The development of technologies that advance military stealth and lethality in the face of notably increased aggression from U.S. adversaries is vital to maintaining tactical advantage. The U.S. Navy seeks to develop a ruggedized, quiet, transom-mounted, retractable electric propulsion system for high-speed planing craft - Special Operations Craft Riverine (SOCR). The proposed Auxiliary Propulsion Unit (APU) will enable a SOCR to maintain the speed and endurance of its diesel propulsion while having electric propulsion capability for low-speed, silent operations. Martin Defense Group (MDG) is a leader in developing cutting-edge solutions in defense and maritime industries. Through research, technology, and partnerships, MDG strives to solve problems that can change the world. Progeny Systems Corporation (Progeny) specializes in developing and producing innovative hardware and software solutions for the Department of Defense (DoD) and other organizations. MDG will team with Progeny to leverage its previously developed and tested Advanced Submarine Control (ASC) scaled, motor drive and hubless Rim Driven Propulsor (RDP) thruster to provide a viable APU solution. The motor drive and RDP thruster has a Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of 6, which indicates that a system/subsystem model or prototype has been demonstrated in a relevant environment. MDG will leverage its naval architecture experience to make modifications to Progenys thruster design (i.e., propeller blades, aft stationary blades, duct inlet, and duct outlet). Design trade-offs will be made to balance the thrusters hydrodynamic design (i.e., efficiency, cavitation, swirl recovery) against motor and motor drive performance (i.e., power factor, switching frequency, harmonics, voltage, current, EMI) versus energy storage constraints against APU component integration (i.e., thrusters with deploy/retract mechanisms) beneath the stern platform of the SOCR. A quiet APU solution will enhance the capabilities of a SOCR to successfully perform slow, extremely quiet operations in contested environments. MDG has specialized capabilities for electric propulsion system design, naval architecture, hydrodynamic analysis, and system integration and is uniquely positioned when teamed with Progeny to provide an extremely quiet and rugged APU system for SOCR use. The MDG and Progeny teams revolutionary APU thruster, with its lightweight, compact, anti-fouling design, can easily provide these core needs observed across multiple industries, and its versatility allows for both retrofit and new construction. The stored energy components of the APU system have some of the highest energy density values available on the market today (147 Wh/L and 107 Wh/kg) which ensures a compact, lightweight system.
Benefit: A simplified APU system could be repackaged with different control software, without the motor drive filters, and with different thruster hydrodynamic elements for high-end commercial or foreign military use. By replacing the high-performance propeller blades with a simpler design and removing all signature-reduction features (i.e., the SRVs, duct liners, frame coating), sales of the commercialized APU system would still be subjected to Export Administration Regulations (EAR). A commercial version of the APU system is perfect for a variety of commercial applications, such as commercial fishing, sport fishing, and would potentially serve the growing offshore wind industry, where precise vessel position control and slow-speed maneuverability are required. The commercial APU system can be readily scaled to meet various power demands, can be easily installed on newly constructed ships, and retrofitted on existing vessels. As a result of Phase III, MDG will license its technologies to Progeny, which will transition a commercial APU to market. A commercial APU system is ideal for most sportfishing trolling and station keeping-applications and has a projected 3.2% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) through 2030. The commercial APU thruster replaces the existing bolt-on trolling motors that have little to no interface with advanced navigation electronics. Major players looking to meet this growing market segment include MotorGuide, Minn Kota, Garmin Ltd., Torqeedo GmbH, Lowrance Electronics, Newport Vessels, Haswing Outdoor, and Intex Recreation Corp. A lightweight, high-powered commercial APU system could also be needed by the offshore wind industry, which is expected to grow between 8% and 18% CAGR. This explosive growth is limited by offshore wind construction and servicing vessels. A key attribute for these vessels is precision station keeping in all-weather and sea states. A commercial APU system with scaled deployable thrusters can provide this capability.
Keywords: Motor, Motor, controller, efficiency, Vibration, cavitation, Acoustic, electric propulsion
