High-bandwidth acoustic data communication for stand-off identification by autonomous underwater vehicles

Stand-off mine countermeasure (MCM) operations with unmanned systems frequently require user involvement for the interpretation of image data, for classification and identification, and for decision-making during mine disposal. As the transfer of image data usually requires tethering, this leads to cumbersome operating procedures. We have...

Autonomous multi-vehicle contact reacquisition using feature-based navigation and in-situ adaptive path planning for AUVs

The complexity and duration of search and identify missions in mine hunting operations with Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) or Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) increase as a result of vehicle position inaccuracies and limited communication. Consequently, reacquisition, where potential contacts need to be revisited for identification,...

Modelling noise from wind, rain and distant shipping in scenarios of varying complexity

Passive sonars attempt to detect sound radiated by vessels of interest. This detection takes place against a background of noise, with important sources of noise including distant shipping, rain falling on the sea surface and breaking waves and bursting bubbles associated with sea-surface waves. The estimation of these noises is therefore an...

MUFASSA, a multipurpose framework to develop GUI’s for underwater acoustic modelling

Underwater acoustic modeling is used in many fields of research and development, which has resulted in a wide variety of acoustic models and applications, such as sensor performance prediction, sensor performance optimizations and acoustic impact on marine life. Many of the applications share a similar set of input parameters: bathymetry, sound...

SAKAMATA: Managing the risk of sonar sound on marine mammals

SAKAMATA is a risk assessment and mitigation tool developed by TNO and used by the Royal Netherlands Navy. It supports the user in planning and carrying out active sonar operations in an environmentally responsible way. Recently, a new version has been developed, which makes it possible to quantify the number of marine mammals affected, taking...

A generic mine model

In the field of mine laying and of mine countermeasures, understanding of the actuation behaviour of influence mines is of vital importance. Modelling can enhance such understanding. In this paper, a flexible generic mine model is presented that allows the user to easily generate different computer simulation models according to user specified...

Natural and anthropogenic sources of sound in the North Sea

This paper summarises the progress made by TNO on describing the most significant natural and anthropogenic sound sources in the North Sea (Dutch sector). An assessment of their relative importance is made by estimating an annual energy budget, not neglecting that details of the sound distribution in frequency, time and space might be equally...