Un-tethered Velocity of Sound Profiling Sensor (UVOSPS)

The Un-tethered Velocity of Sound Profiling Sensor (UVOSPS) provides the Navy with a unique solution for gathering sound velocity profiles (SVPs). It operates by releasing probes from a sonobuoy whenever an SVP is required. As a probe descends through the water, it gathers SVP data and transmits it back to the sonobuoy. The result is a better understanding of environmental conditions throughout the process of searching for submarines. By using this environmental information, it is possible to know where submarines may be hiding. The result is a much more thorough understanding of the battlespace. This novel approach to the problem has advantages over currently employed methods of gathering SVP information. The probes are small enough to enable several SVPs per sonobuoy. This minimizes the number of required sonobuoys, which in turn decreases the time and cost associated with sonobuoy deployment. It will also decrease danger to soldiers by minimizing the time they are required to be in the battlespace. The wireless nature of UVOSPS provides flexibility for deployment scenarios because it operates in both shallow and deep water; it will not tangle on bottom structures. UVOSPS can also provide bottom depth information, which is useful in analyzing the battlespace environment.