IT Consultant - Sonar Sensor Integration | DL2024TL1102 at MINDVERSE CONSULTING SERVICES, City Of London, £525 per day
£525 per day
- Outside Spy
- City Of London, England, United Kingdom
- Nov 29, 2024
Duration not stated
Information Technology
Contract Description
Job Summary
This facility will be able to automatically and reliably identify tracks on different sonar sensors that are associated with the same real-world entity and either merge these tracks into one ‘hybrid track’ for display on the tactical picture or pass the ‘best track’ only through to the tactical picture.
An automated facility is required that can significantly reduce sonar and tactical operator workload in high contact density scenarios where currently the human operator is required to identify and associate tracks, from several sonar sensors, manually.
The Smart Track Management application will be integrated into the existing Platform as a Service (PaaS) on MoD Cloud (AWS).
The application will also be required to run on the existing PaaS ‘On-Prem’ and so the application must run without requiring any remote access.
Responsibilities & Duties
The existing platform is able to process sonar data from a number of different sonar sensor arrays: Towed Array (TA), Bow Array (BA) and Flank Array (FA). Broadband processing is applied to the data from each of these systems. Currently, the existing system incorporates automatic contact followers or 'autotrackers' within each of the broadband sonar sub-systems. These autotrackers are designed to follow (or track) the bearing of an increased signal level appearing at the sonar sensor array. This increased signal level may be due to a manmade entity in the sea, a biological entity or something else within the sonar environment emitting noise energy on the bearing. Provided the received broadband signal level is above the background noise level of the array, the autotracker will track the bearing of the signal until it either fades below the noise, or disappears outside the coverage of the array. The bearing information from the autotracker is passed to the Target Motion Analysis (TMA) sub system where it is used to calculate the range of the entity.
In order to better understand the source of the broadband signal a human operator can listen to the sound emanating from the bearing that the autotracker is located at. The operator will also have tools available to help analyse the signal. These tools will process the signal in different ways such that the operator is able to gain further clues as to the source of the noise energy. Two of the main tools available to the operator are the narrowband analyser and the Demon analyser.
Sometimes a noise from an entity in the ocean will appear on more than one sonar sensor array and autotrackers could be established on all 3 broadband subsystems triggered by the single entity. This will leave the operator having to listen to, and analyse the output from, all 3 autotrackers in order to establish whether they are from the same entity, whether there is more than one entity on the bearing or whether something else is going on. If the operator is able to determine that all 3 autotrackers are from the same entity then the next decision he has to make is which autotracker is the most suitable to use for sending bearing information through to the TMA sub system.
When the operator encounters a 'busy' sonar environment (lots of entities) then workloads can be extremely high and even providing additional operators into the mix is not always a viable solution.
A technique is required that is able to consider all the information appearing at the bearing that a sonar array broadband subsystem autotracker has identified, and then compare with information from other autotrackers running on the other broadband subsystems such that the various autotrackers can be associated with the same entity, where appropriate. It is suggested that the supplier investigates the use of clues from Narrowband and Demon as well as bearing, in order to do the initial association. The association is to have a manual and automatic mode. In manual association mode the machine will suggest associations to an operator who will be able accept or reject the suggestion. In automatic mode the machine will associate without operator intervention. The operator will need to be made aware that an 'auto' association has taken place and a method of highlighting the association will need to be provided, along with a method for ensuring that only the most suitable autotracker bearing is used for TMA.
The supplier may also want to consider using additional sources of information in order to improve the reliability of the association. Other sources of available information include sonar passive range data and transient data.
Essential Skills
BPSS minimum security clearance
Project Budget
Based on commercial closure report prepared by the consultant and approved by the customer after formal acceptance of all deliverables.
Profile submission criteria
This facility will be able to automatically and reliably identify tracks on different sonar sensors that are associated with the same real-world entity and either merge these tracks into one ‘hybrid track’ for display on the tactical picture or pass the ‘best track’ only through to the tactical picture.
An automated facility is required that can significantly reduce sonar and tactical operator workload in high contact density scenarios where currently the human operator is required to identify and associate tracks, from several sonar sensors, manually.
The Smart Track Management application will be integrated into the existing Platform as a Service (PaaS) on MoD Cloud (AWS).
The application will also be required to run on the existing PaaS ‘On-Prem’ and so the application must run without requiring any remote access.
