Approved for public release; distribution in unlimited. / Synthetic aperture sonar beamforming and signal processing relies on properly steering and focusing the aperture beam pattern in order to co-phase all the received signals. Due to the effects of motion in the synthetic aperture sonar problem, the propagation path between the transmitter, discrete point scatterer, and the receiver is time varying. Traditionally, simple approximations are used to determine these propagation ranges and angles of incidence and scatter. Methods to determine these ranges and angles exactly may significantly improve array gain and, therefore, target detection. This thesis investigates improvements to SAS signal processing algorithms using exact methods for the calculation of the time-varying ranges between transmitter and discrete point scatter, and between discrete point scatter and receiver, and the phase angle of the scattered acoustic signal incident upon the receiver. Using computer simulations, exact range and angle calculations were performed for different scenarios and compared to ranges and angles determined using standard approximations. The exact ranges were then used to determine incident phase, and were again compared to the approximate methods. Comparison of the exact and approximate methods was based on range estimation error and percentage error. Improvements in synthetic aperture array gain using exact phase weights based on exact, time-varying range solutions are proposed. / http://hdl.handle.net/10945/1142 / Lieutenant, United States Navy

Cette thèse a pour objectif d'améliorer la classification d'objets sous-marins dans des images sonar haute résolution. En particulier, il s'agit de distinguer les mines des objets inoffensifs parmi une collection d'objets ressemblant à des mines. Nos recherches ont été dirigées par deux contraintes classiques en guerre de la mine : d'une part, le manque de données et d'autre part, le besoin de lisibilité des décisions. Nous avons donc constitué une base de données la plus représentative possible et simulé des objets dans le but de la compléter. Le manque d'exemples nous a mené à utiliser une représentation compacte, issue de la reconnaissance de visages : les Structural Binary Gradient Patterns (SBGP). Dans la même optique, nous avons dérivé une méthode d'adaptation de domaine semi-supervisée, basée sur le transport optimal, qui peut être facilement interprétable. Enfin, nous avons développé un nouvel algorithme de classification : les Ensemble of Exemplar-Maximum Excluding Ball (EE-MEB) qui sont à la fois adaptés à des petits jeux de données mais dont la décision est également aisément analysable / This thesis aims to improve the classification of underwater objects in high resolution sonar images. Especially, we seek to make the distinction between mines and harmless objects from a collection of mine-like objects. Our research was led by two classical constraints of the mine warfare : firstly, the lack of data and secondly, the need for readability of the classification. In this context, we built a database as much representative as possible and simulated objects in order to complete it. The lack of examples led us to use a compact representation, originally used by the face recognition community : the Structural Binary Gradient Patterns (SBGP). To the same end, we derived a method of semi-supervised domain adaptation, based on optimal transport, that can be easily interpreted. Finally, we developed a new classification algorithm : the Ensemble of Exemplar-Maximum Excluding Ball (EE-MEB) which is suitable for small datasets and with an easily interpretable decision function

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are now being introduced into the fleet to improve Mine Warfare capabilities. Several AUVs are under government-contracted development. Mission planning and data reporting vary between vehicles and systems. This variance does not pose an immediate problem, as only one AUV is currently in production. However, as more AUVs are put into production, commands will begin to get multiple AUVs. Without a single mission command language, multiple systems will require familiarity with multiple languages. Extensible Markup Language (XML) and related technologies may be used to facilitate interoperability between dissimilar AUVs and extract and integrate mission data into Navy C4I systems. XML makes archive maintenance easier, XML documents can be accessed via an http server, and, in root form, XML is transferable on the fly by stylesheet. This thesis presents an XML-based mission command for the command and control of AUVs. In addition, this thesis discusses XML technology and how XML is a viable means of achieving interoperability. Furthermore, this thesis provides an example mission file using existing software, and demonstrates the future of XML in AUV technology. Finally, this work ends with a compelling argument for the use of an XML-based mission command language to command all AUVs. / Ensign, United States Navy / Captain, United States Air Force