Speed Race in Developing Sonar Systems with Clearer Underwater Imaging

[Senior Researcher Yongjun Park, Maritime Underwater Research Team 1, Defense Technology Quality Institute] The development speed of Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) for precise underwater object detection is accelerating. Kraken Robotics, located in the United States, has achieved a 2cm image resolution with its commercial SAS product, the AquaPix MINSAS system. Kraken Robotics claims this is the industry's first. SAS is a technology that uses sound waves to detect underwater objects and is often referred to as sonar. It is easy to understand by thinking of an ultrasound scan used to check a fetus inside a pregnant woman's womb.

Kraken has improved the SAS system's image resolution from 3.0 x 3.3cm (along the track) to 1.9 x 2.1cm using ultra-high-definition (UHD) software. The UHD-grade sonar images developed by Kraken extract all information from sonar echoes using advanced image processing techniques, achieving excellent seabed image quality.

Kraken measures resolution under real-world conditions using data-centric methods. The resolution measured at 1.9 x 2.1cm includes effects such as aperture shading that reduces sidelobes in the marine environment, nonlinear motion of UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vehicles), and acoustic propagation.

In particular, navies conducting mine warfare benefit from faster target detection and information acquisition due to the high image resolution. If low-resolution sonar is used, multiple steps are required to detect and classify objects. At the same time, the surface search range inevitably decreases. Kraken's AquaPix UHD software supports users with a highly efficient method by combining system speed, range, and resolution. Its excellent clarity also allows for detailed seabed map creation.

Karl Kenny, President and CEO of Kraken Robotics, stated, "Data quality is critical for challenging seabed survey missions such as mine countermeasures, infrastructure monitoring, and oil and gas exploration operations," adding, "Kraken's recently developed next-generation AquaPix UHD processing software is designed to advance cutting-edge technology for seabed mapping with high-speed towed systems and unmanned underwater vehicles."