Check Range Sensor Pod
Navy SBIR FY2013.1


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2013.1
Topic No.: N131-070
Topic Title: Check Range Sensor Pod
Proposal No.: N131-070-0679
Firm: SeaLandAire Technologies, Inc.
1510 Springport Rd Suite C
Jackson, Michigan 49202
Contact: John Lien
Phone: (517) 784-8340
Web Site: www.sealandaire.com
Abstract: Undersea operational supremacy is foundational to continued U.S. security. This supremacy is partly rendered through clandestine operations. Though Navy submarine and surface ship signatures are measured at land-based silencing facilities or test ranges at sea, these signatures can degrade over time for a variety of reasons, making the platform more vulnerable to detection. Vulnerability levels can be exacerbated if signature degradation occurs. As it is expected that certain missions present high levels of risk, it would be advantageous to create a self-test range at sea rather than transiting to the nearest permanent installation. SeaLandAire Technologies, together with its partners will utilize our extensive experience in expendable Navy sonobuoy platforms to develop an inexpensive, simple, yet highly functional expendable sensor pod to autonomously characterize submarine signatures for increases in in-situ tactical awareness. This in-situ calibration sensor pod will be deployed from a submerged submarine utilizing existing platform capabilities. It will be able to measure underwater magnetic and acoustic fields, with E-fields measured by proxy through their induced magnetic response. The pod will collect meaningful and timely data, while remaining covert.
Benefits: The commercialization strategy of this particular effort is focused due to the nature of the technology transition partner. In that we have a very specific product, with a very specific focus, the commercialization strategy is to develop a tool that could be effectively used in the field to characterize submarine signatures. As such, it is important to ensure that all work conducted within any SBIR funded effort be used to develop both a need and desirable tool. This means that SLA personnel will need to be in contact with the submarine community, allowing those with direct experience to help guide the design. With such a foundational approach present in the effort, commercialization will be about ensuring those in the community know about the technology and its capabilities. There are potential subsystems within this technology that could be used in other applications. Most notably this includes the NBIDS system. As we will be focusing on developing this fine-tuned buoyancy control system throughout this effort, we can do so with the remainder of the ocean acoustic sensor community in mind. For example, an complete NBIDS system ready to interface with any A-size or larger system would be an intentional commercialization opportunity for this program.

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