Expendable Oceanographic Sensing System Navy STTR FY2005 Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2005 Topic No.: N05-T027 Topic Title: Expendable Oceanographic Sensing System Proposal No.: N054-027-0230 Firm: Arete Associates P.O. Box 6024 Sherman Oaks, California 91413 Contact: Guy Farruggia Phone: (703) 413-0290 Web Site: www.arete.com Abstract: Aret� Associates and the Applied Research Laboratory of the Pennsylvania State University (ARL) are collaborating to develop a sensor/communications capability to aid the Navy gain much needed oceanographic data in denied areas. The plan is to design and demonstrate an expendable, in-situ sensor package that will measure several ocean parameters autonomously and covertly, record the data, and later transmit the data via an integral communications module. The communications module will rise to the surface to transmit its data via satellite to a base station. The sensor package will be a moored package, and it will be lightweight enough to be carried in by a diver, dropped from and aircraft, or deployed from a ship or an autonomous vehicle. In Phase I, ARL will develop the communications link and will test it with an Aret�-developed sensor to show a proof of concept. Benefits: Short-term monitoring of the littoral ocean, rivers, bays or estuaries could have numerous uses outside of the military significance. Other government agencies could use a submerged acoustic system for monitoring and identifying boat traffic in coastal and river areas. A semi-permanent or permanent power source or transmitter could be used for such an application if the area were controlled. The sensor system could be used to monitor outflows from processing plants. The sensor suite could be set for a very low sampling rate, surface then transmit its data only if a problem were detected. The same could be true for in-water construction projects where short-term monitoring of the environment could be critical for scheduling and safety. This system could evolve from a moored system to a free-floating system that could do long-term monitoring of an environment while drifting through the water column. Return