Wattre is proposing a transducer design study to trade-off the benefits of different types of transducer technologies and integrate the resulting array elements to create an optimal package to satisfy the sponsor requirements. To meet the wide bandwidth requirements, Wattre will investigate multiple acoustic generation methods and determine their suitability to be used in a multi element where each acoustic channel is responsible for a given operational frequency band. The design approach divides the acoustic source output signal into discrete frequency sections controlled by a crossover network Within this design a single device is not be required to operate across an overly wide bandwidth which results in higher input efficiencies and enhanced acoustic performance. This modular acoustic source design approach spreads the acoustic ouput requirement over multiple array elements where each individual array element is optimized for its discrete operational frequency band. The three candidate technologies described to be investigated within this proposal are PZT transducers for high frequency operation targeting 1kHz to 5kHz, Compounded Magnetics Circuitry (CMC) for mid/low frequency bandwidth targeting 40Hz to 1kHz bandwidth and a Hydrodynamic oscillator targeting low frequency 10Hz to 40Hz bandwidth.
Benefit: The commercialization strategy will begin with the Navys Transition Assistance Program (TAP). The TAP provides small businesses like Wattre the services of a business acceleration manager and a market researcher who will assist us in identifying commercial markets and other government agencies who may be in need of technology similar to that developed under the Phase I and Phase II effort. The initial target market includes the U.S. Navy community, the oceanographic community, and the oil exploration industry.
Keywords: High SPL, High SPL, Low Drag, Multi-way Array, Piezoelectric, hydrodynamic, CMC
