Sonar From The Air

I spent most of my career in the sonar business.  It was always assumed that sonar can only work when both the transmitter and the receiver were in the same body of water; air to water sonar was not possible because sonar can not break the air-water interface.   Sure, there were planes that could “dip” […]

I spent most of my career in the sonar business.  It was always assumed that sonar can only work when both the transmitter and the receiver were in the same body of water; air to water sonar was not possible because sonar can not break the air-water interface.   Sure, there were planes that could “dip” a device into the water that would transmit and receive sonar signals, but that is still considered a water-water sonar.  Thanks to the innovative minds of Stanford University, there may now be a way to transmit and receive sonar from an airborne platform.  Who would have thought?

Stanford engineers explain that the Photoacoustic Airborne Sonar System, or PASS, fires a laser into the surface of the water, its intensity pulsed to the desired acoustic frequency, and as this laser energy is absorbed, it creates ultrasonic waves in the water that can act as effective sonar waves, bouncing off underwater objects before returning up to the surface.  “If we can use light in the air, where light travels well, and sound in the water, where sound travels well, we can get the best of both worlds”

This can be a game changer for Anti Submarine Warfare.  Aircraft would be able to search for submarines without dropping sensors into the water.  This would be advantageous because aircraft could search an area more quickly, and the splashing sound of the sensors would not give away the presence of the aircraft.

If sonar interests you, or if you work with sonar, consider taking the upcoming ATI course “Sonar Principles and ASW Analysis.”  This three-day course provides an excellent introduction to underwater sound and highlights how sonar principles are employed in ASW analyses. The course provides a solid understanding of the sonar equation and discusses in-depth propagation loss, target strength, reverberation, arrays, array gain, and detection of signals. 

To learn more about this course, and to register, you can go here.

And, to learn more about other courses offered by ATI, please go to www.aticourses.com

Target Motion Analysis, What’s That, You Ask?

Target Motion Analysis Sonar and Target Motion Analysis Fundamentals is a course being offered by ATI starting on December 19.  If you are a submarine sonarman, or if you are an engineer developing tools for use by submarine sonarmen, then this is the course for you!  You surely already understand the meaning and importance of […]

Target Motion Analysis

Sonar and Target Motion Analysis Fundamentals is a course being offered by ATI starting on December 19. 

If you are a submarine sonarman, or if you are an engineer developing tools for use by submarine sonarmen, then this is the course for you!  You surely already understand the meaning and importance of Target Motion Analysis, and this class will offer insights that you may not have been exposed to in your Navy or workplace training.

Surface Ships use Radar in much the same way that Submarines use Sonar.  One major difference between Surface Ships and Submarines is that stealth is critical to the submarine, and less important to the surface ship.  So, submarines typically do not want to emit any energy from their ship, as that would be detectable by the adversary.  As a result, while Surface Ship Radar actively emits energy, submarine sonar does not.  Submarine Sonars act passively; it only listens to naturally occurring noise, it does not transmit any energy.

When a Surface Ship Radar emits a pulse and listens for a return, the radarman is able to pinpoint the precise location of the contact.  Over time, he can examine the track of his contact, and use this information for tactical purposes.  The process is fairly simple compared to what happens on a submarine.

When a submarine sonarman hears a contact using his passive sonar, he knows nothing more than the direction it is coming from.  Over time, he can develop a time history of the direction to the contact, but that is not the same as a Target Track.  The time history of target direction is of little use for tactical planners; they need to know the track of the contact, which includes the contacts range and direction of travel.  In order to convert the time history of target direction into a usable contact track, the sonarman, or the sonarman’s computer programs, must execute “Target Motion Analysis”.

If you find this explanation interesting, or if it sounds like something that you may be able to apply to your work, please consider joining us for this class.  You can learn more about the class, and register for it here.

A complete listing of all of the courses that ATI can offer upon request can be found here.

Yeah, But What If?

In light of the current news story about the lost submarine, it seemed like Submarine accidents which result in the submarine careening to the sea bottom are spectacular in Hollywood movies and video games, but they do not happen often in real life.  In fact, for the U.S., we have not lost a submarine to […]

In light of the current news story about the lost submarine, it seemed like

Submarine accidents which result in the submarine careening to the sea bottom are spectacular in Hollywood movies and video games, but they do not happen often in real life.  In fact, for the U.S., we have not lost a submarine to the depths since 1968 when USS Scorpion was lost with 99 souls due ( most likely) to an inadvertent activation of a battery or a torpedo.  Prior to that, in 1963, USS Thresher was lost with 129 souls due to ( most likely ) a piping failure during a deep dive.  Due to actions taken as a result of lessons learned from those two mishaps, the U.S. has not had a major submarine loss since then.  The safety record for U.S. Submarines since 1968 has been remarkable, and the envy of other countries.

Yeah, but what if?

To be prudent, the U.S. must assume that there will be submarine accidents in the future, even if they are not U.S. submarines.  For this reason, the U.S. continues to maintain a force dedicated to the rescue of downed submarines.  Undersea Rescue Command (URC) is the U.S. Navy’s official command for the rescue of sailors during a submarine casualty anywhere in the world.   If you would like to learn more about this command, you can read about it here.

The blog author has had some personal experience working with the Undersea Rescue Command, and all comments that follow are the authors personal opinions, and not an official opinion of the U.S. Navy or Applied Technology Institute.  In case you missed that, please go back and read it again.

Two significant issues that confront the Undersea Rescue Command are funding and localization. 

The funding issue arises from the fact that our submarines are so safe, and our safety record is so good, there is a hesitance to pay too much attention ( and funding ) to an organization which may not ever be called into service.  Unfortunately, there is not much the technical community can do about that; it will have to fall upon the Public Relations Office at U.S. Navy. 

Localization, however, is a problem which the technical community can help solve.  When a submarine goes to the bottom, the Undersea Rescue Command jumps into action, and reports to the vicinity of the accident very quickly.  Unfortunately, the Undersea Rescue Command cannot start their rescue mission until the precise location of the sunken submarine is known, and that is often a difficult problem.  Until the submarine is located, the rescue can not actually begin.  Often, in exercises, or in other countries, by the time the submarine is located, it has become a recovery mission rather than a rescue mission. 

So, how can we simplify the task of locating a downed submarine?  Some of the answer lies in the concept of operations, or things that a distressed submarine can do to facilitate the search for them.  Some of the answer lies in advances in sonars and sonar signal processing.  And the rest of the answer lies in innovative new ideas, for example, using AUVs or UUVs to find distressed submarines ( cool idea ). 

Applied Technology Institute is offering several courses in the coming months that will help you brush up on your skills, so that you can apply them to this problem.  You can find information about our Sonar Signal Processing course, and register for the course here.  Additionally, you can find information about our Passive and Active Acoustics Fundamentals course, and register for the course here.  Lastly, a full listing of ATI’s Acoustics and Sonar Engineering Courses ( including AUV and UUV courses ) can be found here.  If you are interested in a course which is not currently on the schedule, please let us know, so we can try to schedule an offering soon.

As I said earlier, the author has had the pleasure of working with the Undersea Rescue Command several years ago, and was very impressed with the hard work and dedication exhibited by all members of their team.  The following picture shows me and the rest of the JHU/APL Team that worked with the URC.  We are posing inside of the Pressurized Rescue Module which travels to the distressed submarine to perform the rescue.  Although no one would ever want to experience being on a submarine in distress, they should feel encouraged that a team as dedicated and qualified as URC is on the job.

