NOVEL TWO DIMENSIONAL HIGH FREQUENCY PHASED ARRAY BASED DOPPLER VELOCITY LOG FOR UUV APPLICATIONS

摘要

A novel Two-Dimensional High Frequency Phased Array is nearing the final stages of its development at RD Instruments. This paper discusses the technology that brings small, low power, high precision Doppler Velocity Logs to the next generation of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles. Funding by the Office of Naval Research has enabled RD Instruments to apply its patented 2-D Phased Array technology to provide a Hull Form, High Frequency (600 KHz) Phased Array Doppler Velocity Log and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler for the next generation REMUS vehicle. Here, we discuss the fundamentals of the Phased Array, general characteristics of the transducer and developments in RD Instruments' Next Generation Sonar Platform. Furthermore, the possibilities for system improvements enabled by these technologies to provide higher accuracy and resolution in navigation are explored.