RU2658508C1 - System and method of measurement of acoustic characteristics of antennas with the submersible vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: hydro acoustics.

SUBSTANCE: two source antennas (SA1, SA2) and two receiving antennas (RA1, RA2) are installed to measure the field characteristics of ship receiving and radiating antennas on a submersible vehicle (SV). Antennas installed on the SV are not directional. Ship is additionally equipped with a non-directional source antenna (SA3) and a receiving antenna (RA3), which forms a static fan of the pattern functions (PF). SV traffic control is carried out by cable on signals from the ship's control channel (CCh). Information processing associated with the calculation of the necessary acoustic characteristics of ship antennas is made in the measurement path (MCh) installed on the ship. To measure the acoustic characteristics of ship antennas, the movement of the SV along a given trajectory is carried out. When measuring the characteristics of a radiating antenna, its signal is received by a measuring receiving antenna RA2 located on the SV; the received signal is transmitted over the cable to the MCh. Simultaneously with the radiation of the measured ship antenna, radiation and reception of navigation signals are carried out, by means of which the current mutual coordinates of the SV and the ship's measured antenna are determined. To measure the distance, the ship's radiating antenna SA3 is used, its signals are received by the RA2 antenna on the SV and transmitted to the MCh, where the distance is calculated. To measure the angular coordinates with the SV, the signal is emitted using the antenna SA1, this signal is received by the ship antenna RA3 and transmitted to the MCh, where the current angular coordinates are calculated. Thus, for each mutual position of the SV and the measured antenna in MCh, there are data on the mutual coordinates and the pressure level. By the totality of these data, reduced to one distance by known analytical expressions, determine PF of the radiating antenna and the pressure on the axis of the main maximum. Reception of shipborne antennas is measured similarly, but the radiation is carried out using a radiating antenna SA3 installed on the SV.

EFFECT: invention can be used to measure the acoustic field characteristics of ship antennas.

2 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of hydroacoustics and can be used to measure field acoustic characteristics of ship antennas.

The primary measurements of antennas are usually performed in laboratory conditions, i.e. in experimental measuring pools [1], where antennas and test tools are installed on rotary-coordinate devices. In pool conditions, it is not possible to measure the acoustic characteristics of large wavelength antennas. The acoustic characteristics of the antennas installed at the facility differ from the characteristics measured in the pool, as in real conditions, ship structures can significantly distort the field characteristics of antennas.

A number of known methods for measuring the field acoustic characteristics of antennas installed on an object. So, in the USSR author's certificate [2], these characteristics are measured using a measuring coordinate device (IKU), which is a multi-ton crane-like structure mounted on the deck of a ship. In addition to the problems associated with the placement of IKUs, including the transportation of IKUs when moving to the test site, the length of the IKU boom is limited, which does not allow measuring the characteristics of antennas with large wave sizes. In addition, ship structures do not allow measuring the characteristics of antennas, the openings of which are turned in the traverse or aft directions.

In US patent [3] it is proposed to measure field characteristics using an underwater vehicle (PA), remotely controlled. Since the tasks of dynamic positioning of objects participating in measurements (a ship with a measured antenna and PA with measuring instruments) come to the fore here, the measured objects in [3] are limited to stationary systems such as pipelines (recording noise from oil product leaks) or antennas located on offshore platforms .

The closest in functional and structural features to the proposed technical solution is the method presented in the patent [4], as well as the device that implements this method, which are taken as a prototype. In the patent [4], a method is described for determining the directivity of a sonar antenna by towing a sonar measuring emitter along different paths near the measured receiving antenna, which is located at the bottom of the reservoir. In the process of towing, the distance between the measuring emitter and the measured receiving antenna is measured, and the signal received by the receiving measuring antenna is transmitted to the on-shore processing equipment. When processing the known distances between the emitter and the receiving antenna, as well as the voltages corresponding to these distances, calculate the directivity characteristic (XI) of the measured antenna.

