A three-dimensional (3D) terrain reconstruction method for a scoured area around bridge pier foundation based on a mechanical scanned imaging sonar includes scanning an overall terrain of a scoured area around bridge pier foundation with a sonar from different azimuths to acquire n sonar images of a foundation scouring terrain; intercepting multiple analysis sections from each of acquired sonar images at a same distance; extracting key parameters of upper and lower edges on a terrain imaging strip in each of the analysis sections in the image, and transforming extracted parameters to a 3D space, a fan-shaped beam surface of the sonar being represented with a fan-shaped arc; recognizing a scour terrain profile in the analysis section; recognizing terrain profiles one by one, and respectively extracting spatially scattered 3D coordinate data; and performing interpolation and fitting on the spatially scattered data, thus implementing 3D reconstruction for the foundation scouring terrain.

Monitoring method and system to monitor the underwater traffic of an area of interest where at least one underwater element is going to operate. The system comprises: a memory, which is configured to store data comprising a representation of the area of interest, and a list of a plurality of types of underwater elements with the relative digital model; a detection unit to detect the position and the orientation of each underwater element present inside said area of interest; a processing unit, which is configured to determine, based on the stored data and on the detection of said detection unit, the type of each underwater element present inside the area of interest, and to generate, based on said data, a representation of the area of interest showing the static obstacles, and the digital model, the position and the orientation of each underwater element present inside said area of interest; and a user interface to display said representation of the area of interest.

An apparatus for artificial intelligence (AI) bathymetry is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sonic unit attached to a boat, the sonic unit configured to generate a plurality of metric data as a function of a plurality of ultrasonic pulses and a plurality of return pulses. An image processing module is configured to generate a bathymetric image as a function of the plurality of metric data, identify, as a function of the bathymetric image, an underwater landmark, and register the bathymetric image to a map location as a function of the underwater landmark. A communication module is configured to transmit the registered bathymetric image to at least a remote device. An autonomous navigation module is configured to determine a heading for the boat as a function of a path datum and command boat control to navigate the boat as a function of the heading.

An underwater detection apparatus is provided which includes a transmission transducer, a reception transducer, and a motor. The transmission transducer transmits a transmission wave within a given fan-shaped transmission space, the fan-shaped transmission space having a first transmission width in a given first plane and a second transmission width in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The reception transducer receives, as a reception wave, a reflection wave of the transmission wave within a given fan-shaped reception space, the fan-shaped reception space having a first reception width in the first plane and a second reception width in the second plane, the second reception width being wider than the second transmission width, and in the second plane, the fan-shaped transmission space being within the fan-shaped reception space. The motor rotates the fan-shaped transmission space and the fan-shaped reception space.

Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Disclosed is an echosounder configured to: a) drive the transducers of its emitting antenna to emit first and second acoustic waves having first and second frequencies, these waves being superposed over one another along an axis of superposition that is directed toward a point of the bottom of the subaquatic environment, and b) acquire an echo signal, the frequency of which is equal to the difference between the first and the second frequencies, the echosounder being configured to perform steps a) and b) a plurality of times while varying the orientation of the axis of superposition, and to determine, on the basis of the acquired echo signals, an image representative of the content of the sub-bottom of the subaquatic environment beneath each of the points. Also disclosed is an associated method for characterizing a portion of the sub-bottom of a subaquatic environment.

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide accurate and compact three dimensional (3D) capable multichannel sonar systems for mobile structures. A 3D capable multichannel sonar system includes a multichannel transducer and associated processing and control electronics and optionally orientation and/or position sensors disposed substantially within the housing of a sonar transducer assembly. The multichannel transducer includes multiple transmission and/or receive channels/transducer elements. The transducer assembly is configured to support and protect the multichannel transducer and associated electronics and sensors, to physically and/or adjustably couple to a mobile structure, and/or to provide a simplified interface to other systems coupled to the mobile structure. 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.

An underwater detection apparatus is provided which includes a transmission transducer, a reception transducer, and a motor. The transmission transducer transmits a transmission wave within a given fan-shaped transmission space, the fan-shaped transmission space having a first transmission width in a given first plane and a second transmission width in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane. The reception transducer receives, as a reception wave, a reflection wave of the transmission wave within a given fan-shaped reception space, the fan-shaped reception space having a first reception width in the first plane and a second reception width in the second plane, the second reception width being wider than the second transmission width, and in the second plane, the fan-shaped transmission space being within the fan-shaped reception space. The motor rotates the fan-shaped transmission space and the fan-shaped reception space.

Disclosed herein is a system that includes an ultrasound imaging probe having a first optical fiber integrated therein and a console optically coupled with the ultrasound imaging probe via a first elongate member. The console includes one or more processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon logic, that when executed by the one or more processors, causes operations that can include providing an incident light signal to the first optical fiber via the first elongate member, receiving reflected light signals of different spectral widths of the incident light from the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, processing the reflected light signals to determine a first three-dimensional (3D) shape extending along a length including at least portions of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, and causing rendering of an image of the first 3D shape on a display of the medical system.

A sonar system is provided including a display screen, a transducer assembly including at least one transducer that is configured to emit one or more sonar signals into an underwater environment and receive sonar return data reflected from one or more objects, and a sonar module configured to generate a 3D matrix based on the sonar return data including a plurality of sonar returns that are each defined by a 3D positional value, determine a group of the plurality of sonar returns associated with an object, assign a predetermined icon to the determined group, and generate and display 3D image of the sonar return data. The predetermined icon is positioned within the 3D image at a position that corresponds to the position of the determined group such that the position of the predetermined icon corresponds to the position of the object.