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Compact Low Noise Acoustic Sensors for Sonobuoys
Navy SBIR 2018.2 - Topic N182-136 ONR - Ms. Lore-Anne Ponirakis - [email protected] Opens: May 22, 2018 - Closes: June 20, 2018 (8:00 PM ET)
TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 264
Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Systems Program Office The technology within this
topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR),
22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related
material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the
Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls
dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals
(FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed,
and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s)
in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised
foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to
the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Develop,
fabricate, and demonstrate a compact, low-noise, sensitive underwater acoustic
sensor for use in sonobuoy applications. DESCRIPTION: Existing
underwater acoustic sensors found in common sonobuoys include hydrophone and
preamplifier circuits in a combined cylindrical package approximately 3.5� in
length and 1� in diameter. For purposes of this SBIR topic, the term �sensor�
will refer to a combination of a hydrophone and a pre-amplifier. Future
sonobuoys will make use of sensor arrays and thus will need to include more
sensors packaged into the same fixed volume. The reduction in size can pose a
design challenge for sensor developers, since reducing the volume of
piezoelectric materials in an acoustic sensor tends to increase susceptibility
to thermal noise and compromise performance. In addition to reducing the sensor
size, the cost per sensor must be low in order to be suitable for use in an
expendable sonobuoy device. The desired specifications for the sensor are: PHASE I: Identify a sensor
design that can be developed to meet the specifications. Undertake two or three
notional paper design variations to assess the strength of the approach. Select
a design variation to pursue in Phase II, analyze all aspects of the design,
and perform a cost analysis for production. PHASE II: Complete the design
selected in Phase I and fabricate a set of 4 prototypes. Complete preliminary performance
testing in an acoustic test tank or similar facility. Modify design based on
these results and then fabricate an additional 30 sensors and deliver them to
the Navy for independent testing. PHASE III DUAL USE
APPLICATIONS: Extensively test a subset of the sensors fabricated in Phase II
and test for severe environmental conditions of depth, temperature, and
operating time. Modify design based on these results and then fabricate/test an
additional 100 sensors. Compare the test results to those of the Phase II
sensors to determine consistency of outcomes. Assist the Navy in transitioning
the technology to the fleet. Appropriate dual-use applications for the
developed technology in the civilian market are for underwater sensing
systems�primarily for oceanographic research and hydrographic survey users. REFERENCES: 1. Tims, A. C., �Hydrophone
Preamplifier Optimization: Prediction of Hydrophone Self-Noise by a Noise
Model.� NRL Report 8180, Naval Research Laboratory, 1978. http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a053449.pdf 2. Sherman, Charles H. and
Butler, John L. �Transducers and Arrays for Underwater Sound.� Springer, 2007. http://www.springer.com/us/book/9781441921987 3. Rijnja, H. A. J.
�Sensitivity of Small Hydrophones.� Acta Acustica united with Acustica, Vol.
30, Number 1, 1974. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/dav/aaua/1974/00000030/00000001/art00005 4. Beauducel, Claude, and
Gautier, Thierry. �Increased sensitivity piezoelectric hydrophones.� Journal of
The Acoustical Society of America � 86, 10.1121/1.398589, 1989. http://asa.scitation.org/doi/10.1121/1.398589 KEYWORDS: Underwater Sensor;
Underwater Acoustics; Anti-submarine Warfare; Sonobuoy
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