Dr. Miller

Watch the interview with Dr. Jim Miller

 

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About Dr. Miller

Dr. Jim Miller

Dr. Jim Miller is a professor of ocean engineering at the University of Rhode Island. His research specializes in using underwater sound to study the structure of ocean temperatures and seafloor sediments. Dr. Miller has used this expertise to construct a sonar system that provides a three-dimensional picture of the ocean depths and any underwater submerged obstacles ahead of a vessel. This sonar system is designed for obstacle avoidance and navigation, and is also being tested for detecting whales and dolphins that are located in front of a vessel. Ship strikes are the leading cause of anthropogenic deaths to North Atlantic right whales, and a system that would allow vessels to detect and avoid the whales could help prevent the extinction of this species.

 

Obstacle Avoidance Research

Dr. Miller has developed a unique forward-looking sonar system that provides a three-dimensional picture of the ocean bathymetry and any submerged obstacles that are in the water ahead of a vessel. This sonar system is designed for obstacle avoidance and navigation, and is also being tested for detecting whales and dolphins that are located in front of a vessel. The forward-looking sonar provides simultaneous range, bearing, and depth information that can produce three-dimensional images with a single ping.

 

This forward-looking sonar image shows a relatively flat sea floor at 8-12 water depths (blue color) and the hull of a large barge beyond the water depth capability (red & green colors). Curtesy Dr. Miller.

 

This is a profile slice from the image above. You can see the barge on the right of the image. The barge/tug combination happened to be in the vicinity while the sonar was being tested in shallow waters near a bulkhead. It was just barely caught it in the sonar’s field of view. Curtesy Dr. Miller.

 

 

Additional Resources

  • For more information on 3-D sonars, see the Farsounder web site.