Why engineers are better than everyone else

Applied Technology Institute (ATI Courses) offers a variety of courses on space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We believe the news summarized below would be of interest to our readers. February 16 marked the beginning of National Engineers week in the U.S.  EDN celebrated engineers with six reasons Why engineers are better than […]
Applied Technology Institute (ATI Courses) offers a variety of courses on space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We believe the news summarized below would be of interest to our readers. February 16 marked the beginning of National Engineers week in the U.S.  EDN celebrated engineers with six reasons Why engineers are better than everyone else!  The tongue-in-cheek piece elaborated on these engineering qualities:
  • Team work, not cut-throat competition
  • You’re boring at parties
  • Start-ups don’t happen without you
  • Your degree is worth more than the paper it’s printed on
  • Go ahead, argue
  • Others make problems, engineers find solutions.
For the logic, see the entire article (Why engineers are better than everyone else) by Suzanne Deffree, February 20, 2014.  

Fundamentals of COTS-Based Systems Engineering Course

C. O. T. S. = Commercial Off-the-Shelf Video Clip: Click to Watch Leveraging Commercial Off-the-Shelf Technology for System Success  This three day course provides a systemic overview of how to use Systems Engineering to plan, manage, and execute projects that have significant Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) content. Modern development programs are increasingly characterized by COTS solutions (both hardware […]
C. O. T. S. = Commercial Off-the-Shelf
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Leveraging Commercial Off-the-Shelf Technology for System Success  This three day course provides a systemic overview of how to use Systems Engineering to plan, manage, and execute projects that have significant Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) content. Modern development programs are increasingly characterized by COTS solutions (both hardware and software) in both the military and commercial domains. The course focuses on the fundamentals of planning, execution, and follow-through that allow for the delivery of excellent and effective COTS-based systems to ensure the needs of all external and internal stakeholders are met. Participants will learn the necessary adjustments to the fundamental principles of Systems Engineering when dealing with COTS technologies. Numerous examples of COTS systems are presented. Practical information and tools are provided that will help the participants deal with issues that inevitably occur in the real word. Extensive in-class exercises are used to stimulate application of the course material. Who Should Attend? • Prime and subcontractor engineers who procure COTS components. • Suppliers who produce and supply COTS components (hardware and software). • Technical team leaders whose responsibilities include COTS technologies. • Program and engineering managers that oversee COTS development efforts. • Government regulators, administrators, and sponsors of COTS procurement efforts. • Military professionals who work with COTS-based systems. For more information: FUNDAMENTALS OF COTS-BASED SYSTEMS ENGINEERING Why not take a short course? Our short courses are less than a week long and are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. This course provides provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the procurement and use of COTS systems. Course Outline and Notes This short course is designed for individuals who plan, manage, and execute projects that have significant COTS content. What You Will Learn: • The key characteristics of COTS components. • How to effectively plan and manage a COTS development effort. • How using COTS affects your requirements and design. • How to effectively integrate COTS into your systems. • Effective verification and validation of COTS-based systems. • How to manage your COTS suppliers. • The latest lessons learned from over two decades of COTS developments. After attending the course each student will receive a complete set of lecture notes and an annotated bibliography at the beginning of the class for future reference and can add notes and more detail based on the in-class interaction, as well as a certificate of completion. Please visit our website for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors Our mission here at the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. Since 1984, ATI has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. You will become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. If you or your team is in need of more technical training, then boost your career with the knowledge needed to provide better, faster, and cheaper solutions for sophisticated DoD and NASA systems. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology. David D. Walden, ESEP, is an internationally recognized expert in the field of Systems Engineering. He has over 28 years of experience in leadership of systems development as well as in organizational process improvement and quality having worked at McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics before starting his own consultancy in 2006. He has a BS degree in Electrical Engineering (Valparaiso University) and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (Washington University in St. Louis) and Management of Technology (University of Minnesota). Mr. Walden is a member of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and is an INCOSE Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP). He is also a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Tau Beta Pi. He is the author or coauthor of over 50 technical reports and professional papers/presentations addressing all aspects of Systems Engineering. Dates and Locations The date and location of this course is below: May 8-10, 2012 in Columbia, MD

President Obama Wants Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in an Airspace Near You!

President Obama sends a Valentine’s Day Present to UAS Video Clip: Click to Watch What You Really Need to Know About Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Are you an engineer, aviation expert or project manager who wishes to enhance their understanding of the new and exciting field of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)? President Obama recently signed legislation […]
President Obama sends a Valentine’s Day Present to UAS
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What You Really Need to Know About Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
Are you an engineer, aviation expert or project manager who wishes to enhance their understanding of the new and exciting field of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)? President Obama recently signed legislation that gives the FAA a deadline for authorizing the flying of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in airspace now reserved for use by manned planes. The legislation requires the FAA to produce a comprehensive plan within nine months for integrating the unmanned planes into manned airspace. President Obama Signs FAA Bill into Law Large UAVs like the Predator and Global Hawk are always in the news and they can access Class A airspace (above 18,000 ft). Their long endurance and virtually unlimited range makes them ideal platforms for surveillance operations. They are routinely controlled halfway around the world using satellite links for beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) operations. Operational altitudes range for the smaller UAVs like the Scan Eagle are typically from 2,000-5,000 feet but flights up to 8,000 feet (6,000 at night) are common. Line-of-sight (LOS) range is about 50-100 miles when the ground is flat, or even less when hilly or mountainous. UAS technology has rapidly evolved in the military context to perform Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions and provide the fullest possible understanding of the adversary to the commanding officer. UAV have the range and endurance to provide a bird’s-eye view of the battlefield and are flexible enough for dynamic mission re-tasking. This allows timely receipt of information about the adversary, when and where it is needed, without having to risk a manned aircraft. UAVs are often preferred for missions that are too “dull, dirty, or dangerous” for manned aircraft. Many of the military aircraft will be returning to the US for testing and training purposes and as the recent FAA legislation proves, there is a great deal of interest for civil use of UAS. Civilian UAVs have already demonstrated potential in a wide variety of missions. Local law enforcement, firefighting, agriculture, pipeline surveillance and atmospheric research are all areas which have benefited from UAVs.
One way or another, UAVs are coming to an airspace near you. Will you be ready for it?
Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of these complex systems in a short time. You will become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. If you or your team is in need of more technical training, then why not boost your career and knowledge with a short course? All of ATI’s short courses are less than a week long and are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our classes include both introductory and advanced courses. Our two UAS courses provide a practical overview which provides a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development of UAS. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OVERVIEW This one day course is designed for engineers, aviation experts and project managers who wish to enhance their understanding of UAS. The course provides the “big picture” for those who work outside of the discipline. Each topic addresses real systems (Predator, Shadow, Warrior and others) and real-world problems and issues concerning the use and expansion of their applications. There is also an emphasis on RF communications and spectrum management aspects (national and international) of UAS operations. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM FUNDAMENTALS This three day, classroom and practical instructional program provides individuals or teams entering the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) market with the need to ‘hit the ground running’. Delegates will gain a working knowledge of UAS system classification, payloads, sensors, communications and data links. You will learn the UAS weapon design process and UAS system design components. The principles of mission planning systems and human factors design considerations are described. The critical issue of integrating UAS in the NAS is addressed in detail along with major considerations. Multiple roadmaps from all services are used to explain UAS future missions. Course Outline, Samplers, and Notes Our UAS courses are designed for individuals involved in planning, designing, building, managing, launching, and operating these systems. Determine for yourself the value of our courses before you sign up. See our slide samples below: Unmanned Aircraft Overview Slide Sampler Unmanned Aircraft System Fundamentals Slide Sampler After attending either (or both) of these courses you will receive a full set of detailed notes at the beginning of the class for future reference and can add notes and more detail based on the in-class interaction, as well as a certificate of completion. Please visit our website for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors Our mission here at ATI is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology. Mr. Mark N. Lewellen has over twenty-five years of experience with a wide variety of space, satellite and aviation related projects, including the Predator/Shadow/Warrior/Global Hawk UAVs, Orbcomm, Iridium, Sky Station, and aeronautical mobile telemetry systems. More recently he has been working in the exciting field of UAS. He was the Vice Chairman of a US UAS Sub-group which led the preparations to find new radio spectrum for UAS operations at the recently completed World Radiocommunication Conference 2012 under Agenda Item 1.3. He is also a technical advisor to the US State Department and a member of the National Committee which reviews and comments on all US submissions to international telecommunication groups, including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Dr. Jerry LeMieux, PhD is a pilot and engineer with over 40 years and 10,000 hours of aviation experience. He has over 30 years of experience in operations, program management, systems engineering, R&D and test and evaluation for AEW, fighter and tactical data link acquisition programs. He led 1,300 personnel and managed 100 network and data link acquisition programs with a five year portfolio valued at more than $22 billion. He served at the numbered Air Force Level, responsible for the development, acquisition and sustainment of over 300 information superiority, combat ops and combat support programs that assure integrated battlespace dominance for the Air Force, DoD, US agencies and Allied forces. In civilian life he has consulted on numerous airspace issues for the US Federal Aviation Administration, Air Force, Army, Navy, NASA and DARPA. He holds a PhD in electrical engineering and is a graduate of Air War College and Defense Acquisition University. Dates and Locations The dates and locations of these two UAS courses are below:*
March 19th,             2012      Columbia, MD March 20th-22nd,  2012      Columbia, MD *Attendance for these classes is restricted to citizens of US, NATO and other Mutual Defense Countries (including Australia, NZ, Japan, Korea, Singapore)


