Passive acoustic detection of a small remotely operated vehicle

This paper presents an experimental assessment of the feasibilities of the passive acoustic detection of a small remotely operated vehicle (ROV). We report the results of a series of underwater detection trials, both in the laboratory and in the field, to quantify passive detection of a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) small ROV. We also measure the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ROV signature as a function of distance between the ROV and acoustic receivers in a shallow water environment. Based on the experimental results, we find that the most significant contributions for ROV acoustic detection are the electric motor signals with the frequency range of around 400-500 Hz. The maximum detectable distance with ambient noise at 116 dB re 1 uPa is 22 m away from the ROV in a noisy littoral environment. Finally, we present a comparison between predicted sound pressure levels of the ROV and the experimental measured results.