Innovative Structures for Sonobuoy Applications Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.1 Topic No.: N101-021 Topic Title: Innovative Structures for Sonobuoy Applications Proposal No.: N101-021-1519 Firm: SeaLandAire Technologies, Inc. 1510 Springport Rd Suite C Jackson, Michigan 49202-1476 Contact: Brian Montague Phone: (517) 784-8340 Web Site: www.sealandaire.com Abstract: Problem: Present sonobuoys such as the AN/SSQ-101 ADAR were designed for "standard" blue water ocean conditions using a highly idealized 90% current profile, with designs checked in simulation. As such, the sonobuoys do not perform optimally in all oceanographic conditions; for example, complex current shears cause the ADAR array to develop unacceptable tilt angles and kite up to shallower depths outside the specification. Opportunity: In complex littoral environments it would be a significant improvement for the ADAR sonobuoy suspension to adapt itself to the present environmental conditions and situation-dependent mission objectives, thereby ensuring its full uncompromised potential is realized in more scenarios. SeaLandAire proposes an innovative, adaptable suspension system which would provide significant hydrodynamic performance advantages over the present ADAR design and offer potential widespread application in other free-drifting acoustic sensors. The addition of the Adaptable Element for Suspension OPtimization (AESOP) to the present ADAR would minimize the array tilt and kiting problems in situ as well as allow buoy field integrity management. The challenge, though, is to adjust the AESOP properly for non-standard flow conditions with minimal impact to the packaging, deployment, and acoustic performance of the existing A-size ADAR system. Benefits: We anticipate that a successful development program for the Adaptable Element for Suspension Optimization (AESOP) system would result in a modified production ADAR with improved performance in challenging environmental conditions typical of the littoral regions where multistatic ASW is being used. Specifically, the ADAR planar array would be able to maintain a desired depth and acceptable tilt angle in varying current conditions. In addition, we envision the ability to manage the field integrity to some extent using the varying lift / drag to affect the drift speed and/or direction of drift, possibly enabling high level control of field integrity. The primary market for SeaLandAire's Adaptable Element for Suspension Optimization (AESOP) technology will be the U.S. DoD (NAVAIR). The technology is specifically designed for improvement of an existing sonobuoy (ADAR), and as such, the main strategy must be to transition the technology into the production unit. Two year production contracts for ADAR procurement have been on the order of $10-11m. The most important steps to transition the technology are as follows:  Demonstrate utility / performance improvement with field prototypes (Phase II SBIR results by 3rd Quarter 2013)  Develop production design modification & integration plans with ERAPSCO, paying careful attention to minimize NRE required (estimates available 1st Quarter 2013, final plans by 4th Quarter 2014 as part of an initial Phase III effort)  Obtain funding for design modifications and manufacturing changes, integrate into production sonobuoy (Phase III effort, beginning 1st or 2nd Quarter 2014) Other customers might include environmental drifting buoy developers and users. Shape-adapting hydrodynamic elements (perhaps combined with vertical cable profiling capability to enable vertical mobility) could be very useful on drifting buoys, since they could vary the drift speed of the system and also provide some sensor profiling capability at a very low power level. This might also provide the capability to steer an otherwise Lagrangian buoy in a particular direction, something akin to hot air balloon navigation. The Global Drifter Program utilizes ~1000 Surface Velocity Profile drifters / year @ $3000 / buoy. These numbers are smaller than the sonobuoy market, but certainly worth pursuing. Return