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ATI’s Top 5 Engineering Course Samplers of 2011

Video Clip: Click to Watch ATI specializes in short course technical training Our mission here at the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced […]
What Are the Tools of Your Trade?
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ATI specializes in short course technical training
Our mission here at the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. ATI’s Top Five Engineering Courses for 2011 The five engineering courses for 2011 are highlighted below: #1 Practical Statistical Signal Processing – using MATLAB This 4-day course covers signal processing systems for radar, sonar, communications, speech, imaging and other applications based on state-of-the-art computer algorithms. These algorithms include important tasks such as data simulation, parameter estimation, filtering, interpolation, detection, spectral analysis, beamforming, classification, and tracking. Until now these algorithms could only be learned by reading the latest technical journals. This course will take the mystery out of these designs by introducing the algorithms with a minimum of mathematics and illustrating the key ideas via numerous examples using MATLAB. Designed for engineers, scientists, and other professionals who wish to study the practice of statistical signal processing without the headaches, this course will make extensive use of hands-on MATLAB implementations and demonstrations. Attendees will receive a suite of software source code and are encouraged to bring their own laptops to follow along with the demonstrations. Click here for the tutorial #2 Advanced Topics in Digital Signal Processing This four-day course is designed for communication systems engineers, programmers, implementers and managers who need to understand current practice and next generation DSP techniques for upcoming communication systems. DSP is more than mapping legacy analog designs to a DSP implementation. To avoid compromise solution appropriate for an earlier time period, we return to first principles to learn how to apply new technology capabilities to the design of next generation communication systems. Click here for the tutorial #3 Engineering Systems Modeling WithExcel/VBA This two-day course is for engineers, scientists, and others interested in developing custom engineering system models. Principles and practices are established for creating integrated models using Excel and its built-in programming environment, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Real-world techniques and tips not found in any other course, book, or other resource are revealed. Step-bystep implementation, instructor-led interactive examples, and integrated participant exercises solidify the concepts introduced. Application examples are demonstrated from the instructor’s experience in unmanned underwater vehicles, LEO spacecraft, cryogenic propulsion systems, aerospace & military power systems, avionics thermal management, and other projects. Click here for the tutorial #4 Wavelets: A Conceptual, Practical Approach Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) are in wide use and work very well if your signal stays at a constant frequency (“stationary”). But if the signal could vary, have pulses, “blips” or any other kind of interesting behavior then you need Wavelets. Wavelets are remarkable tools that can stretch and move like an amoeba to find the hidden “events” and then simultaneously give you their location, frequency, and shape. Wavelet Transforms allow this and many other capabilities not possible with conventional methods like the FFT. This course is vastly different from traditional math-oriented Wavelet courses or books in that we use examples, figures, and computer demonstrations to show how to understand and work with Wavelets. This is a comprehensive, in-depth, up-to-date treatment of the subject, but from an intuitive, conceptual point of view. We do look at a few key equations from the traditional literature but only AFTER the concepts are demonstrated and understood. If desired, further study from scholarly texts and papers is then made much easier and more palatable when you already understand the fundamental equations and how they relate to the real world. Click here for the tutorial #5 Computational Electromagnetics This 3-day course teaches the basics of CEM with application examples. Fundamental concepts in the solution of EM radiation and scattering problems are presented. Emphasis is on applying computational methods to practical applications. You will develop a working knowledge of popular methods such as the FEM, MOM, FDTD, FIT, and TLM including asymptotic and hybrid methods. Students will then be able to identify the most relevant CEM method for various applications, avoid common user pitfalls, understand model validation and correctly interpret results. Students are encouraged to bring their laptop to work examples using the provided FEKO Lite code. You will learn the importance of model development and meshing, post- processing for scientific visualization and presentation of results. Click here for the tutorial Course Outline, Samplers, and Notes Determine for yourself the value of these or our other courses before you sign up. See our samples (See Slide Samples) on some of our courses. Or check out the new ATI channel on YouTube. After attending the course you will receive a full set of detailed notes from the class for future reference, as well as a certificate of completion. To see the complete course listing from ATI, click on the links at the bottom of the page. Please visit our website for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors Since 1984, ATI has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. ATI short courses are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our courses provide you a practical overview of space and defense technologies which provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development such complex systems. Our short courses are designed for individuals involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and operating space and defense systems. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. You will also become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology.


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Psssst…What Have You Heard about ATI’s Acoustics Course?

Video Clip: Click to Watch ATI’S ACOUSTICS FUNDAMENTALS, MEASUREMENTS & APPLICATIONS COURSE Here is what we have heard from some of our students: “Great instructor made the course interesting and informative. Helped clear-up many misconceptions I had about sound and its measurement” “Enjoyed the in-class demonstrations; they help explain the concepts. Instructor helped me with a […]
A Typical Acoustic Impulse Response of a Room
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Here is what we have heard from some of our students:
  • “Great instructor made the course interesting and informative. Helped clear-up many misconceptions I had about sound and its measurement”
  • “Enjoyed the in-class demonstrations; they help explain the concepts. Instructor helped me with a problem I was having at work, worth the price of the course!”
This three-day course is intended for engineers and other technical personnel and managers who have a work-related need to understand basic acoustics concepts and how to measure and analyze sound. This is an introductory course and participants need not have any prior knowledge of sound or vibration. Each topic is illustrated by appropriate applications, in-class demonstrations, and worked-out numerical examples. Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. You will become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. If you or your team is in need of more technical training, then boost your career with the knowledge needed to provide better, faster, and cheaper solutions for sophisticated systems. Why not take a short course? ATI short courses are less than a week long and are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our courses provide a practical overview of space and defense technologies which provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development of complex systems. Course Outline and Notes The course starts with introductory concepts. With this background, the students are then schooled in waves, radiation and measurements. The course concludes with a discussion of representative applications, including outdoor sound propagation (temperature and wind effects) and environmental effects. What You Will Learn:
  • How to make proper sound level measurements
  • How to analyze and report acoustic data
  • The basis of decibels (dB) and the A-weighting scale
  • How intensity probes work and allow near-field sound measurements
  • How to measure radiated sound power and sound transmission loss
  • How to use third-octave bands and narrow-band spectrum analyzers
  • How the source-path-receiver approach is used in noise control engineering
  • How sound builds up in enclosures like vehicle interiors and rooms
After attending this course you will receive a full set of detailed notes at the beginning of the class for future reference and can add notes and more detail based on the in-class interaction, as well as a certificate of completion. Each student will also receive a copy of the textbook, Acoustics: An Introduction by Heinrich Kuttruff. Please visit our website st the links below for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors Our mission here at ATI is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology. Dr. Alan D. Stuart, Associate Professor Emeritus of Acoustics, Penn State, has over forty years experience in the field of sound and vibration. He has degrees in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and engineering acoustics. For over thirty years he has taught courses on the Fundamentals of Acoustics, Structural Acoustics, Applied Acoustics, Noise Control Engineering, and Sonar Engineering on both the graduate and undergraduate levels as well as at government and industrial organizations throughout the country. Dates and Locations The dates and locations of this short course, are below: April 10-12, 2012 in Silver Spring, MD July 17-19, 2012 in Bremmerton, WA


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The New Year is almost Here, Are You Resolved to Learn Next Year?

