Autonomous Environmental Sensor Performance Prediction Tool for Multi-Static Active and Passive Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Systems Navy SBIR FY2014.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2014.1 Topic No.: N141-009 Topic Title: Autonomous Environmental Sensor Performance Prediction Tool for Multi-Static Active and Passive Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Systems Proposal No.: N141-009-0522 Firm: Adaptive Methods, Inc 5860 Trinity Parkway Suite 200 Centreville, Virginia 20120 Contact: Robert Blanchard Phone: (703) 968-8040 Web Site: www.adaptivemethods.com Abstract: Current Air ASW sensor systems are complex in form and function with many operational settings as is the nature of the littoral and deep-water range- and time-dependent underwater acoustic environments in which the Navy applies them. Determining 3-dimensional sensor distributions and settings for optimal detection capability for an operational area and target of interest is difficult. Present modeling capabilities applied to sensor placement and setting optimization are necessarily constrained in spatial and temporal fidelity because of the curse of dimensionality: substantially more computing power is needed to calculate the best scenario from a full range of sensor settings and distributions over wide areas. A multi-stage, multi-threaded, distributed, and automated multi-static active and passive modeling and simulation capability is needed to help warfighters make decisions on where to fight, and once committed, make the best choice of sensor system to use (including distribution and settings) and provide feedback to improve coordination of future sorties based on in situ data. Innovative strategies employing alternative metrics to traditional probability of detection will be assessed for feasibility. Adaptive Methods and the Applied Physics Laboratory are well poised, based on previous work in this area, to bring forth this desired capability. Benefits: The U.S. Navy will benefit from this technology through: round-the-clock regional forecasting of performance metrics to enable timely decision making concerning level of difficulty to operate in specific areas; and improved detection, tracking, and localization capability using air-deployed ASW sensor systems. The techniques developed in the course of this effort have application to all active sonar (monostatic, bistatic, and multistatic) systems employed by the U.S. Navy. In addition, active sonar is used for oil exploration, and by Navy and University labs for a variety of research projects. Potential non-DoD agencies, such as the U.S. Coast Guard, could apply this technology for assessment of coastal protection to extend the capabilities of the Automated Identification System, a U.S. coastal security system that monitors large vessels heading in and out of ports. Additionally, the Homeland defense department could predict performance on an ongoing basis for port acoustic security systems, including tracking and localizing suspicious surface vessel traffic. In general, the tools developed here can be applied to active and passive underwater acoustic sensor systems to allow for more judicious deployment and use. Return