The Navy seeks new and innovative data tether deployment modules for use in a variety of sonobuoys for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). These new data tether modules will feature high-data-rate, full-duplex communications to provide high resolution, high fidelity telemetry between the suspended payload and the surface unit. In addition to providing a data link, the tether must act as the mechanical tether to suspend the payload during the duration of operations. To meet the needs of the Navy, Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation (NASC) and partner Aurora Optics, Inc., plan to develop the HIDAR (HIgh DAta Rate) Tether Module. The HIDAR Tether will feature a strengthened fiber optic tether (the HIDAR Tehter), spooled into a cable packed and held in a deployment canister or frame, and a modular electronics unit (the HIDAR Electronics Unit, or HEU), with a flexible interface that allows different types of buoys to be conndected to the HIDAR module.
Benefit: The HIDAR Tether Module will provide very high data rates for the next generation of buoys that are expected to incorporate a large number of high-resolution sensors. The new module will allow the transfer of data from the payload to the surface unit much more quickly than existing tethers. The need for a high data rate tether exists in many applications and industries. Many types of high resolution, high sampling rate sensor payloads benefit from a lightweigh robust communication bus for transferring telemtry to a central location for further processing or storage.
Keywords: Sensors, Sensors, Gbps Miniaturized, antisubmarine warfare, Acoustics, Strengthened Fiber Optic Tether, tether, High data rate, Sonobuoy
