TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Sensors, Battlespace

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-264, Air ASW Systems; PMA-290, Maritime Surveillance Aircraft

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a buoy that collects acoustic and electric field data for tactical surveillance and classification of marine vessels.

DESCRIPTION: Passive electric field sensors have the potential to provide acoustic sonar systems with useful complementary sensing information. This information can be used for false alarm reduction, queuing, tracking, and classification. Electric field sensing can also be employed to enhance detection performance in littoral environments where the performance of sonar systems may be degraded by poor sound propagation conditions and reverberation. Exploitable electric field signatures include galvanic corrosion currents and alternating extremely low frequency electromagnetic (ELFE) signals caused by impressed current cathodic protection systems or AC modulation of the electrical resistance of the shaft bearings as they rotate. Data fusion algorithms are needed to effectively utilize data from electric field sensors to improve acoustic sensor performance.

PHASE I: Develop a conceptual system design for a combined electric field and acoustic sensor buoy as well as signal processing algorithms for data fusion and demonstrate proof-of-concept through simulation. Power requirements, range, and length of operation should be considered.

PHASE II: Design, develop and demonstrate a prototype (mechanical and electrical) of the combination buoy. This design should be compatible with A-size buoy containers and launching systems (approx. 4 7/8 in. X 36 in.). The buoy should be able to transmit and receive signals using traditional acoustic sonobuoy RF channels. This effort will include ocean tests of prototype buoys in ocean environments to determine system effectiveness and range.

PHASE III: Develop a production design for the A-size buoy for integration into existing naval sonobuoy systems.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Technologies developed are applicable to commercial underwater vessel location and collision avoidance systems.

REFERENCES:
1. Passive acoustic and electromagnetic underwater tracking and classification using data fusion, Systems Technology, Swedish Defence Research Agency (Systemteknik, Totalförsvarets forskningsinstitut (FOI)), 2005 .

2. Lindgren, D.; Dalberg, E.; Lennartsson, R.K.; Levonen, M.J.; Persson, L., "Surface Ship Classification in a Littoral Environment using Fusion of Hydroacoustic and Electromagnetic Data," OCEANS 2006 , vol., no., pp.1-5, Sept. 2006.

3. Lennartsson, R.K.; Dalberg, E.; Levonen, M.J.; Lindgren, D.; Persson, L., "Fused Classification of Surface Ships Based on Hydroacoustic and Electromagnetic Signatures," OCEANS 2006 - Asia Pacific , vol., no., pp.1-5, 16-19 May 2007.

KEYWORDS: Underwater; Acoustic; Electric Field Sensors; Buoys; Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW); Surveillance

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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