A diver held navigation, bathymetry measuring, and current profiling sonar system

RD Instruments under the sponsorship of the Tactical Oceanographic Warfare Support (TOWS) Office of the Naval Research Laboratory has developed the Covert Littoral Acoustic Mapper (CLAM) for use in underwater navigation and measurement of beach bathymetry. Current profiles can be measured both above and below the unit since it can also function as an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). Because GPS and other electromagnetic navigation aids are not available underwater, acoustic techniques remain important. Various methods such as long and short baseline transponder systems and Doppler sonars are used in underwater vehicle and diver navigation. The CLAM provides unsurpassed accuracy in underwater navigation without using external transponders or beacons. Two versions of the CLAM have been successfully evaluated by Navy organizations since our previous presentation at MTS 94. Recently, a combined Navy SEAL, EOD, and Marine Reconnaissance diver organization has investigated the CLAM's suitability for very shallow water mine countermeasure missions, this paper describes the Navy's evaluations of CLAM. The author also discusses the RDI Workhorse ADCP and Navigator Doppler Velocity Log which are commercial embodiments of the small size and lower cost sonar technology developed under the CLAM program.