Journal Article

AUV-Based Side-Scan Sonar Real-Time Method for Underwater-Target Detection

Jin, Shaohua, Huang, Chao, Tang, Yulin, Zhao, Jianhu, Wang, Liming, Yu, Yongcan

2023

Overview

The limitations of underwater acoustic communications mean that the side-scan sonar data of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) cannot be transmitted back and processed in real time, which means that targets cannot be detected in real time. To address the problem, this paper proposes an autonomous underwater vehicle-based side-scan sonar real-time detection method for underwater targets. First, the paper describes the system and operation of real-time underwater-target detection by the side-scan sonar mounted on the autonomous underwater vehicle. Next, it proposes a real-time processing method for side-scan sonar data, method for constructing a deep-learning-based underwater-target detection model, and real-time method for underwater-target detection based on navigation strip images, which, together, solve the three key technical problems of real-time data processing, deep-learning-based detection model construction, and real-time target detection based on the autonomous underwater vehicle. Finally, through sea-based experiments, the effectiveness of the proposed methods is evaluated, providing a new solution for the autonomous underwater vehicle-based side-scan sonar real-time detection of underwater targets.

• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Subject: Acoustics / autonomous underwater vehicle / Autonomous underwater vehicles / Data analysis / Data processing / Deep learning / deep-learning detection model construction / Detection / Efficiency / Methods / Navigation / Real time / Real time operation / real-time processing / real-time underwater-target detection / Remote submersibles / Research methodology / Satellite communications / Side scan sonar / Sonar / Target detection / Teaching methods / Underwater acoustics / Underwater communication / Underwater construction / Underwater vehicles