Abstract: An automatic detection apparatus and method applies the Short and Toomey algorithmic processing procedure to a frequency and beam direction windowed and time segmented set of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) magnitude detected data, comprising time, frequency and beam direction data, to determine the presence or absence of narrowband lines indicative of target tracks. This is achieved by storing the time, frequency and beam direction data, and then processing this data using a predetermined three-dimensional maximum a posteriori procedure whereby individual target tracks associated with each beam direction are concurrently processed, and whereby transitions are made between adjacent beam directions in order to process target tracks having a maximum signal to noise ratio to provide for detection of a target. An output target track is generated by combining the high signal to noise ratio portions of the processed individual target tracks into a single output target track.

Abstract: A system and method for automating signal tracking, estimation of signal parameters, and extraction of signals from sonar data to detect weaker signals. A maximum a posteriori (MAP) algorithm processing provides a track output of the signal which is used as a guide or template to provide optimal spectral integration on an unstable or frequency varying line. The present invention includes track integration, parameter estimation, signal track normalization, and sequential signal detection. The present invention partitions the input band into frequency subwindows. For each subwindow, the strongest signal is tracked, its parameters are estimated, and then the signal is normalized (removed) from the subwindow. This is repeated until the entire subwindow set is processed. Then the subwindows, now with their strongest signals removed, are recombined to form one input band. This aggregated procedure represents one processing pass.