Review of Unexploded Ordnance Detection Demonstrations at the Badlands Bombing Range--NRL Multisensor Towed-Array Detection System (MTADS) and ORNL High-Sense Helicopter-Mounted Magnetic Mapping (HM3) System

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M. Andrews ◽  
Erik Rosen ◽  
Isaac Chappell

Low frequency passive towed array sonar is an essential component in a torpedo detection system for surface ships. Compact towed arrays are used for torpedo detection and they will be towed at higher towing speeds compared to conventional towed array sonars used for surveillance. Presence of non-acoustic noise in towed array sensors at higher towing speeds degrades torpedo detection capability at lower frequencies. High wavenumber mechanical vibrations are induced in the array by vortex shedding associated with hydrodynamic flow over the array body and cable scope. These vibrations are known to couple into the hydrophone array as nonacoustic noise sources and can impair acoustic detection performance, particularly in the forward end fire direction. Lengthy mechanical vibration isolation modules can isolate vibration induced noise in towed arrays, but this is not recommended in a towed array which is towed at high speeds as it will increase the drag and system complexity. An algorithm for decomposing acoustic and non-acoustic components of signals received at sensor level using well known frequency-wavenumber transform (F-K transform) is presented here. Frequency-wavenumber diagrams can be used for differentiating between acoustic and non-acoustic signals. An area of V shape is identified within the F-K spectrum where acoustic energy is confined. Energy outside this V will highlight non-acoustic energy. Enhanced simultaneous spatio-temporal and spatio-amplitude detection is possible with this algorithm. Performance of this algorithm is validated through simulation and experimental data.


Geophysics ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 664-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Les P. Beard ◽  
William E. Doll ◽  
J. Scott Holladay ◽  
T. Jeffrey Gamey ◽  
James L.C. Lee ◽  
...  

Field trials of a low‐flying time‐domain helicopter electromagnetic system designed for detection of unexploded ordnance have yielded positive and encouraging results. The system is able to detect ordnance as small as 60‐mm rounds at 1‐m sensor height. We examined several transmitter and receiver configurations. Small loop receivers gave superior signal‐to‐noise ratios in comparison to larger receiver loops at low heights. Base frequencies of 90 Hz and 270 Hz were less affected than other base frequencies by noise produced by proximity to the helicopter and by vibration of the support structure. For small ordnance, a two‐lobed, antisymmetric transmitter loop geometry produced a modest signal‐to‐noise enhancement compared with a large single rectangular loop, presumably because the antisymmetric transmitter produces smaller eddy currents in the helicopter body, thereby reducing this source of noise. In most cases, differencing of vertically offset receivers did not substantially improve signal‐to‐noise ratios at very low sensor altitudes. Signal attenuation from transmitter to target and from target to receiver causes signals from smaller ordnance to quickly become indistinguishable from geological background variations, so that above a sensor height of about 3 m only large ordnance items (e.g., bombs and large caliber artillery rounds) were consistently detected.


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