SBIR-STTR Award

Low Cost High Performance A Size Sonobuoy Power Amplifier
Award last edited on: 9/19/2022

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Navy
Total Award Amount
$1,072,253
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
N202-102
Principal Investigator
William Michael Bradley

Company Information

QorTek Inc (AKA: EMF Technologies Inc)

5933 North Route 220 Highway
Linden, PA 17704
   (570) 322-2700
   info@qortek.com
   www.qortek.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 15
County: Lycoming

Phase I

Contract Number: N68335-21-C-0117
Start Date: 10/27/2020    Completed: 5/3/2021
Phase I year
2021
Phase I Amount
$239,950
The Phase I base program will focus on design, simulation, and benchtop validation testing of the proposed DDA architecture. This will include investigations into both high-density DC-DC and ML amplifier designs leading to Phase I testing and demonstration of the prototype DDA system. The Phase I Option will focus on improving the TRL of hardware prototypes and updating the designs to optimize overall performance. Additional efforts will include the development of a preliminary technical data package including electrical and mechanical designs for future unit fabrication. The Phase I program will exit with a baseline design and benchtop test results of a next generation AN/SSQ-125 relevant power conversion solution ready for finalization and LRIP manufacture in Phase II.

Benefit:
Our transition approach for the current topic will be to deliver a qualified power amplifier to a sonobuoy manufacturer of the AN/SSQ-125. QorTek and our prime partner envision potential migration of the proposed technology into their existing ANS/SSQ-125 sonobuoy product roadmap. The central aim of this effort is to take opportunities to transition much of the technology developed under this program into the present generation of sonobuoys, thereby rapidly introducing the benefits of the direct drive digital amplifier to provide performance upgrades to existing as well as future sonobuoy products. Although this effort is focused on developing next generation direct drive power amplifier for the sonobuoy market, there are many other Navy application for direct drive amplifiers. Additionally, when combined with QorTeks transducers, provide system solutions for payloads in UUVs for sonar, torpedo, and mine countermeasures. The overall sonar system market size is currently around $3.5B but that encompasses both Commercial and Military sonar with multiple industries benefitting from the proposed technology. The first and most likely non-military transition path would be arrays for oil and gas exploration. QorTek is already transitioning power amplifiers into the Oil and Gas Exploration market for down hole well imaging. We have been fabricating and delivering several arrays worth of power amplifiers to our partner for downhole well imaging. Sonobuoys are similar technology to downhole well imaging and QorTek plans to leverage existing contacts to branch further out into these and other technology sectors.

Keywords:
direct drive amplifier, direct drive amplifier, Sonobuoy, Flying Capacitor Multi Level Amplifier, GaN, Anti-Submarine Warfare, SiC, Multi-level Amplifier

Phase II

Contract Number: N68335-22-C-0031
Start Date: 2/23/2022    Completed: 3/4/2024
Phase II year
2022
Phase II Amount
$832,303
The Phase II program will focus on maturing the design, simulations, development, and validation testing of the proposed Multi-Level Direct Drive Amplifier (MLDDA) architecture. The Phase I program has demonstrated significant benefits for piezoelectric transducer drive applications through both electrical simulation and benchtop validation. The Phase II will build upon Phase I developments in both the high-density DC-DC and ML amplifier designs leading iterative prototype improvements, fabrication, and demonstration. The Phase II and Phase II Option will focus on incrementally improving the technology readiness level (TRL) of hardware prototypes and updating the designs to optimize overall performance to demonstrate integration with existing sonobouy hardware. The Phase II and Phase II Option programs aim to exit with a mature design and test results of a next generation AN/SSQ-125 relevant power conversion solution at a demonstrated TRL7.

Benefit:
Our transition approach for the current topic will be to deliver a qualified power amplifier to a sonobuoy manufacturer of the AN/SSQ-125. QorTek and our prime partner envision potential migration of the proposed technology into their existing ANS/SSQ-125 sonobuoy product roadmap. The central aim of this effort is to take opportunities to transition much of the technology developed under this program into the present generation of sonobuoys, thereby rapidly introducing the benefits of the direct drive digital amplifier to provide performance upgrades to existing as well as future sonobuoy products. Although this effort is focused on developing next generation direct drive power amplifier for the sonobuoy market, there are many other Navy application for direct drive amplifiers. Additionally, when combined with QorTeks transducers, provide system solutions for payloads in UUVs for sonar, torpedo, and mine countermeasures. The overall sonar system market size is currently around $3.5B but that encompasses both Commercial and Military sonar with multiple industries benefitting from the proposed technology. The first and most likely non-military transition path would be arrays for oil and gas exploration. QorTek is already transitioning power amplifiers into the Oil and Gas Exploration market for down hole well imaging. We have been fabricating and delivering several arrays worth of power amplifiers to our partner for downhole well imaging. Sonobuoys are similar technology to downhole well imaging and QorTek plans to leverage existing contacts to branch further out into these and other technology sectors.

Keywords:
Flying Capacitor Multi Level Amplifier, Sonobuoy, GaN, Anti-Submarine Warfare, direct drive amplifier, Multi-level Amplifier, SiC