SBIR-STTR Award

This proposal will investigate state-of-the-art acoustic sensor and power amplifier technology and develop innovative design concepts compatible with the need to define and document an EWARS acoustic sensor system for Navy development. The research will explore active acoustic sensor and related electronic component technology which is compatible with the severe packaging and cost constraints of airborne ASW expendable sensors.

Keywords:
Wide Band Acoustic Source, Wide Band Acoustic Source, Sonobuoy, Asw

It is the focus of this SBIR topic to investigate the potential of applying the latest state-of-the-art active acoustic sensor technology for use in a wideband acoustic source / receiver sensor system. This system must be capable of characterizing the acoustic ocean environment over a wide frequency band while meeting the severe packaging, weight, and cost constraints imposed by airborne sonobuoy operational missions. The Phase I study resulted in the design of the NAVMAR AAS EWARS sonobuoy “family”. NAVMAR AAS concentrated its study effort in the acoustic transducer designs required to meet the multi-frequency performance of the EWARS system, and the need to package the multi-functionality requirements of EWARS in an A-size sonobuoy. The study effort resulted in the design of six sonobuoys covering the nine EWARS frequencies. The Phase II effort is directed toward the most challenging of the six buoys, the low frequency EWARS. It is focused on the Slotted Cylinder Projector (SCP) transducer development, which is the critical technology used to meet required signal levels. Phase II will result in the development of a single EWARS sonobuoy, capable of operating at the two lowest EWARS frequencies.

Keywords:
EWARS, EWARS, Anti-Submarine Warfare, slotted cylinder projector, low frequency, transducer, Sonobuoy, underwater acoustics