Patent ID: 8867311
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: G01C,G01S,G01V,G05D

Abstract:
1. A method of generating a synthetic aperture sonar image, comprising: providing a synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) array having at least one transmitter element and a plurality of receiver elements arranged along a first axis, wherein each of the transmitter element and the receiver elements have a first width, wherein the transmitter element is configured to generate a first set of signals having a plurality of orthogonal acoustic signals, and calculating the effective spacing of the SAS array, representing an effective distance between the transmitter element and the receiver elements during motion; simultaneously moving the SAS array along the first axis and generating, using the transmitter element, a first acoustic signal from the first set of signals; calculating a threshold distance as the effective spacing divided by the number of acoustic signals in the first set of signals; in response to determining that the SAS array has moved the threshold distance, generating, using the transmitter element, a second acoustic signal from the first set of signals, wherein the second acoustic signal is orthogonal to the first acoustic signal.