What Resolutions Have You Made? Video Clip: Click to Watch Why Not a Short Technical Course for Your New Year’s Resolution? Are you or your team ready to face the challenges of 2012 with what you know now? With technology and industries shifting so quickly businesses need to embrace training just to keep up. Since 1984, […]
What Resolutions Have You Made?
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Why Not a Short Technical Course for Your New Year’s Resolution?
Are you or your team ready to face the challenges of 2012 with what you know now? With technology and industries shifting so quickly businesses need to embrace training just to keep up. Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. You will become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. If you or your team is in need of more technical training, then boost your career with the knowledge needed to provide better, faster, and cheaper solutions for sophisticated DoD and NASA systems. Why not take a short course instead? ATI short courses are less than a week long and are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our courses provide a practical overview of space and defense technologies which provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development of complex systems. Course Outline, Samplers, and Notes
Our short courses are designed for individuals involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and operating space and defense systems. Determine for yourself the value of our courses before you sign up. See our samples (See Slide Samples) on some of our courses. Or check out the new ATI channel on YouTube. After attending the course you will receive a full set of detailed notes at the beginning of the class for future reference and can add notes and more detail based on the in-class interaction, as well as a certificate of completion. Please visit our website for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors Our mission here at ATI is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology.


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Early Technical Short Courses for 2012 are forming Now! Why Not Give Yourself the Gift of Knowledge?

Video Clip: Click to Watch Are you or your team ready to face the challenges of 2012 with what you know at the end of 2011? With technology and industries shifting so quickly individuals need to embrace training just to keep up. Why not give yourself a gift and take a short course? Our short courses […]
Why Not Self-Gift This Year?
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Are you or your team ready to face the challenges of 2012 with what you know at the end of 2011? With technology and industries shifting so quickly individuals need to embrace training just to keep up. Why not give yourself a gift and take a short course? Our short courses are less than a week long and are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date and provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development of complex systems. For over twenty five years, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. You will also become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. If you or your team is in need of more technical training, then boost your career with the knowledge needed to provide better, faster, and cheaper solutions for sophisticated DoD and NASA systems. These 2012 Courses are Forming Now PRACTICAL STATISTICAL SIGNAL PROCESSING – USING MATLAB This 4-day course covers signal processing systems for radar, sonar, communications, speech, imaging and other applications based on state-of-the-art computer algorithms. These algorithms include important tasks such as data simulation, parameter estimation, filtering, interpolation, detection, spectral analysis, beamforming, classification, and tracking. Until now these algorithms could only be learned by reading the latest technical journals. This course will take the mystery out of these designs by introducing the algorithms with a minimum of mathematics and illustrating the key ideas via numerous examples using MATLAB. COMPUTATIONAL ELECTROMAGNETICS This 3-day course teaches the basics of CEM with application examples. Fundamental concepts in the solution of EM radiation and scattering problems are presented. Emphasis is on applying computational methods to practical applications. You will develop a working knowledge of popular methods such as the FEM, MOM, FDTD, FIT, and TLM including asymptotic and hybrid methods. Students will then be able to identify the most relevant CEM method for various applications, avoid common user pitfalls, understand model validation and correctly interpret results. Students are encouraged to bring their laptop to work examples using the provided FEKO Lite code. You will learn the importance of model development and meshing, post- processing for scientific visualization and presentation of results. Participants will receive a complete set of notes, a copy of FEKO and textbook. STRAPDOWN AND INTEGRATED NAVIGATION SYSTEMS In this highly structured 4-day short course – specifically tailored to the needs of busy engineers, scientists, managers, and aerospace professionals – Thomas S. Logsdon will provide you with new insights into the modern guidance, navigation, and control techniques now being perfected at key research centers around the globe. The various topics are illustrated with powerful analogies, full-color sketches, block diagrams, simple one-page derivations highlighting their salient features, and numerical examples that employ inputs from today’s battlefield rockets, orbiting satellites, and deep-space missions. These lessons are carefully laid out to help you design and implement practical performance-optimal missions and test procedures. Course Outline, Samplers, and Notes Our short courses are designed for individuals involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and operating space and defense systems. Determine for yourself the value of our other courses before you sign up. See our samples (See Slide Samples) on some of our courses. Or check out the new ATI channel on YouTube. After attending the course you will receive a full set of detailed notes at the beginning of the class for future reference and can add notes and more detail based on the in-class interaction, as well as a certificate of completion. Please visit our website for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors Our mission here at ATI is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology.

Are you Ready to Face the Challenges of Tomorrow with what You Know Today?

Stop Looking! Start Training! Video Clip: Click to Watch Can You Afford NOT to Train when Technologies and Industries Change So Rapidly? Are you or your team ready to face the challenges of tomorrow with what you know today? With technologies and industries shifting so quickly, businesses need to embrace training just to keep up. Some […]
Stop Looking! Start Training!
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Can You Afford NOT to Train when Technologies and Industries Change So Rapidly?
Are you or your team ready to face the challenges of tomorrow with what you know today? With technologies and industries shifting so quickly, businesses need to embrace training just to keep up. Some may complain that training is too expensive or fails to deliver its promise. But what is the real cost of slower sales and lower growth? Maybe you and your organization stop looking for perfect employees and start training them instead? As Wharton management Professor Peter Cappelli recently wrote in The Wall Street Journal: “Companies need to stop pinning so much of the blame on our nation’s education system. They need to drop the idea of finding perfect candidates and look for people who could do the job with a bit of training and practice.” We can help you. Why not take a short course? ATI short courses are less than a week long and are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our courses provide a practical overview of space and defense technologies which provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development of complex systems. Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. You will become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. If you or your team are in need of more technical training, then boost your career with the knowledge needed to provide better, faster, and cheaper solutions for sophisticated DoD and NASA systems. You will receive a full set of detailed notes at the beginning of the class for future reference and can add notes and more detail based on the in-class interaction, as well as a certificate of completion. Please visit our website for more valuable information. Course Outline, Samplers, and Notes Our short courses are designed for individuals involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and operating space and defense systems. Determine for yourself the value of our courses before you sign up. See our samples (See Slide Samples) on some of our courses. Or check out the new ATI channel on YouTube. After attending the course you will receive a full set of detailed notes from the class for future reference, as well as a certificate of completion. Please visit our website for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors Our mission here at ATI is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology. Dates and Locations For the times, dates and locations of all of our short courses, please access the links below. Sincerely, The ATI Courses Team P.S. Call today for registration at 410-956-8805 or 888-501-2100 or access our website at ATI  Courses.  For general questions please email us at ATI@ATIcourses.com

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New Jersey Teacher Wins National Award with Help from ATI!

