Sonar transducer performance optimization

A marine electronic device for a watercraft comprising:

• a user interface comprising a display;
• a marine electronic device processor;
• and
• a memory including computer program code configured to, with the marine electronic device processor, cause the marine electronic device to:
• receive sonar return data from at least one transducer element mounted to the watercraft, wherein the at least one transducer element is configured to transmit sound waves into an underwater environment of a body of water, receive the sonar return signals from the underwater environment, and convert the sonar return signals into sonar return data;
• generate one or more sonar images of the underwater environment based on the sonar return data, wherein the sonar return data is associated with the underwater environment;
• identify one or more degraded performance characteristics of the at least one transducer element within at least one of (i) the sonar return data associated with the underwater environment that is used to generate the one or more sonar images or iii) the one or more sonar images of the underwater environment;
• and
• cause an alert based on identification of the one or more degraded performance characteristics, wherein the alert indicates at least one of the one or more degraded performance characteristics or a corrective action for mitigating occurrence of the one or more degraded performance characteristics.

A method for identifying degraded performance of a transducer system for a watercraft, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving sonar return data from at least one transducer element mounted to the watercraft, wherein the at least one transducer element is configured to transmit sound waves into an underwater environment of a body of water, receive the sonar return signals from the underwater environment, and convert the sonar return signals into sonar return data;
• generating one or more sonar images of the underwater environment based on the sonar return data, wherein the sonar return data is associated with the underwater environment;
• identifying one or more degraded performance characteristics of the at least one transducer element within at least one of (i) the sonar return data associated with the underwater environment that is used to generate the one or more sonar images or iii) the one or more sonar images of the underwater environment;
• and
• causing an alert based on identification of the one or more degraded performance characteristics, wherein the alert indicates at least one of the one or more degraded performance characteristics or a corrective action for mitigating occurrence of the one or more degraded performance characteristics.