Comparison of the mapping resolution of the ACID synthetic aperture sonar with existing sidescan sonar systems

The real-time processing and display of synthetic aperture sonar data for seafloor mapping was achieved by the ACID (ACoustical Imaging Development) synthetic aperture sonar during sea trials in May 1993. The aim of the project was to develop a synthetic aperture sonar for high resolution seafloor mapping. This paper discusses the parameters that were achieved using the ACID sonar and compares these with a number of existing sidescan sonar systems. It is shown that while some sidescan sonars have comparable along track resolution with the ACID sonar at near ranges, their resolution decreases rapidly with range. Sonar designers can use lower operating frequencies and still obtain high resolution mapping capabilities with synthetic aperture sonar systems. A number of images are presented which show the resolution capability of the ACID sonar. Images are presented of the seafloor when the sonar is operating in a traditional sidescan mode and when it is operating in a synthetic aperture processing mode. These images were obtained during sea trials near Toulon, France