The method and device proposed in [4], which implements it, have several disadvantages:

- it is impossible to measure the characteristics of radiating antennas;

- to calculate the CN, it is necessary to know the traverse distance between the emitter and the receiving antenna; where to get these data, as well as the voltage level corresponding to this distance, is not indicated in [4];

- when towing it is almost impossible to maintain the uniformity of the course and the straightness of the trajectory of the towed emitter, which leads to a significant increase in the errors of the results;

- the technical solution proposed in [4] cannot be used for ship antennas, because no means of dynamic positioning of the measuring means (towed device) and the measured antenna.

The main objective of the proposed system and method of its implementation is to expand the functionality of the measuring system while improving the quality characteristics of measurements associated with taking into account the actual placement of the antennas and reducing measurement errors.

The technical results of the proposed system and method of its implementation are:

- the ability to measure the characteristics of both receiving and radiating antennas located on real media;

- dynamic accounting of the current mutual coordinates of the measuring emitter / receiver and the measured antenna;

- the ability to measure the characteristics of the antennas in a virtually unlimited frequency range;

- automatic accounting when measuring the actual characteristics of the antennas located on the carrier object;

- the ability to measure in real conditions close to the operating conditions.

To solve the tasks and achieve the claimed technical result, new features have been introduced into the measuring system containing the measured receiving antenna (IPA), processing and recording equipment, and the underwater vehicle on which the radiating antenna (AI1) and signal conditioning equipment are installed, namely:

- additionally measured is a radiating antenna,

- the measured receiving antenna (IPA) and the measured radiating antenna (IAI) are installed on the ship;

- the ship’s control path (TRU) for PA movement and the ship’s path for measuring (TRI) antenna characteristics have been introduced;

- PA made with the ability to move on control signals with TRU transmitted over a cable made stranded;

- the first receiving antenna (AP1), the second radiating antenna (AI2) and the second receiving antenna (AP2) are additionally installed on the PA; moreover, the antennas AP1, AI1, AI2, AP2 are omnidirectional, and the PA motion control unit is introduced into the PA equipment (BUPA );

- the ship additionally houses a third radiating antenna (AI3), made non-directional, and a third receiving antenna (AP3), made in the form of a phased antenna array with the possibility of forming a static fan of directivity characteristics in two planes, while AP1, AI1 and BUPA are connected via cable with TRU, AI2 and AP2 are connected through a cable with TRI, TRI is connected to IPA and IAI, and TRU and TRI are connected to processing and registration equipment made by the console installed on the ship.

In the measurement method, consisting in moving along a predetermined trajectory of the underwater vehicle (PA) relative to the measured receiving antenna, radiation towards the measured receiving antenna (IPA) of the signal of the first radiating antenna (AI1) installed on the PA, receiving the radiated signal, calculating the distance and direction from AI1 on the IPA, the accumulation and processing of measurement results when moving the PA, introduced new features, namely:

- additionally measured is the emitting antenna, and the measured receiving antenna (IPA) and the measured radiating antenna (IAI) are installed on the ship;

- the first receiving antenna (AP1), the second radiating antenna (AI2), the second receiving antenna (AP2) are additionally installed on the PA, and the antennas AP1, AI1, AI2, AP2 are omnidirectional, and the third radiating antenna (AI3) is placed on the ship, made non-directional, and a third receiving antenna (AP3), made in the form of a phased antenna array, forming a static fan of directivity in two planes;

- they control the trajectory of the PA from the ship control path (TRU), transmitting control signals via cable to the PA motion control unit;

- they emit a signal to the side of the PA using the AI3 antenna, receive this signal with the receiving antenna AP1 and transmit it through the cable to the control panel, where the distance to the PA is determined;

- emit a signal installed on the PA antenna AI1, receive this signal ship receiving antenna AP3 and transmit to the TRU, where they determine the angular coordinates of the PA,

- information about the current distance from the ship to the PA and the current angles of the angular coordinates of the PA is transmitted to the ship’s measurement path (TRI);

- to measure the characteristics of the measured receiving antenna, the IPA generates a signal of a given structure in the TRI, transmits this signal via cable to the PA and emits it from the radiating antenna AI2 located on the PA;

- this signal is received by the measured IPA receiving antenna and transmitted to the TR, and the accumulation and processing of the received signals in the TR are carried out together with the information about the coordinates of the PA transmitted from the TR;

- to measure the characteristics of the measured emitting antenna, the IAI receives the signal located on the receiver antenna AP2, transmit the received signal via cable to the transmitter, where it is accumulated and processed together with the information about the coordinates of the transmitter transmitted from the transmitter.

