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45 countermeasures systems by a significant but undisclosed amount. Among the technologies developed to improve the sonar’s detection range is a high source-level projector based on single-crystal technology. Earlier sea trials with a prototype focused on multi-aspect mine classification and identification plus characterisation of clutter in various environments using techniques exploiting measurements of acoustic scattering. The vehicle is provided by Bluefin Robotics, while Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems is responsible for the acoustic processing, with design and system engineering support from the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University. While these results provide a boost to the programme, it is not clear whether they address all the criticisms raised in a report published by the US Department of Defense’s Inspector General in November 2016. Most of them centred on programme management, but the report also pointed out that the key performance parameter of single-pass detection, classification and identification of bottom and buried mines had not been demonstrated, so Knifefish might not be ready for the initial production decision scheduled for later this year. NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) has been investigating multiple UUVs to speed up mine countermeasures (MCM) operations by carrying out different tasks simultaneously. Normally the search, detection, classification, re-acquisition and identification phases are carried out in sequence – a time-consuming approach. The CMRE’s experiment took place during Exercise Olives Noires (Black Olives) 2016 last September, off France’s Mediterranean coast. It involved French, Italian, Spanish, Greek and Slovenian naval units, and provided an opportunity for the experimental systems to work with the participants’ operational MCM suites. A range of vehicles including the CMRE’s Muscle (Minehunting UUV for Shallow water Covert Littoral Expeditions) prototype, also based on a Bluefin 21, were tasked with finding simulated mines on the sea floor, using their autonomous behaviours, new self-localisation methods and new types of sensors. While detailed results have not been released, the CMRE said future groups of autonomous robots will be able to coordinate their actions among themselves, enabling the CMRE to compare performance and assess practices for joint operations. The Muscle is part of the CMRE’s Collaborative Autonomous Mine Countermeasures effort. This involves r&d focused on data processing algorithms for through-the-sensor perception and autonomous behaviours to optimise data acquisition, and real-time implementation of algorithms aboard the Muscle, which frequently receives new capabilities. Waypoint-following navigation has given way incrementally to autonomous decision-making and an option for the operator to interrupt the vehicle and redirect it as part of an assisted machine learning process. Implementing real-time onboard processing of the returns from the SAS at an along-track resolution of 3 cm and at ranges of up to 150 m has enabled image data to be fed into onboard target detection and classification software. Other algorithms have enabled the Muscle to cope with sand ripples, which can make target detection and classification more difficult, and to UUVs | Insight Unmanned Systems Technology | April/May 2017 The Knifefish UUV is being developed to speed up minehunting operations using a low-frequency broadband synthetic aperture sonar (Courtesy of General Dynamics Mission Systems)