Additive Manufacturing Technology for Sonobuoy Applications

Hydronalix, a world leader in maritime robotic rescue systems will team with the Materials Department Rapid Prototyping Center at Oklahoma State University to perform this program. The Phase I program will focus on the study to identify, develop, and qualify use of rapid prototyping 3D Printing technologies for reducing the cost to manufacture Navy sonobuoys by at least 10% but most likely a much larger reduction. The contractor team already has extensive experience in use of 3D printing and low cost composite extrusion and layup processes in its commercial EMILY product line and small autonomous mobile buoy surface sensor platform line. The contractor has qualified a number of commercially available 3D printing systems and materials for use in extreme maritime environments with use throughout the globe. The contract will utilize this expertise base to build on for application of low cost high performance sonobuoy production for U.S. Navy.