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Acoustic sensors to protect critical maritime infrastructures

Acoustic sensors to protect critical maritime infrastructures

Publicado: 07/11/2024

imagen del puerto de cartagena

The construction of marine infrastructures has increased due to the growing demand for resources and services. These critical infrastructures require protection against underwater threats, and acoustic sensors such as those developed by SAES play an essential role in their detection and tracking, ensuring safety and efficiency in maritime environments. 

The construction of infrastructures in marine environments has significantly increased in recent times due to the growing demand for resources and services. These infrastructures, considered essential for the security, economy, public health, and well-being of a nation, are classified as critical. The protection of these infrastructures against potential threats, both surface and underwater, is of vital importance. In this context, acoustic sensors play a crucial role in the detection, tracking, and classification of threats, allowing for the effective protection of these infrastructures. 

Critical infrastructures in marine environments include systems, assets, and essential services located in or near maritime areas. These infrastructures are vital for the security, economy, public health, and well-being of a nation. Examples of critical infrastructures in Spain include ports and maritime terminals (Algeciras, Barcelona, Valencia, Cartagena, or Bilbao), oil and gas platforms (Casablanca platform), submarine cabling (MAREA and ACE cables), offshore wind energy installations (Gulf of Cádiz and Atlantic coast), and maritime defence and security infrastructures (naval bases in Cartagena, Ferrol, and Rota).

Critical infrastructures present several challenges, including protection against threats, environmental impact during their construction and operation, and the need for technological innovation. The implementation of sensors and monitoring systems is crucial to improve the efficiency and safety of these infrastructures. 

Acoustic sensors are advanced tools that allow the detection and monitoring of sounds and vibrations in the water, providing crucial information for the surveillance and protection of critical marine infrastructures. Specific uses include the detection of underwater intruders through perimeter monitoring and acoustic signature analysis, the surveillance of diving activities and underwater vehicles through early detection and tracking of divers or underwater vehicles based on their unique acoustic signatures, and environmental monitoring through the detection of underwater noise and acoustic detection of oil or gas spills. 

There are mainly two types of acoustic sensors: passive and active. Passive sensors, such as hydrophones, measure pressure variations in the water, derived from noise generated by vessels, human activity, or marine fauna. Active sensors, on the other hand, transmit an acoustic pulse and measure the echo or reflection produced by objects. Both types of sensors can be installed in array configurations, such as linear, cylindrical, panel, or spherical, which improves directivity gain and detection probability.

To design a protection system based on acoustic sensors, several factors must be considered. Firstly, the study of threats will determine whether the optimal system is passive or active, depending on the level of radiated noise and the necessary detection distance. Passive systems are ideal for detecting threats at long distances, provided that the noise level radiated by the threat is higher than the ambient noise. Otherwise, active systems will be required. 

Secondly, the study of the orography of the area to be protected will determine the number of sensors to be used. Additionally, the analysis of acoustic propagation will determine the performance of the sensors, and hence their number and location, as allowed by the SEAPROF developed by SAES.

An example of a protection system is the one designed by SAES for the detection of narco-boats in coastal areas. This system uses a network of intelligent and autonomous buoys with hydrophones for the detection of light vessels. The network of passive sensors allows for the generation of early alerts, improving security in the area. 

Another example is the port protection system designed by SAES, which integrates passive and active sensors, complemented by electromagnetic sensors for near-field detection. This system includes a long-range passive acoustic sensor for early threat detection, DDS-03 active acoustic sensors for the detection of divers and underwater vehicles, and a barrier of electromagnetic sensors. 

With the increase in marine infrastructures and emerging new threats, the integration of protection systems is critical. Acoustic sensors, due to their discretion, durability, and minimal maintenance requirements, are essential for the detection of threats in maritime environments. The mentioned use cases are examples that demonstrate how the detection of underwater threats can be effectively carried out through strategically distributed acoustic sensors, based on threat analysis, area study, and acoustic propagation conditions. 

Example of an acoustic sensor system for coastal surveillance / SAES

Photo: example of an acoustic sensor system for coastal surveillance / SAES

Participación en consorcios de ámbito nacional e internacional_

SAES has participated in the development of the MIRICLE project (December 2021 to December 2023), selected for funding by the European Commission in the 2020 EDIDP (European Defence Industrial Development Program) call, under the theme: Solutions to detect, identify, counter, and protect against the threat of mines, including those operating at great depths.

The project has been developed by a consortium composed of 18 entities from 10 European nations and coordinated by the French entity Naval Group.

MIRICLE (Mine Risk Clearance for Europe) addresses the main components of an innovative mine countermeasure solution, such as: mission system, communication network, MCM (Mine Countermeasure) vessel, and robots, using Artificial Intelligence to support decision-making and leading to significant improvements in the execution of MCM missions. More specifically, it will enable European navies to benefit from the highest and most interoperable military mine countermeasure capabilities, in accordance with NATO recommendations.

