Angle-distance decomposition based on deep learning for active sonar detection

Underwater target detection using active sonar constitutes a critical research area in marine sciences and engineering. However, traditional signal processing methods face significant challenges in complex underwater environments because of noise, reverberation, and interference. To address these issues, this paper presents a deep learning–based active sonar target detection method that decomposes the detection process into separate angle and distance estimation tasks. Active sonar target detection employs deep learning models to predict target distance and angle, with the final target position determined by integrating these estimates. Limited underwater acoustic data hinders effective model training, but transfer learning and simulation offer practical solutions to this challenge. Experimental results verify that the method achieves effective and robust performance under challenging conditions.