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ARL:UT conducts mission-oriented research
in acoustics (sonar),
electromagnetics
(geodesy and geopositioning), and information
sciences.
Although it participates in basic investigations in many
of these areas, the research is generally applied in nature.
That is to say, it is oriented toward providing a solution
to a particular problem, or toward development and demonstration
of a desired new capability. In pursuing these objectives,
ARL:UT places a strong emphasis on experimental work, data
analysis, theoretical modeling, simulation, prototyping,
and field demonstrations.
ACOUSTICS
High Resolution Sonar
Acoustics research at ARL:UT was initiated in 1949 to
study high resolution sonar for mine hunting applications.
The high resolution sonar program continues today. The program
has a distinguished history of accomplishment, and has figured
prominently in the development of much of the U.S. Navy’s
current capability in this crucial area. Areas of investigation
include acoustic propagation, ambient noise, reverberation,
scattering,target physics,signal processing, imaging, and
computer-aided detection. A variety of prototype sonars
have been built and delivered to the U.S. Navy for use aboard
surface ships, submarines, autonomous underwater vehicles,
and to provide security at various U.S. Navy piers and other
installations. Applications include mine detection and avoidance,
obstacle avoidance, underwater mapping, navigation, diver
hand-held sonars, and swimmer detection. Current work in
this area is being pursued in ARL’s
Advanced Technology Laboratory.
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Tactical Frequency SONARS
for Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW)
Beginning
in 1963, ARL:UT’s acoustics program was expanded from
its roots in high-frequency, high-resolution sonars to include
tactical frequency sonars for use in antisubmarine warfare
(ASW). This work involved pioneering efforts in the development
of computer algorithms for classification of target echoes
to distinguish submarine echoes from the variety of clutter
present in a typical active sonar display. Drawing upon
technical strengths in sensor signal and information processing,
with a strong emphasis on innovative techniques for detecting,
classifying, tracking, and localizing contacts of interest,
ARL:UT has developed the U.S. Navy’s primary capability
for echo tracking and classification.
Current work in this area
is being pursued in the Signal
& Information Sciences Laboratory.
Target Strength Assessment for Submarine Vulnerability
Reduction
For some 30 years, ARL:UT has conducted research to reduce
the vulnerability of submarines to threat sensor counter-detection
by reducing both radiated noise levels and acoustic target
strength.. This work includes development, construction,
and operation of the Target Strength Measurement System
(TSMS) to conduct full-scale measurements of submarine target
strength in the open ocean; development of sophisticated
techniques to analyze and interpret acoustic target strength
data; and development of analytic submarine target strength
models, primarily in the validation process.
Low Frequency for ASW
In 1972, ARL again broadened its acoustics programs to include
low frequency passive sonar used in undersea surveillance
systems for detection and tracking of submarines. ARL research
in this program has led to fundamental advances in our understanding
of underwater acoustic propagation and our capability to
model propagation in complex ocean environments. It has
also produced improved understanding of ocean acoustic noise
processes, including both spatial and temporal characteristics.
An essential aspect of this work has been the development
of advanced signal processing techniques, including adaptive
methods for dealing with the noise environment and extracting
low level signals. The low frequency acoustics program has
resulted in signficant contributions to the U.S. Navy’s
undersea surveillance capability, and has also figured prominently
in improving the passive sonars used aboard U.S. Navy submarines
to detect and track enemy submarines. These programs are
being pursued in ARL’s Environmental
Sciences Laboratory.
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Industrial Acoustics
In addition to its sonar programs, ARL:UT has an active
industrial acoustics program, which is engaged in a
variety of projects oriented primarily toward the use of
high-power, nonlinear acoustics for environmental cleanup
and medical ultrasonic applications. Results achieved include:
• Reduction of pollution in coal-fired power plant
exhaust streams
• Improved combustion efficiency in coal-fired power
plants
• Medical ultrasonic remote delivery for treatment
of gall stones
Recent work includes development of an acoustic agglomerator
to reduce particulate emissions. ARL:UT scientists and engineers
are also investigating the development of new applications
in thermoacoustics.
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ELECTROMAGNETICS
Propogation Effects
ARL HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN ELECTROMAGNETICS (E&M) RESEARCH
SINCE 1945, starting with involvement in early radar systems.
Since that time the work has evolved to focus on electromagnetic
propagation effects and their impact on satellite systems.
