Development of Analysis Techniques for Predicting Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) Equipped UAV Performance in Naval Anti-Submarine Warfare Environment.
Navy SBIR FY2014.1


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2014.1
Topic No.: N141-010
Topic Title: Development of Analysis Techniques for Predicting Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) Equipped UAV Performance in Naval Anti-Submarine Warfare Environment.
Proposal No.: N141-010-0579
Firm: White River Technologies
1242 Chestnut Street
Newton, Massachusetts 02464
Contact: Gregory Schultz
Phone: (603) 678-8385
Web Site: whiterivertech.com
Abstract: The Navy is currently integrating new highly sensitive magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) sensors on small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for maritime surveillance. White River Technologies, Inc. (WRT) in collaboration with teammates from Sensintel Inc. and Raytheon Missile Systems (RMS) propose development of a comprehensive MAD simulation tool that accurately considers a wide array of sensor, environmental, flight system, and mission-level parameters. The team will utilize our extensive experience in airborne magnetometry, UAV magnetic noise estimation, and probabilistic MAD simulation to develop the proposed software. The simulation tool will (1) take advantage of the available information on MAD mission factors, (2) utilize modeling and simulation capability to predict MAD effectiveness, and (3) leverage the power of current computing resources to integrate the multiple system, environmental, and target parameters for effective mission planning and tactical awareness. At the heart of the software are modeling and simulation modules that accurately account for the errors associated with numerous inputs in order to output useful predictive metrics of probabilistic success. This tool may be used pre-flight for predictive analysis and ASW system-level parameter delineation, for training operators, or for optimizing mission configurations.
Benefits: The proposed effort will develop a comprehensive MAD-equipped predictive analysis and decision support software tool. Benefits of the proposed technology include: 1. Incorporation of multiple submarine or surface target magnetic signature models 2. Methodologies for assessing model selection and parameter evaluation 3. Quantifiable environmental estimation using multiple disparate data sources 4. A robust probabilistic approach ensures appropriate valuation of information 5. Comprehensive estimation of effectiveness that accounts for MAD sensor noise spectra, flight and mission parameters, target characteristics, and background environmental noise 6. A flexible software environment extensible to non-fixed wing UAV assets (e.g., Firescout) as well as unmanned undersea assets (e.g., Sonobuoys, USN Mk-18 UUV's) Phase I development will serve as the basis for further software development and demonstration of the tool for appropriate aircraft and mission systems.

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