N141-081 TITLE: Signals of Opportunity as a Covert Alternative Fix Source for Submarines While Submerged

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Strategic Weapons Systems: Trident II D5 (ACAT I)

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted". The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: This SBIR will develop an innovative alternative technology position fix system that would be entirely passive (i.e., no transmission of energy or the exposure of a mast antenna) for use on a submarine while submerged using available signals of opportunity.

DESCRIPTION: The development of an accurate, totally covert, non-inertial navigation system for underwater navigation is a long standing problem. Currently, submarines rely on GPS or bathymetry as a position fix source for reset of their inertial navigators. Each of these systems either require the exposure of a mast antenna or the transmission of acoustic energy to the bottom. There has been significant Signals of Opportunity development for in air applications. There is very little published on any underwater Signals of Opportunity for position fixes. This SBIR would investigate the feasibility of a new technology alternative position fix system that would be entirely passive (i.e., no transmission of energy or the exposure of a mast antenna). This new system would use external signals, both man-made and natural, to provide a position fix, while submerged, for inertial navigation reset to near GPS quality, i.e., 3-D position error less than 5 meters 1-sigma. The receiver on the underwater platform needs to be able to be made small < 1 m3 volume although 0.027 m3 would be the goal. Both ranging and velocity aiding signals may be considered

PHASE I: 1) Determine what available Signals of Opportunity are available underwater and at what depth they are available. 2) Develop an alternate fix source for a submarine using Signals of Opportunity. 3) Develop metrics and a strategy for measuring the effectiveness of the proposed approach. 4) Produce a detailed research report outlining the design and architecture of the system, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed approach.

PHASE II: 1) Based on the results from Phase I, develop a fully functioning prototype solution. 2) Provide test and evaluation results that demonstrate the effectiveness of the overall system. 3) Develop a final report completely describing the design and architecture.

PHASE III: Further engineering design efforts will continue to develop the Signals of Opportunity design to incorporate the "ilities" (manufacturability, reliability, operability, etc.) and integration into the Navigation Subsystem.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: This technology could be used in any commercial equipment that needs position or velocity in areas where GPS is not always available, such as subway systems or unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV).

REFERENCES:
1.) Ryan J. Eggert, "Evaluating the Navigation Potential of the National Television System Committee Broadcast Signal", Master’s thesis, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB OH, March 2004.

2.) Brian S. Kim, "Evaluating the Correlation Characteristics of Arbitrary AM and FM Radio Signals for the Purpose of Navigation", Master’s thesis, Air force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB OH, March 2006.

KEYWORDS: Signals; Opportunity; SoOP; Navigation; Submarine; GPS

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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