Sonar Detection and Classification of Buried or Partially Buried Objects in Cluttered Environments Using UUVs

The long term goal of this program is to develop acoustic reflection methods and signal processing techniques for detecting, imaging and classifying objects buried in or resting on the seabed such that the methods can be eventually implemented on UUVs. The objectives are To develop acoustic and signal processing technologies for detecting and visualizing buried objects and objects lying on the seabed To determine the best image processing and visualization techniques for buried object imaging To generate databases of buried target strengths, volume and surface scattering coefficients and sediment acoustic properties over a wide frequency range that can be used for sonar prediction modeling To develop sonar models that predict the SNR of targets for various array geometries, sediment types, frequency bands, etc . To develop acoustic models of sound interacting with the seafloor to provide a theoretical basis for signal processing techniques and predicting the detection of buried objects