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Compact Integrated Electric Field Detection System for Underwater Objects

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N68335-05-C-0242
Agency Tracking Number: N051-003-0942
Amount: $149,563.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N05-003
Solicitation Number: 2005.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-04-14
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2005-10-14
Small Business Information
5764 Pacific Center Blvd, Suite 107
San Diego, CA 92121
United States
DUNS: 016541711
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Andrew Hibbs
 CEO, QUASAR
 (858) 373-0232
 andy@quasarusa.com
Business Contact
 Alexis Bugaj
Title: Contract Adminstrator
Phone: (858) 200-1949
Email: alexisb@quasarusa.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

There has been little use to date of electric (E) field sensors in DoD applications. However, as demonstrated by a well-adapted system such as the shark's, E-field sensing can be a very effective modality underwater, even in the very challenging littoral environment. Quantum Applied Science and Research, Inc. has a pioneered the development of a new class of E-field sensors and sensing systems for ground-based and airborne military applications. This technology utilizes capacitive (i.e. insulated) coupling to the E-field, which is particularly suited to operation underwater because it removes effects associated with water salinity and electrode degradation, and provides higher sensitivity. The program starting point is a new compact multiaxis E-field sensor system that has already been successfully flight-tested in the high noise, demanding environment of an aircraft wingpod. In the Phase I Program, we will define the system requirements, demonstrate performance of a conformal capacitive electrode at the 1 nV/Hz½ level in the laboratory, study further improvements, and produce a provisional system design that includes a very compact, low power, EM data processing system, recently delivered to another program. In the Phase I Option we will construct an improved preamplifier optimized for low noise performance underwater.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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