Acoustic Vector Sensor Design for Underwater Glider Platform

In view of the fact that as current underwater glider slow-moving platform applies acoustic vector sensor to moving target detection in water, the sensor posture cannot be accurately measured to result in low-precision output of target azimuth, this study designed an acoustic vector sensor with attitude awareness capacity. First, the attitude sensor was integrated into the design of acoustic vector sensor, and parameter testing was performed; Second, the acoustic vector sensor was integrated into the underwater glider platform, and its equivalent noise source level was measured in an anechoic pool; Finally, target detection test was carried out with the acoustic vector sensor mounted on the underwater glider platform, in which a scientific research and test ship was taken as the target to evaluate the noise source azimuth estimation ability of the acoustic vector sensor which was applied to the underwater glider platform. Sea trial shows that, after the attitude correction, the estimation result of the target azimuth is basically consistent with that of the global positioning system, and meets the accuracy requirement of the direction finding. This research may provide reference for the engineering application of acoustic vector sensor to underwater glider platform.