N093-215 TITLE: Multi-Platform Active Heave Compensation System

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Materials/Processes, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS) ACAT IV

OBJECTIVE: Design and develop an active heave compensation system for a launch and recovery system that can be installed on any platform, without having to know the platform�s motion characteristics or tune the system prior to operation.

DESCRIPTION: The SRDRS is the United States Navy�s primary rescue asset to rescue personal from a disabled submarine. The SRDRS concept of operations requires that the rescue asset be mobilized and onsite with 72 hours. The SRDRS does not have a full capability to reduce heave and uncouple the motion between the tethered ROV and the vessel. It is desired to have an active heave compensation system that does not require to be tuned for each vessel and has the capability to reduce heave disturbances by 80% in up to Sea State 4, as defined in DOD-STD-1399, section 301A.

Without a heave compensation system, the LARS operations of the SRDRS�s Pressurized Rescue Module (PRM), or tethered ROV, has to be operated in manual mode, relying on operator proficiency. Operator fatigue can occur because of continuous operations, increasing the risk of damage to the PRM and the LARS lift lines, especially in higher sea states. The system should have two modes of operation, constant tension and heave compensation, and also provide the capabilities to smoothly transition from one mode to another. In constant tension, the LARS lift lines should stay at a given tension set-point while raising and lowering the PRM. The heave compensation mode should be able to keep the PRM at a given depth.

PHASE I: Conduct conceptual studies/R&D/analysis determining possible methods to reduce heave experienced by the system on multiple platforms without having to tune the system or knowing the platform�s motion characteristics. The concept should include a preliminary design of the system, including the algorithm and necessary system hardware. A review of the existing system and how the proposed concept applies would be of benefit. Documentation related to the status of the current system will be given to the awardee as GFI.

PHASE II: Develop detail design of the Phase I preliminary design and demonstrate, via simulation the system requirements, including the heave reduction on multiple platforms.

PHASE III: Upon meeting the U.S. Navy�s systems requirements, the active heave compensation system will be certified as a capability for the SRDRS.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The multi-platform active heave compensation system has a potential use for the commercial nad scientific communities to operate ROVs that use LARS on multiple platforms without having to tune the compensation system. In addition to the multiple ROVs that the Navy operates, the Navy has other systems, such as TAVTS (Test Article Vehicle Transfer System), in which heave compensation is used. Currently these systems are installed on platforms where the motion characteristics are known or the system has to be tuned. The final design could also be applicable for subsea mine reconnaissance.

REFERENCES:
1. Lainiotis, D.G,; Plataniotis, K.N.; Menon, Dinesh; Charalampous, C.J., "Adaptive Heave Compensation via Dynamic Neural Networks", Proceeding of OCEANS �93, pp. I243-I248 vol. I.

2. DOD-STD-1399, Section 301A

3. NAVSEA ltr 9070 Ser394RR/0114 of 25 Jan 2008 -Software Requirements Specification (SRS) for the Submarine Rescue System Handling System, Rev 6.0 of 21 Jun 2007

4. NAVSEA Document TM304147 Rev D, Performance Specification of the SRS Handling System of 26 May 2005

KEYWORDS: Heave Compensation; algorithm; launch and recovery system; subsea; sensors; control

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between July 27 through August 23, 2009, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting August 24, 2009, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (09.3 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 09.3 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.