SOC26BZ01-DV001 TITLE: Compact UUV Borne LiDAR System
Award Maximum: $1,000,000 | Period of Performance: Not to exceed 12 months | Phase Type: Direct to Phase II
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to develop applied research towards a low cost and compact Laser interferometric Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system for rapid clearance of undersea terrain and checkout by divers and vessel operators. To this end, this effort is developing a compact, low-cost LiDAR package for available Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) systems that can be utilized for offboard collection and inspection of the entire water column, particularly in ports, harbors and confined waterspaces.
DESCRIPTION: As a part of this feasibility study, the proposers shall address all viable overall system design options with respective specifications is needed to both understand the safe operation, maintenance and general use of LiDAR based payloads for man portable UUV systems from Fast Attack Craft (FAC). Further, standardized collection methods and accessible UUV frame integration is needed. This effort seeks to secure designs and rapidly procurable, safe to operate and relatively low cost & compact systems to this end, particularly for shallow water and littoral operational depths (nominally optimal for surf zone to VSW depths, but functional to 200m).
PHASE I (FEASIBILITY STUDY): As a requirement of this Direct to Phase II (DPII) proposers must include a feasibility study that assess what is in the art of the possible that satisfies the requirements specified in the above paragraphs entitled "Objective" and "Description." The objective is to document the results of a thorough feasibility study ("Technology Readiness Level 3") to investigate what is in the art of the possible within the given trade space that will satisfy a needed technology. The feasibility study should investigate all options that meet or exceed the minimum performance parameters specified in this write up. It should also address the risks and potential payoffs of the innovative technology options that are investigated and recommend the option that best achieves the objective of this technology pursuit.
PHASE II: Development of a low cost, man portable (ideally 5" maximum Outer Diameter (OD)) 360-degree scanning LiDAR Systems that can integrate available sonar data into the overall image generation are preferred. The entire kit should be capable of being integrated onto modular UUV frames with open architecture design elements, be fully self-contained and capable of being submitted for laser safety reviews during the execution of the planned effort. The developed prototype will be installed, and demonstrate the most feasible solution for diver borne or UUV borne LiDAR scanning. Emphasis on fused solutions that incorporate additional sensing, such as side scan sonar (SSS) will be given. This effort will generate two (2) end user prototype systems for modular use in unmanned and diver (e.g. diver propulsion vehicle) applications for survey beneath the waterline. Systems utilized under test and demonstration will not be counted towards the deliverable of two (2) end user evaluation systems.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: This system could be used in a broad range of military applications where undersea survey is required, to include environmental monitoring, salvage and with the oil and natural gas business.