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Small Unmanned Surface Vehicle Propulsion System
Navy SBIR FY2012.1
| Sol No.: |
Navy SBIR FY2012.1 |
| Topic No.: |
N121-054 |
| Topic Title: |
Small Unmanned Surface Vehicle Propulsion System |
| Proposal No.: |
N121-054-0969 |
| Firm: |
SeaLandAire Technologies, Inc.
1510 Springport Rd Suite C
Jackson, Michigan 49202 |
| Contact: |
Stephen Ziegenfuss |
| Phone: |
(517) 784-8340 |
| Web Site: |
www.sealandaire.com |
| Abstract: |
The US Navy has successfully developed a man-portable, X-class Unmanned Surface Vessel for shallow water coastal and riverine operations. Although the prototype USV has proven its utility during initial test and evaluation, several key technological hurdles remain. Increasing the top speed and extending the endurance through efficiency improvements would greatly improve this X-class USV's utility in the littoral battlespace. SeaLandAire Technologies, in conjunction with Maritime Research Associates, proposes to develop an innovative rim-driven, air-lubricated, hubless, axial waterjet propulsion system and a hybrid energy delivery system optimized to operate efficiently with this unique propulsion system. The hubless waterjet provides increased speed and efficiency over conventional thrusters and also provides increased reliability since its design is inherently weedless. The hybrid energy storage / power delivery approach provides over 7 hours endurance with COTS components while also setting the stage for large performance improvements with follow-on development efforts. In addition, the hybrid approach allows increased latitude to independently optimize the waterjet and combustion engine efficiencies across a wide range of vessel speeds. The applicability and benefits of both technologies are presented in within the full proposal. |
| Benefits: |
Most directly, the axial rim driven waterjet technology developed within this proposal could be scaled up and utilized immediately on personal watercraft in the commercial sector. The target transition system for this proposed effort - the 86 lb X-class ASV, is approximately half scale smaller than most personal `wave runners' on the market today. Developing a safer, lighter, quieter, less-debris susceptible waterjet and impeller system could be transitioned to such systems readily, providing manufacturing costs in quantity could be held to acceptable values less than ~$1000. Approximately 100,000 personal watercraft are purchased in the United States yearly, defining this commercial market as a likely transition target. To help realize this market, SeaLandAire and its team will become further educated on the current waterjet technology used within personal watercraft so that we can better address the operational gaps present in their systems, or at the minimum, develop a plan forward to how to ensure that our system was more capable that current OTS technology. Personal watercraft are classified as an `acoustic nuisance' primarily because when they leave the water, their noise signatures increase by 5 times (15 dBV 20 log scale). It has been said the 1.3 million jet skis in the United States impose approximately $900 million of noise costs on U.S. beachgoers each year. As such personal watercraft are being banned from more and more commercial and resort beaches, or being required to be operated a significant distance from shore. Implementing a hybrid energy system could prove to mitigate this problem, turning off the internal combustion engine when the personal watercraft left the water, or was below a certain speed near shore. The hybrid energy system with the rim drive waterjet could have significant impact on decreasing system level noise. Not only will this help structure future commercialization opportunities, but familiarization with the current COTS solutions will help us identify pitfalls early as we compare our waterjet systems to those that have been proven over decades within the commercial sector. Additionally, designing toward a commercially acceptable cost-point can only make this technology more viable in the military sector as well. Successful commercialization plans are mindful of the right time, the right price, and the right capability.
There are also several additional commercialization opportunities for the complete system as proposed to be developed through the Phase I and Phase II efforts. This system would include the axial rim driven waterjet complete with energy storage / conversion system. Most directly, other ASV technology requiring high speed, efficient transit capability could benefit from such a system. As was mentioned within the proposal, such a complete system could be used with research institutions, oil and gas exploration, bathymetric surveys, and rescue operations.
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