A Correlation Velocity Log (CVL) has some advantages (lower source level and operating frequency) over a Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) as a navigational aid for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV). A CVL provides a bottom referenced velocity estimate by estimating displacement using the incoherently scattered field from an acoustic projector and an array of hydrophones. A small low cost UUV generally operates in shallow water and has limited space and power available for a navigational aid, creating added constraints for the design of a CVL. The important design considerations (such as size, array geometry, operating frequency, and bandwidth) will be discussed as they relate to accuracy of the velocity estimate and operating range. [The authors acknowledge the financial support for this work by Lockheed Martin Undersea Systems.]
