Development of Underwater Security Sonar System

A significant research project for developing an underwater security sonar system has been initiated in Japan to guard oil piants, harbors, airports, power piants, and LNG/Oil tankers against underwater terror attacks. In addition, it is planned to quickly establish means of scientifically searching for underwater smuggling of weapons and narcotics, poaching divers, illegal disposals and dead bodies, under the cloak of murky water. A model system was developed to provide empirical data and a means for evaluating detection and fusion algorithms. Major sensors of a littoral surveillance system properly include radar, optical cameras, infrared cameras, and an underwater acoustic surveillance system. We have systemized a wharf security system composed of two acoustic video cameras, a sector scanning sonar and supporting software in the first year of this 3 year program.