In Search Mode, what do the sensor and signal processing subsystems do?

• A. Acquire and process receiver data to detect, classify and localize contacts
• B. Launch OOVs
• C. Calibrate sonar
• D. Log data to memory

Answer: (A)

In Search Mode, the focus is turning raw acoustic data into usable contact information. The sensor subsystem collects receiver data from the sonar arrays, while the signal processing subsystem runs algorithms to pull signals from the noise, detect potential contacts, classify what they might be, and determine their location. Detection uses thresholds and signal features to decide when something meaningful is present; classification analyzes characteristics like spectral content and echo shape to identify likely target types; localization estimates where the contact is in terms of bearing and range, often using beamforming and time-of-flight information. The other options describe tasks outside the primary sensing and interpretation flow of this mode, such as calibration, data logging, or launching unmanned assets.