Editing SONAR

[[SONAR]] is an acronym for ''Sonic Detection and Ranging''
* It is a type of [[Sensor]] used on many platforms mostly [[Watercraft]] but also from [[groundcraft]], to [[aircraft]], in large [[facilities]], and more.
* SONAR relies on accurate [[metric]]s.
 
== Description ([[Specifications]]) ==
SONAR is a sensor system that bounces sound energy off of a target and detects the echo. For this reason they are also known as '''echo-locators'''.
* It is an active sensor.
* More advanced versions of SONAR may be capable of tight beam transmissions.
* SONAR apparatus can be designed to perform a specialist role, such as Terrain Following SONAR or ground penetrating SONAR. 
* SONAR apparatus has medical and quality control purposes as it can allow one to view things inside optically opaque regions
* SONAR does not work in a Vacuum

Examples of [[SONAR]] include SONAR Goggles, reversing sensors on ground cars, depth gauges on watercraft, anti-submarine SONAR buoys in maritime warfare, motion detectors in security systems, etc.

The passive equivalent of [[SONAR]] is a [[Microphone]] with sound processor.

Examples of passive systems include Sound Ranging for artillery counter-battery and anti-sniper systems, seismic quake detectors, anti-submarine/anti-shipping hydrophones, etc.

SONAR systems contain several sub-components:
* The [[Loudspeaker]] that creates the sound (or infra-sound/ultra-sound) used
* The [[Microphone]] that detects the echo
* The [[Signal Processor]] that analyses the sound detected and displays it for the operator

=== Countermeasures ===
* SONAR can be countered by [[Anechoic Coating]] (Sound Masking)
* It can be confused or overwhelmed by [[Jamming Equipment#Noisemakers|Noisemakers]].
* It can be rendered less effective by [[Jamming Equipment#SONAR Maskers|SONAR Maskers]]

=== Usage issues ===
* Many natural phenomena create sound and many creatures use sound to communicate
** Natural environments can act as a natural noisemaker
** Emitting loud sounds can physically damage creatures and materials in the natural environment

== History & Background ([[Dossier]]) ==
[[SONAR]] is limited by physics. The sound broadcasts that the SONAR produces take time to reach their target and their echoes take an equal amount of time to bounce back to the sensor apparatus. Sound moves at about 1400m/s in metal, 1500m/s in water and about 300m/s in standard air. n.b. the speed of sound increases with increasing pressure and decreases with increasing density. [[SONAR]] is affected by temperature, depth, salinity. Abrupt changes in the characteristics of the media through which the sound travels may cause sound waves to bend or bounce.

* SONAR is available from [[TL-4]] onwards.
* Early systems consist of a line of microphones, an explosive charge and an oscilloscope
* Later systems are synthetic aperture, multi-frequency systems that use both artificial and natural sound sources

== References & Contributors ([[Sources]]) ==
{{Intermediate}}
{{Sources
 | {{Ludography cite|name=Core Rules|page=379-385}}
 | Author & Contributor: [[User:BackworldTraveller|BackworldTraveller]]
}}

[[Category: Sensor Equipment]]
{{LEN|Technology}}