Deep Vector Sensor System

The US Navy has a requirement for a Reliable Acoustic Path A-sized sonobuoy system. The major challenge is to reduce sensor electronic noise to exploit the environment. Additionally, A-size introduces numerous technical challenges for flow and vertical motion induced noise mitigation, for data telemetry, and for packaging. Progeny Systems Corporation teamed with UnderSea Sensor Systems, Inc. proposes to develop an innovative Deep Vector Sensor sonobuoy based on single crystal vector sensor technology. Single crystal sensing elements offers a wide frequency range in a compact size with low power consumption, and our low-noise analog signal conditioning and compensation microcircuitry can meet the noise requirements. Our sonobuoy concept features a decoupled drifting sensor module with passive buoyancy compensation that deploys after descent to near the ocean bottom in up to 6km water; up to a one hour deployment sequence. Precision wound fiber optic cable provides telemetry, with suspension to buffer vertical wave-induced motion. A modified upper electronics assembly serves as communications gateway to the aircraft. Our Phase I effort will design and demonstrate feasibility for the vector sensor, design and model the drifting sensor module, and develop the high level buoy design. Phase I option will fabricate and test the sensor.