June 6, 200520 yr How do we model this in Harpoon?! Oz's Magnetic Sub-Hunter DefenseTech Being a sub-hunter has gotten tough, lately. The new diesel subs that Iran and China are buying up are tiny, quiet, and can swim through the crannies that hug the coasts. That makes 'em really hard to find. And it's a major reason why the U.S. Navy is switching from passive sonars to Slayer-loud, active sonars that makes whales slam dance onto dry land. Australian scientists may have found a better way to find these quiet subs, The Engineer reports -- one that doesn't drive whales psycho. The Australian development, called MAGSAFE, uses the detection of changing magnetic fields to identify and monitor a moving submarine. The method, which is unique in that it captures 12 magnetic field-related data values per reading as opposed to the single number measured by a conventional magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) magnetometer, arises from research into new minerals exploration technologies that detect magnetic fields... The technology is basically a 'tensor gradiometer', which is a device that can measure minute changes in magnetic field gradients. It uses three independent rotating sensors, which use high-temperature superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) to monitor the magnetic field gradient. In theory, the system means that pilots whose aircraft are fitted with MAGSAFE detectors will be able to measure the range, depth and bearing of a submarine, how fast it is going and if it is diving - all from one flyby.
June 13, 200520 yr I wonder what the range on such a beast will be, and accuracy at various ranges. I'm guessing the range is still very short as compared to active sonar even. Someone prove me wrong, then we can worry about modelling it!
June 13, 200520 yr The processing technology is apparently much enhanced, from the sound of it, but unless the basic sensor technology is also improved, I expect the effective range is still painfully short. It would have to be better, if they expect to use it for search. Traditional MAD is not a great tool to search for a submarine that may or may not be there.
June 13, 200520 yr Author If they use it for search, I think that they will simply be swamped with contacts, especially in shallow waters. That's the big problem with sensitivity. Too much and you get flooded with static.
June 13, 200520 yr Well, that's where the processing technology must necessarily be very good. If the MAGSAFE system is going to measure things like speed of a contact, then right away the number of false contact possibilities drops off. I can't think of many underwater objects that are both magnetic and mobile ... except a submarine.
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