Patent ID: 7679995

Claim:
A sonar transducer network for observing a seabed comprising: a controller including: a memory device having resident upon it a three-dimensioned model of the seabed; a processor configured to locate spatially all elements within three-dimensioned model of the seabed relative to either of a first transducer assembly or at least one second transducer assembly, and configured to develop instructions to one of a group including a first transducer mount and at least one second transducer mount to aim the transducer mount at any designated element within the three-dimensioned model; a network interface to facilitate communication between the processor and the first and second transducer assemblies through a network bus; the first transducer assembly including the first transducer mount directing a first transducer and being responsive to instructions from a first transducer processor and able to transmit signals representing a first transducer azimuth and a first transducer depression angles to the transducer processor; the first transducer to convert a first ping to a first electrical signal; and the first transducer processor to receive a first electrical signal from the first transducer to generate the first transducer data; the at least one second transducer assembly, spaced apart from the first transducer assembly, the second transducer assembly including: the second transducer mount directing a second transducer and being responsive to instructions from a second transducer processor and able to transmit signals representing a second transducer azimuth and a second transducer depression angles to the transducer processor; the second transducer to convert a second ping to a second electrical signal; and the second transducer processor to receive the second electrical signal from the second transducer to generate second transducer data; and the network bus to communicate first transducer data and second transducer data with the controller.