Passive Location of Shallow Sea Targets Based on Scalar and Vector Hydrophone Association

In this study, a location algorithm that combines a ternary equilateral plane array composed of scalar hydrophone with a single vector hydrophone was designed in order to address the problem that a single vector hydrophone cannot be located, the measurement bandwidth of which is too narrow. The positioning formula of a ternary equilateral array is derived, and the impact of time delay errors on the accuracy of the positioning formula is analyzed. The advantages of the three formulas in specific angular ranges are determined. The accurate direction finding and ranging are completed by combining vector hydrophones. To automatically screen out the defects, a “circular sieve” is introduced for real-time post-processing. In the sea experiment, under the interference of shallow sea environmental noise, the location of the stationary and dynamic targets has been realized. Compared with the single-vector hydrophone, the proposed algorithm is more accurate. It has a good location effect in the horizontal plane and has a certain engineering application value.