Variable Buoyancy Device for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Topic No.: N05-067 Topic Title: Variable Buoyancy Device for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Proposal No.: N051-067-0898 Firm: Electro Energy, Inc. 30 Shelter Rock Road Danbury, Connecticut 06810 Contact: Martin Klein Phone: (203) 797-2699 Web Site: www.electroenergyinc.com Abstract: The project focuses on the development of an electrochemical variable buoyancy device for autonomous underwater vehicles. The approach is based on the electrochemistry of metal-gas batteries, wherein one electrode has a gaseous reactant and the other is a metal or metal oxide. The proposed electrochemical couple is metal hydride - hydrogen, which combines the metal hydride electrode of nickel metal hydride batteries with the hydrogen electrode of nickel - hydrogen batteries. Applying a charge current to this couple produces hydrogen gas which is passed to a flexible metal bladder. This enables rapid and precise buoyancy changes by passing a known amount of electrical charge. Benefits: Quiet, efficient, compact, and reliable buoyancy control systems would have broad interest in both military and commercial AUV missions. The absence of pumps, valves, and moving parts would minimize maintenance requirements. Return