NextDroids goal is to design, build and field improved propulsion technologies for small and medium size Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) systems. The proposed solution will allow these UUVs to sprint at higher speeds, increase time on station, and field new operational capabilities in a routine, quick, reliable, and uneventful manner. Not only will this improve the current Concept of Operations for Mine Counter Measuresby providing faster ingress/egress, greater tolerance to sea-state and facilitating greater stand-offbut solving these limitations will enable UUVs to contribute more robustly in the arena of seabed warfare and anti-submarine warfare. Based on decades of experience, we delivered functioning prototypes in the Phase I program, offering a major advance in depth independence, top speed, and propulsion efficiency. First, this Phase II effort subjects the prototypes to carefully calibrated and authoritative characterization in the Key Performance Indicator areas. Then, with the baseline in hand, spiral improvements are conducted throughout the program, improving overall performance with respect to: speed, power, efficiency, magnetic signature, and radiated acoustic noise. Finally, the Phase II effort will deliver fully functional Limited Rate Initial Production (LRIP) units.
Benefit: NextDroids next generation propulsion unit for small and medium size UUVs is based on a few key principles (i.e. seawater flooded architecture, contra-rotating propellers, and a hollow one atmosphere core throughout) to provide the best combination of features and performance characteristics. No other method is a match with regards to the top level objectives of the following SBIR goals: adding a higher sprint speed capability (up to 8 knots) for faster ingress/egress transits of up to 10 nautical miles to pre-planned search areas, while maintaining near neutral buoyancy and minimal change in trim during transit. The NextDroid prototype solution was already used to successfully push the sprint speed for the REMUS to eight (8) knots, while increasing its propulsive efficient by 25%and adding no net weight or volume to the existing UUV. operating in depths ranging from 5 feet of sea water (fsw) down to 1000 fsw. As the NextDroid solution is seawater flooded, the thruster architecture is depth independent. The depth rating is set by the hollow one atmosphere core, which may easily be rated to 6000m (20,000 fsw) if necessaryfar exceeding the 1000 fsw objective. reducing, by 20% or higher, acoustic and magnetic noise levels associated with actuators and propulsors on small and medium size UUVs to improve minefield survivability. Best engineering estimates have been used to date, however, we require data sets from the existing platforms to assess the performance of the new design with respect to signature reduction. This will be measured and studied early in the Phase II effort. while not expressly stated, seamless integration into the existing platforms is impliedand an imperativeto successfully measure the governments investment in this program. The NextDroid propulsion unit has already been successfully integrated into the Mk18-Mod1; the design is modular and seawater flooded, lending itself to integration onto other UUVs. There is a straightforward electromechanical interface and a simple software protocol. Further, our team has previously worked with Hydroid, Bluefin and L3 on various projects.
Keywords: Sprint Speed, depth independent, Mk18, Thruster, Propulsion, seawater flooded, UUV
