Multiple Source Capable Miniature Directional Acoustic Receiver Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Topic No.: N05-008 Topic Title: Multiple Source Capable Miniature Directional Acoustic Receiver Proposal No.: N051-008-1143 Firm: SeaLandAire Technologies, Inc. 1510 Springport Rd Suite C Jackson, Michigan 49202 Contact: David Sparks Phone: (517) 784-8340 Web Site: www.sealandaire.com Abstract: Due to the emerging threat of quiet diesel-electric submarines in the cluttered littoral environment, the Navy recognizes the need for an improved sensor system. Initial results from tests indicate that multistatic receivers used with high-power active sources can provide the enhanced performance necessary to operate in the unforgiving acoustic environment of littoral waters. The performance is further enhanced by increasing the local population of receivers, and by adding directional capability. By reducing the size of the individual directional receivers, an increased numbers of sensors can be deployed from the same delivery vehicle. SeaLandAire Technologies proposes to address this opportunity by partnering with Undersea Sensor Systems, Inc. (USSI) to develop a Miniature Directional Acoustic Receiver in an MJU-10 package (MDAR10). SeaLandAire and USSI both bring years of experience in sonobuoy development, packaging, and transition to production to this effort, which offers significant advantages to the Navy's interests - to implement successful hardware in the field in a timely manner. In addition, USSI also increases the validity of the proposed effort due to prior experience in the miniaturization of DIFAR transducer technology. Benefits: SeaLandAire and USSI envision the MDAR10 buoy having many applications. Not only will the buoy itself provide enhanced capability to the Navy, the constituent innovations of this effort will be valuable as individual technologies. The most noticeable innovation from this effort will be the miniature DIFAR hydrophone. USSI currently utilizes a DIFAR sensor in two of its production sonobuoys. There is significant interested in the underwater community for smaller, lighter weight sensors that can be deployed as stand alone sensor systems or combined in arrays for enhanced performance. The miniature DIFAR sensor is an ideal candidate for bottom mounted "trip wire" sensor systems and planar array sensor suites. In addition to the sonobuoy programs that utilize a DIFAR sensor, bottom mounted arrays like those used in the DADS (Deployable Autonomous Distributed System) and MITS (Multi Influence Tripwire Systems) programs are candidate programs for the new sensor. This technology should be of particular interest to homeland defense, drug interdiction as well as ASW programs. It is envisioned that after the completion of the Phase II effort the preproduction sensor would be integrated into these ongoing programs through an ECP effort. Return