Thales

Nicolas Mandelert

Pierre Guthmann

Nicolas Burlet

Patrick Ferrara

A synthetic aperture sonar moving along a first axis comprises an emitting device configured to emit, in each ping, at least one acoustic pulse toward an observed zone in a set of sectors comprising at least one sector. The sonar comprises a first physical receiving antenna extending along the first axis allowing measurements of backscattered signals to be acquired and a processing device configured to form, over R pings, for each sector, synthetic aperture beams from measurements of signals backscattered by the observed zone and generated by acoustic pulses emitted in the sector. The sonar comprises at least one gyrometer. The processing device is configured to correct for variations in the movement of the first receiving antenna during the formation of the synthetic aperture beams of the set of sectors by carrying out an autocalibration by intercorrelation of the successive pings.

Synthetic antenna sonar and method for forming synthetic antenna beams

A system for detecting and locating submerged underwater objects having neutral buoyancy comprising mechanically steered sonar to image the water column comprises mechanically steered sonar with a single emission channel, to perform the insonification of a first individual sector in a first pointing direction by a single first acoustic pulse, the sonar forming a single reception channel suitable for acquiring a first acoustic signal resulting from insonification, the mechanically steered sonar being mounted on a carrier to advance in a main direction, the first pointing direction substantially lateral to the carrier and the first individual sector exhibits a wide relative bearing aperture and a narrow elevation aperture, the mechanically steered sonar comprising a mechanical pointing device to tilt the first pointing direction about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the main direction allowing the sonar to acquire first acoustic signals resulting from insonifications performed in different pointing directions.

System for detecting and locating submerged objects having neutral buoyancy such as moored mines and associated method

A sonar system to image the seabed, comprises at least one emission antenna to emit an acoustic beam covering a useful angular sector delimited by a first direction and a second direction, the distance between the antenna and the seabed being more significant in the first direction than in the second direction. The emission device is configured to form an emission pattern whose maximum is situated substantially in the first direction and which decreases from the first direction to the second direction and from the first direction in the sense opposite to the second direction, the energy attenuation being faster in the sense opposite to the second direction than toward the second direction.

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Ploudalmezeau, France

Nicolas Mandelert