SBIR-STTR Award

A system is proposed to significantly reduce the minimum size of profiling oceanographic sensor platforms by reducing energy, volume and buoyance requirements. The design includes the ability to sense temperature, salinity, pressure, turbidity, ambient noise, surface current and the water velocity profile. Global Positioning System (GPS) electronics will provide surface current and timing information. The current velocity profile will utilize earth magnetic field based velocity sensors (G.E.K). The data will be buffered in solid state memory and be made available through precise energy efficient GPS time based RF transmissions. The instrument volume will be substantially under 10 liters to comply with aircraft deployment restrictions. The instrument will have adequate surface stability for data transmission for both moored and free drifting applications. Energy management will include a solar cell based energy storage system, for when ambient light levels are above 20 Mw/cm2. The successful completion of Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of a device capable of repeatedly profiling to 300 meters at least 50 times with enhanced measurement capability and extended lifetime over existing SSQ-36 and SSQ-57B sonobuoy systems.

Phase II work will concentrate on creating new hardware and firmware to achieve a ruggedized electronics and mechanical suite integrted to reduce weight, volume, cost. Firmware will be created to optimize energy usage during typical deployment scenarios. A successful completion of Phase II will replace the Phase I MPSS with a rugged, functional, and affordable system for broad specturm use. As the military interests shift from deep to shallow water there is an urgent need for a clandestine coastal zone monitoring system. The MPSS fulfills many current and projected monitoring needs. In a free drifting configuration the device is effectively decoupled from the orbital-wave-velocity-induced cable strumming and provides uparalleled signal to noise advantages over existing SSQ-57B and SSQ-36 sonobuoy systems. The monitoring of vessel movement and environmental events is greatly enhanced. The ability of the instrument to reside sub-surface enhances clandestine and extended operations as it performs the function of a multi-profile bathythermograph. The radio telemetry of data (satellite or ground based) eliminates the need for instrument retrieval and catagorizes the Phase I MPSS as expendable.

Keywords:
SONOBUOY BATHYTHERMOGRAPH ACOUSTIC MULTI-PROFILE PROFILING TELEMETRY