Shark Weak Electromagnetic (EM) Field Detection for Moving Objects

This Phase I proposal is to establish the feasibility of a covert/low-observable sensor system for detecting and classifying small, slow moving surface or subsurface bodies in coastal shallow water, bays, port areas, or waterways utilizing weak EM signals or field deviations. We explore the possibility of developing a platform-independent sensor to emulate the observed electric sense of sharks. The sensor will be capable of deployment on the ocean bottom, Type A Sonobuoy size floats, and on AUVs. Substantial work must be done to enhance existing laboratory facilities with equipment necessary to control the ambient electric field, and this work is split across Phase I and a Phase I Option request. The sharks themselves will be our initial guides into what is possible. We will quantify the shark's ability to detect nonelectrogenic objects in an applied electric field, and determine the extent to which we can emulate it with custom-built electrodes. Once feasibility is determined, we will propose a prototype sensor capable of deployment on a variety of COTS platforms for Phase II.