N093-205 TITLE: Non-contact sea water optical attenuation meter

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: AN/AES-1 (ALMDS), ACAT-II; AN/AWS-2 (RAMICS), ACAT-II; also LCS Mission Mo

OBJECTIVE: To develop a laser-based sensor for determining the optical attenuation ("k") of sea water which can be operated from shipboard by a sailor with minimal oceanographic training to determine the environmental suitability of local waters for the operation of various electro-optical systems, such as AN/AES-1 (ALMDS), and AN/AWS-2 (RAMICS)

DESCRIPTION: The device which this SBIR asks to be developed is a unique sensor which can determine the optical attenuation of sea water without the necessity of inserting anything in the water. What is desired is a sensor which uses a laser to illuminate the water, and a receiver assembly which receives the light, and determines the rate at which the intensity of the light varies with depth/range in water. The attenuation so measured will, in turn, allow the Mine Warfare Environmental Decision Aids Library (MEDAL) to prepare the most suitable mission plans to maximize the utility of ALMDS or RAMICS. This value can then be compared with the performance characteristics of the various sensor systems to determine their suitability for use in the local water optical conditions where the measurement is made, and to establish the operational/employment plans to optimize ALMDS performance in the existing environment. This device will be capable of making single-point measurements at the location in which it is employed, but this will normally be close enough to the environment at the MCM operating area for mission planning. Although such measurements have been made on a through-the-sensor basis with other electro-optic sensor systems (e.g. Magic Lantern), to date no such device has been developed which operates in an independent fashion such as is envisioned here. In order for the device to operate, R&D will need to be performed to develo theoretical solutions that can be utilized to develop data analysis software to analyze the acquired data and convert that data into a determination of the optical attenuation. The device envisioned for development under this SBIR would be "sailor-friendly", and require only minimal training (principally in laser safety), and simple in operation. It would only need to be pointed over the side of the ship and activated, returning one value of the attenuation (or more than one if marine layering is present).

PHASE I: Perform the research and development needed to prepare a preliminary design of the device, to include considerations of laser safety, and algorithm and software required to perform the analysis;

PHASE II: Construct a field-testable prototype of the device, preferably including data analysis on-board the device, but at a minimum including the necessary data analysis software to be operated off-board in conjunction with the measurements.

PHASE III: Complete (if necessary) integration of on-board data analysis, and shall perform the necessary engineering steps to productize the device to meet shipboard use. With slightly more sophisticated software, the presence of marine layering, and the location of the layers, could also be determined.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Oceanographic research, and (if sufficiently inexpensive) in civilian evaluation of scuba dive sites by commercial dive operators, and in performing benthic layer location for the fishing industry.

REFERENCES:
1. J. R. Apel, Principles of Ocean Physics, Academic Press, San Diego, 1987

2. ANSI Z136.1 -2007 Laser Institute of America, Orlando, 2007

3. www.is.northropgrumman.com/systems/almds_gallery.html (ALMDS)

4. www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/budget/fy2001/dot-e/navy/01amc.html (RAMICS)

KEYWORDS: sea water; optical attenuation; electro-optic; laser; sensor; measurement.

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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