Program Areas
Anti-Submarine Warfare
Programs in the Anti-Submarine Warfare area are anchored in the core competencies of sensors and information systems. Our work includes sensors and signal processing, data fusion, command and control, and system engineering concepts. Technology families important to the Anti-Submarine Warfare area include sensors and sensor systems; signal processing; information management; modeling and simulation; system analysis, testing, and evaluation; and system engineering.
For more information, contact Jon R. Berry
USW Assessments
Using assessments to evaluate performance of existing systems as well as those under consideration for development has taken on increasing importance and visibility, particularly in the USW community. To rapidly develop new system prototypes for Navy transformation, modeling and simulation have been relied upon to provide insights into potential system performance in a variety of geographic areas of interest to the United States. Shrinking budgets and a desire to accelerate development timelines are two of the reasons assessments are used to evaluate systems at all levels of maturity. The cost to build a prototype system and take it out to sea for experimentation would limit the number of new technologies that the Navy could investigate. By using assessments to understand potential performance, identify shortfalls, and address high-risk areas, the Navy is able to select which technologies are worthy of future investment. Within the USW Business Area, several APL assessments over the past year for the Chief of Naval Operations have had a significant impact on Navy investment decisions.
Submarine Sonar Acoustic Rapid COT (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) Insertion (ARCI)
ARCI is the upgrade sonar system to be installed on virtually all submarines. APL participates in all aspects of development and testing, providing leadership for sonar working groups that direct the development and testing of next-generation technology. The Laboratory made significant contributions measuring the performance of tactical surface and submarine sonars, providing new insights into the sensor impacts on the development of tactical information. Recent testing with Fleet operators assessed the performance of two generations of tactical sonar systems. Analysis results indicate significantly improved performance with the newer system. This program is a notable example of using the advances in processing power available commercially to enhance anti-submarine warfare capabilities. APL's success with this build–test–build methodology has applicability to all undersea warfare platforms and systems, especially for sensors, the next major hurdle to achieving better detection performance. We are leading efforts to extend the ARCI process to the surface and air components of undersea warfare.
Engineering Measurement Programs (EMPs)
The Navy's EMPs evaluate the effectiveness of technology after it has been put into Fleet use. As the lead for the EMPs, APL ensures an objective analysis methodology based on data collected in real-world operations and provides rapid feedback to improve system processes. These efforts include planned upgrades through the foreseeable future.
Sonar Data Compression
APL developed a compression algorithm for passive sonar data that provides large compression ratios (>16:1) for passive sonar data while being "perceptually lossless." The algorithm provides a reduced-bandwidth output that is virtually indistinguishable from the original (when decompressed) based on established criterion. Passive sonar compression has two important criteria: (1) the operators must be able to perform their mission, and (2) sonar automation algorithms that use the data must get nearly the same results when using the decompressed data. Large-scale compression is a key enabler for emerging technologies such as Forcenet, where data are shared between platforms, and for distributed surveillance systems, where many sensors may be deployed. In both cases, the available communications bandwidth drives the problem, and large-scale compression offers substantial flexibility and benefits. The APL algorithm has been implemented in a satellite-enabled deployable system and is undergoing rigorous testing and analysis for inclusion in several large Navy systems where communications bandwidth is critical.