A survey system including a transmitter, receiver, projector array and hydrophone array transmits and receives sound waves to perform one or more survey missions.

A sensor suspension system for use in an underwater environment comprises a sensor (e.g., vector sensor) and a framework comprising a plurality of support structures, and a plurality of compliant devices that suspend the sensor within an inner volume of the framework. The plurality of compliant devices facilitate a symmetrical sensing response of the sensor in three degrees of freedom when deployed in the underwater environment. The framework is moveable from a collapsed position to an expanded position. A plurality of sensor suspension systems can be tethered together into a sensor array by a deployment control system operable to release a buoyant device, tethered to the sensor suspension systems, that vertically positions the plurality of sensor suspension systems into the sensor array. The buoyant device can cause each framework to expand via pulling force through the tethers upon release of the buoyant device.

Various techniques for driving phased array systems are described, specifically intended for acoustic phased arrays with applications to mid-air haptics, parametric audio, acoustic levitation and acoustic imaging, including a system: 1) that is capable of mitigating the effect of the changes in the air to provide a consistent haptic experience; 2) that produces trap points in air; 3) that defines phased-array optimization in terms of vectors for the production of more consistent haptic effects; 4) that defines one or more control points or regions in space via a controlled acoustic field; 5) that uses a reduced representation method for the construction of acoustic basis functions; 6) that performs efficient evaluation of complex-valued functions for a large quantity of throughput; 7) that generates a Krylov sub-space of a matrix; and 8) that maximizes an objective described by different control points and/or regions to those used to create the acoustic basis functions.

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide sonar systems for mobile structures. A sonar system includes a sonar transducer assembly including a sonar transducer, a sonar receiver configured to receive acoustic returns from the sonar transducer and convert the acoustic returns into arrays of time differentiated sonar data samples, and a logic device adapted to communicate with the sonar receiver. The logic device is configured to receive the arrays of the time differentiated sonar data samples from the sonar receiver and process the received arrays to enhance the time differentiated sonar data samples substantially without enhancing sonar artifacts in the time differentiated sonar data samples Processed sonar data and/or resulting imagery may be displayed to a user and/or used to adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the sonar transducer assembly and/or a mobile structure.

A sonar imaging system, that includes a control head with a user interface and a display unit for displaying a sonar-generated image, is provided. A sonar transducer assembly is coupled to the control head and configured to transmit sonar data to the control head. The sonar data is used to generate the sonar-generated image. The sonar transducer assembly includes a first side scan acoustic sonar element that transmits a sonar beam. The sonar transducer assembly further includes a plurality of sonar beam receiving elements. Each receiving element is arranged to receive a portion of the return beam from the first side scan acoustic sonar element. Each of the plurality of sonar beam receiving elements is configured to identify both a depth and a lateral distance of an underwater object relative to the position of the sonar transducer assembly.

A system is provided for imaging an underwater environment. The system includes a transducer assembly with at least one transmit transducer element and an array of receive transducer elements. Each receive transducer element is configured to receive sonar returns and form sonar return data. A sonar signal processor is configured to receive the sonar return data from each receive transducer element and generate sonar image data. The sonar return data from all of the receive transducer elements may be summed and used to form a high-definition 1D (e.g., time-based) sonar image. The sonar return data from only a subgroup may be summed and used to form a lower-definition 1D sonar image. In some systems, an array of series-connected transmit transducer elements can be used. The orientation of the emitting faces of the array may vary slightly to mimic a curved surface for increased beam coverage.

A compact omnidirectional antenna for dipping sonar comprises multiple elementary transmission rings formed around a longitudinal axis of the antenna and multiple hydrophones distributed around the longitudinal axis, the antenna intended to be dipped in water, the hydrophones separate from the elementary transmission rings, the hydrophones and the elementary transmission rings fixed in the antenna. The elementary transmission rings and the hydrophones are interlinked along one and the same height (H) measured along the longitudinal axis.

Various implementations described herein are directed to a transducer array. The transducer array may include a first receiver having a first aperture width. The transducer array may include a second receiver having a second aperture width that is substantially equal to the first aperture width. The transducer array may also include a transceiver having a third aperture width that is larger than the first aperture width and the second aperture width.

A survey system including a multibeam echo sounder having a single projector array and a single hydrophone array constructs a multi-signal message and deconstructs a corresponding multi-signal echo to substantially simultaneously perform multiple survey missions.

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide accurate and reliable compact sonar systems for mobile structures. A modular sonar system includes one or more sonar transducer assemblies and at least two transducer modules disposed substantially within the sonar transducer assemblies. Each transducer module includes a transducer element and a module frame. The module frame is configured to support the transducer element, to physically couple to other transducer modules, and/or to physically couple to a sonar transducer assembly to secure the transducer module. The system may additionally include an actuator configured to adjust an orientation of the transducer module. Resulting sonar data and/or imagery may be displayed to a user and/or used to adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the mobile structure.