Shark-Inspired Underwater Sensors for Homing and Imaging

The detection of objects underwater remains a difficult task. For many applications particularly marine defense operations, it is desirable to be able to identify the position of objects such as mines (buried and below the surface of the water) as well as to being able to discriminate between a rock and a mine. For many homeland security operations it is desirable to be able to monitor the movement of objects such as divers, and submarines in and out of harbors or restricted waters. The present technology monitors electric fields within the water and the perturbation which results from any object within the water continuum – stationary or moving. This technology has been conceived and extrapolated from that used by sharks which exhibit a bite reflex to small changes in the electric field due to the presence of prey. In the Phase II effort this technology will be used to identify the position of mines in the sea. BENEFITS: Imaging techniques for detection of underwater objects and avoidance, monitoring of ship passage, monitoring of ocean animals, and mapping of submarine topography, sbipwrecks, etc.