Implementation of adaptive processing in integrated active-passive sonars with multi-dimensional arrays

The investigation reported includes a multi-dimensional array sonar for underwater robotics operations, such as mine hunting. The various aspects of robotics arrangements for the ROV are discussed in association with the sonar performance characteristics provided by the integrated functionality of the multi-dimensional array sonar including an adaptive beamformer. The proposed adaptive processing concept has been implemented in an integrated active-passive real-time sonar deploying a cylindrical array. Real data results from the adaptive and conventional beamforming outputs of the cylindrical array sonar system demonstrate the superior performance of the adaptive beamformer in suppressing the reverberation and cluttering effects in active sonar applications. Moreover, for passive sonar applications, the adaptive processing provides substantially improved the angular resolution performance as compared with that of the conventional beamformer. Both these two performance improvements for a cylindrical array sonar are of particular importance for mine hunting operations.