Enhanced Sonar Performance through the Application of Biological Inspiration
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Abstract
Aim:
To use our exploration of bioacoustics underwater as inspiration for enhancing the performance of sonar systems.
Objectives:
1. Explore how animal systems utilise mechanical and structural function to impart/extract useful information from the underwater acoustic environment.
2. Investigate how to create micro-scale acoustic structures and systems that can couple with existing (and new) ultrasound systems under development at CUE.
3. Design, model, simulate, prototype and characterise new micro-scale bio-inspired acoustic systems, focussing on sonar development.
Summary:
This project will investigate our developing understanding of how bioacoustic systems under water function to extract useful information from the acoustic environment as inspiration for developing new sonar systems. To achieve this, the project will consider how to create acoustic structures using 3D printing as the basis for new developments in sonar design. The research will create new acoustic systems by coupling the new acoustic structures with ultrasonic transducers and related signal processing.
Project Background:
Various animals utilise sound under water, either for communication or to detect and avoid predators via echolocation. In nature, acoustic system 'design' uses the principle of conditioning the signal as soon as possible, leading to the evolution of unusual geometric structures and active feedback at the point of detection. These systems do not suffer from the same limitations present in existing acoustic transducers. For example, some hearing systems, evolved over millions of years, have been shown to have heightened directionality, sensitivity and frequency response compared to artificial systems, and also have embedded 'active' functions to enhance signal conditioning, e.g. amplifying specific sounds while attenuating background noise.
This project seeks to use biological inspiration as a mechanism for improving acoustic systems underwater, with a focus on sonar. Whilst the project is engineering based, the research will take a multi-disciplinary approach. The student will consider the biological background, and utilise methods and techniques relevant to different disciplines as appropriate. The student, Andrea Cosentino, already has research experience in biological acoustics and training in research methods (MRes). Her technical skills include experience in acoustics, biological sciences, data analysis and processing, and programming. This mix of experience and skill set places her in an excellent position for the research involved in this PhD.
The project will initially develop the new underwater acoustic systems as 3D computer models, using finite element methods to analyse their acoustic responses. Physical acoustic structures designed to couple with ultrasonic transducers developed in CUE will then be created using 3D printing. X-ray tomography will then provide 3D structural data for comparison with the original 3D computer designs and simulations. The experimental characterisation of the new acoustic systems will take place within CUE's facilities within the new labs in TIC. The project will be iterative, with new findings feeding directly back into the engineering design process, working towards the ultimate goal of developing new acoustic systems with enhanced directionality and sensitivity across a frequency range appropriate to sonar development.
To use our exploration of bioacoustics underwater as inspiration for enhancing the performance of sonar systems.
Objectives:
1. Explore how animal systems utilise mechanical and structural function to impart/extract useful information from the underwater acoustic environment.
2. Investigate how to create micro-scale acoustic structures and systems that can couple with existing (and new) ultrasound systems under development at CUE.
3. Design, model, simulate, prototype and characterise new micro-scale bio-inspired acoustic systems, focussing on sonar development.
Summary:
This project will investigate our developing understanding of how bioacoustic systems under water function to extract useful information from the acoustic environment as inspiration for developing new sonar systems. To achieve this, the project will consider how to create acoustic structures using 3D printing as the basis for new developments in sonar design. The research will create new acoustic systems by coupling the new acoustic structures with ultrasonic transducers and related signal processing.
Project Background:
Various animals utilise sound under water, either for communication or to detect and avoid predators via echolocation. In nature, acoustic system 'design' uses the principle of conditioning the signal as soon as possible, leading to the evolution of unusual geometric structures and active feedback at the point of detection. These systems do not suffer from the same limitations present in existing acoustic transducers. For example, some hearing systems, evolved over millions of years, have been shown to have heightened directionality, sensitivity and frequency response compared to artificial systems, and also have embedded 'active' functions to enhance signal conditioning, e.g. amplifying specific sounds while attenuating background noise.
This project seeks to use biological inspiration as a mechanism for improving acoustic systems underwater, with a focus on sonar. Whilst the project is engineering based, the research will take a multi-disciplinary approach. The student will consider the biological background, and utilise methods and techniques relevant to different disciplines as appropriate. The student, Andrea Cosentino, already has research experience in biological acoustics and training in research methods (MRes). Her technical skills include experience in acoustics, biological sciences, data analysis and processing, and programming. This mix of experience and skill set places her in an excellent position for the research involved in this PhD.
The project will initially develop the new underwater acoustic systems as 3D computer models, using finite element methods to analyse their acoustic responses. Physical acoustic structures designed to couple with ultrasonic transducers developed in CUE will then be created using 3D printing. X-ray tomography will then provide 3D structural data for comparison with the original 3D computer designs and simulations. The experimental characterisation of the new acoustic systems will take place within CUE's facilities within the new labs in TIC. The project will be iterative, with new findings feeding directly back into the engineering design process, working towards the ultimate goal of developing new acoustic systems with enhanced directionality and sensitivity across a frequency range appropriate to sonar development.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509760/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1811647 | Studentship | EP/N509760/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2020 | Melania Cosentino |
| Description | During this project, a series of tools were developed to study the vocal behaviour of harbour porpoises in their natural environment, the most abundant toothed whale in UK waters. Harbour porpoises are difficult to spot at sea, but produce highly stereotyped sounds that are ideal for acoustic monitoring purposes. Moreover, the repetition rate of these vocalisations indicate the main behaviour of the animal: travelling, searching for food, or engaged in social interactions. The main result of this project is a standalone application, D-PorCCA, with a series of functions able to identify the patterns in repetition rates and thus distinguish between behaviours of the harbour porpoises in the wild. |
| Exploitation Route | D-PorCCA, the application developed during this project, can automatically check hundreds of hours of recordings and provide researchers access to thousands of pre-selected acoustic events for further analysis. D-PorCCA considerably reduces the time needed for data analysis and will allow us to study the behaviour of wild porpoises for the first time, and in a non-invasive and cost-effective way. D-PorCCA has already shown its potential, as a series of social calls were identified in the data, which were not described before in the literature. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Other |
| Description | The findings of this project have not been used yet, as it has not concluded yet. However, I received a few emails from researchers working in the same field requesting information about the project and its outcomes |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Other |
| Description | Interview for Australian Science radio show Einstein a Go Go |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I discussed my PhD project in a 20 min interview that was broadcasted in early February 2018. The radio show has won awards due to their contribution to science communication. The audience is broad and international, and the interview is now a podcast available online. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://tunein.com/podcasts/Talk-Show-Replays/Einstein-A-Go-Go-p505115/?topicid=119935937 |
| Description | Presentation at Community Centre for the elderly |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presented the results of my project to an audience of local communities at the Argyll Community Centre in Saltcoats, Scotland. The audience was a group of ~30 locals, all retired but actively involved in local issues. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |