Adaptive beamforming of a towed array during a turn

During maneuvering, towed array beamforming degrades if a straight array is assumed. This is especially true for high-resolution adaptive beamforming. It is experimentally demonstrated that adaptive beamforming is feasible on a turning array, provided that array shape is estimated. The array shape can be inferred solely from the coordinates of the tow vessel's Global Positioning System (GPS) without any instrumentation in the array. Based on estimated array shape from the GPS, both the conventional beamformer and the white noise constrained (WNC) adaptive beamformer are shown to track the source well during a turn. When calculating the weight vector in the WNC approach, a matrix inversion of the cross-spectral density matrix is involved. This matrix inversion can be stabilized by averaging the cross-spectral density matrix over neighboring frequencies. The proposed algorithms have been tested on real data with the tow-vessel making 45/spl deg/ turns with a 500-m curvature radius. While turning, the improvement in performance over the assumption of a straight array geometry was up to 5 dB for the conventional beamformer and considerably larger for the WNC adaptive beamformer.     

Evaluation of the dominant mode rejection beamformer using reducedintegration times

Increasing the number of hydrophones in an array should increase beamformer performance. However, when the number of hydrophones is large, integration times must be long enough to give accurate cross-spectral matrix (CSM) estimates, but short enough so that the dynamic behavior of the noise described by the CSM is captured. The dominant mode rejection (DMR) beamformer calculates adaptive weights based on a reduced rank CSM estimate, where the CSM estimate is formed with a subset of the largest eigenvalues and their eigenvectors. Since the largest eigenvalue/eigenvector pairs are estimated rapidly, the integration time required is reduced. The purpose of this study was to examine the DMR beamformer performance using a bottom-mounted horizontal line array in a shallow-water environment. The data were processed with a fully adaptive beamformer and the DMR beamformer. The DMR beamformer showed better performance than the fully adaptive beamformer when using arrays with larger numbers of hydrophones. Thus, in highly dynamic noise environments, the DMR beamformer may be a more appropriate implementation to use for passive sonar detection systems     

Theory and analytical performance evaluation of generalizedcorrelation beamformers

Traditionally, passive detection and localization of an acoustic source has been based on exploiting the relative differences in temporally averaged power outputs of contiguous beams of an element-weighted beamformer. An alternate approach, the generalized correlation beamformer (GCBF), is proposed where a weighted Toeplitz-averaged (spatially averaged) correlation function is used to estimate the beamformer output power. All element-weight sequences can be transformed into correlation-weight sequences through a convolution operation. Additional weight sequences which cannot be generated from a convolution of real element-weight sequences are available for use in the GCBF. A special case of the GCBF was proposed by Wilson et al. (1995) in which the correlation-weights are set to unity, a correlation-weight sequence which cannot be obtained from any classical element-weight sequence. Although such a “boxcar” correlation-weight sequence produces a sharper main peak power response (improved resolution), it has the undesirable effect of producing abnormally high (positive and negative power) sidelobes. General analytical performance bounds are developed that accurately reflect the GCBF detection and bearing localization performance for a noise model that includes spatially white noise and spatially discrete interferers (clutter). Analysis results indicate that the GCBF with Bartlett correlation-weights outperformed the GCBF with unity correlation-weights for both detection and bearing estimation except when the clutter bearing is close to the signal bearing     

Spatial processing of signals received by platform mounted sonar

Acoustic signals received by platform mounted sonar arrays can be spatially processed to enhance the detection of targets in the presence of both ambient and platform generated (self) noise. Ambient noise in the ocean, such as that due to distant shipping or biological choruses, are known to be spatially correlated. The platform generated noise will be of near-field origin and may not be received by all elements in the array. In this paper we investigate the performance of the minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) beamformer and the recently introduced Fourier integral method (FIM) and compare their performances with the conventional beamformer. Real passive sonar data, obtained from a platform mounted sparse linear array of hydrophones, is used to study the performance of the beamformers in a typical sonar environment. It is shown that in the absence of self noise, when the array is accurately calibrated the MVDR beamformer will perform very well, but when sensor gain or phase errors are present the performance of the MVDR beamformer is degraded. Further, the MVDR beamformer is unable to reject the self noise which is not "seen" by the entire array. FIM however seems to perform well and a modified version of FIM, which we call weighted FIM (WFIM), is shown to perform better and is at worst comparable to a well calibrated MVDR beamformer     

Remedying the effects of array shape distortion on the spatialfiltering of acoustic data from a line array of hydrophones

The effects of both small perturbations and large deformations to the array's shape on both conventional and adaptive beamformers are shown for two frequencies: the spatial Nyquist frequency (or design frequency) of the array and a frequency about three times greater. Large shape deformations lead to a decrease in the conventional beamformer's output power for a beam steered in the direction of the signal source, together with an increase in the sidelobe levels (or secondary maxima), while small perturbations in the array shape have little effect. Signal suppression is observed to be far greater for the adaptive beamformer because it is very sensitive to system errors. The imposition of a weight norm constraint on the adaptive beamformer reduces the signal suppression only for small shape perturbations array shape estimation techniques are needed to reduce signal suppression for large shape deformations. The adverse effects of a nonlinear array shape on both conventional and adaptive beamforming are shown to be substantially reduced by applying techniques that estimate the coordinates of the hydrophones prior to beamforming     

