, and it was implemented both in time and in frequency domain. Extensive data acquisition has been made in underwater gliding navigation, minimizing energy consumption while increasing the covertness of the unmanned vehicle. Even in gliding mode between 20 and 40 meters of depth, the bearing estimation algorithm worked equally well. \nThe data set was acquired during the Littoral Continuous Active Sonar 2018 (LCAS18) experiment, which took place off the coast of Elba Island, Italy, in November 2018, thanks to the collaboration between the Experimentation and Support Centre of Italian Navy (CSSN) and the NATO STO - CMRE (Science and Technology Organization - Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation). The LCAS18 experiment was focused on understanding the coherent processing limits (time and bandwidth) of continuous active sonar waveforms used for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) in littoral environments. In this paper, the trial set-up is described. Experimental results on detection and the bearing estimation, both in time and in frequency domain, are presented. The obtained results, combined with the vehicle persistence, suggest new approaches to acoustic surveillance in a completely autonomous way.
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  • Corresponding author: Mr Terracciano Daniele Sebino
    Affiliation: University of Pisa, Department of Information Engineering
    Country: Italy
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