Location of Acoustic Beacon with Passive Sonar system : A Comprehensive Analysis

An acoustic beacon is a device that emits sound waves for the purpose of providing a reference mark for finding any object. Beacons are usually used in navigation, underwater communication, and search and rescue operations. In the context of search and rescue operations acoustic beacons are usually used in locating distressed vessels, crashed aircraft or individuals in emergency situations. Among the many ways of locating an acoustic beacon, sonar systems are the most effective way. The key methods and techniques used in the sonar system process are active sonar, passive sonar, doppler sonar, synthetic aperture sonar, and multi-beam sonar. These systems are capable of detecting the sound waves emitted by the acoustic beacons. A passive sonar system is a detection system that will actively listen to the environment without actively transmitting any kind of waves. The distinct advantages of a passive sonar system over the other systems are stealthy operation, wide range coverage, lower cost, and complexity. The stealthy characteristic is crucial in military and covert operations. Passive sonar systems are most often cost-effective than active sonar systems because they don’t need the generation of high-intensity sound pulses. Passive sonar systems can detect sounds from far sources including submarines, ships, marine life, and even underwater explosions. They can cover a wide range of areas with relatively a smaller number of hydrophones, and this makes them suitable for large-scale surveillance and monitoring applications. It’s important to note that any specific sonar system used may vary depending on the resources, environment, and requirements of the search and rescue operations. The technology and techniques used in locating acoustic beacons may also continue to evolve over time.