Non-contact sea water optical attenuation meter

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop a compact optical attenuation meter for shipboard deployment and operation. The meter will be based on established LIDAR technology and will incorporate integrated data collection and processing and system self-checks to minimize the requirement for operator training. Algorithms will be developed to convert the measured LIDAR signal profiles to depth-dependent attenuation measurements and convert the data as needed to be relevant to a variety of Navy electro-optic imaging assets. The development will be guided by stated Navy performance goals for measurement accuracy, depth penetration and resolution, and operational requirements including low deployment and training impact and operator safety.