AIR-DEPLOYABLE EXPENDABLE MULTI-PARAMETER ENVIRONMENTAL PROBE

This SBIR proposes the development of an expendable probe required for in-situ or post analysis of environmental ocean measurements in support of Air Undersea Warfare (USW) surveillance systems. Variants may provide affordable monitors for commercial environmental applications. The technical objective is to formulate a design concept and demonstrate feasiblity of an air-deployed expendable multiparameter environmental probe. The program goal is to develop a system to obtain real tiem, environmental data in littoral ocean areas to optimize the deployment of acoustic and nonacoustic sensors and systems for Naval or commercial applications. Measurable parameters include; temperature profile, ambient noise and directionality, current velocity, water turbidity, salinity, ocean depth, acoustic bottom properties, transmission loss, and wave height, period and direction. Sensor characteristics to be considered are sensitivity, calibration, expendable, compact, light weight and low cost. Sensing techniques applying micromachine, fiber optics, microchip and electro-optic technologies will be investigated and evaluated. A system design concept providing flexibility through modular packaging, method of deployment, autonomous operation, and data storage, processing and monitoring is proposed. This sytem approach will provide a multipurpose capability for littoral/shallow water measurements, deep water measurements, drug enforcement operations and industrial control and enforcement operations.