Buoyancy Control Package for Miniature Undersea Sensors

The proposed is an buoyancy control module based on the "Cuttlefish". It substitutes man-made Smart Material and MEMS technology to duplicate capabilities occuring in nature.The proposed strategy would emulate the functionality of the Cuttlefish and its natural capability to maintain neutrally buoyancy. The solution is envisioned as a smart Micro Fluidic Control System that would be etched into a single micro-chip with acombination of channels, pumps, valves and associated control circuitry.The challenge in the proposed work will be the merging of smart materials and MEMS components with the associated control systems for buoyancy and propulsion while working within the low-energy and size restraints of the system. The key to the success ofthis proposal will be leveraging the diverse technologies and techniques to meet U.S.Navy requirements. The research is expected to establish the micro-machining of smart materials and micro-concepts for buoyancy control as energy-efficient and scalablesolution.