Navigation Aids, Object Marking and Acoustic Communications - An Integrated Solution

The advent of reliable and flexible underwater acoustic communications has insured the core technology required for integrated, autonomous solutions pertaining to undersea vehicle navigation, object marking, environmental sensing, and ASW surveillance sensors. This paper focuses on ONR-and SPAWAR-funded efforts which have produced two new battery-powered, modem-based tools supporting underwater operations. The two share common communications methodologies, ranging and bearing estimation infrastructure, and common electronics, yet provide substantially different capabilities to the Fleet. In one case we have developed a unique single point solution for informing a passing UUV of its geoposition while also providing full connectivity to the outside world via Seaweb and/or a gateway buoy. In the second case we have developed a miniaturized derivative of a modem which serves as a new generation of marker/pinger, with substantial functional enhancements relative to currently deployed technology. Both systems leverage from the past ten years of Seaweb and Telesonar developments, although either can be used within or without a Seaweb infrastructure. Experimental results from at-sea deployments will be discussed.