SBIR-STTR Award

The Remote Minehunting System (RMS) AN/WLD-1(V)1 vehicle (RMV) currently does not have a forward-looking sonar (FLS), or any other underwater obstacle avoidance sensor. This means that the RMV itself, while towing a sonar array, will be "flying blind" in littoral environments that are expected to have mines and other obstacles. Operating without an FLS poses a significant risk to the vehicle, and therefore to the RMS mission. The addition of an FLS to the RMV will eliminate this risk. Sonatech is in a unique position to rapidly develop a design for an FLS for the RMS application that incorporates state-of-the-art technology and features and that can be produced with low risk. This is because Sonatech has extensive experience in high-performance FLS design and has previously developed a design concept proposed for the RMV FLS. Using a combination of existing design and technology along with development of new and modified transducer array designs, Sonatech can produce an FLS with the performance capabilities desired for the RMS, compatible with installation on the RMV.

Keywords:
Remote Minehunting System, Rms, Forward Looking Sonar, Fls, Mine Warfare, Antisubmarine Warfare, Asw, Obstacles

The Remote Minehunting System (RMS) AN/WLD-1(V)1 vehicle (RMV) currently does not have a forward-looking sonar (FLS) or any other underwater obstacle avoidance sensor. This means that the RMV itself, while towing a sonar array, will be "flying blind" in littoral environments that are expected to have mines and other obstacles. Operating without an FLS poses a significant risk to the vehicle and therefore to the RMS mission. The addition of an FLS to the RMV will eliminate this risk. Sonatech is in a unique position to manufacture a prototype FLS system for the RMS application that incorporates the state-of-the-art technology and features of the design developed by Sonatech in Phase I of this project. This is because Sonatech has extensive experience in high-performance FLS design and manufacture for a number of critical applications. Sonatech has successfully completed Phase I of the program by proving the feasibility of the concept with transducer prototypes test data, system performance analyses, system design specification which all serve as the basis for the production of a prototype FLS in Phase II.

Benefit:
UUVs,such as the RMV that conduct operations and warfare-related missions in littoral areas are vulnerable to a variety of naturally occurring obstacles and hazards such as mines, submarines, and swimmers. An FLS capable of detecting these obstacles and hazards at long standoff ranges can increase the safety of the UUV and the probability of mission success. Additionally, the FLS has applications to the Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) community, the Large Diameter UUV, the Littoral Combat Ship, and others.

Keywords:
Obstacle Avoidance Sonar, remote minehunting system, ISR, reconnaissance, antisubmarine warfare, forward looking sonar, surveillance, intelligence