Precise underwater navigation with sonar is aim of Navy research contract to Penn State

Researchers at Penn State University in University Park, Pa., are designing a sonar-based underwater navigation system for the U.S. Navy that will enable submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) maintain position underwater safely by following known ocean-floor terrain features.

This technology, called bathymetric navigation with sonar, matches sonar images of terrain below the undersea vehicle to known terrain maps of the ocean bottom.

This approach is similar to how an airplane pilot navigates under visual flight rules (VFR) matching what he sees below the aircraft to aviation maps.

Read more