Wing Sail Electric Hybrid Propulsion for Autonomous Long Endurance Unmanned Surface Craft Navy STTR FY2005 Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2005 Topic No.: N05-T021 Topic Title: Wing Sail Electric Hybrid Propulsion for Autonomous Long Endurance Unmanned Surface Craft Proposal No.: N054-021-0136 Firm: KaZaK Composites Incorporated 10F GIll Street Woburn, Massachusetts 01801-1721 Contact: Stephen Ellis Phone: (781) 932-5667 Web Site: kazakcomposites.com Abstract: KaZaK Composites, Inc. (KaZaK) proposes to team with the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory's Autonomous Vehicle Lab to develop a long endurance unmanned surface vehicle. The envisioned design will investigate a high performance rigid wing-sail as the primary source of motive power, and also harvest electric energy from the wind-induced motion through the water. Energy storage, to handle the intermittent nature of all potential environmental energy sources, will be provided by a battery bank. Batteries will also provide power for mission specific packages and communications. Supplemental options such as solar cells to provide additional energy harvesting will also be evaluated. A key feature of the proposed design is the use of commercially available hardware developed from the recreational boating market in order to reduce costs, reduce risk and shorten time to fleet service. COTS systems will include the electric propulsion unit and related energy conversion / storage. This approach will allow the KaZaK team to focus on the two primary technical challenges, the wing sail design and the control / management function. To maximize resistance to system damage in heavy weather, the KaZaK team will evaluate the application of highly damage resistant macro-composite structures technology for the rigid sail system. Benefits: At the conclusion of a successful Phase I and II, the Navy will be in possession of a proven design for an advanced long endurance autonomous surface craft that utilizes a rigid wing sail as its primary power source. KaZaK plans to follow three parallel paths for commercialization of the wing technology and any related components that will be developed in this SBIR program. If Phase II is successful, a likely progression of events would include a Phase III commercial purchase of a quantity of KaZaK's autonomous USV by the Navy, first for sea trials and later for fleet service. This would be followed by an exploration of opportunities for sales of the autonomous USV for commercial use in applications such as remote sensing. KaZaK will also explore the possibilities for use of the wing sail in the recreational boating market. The general technology for autonomous operation is generically applicable to a wide range of military and commercial hardware. Return