High-Speed, Multi-Spool Fiber Optic Payout for Undersea Communications at Depth

An SBIR Phase I program is proposed to research and develop a fiber optic bobbin design that will perform at greater depth and deployment speeds and allow high speed manufacturability. Our unique bobbin design approach will focus on providing high-speed simultaneous winding of two payout spools using a single continuous optical fiber. Computer simulations and hydrodynamic modeling will be performed to allow us to fully understand and predict the deployment environment encountered by the fiber optic bobbin. The results of the hydrodynamic modeling, leveraged with our years of experience designing and developing high speed precision fiber optic winding machines, will help us design and develop the optimal fiber optic bobbin.