Sonar Data Simulation based on Tube Tracing

Simulating realistic sonar data is crucial for tuning detection and classification algorithms according to environment and acquisition characteristics. Moreover, robustness of performances estimation and prediction applications can be greatly enhanced as soon as such a simulation tool provides both a modular underwater world representation (multiple sensors, environments and acquisition conditions) and a selection of several computational engines (ray theory, parabolic equation ...). Therefore, we developed such a framework for simulators, allowing both scene design and computational engine choice. Within it, two engines (one for rays, one for tubes) has been successfully implemented and realistic simulations obtained, as shown in the presented simulated sonar images. A further step will be to also output the full received acoustic signal.