Sonar technology and hydroacoustics

Sonar technology systems and hydroacoustics are used for measuring and locating tasks, especially in the maritime field. For many years, the development of high-resolution sonar systems was motivated mainly by military requirements (see also, “Historical Review”) but now it is being increasingly extended by civil applications, including recreational ones.

Apart from classical submarine-locating systems sonar is used, for example, for finding schools of fish, for subsurface relief surveying in shallow waters, underwater communication, etc.
A diverse range of piezo components is used, ranging from the simple disk, plate and stacked transducers through to sonar arrays which permit linear deflection of the directivity pattern of the ultrasonic wave.