TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors, Electronics, 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 advanced electric field sensor technology for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sensor systems

DESCRIPTION: Passive electric field sensors have the potential to provide useful information for tactical surveillance and classification of marine vessels. 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. Also lower frequency signals can be generated by the relative movement of a metal hull and a sensor. Current electric field sensors used for detection and classification of marine vessels, collect only x and y electric field measurements. Innovative electric field sensor designs are sought to collect vertical (z component) electric field measurements in addition to the horizontal components, to enable exploitation of all signals emanating from a submerged vessel.

PHASE I: Develop a sensor concept for a low-cost large effective aperture to detect the vertical electric field component in addition to the horizontal field components. Provide a physics based sensor model describing the theory of operation and predicted sensor performance in an operational environment via simulation.

PHASE II: Fabricate and test an experimental prototype of the sensor and document the design, functionality, and testing conducted to demonstrate performance. Power requirements, range, and length of operation should be considered.

PHASE III: Develop an advanced electric field sensor that is capable of being deployed from high altitude aircraft positions and test in an operational environment.

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

REFERENCES:
1. Kraichman, M.B., 1970. Handbook of Electromagnetic Propagation in Conducting Media, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC.

2. Vozoff, K.," 1991. The Magnetotelluric Method," in Electromagnetic methods in Applied Geophysics, Volume 2, Application, Parts A and B, M.N. Nabighian (Editor), Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

3. Nichols E.A., J. Clarke, and H.F. Morrison, (1988), " Signals and noise in measurements of low-frequency geomagnetic fields," Journal of Geophysical Research 93, 13743-13754.

KEYWORDS: Underwater; Electric Field Sensors; Buoys; Nonacoustic; Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW); Geomagnetic Noise

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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