Submarine-Deployable Weather Sensor

To address the Navy’s need for an innovative, low-cost approach to collect real-time surface weather data for submergible vessels, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Submarine-Deployable Weather Sensor (SDWS) based on a new design that integrates POC’s miniature weather sensor electronics with proven deployable buoy systems. Specifically, the innovation in POC’s compact and robust weather sensor design integrated through novel packaging within a mature deployable buoy architecture will enable a low-cost, small sensing device that will accurately measure weather parameters above the ocean’s surface after deployment at depth. As a result, the SDWS will offer the ability to obtain real-time, highly accurate meteorological data to submergible vessels and meet the Navy’s need to provide timely and valuable data to support mission-critical planning. In Phase I, POC demonstrated the feasibility of SDWS by integrating and packaging a fully-functional basic sensor buoy prototype that can be deployed from underwater and accurately collect weather data. In Phase II, POC plans to optimize the design and implement features that allow for sensor deployment at submarine diving depths and to design sensor communication that interfaces with existing submarine capabilities, all in a low-cost package that will obtain approval for on-board testing.