Video Clip: Click to Watch Terry Dougherty wins Great American Teach-Off  for Her Work Tutoring Children of Military Families Nominated by a local Rotary Club, Dougherty was one of top ten finalists left fighting for the prize. Hundreds of teachers from all over the country were nominated for this prestigious honor. Participants, families and friends were […]
Seven Seals Award
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Terry Dougherty wins Great American Teach-Off  for Her Work Tutoring Children of Military Families
Nominated by a local Rotary Club, Dougherty was one of top ten finalists left fighting for the prize. Hundreds of teachers from all over the country were nominated for this prestigious honor. Participants, families and friends were then all allowed to vote online for their favorite teachers, just like in American Idol. Each week, after all the votes were tallied, the two teachers with the lowest number of votes were eliminated from the contest. Jim Jenkins, President of the Applied Technology Institute (ATI), helped support Terry Dougherty for the award by forwarding the announcement of the contest to his instructors and people that he knows in the military. The people responded. From all over the world, all branches of the services, veteran organizations, service clubs etc., they responded. In what became a weekly ritual, they responded and voted for her. They keep voting, each and every week, until the end, until she won. The real winners in all of this are of course the children. Dougherty’s husband Tom started the tutoring program three years ago as a way to help children in need. Because military families relocate frequently, their children often suffer at school. The Seven Seals award is given through the U.S. Department of Defense to a civilian who is working to help military families. The award comes with a $10,000 grant. She will to use the grant money to purchase equipment for a mobile lab. The lab will allow parents stationed overseas participate in school activities. About ATI Since 1984, ATI has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to adult learners. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. You will become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues.

This Maybe One Class You WANT to Blow Up in Your Face Monday, November 07, 2011

At ATI, the course IS the Bomb!!! Video Clip: Click to Watch Do you know how to evaluate the performance and vulnerability of explosives and propellants? This four-day course is designed for scientists, engineers and managers interested in the current state of explosive and propellant technology. After an introduction to shock waves, the current explosive technology […]
At ATI, the course IS the Bomb!!!
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Do you know how to evaluate the performance and vulnerability of explosives and propellants?
This four-day course is designed for scientists, engineers and managers interested in the current state of explosive and propellant technology. After an introduction to shock waves, the current explosive technology is described. Numerical methods for evaluating explosive and propellant sensitivity to shock waves are described and applied to vulnerability problems such as projectile impact and burning to detonation
This course is suited for scientists, engineers, and managers interested in the current state of explosive and propellant technology, and in the use of numerical modeling to evaluate the performance and vulnerability of explosives and propellants
Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex systems in a short time. You will become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. If you are in need of more technical training, why not take a short course? ATI short courses are less than a week long and are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. You can boost your career with the strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use and regulation of explosives and propellants. Course Outline, Samplers, and Notes Click on the course title below for more information. ATI’S EXPLOSIVES TECHNOLOGY & MODELING COURSE Click here now to see for yourself the value of this course before you sign up. What you will learn when you take this course:
  • What are Shock Waves and Detonation Waves?
  • What makes an Explosive Hazardous?
  • Where Shock Wave and Explosive Data is available
  • How to model Explosive and Propellant Performance
  • How to model Explosive Hazards and Vulnerability
  • How to use the furnished explosive performance and hydrodynamic codes
  • The current state of explosive and propellant technology
Participants will receive a copy of Numerical Modeling of Explosives and Propellants, Third Edition by Dr. Charles Mader, 2008 CRC Press. In addition, participants will receive an updated CD-ROM. About ATI and the Instructors Our mission here at ATI is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology. Charles L. Mader, Ph.D., is a retired Fellow of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and President consulting company. Dr. Mader authored the monograph Numerical Modeling of Detonation, and also wrote four dynamic material property data volumes published by the University of California Press. His book and CD-ROM entitled Numerical Modeling of Explosives and Propellants, Third Edition, published in 2008 by CRC Press will be the text for the course. He is the author of Numerical Modeling of Water Waves, Second Edition, published in 2004 by CRC Press. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World. He has consulted and guest lectured for public and private organizations in several countries. Dates and Locations The next dates and locations of this course are as follows: December 12-15, 2011 Albuquerque, NM September, 2012 MD/VA Area
 

If You Want to BE a Rocket Scientist, Maybe You should LISTEN to one

Video Clip: Click to Watch Everything about Orbital Mechanics is Counterintuitive  Award-winning rocket scientist, Thomas S. Logsdon really enjoys teaching this short course titled, ATI’s Orbital Mechanics: Ideas and Insights, because everything about orbital mechanics is counterintuitive. In this comprehensive four day short course, Mr. Logsdon uses four hundred clever color graphics to clarify these and […]
Each student will receive a new personal GPS Navigator with multi-channel capability
Video Clip: Click to Watch
Everything about Orbital Mechanics is Counterintuitive 
Award-winning rocket scientist, Thomas S. Logsdon really enjoys teaching this short course titled, ATI’s Orbital Mechanics: Ideas and Insights, because everything about orbital mechanics is counterintuitive. In this comprehensive four day short course, Mr. Logsdon uses four hundred clever color graphics to clarify these and a dozen other puzzling mysteries associated with orbital mechanics. He also provides you with a few simple one-page derivations using real-world inputs to illustrate all the key concepts being explored. For example, did you know that if you fly your spacecraft into a 100-mile circular orbit and: • Put on the brakes, your spacecraft speeds up! • Mash down the accelerator, it slows down!! • Throw a banana peel out the window and 45 minutes later it will come back and slap you in the face!!! Why not take a short course? Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. ATI short courses are less than a week long and are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our courses provide a practical overview of space and defense technologies which provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development of complex systems. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of satellite systems in a short time. You will become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. Determine for yourself the value of our courses before you sign up. Click here for more information on this course Click below to see slide samples from this course   Click below to see a video clip of this course on YouTube. What You Will Learn When You Take this Course: • How do we launch a satellite into orbit and maneuver it into a new location? • How do today’s designers fashion performance-optimal constellations of satellites swarming the sky? • How do planetary swing by maneuvers provide such amazing gains in performance? • How can we design the best multi-stage rocket for a particular mission? • What are libration point orbits? Were they really discovered in 1772? How do we place satellites into halo orbits circling around these empty points in space? • What are JPL’s superhighways in space? How were they discovered? How are they revolutionizing the exploration of space? After attending the course you will receive a full set of detailed notes from the class for future reference, as well as a certificate of completion. Each student will receive a new personal GPS Navigator with multi-channel capability. Please visit our website for more valuable information. About ATI and the Instructors Our mission here at ATI is to provide expert training and the highest quality professional development in space, communications, defense, sonar, radar, and signal processing. We are not a one-size-fits-all educational facility. Our short classes include both introductory and advanced courses. ATI’s instructors are world-class experts who are the best in the business. They are carefully selected for their ability to clearly explain advanced technology. For more than 30 years, Thomas S. Logsdon, has conducted broad ranging studies on orbital mechanics at McDonnell Douglas, Boeing Aerospace, and Rockwell International His key research projects have included Project Apollo, the Skylab capsule, the nuclear flight stage and the GPS radionavigation system. Mr. Logsdon has taught 300 short courses and lectured in 31 different countries on six continents. He has written 40 technical papers and journal articles and 29 technical books including Striking It Rich in Space, Orbital Mechanics: Theory and Applications, Understanding the Navstar, and Mobile Communication Satellites. Dates and Locations The next date and location of this short course is: Jan 9-12, 2012 Cape Canaveral,FL


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What there is to Know Grows Exponentially Every Day

Thomas Edison and His Phonograph (1877) Video Clip: Click to Watch In a knowledge-based economy, your success is directly proportional to the amount of knowledge you possess As Thomas Edison observed, “We don’t know one millionth of one percent about anything.” At the rate at which new information is generated today, doesn’t it seem like the […]
Thomas Edison and His Phonograph (1877)
Thomas Edison and His Phonograph (1877)
Video Clip: Click to Watch
In a knowledge-based economy, your success is directly proportional to the amount of knowledge you possess
As Thomas Edison observed, “We don’t know one millionth of one percent about anything.” At the rate at which new information is generated today, doesn’t it seem like the gap between what you know and what you need is to know is growing at a dizzying pace? From submarine sonar to military radar to an orbiting spacecraft, you or your team must face the challenges of tomorrow with what you know today. With the practical knowledge gained from a short course, you can put textbook theories into real-world practice and expand your problem-solving and risk management skills significantly. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of these complex systems in a short time. Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training to DoD and NASA personnel, as well as contractors. Our courses provide a practical overview of space and defense technologies which provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, regulation and development of complex systems. You will become aware of the basic vocabulary essential to interact meaningfully with your colleagues. Course Outline, Samplers, and Notes Our short courses are designed for individuals involved in planning, designing, building, launching, and operating space and defense systems. Determine for yourself the value of our courses before you sign up. See our samples (See Slide Samples) on some of our courses. Or check out the new ATI channel on YouTube. After attending the course you will receive a full set of detailed notes from the class for future reference, as well as a certificate of completion. Please visit our website for more valuable information.