The process of measuring acoustic characteristics consists in determining the sensitivity (for receiving antennas) or pressure (for radiating antennas) depending on the mutual coordinates of the measuring and measured antennas [1]. Next, the measured sensitivity (pressure) is calculated using the coordinates for each value of the measured values [4], the directivity characteristic or the maximum value of sensitivity (pressure).

In the proposed technical solution, the measurement of the IPA characteristics is performed using the AI2 measuring emitting antenna mounted on the PA; the measurement of the characteristics of the IAI is carried out using the measuring receiver antenna AP2 installed on the PA. During measurements, the received signals from the IPA and AP2 are transmitted to the ship’s measurement path (TRI), while the signals from the AP2 are transmitted to the ship by cable.

In order to determine the current coordinates corresponding to each measured value of sensitivity (pressure), additionally set

- on the ship - an omnidirectional emitting antenna (AI3) and a receiving antenna (AP3), which forms a static fan XN in two planes;

- on the underwater vehicle - non-directional emitting (AI1) and receiving (AP1) antennas.

The combination of antennas AI1, AP1, AI3 and AP3 makes it possible at each moment of time to obtain information about the mutual coordinates of the ship and the PA, which is carried out in the ship control path (TRU). The movement of the PA along a predetermined trajectory, including for measuring the characteristics of various ship antennas, is carried out according to the signals transmitted from the TRU via a multicore cable to the PA, where the PA motion control signals are processed by the PA motion control unit (BUA).

Thus, the problem of measuring the field characteristics of the emitting and receiving antennas located on the ship is solved.

In FIG. 1 presents a generalized functional diagram of the system.

The structure of the system includes equipment of the underwater vehicle 1 and equipment 2 , placed on the ship.

On PA 1 there are placed emitting measuring antennas AI1 3 , AI2 4 and receiving measuring antennas AP1 5 , AP2 6 , as well as PA control unit 7 (BUPA).

On ship 2 there is a radiating measuring antenna AI3 8 and a receiving measuring antenna AP3 9 , as well as control paths for positioning the TRU 10 and measuring the coordinates of the TRI 11 .

The equipment PA 1 and ship 2 are connected by a multicore cable 12 .

Measured ship antennas are the radiating antenna IAI 13 and the receiving antenna IPA 14 .

The cores of cable 12 are connected to antennas AI1, AP1, AI2, AP2 and the BUUP unit. Antennas AI3 and AP3 are connected to the TrU path, which is connected to the TRI path, through cable 12, the TRU path is connected to the AI1 antenna, and the TPI path is connected to the AP2 antenna. The TRI path, in addition, is connected to the measured IAI and IPA antennas. Remote controls 15 are designed for processing, recording data coming from the TRU and TRI, as well as to control the modes of movement of the PA and measurements. In FIG. 1 not separately highlighted

- blocks the formation of control signals and the formation of signals during positioning, which are combined with the path TrU 10 ;

- blocks for generating radiation signals with a measuring antenna AI2 4 and a measured antenna IAI 13 ; these blocks are part of the tract TRI 11 .

In FIG. 1 also omitted the power supply systems of the PA equipment and ship equipment.

The operation of the system and actions of the claimed method, it is advisable to consider together.

After reaching the test site, the ship releases a remote-controlled PA located on its board, while cable 12 is connected to the equipment on the PA and on the ship. From the remote controls 15 , signals are transmitted via the TrU 10 path to turn on the radiation of the measuring emitting antennas AI1 5 and AI3 8 , as well as to receive signals for positioning from the receiving measuring antennas AP1 5 and AP3 9 . The signal emitted by antenna AI3 is received by antenna AP1, the received signal via cable 12 is transmitted to the receiving channel of the TRU path, where the current distance between the PA and the ship is determined by the time between the beginning of radiation and reception, taking into account the speed of sound. The signal emitted by the antenna AI1 3 is received by the measuring receiving antenna AP3 9 , which forms a static fan XN. The signal received by the AP3 antenna is transmitted to the TrU path, where the current heading angle and elevation angle of the PA are determined. Thus, the coordinates of the PA relative to the ship are known. These data go to the consoles 15 , where the trajectory of the PA is built to output the PA to a point in space in order to measure the characteristics of the selected ship's antenna. The process of determining the current coordinates is performed throughout the entire measurement cycle.

