The Hemispherical Underwater Non-Acoustic Tracking LiDAR (HUNT-L) is a high fidelity, short range underwater tracking system that can detect and track in real-time, large, and small unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), divers, and surface vehicles. Under this Phase II technical effort, BeamSea Associates (BSA) proposes to continue development of a HUNT-L prototype and to validate it with accuracies within 10cm that are suitable for signature measurements. In the first year of the Phase II effort, BSA will conduct Preliminary and Critical Design Reviews to then proceed with the implementation of the HUNT-L hardware and software designs, thus resulting in the fabrication and assembly of a prototype unit in the second year. In collaboration with NSWCCD and other Navy stakeholders, BSA will initially test the prototype in a confined-water environment to carefully document the sensor performance and tracking algorithm fidelity. Following processing and analysis of the collected dataset, refinement of the HUNT-L demonstration prototype will follow in the third year, resulting in an improved tracking system for subsequent demonstrations with designated small or medium-sized Government Furnished Equipment and Information (GFE/GFI) UUV and/or ROV assets with a full underwater acoustic (or other) measurement array at a Navy test range.
Benefit: Achieving the goals outlined in this project will be the first step in positioning BSA as a new industry leader in innovation for undersea LiDAR-based tracking and following sensors. We have a dual approach to commercialization. First, by establishing the HUNT-L hardware and software architecture and methodology, we will enable multiple user bases within the Navy, and private sector prime integrators to contribute to the state-of-the-art systems technologies and emerging operational paradigms that will reduce the susceptibilities of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) MCM equipment in a broad range of contested operational environments. A win here would be adoption, collaboration, and collective advancement of the HUNT-L sensor on the Navys fixed signature test range locations. Secondly, we specifically shall work to establish a modular and mobile HUNT-L sensor architecture that can be integrated or added to a variety of mobile undersea assets thus enabling mobile signature measurements. For this effort, we would likely target UUV platforms, and have experience integrating mapping and imaging LiDAR systems onto man-portable UUVs such as the HII Remus-100 and the L3Harris Iver3. As more UUV platforms enter the marketplace every year, our vision is that the HUNT-L mobile tracking sensor will be platform agnostic, with only a small adapter kit and software apps which are open source where possible, that enable operation across a broad range of mobile platforms for detection, tracking and following applications. There is also strong potential for HUNT-L adaptation to commercial or scientific UUV and ROV use and possibly for terrestrial applications, albeit using a longer wavelength in conditions with fog, haze, or smoke. We believe there could also be an application to the recreational water sports industry and swimming pool and beach safety applications, alleviating the restricted viewing through turbid conditions and providing adaptive tracking of objects of interest in other defense, public safety, or commercial applications. In total, these tangential markets comprise a much more substantial, potential demand for the proposed HUNT-L technology.
Keywords: Point Cloud, tracking lidar, underwater LIDAR, tracking, Optical Ranging
