PANAMA CITY, Fla. –
To remain the strongest and most lethal force in the world, the U.S. Navy must maintain superiority in a complex and rapidly evolving world. One way this is accomplished is by incorporating subject matter experts in data integration and real-time analysis to generate, capture, and use data to fight and win, and Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) has such a team.
For more than 10 years, Jonathan King, NSWC PCD project and technical execution lead, and Dr. Denton Woods, a NSWC PCD scientist, have been dedicated to bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world warfighter capabilities.
“The best part of working at NSWC PCD is the opportunity it provides to assist in transitioning new technologies into the fleet and making a real, positive impact in enhancing [the warfighter’s] safety,” said King.
Their contributions directly bolster Naval Sea Systems Command's enterprise strategy to empower the fleet through data integration and real-time analysis. A key focus has been generating and capturing sonar data, recognizing its vital role in developing artificial intelligence/machine learning and statistical models for actionable knowledge. They ensure comprehensive data recording during demonstrations and testing, providing valuable resources for research and development efforts. Addressing the limitations of data collection, they are developing the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) Digital Twin Initiative.
This virtual representation of a sonar sensor on an autonomous UUV generates realistic, physics-based sonar simulations in real-time. This effort leverages the Modular Acoustic Simulation Toolset of the Department of the Navy (MASTODON) sonar simulator, sponsored by the Office of Naval Research and led by Woods, who is the lead for sonar modeling and simulation. This collaborative effort allows for the creation of diverse datasets, crucial for developing, validating, and verifying autonomy, autonomous target recognition, and automatic change detection technologies.
“Many science and technology efforts never make it past the proof-of-concept phase,” said King. “[But] being able to transition this technology across the acquisition ‘Valley of Death’ to be used by the fleet [in a reduced timeline] is rewarding.”
By ensuring the Navy has access to robust, real-time data and advanced analytical tools, King, in partnership with Woods, enhances readiness and directly impacts the safety and effectiveness of naval operations.