Wavefront Systems has published an insightful article detailing the benefits of its Sentinel Intruder Detection Sonar for identifying threats on both crewed and uncrewed vessels. The latest iteration of Sentinel leverages state-of-the-art Simultaneous In-band Active and Passive Sonar (sinaps) technology.
In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, new and enhanced products emerge almost weekly across various industries.While this progress is thrilling, it also means that potential security threats are advancing just as quickly. At Wavefront, we recognize this urgency and are committed to ensuring our sonar solutions remain at the cutting edge of innovation.
During the progress of the latest version of our Sentinel intruder Detection Sonar,we analyzed the swiftly changing landscape of drone threats. We concluded that this iteration needed to be more than a mere incremental betterment over previous models, which are already the most widely used Intruder Detection Sonars globally. Our goal was to harness the advantages of passive processing while maintaining the robust active performance of the system. This led to the creation of SInAPS.
What is SInAPS and What Makes It Extraordinary?
Simultaneous In-band active and Passive Sonar (SInAPS) integrates the existing active sonar system with a novel passive tracking feature that monitors targets by detecting the sounds they produce. This groundbreaking approach utilizes the same array for both active and passive processing simultaneously occurring.
SInAPS offers several unique benefits:
- It maintains the processing gain of the Sentinel array, exceeding 30 dB compared to a single hydrophone sensor, considerably improving the passive signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
- It preserves high bearing resolution associated with higher frequency operations without requiring a distributed sensor network.
- It ensures spatially co-registered tracking between active and passive subsystems from a single point sensor.
- It eliminates the need for the system to switch between active and passive modes optimally.
- Crucially, it retains the performance of the active mode without any compromise.
The image above illustrates a critical alert, highlighted in red, tracking a diver from a distance of 950 meters.The passive tracking aligns with the diver’s movements over the last five minutes, indicating a high-priority threat as the diver approaches a protected asset.
Sentinel IDS: A Versatile Sonar Solution for Various Applications
The necessity for Intruder Detection Systems (IDS) can vary based on the current security landscape. Sentinel provides a versatile solution, adaptable for both fixed and mobile sonar applications. For instance,its mobile capabilities are notably beneficial for vessels at anchor that require rapid deployment for short durations or in locations where seabed installation is impractical.
Several factors must be considered when designing sonar for non-fixed deployment scenarios.
The fundamental principle behind any tracking sonar, such as Sentinel, is the ability to ascertain the range and bearing of a tracked target relative to the sonar head. over time, this allows for monitoring the target’s behavior (speed, direction, etc.) to assess whether it poses a threat or is merely marine life. this method works well for stationary sonar, as tracking is done relative to the sonar’s known position. Though,when deployed from a moving platform,it is indeed essential to account for the movement of the sonar head; or else,stationary objects may appear to be in motion. We achieve this by inputting the platform’s heading, pitch, roll, and position. the system processes this information in real-time to geolocate sonar returns and determine the target’s relative position and movement.
Options for Mobile Sonar Installation
One of the standout features of the mobile Sentinel system is its flexibility, which opens up various deployment options:
- Vessels at anchor. Wavefront provides thorough deployment solutions, including Sentinel systems that can be installed on hydraulic rams beneath the vessel or via ‘over-the-side’ swing-arms.
- Buoy-mounted sentinel. Fully autonomous, buoy-mounted solutions are ideal for deployment in remote areas or where seabed installations are unsuitable.
- ‘Sprint and drift.’ This feature allows manned or unmanned vessels to quickly position themselves and deploy Sentinel while drifting with the current.
In Summary
The primary takeaway from this article is that the innovative SInAPS sonar technology significantly enhances the ability of IDS to detect and track threats more swiftly and effectively than ever before.
