Applications, Advantages, Disadvantages of SONAR Technology.

Applications, Advantages, Disadvantages of SONAR Technology

SONAR stands for Sound Navigation And Ranging. There are huge applications of SONAR Technology. The main application of SONAR is that it uses ultrasonic waves or Sound Wave to measure the distance direction and speed of underwater objects and helps Mariners to investigate the nature size and location of the object so that potential threat to the vessel is identified and overcome. We will discuss other applications of SONAR technology. The SONAR system is used because sound waves travel through water much better than Radio wave or Light.

There are some animals in the sea like Dolphins, Bats used sound for their communication, security and for detection of the object. They create a vibration by their body and when the sound reflected back they can determine the objects. This concept is used in SONAR technology.

Types of SONAR Technique:

1. Passive SONAR
2. Active SONAR

How Passive SONAR Technique works?

Passive sonar simply listens to the sounds of the water and listens for marine life and other ships that may be nearby. Passive SONAR cannot give the idea of the actual shape of the objects.

The passive SONAR has limited application. The main application of Passive SONAR is only the detection of underwater objects.

How Active SONAR Technique works?

Active SONAR has a transmitter and a receiver which are installed at the bottom of the ship. The ultrasonic or sound waves transmitted by the transmitter and the wave travel underwater and get reflected back from underwater objects.

The detector or receiver receives the reflected signal and converts it into an electric signal. The computer decodes the electrical signals and forms an image of the underwater objects according to the electric signal and displays the actual shape of the object on a monitor.

The computer also calculates the distance of the object using the formula,

Distance = (speed*time)/2

Here,

Speed = Speed of sound in saline water = 1530 meter per second

 This method of calculation of speed is called Echo Ranging.

The application of Active SONAR is more than passive SONAR.

The Transmitter in SONAR System:

SONAR system uses the Piezoelectric Transducer. The Piezoelectric material has a property that when we apply an electric power supply to it then it creates a sound wave or vibration. So the in this time the Piezoelectric material works as sound waves or ultrasonic waves transmitter.

The Receiver or detector in SONAR System:

The Piezoelectric material also has a property that when sound is applied to it then it can produce an electric signal according to the sound nature. In this case, the piezoelectric material works as sound waves or ultrasonic wave�s receiver.

Important applications of SONAR Technology:

(1) The SONAR Technique is used to determine the depth of the sea.

(2) The SONAR technique is installed in every ship to locate underwater hills, valleys, submarines, icebergs, and sunken ships etc to avoid a disaster.

(3) The SONAR system is also used in Military.

(4)The fishermen have used SONAR technology to find fish.

(5) The SONAR technology also used in the medical industry like Sonography.

(6) The SONAR technology is used in the navigation system.

Advantages of SONAR Technology:

The advantages of SONAR technology are,

• The communication speed of the SONAR system is very high.
• SONAR system is not affected by the other waves like a radio wave.
• By using SONAR technology a long distance communication is possible underwater. About 80% of the Sea can be cover by the SONAR system.
• SONAR technique is not harmful to human or animal body when it used in the medical industry.

Disadvantages of SONAR Technology:

The Disadvantages of SONAR Technology are,

• Similar to the others waves it�s working range decreases with increasing of frequency. But it gives high efficiency and accurate size of the objects when using high frequency.
• One single wave from the transmitter cannot give the actual size o the object. To get the accurate shape of the object we have to need to transmit the sound wave from the different direction to the object. For this reason, there are much loss occurred.
• It affected by the other sound wave when it is used in outside the water.
• Data transfer cannot possible by SONAR technology.

Difference between SONAR and RADAR Technology:

1. SONAR means Sound Navigation And Ranging. RADAR stands for Radio Detection and Ranging.
2. SONAR technology uses sound wave. RADAR technology uses Radio wave.
3. SONAR work more efficiently underwater than outside the water. RADAR work more efficiently outside the water than underwater.
4. SONAR only can be affected by the other sound waves it cannot affect by the electromagnetic waves like UV, Radio wave etc. RADAR cannot be affected by the sound wave.

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