GLSV Inc. will develop a robust and innovative autonomous depth control mechanism that will integrate into current and future ADCs which will enable greater power budgets for increased acoustic performance and/or operational range. The content of this proposal outlines GLSVs engineering approach and past SBIR experience that will be used to successfully meet the technical objectives of this topic. GLSV will fully define the project requirements and develop concept designs using advanced engineering CAE tools. A structured trade study will be used to rank the expected performance of the depth control mechanism and down select the best designs. Hydrodynamic analysis will determine the performance of the selected design with regard to ADC ascent, descent, hovering, and stability metrics. Physical system dynamic modeling will consider power flow through the design to identify component sizing requirements, operational range, and feasibility. Finite element analysis of critical components will mitigate failure modes and ensure reliable operation throughout the life of the ADC. The delivered technical package will be at a Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of 3 by the end of Phase I and mature to a TRL of 6 by the end of Phase II.
