ASCS - Acoustic Signature Classification Software
Introduction
ASCS Displays
The role of a sonar operator is to act as the eyes and ears
of the ship by detecting and classifying unknown surface or submerged contacts.
In order to maintain situational awareness, once an unknown
target is detected, a classification must be done quickly.
Unfortunately performing accurate classification based on acoustical
analysis is time consuming and difficult.
In addition to the identification of a target, often
the problem presented to the operator is of a surveillance nature.
Array’s Acoustic
Signature Classification Software (ASCS) was developed to aid the sonar
operator to quickly search though a database of known acoustic signatures to
arrive at a correct classification.
The software is derived from
the HYDAB classification software that has been in use in
the Royal Swedish Navy’s
submarines and surface ships for over 17 years. It is a very effective
classification tool that has been continually refined and updated though years
of ‘at sea training’ and operational missions.
Acoustic Signature Classification Software
The Acoustic Signature Classification Software
is designed to
aid sonar
operators in quickly classifying unknown targets currently being tracked.
The operator can search the database using any available information from
the target in order to compare the received signals with the signatures in the
database. A list of possible
matches will be produced and presented which allows the operator to further
refine his search until a positive identification is made.
Searching the Classification Database
The classification database allows an operator to perform manual
match-comparisons using the values automatically retrieved from cursors on
Array’s sonar processing software SAPPS and values entered by the operator to search
for a contact. The operator can perform multiple searches simultaneously. For
each search, a list of possible hits is presented. The operator can remove hits
from the result and continue refining the search. It is possible to save
searches and analyze several targets in parallel without having to re-enter new
values when returning to a search later.
ASCS supports incremental search and tolerance on search
parameters. It is also possible to undo search steps incrementally. Targets in
the search results are displayed by priority based on interest/threat in
decrementing order.
While the ASCS can operate as a standalone component, it
can also interface to Array’s Sonar
Processing Software.
For Narrowband, Intercept, DEMON and Transient Analysis, it
is possible to export cursor readouts and segments of the plots automatically to
the ASCS with a single mouse click. The ASCS supports storing harmonics information
and exporting it to the Sonar Displays to be displayed on a plot