Aircraft Carrier Catapult Cylinder Slot Gap Measurement

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes the development of an advanced, self-propelled, aircraft-launch catapult gap measurement instrument to replace aging and obsolete gap measurement devices currently in use by the US Navy Aircraft Carrier fleet. Current equipment is unreliable, bulky, difficult to use and maintain, and prone to measurement errors and frequent failures. PSI has recently developed a "Gap Gear" prototype under an internally funded research and development (IR&D) program that was completed in the fall of 2003. The design incorporates advanced features and capabilities that were identified during discussions with fleet operators and technical experts interviewed aboard the USS Kennedy in the summer of 2003. Through its IR&D program, PSI has developed and demonstrated an innovative design based on proven COTS technologies and has fabricated and tested a prototype catapult gap measurement system that affordably addresses the key system shortcomings observed in the current instrumentation. In the proposed Phase I and subsequent Phase II SBIR programs, PSI shall leverage the results of its IR&D effort, and will fully develop an aircraft launch catapult gap measurement system to meet the catapult gap measurement requirements of the US Navy Catapult preventative maintenance programs.