Sentient Adaptive Respone Cruise Harness (SeARCH) for Autonomous Sonobuoy Gliding&Navigation

Barron Associates, Inc. has proposed a unique and innovative design for precision-guided sonobuoy delivery. The basic glide harness design uses a novel split wing design that maximizes both wing area and span in a concise package, thus greatly improving the aerodynamic performance and range capability of the vehicle. The wings are designed to minimize the impact on the interior sonobuoy volume. Furthermore, the deployment of the wings and control surfaces is accomplished using the drag force of the sonobuoy parachute, thus removing the need for any active or passive actuation components on the sonobuoy. After the wings and control surfaces are deployed, Barron Associates"adaptive guidance routines will control the vehicle, bringing it to an accurate final position for sonobuoy release. The guidance algorithm being proposed here (LOER) has already been developed by Barron for several other government projects and is well suited to the task of guiding a glide-capability sonobuoy. The proposed Phase I effort will consist of both vehicle design and the building and flight testing of a prototype vehicle. The prototype vehicle will be used both for wind tunnel testing, and as a flight demonstration of the basic vehicle concept and the installed software.