To measure the characteristics of the emitting antenna, the PA with the help of the remote control 15 through the path TrU is displayed in the direction corresponding to the maximum radiation of the measured emitting antenna IAI 13 . The IAI antenna emits a signal that is received by the measuring receiver antenna AP2 6 located on the PA. Perform tuning to the maximum signal according to the known method [1] by changing the location of the PA relative to the ship. During tuning, the level of the radiation signal from the IAI antenna is selected and fixed, which in the future, for measuring the characteristics of this measured antenna, remains unchanged, the level of the maximum signal received by the AP2 antenna is stored and transmitted to the TRI path. Further, continuing the radiation from the IAI antenna, the user agents are moved along a predetermined path (in the XN measurement sector) using control signals, which are transmitted via cable 12 to the control unit 7 . The array of signals received by the AP2 antenna is transmitted to the TRI path, where it is compared with the corresponding current coordinates, reduced to the total distance (an analytical expression is given in [4]) and normalized to the maximum value. The normalized array is the CN, and the maximum value is the level of acoustic pressure developed by the IAI antenna at the distance where this maximum pressure value was measured. Data on the pressure and pressure are transmitted to the remote control 15 for further analysis, documentation, etc.

To measure the characteristics of the receiving antenna, the PA with the help of commands from the remote controls 15 is output through the TrU path to the direction corresponding to the maximum sensitivity of the measured receiving antenna IPA 14 . The tuning to the maximum sensitivity is carried out by analogy with the tuning to the maximum radiation of the IAI antenna, but at the same time they emit the measuring radiating antenna AI2 4 located on the PA. The maximum sensitivity value along with the corresponding coordinates is remembered. The steps for measuring the HN of the receiving antenna are similar to the steps for measuring the HN of the emitting antenna, but the radiation of a constant level is performed by the AI2 antenna.

At the end of the measurements, the PA is brought to the ship and lifted aboard.

The claimed system uses well-known technical solutions for the designs and operation of the devices included in the system. The principle of operation, the design characteristics of the emitting and receiving antennas are described in the book [6]. The tracts of TRU and TRI are performed as hardware and software of sonar systems and are described in the book [7]. Underwater vehicles, including telecontrolled ones, as well as systems and means for controlling the movement of PA are presented in [8].

Introduction to the system of measuring the acoustic characteristics of new significant features provides the claimed technical result, associated not only with the expansion of the range of measured antennas, but also taking into account various factors of antenna operation in real conditions. In particular:

- it is possible to measure the characteristics of any type of antenna, both receiving and radiating;

- the dynamic process of changing the current mutual coordinates of the measuring emitter / receiver and the measured antenna is taken into account and recorded, which allows measurements to be made on the measuring base that is changed during the measurement, including currents, during drift, etc .;

- measurements of the characteristics of the antennas can be performed in an almost unlimited frequency range, quickly changing the measuring antennas pre-installed on the PA;

- the real field characteristics of the antennas are automatically taken into account, taking into account their location, the influence of ship structures or bottom / surface reverberation (reflections);

- measurements are carried out in real conditions close to the operating conditions.

The proposed system can be used to measure the acoustic characteristics of antennas of surface ships and submarines, to measure the characteristics of long antennas, including towed ones. Additionally, you can use the system when measuring the noise of various objects, including for measuring noise at different speeds of the movement of a noisy object.

Information sources

1. Kolesnikov A.E. Acoustic measurements. L., Shipbuilding, 1983.

2. Auth. testimonial. USSR No. 1840603. A method of measuring their own underwater noise and noise meter. IPC G01K 11/00. Claim 02/06/1989, publ. 08/20/2007.

3. Pat. US No. 5047990. Underwater acoustic data acquisition system. IPC G01S 1/72, 15/89. Claim 06/01/1990, publ. 09/10/1991.

