Signal processing for precise ocean mapping

In this work a bottom return signal model and accompanying signal processor are described for a wide swath bottom mapping system. An incoherent scattering model is employed under the assumptions that the bottom is a random rough surface composed of a large number of independent scatters with spatial correlation distance negligible relative to the ensonified area. The envelope of the signal received from the various spatial directions is modeled as a smooth, nearly Gaussian-shaped function representing the effects of the twoway spatial beam pattern, angle of incidence, and depth corrupted by multiplicative and additive noise stochastic processes. A signal processor is derived which makes use of the a priori information vested in this smooth function to provide a matched filter for the received signal envelope for each spatial direction. Computer simulation results are presented and the performance of the signal processor examined in a qualitative fashion.     

Digital signal processing for precision wide-swath bathymetry

A mathematical model is formulated which accurately represents the envelope function of bottom return signals received from a number of spatial directions comprising a wide swath. The bottom return signals are processed utilizing a digital nonrecursive matched filter whose coefficients are tapered using a Tukey window. High-speed convolution employing the fast Fourier transform is examined for implementation of the digital matched filtering operation. Computer simulation of the signal processing system indicates that, even in the presence of considerable background and fluctuation noises, the processor provides an output signal having a well-defined peak. The error in time of arrival is found to be less than 3 ms, corresponding to an error in depth of less than 0.1 percent, for an average signal-to-noise ratio of 15 dB and a vertical ocean depth of 12 000 ft (3.7 km). These performance figures apply to the most difficult case of mapping at angles ofpm 45degoff vertical.     

Digital filtering and prediction for communications systems time synchronization

A timing subsystem consisting of anN-point finite impulse response (FIR) digital differentiator followed by anM-step adaptive linear predictor is described. The techniques may be employed for initial timing acquisition and subsequent resynchronization of ASK, FSK, and PSK digital communications systems employing pilot signals. The overall approach is effective, and provides a new method for solving a most critical problem ultimately affecting the achievable probability of bit-error rate. Various tradeoffs are discussed for selecting the type of digital differentiator, as well as the parameter of both the differentiator and predictor. Performance data is presented for realistic signal-to-noise ratios and digital word sizes. The described method has been implemented as part of a microprocessor-based FSK acoustic telemetry system, and is found to be computationally efficient as well as extremely accurate.     

A microprocessor-based acoustic telemetry system for tide measurement

This paper describes the ocean bottom unit and surface ship deck unit of a multi-microprocessor-based underwater acoustic telemetry system designed primarily to address the application of tidal data gathering during the course of a hydrographic survey. The problems of tidal data collection are highlighted and the objectives of the acoustic telemetry system are stated. A shallow-water environmental model is used to obtain accurate estimates of parameters such as propagation loss, band-level noise, frequency dispersion, and time dispersion. The environmental model in conjunction with in situ measurements dictates the guidelines used in the system design. A breakdown of the units into subsystems is given and each subsystem is described. The results of tests performed with the system on June 12 and 13, 1982, in the Bedford Basin, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, are summarized. Finally, other potential applications of the system are mentioned.     

Multiple terminal acoustic communications system design

A design is presented for a system providing highly reliable command and control acoustic communications between a mother ship and a number of small fast submersibles. The small submersibles may be employed for underwater mining, exploration, bottom mapping, or military surveillance. Modulation and coding design is presented; the techniques discussed provide multiple protection against multipath and fading, high reliability, acceptable transmitted signal total time duration, simplicity, and economy. The required decision point signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for Rayleigh fading conditions is derived for the modulation and coding design. Particular attention is paid in the receive signal processing to the Doppler (relative velocity) and Doppler variation (relative acceleration) problems inherent in a scenario with mobile endpoints. A Figure-of-Merit (FOM) calculation is provided for typical geometrical and environmental parameters. It is shown for a realistic source level that the required SNR can be achieved at long range with considerable endpoint relative motion.     

A distributed microprocessor architecture for fixed and mobile acoustic array adaptive beam forming

This paper presents a state-of-the-art approach to an important sonar signal-processing problem, A theoretical foundation for source oriented beam forming (SOBF) is presented. A distributed processing element is introduced, discussed, and offered as one solution to the at-sea platform implementation of high-powered digital signal processing such as SOBF. While many of the details of the implementation are beyond the scope or intent of this paper, they may be found in the references (those references not in the open literature are obtainable from the authors).