Recently, the focus has been on several aspects related
to the Global Positioning System (GPS), namely: global monitoring
of the signal in order to improve ephemeris and provide
better global coverage, long baseline differential positioning,
and ionospheric measurement and specification.
Satellite Systems
ARL’s involvement in space-based geopositioning predates
the GPS constellation with our participation in the U.S.
Navy TRANSIT program. This included ARL staff participation
in the National Science Foundation’s McMurdo, Antarctica,
research stations over many years. This early work with
TRANSIT led to a natural evolution of involvement with the
GPS system. When GPS replaced TRANSIT, the Navy directed
ARL to decommission the navigation satellites and convert
them to a new function as the Navy’s Ionospheric Monitoring
System (NIMS).
Computerized Ionospheric Tomography
ARL has long been interested in the impact of the ionosphere
on signals passing through it. ARL was instrumental in the
development of computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT)
to specify the electron density of the ionosphere by utilizing
the data collected from the NIMS and GPS satellites. ARL
has continued to push the envelope on the specification
of the ionosphere by creating the first ionospheric data
assimilative model capable of ingesting a large number of
data types. With this capability it is possible to not only
specify the electron density but also the conductivity of
the ionosphere.
Antenna Design
As part of the overall electromagnetics research program
ARL also conducts research in unique antenna designs. These
unique designs include electrically very small HF antennas
(approaching 0.01 l) and very wide band antennas for ultra-wideband
(UWB) usage. The very small HF antennas have a variety of
potential uses due to the compact design and high efficiency.
The UWB antenna is designed in such a way as to maximize
the transmission efficiency and minimize the ringing induced
by very narrow pulses.
Most of the E&M work at ARL takes place in the Space
and Geophysics Laboratory
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INFORMATION SCIENCES
In the mid-1980s, ARL:UT initiated a program in information
sciences. This endeavor was motivated by Austin’s
emerging information technology industry and an increased
DoD interest in exploiting gains from this rapidly growing
high-tech sector.
Information Systems Analysis
ARL:UT’s initial entry into the information technology
arena was oriented toward developing systems to collect
and analyze large volumes of data;generated by the
U.S. Army during the testing of field artillery Command
and Control (C2) systems. This led to work developing
instrumentation and software for non-intrusive collection
and distribution of digital Command Control, Communication,
Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) data for live training
systems at the U.S. Army's maneuver combat training
centers (MCTCs). Most recently, we have focused on
the integration of information between the operational
C4I community and the modeling and simulation activities
that support the employment, training, and testing of C4I
systems.
In addition, our information systems engineers,
analysts, and developers have
implemented technologies required for data warehousing,
data mining, Web-based information retrieval and dissemination,
technology migration re-engineering, live training simulation,
and embedded real-time simulation. Sponsors continue to
look to ARL:UT for strong capabilities in system requirements
elicitation, analysis, and management; software requirements
and design methodologies and notations; data base design,
implementation and administration; client-server and Web-based
systems and tools (including development languages and
environments); and network and operating systems configuration
and administration.
Data & Knowledge Acquisition, Engineering, & Management
ARL:UT has expanded substantially from its initial research
in the information sciences arena, and today supports a
variety of modeling and simulation programs for all the
services as well as for joint-level and DoD-level efforts.
These efforts—which include C4I and simulation integration,
modeling and simulation for defense acquisition, simulation
interoperability standards, and formalized knowledge specifications—have
allowed ARL:UT to significantly expand its expertise in
the engineering and management of data, knowledge, and software.
Computer Network Defense & Information Assurance
In the 1990s, recognizing the need for cyber security,
ARLUT initiated research and development in computer network
security, intrusion detection, and cyber information assurance.
This research led to development of working prototypes that
now actively support DoD, the associated intelligence community,
and other government agencies. Working closely with these
various government groups to better understand their requirements,
ARLUT continues to research and design enhancements to each
customized prototype, drawing on technical strengths in
the areas of computer network security, rule-based expert
systems, database technology, knowledge engineering, data
mining, and machine learning. Current work focuses on real-time
network intrusion monitoring, off-line intrusion analysis,
computer network modeling and simulation, probabilistic
modeling of attack sequences, critical information protection
/ insider threat mitigation, and insider threat detection
using data fusion.
These programs continue in ARL's Signal
& Information Sciences Laboratory.
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