Compact, lightweight Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) with robust navigation and range for riverine reconnaissance

This Phase II proposal is to enhance the propulsion, hull form, navigation systems, and add biological hazard sensing to the basic autonomous mobile buoy (AMB) platform. This will be based upon the lessons learned and adaptive missions that have been identified during previous development efforts for aircraft controlled and deployed small unattended surface sensors. The project will specifically look at and address: increased power development; hull design enhancement to accommodate increased sensor payloads, transit/escape speed, and mission durations; investigate reducing surface expression; sky/star positioning in GPS denied or spoofed areas; water sampling for biohazards (chemicals, containments, fuel, etc.); magnetic signature reduction and subsurface detection capability; additional sensors from previous SBIRs (hyperspectral-, RF detection, etc); and incorporation of sensors into hull (conformal).