Swing Electro-Acoustic Sensor

To address the Navy"s need for compact low-noise electrodes to be used with air-deployed electric-field sensor platforms, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Swing Electro-Acoustic Sensor (SEAS). This proposed technology is based on a new system design that utilizes in-house developed carbon fiber electrodes and an innovative electrometer concept using commercially available components. The innovation in the system and electrode fabrication technology will enable the SEAS device to detect low-frequency and low-magnitude electromagnetic fields in seawater. As a result, this technology offers operation in a wide frequency range, high sensitivity and frequency selectivity, and reliable operation in the turbulent environment, which directly addresses the Navy"s Air ASW Systems PMA-264 program and A-size buoy requirements, such as low-noise floor in both ultra-low and extremely-low frequency bands, rapid deployment, tolerance to thermal and salinity variations, and compatibility with A-size buoy container and launcher. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of SEAS technology and design low-noise and dry-storage electrodes by the evaluation of a conceptual benchtop prototype. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a SEAS prototype and demonstrate it in the operational environment.