ASTM F2595

1.1 This guide establishes the basic sensor data format requirements for Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs). This guide is intended to influence the development process for the acquisition and integration of various sensor packages, but at the same time, not specify particular solutions or products. An additional intent of this guide is to address the data format standards specifically required for operation of the U.S. Navy's planned 21-in. Mission Reconfigurable UUV System (MRUUVS), which is representative of its heavy weight class of UUVs. Although this initial release of UUV sensor data formats standards primarily focuses on the U.S. Navy's UUV missions comprising intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), mine countermeasures (MCM), and oceanographic data collection, there is broad utility across the spectrum of commercial applications as well.

1.2 Readers of this guide will find utility in referencing Guides F 2541, F 2594, and WK11283. There is a clear relationship that exists in terms of data formats, external interfaces, and information/data exchange that can be applied in context with the standards invoked in these documents.

1.3 Technical sections of this guide are broken down as follows:

1.3.1 Section 5, the main body of this guide, provides general guidelines for sensor data, including water column and ocean bottom undersea search and survey (USS) measurements, and above-waterline data. It describes required data records, but does not attempt to specify data recording formats, except as already established in existing documentation. Whenever possible, data recording formats are suggested to conform to existing convention, facilitating data processing and use. This guide references standard U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) formats or de facto commercial formats where appropriate, such as widely accepted World Meteorological Organization (WMO) or Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) standards.

1.3.2 Section 6 covers related mission data formats such as timing. It also serves as a placeholder for future discussion of vehicle-specific mission data formats. Navigation, vehicle status, and related vehicle information data formats are expected to be addressed in subsequent versions of this guide. Also included in this section are brief discussions on external interface and command and control formats.

1.3.3 Section 7 introduces the topic of metadata formats. Amplification of this subject is warranted and will be incorporated into future versions of the guide.

1.3.4 Section 8 briefly identifies general data storage issues. Onboard data storage decisions will be driven by power requirements, data volume, and media cost.

1.3.5 Section 9 presents an abbreviated summary of the currently recommended data format standards where they could be identified.

1.3.6 Section 10 exists primarily as a placeholder to address relevant technology forecasts that could impact future data formats.

1.4 Though the general guidelines of this guide apply to most oceanographic sensor data, the data types specifically considered here are limited to: water column measurements (including temperature, salinity, currents, optical clarity, and bioluminescence), ocean bottom measurements (including bathymetry, acoustic images, and sub-bottom), ambient noise, and related geophysical parameters. ISR sensor data and other data collected on or above the surface are addressed by reference to governing U.S. military data standards. Discussion of electromagnetic and electro-optical (EM/EO) data formats (including atmospheric refractivity) is also included.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents

F2541 Guide for Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUV) Autonomy and Control
F2594 Guide for Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Communications
WK11283 Guide for Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Mission Payload Interface
MIL-D-89029 Military Specification for Bathymetric Databases
MIL-PRF-89049 Vector Product Format (VPF)
MIL-PRF-89049/10 Tactical Ocean Data-Level 0
MIL-PRF-89049/11 Tactical Ocean Data-Level 1
MIL-PRF-89049/12 Tactical Ocean Data-Level 2
MIL-PRF-89049/14 Tactical Ocean Data-Level 4
MIL-STD-2500B(2) National Imagery Transmission Format (Version 2.1) for the National Imagery Transmission Format
Ambient Noise Data Base (ANDB) Preliminary Database Definition Document NRL SSC 21 January 2005
AOCO COMINT Joint Interface Control Document Standards
AOCO ELINT Joint Interface Control Document Standards
Charter File Format Naval Oceanographic Office
Digital Bathymetric Database, Variable Resolution (DBDB-V) Version 5, Naval Oceanographic Office
DoD Bathymetric Library (DoDBL)
DoD Directive 8320.2 Data Sharing in a Net-Centric Department of Defense
Generic Sensor Format (GSF) Specification, Version 2.02, Naval Oceanographic Office, 20 June 2003
Geoacoustic Database Variable Resolution (GDBV) Database Definition Document, NRL Stennis Space Center, 19 December 2003
IEEE/EIA 12207 Industry Implementation of International Standard
ISO/IEC 12207 Standard for Information Technology Software Life Cycle Support
ISO/TC 211 Geographic Information/Geomatics
L-PUMA Forward Looking Sonar (FLS) ICD, Interface Control Document (ICD) for the Littoral Precision Underwater Mapping (L-PUMA) System Forward Looking Sonar (FLS), NAVSEA 8293252
Marine Geophysical Data Exchange Formats (MGD-2000), National Geophysical Data Center
Mine Countermeasures Report Format (MCMREP)
Software Requirements Specification for the Mine Warfare and Environmental Decision Aids Library (MEDAL), Build 7 Maintenance Release, MEDAL-DI-00001-5.1.0, Office of Naval Research, May 2002
Tactical Decision Aids (TDAs), Applicable TDAs include the aforementioned MEDAL, plus Interactive Multisensor Analysis Training (IMAT), Personal Computer (PC) IMAT, Geophysical Fleet Mission Program Library (GFMPL) and the Advanced Refractive Effects Prediction System (AREPS)
UNIfied Sonar Imaging Processing System (UNISIPS) Version 5, Naval Oceanographic Office

Index Terms

data format; data storage media; sensor data format; unmanned undersea vehicle; UUV; ICS Number Code 47.080; 47.080

Citing ASTM Standards

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