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Did You “Hear” About the Underwater Acoustical Courses at ATI?

Video Clip: Click to Watch Maybe Being “Underwater” is a Good Thing?   Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex acoustical systems in a short time. […]
Acoustic simulation in a simple ocean environment
Video Clip: Click to Watch Maybe Being “Underwater” is a Good Thing?   Since 1984, the Applied Technology Institute (ATI) has provided leading-edge public courses and onsite technical training. Whether you are a busy engineer, a technical expert or a project manager, you can enhance your understanding of complex acoustical systems in a short time. Why not take a short course? ATI short courses are less than a week long and are designed to help you keep your professional knowledge up-to-date. Our courses provide a practical overview of acoustical technologies which provide a strong foundation for understanding the issues that must be confronted in the use, design and development of such complex systems. The three courses below present the fundamentals of underwater acoustic analysis and modeling, which deals with the translation of our physical understanding of sound in the sea into mathematical formulas solvable by computers. The courses provide a comprehensive treatment of all types of underwater acoustic models including environmental, propagation, noise, reverberation and sonar performance models. ATI’S UNDERWATER ACOUSTIC SYSTEM ANALYSIS COURSE This four-day course is based upon the text Underwater Acoustic System Analysis by William Burdic. The course presents the fundamentals of underwater acoustics, acoustic signal generation and acoustic signal processing in sufficient depth to permit the analysis and optimization of the performance of underwater systems. The sonar systems include a variety of applications including active and passive detection of surface and sub-surface targets, acoustic communications, acoustic intercept and underwater depth sounders. The course will stress the required skills and techniques for system analysis and performance prediction. Course Outline: • Introduction to Sonar Analysis: Historical overview; important acoustical properties and characteristics; Acoustical Waves; Reflections and Refraction in the Ocean; Units and db. • Sound Propagation In The Ocean: Sound Speed Variation in the ocean with variation in temperature, depth, salinity; Geographic Variation; Acoustic bottom and surface losses; absorption losses; Typical propagation modes; surface layer; shallow channels; deep channels; convergence zones; RAP; Typical Propagation Curves. • Ambient Noise in the Ocean: Sources of noise; shipping; wind generated; thermal; others; Noise spectra; ambient noise angular distribution and correlation properties; use of the spatial correlation function in system calculations. • Target Characteristics: Passive signature sources including propulsion, propeller, auxiliary machinery, flow-induced noise; effect of self-generated noise on sonar performance; Target strength for mono-static and bi-static sonars; Reverberation from volume, surface and bottom. • Acoustic Transducers: Definitions, piezo-ceramic properties; Hydrophone configurations; equivalent circuits and sensitivity; Projector configurations, equivalent circuits, efficiency and operation. • Beamforming-Spatial Filtering: Purpose and types of beamforming; spatial filters, multi-element arrays, array shading functions; beam steering; gain of arrays in distributed noise; angle estimation. • Performance Analysis-Statistical Basis: Hypothesis testing and optimum detection processors for active and passive systems; ROC curves; Estimation of time delay, frequency and bearing. • Performance Analysis: Practical examples; Examples illustrating the analysis of sonar systems; passive narrowband and broadband detection; passive angle tracking and ranging; High-power system detection for multipath reverberation and noise-limited conditions with Doppler Processing. Your Instructors for this Course: William Burdic received his BS and MS at Oregon State University. He served as an instructor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Oregon State University when he joined Rockwell International. He has been engaged in the analysis and design of advanced radar and sonar systems. He is the author of two books “Radar Signal Analysis” and “Underwater Acoustic System Analysis”. James W. Jenkins joined the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in 1970 and has worked in ASW and sonar systems analysis. He has worked with system studies and at-sea testing with passive and active systems. He is currently a senior physicist investigating improved signal processing systems, APB, own-ship monitoring, and SSBN sonar. He has taught sonar and continuing education courses since 1977 and is the Director of the Applied Technology Institute (ATI). ATI’S UNDERWATER ACOUSTICS 201 COURSE This two-day course explains how to translate our physical understanding of sound in the sea into mathematical formulas solvable by computers. It provides a comprehensive treatment of all types of underwater acoustic models including environmental, propagation, noise, reverberation and sonar performance models. Specific examples of each type of model are discussed to illustrate model formulations, assumptions and algorithm efficiency. Guidelines for selecting and using available propagation, noise and reverberation models are highlighted. Demonstrations illustrate the proper execution and interpretation of PC-based sonar models. Each student will receive a copy of Underwater Acoustic Modeling and Simulation by Paul C. Etter, in addition to a complete set of lecture notes. Your Instructor for this Course: Paul C. Etter has worked in the fields of ocean-atmosphere physics and environmental acoustics for the past thirty-five years supporting federal and state agencies, academia and private industry. He received his BS degree in Physics and his MS degree in Oceanography at Texas A&M University. Mr. Etter served on active duty in the U.S. Navy as an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Officer aboard frigates. He is the author or co-author of more than 180 technical reports and professional papers addressing environmental measurement technology, underwater acoustics and physical oceanography. Mr. Etter is the author of the textbook Underwater Acoustic Modeling and Simulation (3rd edition). Course Outline: • Introduction. Nature of acoustical measurements and prediction. Modern developments in physical and mathematical modeling. Diagnostic versus prognostic applications. Latest developments in inverse-acoustic sensing of the oceans. • The Ocean as an Acoustic Medium. Distribution of physical and chemical properties in the oceans. Sound-speed calculation, measurement and distribution. Surface and bottom boundary conditions. Effects of circulation patterns, fronts, eddies and fine-scale features on acoustics. Biological effects. • Propagation. Basic concepts, boundary interactions, attenuation and absorption. Ducting phenomena including surface ducts, sound channels, convergence zones, shallow-water ducts and Arctic half-channels. Theoretical basis for propagation modeling. Frequency-domain wave equation formulations including ray theory, normal mode, multipath expansion, fast field (wavenumber integration) and parabolic approximation techniques. Model summary tables. Data support requirements. Specific examples. • Noise. Noise sources and spectra. Depth dependence and directionality. Slope-conversion effects. Theoretical basis for noise modeling. Ambient noise and beam-noise statistics models. Pathological features arising from inappropriate assumptions. Model summary tables. Data support requirements. Specific examples. • Reverberation. Volume and boundary scattering. Shallow-water and under-ice reverberation features. Theoretical basis for reverberation modeling. Cell scattering and point scattering techniques. Bistatic reverberation formulations and operational restrictions. Model summary tables. Data support requirements. Specific examples. • Sonar Performance Models. Sonar equations. Monostatic and bistatic geometries. Model operating systems. Model summary tables. Data support requirements. Sources of oceanographic and acoustic data. Specific examples. • Simulation. Review of simulation theory including advanced methodologies and infrastructure tools. • Demonstrations. Guided demonstrations illustrate proper execution and interpretation of PC-based monostatic and bistatic sonar models. ATI’S UNDERWATER ACOUSTIC MODELING AND SIMULATION COURSE The subject of underwater acoustic modeling deals with the translation of our physical understanding of sound in the sea into mathematical formulas solvable by computers. This course provides a comprehensive treatment of all types of underwater acoustic models including environmental, propagation, noise, reverberation and sonar performance models. Specific examples of each type of model are discussed to illustrate model formulations, assumptions and algorithm efficiency. Guidelines for selecting and using available propagation, noise and reverberation models are highlighted. Problem sessions allow students to exercise PC-based propagation and active sonar models. Each student will receive a copy of Underwater Acoustic Modeling and Simulation by Paul C. Etter (a $250 value) in addition to a complete set of lecture notes. View course sample for this course Your Instructor for this Course: Paul C. Etter has worked in the fields of ocean-atmosphere physics and environmental acoustics for the past thirty years supporting federal and state agencies, academia and private industry. He received his BS degree in Physics and his MS degree in Oceanography at Texas A&M University. Mr. Etter served on active duty in the U.S. Navy as an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Officer aboard frigates. He is the author or co-author of more than 140 technical reports and professional papers addressing environmental measurement technology, underwater acoustics and physical oceanography. Mr. Etter is the author of the textbook Underwater Acoustic Modeling and Simulation. Course Outline: • Introduction. Nature of acoustical measurements and prediction. Modern developments in physical and mathematical modeling. Diagnostic versus prognostic applications. Latest developments in acoustic sensing of the oceans. • The Ocean as an Acoustic Medium. Distribution of physical and chemical properties in the oceans. Sound-speed calculation, measurement and distribution. Surface and bottom boundary conditions. Effects of circulation patterns, fronts, eddy and fine-scale features on acoustics. Biological effects. • Propagation. Observations and Physical Models. Basic concepts, boundary interactions, attenuation and absorption. Shear-wave effects in the sea floor and ice cover. Ducting phenomena including surface ducts, sound channels, convergence zones, shallow-water ducts and Arctic half-channels. Spatial and temporal coherence. Mathematical Models. Theoretical basis for propagation modeling. Frequency-domain wave equation formulations including ray theory, normal mode, multipath expansion, fast field and parabolic approximation techniques. New developments in shallow-water and under-ice models. Domains of applicability. Model summary tables. Data support requirements. Specific examples (PE and RAYMODE). References. Demonstrations. • Noise. Observations and Physical Models. Noise sources and spectra. Depth dependence and directionality. Slope-conversion effects. Mathematical Models. Theoretical basis for noise modeling. Ambient noise and beam-noise statistics models. Pathological features arising from inappropriate assumptions. Model summary tables. Data support requirements. Specific example (RANDI-III). References. • Reverberation. Observations and Physical Models. Volume and boundary scattering. Shallow-water and under-ice reverberation features. Mathematical Models. Theoretical basis for reverberation modeling. Cell scattering and point scattering techniques. Bistatic reverberation formulations and operational restrictions. Data support requirements. Specific examples (REVMOD and Bistatic Acoustic Model). References. • Sonar Performance Models. Sonar equations. Model operating systems. Model summary tables. Data support requirements. Sources of oceanographic and acoustic data. Specific examples (NISSM and Generic Sonar Model). References. • Modeling and Simulation. Review of simulation theory including advanced methodologies and infrastructure tools. Overview of engineering, engagement, mission and theater level models. Discussion of applications in concept evaluation, training and resource allocation. • Modern Applications in Shallow Water and Inverse Acoustic Sensing. Stochastic modeling, broadband and time-domain modeling techniques, matched field processing, acoustic tomography, coupled ocean-acoustic modeling, 3D modeling, and chaotic metrics. • Model Evaluation. Guidelines for model evaluation and documentation. Analytical benchmark solutions. Theoretical and operational limitations. Verification, validation and accreditation. Examples. • Demonstrations and Problem Sessions. Demonstration of PC-based propagation and active sonar models. Hands-on problem sessions and discussion of results.
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Side Scan Sonar Technology with left and right side-viewing with up to 480 ft of underwater coverage