SAES’s participation in the project focuses on two areas: reduction of electric and magnetic signatures, including the definition, design, development, and testing of an electromagnetic signature reduction system, and the study, analysis, and evaluation of the mine threat.

SAES is part of the consortium of European entities developing the USSPS (Unmanned Semi-fixed Sea Platforms) project, selected by the European Commission in the 2019 call under the theme: Maritime surveillance generated by sensor networks based on fixed or semi-fixed unmanned platforms.

The selected consortium is composed of a total of 17 entities from 7 European countries and is coordinated by the Greek entity ETME. SAES participates as a Linked Third Party of Navantia. The project has a duration of 42 months, with its completion scheduled for May 2025.

The project is focused on the development of a prototype unmanned platform, highly autonomous, energy-efficient, based on miniaturised oil platform technologies and equipped with a wide range of aerial, surface, and underwater sensors. This platform can be deployed in any geographical area, including deep waters, and in adverse environmental conditions, making it very versatile in its operations.

SAES’s participation focuses on integrating its DDS-03 Diver Detection Sonar and its associated DES system into the platform, aimed at deterring divers from approaching the protected area by emitting acoustic messages. It also participates in the development of requirements and the design of the complete system prototype.

Since December 2022, SAES has been participating in the dTHOR project, selected in the 2021 call of the European Defence Fund (EDF) under the category: Smart Ships, theme: Structural Health Monitoring of Digital Ships.

The project has a duration of 36 months and is being developed by a consortium of 35 entities from 9 European countries, coordinated by the Norwegian entity SINTEF.

dTHOR (digital ship sTructural Health mOnitoRing) will develop the next generation of a predictive structural health monitoring system for ships. This system is based on the innovative use of: large amounts of load and response measurements obtained from robust and advanced sensors, a digital environment compatible with recognised open standards for data exchange, and hybrid analysis and modelling, which combines physical and data-driven models.

SAES’s participation in dTHOR focuses on the areas of modelling, including the development of the ship’s vibration-noise transfer function, selection of sensors for acoustic signature acquisition, and management of underwater radiated noise.

SAES is part of the consortium of entities developing the EPC (European Patrol Corvette) project, selected in the 2021 call of the European Defence Fund, in the category: Offshore patrol vessel, theme: Modular and multirole patrol corvette.

The EPC began in November 2023, has a duration of 24 months, and is being developed by a consortium of 35 entities (including beneficiaries, affiliated entities, and subcontracted entities) from 12 European countries, coordinated by the Franco-Italian entity NAVIRIS.

The EPC project is focused on the development of conceptual studies, up to the initial design, of a reference corvette-class ship, capable of carrying out a wide range of missions in future operational contexts. The design produced will lead to the development of a modular and flexible ship, more energy-efficient, more environmentally friendly and safe, and more interoperable and cyber-secure compared to current configurations.

SAES’s participation in EPC is focused on the active management of the ship’s multi-influence signatures, including:

– Measurement and analysis of the ship’s underwater signature.

– Prediction and control of acoustic, electric, and magnetic signatures.

– Acoustic noise monitoring system.

– Digital twin for acoustic signature management and control.

– Tool for evaluating the corvette’s detectability against naval mines.

SAES is part of the international consortium developing the SWAT-SHOAL project (Swarm and teaming operation of Manned & Unmanned Underwater Vehicle SHOAL), selected in the 2023 EDF call under the theme: Underwater manned-unmanned teaming and swarms.

SWAT-SHOAL began in December 2023, has a duration of 36 months, and is being developed by a consortium of 20 entities from 12 European countries, coordinated by the Spanish entity NAVANTIA.

The SWAT-SHOAL project develops the concept of a system of systems that integrates different types of manned and unmanned vehicles into a swarm to achieve greater effectiveness in underwater missions, such as: surveillance, reconnaissance, mine warfare, collaborative engagements, or support for amphibious operations.

SAES’s participation focuses on leading work package WP5, which is focused on identifying technological gaps and defining future roadmaps to eliminate these gaps, and on participating in work packages centred on: scenario definition and requirements capture, System of Systems requirements, platforms and components, communication technology, and work packages related to demonstration simulation and the preparation and execution of the sea demonstration.

SAES is part of the international European consortium developing the UnderSec (Underwater Security) project, selected in the 2022 Horizon Europe call under the theme: Underwater Detection and Control Capabilities.

The consortium responsible for the development of the project is composed of a total of 22 entities from 7 European countries and is coordinated by the German entity Fraunhofer. The project has a duration of 36 months, with its completion scheduled for October 2026.

Within the scope of the project, a prototype system with a modular approach will be developed, consisting of systems, sensors, and robotic assets for the surveillance of ships, ports, and maritime infrastructures, including demonstrations in real operational environments.

