Abstract
One of the outstanding characteristics of the dolphin sonar system which distinguishes it from any man-made sonar is the ability to make fine distinctions in the features or properties of targets. This ability has amazed and sparked the interest of many involved in the development and use of active sonar systems. The abilities to perform fine target discrimination, recognition, and classification are often considered synonymous; however, there are subtle differences between these functions. Target discrimination means the ability to discern from their echoes that two targets are different. Target recognition means the ability to recognize features of the echoes from specific targets compared with echoes from any other targets; it involves a discrimination capability, an ability to recall from memory the echo features of specific targets, and the ability to compare present sonar echoes with those stored in memory. Target classification means the ability to separate targets into different classes according to some arbitrary criteria such as metal versus nonmetal, organic versus inorganic, edible versus inedible, smooth surface versus rough surface, etc. Most of the experiments discussed in this chapter involve target discrimination; a few involve target recognition.
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Au, W.W.L. (1993). Biosonar Discrimination, Recognition, and Classification. In: The Sonar of Dolphins. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4356-4_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4356-4_9
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