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defence
&
security
placed close together far exceed any
system currently available internationally
and represent an achievement of
signifi cant value to the Navy and
other entities concerned with viewing
the underwater surrounds of important
facilities.
The unique outputs have also attracted the
attention of several players in the fi eld of
underwater security systems, both locally
and internationally.
To take the technology from its current
demonstrator phase to commercialisation
(and personalised adaptation), several
different skills and knowledge sets will
be working together, which will further
increase capacity-building from a human
resources point of view.
Further outputs include:
• Two of the researchers on the team
will soon be completing their Master’s
studies based on the system.
• Two papers on the system have been
delivered at the Waterside Security
Conference in Denmark (2008)
and Italy (2010) respectively, with
a further three papers based on
the technology used in the system
also published at international
conferences.
Funding and collaboration
The South African Navy acted as both
the main funder and collaborator on
the development of the technology, with
investment also by the CSIR. The research
group collaborated with the University of
Cape Town’s Professor Andrew Wilkinson
to develop the concept for a 3D imaging
sonar that could be realised with a low
sensor element count.
Several international sonar companies
in Europe and Asia have shown interest
in funding the further development of the
system to a commercialisation phase.
Prototype 3D imaging array showing the high acoustic bandwidth transmitter (vertical) and receiver (horizontal)
arrays for producing 3D underwater images.
21 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS