Target tracking onboard an autonomous underwater vehicle : determining optimal towed array heading in an anisotropic noise field

In order to overcome the challenges that an anisotropic noise field poses for underwater target tracking, we conduct an onboard estimation of the horizontal noise directionality in the real-time processing suite of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) towing a horizontal line array. The estimation of the noise directionality is a precursor to another adaptive behavior: optimizing tracking capability of a towed array by choosing a particular heading that minimizes the detection level in the target's direction. In each distinct simulated anisotropic noise field, the AUV successfully calculates the optimal towed array headings based on the real-time estimation of the horizontal noise directionality. The findings reveal a clear advantage over the conventional broadside beam tracking method, with some limitations due predominantly to the noise field itself.

Department dc:contributor.department

Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Parra-Orlandoni, Maria Alejandra

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Henrik Schmidt.

• /Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Joint Program in Oceanography/Applied Ocean Science and Engineering.
• Mechanical Engineering.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/42315

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/42315