Exercise Torpedo End-Of-Run (EOR) Global Positioning System (GPS) Locator

The US Navy seeks the development of a miniature transponder locator unit, capable of sustaining high shock loads that can be placed in both lightweight and heavyweight exercise torpedoes for rapid torpedo recovery. Currently, a considerable amount of time and resources is expended to visually search for the exercise torpedo after the end of run, and the solicitation aims to develop a system that enables timely recovery of the exercise torpedo with limited assets. The transponder must have an endurance of 24 hours, determine the torpedo’s location via a GPS receiver, and communicate the torpedo’s position via an RF and underwater acoustic link at ranges up to 5 nautical miles. In this Phase I proposal, Adaptive Methods proposes to design and prototype components of a refurbishable and reusable transponder that meets the solicitation’s volume and communications requirements. A laboratory demonstration of key RF, acoustic, and antenna components is also proposed in the Phase I Basic work. Design, prototyping, and in-water demonstration of the acoustic communications component is proposed in the Phase I Option work.