Smart Automation for Multistatic Active Sonar - Phase II Final Report Joe Hood Jason McInnis Akoostix Inc. Prepared By: Akoostix Inc. 10 Akerley Blvd - Suite 12 Dartmouth NS B3B 1J4 Joe Hood Contractor's Document Number: AI CR 2011-002 Contract Project Manager: Joe Hood, (902) 404-7464 PWGSC Contract Number: W7707-4500777611 CSA: James A. Theriault, Defence Scientist, (902) 426-3100 Ext. 376 The scientific or technical validity of this Contract Report is entirely the responsibility of the Contractor and the contents do not necessarily have the approval or endorsement of Department of National Defence of Canada Defence Research and Development Canada Contract Report DRDC-RDDC-2017-C112 May 2013 Principal Author Original signed by Joe Hood Joe Hood President, Akoostix, Inc. Approved by Original signed by Robert A. Stuart Robert A. Stuart Head, Technology Demonstration Section Approved for release by Original signed by Calvin V. Hyatt Calvin V. Hyatt Chair, Document Review Panel © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of National Defence, 2013 © Sa Majesté la Reine (en droit du Canada), telle que représentée par le ministre de la Défense nationale, 2013 Abstract …….. Sonar-operator overload remains a significant issue in current multistatic active-sonar systems. Prior work demonstrated that a significant improvement in detection performance could be realized using an innovative display format. The new display renders data so that rapid, intuitive and reliable operator interpretation is possible, but leaves other high-load tasks such as contact investigation unaddressed. This research proposes an approach to timely multistatic-contact investigation that incorporates a combination of operator input and system automation. Smart Automation for Multistatic Active Sonar (SAMAS) attempts to improve overall system effectiveness by automating only the tasks that are best performed by the computer. Given the technology state of the art and an ongoing requirement for operator situational awareness, a human operator remains the best system component to perform initial contact detection and to assist the system in refining and validating the contact. The system, however, is typically more adept at rapidly and consistently evaluating complex geospatial relationships and errors while searching large amounts of data for corroborative information, then fusing and annotating this information into an informative and intuitive rendering for the operator. Building on the previous capability and research, the research performed for this contract is a refinement of the smart- automation concept. The refinements include multiple-sensor designation, integrated localization and detection interpolation. They were tested using data with echo-repeater and submarine targets. A significant improvement in smart-automation performance was achieved for real-target data, while additional research and improvements are recommended. i Executive summary Smart Automation for Multistatic Active Sonar - Phase II: Final Report [Hood, J.; McInnis, J.]; DRDC Atlantic CR 2011-078; Defence R&D Canada – Atlantic; May 2013. Introduction: The Canadian Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability is being updated to include sonobuoy-based multistatic active sonar (MAS) capability. As the capability becomes operational, future improvements are being identified for inclusion. The DRDC Atlantic “Enabling CF Multistatic Sonar” applied research project, set out to investigate techniques to enhance MPA capability. Concerns of potential operator overload resulting from the requirement for real-time processing, display, and analysis of large quantities of received MAS data have generated interest in the introduction of further task automation to enhance operator capability and efficiency. Through an operator-task analysis for an ASW search phase, a technique to fuse multiple-ping data across multiple sonobuoys was developed. Results: The new technique and associated displays render data so that rapid, intuitive and reliable operator interpretation is possible, but leaves other high-load tasks such as contact investigation unaddressed. The technique is adept at rapidly and consistently evaluating complex geospatial relationships and errors. Large quantities of data may be searched for corroborative information. The result is an informative and intuitive rendering of the available information. The multiple-sensor designation, integrated localization and detection interpolation techniques were developed with testing on echo-repeater and submarine target data. Significance: The sonar-operator overload remains a significant issue in current multistatic active-sonar systems. Prior work demonstrated that a compelling improvement in detection performance could be realized using an innovative display format. An improvement through smart-automation performance was achieved for real-target data. Future plans: With the completion of the topic DRDC Atlantic applied research project, this completes the effort in field. The results will be provided to new projects in the field with recommendations, including benchmarking operator capability with and without the technique. Optimization of other high-load tasks such as initial detection and classification would benefit from a similar approach of starting with a detailed task analysis. ii Sommaire ..... Smart Automation for Multistatic Active Sonar - Phase II: Final Report [Hood, J.; McInnis, J.]; DRDC Atlantic CR 2011-078; R & D pour la défense Canada – Atlantique; mai 2013. iii Table of contents Abstract …….. ................................................................................................................................. i Executive summary ......................................................................................................................... ii Sommaire ..... .................................................................................................................................. iii Table of contents .............................................................................................................................iv List of figures ........................................................................................................................... ....viii List of tables .................................................................................................................................... x 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Smart automation for multistatic-active-sonar (SAMAS) ............................................. 2 1.1.1 Background ..................................................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Project motivation and objectives ................................................................... 4 2 Capability analysis and design .................................................................................................. 7 2.1 Operational (Tier 3/4) capability analysis ..................................................................... 7 2.1.1 Algorithm requirements .................................................................................. 7 2.1.1.1 Input data ...................................................................................... 8 2.1.1.2 Data designation ........................................................................... 9 2.1.1.3 Contact detection and feature extraction ...................................... 9 2.1.1.4 Contact localization .................................................................... 10 2.1.1.5 Tracking ...................................................................................... 10 2.1.1.6 Operator validation ..................................................................... 11 2.1.2 Non-functional requirements ........................................................................ 12 2.2 Research (Tier 2) capability analysis ........................................................................... 12 2.2.1 Algorithm requirements ................................................................................ 12 2.2.1.1 Input data .................................................................................... 13 2.2.1.2 Data designation ......................................................................... 13 2.2.1.3 Contact detection and feature extraction .................................... 13 2.2.1.4 Contact localization .................................................................... 14 2.2.1.5 Tracking ...................................................................................... 14 2.2.1.6 Operator validation ..................................................................... 14 3 Current capability ................................................................................................................... 15 3.1.1 Input data ....................................................................................................... 15 3.1.1.1 Contacts and tracks ..................................................................... 15 3.1.1.2 Omni-directional buoys .............................................................. 16 3.1.2 Data designation ............................................................................................ 16 3.1.2.1 Manual designation ....................................................................