Technology

A Software Defined Sonar is one in which attributes of the transceiver system, including tuning, modulation, and demodulation are controlled by means of software programmable hardware. Such systems are now becoming established in radio communications, referred to generically as Software Defined Radio (SDR).

SDR is a rapidly evolving technology that is receiving enormous recognition and interest in the telecommunications industry. Over the last few years, analog radio systems have been replaced by digital radio systems for various radio applications in military, civilian and commercial applications.

Marport's SDS Transceiver

Base module incorporates 16TX/RX channels and measures only 12L x 12W x 16H cm. The transceiver can be easily expanded to hundreds of channels for use width a wide variety of multi-element transducers. The transceiver can be dynamically tuned from 1kHz - 1 MHz with an output power of up to 4 kW on 20 Ohms. Transceiver module includes an embedded Intel PC supporting a PCI Express bus with Linux RTOS.

Marport has applied SDR principles to the development of its Software Defined Sonar (SDS) technology. SDS technology creates a "sonar computer" that is substantially defined by software. This facilitates the implementation of future-proof, multi-function, multi-frequency and multi-protocol sonar systems. New standards, frequencies or functions are added via reconfigurable software upgrades.

Traditional sonar designs are constructed of fixed analog or digital components. Such designs are also custom built for each application. By comparison, SDS offers "on-the-fly" functionality and inherent flexibility and can be applied to many sonar applications. With SDS technology, software defines the sonar's functionality. The use of a uniform hardware platform is therefore possible across multiple functions. SDS allows dynamic re-configuration to transform the sonar's function and operation. A layered software structure provides varying degrees of abstraction from the underlying hardware. This future-proofing capability is particular importance to industries that require ongoing system upgrades.

Hardware-centric sonar has limited utility since parameters for each of the functional modules are fixed. However, a sonar built using SDS technology extends the utility of the system for a wide range of applications that use different frequencies, functions, protocols and modulation/demodulation techniques.

By implementing the sonar functionality as software modules running on a generic hardware platform, multiple software modules can be present in the sonar system. The sonar system can instantly change functionality depending on the software module being used.

For more information, click here to download our white paper on Software Defined Sonar.