Versatile Shallow Water Anchoring/ Securing Technology Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2011.2 Topic No.: N112-148 Topic Title: Versatile Shallow Water Anchoring/ Securing Technology Proposal No.: N112-148-0321 Firm: Advanced Technology & Research Corp. 6650 Eli Whitney Drive, Suite 400 Columbia, Maryland 21046-1701 Contact: Tom Zhao Phone: (443) 766-7978 Web Site: www.atrcorp.com Abstract: ATR has proposed a robotic anchoring system concept, dubbed "RoboAnchor," which takes advantage of recent developments in robotics, sensing technologies, and control systems. RoboAnchor will work in both soft and hard seafloor conditions. It has three individually controlled legs (i.e., flukes), which can be used to support and maintain the RoboAnchor in an upright position on a hard surface while an on-board drill secures the device by embedding itself into the rock bed. On a soft surface, these three flukes can be coerced into the seafloor by the weight of the system and an on-board vibrator until they are deeply engulfed by the soft medium. Either method secures the anchor sufficiently to provide both lateral and vertical resistance to mooring loads. On-board sensors will be used to assist in characterization of the bottom conditions, to select the placement of the RoboAnchor and to help automate its operation. Wave and current sensors and mooring load cells will be used to provide information to a monitoring system, which will provide situational awareness to the anchor watch. This early warning capability will allow the crew to make adjustments and avoid hazardous conditions. Benefits: The proposed RoboAnchor concept will work for both soft and hard surfaces so a ship or craft will no longer be required to carry multiple anchoring / securing systems. It will be equipped with advanced sensing technologies for status monitoring and remote actuation as well as situation awareness. It will be semi- or even fully automated such that it will reduce the number of personnel required in the anchoring process, reduce the number of bottom-condition-specific components, reduce the amount of training required for those involved in the anchoring process, and reduce the likelihood of error during the process of anchoring and securing. Such a versatile shallow water anchoring system will have a great potential to be widely adopted by other government agencies as well as commercial sectors. Return