Over the last decade developments in ASW sensor systems has greatly increased the number and quality of the sensor systems deployed thus increasing the volume of data to be assessed by orders of magnitude. Sonobuoys as acoustic sensors provide the unique quality of being an in-situ sensor in remote environments. Processing of sonobuoy data also presents unique challenges not encountered on more advanced sensors, and this processing has proven resistant to automation. This notwithstanding, the tactical need for remote sensors such as sonobuoys has only grown. New approaches are needed which address the core issues which throttle process automation. The techniques listed in this proposal addresses fundamental issues which have long limited progress in automation of sonobuoy data processing.
Benefit: Sonobuoys are an instance of wider class sensor platform with broad commercial potential; this category of sensor platform is categorized by the following attributes: very low cost, low power, onboard energy harvesting (solar), wireless communications, disposable and environmentally neutral. These sensors will typically be deployed ballistically, assume a random location an orientation, and tolerate a high per unit failure rate. This platform may host any number of low cost sensors which are made available by large consumer commodity markets such as Smart Phones, Personal Digital Assistants, and other compact technologies. These hosted sensors may include optical, camera, acoustic, gas, radiation, electromagnetic, heat, pressure among others. In the limit, these sensors may be produced entirely with surface mounted components, may be produced in batches of thousands per circuit board, conformal coated and cut into individual units for deployment. The techniques developed by this SBIR will translate directly to this new class of sensors.
Keywords: Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare, data fusion, Undersea Warfare
