Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Hydroacoustic Surveys Using MBE for a Autonomous Surface Vehicles

Abstract

Evaluation of quality of the data obtained in the result of sonar survey is a necessary condition when solving cartographic and measuring tasks. Purpose of work is to estimate the error of the survey using a multi-beam echo sounder for model data of the relief with varying Terrain Ruggedness Index. It is shown that the use of the created model of the sonar survey process, taking into account the parameters of the vehicle-carrier movement, the parameters of the distribution medium and the features of absorption and reflection of hydroacoustic waves, can help developers and users to achieve their goal. The conducted modeling based on the real data for autonomous unmanned surface apparatus showed the possibility of its use for conducting sonar survey in the sectors of the aquatic areas with low and middle degree of the sea-bottom terrain ruggedness. In case of hardly rugged terrain, inaccuracy of the depth measurement may reach 0,7 meters, which is beyond the accepted permissible limits equal to 0.1 meters. Presented solution is proposed to be used as support of hydro-acoustic research with use of sonar equipment when mounted on water-surface robotic complex.