awareness (SA) on both the target of interest and the surrounding environment. Additionally, a real-time visualization capability is needed to provide the depth perception for refined vehicle and manipulator movement and control when operating in close proximity to threat devices being inspected or when accomplishing required preparatory steps for neutralization.

 

State-of-the-art commercial underwater 3D technology currently available for purchase is cumbersome (large volume/high power), expensive, requires the transmission of large volumes of digital data, and extensive post- processing. Ruggedized commercial solutions are unsuitable in their current form factor for use on small ROVs operating from small rubber craft for Navy expeditionary missions in the near shore undersea environment. The Navy is seeking low-cost 3D visualization solutions, with a production cost not exceeding $50,000 that meet size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints unique to inspection class ROVs, and that overcome limitations associated with both 2D camera display and the processing-intensive software burden associated with multiple camera solutions.

 

The payload will be physically integrated onto the Teledyne SeaBotix vLBV300 ROV for the initial development concept, and ultimately onto a similar size Next Generation EOD Underwater Response Vehicle once the Navy has down-selected from ongoing acquisition efforts. Integration must provide both a 360-degree 3D visualization of the underwater environment and depth perception at the working end of the installed manipulator(s) for the ROV operator. As a threshold, the payload should weigh no more than 5 pounds in air and be neutrally buoyant in the water or within the buoyancy reserve of the specific ROV. The payload will use 12V or 28V DC power supplied by the vehicle with a data bandwidth requirement of no more than 1/2 of the available system bandwidth (approximately 20-200 mb/sec). The housing for the payload should be waterproof to a depth of 1000 feet seawater. Processing of camera imagery to provide a 360-degree, 3D visualization should be accomplished in real time so that the ROV operator sees no time lag in the picture.

 

The development effort will require analysis of the system and software architecture of the Teledyne SeaBotix vLBV300 and the available hardware/software trade space that would enable the development of a modular, plug- and-play 360-degree, 3D visualization system with VR capability that can be rapidly integrated within this architecture. The effort should also investigate integration of the technology into VR head-mounted displays in the event that organic ROV capabilities are deemed inadequate for integration of the 3D visualization/VR functionality. A critical aspect will be defining the focal point and lens requirements needed to provide depth perception for manipulation tasks. Analysis should also include an operational summary of the expected performance capabilities. Characterization of the design for robustness in terms of ROV motion in all three axes, at between 0 to 3 knots in speed, under the influence of current, and at different target object distances will be required. An initial characterization of the ability to provide depth perception in the range of 2 � 6 inches from the leading edge of the manipulator with a field of view =120 degrees is required. Efforts will include summary considerations for ensuring system compliance with DoD cyber security policies and guidelines as articulated in DoD Instruction 8500.01 of 14 March 2014 for software integration onto remotely operated vehicles and human-supervised autonomous weapons systems, and an estimate of unit cost and maintenance cost for the payload to aid in transition planning.

 

PHASE I: Develop a conceptual design of a 360-degree, 3D visualization system with VR functionality (�payload�) that meets the requirements described in the Description. Demonstrate the feasibility of the concept through modeling and simulation. Develop a Phase II plan. The Phase I Option, if exercised, will include the initial design specifications and capabilities description to build a prototype solution in Phase II.

 

PHASE II: Develop two prototype systems to be validated against the objectives stated in the Description. Develop prototypes for a Next Generation EOD Underwater Response Vehicle. Produce sequential development of two prototype 360-degree, 3D visualization subsystems to support Navy testing and evaluation. Ensure that these prototypes enable 360-degree, 3D visualization with a VR capability for an ROV operator and one local observer. If necessary for initial demonstrations, system power and video data for the first prototype can be transmitted through an independent cabling system that is married to the ROV tether and terminated at an independent computer console. Based on lessons learned during the integration of the first prototype, design the second prototype as an integral subsystem of the ROV with no external cabling or computers, except for the VR headset. Test these prototypes in both controlled and operationally relevant underwater environments, in varying ambient light conditions ranging from bright sunlight conditions in shallow water (e.g. < 20 fsw), to no-light conditions at night