Ultra-Low Noise Digital Acquisition Module for Electromagnetic Sensors

Sequent Logic proposes to address a critical technology gap in naval operations and maritime defense by developing an advanced data acquisition (DAQ) system for underwater electromagnetic sensors (UEMs). Current commercial off-the-shelf analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) limit the capabilities of modern UEM sensors, with their noise floors masking weak electromagnetic signatures and their bulky form factors constraining system design. The proposed DAQ module will be designed to integrate directly with UEM sensors without interconnect cables. It will also leverage best-in-class ADC chips, low-noise analog pre-conditioning, and digital post-processing techniques to achieve greater than 20 dB noise floor reduction over commercial DAQ modules currently deployed by the U.S. Navy. Having been designed for a specific purpose, the proposed DAQ module will be smaller, lighter, less expensive, and consume less power than a general-purpose unit, improving the portability of fielded instruments.