The TAP III beamforming system

The Three-Array Processor (TAP III) beamforming system incorporating both wide-band time-domain beamforming and narrow-band frequency-domain beamforming is described. This paper briefly develops the beamforming theory and shows how the fast Fourier transform (FFT) is applied to accomplish frequency-domain beamforming. The frequency-domain beamformer operates in the frequency domain to form beams and power spectrum data over narrow frequency bands of interest. A real-time digital filtering technique is used to extract the narrow bands of interest from the broad-band input signal. The frequency-domain beamformer accomplishes real-time digital filtering and beamforming by using a high-speed array processor to do the complex calculations and data handling required by the algorithm. The time-domain beamformer operates in parallel with the frequency-domain beamformer to form up to 16 broad-band beams in the time domain. A programmable all-pass digital filter is used to create the fine time delays required by the time-domain beamformer.     

基于水听器阵的广义相关波束形成算法研究

传统上都是使用基于常规波束形成(CBF)输出功率的不同进行声源的被动检测和定位。广义相关波束形成,是一种旨在将平均Toep litz相关函数用于估计波束形成的输出功率。从线性矢量水听器阵出发,分析了常规波束形成,对广义相关波束形成(GCBF)进行了深入研究,通过对广义相关波束形成器进行“W ilson”和“Bartlett”加权,可以分别得到FIM(WFIM)和CBF,对这三种波束形成器进行了理论分析和计算机仿真,结果表明三个波束形成器的分辨能力从高到低依次是:FIM、WFIM、CBF。     

Accurate Acoustic Signal Parameter Estimation for Marine Geodesy Surveys

Acoustic signal parameter estimation is important for diverse marine geodesy surveys and several other applications. However, the received signal from a far-field target characterized by planar wavefront propagation is frequently affected by strong nearby interfering signals. Their presence deteriorates the performance of direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation for far-field target. In order to enhance the reception of signal from far-field target, the near-field/far-field (NFFF) beamformer is proposed. Such a beamformer optimizes beam pattern for far-field detection by maximizing beamformer output in the direction of the far-field target with the imposed condition to eliminate interfering signals generated in near-field locations. As the interference suppression only occurs at the position of near-field interference, a possible blind zone for far-field detection in conventional methods is not created. The NFFF beamformer is applicable for coherent signals and the scenario with multi interferences. For stationary situation where interferers locations are fixed, the NFFF beamformer computations do not require time updates with associated computational load. Furthermore the proposed method can be extended to several new situations such as acoustic monitoring performed from a stationary platform subjected to water currents, waves, winds and other variables, all of them generating nearby interferences and also to different array configurations including 2D and 3D arrays.     

高分辨率波束形成器在多波束测深系统中的应用

对于海底地形测量,基于FT波束形成的幅度检测法空间分辨率较低,只能较准确给出有限测点的水深信息;平坦海底前提下,分裂子阵检测法或多子阵检测法可以得到连续测点的水深信息,复杂海底地形条件下,这两种方法均难以应用。能否利用高分辨率波束形成器来提高测深系统的空间分辨率是一个值得研究的问题。使用ESPRIT波束形成器处理了多波束测深系统的试验数据,并就其性能与FT波束形成器进行了比较与分析。     

A reconfigurable real-time interpolation beamformer

This paper describes an architecture for a compact real-time time-delay sonar beamformer. The design is based on a time-domain interpolation concept, and includes shading, interpolation, and time-delay functions for up to 64 sensor data inputs. A one card per beam configuration has been achieved. The digital interpolation technique used improves the effective sampling rate by a factor of 128. The beamformer design features 16-bit arithmetic precision, up to approximately a 5-kHz sampling rate for each of the 64 sensor input channels, and adaptability to any type of array, e.g., linear, circular, or arrays with nonequal interelement spacings. A 31-beam beamformer system, performing more than 620-million arithmetic operations a second, is discussed.     

Optimization of conventional beamformer shading weights for conformal velocity sonar

A numerical optimization technique that uses sonar array noise measurements is used to determine conventional shading weights that maximize the broadband deflection coefficient at the output of the optimal square-law detector, across a frequency band of interest. This process maintains the structure of the conventional processor while providing performance improvement typical of adaptive techniques. The performance of the optimized time domain delay-and-sum beamformer is compared with that of the traditional beamformer that uses conventionally chosen shading weights. Application of this method to conformal velocity sonar array data is shown to provide large improvements in performance over heuristic designs.     

