Deep Vector Sensor System

Applied Physical Sciences and the Navmar Applied Sciences propose to adapt existing vector sensor and sonobuoy technology within their respective areas of expertise to develop a preliminary design for a passive deep water directional sonobuoy. The Phase I Base is centered on tasks pertaining to vector sensor design with emphasis on achieving the stringent noise floor criteria in an A-Size sonobuoy form factor. Other critical tasks include those concerning sonobuoy design which focuses on aspects related to packaging, deployment, hydro-mechanical self-noise, and telemetry. A small task will be conducted to obtain preliminary system level performance predictions of the vector sensor in an operationally significant environment. During the Phase I Option prototype designs for the pressure hydrophone and pressure-gradient hydrophone will be fabricated and tested for model validation purposes. The same type of test and evaluation approach will be employed to assess the fidelity of the hardwire telemetry link which routes the data from the sensor to a surface float.