N142-096 TITLE: Low Cost Information Assured Passive and Active Embedded Processing

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Materials/Processes, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 264

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN NATIONALS: This topic is "ITAR Restricted". The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign nationals may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign national who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal may be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Design, develop and demonstrate an Information Assurance/Anti-Tamper (IA/AT) advanced sonar processing capability to be embedded in sonobuoys.

DESCRIPTION: Currently, sonobuoy signals are processed by on-station rotary or fixed wing aircraft which requires continuous sonobuoy surveillance by the on-station aircraft. The existing radio frequency (RF) telemetry has minimal IA security between the sonobuoy and the on-station aircraft. To enhance the RF IA telemetry the sonobuoy data needs to be reduced in volume by ten orders of magnitude using advanced active and/or passive signals using in-buoy processing techniques for the respective sonobuoy. The existing RF telemetry link between the sonobuoy and air platforms will continue to use the very high frequency (VHF) RF sonobuoy spectrum using a coherent Gaussian frequency shift keying (GFSK) modulation. To improve the sonobuoy eight hour acoustic signal processing life the sonobuoy needs to autonomously store and process this data when air platforms are out of radio range or otherwise not present for up to seventy-two hours. AT techniques will need to be addressed for the protection of in-buoy algorithms coefficients, processed data and stored data while the sonobuoy is in the water. The cost for the proposed IA/AT improved sonobuoy is: Goal�less than $150.00, threshold $270.00.

The specific IA/AT technical areas of consideration for the GFSK telemetry data are: Global Positioning System (GPS) tagged recordings of sonar signal streams; beamformed, multiplexed and/or element level acoustic data; active and passive streaming data signals; detection threshold selected by the in-buoy processor; active sonar detections; passive tripwire tagging; and in-buoy modeling results for the sensed ocean currents and sea state.

A successful solution may be used in AN/SSQ-53F, AN/SSQ-62E, AN/SSQ-101A, and/or AN/SSQ-125 sonobuoy and will undergo an at-sea demonstration.

PHASE I: Design and demonstrate feasibility of an IA/AT capability embedded in an "A" size sonobuoy in accordance with the parameters in the Description. Perform a preliminary power budget, data throughput, RF link analysis, in-buoy signal processing requirements and in-buoy data storage analysis for implementation into the four buoys.

PHASE II: Develop a prototype sonobuoy for demonstration. The prototype sonobuoy demonstration will use simulated acoustic data which will contain active and/or passive signals in a wide range of acoustic conditions and sea states (international scale 1-5) to show the improvements over an existing sonobuoy. Refine the power budget, data throughput, RF link analysis, in-buoy signal processing requirements and in-buoy data storage analysis completed in Phase I.

PHASE III: Develop and manufacture low cost elements for transition and inclusion into the existing sonobuoy designs. Perform an at-sea demonstration of the prototype buoys with the new capabilities. Scale up manufacturing capabilities and commercialization plans.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Other applications of information assured data include Homeland Defense, Industrial Perimeter Security, Home Security, Ultra-light Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV), and aids for hearing impaired or visually impaired persons.

REFERENCES:
1. Kurzweil, R., 2012, How to Create a Mind: The Secret of Human Thought Revealed, Viking Adult: ISBN-13: 978-0670025299; ISBN-10: 0670025291.

2. Waite, A.D., 2002, Sonar for Practicing Engineers, Third Edition. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., ISBN 10: 0-471-49750-9 (P/B); ISBN 13: 978-0-471-49750-9 (P/B).

3. Holler, R., Horbach, A., & McEachern, J., 2008, The Ears of Air ASW: A History of U. S. Sonobuoys. Navmar Applied Sciences Corp: ISBN 978-0-615-20113-9.

KEYWORDS: Anti-Tamper; Information Assurance; In-buoy Processing; Acoustic Tripwires, sonobuoy, sonobuoy telemetry

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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