基于高阶累积量的自适应波束形成

常规波束形成器仅限于利用信号的二阶统计特性。作者采用高阶累积量估计期望信号的导向矢量 (Steering Vector) ,实现了一种基于高阶累积量的自适应波束形成器 (HCAB)。该波束形成器利用信号的更高阶统计特性 ,减少了对阵列流型的依赖 ,具有较好的容差性 ,能自动跟踪信号。数值模拟实验表明该波束形成器工作良好。     

Beam forming on bottom-interacting tow-ship noise

Ship noise received on a horizontal array towed behind the ship is shown to be useful as a potentially diagnostic tool for estimating local acoustic bottom properties. In numerical simulations, tow-ship noise which bounces off the bottom is processed on a beamformer that shows the arrival angles; the beamformer output is readily interpreted by relating it to the Green's function of the acoustic wave equation. Simple signal processing is shown to be sufficient to extract the propagation angles of the "trapped" (i.e., propagating) modes of the acoustic waveguide. By relating the trapped modes to a basic geophysical model of the bottom, one can predict acoustic-propagation conditions for a particular bottom-interacting ocean acoustic environment.     

离散时滞双线性系统的近似最优控制

研究具有二次型性能指标的离散时滞双线性系统最优控制问题。对既带有时间超前项又带有时间滞后项的非线性两点边值(TPBV)问题,通过逐次逼近算法(SAA)构造不含超前滞后项的线性非齐次TPBV问题迭代序列。最优控制律由精确的线性反馈项和非线性时滞补偿序列的极限项组成。取补偿项序列的有限次迭代值,获得次优控制律。通过仿真,验证算法的有效性。     

Adaptive beamforming: spatial filter designed blocking matrix

Controlling the resolution in adaptive beamformers is often crucial. A simple method that works for both narrow-band and broad-band arrays is presented. This method is based on the normalized leaky LMS algorithm in conjunction with a generalized sidelobe canceller (GSC) structure, where the GSC is designed using a spatial filtering approach. In essence, the suppression of the spatial filters and the implicit noise of the leaky LMS algorithm together determine the adaptive beamformer. Analytical expressions are given for the Wiener filters and the output spectrum versus frequency and point source location. These expressions are employed in the design specification of the spatial filters and to obtain conditions for a controlled quiescent beamformer response. Simulation results are presented to illustrate the behavior of the array     

舷侧阵CBF和OBF的阵增益比较

以舷侧阵作为研究对象,首先介绍了常规波束形成器(CBF)和最佳波束形成器(OBF)的波束输出信号模型,然后推导了信号+噪声场合下的阵增益表达式,比较了在不同信号频率和不同信号源方向角下,CBF和OBF的阵增益,最后在增加了有指向性的CW干扰后,分析了此场合下的阵增益,并比较了不同的信号频率下,干扰源方向角的变化对两类波束形成器阵增益的影响。     

一种改进的变步长BLMS算法

在BLMS(Block Least Mean Square) 算法的基础上提出了一种变步长算法,它除具有BLMS算法的特点,还提高收敛速度,降低了权失调噪声,具有较好抑噪能力。适用于实时噪声抵消,计算机仿真效果较好。     

Spatio-temporal processing of coherent acoustic communication datain shallow water

Achieving reliable underwater communication in shallow water is a difficult task because of the random time-varying nature of multipath propagation. When the product of Doppler-related signal bandwidth spread and multipath-related time spread of the channel is larger than one, some types of adaptive signal processing may not work very well. In this paper, various methods of coherent space-time processing are compared for a condition of a marginally overspread channel operating at 50 kHz. Various combinations of suboptimal spatially adaptive and time adaptive methods are considered. The coherent path beamformer (CPB) and recursive least squares (RLS) adaptive beamformer, both in combination with RLS time filtering, are analyzed. Also considered in the analysis is the combined RLS space-time optimal adaptive processor. Many experiments using broad-band phase-shift-keyed transmissions in shallow water have been conducted to provide data for testing these various processing methods. Because of the rapid time variation of the multipath, the product of bandwidth spread and time spread at this test site approached unity. In this environment, a suboptimal approach consisting of the adaptive beamformer followed by RLS equalization reduced reverberation and transmission errors     

High-resolution beamforming by the Wigner-Ville distribution method

The Wigner-Ville distribution (WVD) function was originally proposed by Wigner in quantum mechanics and Ville applied it for signal analysis. This method has made it possible to represent a signal's power density spectrum in the time-frequency domain as a natural extension of the Fourier transform method (FTM). Recently, it has attracted great interest for its validity to analyze time-varying signals accomplished by the development of high-speed digital signal processing, and it is used for analyzing nonstationary signals. Conventionally, a sonar beamformer is constructed using delay lines, but the development of the high-speed processor has made it possible to apply the FTM for sonar beamforming. However, the bearing resolution of the beamformer is not enough for discriminating small underwater objects on the sea bottom by this method. To solve this problem, we aim to apply the WVD method, which can represent finer structure of signals as a natural extension of the FTM, for sonar beamforming to obtain sharper beam patterns than those of the beamforming method by FTM. Simulation results by computational calculations to clarify the resolution by the WVD method, which is presented in this paper, becomes approximately twice as high as by conventional FTM. The results of an experiment at sea also show the performance of this method     

基于窗函数法的恒定束宽波束形成器设计

文章研究了等间距线列阵宽带恒定束宽波束形成器的实现原理。给出了利用窗函数获得实现恒定束宽所需子频带加权矩阵的方法。利用获得的加权矩阵，构建了恒定束宽频域算法模型，并通过计算机仿真验证了其有效性。