TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Strategic Systems Programs

OBJECTIVE: Develop an innovative approach (sensor, and/or algorithm, and/or system) to determine the ground velocity of submerged submarines while minimizing the amount of detectible energy transmitted. Determine this sensor system�s adaptability to the wide range of ocean conditions such as ocean depth, bottom slope, reflectivity and other operational conditions. Optional system modes with capability to measure other parameters useful to navigation (e.g.: recognition of a particular bottom profile) are also desired.

DESCRIPTION: The operations of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleets depend on accurate navigation solutions to achieve success. The inertial navigation systems outputs can be maintained at a high accuracy through use of an accurate ground velocity reference such as a sonar device. Innovations are needed in the areas of sensor technology, signal processing algorithms, system design, or other methodologies and technologies that maintain ground velocity reference while the ship is maneuvering at various speeds, depths, turn rates, and while minimal detectible energy is transmitted to the water. Current implementations are such that accurate ground reference velocity can not be maintained for high ship�s speeds, with roll or pitch motion and with large bottom slope. Capabilities are also very limited in terms of maintaining ground reference velocity for large depths without giving up the ship�s covert operations. Therefore R&D is necessary to extend performance into these areas.

PHASE I: Develop the conceptual ground measuring sensor system and derive the architecture of an approach to realize the conceptual system. Perform an analysis of the system to determine performance boundaries of a trade space defined by the following parameters: ground velocity accuracy, ship�s roll & pitch motion, ship�s speed, bottom slope, bottom reflectivity, depth, and covertness. (Covertness will be a measure of the amount of energy dispersed at an angle parallel to the surface.) Develop a plan to develop a prototype system for construction and testing in Phase II. This system should include the more risky aspects of the sensor design and the test results should be able to be used to extrapolate the performance of a full system.

PHASE II: Identify major system design issues (installation, system performance, system maintenance and alignment and system cost). Develop the prototype system of the approach developed in Phase I. Test and demonstrate performance of the system. Investigate the feasibility of installing a complete sensor system on current submarines using information provided by Strategic Systems Programs at that time.

PHASE III: Integrate the new ground velocity system into an inertial navigation system and demonstrate the added performance value above the inertial system alone.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Submersible vehicles, manned and autonomous, often cannot maintain a GPS connection. The ability to have an accurate navigation solution can have a significant impact on the accomplishment of long term missions without leaving station or being tethered to the deployment ship. This includes cable laying, coastal mining operations, and salvage and rescue operations. With a bottom profiling capability, another application would be undersea oil exploration and high definition sea floor geographic surveys.

REFERENCES:

1. D.H. Titterton and J.L. Weston, Strapdown Inertial Navigation Technology, IEE Radar, Sonar, Navigation, and Avionics Series 5, E.D.R. Shearman and P. Bradsell (eds.), Peter Peregrinus Ltd., London, 1997.

2. D.L. Hall and J. Llinas. Handbook of Multisensor Data Fusion, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2001.

KEYWORDS: submarine; sonar; sensor systems; signal processing; sensor fusion; velocity reference; beamforming

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between April 21 and May 18, 2008, you may talk directly with the Topic Author(s) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting May 19, 2008, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

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