Hydrophones are the listening elements embedded in all Sonar Systems. At the heart of all hydrophones are transducers which convert acoustical energy into electrical signals that can be monitored and analyzed. The A-Metrics technology can be employed in underwater acoustic signal detection and monitoring of low level, low frequency or ambient background noise. Processing of the monitored information to remove any unwanted background and flow noise allows the device to isolate signals of interest.

An A-Metrics transducer can be used in a Passive Sonar hydrophone design with the ability to function at ultra low frequencies – below 1Hz. This could enable the system to detect micro-bar changes in pressure, and thus track the characteristic signals caused by a variety of surface and submarine vessels. Underground Bunker Detection is also among the applications currently being explored.

The device’s sensitivity can be applied to inertial navigation and weapons guidance systems as well. Since the transducer is capable of gauging distances of under 0.05 nanometers (one-half of one-ten-billionth of a meter), measurement of accelerations in extremely small magnitudes are possible.

 

 

Images courtesy of U.S. Navy.