N112-128 TITLE: Alternative Energy Harvesting for Small Watercraft

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Cross Platform Systems Development, (CPSD).

OBJECTIVE: Develop a device that harvests the energy collected from various sea condition wave motion and/or solar radiation and uses that energy to power and/or extend the range of a lightweight unmanned watercraft without operator intervention.

DESCRIPTION: Technological advancements in alternative energy systems have significantly reduced the need to power a lightweight watercraft (thirty-three (33) feet or less) or its onboard equipment systems solely by petroleum and battery based energy sources. Creating a device that can absorb the abundant amounts of alternative energy being generated by sea waves and/or solar radiation to extend the range or increase the loitering capabilities of a lightweight watercraft can help reduce the total ownership cost for many vessels in the Navy�s fleet. Additionally, the invention of this device would help extend the mission range of these vessels for the warfighter and reduce the operational cost associated with the manned resupply of fuel for these vessels. This energy harvesting device must be able to create and/or store enough energy to support the deployment of an eight (8) ton unmanned watercraft to its mission location and its loitering on station anywhere from six (6) months to a year. While the vessel is loitering this device must also be capable of supplying power, at a minimum, in the range of 600 to 700 watts to support the operation of onboard vessel systems such as; navigation lights, communication equipment, satellite equipment, and radar equipment. Once the mission has been successfully completed the newly created energy harvesting system must have the power to support the return of the lightweight watercraft to its base without the significant intervention of an operator.

Many of the lightweight watercraft in operation today utilize a petroleum based system to power their internal power plants and a secondary electrical power supply to operate onboard devices such as, radar or other pieces of mission critical support equipment. All of these power supply systems require manned intervention to ensure they are full or completely charged prior to the craft beginning its mission. Once these fuels have been consumed the craft must return to some type of re-supply location to be re-fueled regardless of the current status of its mission. Lightweight watercrafts do not currently have an effective method of autonomously resupplying themselves with power to continue their missions for extended periods of time. There is a need for a new innovative product that can harvest alternative energy sources from sea waves and/or solar power to autonomously resupply the systems of the vessel.

The development of a device that consistently harvests sea wave and/or solar energy given various craft speeds and/or environmental conditions such as: water temperature, wind speed, wave height and atmospheric conditions will be technologically difficult to achieve. A device that can distribute power as required to the on-board systems of the watercraft in a reliable, safe and timely manner will be essential to the successful completion of this innovative research investigation. The performance of the system cannot become degraded by exposure to salt or fresh water systems, various sea conditions or extreme temperature variations.

PHASE I: Develop a concept for a device that can safely and consistently harvest sea wave and/or solar energy created by a lightweight unmanned watercraft given various craft speeds and/or environmental conditions such as; water temperature, wind speed, wave height or atmospheric. Once the energy is harvested this device must also store and accurately redistribute this power to the watercraft as needed.

PHASE II: Using the concept developed in Phase I, create a physical "proof of concept" prototype model of the energy harvesting device and demonstrate the consistent capture, storage and accurate distribution of power from the device.

PHASE III: Using the system developed in Phase II conduct trials on a lightweight vessel to demonstrate that the harvesting system can power and/or extend the range of the vessel. Correct any shortcomings identified during the vessel T & E. Develop operational and repair training instructions. Generate full-scale manufacturing, fleet introduction and fielding and training as required.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The development of a watercraft using this innovative energy source has private sector applications in the areas of the commercial oil industry, maritime/offshore security industry, commercial boating/yachting industry, commercial marine battery industry and humanitarian organizations.

REFERENCES:
1. Ocean-Wave Energy Conversion by Prof. Alireza Khaligh, Energy Harvesting and Renewable Energies Laboratory Illinois Institute of Technology - http://www.ece.iit.edu/~khaligh/researchprojects.php?project=ocean_wave

2. How Hydrokinetic Energy Works � Union of Concerned Scientist - http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-hydrokinetic-energy-works.html#2_Hydrokinetic_Technologies

3. Wave Runner, Popular Science by John Geoghegan - http://www.popsci.com/gear-gadgets/article/2008-02/wave-runner

4. Ocean Wave Energy Conversion � Dr. Annette Muetze ECE 699: Adv. Independent Study Report Electrical and Computer Eng. Dept. University of Wisconsin � Madison - http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~vining/JVining_WaveEnergyConversion.pdf

KEYWORDS: Alternative Energy, Solar Powered, Wave Energy Harvesting, Extended Range Vessel, Autonomous Refueling, Unmanned

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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