• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.382-390
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• 2021

Synthetic aperture sonars as well as side scan sonars or multibeam echo sounders have been commercialized and are widely used for seafloor imaging. In Korea related research such as the development of a towed synthetic aperture sonar system is underway. In order to obtain high-resolution synthetic aperture sonar images, it is necessary to accurately estimate the platform motion on which it is installed, and a precise underwater navigation system is required. In this paper we are going to provide reference data for determining the required navigation accuracy and precision of navigation sensors by quantitatively analyzing how much distortion of the sonar images occurs according to motion characteristics of the platform equipped with the synthetic aperture sonar. Five types of motions are considered and normalized root mean square error is defined for quantitative analysis. Simulation for error analysis with parameter variation of motion characteristics results in that yaw and sway motion causes the largest image distortion whereas the effect of pitch and heave motion is not significant.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.172-177
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• 2006

Various research and development on Synthetic Aperture Sonar technique is under way to enhance bearing resolution of a SONAR system. In this paper, we estimated perturbed array shapes, and compensated distortion by using estimated away shapes and synthesized arrays in aperture domain such as an ETAM technique. As experimental data, we used the one obtained from towed array in neighboring waters of the Korean peninsula. Through simulation on data where tow-ship speed is maintained at a constant level, we confirmed that synthesis effect of increasing SNR and narrowed beam width of main lobe was consistently demonstrated for about 1 minute when coherence of target signal was maintained. Also, we showed that the synthesis effect with respect to time was constantly maintained.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.77-83
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• 2000

The previous synthetic aperture techniques have been investigated to increase signal gain, improve angular resolution and peak-to-sidelobe level ratios for towed line array sonar systems. The synthetic aperture method in this paper is performed for conformal array systems by mapping real elements on an axis to control like a linear array. The proposed method for the conformal array performs coherent processing of subaperture signals at successive time intervals in the beam domain via FFT transformations. This was confirmed by the simulation results and compared to the results from use of the synthetic aperture technique under the conformal array.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.546-554
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• 2021

In the signal processing of synthetic aperture sonar, it is subject that the platform in which the sensor array is installed moves along the straight line path. In practical operation in underwater, however, the sensor platform will have trajectory disturbances, diverting from the line path. It causes phase errors in measured signals and then produces deteriorated SAS images. In this study, in order to develop towed SAS, as tools to remove the phase errors associated with the trajectory disturbances of the towfish, motion compensation technique using Redundant Phase Center (RPC) and also Phase Gradient Autofocus (PGA) method is investigated. The performances of these two approaches are examined by means of a simulation for SAS system having a sway disturbance.

• Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.41-49
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• 2014

Detection and processing techniques for small objects on seabed by the active synthetic aperture sonar can be increased the detection performance because it can be used by short sensor array in small unmanned underwater systems that are spatially constrained. But the limited conditions on constant speed and straight movement of the platform cause a large error in the number of external environmental factors and exact phase synthesis process. In this study, analyzed the applicability of active synthetic aperture processing that is mounted on such a system, and compared detection resolution change in accordance with the phase difference mismatch caused by the along track disturbance. Various simulations were performed as a coherently focus processing model by adding along track disturbance mismatched parameter on the configuring simulator. As the result, detection performance of active synthetic processing for small objects on seabed was found a number of changes by the phase difference mismatch errors according to track disturbances and S/N ratio variations.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.428-436
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• 2004

Synthetic Aperture Sonar is a technique of extending Physically limited length of an array by signal processing to enhance bearing resolution of a system. The previous techniques estimate most or away shapes as linear. so when towed array shapes are distorted. this can create a deviation from actual situation. In this paper. we estimated perturbed away shapes. and compensated distortion by using estimated array shapes and synthesized arrays in aperture domain. As experimental data, we used the one obtained from towed array in neighboring waters of the Korean peninsula. We extended array by compensating differences in time and spatial position between overlapped subarrays by using SAS techniques. In simulation results. we confirmed that the bearing resolution was enhanced.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.195-224
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• 2023

This paper proposes a method for the acoustic imaging wherein the traditional requirement of the relative movement between the transmitter and target is overcome. This is facilitated through the beamforming acoustic array in the transmitter, in which the target is illuminated by the array at various azimuth and elevation angles without the physical movement of the acoustic array. The concept of beam steering of the acoustic array facilitates the formation of the beam at desired angular positions of azimuth and elevation angles. This paper substantiates that the combination of illumination of the target from different azimuth and elevation angles with respect to the transmitter (through the beam steering of beam forming acoustic array) and the beam steering at multiple frequencies (through SF) results in enhanced reconstruction of images of the target in the underwater scenario. This paper also demonstrates the possibility of reconstruction of the image of a target in underwater without invoking the traditional algorithms of Digital Image Processing (DIP). This paper comprehensively and succinctly presents all the empirical formulae required for modelling the acoustic medium and the target to facilitate the reader with a comprehensive summary document incorporating the various parameters of multi-disciplinary nature.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.222-229
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• 2016

Active synthetic aperture sonar on the small UUV is generated several trajectory disturbances under the influences of underwater environments, and causing a large error in the synthetic aperture processing. In this paper, we analyzed the effects of azimuth resolution for the phase mismatch of the synthetic aperture focus processing when the periodic or random trajectory disturbances was generated on the side direction. The simulation results show that ghost targets are generated and azimuth resolution is very deteriorated when disturbance amplitude is greater than $0.3{\lambda}$ and disturbance period is greater than $2L_{sa}$ in the periodic trajectory disturbances environments. And detection performance on the seabed small objects by the synthetic aperture processing is shown that there is a significant effects on the azimuth resolution depending on the types and conditions of the platform trajectory disturbance variations.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.329-338
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• 2022

This paper provides a case study of development testing and evaluation of design goal of Interferometric SAS (Synthetic Aperture Sonar) system that is developing supported by Civil-Military Technology Cooperation Center in offshore fields. For Deep water operating capabilities evaluation, We have surveyed candidate field, bathymetric mapping and target identification over 200 m depth, East Sea. In testing phase, We have provided environmental information of testing field include water column, seabed and weather condition in real time. And to compare excellency of developing InSAS, we have gather commercial imaging sonar system data with same target. This case study will support the Test Readiness Review of future underwater surveillance system developing via investigate marine testing field environment, testing facilities and planning.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.215-222
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• 2017

An active synthetic aperture sonar mounted on small UUV is generated various trajectory disturbances in the traveling path by the influence of external underwater environments. That is the phase mismatch occurs in the synthetic aperture processing of the signals reflected from seabed objects and fetches the detection performance decreases. In this paper, we compensated deteriorated images by the active SAS autofocus processing using DPC and analyzed the effects of detection performance when the periodic trajectory disturbances occur in the side direction at a constant velocity and straight movement of UUV. Through simulations, the deteriorated images according to the periodic disturbance magnitudes and period variations in the platform were compensated using difference phases processing of the overlapping displaced phase centers on the adjacent transmitted ping signals, and we conformed the improved performance characteristics of azimuth resolution and detection images at 3dB reference point.