2023_programme: Real-time passive acoustic beamforming and detection from the AutoNaut USV and Manta XLUUV

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  • Session: 12. Real-time underwater acoustic sensing and imaging systems: Advances- capabilities and results
    Organiser(s): Purnima Ratilal-Makris and Alessandra Tesei
  • Lecture: Real-time passive acoustic beamforming and detection from the AutoNaut USV and Manta XLUUV [invited]
    Paper ID: 1989
    Author(s): Anthony Treloar Alfie, Hunter Alan, Bujalka Jan, Narramore Jon, Blondel Philippe
    Presenter: Anthony Treloar Alfie
    Abstract: Autonomous uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) and underwater vehicles (UUVs) are quickly becoming essential platforms for marine data collection due to their economic and practical benefits over crewed alternatives. As acoustics is the primary sensing modality for the underwater environment, towed hydrophone arrays are of great importance to the realisation of their capabilities. The miniaturisation of hydrophones and electronics means arrays are now thin and light enough to be towed by these platforms, but incorporation of these data into the autonomy is key to fully unlocking their potential. Real-time processing is therefore a major step towards this. \nA real-time beamforming and detection payload was developed and tested with two different autonomous marine vehicles: the AutoNaut USV and the MSubs Manta extra-large UUV (XLUUV). During trials, a projector deployed from a support surface vessel was used to emulate an underwater source, emitting multiple tonal signals between 480-1630Hz. Simultaneously, the autonomous vehicle was towing a Seiche digital thin line array receiving the acoustic emissions. Beamforming and automated detection was performed in real-time on-board, logged, and in the case of the USV, communicated to human operators on shore. \nWe will present the beamforming and detection results from these trials, as well as the results of post-processing and follow-on work involving tracking using a particle filter.
      Download the full paper
  • Corresponding author: Dr Alfie Anthony Treloar
    Affiliation: University of Bath
    Country: United Kingdom
    e-mail:

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