Expendable virtual vertical sensing array

摘要

A method and apparatus of determining the range and depth of a far field underwater target is provided. A multi-sensor device is released into the water from a surface ship or other deploying platform and allowed to exhibit vertical free-fall in the water. Acoustic field, temperature and depth information are received from the multi-sensor device at depth points along the free-fall. The depth points from a virtual vertical aperture. The acoustic field, temperature and depth information at the depth points are inputs of a virtual vertical sensing array used to determine the range with depth of the target.