Introducing an Operational Multi-Beam Array Sonar

Abstract

The Multi-Beam Array Sonar Survey System is a revolutionary new bathymetric charting system in use by the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office. This equipment represents a major advance over conventional echosounders as well as contemporary multi-beam sonars. The system collects and processes thirty to sixty depths (dependent upon survey accuracy requirements) from a ninety degree wide fan-of-sound. These multiple depths delineate a wide strip of the ocean bottom perpendicular to the ship’s track and provide for the rapid acquisition of bathymetric data. Thus, use of this new sonar system greatly increases U.S. Navy deep-ocean survey capabilities and collection of bathymetric data for contour chart production. The complete survey system is divided into two subsystems — navigation and sonar. The navigation subsystem provides ship’s attitude and geographic position data. The sonar subsystem transmits the 90° fan-of-sound, receives separate echoes for each of the individual returning beams, correlates sonar returns with navigational data, computes and processes sonar data for display and recording.