The practical implementation of electronic stabilization for sector scanning sonar displays

The natural motion of a ship at sea produces undesirable effects on sonar displays. To overcome this problem some form of stabilization is desirable. A practical sonar display system, which uses image processing techniques to stabilize the displayed sonar image against rotational motion is described. The stabilization method provides the capability of image enhancement as well as improved image interpretation due to an increased area of view and a geometrically correct conversion to polar display. Details of the three processing stages required in the system are provided. These processes are ship motion analysis, image integration, and polar display conversion. Stabilized results are given for simulated ship motion