A new high accuracy super-short baseline (SSBL) system

This paper describes an acoustic super short baseline (SSBL) tracking system capable of tracking up to twenty targets simultaneously, accurately and at long ranges. The design of the hydrophone array is similar to that of conventional SSBL arrays, but uses greater inter-element separation to provide much better tracking accuracy. With this design, the bearing and elevation of targets at ranges greater than 10 km can be tracked with an accuracy better than 0.1 degree. Some applications of SSBL include: full ocean depth SSBL systems for ROV navigation and tracking; towbody tracking; integrated long baseline (LBL) and SSBL navigation; and long seismic streamer tracking. This paper discusses the design and performance of an integrated SSBL/LBL system that provides 0.1% slant range accuracy at ranges greater than those achievable using currently available SSBL tracking systems.