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Helping submersibles navigate more safely in shallow water

Date:
May 26, 2022
Source:
University of Tsukuba
Summary:
Researchers propose a process for improving the accuracy of acoustic positioning in shallow water using a mathematical method for removing the reflected waves. This work may lead to the safer navigation of submarines and divers in ports and other narrow waters.
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From large-scale submarines to solo divers, safe passage through shallow waters represents a common navigational challenge. But recently, researchers from Japan have achieved centimeter-scale accuracy in the acoustic positioning of a submerged object. By digitally removing reflected wave signals, the effects of multipath interference can be reduced. This work may help accelerate commerce by allowing underwater navigation in ports and other shallow areas.

Acoustic positioning is similar to sonar, but instead of the same object sending and receiving sound pulses, as in echolocation, here the moving object, which could be a submersible vehicle or diver, sends only the sound waves. The waves are received by hydrophones (i.e., underwater listening devices) in the water with known locations, so the exact position of the moving object can be calculated based on the arrival times of the pulses. However, this method can be unreliable in harbors or other areas with shallow water because the sound waves can be reflected along multiple paths before reaching the hydrophones. A new approach that is not thrown off by multipath interference is needed.

Now, a team of researchers from the University of Tsukuba and Aomi Construction in Tokyo, Japan, has proposed a new approach that allows for accurate positioning of underwater objects even in shallow water. However, their approach does not rely on simply taking the loudest signal. "The amplitude of a reflected wave may, in fact, be larger than that of the direct wave due to interference effects, which is why our method is needed," author Professor Tadashi Ebihara says. Instead, a database of signals is pre-collected by calculating the sound arrival times received when the source is at one of the points of a 2D "mesh" underwater. This provides rough positioning by matching a new signal to the closest pattern in the database. Then, a more precise location can be found by using this information to selectively remove the reflected wave, leaving only the direct wave. This method can work as long as the depth of the transmitter is also known. In experiments using a test tank, the locations of objects could be determined to an accuracy of a few centimeters.

"Our process can be easily implemented using existing hydrophone installations," Professor Ebihara says. The team hopes that this work can be extended to other applications, such as sending research subs into narrow underwater channels.


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Tsukuba. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Tohru Yoshihara, Tadashi EBIHARA, Koichi MIZUTANI, Yuma Sato. Underwater acoustic positioning in multipath environment using time-of-flight signal group and database matching. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 2022; DOI: 10.35848/1347-4065/ac6a3d

Cite This Page:

University of Tsukuba. "Helping submersibles navigate more safely in shallow water." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 May 2022. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220526095528.htm>.
University of Tsukuba. (2022, May 26). Helping submersibles navigate more safely in shallow water. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 27, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220526095528.htm
University of Tsukuba. "Helping submersibles navigate more safely in shallow water." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220526095528.htm (accessed March 27, 2024).

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