4. RF patent No. 2029314. A method for determining the directivity characteristics of a sonar antenna. IPC G01S 3/80. Claim 09/15/1992, publ. 02.20.1995 (PROTOTYPE).

5. RF patent No. 2551834. The remote control method of the underwater vehicle. IPC B63G 5/00, G01S 5/74. Claim 12/04/2013, publ. 05/27/2015.

6. Smaryshev M.D., Dobrovolsky Yu.Yu. Hydroacoustic antennas. L., Shipbuilding, 1984.

7. Koryakin Yu.A., Smirnov S.A., Yakovlev G.V. Ship sonar equipment. St. Petersburg: Science, 2004.

8. Voitov D.V. Telecontrolled uninhabited underwater vehicles. M .: Morkniga, 2012.

Claims (2)

1. A system for measuring the acoustic characteristics of antennas, comprising a measured receiving antenna, processing and recording equipment, and an underwater vehicle (PA), on which the first radiating antenna (AI1) and signal conditioning equipment are installed, characterized in that the radiating antenna is measured as well, and the measured receiving the antenna (IPA) and the measured radiating antenna (IAI) are installed on the ship, the ship’s control path (TRU) for the PA’s movement and the ship’s measurement path (TRI) of the characteristics of the an Enn, PA is configured to move along control signals from the TRU transmitted via a multicore cable, the first receiving antenna (AP1), the second radiating antenna (AI2) and the second receiving antenna (AP2) are additionally installed on the PA, moreover, antennas AP1, AI1 , AI2, AP2 are omnidirectional, and the PA motion control unit (PAA) is included in the PA equipment, the ship additionally houses a third radiating antenna (AI3), made non-directional, and a third receiving antenna (AP3), made in the form of a phased antenna lattices with the possibility of forming a static fan of directivity characteristics in two planes, while AP1, AI1 and BUPA are connected through a cable to the TRU, AI2 and AP2 are connected through a cable to the TRI, the TRI is connected to the IPA and to the IAI, and the TRU and TrI are connected to the processing equipment and registration performed by the console installed on the ship. 2. A method for measuring the acoustic characteristics of antennas, consisting in moving along a predetermined trajectory of an underwater vehicle (PA) relative to the measured receiving antenna, radiation in the direction of the measured receiving antenna (IPA) of the signal by the first radiating antenna (AI1) installed on the PA, receiving the radiated signal and computing distances and directions from the emitter to the measured antenna, the accumulation and processing of measurement results when moving the PA, characterized in that the radiation antenna is additionally measured, and the measured a receiving antenna (IPA) and a measured radiating antenna (IAI) are installed on the ship; an additional receiving antenna (AP1), a second emitting antenna (AI2), and a second receiving antenna (AP2) are additionally installed on the PA; moreover, the antennas AP1, AI1, AI2, AP2 are omnidirectional, and a third emitting antenna (AI3) is placed on the ship, which is omnidirectional , and a third receiving antenna (AP3), made in the form of a phased antenna array with the possibility of forming a static fan of directivity in two planes; control the trajectory of the PA from the ship control path (TRU), transmitting control signals via cable to the PA motion control unit; radiate a signal to the side of the PA with the help of the AI3 antenna, receive this signal with the receiving antenna AP1 and transmit it through the cable to the TRU, where the distance to the PA is determined; they emit a signal installed on the antenna AI1 installed on the PA, receive this signal on the ship’s receiving antenna AP3 and transmit it to the TRU, where they determine the angular coordinates of the PA, information about the current distance from the ship to the PA and the current angles of the angular coordinates of the PA are transmitted to the ship’s measurement path (TR) to measure the characteristics of the measured receiving antenna, the IPA generates a signal of a given structure in the TRI, transmits this signal via cable to the PA, and emits the AI2 emitting antenna located on the PA; receiving this signal by the measured receiving antenna IPA and transmitting to the transmitter, and the accumulation and processing of the received signals into the transmitter is carried out in conjunction with the information transmitted from the carrier about the coordinates of the PA; To measure the characteristics of the measured emitting antenna, the IAI receive the signal located on the PA receiving antenna PA2, transmit the received signal via cable to the transmitter, where it is accumulated and processed together with the information about the coordinates of the transmitter transmitted from the transmitter.

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