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.: N051-008-0270 Firm: Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation 65 West Street Road Suite B-104 Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 Contact: James McEachern Phone: (215) 675-4900 Web Site: www.navmar.com Abstract: This Phase I SBIR proposal addresses the investigation and development of technologies to produce a viable design for a miniature sonobuoy, with extended bandwidth response to accommodate active sonar sources from all of the U.S. Navy's ASW platforms; fixed wing, rotary wing and surface ship. ONR developed single crystal technology transducers provide wide bandwidth directional acoustic response in a miniature form factor. Innovative miniature sonobuoy packaging concepts enable the development of suspension and surface float components suitable for packaging in the MJU-10 launcher. The effort includes required hydromechanical analysis and design to allow the buoy and sensor to function in the sea states and current profiles specified for sonobuoy operations. Dynamic range issues are addressed as a means of enabling innovative sonobuoy location techniques and direct blast processing to support environmental adaptation. Part of the dynamic range solution is achieved by the development of an innovative sonobuoy RF link. The products of the effort include an uplink concept that is available for immediate insertion into existing multistatic systems and an innovative, high dynamic range, more robust and power efficient uplink format that complies with net ready RF systems. Benefits: Developing a new sonobuoy that is compatible with the MJU-10 launcher leads to smaller and lighter systems for deploying a variety of environmental sensors in addition to the acoustic sensors being developed in this project. This type of system capability is of interest to the undersea mapping, exploration, seismology and weather communities. Government agencies such as the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Commerce are continually trying to upgrade their measurement and data collection capability. These sensors would fulfill a need to provide low-cost in-situ measurements in a package that is compatible with a wide variety of military aircraft and that reduces the storage requirements aboard ships. Additionally as UAV's become more prevalent in oceanographic measurements, this small light sensor package will be readily adaptable to such applications. The innovative data link provides the opportunity to move sonobuoy uplink technology forward at a time when large investments are being made in related platforms, e.g. the P-8A Multi-mission Maritime aircraft, the Littoral Combat Ship and the RQ-8B VTUAV. Return