Image credit: VIVACE at work. Courtesy Scott Galvin, U-M Photo Services

N121-025  Detecting Submerged Targets Using Very Low-Frequency Signals

To be successful on this topic, we believe it is imperitive to collect in-air and underwater VLF data to verify the prototype sensor’s performance.  We have the ability to collect extremely low frequency acoustic data (<<1Hz) in water and this experience will translate well to airborne systems.  We are interested in supporting signal processing experts to demonstrate this capability for the Navy.

OBJECTIVE:
Evaluate the potential of using underwater infrasonic signals for the in-air detection of submerged targets.

KEYWORDS:
Infrasonics, Water–Air interface, Vertical Dipole, Horizontal Dipole

N121-074 Fat Line Towed Array Straightening System

We have experience with towed array components as well as energy storage and small, energy efficient actuation / propulsion.  We also have capabilities with array hydrodynamic modeling.  If you have an idea but aren’t sure how to implement it, we would be interested in partnering with you to submit a proposal.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to develop a system that would keep the Fat Line (TB-16 series and TB-34) arrays straight and horizontal while towed at speeds as low as 1.5 knots to improve array effectiveness and reduce damage in shallow waters.

KEYWORDS: Drag inducing drogue; aft pulling propulsion; active buoyancy control; rheological fluids; towed array droop; low speed towed array

EXPERTISE
small business management
hydromechanical design
mechanical design
system design

Mr. Sparks has been involved in mechanical / hydromechanical design and testing of sonobuoys and other sensor systems for most of his career.  Before co-founding SeaLandAire, early in 1997, Mr. Sparks spent 16 years at Sparton Electronics as a Sr. Mechanical Engineer.  As the leader of the Hydromechanical Analysis and Design group, he was involved in the mechanical and hydromechanical design of all of Sparton’s production and developmental passive sonobuoys, as well as Sparton’s AN/SSQ-58B moored sonobuoy. His role in Sparton’s sonobuoy development group included project engineer, lead mechanical engineer, hydromechanical engineer, and hydromechanical test director.  He is experienced in mechanical packaging, shock/vibration testing, sonobuoy air descent certification, sensor system deployment, hydromechanical design, sonobuoy suspension design/testing, array design/testing, and mechanically induced noise certification.

EXPERTISE
modeling and simulation
autonomous systems
mechanical systems
advanced energy

Mr. Montague has been a key member of SeaLandAire’s technical team and has made significant contributions to the successful designs on all of SeaLandAire’s projects since joining the company full time in 2004.  His specific interests are renewable energy systems and small, sustainable autonomous vehicles.  Mr. Montague functions primarily as a high-level concept designer and systems engineer in project integration.  His involvement has included aerodynamic design of a rigid sail for wind energy harnessing, rim-driven ducted thruster development, solar array design, and oversight of several high efficiency power conversion circuit designs for energy harvesting and power transfer.  He was also involved in the detailed mechanical design and embedded code / GUI software development for SeaLandAire’s family of autonomous surface vehicles.  He is currently serving as project engineer on DARPA’s SB072-040 Unmanned Underwater Riverine craft (UURC), and also led the DARPA Persistent Ocean Surveillance (POS) autonomous station keeping buoy project.

EXPERTISE
hydrophone element design
acoustic transducer design
acoustic array design
FEA

Mr. Cole has been Program manager for multiple government programs with both design and manufacturing aspects. He has extensive experience in the design and manufacturing of military, medical and commercial electronics, air and underwater transducers, and implementation of different sensor types. His technical background includes underwater transducer design, electronic self-noise analysis, shock and vibration, FEA analysis with COSMOS, air and underwater ultrasonic sensors, IR sensor implementation, capacitance sensor, flow sensor, pressure sensor, seismic sensors and electronic design.  Numerous omni-directional and directional hydrophones have been developed for both sonobuoy and special applications.  He has developed mathematical models to aid in the design process and has modeled and fabricated active transducers, such as air-backed cylinders, free-flooded rings, bender projectors and slotted cylinder projectors.