Development of a web-centric virtual prototyping environment for shallow-water mine countermeasures using the Internet paradigm

Abstract

In shallow-water mine countermeasure, the objective is to find underwater mines with consistently high P D and low P FA in diverse environmental conditions. In order to achieve this goal in a cost-effective manner, we are developing a Web-centric virtual prototyping environment that consists of various tools to make algorithm development and performance analysis as seamless as possible. Furthermore, by making algorihrtm toolboxes available for download at the project Web site, we are involving end users in the development cycle in an attempt to improve the utility and functionality of the toolboxes. This approach focuses on community collaboration and uses the Internet as a communications medium, i.e., open-source software development paradigm. We envision the virtual prototyping environment to eventually address the entire operating spectrum form algorithm development to real-time implementation by concatenating complementary toolboxes and hosting various services at a Web data center. The advantages of this approach are more cost-effective algorithm development, facilitation of accurate performance comparison between existing and new algorithms, and minimization of performance ambiguity through the use of tap points and visual information presentation. Perhaps the biggest advantage is that the environment allows researchers to spend more time on creative aspects of algorithm development and less time on mundane parts.