Lowrance announced today the premier of its next-generation sonar technology, the LSS-1 StructureScan(TM) sonar imaging module for Lowrance High Definition Systems (HDS), at ICAST 2009 in Orlando, Florida. Raising the bar in fish-finding technology, the sonar-imaging module is the world’s first to offer anglers a new dimension in underwater picture-like displays – side-to-side plus straight […]
Lowrance announced today the premier of its next-generation sonar technology, the LSS-1 StructureScan(TM) sonar imaging module for Lowrance High Definition Systems (HDS), at ICAST 2009 in Orlando, Florida. Raising the bar in fish-finding technology, the sonar-imaging module is the world’s first to offer anglers a new dimension in underwater picture-like displays – side-to-side plus straight down, full panoramic viewing. The innovative Lowrance StructureScan features a combination of SideScan and an exclusive new DownScan Imaging(TM) technology. SideScan provides full-screen left and right side-viewing with extra-crisp detail of up to 480 ft. (146 m) of underwater coverage that displays structure and fish targets, as well as their imaging-scan shadows. The new DownScan Imaging feature allows anglers, for the first time, to see submerged detail directly beneath their boats, providing a complete underwater picture in a screen format that is easy to interpret. With revolutionary on-screen display versatility, anglers can merge Lowrance side and down sonar scans in split-screen to view wide-area surveys and highly-defined detail. As a unique new tool, anglers can also compare DownScan Imaging with 2D sonar images in split-screen display to better distinguish fish from structure. Removing all of the guesswork common to existing fish-finding technology, the new LSS-1 delivers the highest underwater definition ever achieved with crystal-clear views in shallow and deep, freshwater or saltwater – even at speeds up to 30 mph.

Submarine Damages Towed Array Sonar

This is of interest to ATIcourses sonar group. It is clear that the towed sonar array would have detected the nearby submarine. There was not that much surface ship could do to maneuver to prevent the submarine from hitting the towed array. Conversely the submarine should have known that this class of surface ship was […]
This is of interest to ATIcourses sonar group. It is clear that the towed sonar array would have detected the nearby submarine. There was not that much surface ship could do to maneuver to prevent the submarine from hitting the towed array. Conversely the submarine should have known that this class of surface ship was towing an array. I personally doubt that this was inadvertently.
A Chinese submarine hit an underwater towed array sonar being towed by the destroyer USS John McCain on Thursday. The array was damaged, but the sub and the ship did not collide, the official said. A sonar array is a device towed behind a ship that listens and locates underwater sounds. The incident occurred near Subic Bay off the coast of the Philippines. The official, who declined to be named because the incident had not been made public, would not say whether the U.S. ship knew the submarine was that close to it. But of course the sonar knew the submarine was close, but could not maneuver to get out of the way. However, the Navy does not believe this was a deliberate incident of Chinese harassment, as it would have been extremely dangerous had the array gotten caught in the submarine’s propellers. The Navy has complained in the past that Chinese vessels, including fishing boats, have deliberately tried to disrupt U.S. naval activities in international waters near China. In one widely publicized incident in March, five Chinese vessels maneuvered close enough to the USNS Impeccable to warrant the use of a fire hose by the unarmed American vessel to avoid a collision. The Navy later released video of that incident.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/12/china.submarine/index.html

Sonar Sounds and Dolpins – This actually is favorable.

