PacMar Technologies LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: HR001119S0035-15

Description

Current deep-sea profiling gliders and buoys are designed for maximum dive cycles with high fidelity sampling rates, which limits vertical dive and assent velocities to approximately 0.1 m/s.  Designed for oceanographic measurement proficiency, affordability, and endurance leaves available profiling systems deficient in performance metrics of interest to DoD specific missions. The family of existing profiling buoys and gliders do not support the desired dive cycles and ascent/descent rates for some envisioned applications. The goal of this Sequential Phase II program is to develop and demonstrate a long-lasting, deep-water, depth changing buoy or glider that can achieve an average vertical ascent/descent rate of approximately1 m/s with an endurance of more than 100 dive cycles.  Many different deep-diving profiling buoys and gliders currently exist, but typically operate at significantly slower vertical speeds to conserve energy and prolong endurance.  This program aims to use advances in power systems, power management, and propulsion to meet the mission objectives.  The top-level requirements are the following: •    Build, test, and deliver a prototype buy or glider •    Enable high speed vertical ascent and descent rates •    Provide endurance for multiple dive cycles to deep depths •    Include standard ocean profiling sensors and satellite command and control subsystems •    Accommodate the ability to host 1-2 additional neutrally buoyant payloads •    Minimize the size and weight of the system to enable deployment from multiple platforms Martin Defense Group (MDG) has partnered with the Applied Research Lab at the University of Washington (APL-UW) on this program and has successfully completed a Phase II base program, which resulted in the design and analysis of a Variable Speed and Energy Efficient Fast Float (VSEEFF) that is compliant with the requirements stated above. The float is sized accordingly to provide adequate payload volume and energy for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) envisioned payloads.  Martin Defense Group has also incorporated design elements to enable rapid conversion from a vertical float to a deep-diving glider for multi-mission capability.  The core systems are common between both configurations. MDG will continue to develop, fabricate, and test a modular, robust, cost effective, long endurance, high-speed profiling float capable of fulfilling multiple mission requirements for the DoD and oceanographic communities. A modular approach to the float design will allow for easy attachment of glide wings to quickly transform a vertical drift float to an ocean glider, alleviating the need to carry multiple assets to achieve multi-mission capability.  A prototype VSEEFF will be successfully demonstrated to meet the program objectives at the conclusion of this sequential Phase II program.