AN/ASQ-233 Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) Light Weight Towing System for Light Weight Helicopters and Small, Vertical Take Off Unmanned Aerial Vehic

This SBIR Phase I proposal describes the development of a conceptual design for the Light Weight Towing System (LWTS). Polatomic and Meggitt Defense Systems, Inc. will join their respective magnetic sensor and reel-in/reel-out towing system expertise and experience to develop the requirements for an affordable light weight ASQ-233 MAD towing system for light weight helicopter and small UAV applications. The design objectives will be to develop a design for a self contained very light weight universal towing system that will support multiple platforms. The towing system will consist of a non-magnetic stable tow vehicle, non-magnetic tow cable and a light weight reeling machine that can deploy, tow and retrieve the ASQ-233 MAD sensor. Tradeoff studies will be performed during the Phase I contract regarding system weight, aerodynamic requirements, towing speeds, cable characteristics, towed body design, and platform interchangeability.