Robust Matched Field Processing and Ambient Environmental
Characterization
Funded by Lockheed Martin
Dates: 2001-2002
Abstract
The Robust Matched Field Processing and Ambient Environmental
Characterization project,
sponsored by Lockheed Martin Undersea Systems
achieved two main objectives.
- Development of a software testbed for matched field processing
algorithms;
- Initial study of sidelobe control in matched field processing.
To meet the first objective, we developed the Matched Field
Processing Toolbox, a set of MATLAB routines that automate the design and
testing of MFP algorithms.
The toolbox provides an interface to two acoustic propagation codes,
eliminating some of the cumbersome tasks typically required for
matched field simulations.
Using this software, we examined the sensitivity of standard MFP
algorithms to water depth mismatch in littoral environments.
The second objective constitutes the theoretical research component of
the project. We considered the problem of designing MFP weight
vectors using quadratic pattern constraints to control sidelobe
levels. Results of our initial study indicate that this approach has the
potential to alter the sidelobe structure and may provide useful
intuition about the performance limits of matched field processors.