Underwater Low Noise Acoustic Sensor System

To address the Navy’s need for a compact low noise hydrophone sensor for use in sonobuoy array systems, Intellisense Systems, Inc. (ISI) proposes to develop a novel Underwater Low Noise Acoustic Sensor (ULNAS). It will utilize new piezoelectric single crystal materials with enhanced electromechanical coupling characteristics with high sensitivity and custom-developed low noise preamplifier electronics. The hydrophone sensor will contain an acoustic coupling outer housing for signal transduction to the sensing element and rigid construction casing to protect and shield the device electronics. In Phase I, ISI will demonstrate the feasibility of the ULNAS technology through design, simulation, and testing of the newly developed single crystal sensing elements and will compare it to devices with identical geometries fabricated from traditional piezoceramic sensing elements. In Phase II, ISI plans to design, fabricate, and test multiple hydrophone sensors based on design considerations and testing from the Phase I prototypes. Device performance will be fully simulated and tested with the developed piezoelectric sensing elements.