Innovative Velocity Sensors

The Navy has identified needs to improve performance of submarines to decrease vulnerability and increase maneuverability. Currently, the Navy is developing technologies for building and installing large SONAR arrays external to the hull of a submarine. These technologies allow for a lightweight, scalable array which provides many options for installation and deployment. Integral to these arrays are the acoustic particle velocity sensors. There are several velocity sensors available for use: however, these sensors do not meet the improved sensor sensitivity desired by the Navy in order to increase the capability of submarine flank SONAR arrays. In addition, current sensor technology does not meet all the sensor environmental requirements that come with being installed on a submarine external to the pressure hull. The Navy needs an innovative sensor solution that can meet all the performance, form factor, and environmental requirements while striving to reduce per channel cost. This requires innovation at the design level to trade off all the performance and environmental requirements against packaging of the sensor as well as to facilitate automation during the production phase.