Rom Development Corp. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N201-004

Description

ROM Development Corporation (ROM) is proposing a light, corrosion-proof, seaworthy, all-composite 8 meter (26 foot) autonomously controlled catamaran for the next generation Small High-Speed Amphibious Role-Variant Craft (SHARC).  This amphibious vessel an ideal design for meeting the speed, payload, and sea state requirements for Expeditionary Advanced Basing Operations (EABO) and Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment (LOCE).  The ROM SHARC design will support Mine Countermeasure Forces, Lethal Long-Range Unmanned Systems, as well as Forward Force Maneuver and Posture Resilience.  The catamaran will additionally have ballistic and electro-magnetic interference (EMI) protection available for critical components, such as engine and control system.  Full Naval integration is a key design element.  ROM’s SHARC design will have multi-mission capability for carrying Expeditionary Modular Autonomous Vehicle (EMAV), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and Unmanned Underwater Systems (UUS) as well as other equipment, smaller land vehicles, shelters, fuel bladders, electrical generation equipment, personnel, and evacuation/medical platforms.  Furthermore, the ROM’s SHARC will have capability to be quickly linked with other SHARC’s to provide a “bridge to the beach” for effective littoral landing, loading, deploying, and evacuating of various vehicles, personnel and equipment.  The bridge to the beach will support linkage of various modular mission packages directly from the vessel to shoreline thru challenging coastline and beach conditions. The stability and payload capability of ROM’s SHARC catamaran design is proven and cost effective to build large unit volumes.  Using ROM’s knowledge of both specialty craft and production boat-building brings unique volume, low-cost and capability knowledge to the US Marines. With long-term, low-cost, and high-volume production in mind the design and engineering will be driven by manufacturing cost effectiveness.  We will design to plug-and-play autonomous sensors and computers, as the technology is rapidly evolving and will need continuous upgrades.  The design will be able to accommodate new packages to mount and support this equipment. ROM Development Corporation’s SHARC solution is a truly unique “next generation” asset for the United States warfighter.