The Bearing and Size Estimation of Volume Target Based on a Vector Sound Intensity Array

In this paper a new method to determine the bearings and ranges of the three highlight sections of a ship is given. This method is based on a non-typical vector sound intensity array with seven sensors. The seven sensors can all be fixing in some underwater detection platform and the distances between them are adjustable. So the array is more convenient for engineering implementation than the traditional array proposed by Liu Xun(2002), et al.. The bearings of the low frequency noise radiated by the midship and the section between the midship and stern is determined by sound intensity vector. And the bearing of the stern which radiates high frequency noise is determined by time delay estimation. The two methods can be carried out based on the same array. The computer simulation for the ships real measured data proved that this method can find the bearings of the three sections of the ship in high precision. And the size of the ship can be estimated if the depth of the platform is already known.