Investigation of Simulated Performances

This work investigates the ideal distribution of sensors in networked arrays. MATLAB models these arrays and simulates the results these networks obtain using active and passive sonar. These results determine the ideal sensor placement for optimal parameter detection and estimation of targets. This work's first part focuses on active sonar networks with a fixed number of sensors in a differing number of arrays. MATLAB simulates the data of these sensors taking into account the geometries and velocities of the arrays and targets, then estimates the parameters of the targets using an elliptical filter, a conventional beamformer, a matched filter and one of three fusion methods. This work compares the performance of each network and fusion method. This work shows that the adding more arrays, regardless of size, enhances the overall performance of the network. It also shows the larger arrays obtain more robust parameter estimation. The second part of this work investigates the effects of uncertainty of the array position and orientation using passive sonar. Two networks, one with 2 32-channel arrays and one with 8 2-channel arrays, estimate a sound source's location using a conventional beamformer. MATLAB simulates the data taking into account the geometries of the arrays and the sound source. The results of these simulations show that when uncertainty of position and orientation increases, the better the smaller arrays estimate the location of the sound source compared to the larger arrays. Acknowledgements There are so many people I want to thank for allowing me to chase my dream of earning an advanced degree from a premier research institution. The first people I want to thank are the people who work to make Virginia Tech an outstanding institution of higher learning. Without their hard work and dedication, this university would not be one of the leaders in research as it is today. Among those people are the professors that I have had the honor of working with them. They include my adviser, Dr. Roan, whose patience and hard work made this research a pleasant working experience that I have enjoyed. Also included are the other two members of my committee, James Carneal and Marty Johnson, who have aided my research as I have needed direction. I would also like to thank the other students in the Vibrations and Acoustics Lab, with whom I have become good friends. Their cheerful attitude made coming into the lab a good time, …