| Ultra-Short-BaseLine (USBL) is the most practical underwater acoustic positioning system for autonomous underwater vehicles because of its small space requirement. The objective of this research is to develop a USBL system capable of estimating a source location transmitting frequency-hopped tones sequences. Such sequences are characteristic of spread spectrum signaling used in underwater acoustic communication network. It must be able to provide azimuth and elevation of a modem-type source with an accuracy of 0.3° for both angles using the synchronization stage of the transmission. The acoustic antenna is composed of four transducers arranged as a tetrahedron. Using the model of Quazi and Lerro, which provides an expression for the variance of the bearing angle, azimuth and elevation of the transmitter are estimated employing maximum likelihood estimation. This system is simulated, tested and calibrated in a tank. Simulated results satisfy the requirement with a SNR of 32dB and 8 symbols. The latest experimental measurements present an accuracy of 3°. |
