Robust adaptive matched field processing with environmental uncertainty

The main challenges on detection and localization of quiet targets in littoral regions for passive sonar are the complicated acoustic propagation and the prevalence of loud ship interferences on the surface. Adaptive matched field processing can provide the ability to null surface interferences, but the mismatch between the computed and actual array steering vectors due to environment uncertainty, and the motion of both targets and interferences can result in loss of array gain significantly. To address the problem of environmental mismatch and target motion, a robust motion compensation algorithm and a system scheme for adaptive matched field processing have been developed. Both Numerical simulation and analysis of experimental data demonstrates that the robust AMFP scheme could suppress surface loud interferences and improve the detection performance for underwater weak moving targets in complex shallow water.