Responsibilities & Duties
The existing platform is able to process sonar data from a number of different sonar sensor arrays: Towed Array (TA), Bow Array (BA) and Flank Array (FA). Broadband processing is applied to the data from each of these systems. Currently, the existing system incorporates automatic contact followers or 'autotrackers' within each of the broadband sonar sub-systems. These autotrackers are designed to follow (or track) the bearing of an increased signal level appearing at the sonar sensor array. This increased signal level may be due to a manmade entity in the sea, a biological entity or something else within the sonar environment emitting noise energy on the bearing. Provided the received broadband signal level is above the background noise level of the array, the autotracker will track the bearing of the signal until it either fades below the noise, or disappears outside the coverage of the array. The bearing information from the autotracker is passed to the Target Motion Analysis (TMA) sub system where it is used to calculate the range of the entity.
In order to better understand the source of the broadband signal a human operator can listen to the sound emanating from the bearing that the autotracker is located at. The operator will also have tools available to help analyse the signal. These tools will process the signal in different ways such that the operator is able to gain further clues as to the source of the noise energy. Two of the main tools available to the operator are the narrowband analyser and the Demon analyser.
Sometimes a noise from an entity in the ocean will appear on more than one sonar sensor array and autotrackers could be established on all 3 broadband subsystems triggered by the single entity. This will leave the operator having to listen to, and analyse the output from, all 3 autotrackers in order to establish whether they are from the same entity, whether there is more than one entity on the bearing or whether something else is going on. If the operator is able to determine that all 3 autotrackers are from the same entity then the next decision he has to make is which autotracker is the most suitable to use for sending bearing information through to the TMA sub system.
When the operator encounters a 'busy' sonar environment (lots of entities) then workloads can be extremely high and even providing additional operators into the mix is not always a viable solution.
A technique is required that is able to consider all the information appearing at the bearing that a sonar array broadband subsystem autotracker has identified, and then compare with information from other autotrackers running on the other broadband subsystems such that the various autotrackers can be associated with the same entity, where appropriate. It is suggested that the supplier investigates the use of clues from Narrowband and Demon as well as bearing, in order to do the initial association. The association is to have a manual and automatic mode. In manual association mode the machine will suggest associations to an operator who will be able accept or reject the suggestion. In automatic mode the machine will associate without operator intervention. The operator will need to be made aware that an 'auto' association has taken place and a method of highlighting the association will need to be provided, along with a method for ensuring that only the most suitable autotracker bearing is used for TMA.
The supplier may also want to consider using additional sources of information in order to improve the reliability of the association. Other sources of available information include sonar passive range data and transient data.
Essential Skills
- MSc, or PhD in Speech & Signal Processing, Computational Linguistics, Computer Science, Data Science, or related fields.
- Minimum of 8+ years of experience in sonar sensor integration or a related field within the defence sector. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or Java. Strong knowledge of NLP, machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS).
- Proficiency in sonar technology, signal processing, and system integration. Experience with software tools and programming languages relevant to sonar systems.
- Required Software expertise…
- MATLAB: For signal processing and data analysis.
- LabVIEW: For system integration and testing.
- Python/C++: For developing custom algorithms and software tools.
- Simulink: For modelling and simulation of sonar systems.
- AutoCAD or SolidWorks: For designing system components.
- SonarWiz or similar: For sonar data processing and visualization.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex systems.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Experience with underwater acoustics and marine technology.
- Familiarity with defence industry standards and protocols.
- Project management experience.
BPSS minimum security clearance
Project Budget
- Budget – Day Rate: £ 525.00/Day plus VAT (Milestone based Payment)
- Expenses Allowed: No
- Extension: No
- Language: Fluent in English.
- Outside of IR35 regulation.
Based on commercial closure report prepared by the consultant and approved by the customer after formal acceptance of all deliverables.
Profile submission criteria
- Updated Resume in MS Word format
- Consultant must work as freelancer having his/her own VAT, Tax & Bank Account.
- Must have his/her own high speed internet connection, reasonably latest laptop with all necessary standard software licenses as the assignment has to be executed remotely from his/her residence.
- Signing off Consent letter for Right to Represent the consultant.
- Minimum three project details related to the proposed engagement.
- Minimum three professional references with email.
- Technical approach
- Delivery approach
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