Adaptive Collaborative Array Trajectories for Optimum Passive Detection

Large static arrays can maximize their array gain for a fixed look direction when accurate signal wavefront modeling is available and stationary noise fields are present. However, a group of relatively agile shorter arrays towed by unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) can look in multiple directions at once, which is a distinct advantage when several strong interferers are present in the water column. Of particular interest is the possibility of collaboratively optimizing the individual trajectories of a group of UUVs in a way that maximizes the probability of detection of a passive target. Numerical solutions of this problem seem to lead to scenarios which minimize backlobe masking of the target by the interferers