Color Coding of Amplitude Data as a Means of Improving Target Detection in Passive Sonar Displays

摘要

The research literature dealing with the use of color in passive sonar displays is neither extensive nor consistent. A thorough review has revealed that the properly designed and controlled experiment comparing color coding with monochrome in a dynamic sonar detection display has yet to be performed. Furthermore, the studies that have shown either no improvement or degradation in performance with the introduction of color, suffer from a failure to address two major variables. Specifically, the simple superimposition of color on intensity (redundancy) may provide no additional information, while at the same time, too much color can add an additional type of masking (chromatic noise) to an already noisy display. The predictable effect of redundancy in this context is no improvement, while the predictable effect of chromatic noise is degradation of performance. It is proposed that color, introduced in a manner that avoids redundancy and minimizes chromatic noise, could improve target detection performance. A two phase study was proposed to identify specific color codes that fit the above criteria and then to evaluate them against monochrome. The first phase required the creation of a color test display (CTD) to allow simultaneous presentation of color and monochrome sonar displays. The CTD has been set up in the Acoustic Display Research Facility (ADRF) and the selection of color combinations has been completed. For Phase 2, an experimental design has been developed for the controlled evaluation of the color combinations and a proposal has been submitted for funding to carry out the experiment. (fr)