Real-time software development for sonar array signal simulator

A sonar array signal simulator generating signals received by hydrophones in a sonar array is useful in underwater acoustic engineering. It can simulate true detected targets as well as the ambience. Application of sonar array signal simulator can effectively shorten the process of digital sonar development, and decrease the time needed for experiments performed at sea. Therefore, study of sonar array signal simulator is important in the development of sonar technology. This paper introduces the process of software design and development of real-time multi-task systems of sonar array signal simulator based on the general-purpose signal-processing platform having a modular structure of hardware and a real-time operating system. The multi-task software is analyzed, including functions of all elementary tasks and communication between interrelated parts. The software is implemented and the topological structure is given based on the ADSP SHARC processors. The software has full functions. In addition, it shows good performance of real-time operations and high stability in applications. These good qualities make this sonar array signal simulator appropriate to be used in many fields of modern sonar engineering.