Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Sonar systems and associated methods are provided herein for sonar image generation. The sonar system is configured to enable rotation of a transducer array that includes at least two transducer elements. The transducer array may be mounted to a trolling motor capable of being rotated. The transducer elements can be positioned to enable use of interferometry to obtain angle information regarding sonar returns. The angle and range of each sonar return can be used to form images, such as a 2D forward looking image of the underwater environment. A heading detector can be used to obtain a heading of the transducer elements to enable creation of a 2D radar-like image of the underwater environment. Additionally, the heading, angle, and range of the sonar returns can be used to form a 3D image of the underwater environment.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system, transducer assembly, and method for imaging an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transducer array defining first and second rows of transducer elements positioned at a predetermined distance. The first row of transducer elements may include at least first and second transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into first and second sonar return data. The second row of transducer elements may include at least third and fourth transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into third and fourth sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may be configured to process the first and second sonar return data and third and fourth sonar return data to generate respective first and second array sonar return data corresponding to a plurality of first and second receive beams and generate 3D sonar return data by correlating the angles associated with the receive beams.

Abstract: Provided are method, system, and computer program product for imaging an underwater environment. The method may include receiving sonar returns and converting the sound energy of the sonar returns into sonar return data, and generating first beam data associated with a first beam having at least one first main lobe oriented in a first direction. Generating the first beam data may include: forming the sonar return data in the first direction; applying a first predetermined window to the sonar return data to define a first weighted return data; applying a second predetermined window to the sonar return data to define a second weighted return data; comparing a first power of the first weighted return data to a second power of the second weighted return data; and defining, when the first power is less than the second power, the first beam data based upon the first weighted return data.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one transducer array in the housing that receives first, second, and third sonar returns with first, second, and third transducer elements and converts the first, second, and third returns into first, second, and third sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a first and second set of 2D sonar data based on the sonar return data, generate a third set of 2D sonar data based on a correlation of the first and second set of 2D sonar data, and generate a 3D mesh data based on the third set of 2D sonar data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having at least one transducer array. The transducer array may include a transmit/receive element configured to transmit sonar pulses and a second transducer element. The transmit/receive element and the second transducer element may receive first and second sonar returns convert the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. The first sidescan element may also transmit second sonar pulses, and at least one of the sidescan elements may receive the second sonar pulses to generate sidescan sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data and sidescan image data and generate a 3D image data based on the 3D mesh data and sidescan image data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are method, system, and computer program product for imaging an underwater environment. The method may include receiving sonar returns and converting the sound energy of the sonar returns into sonar return data, and generating first beam data associated with a first beam having at least one first main lobe oriented in a first direction. Generating the first beam data may include: forming the sonar return data in the first direction; applying a first predetermined window to the sonar return data to define a first weighted return data; applying a second predetermined window to the sonar return data to define a second weighted return data; comparing a first power of the first weighted return data to a second power of the second weighted return data; and defining, when the first power is less than the second power, the first beam data based upon the first weighted return data.

Abstract: Sonar systems and associated methods are provided herein for sonar image generation. The sonar system is configured to enable rotation of a transducer array that includes at least two transducer elements. The transducer array may be mounted to a trolling motor capable of being rotated. The transducer elements can be positioned to enable use of interferometry to obtain angle information regarding sonar returns. The angle and range of each sonar return can be used to form images, such as a 2D forward looking image of the underwater environment. A heading detector can be used to obtain a heading of the transducer elements to enable creation of a 2D radar-like image of the underwater environment. Additionally, the heading, angle, and range of the sonar returns can be used to form a 3D image of the underwater environment.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system, transducer assembly, and method for imaging an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transducer array defining first and second rows of transducer elements positioned at a predetermined distance. The first row of transducer elements may include at least first and second transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into first and second sonar return data. The second row of transducer elements may include at least third and fourth transducer elements configured to convert sound energy into third and fourth sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may be configured to process the first and second sonar return data and third and fourth sonar return data to generate respective first and second array sonar return data corresponding to a plurality of first and second receive beams and generate 3D sonar return data by correlating the angles associated with the receive beams.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. The first sidescan element may also transmit second sonar pulses, and at least one of the sidescan elements may receive the second sonar pulses to generate sidescan sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data and sidescan image data and generate a 3D image data based on the 3D mesh data and sidescan image data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having at least one transducer array. The transducer array may include a transmit/receive element configured to transmit sonar pulses and a second transducer element. The transmit/receive element and the second transducer element may receive first and second sonar returns convert the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one transducer array in the housing that receives first, second, and third sonar returns with first, second, and third transducer elements and converts the first, second, and third returns into first, second, and third sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a first and second set of 2D sonar data based on the sonar return data, generate a third set of 2D sonar data based on a correlation of the first and second set of 2D sonar data, and generate a 3D mesh data based on the third set of 2D sonar data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.

Abstract: Provided are a method, apparatus, and computer program product for updating stored 3D mesh data from live 3D mesh data. The method may include processing, by a sonar signal processor, first sonar return data and second sonar return data from first and second transducer elements of at least one transducer array to generate live 3D mesh data. The method may include determining a position associated with the live 3D mesh data that corresponds to the position of the watercraft when the first sonar return data and the second sonar return data was received, and may include updating a stored 3D mesh data with at least a portion of the live 3D mesh data based on the position.

Abstract: Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing mountable to a watercraft having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one sidescan transducer array in the housing that receives first and second sonar returns with first and second transducer elements and converts the first and second returns into first and second sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a 3D mesh data using the first and second sonar return data and at least a predetermined distance between the transducer elements. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.