Jim’s comments This actually is favorable. First the sound levels are very high and the hearing loss was temporary. “The deafness, though, was only temporary and the dolphin was not hurt in the experiment”. “The hearing was typically restored after 20 minutes, and its loss only occurred after the dolphin was exposed to five rounds […]
Jim’s comments This actually is favorable. First the sound levels are very high and the hearing loss was temporary. “The deafness, though, was only temporary and the dolphin was not hurt in the experiment”. “The hearing was typically restored after 20 minutes, and its loss only occurred after the dolphin was exposed to five rounds of noise.” Secondly the animal was restrained, but in the wild the dolphin can move away our turn its body. The levels are equivalent to a very high level in the peak of a sonar beam. “The sound levels that we used were essentially the equivalent of if an animal is about 40 metres (yards) from the sonar source” . That would mean a source level of 203 + 32 = 235dB re 1 uPa at 1 meter. But the sound typically reduces as 20 Log (Range) from 1 to hundreds of meters. At 100 m the sound is reduced by 40 dB and at 300 m the sound is reduced by 50 dB. \Yahoo News Powerful sonar causes deafness in dolphins: study AFP/File – Dolphins swim off the coast of the Tuamotu islands in French Polynesia. Very loud, repeated blasts of … Tue Apr 7, 7:05 pm ET PARIS (AFP) – Very loud, repeated blasts of sonar can cause a dolphin to temporarily lose its hearing, according to an investigation into a suspected link between naval operations and cetacean strandings. Numerous beachings of whales, dolphins and porpoises have occurred over the past decade, prompting a finger of blame to be pointed at warship exercises. A theory is that the mammals’ hearing becomes damaged by the powerful mid-frequency sonar used by submarines and surface vessels, prompting the creatures, which themselves use sound for navigation, to become disoriented. A paper published in the British journal Biology Letters on Wednesday provides the first lab-scale investigation into this idea, although its authors stress it does not provide proof that warship sonar is to blame. Marine biologists led by Aran Mooney at the University of Hawaii exposed a captive-born, trained Atlantic bottlenose dolphin to progressively louder pings of mid-frequency sonar. The experiment took place in open water pens at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology and in the presence of the dolphin’s trainer. The scientists fitted a harmless suction cup to the dolphin’s head, with a sensor attached that monitored the animal’s brainwaves. When the pings reached 203 decibels and were repeated, the neurological data showed the mammal had become deaf, for its brain no longer responded to sound. The deafness, though, was only temporary and the dolphin was not hurt in the experiment, said Mooney. The hearing was typically restored after 20 minutes, and its loss only occurred after the dolphin was exposed to five rounds of noise. Each round comprised a block of three pings, with 24 seconds between each block. Other sensors showed that the dolphin’s breathing rose significantly when the sonar was turned on. “We definitely showed that there are physiological and some behavioural effects [from repeated, loud sonar], but to extrapolate that into the wild, we don’t really know,” Mooney said in an interview with AFP. “The sound levels that we used were essentially the equivalent of if an animal is about 40 metres (yards) from the sonar source,” he said. “The animal would have to be there for about two minutes or so” to get the same level of exposure as in the Hawaii experiment. “That’s a pretty long time for an animal to be there. If the sound’s pretty loud and the animal’s not used to it, he would move around, and the ship itself is moving in a different direction.” On the other hand, a cetacean that sought to escape a persistent loud sonar may not easily find an escape route, said Mooney. “In the ocean, sound doesn’t attenuate in a normal fashion. Sound can sometimes get trapped at the surface, in layers called thermoclines, at the top 100 metres (325 feet) or so. “Maybe in those conditions it’s more difficult to get away from the sound to a quieter area.” Further work is needed to figure out what happens at lower sound levels from sonar and at greater distances to see how cetaceans respond, he said.

New Sonar Design 1171 Series

UK & Canada. Kongsberg Mesotech introduces new sonar products at Ocean Business Tuesday, 31 March 2009 Two new sonar products from Kongsberg Maritime’s specialist sonar division, Kongsberg Mesotech Ltd will be on display at Ocean Business 09. The 1171 Series is a complete range of multi-frequency, fast scanning obstacle avoidance imaging and profiling sonars offering […]
UK & Canada. Kongsberg Mesotech introduces new sonar products at Ocean Business Tuesday, 31 March 2009 Two new sonar products from Kongsberg Maritime’s specialist sonar division, Kongsberg Mesotech Ltd will be on display at Ocean Business 09. The 1171 Series is a complete range of multi-frequency, fast scanning obstacle avoidance imaging and profiling sonars offering unrivalled resolution, from an industry leader in sonar technology. The 1171 Series of sonar heads has been developed to meet the requirements for both shallow and deep ocean applications. As well as the choice of operating frequencies, the new sonar heads feature faster scanning rates, improved range resolution and even clearer, sharper images, all in a more compact lighter housing. 1171 Series – Obstacle Avoidance Imaging Sonar Heads: The dual transducer design allows optimised operational configuration for both long range obstacle avoidance and shorter range imaging detail. The transducer is protected within an oil-filled, pressure compensating dome. The telemetry is RS485 and RS232 compatible and is automatically sensed and configured at start up to match the telemetry link used. The sonar head operation is configured and controlled using the MS1000 Software Processor. Other features include: -Dual transducers for multi purpose obstacle avoidance and inspection use. -Multiple frequency capability (330 to 400 kHz and 450 to 700 kHz). -Improved range and scanning rate. -Improved sampling resolution & beam foot print resulting in clearer, sharper images. -Improved Range Resolution. -Lighter 4000m depth rated design. -Optional Ethernet telemetry interface. 1171 Series – Multi Frequency Profiling Heads: The Multi-Frequency design allows optimising of the profiling configuration for different applications. Like the sonar head, the transducer is protected within an oil-filled, pressure compensating dome and the telemetry is automatically sensed and configured at start up to match the telemetry link used. The sonar head operation is also configured and controlled using the MS1000 Software Processor. -Multiple frequency capability (675kHz to 1.35 mHz). -Improved range and scanning rate. -Clearer, sharper images and a >0.5 cm range resolution. -Sample resolution of > 0.5mm. -Lighter 4000m depth rated design. -Optional Ethernet telemetry interface. Kongsberg Mesotech Ltd. is the Canadian subsidiary of Kongsberg Maritime. Today the company supplies a worldwide customer base with a range of products for military, fisheries, oilfield, scientific, and other offshore market applications. Kongsberg Mesotech’s strength lies in its unique engineering capabilities. Ongoing research and development has ensured the company’s position as a world-leader in high-resolution sonar systems, and acoustic technology. Kongsberg Mesotech manufactures over 100 models of multibeam, scanning, echo sounder, and altimeter sonar combinations.

Using Sonar To Measure Ice Thickness

CLEVELAND (AP) – Flanked by wide-eyed colleagues, Lorry Wagner holds tight to the line that disappears into a frigid, murky Lake Erie. The three men peer anxiously over the edge of a weather-beaten tugboat, 3-1/2 miles off Cleveland’s downtown shore. At the end of the line is an 80-pound prize – not a monster fish, […]
CLEVELAND (AP) – Flanked by wide-eyed colleagues, Lorry Wagner holds tight to the line that disappears into a frigid, murky Lake Erie. The three men peer anxiously over the edge of a weather-beaten tugboat, 3-1/2 miles off Cleveland’s downtown shore. At the end of the line is an 80-pound prize – not a monster fish, but a $20,000 sonar that measures ice thickness. It’s vital information, if wind turbines are to rise in these waters, near Cleveland’s water-intake crib. The sonar – essentially, an upside-down fish finder, Wagner says – will sit till early April, pinging out sound waves that gauge the thickness of ice overhead. To calculate the power of moving ice, Matthiesen and others at Case’s Great Lakes Institute for Energy Innovation will link the data on ice thickness with the movement of ice floes. A camera mounted nearby on the city’s water-intake crib is tracking that movement. “ Nobody has this kind of data,” said Matthiesen, a task force member. “We’ve got to have it.” http://www.chiefengineer.org/content/content_display.cfm/seqnumber_content/3762.htm

Best Books For Acoustics

Several years ago ATI constructed a list of recommended books for acoustics. We would like to update the list and request your suggestions of the most useful books. https://aticourses.com/acoustics_books.htm Thank you!
Several years ago ATI constructed a list of recommended books for acoustics. We would like to update the list and request your suggestions of the most useful books. https://aticourses.com/acoustics_books.htm Thank you!