Miniaturized Wireless Data Acquisition for Payload Development and Integration

Submarine operation in the littorals is characterized by high shipping density, technologically current threats, and often limited maneuverability. The development of new acoustic countermeasure technologies is fundamental to survival in this environment. Modifications to the External Countermeasure Launchers (ECL) to support launch of multiple, highly capable 3” devices necessitates an aggressive test program to prove new designs against the severe launch trauma, characteristic of launch during torpedo evasion, often at or near flank speed. There is currently no method for instrumenting these devices to collect data through a launch cycle. Lateral accelerations and shock trauma due to high cross flow experienced either in launches from the 3” signal ejector or the external launchers on some platforms, eject the countermeasure nearly orthogonal to the flow field. A device which can fit within the size constraints of an ADC Mk2 countermeasure and can withstand its very high axial (>100 g’s) and lateral accelerations (>1,000 g’s) during launch could be installed on most any type of submarine or surface ship launched payload. The development of a compact, shock hardened, wireless accessible, programmable, embedded data collection suite which could be deployed on any payload is key to future vehicle and launcher development.