SAES leads the work package WP3 Protection Technologies for continuous underwater surveillance and detection of potential threats for early warning and deterrence actions, for which it will develop a barrier of magnetic sensors to detect possible intruders and will provide its DDS-03 diver detection sonar and its DES diver access deterrence system. Additionally, it will participate in other work packages related to activities such as the definition of operational concepts, system integration, and prototype testing.

Since November 2022, SAES has been participating in the development of the European project SONORA, selected under the 2022 call of the JPI (Joint Programming Initiative) Oceans: Underwater Noise in the Marine Environment.

SAES participates as a subcontracted entity of the University of Alicante (UA) and the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), which are part of the consortium responsible for developing the project along with three Italian entities.

SONORA (evaluation of thresholds and impact, beyond acoustic pressure levels, linked to emerging blue growth activities) will carry out the evaluation of quantitative thresholds related to behavioural and physiological impacts on fish, based on the relationships between acoustic pressure and particle motion, to assess the impact of both variables.

SAES’s participation in SONORA will focus on conducting measurement campaigns of sound pressure levels and particle motion, and analysing the data obtained.

SAES is part of the consortium led by the Naval Technology Centre (CTN) that has been selected by the European agency CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency) to develop the tender CINEA/2022/OP/0019 focused on building an open library containing a catalogue of individual sound signatures in shallow marine environments.

The project began its development in September 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in January 2025. The consortium is composed of seven entities from five European countries.

SAES’s participation focuses on data collection and the selection of AI-based algorithms, as well as their training and testing.

SAES is participating in the development of the METASUB project (November 2021 to November 2024), selected in the 2020 COINCIDENTE call (Cooperation in Scientific Research and Development in Strategic Technologies) by the Spanish Ministry of Defence.

The consortium responsible for the execution of METASUB is composed of the following entities: CTN (coordinator), Navantia, and SRG, with SAES participating as a subcontracted entity of CTN.

The METASUB project (Acoustic Materials for the Reduction of Submarine Signatures) is focused on implementing a methodology to obtain different configurations of panels, based on metamaterials, that improve the acoustic performance of the current panels on the superstructure of the Navy’s submarines.

SAES’s participation in METASUB focuses on the following areas: defining the configurations of interest for which the design, optimisation, and manufacturing will be customised, and defining the frequency ranges of interest for each application and the design objectives for the reduction of the electromagnetic signature.

Additionally, SAES participates in the definition and execution of a marine environment test to verify the real-world behaviour of a large object previously designed and manufactured, as well as in potential tests for acoustic and electromagnetic isolation and absorption at sea of a larger-scale sphere.

SAES is part of the consortium developing the ePark+ Project, selected for funding in the 2022 Science and Innovation Missions Call by CDTI, and supported by the Ministry of Science and Innovation. In addition to SAES, the consortium is composed of the following entities:

  • Navantia (Coordinator)
  • ABANCE
  • ARISNOVA
  • EOLOS
  • PERSEO TECH

Participating as subcontracted entities: Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT), AICIA (University of Seville), and FIDESOL.

This is a collaborative project that will contribute to the technological development of offshore wind energy, started in December 2022 and will continue until January 2025.

The ePark+ project is focused on the research and development of various digital technologies for the Support of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of offshore wind farms. The project aims to obtain a technological demonstrator of an Intelligent System for this function using unmanned vehicles, as well as the development of a prototype to demonstrate its operation in a relevant and controlled environment.

The system will consist of an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV), which will act as a mothership from which Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) will operate, as well as a remote control centre where all the information from the sensors of the unmanned vehicles will be centralised.

SAES’s contribution to the ePark+ programme focuses on underwater acoustic propagation and the monitoring of underwater infrastructures using sensors installed on the vehicles.

SAES’s participation in this project demonstrates the applicability of technologies originating from the defence sector to the civil sector, expanding the diversification of applications for these dual-use technologies. In the field of unmanned vehicle technology, SAES is an expert in their sensorisation for adaptation to various uses through the employment of artificial intelligence techniques.

SAES participates as a member of the consortium developing the BLUESIM project, selected in the 2023 call of the Naval Sector PERTE by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism.

The consortium is composed of 5 national entities and is coordinated by the company Clue Technologies. Its completion is scheduled for June 2025.

BLUESIM (Synthetic Training Platform for Autonomous UxVs) focuses on the research of a new type of training architecture for Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems based on deep learning. The project targets two initial applications: the characterisation of a synthetic marine environment for deep learning and the representation of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) with synthetic systems.

SAES will lead two work packages within this project, related to: Characterisation of the marine acoustic environment, in which it will simulate the acoustic environment adapted to the operational conditions of the UxVs, and Simulation model of acoustic sensors and their interfaces, in which it will simulate a Side-Scan Sonar (SSS) and a forward-looking sonar. Additionally, it will participate in other work packages related to activities such as requirements definition, system architecture definition, and integration and testing of the complete system.