High Sea State Automated Deployment and Retrieval of Towed Bodies from a Small Surface Platform Navy SBIR FY2014.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2014.1 Topic No.: N141-058 Topic Title: High Sea State Automated Deployment and Retrieval of Towed Bodies from a Small Surface Platform Proposal No.: N141-058-0733 Firm: Navatek Ltd 841 Bishop Street Suite 1110 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Contact: Gary Shimozono Phone: (808) 531-7001 Web Site: www.navatekltd.com Abstract: The proposed effort will address the problem of deploying and retrieving a tow body in rough wave conditions from a small craft or large ship. The approach makes use of a material newly available to the U.S. Department of Defense. The material is drop stitch fabric, whose use was restricted by the Berry amendment. The concept for this project is to make a structure to deploy and retrieve tow bodies from inflatable drop stitch panels. The structure will be sufficiently rigid to support tow bodies, but compliant to preclude damaging the tow bodies by impact. Benefits: The novel material will make available to the warfighter a capability that is relatively inexpensive, lightweight, storeable in a small package, and protects the tow bodies from damage. Return