NOAA FY 2016 SBIR Solicitation

Topic 8.1: Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies

Subtopic 8.1.1F Improving Outcomes of Marine Aquaculture via Genomic Approaches

Summary: In comparison to human medicine or land based agriculture, the genomic basis for improving marine aquaculture breeding outcomes is in its infancy. Most aquaculture facilities rely on batch spawning and trial and error. There is little chance of identifying individual parents and the specific genetic traits that provide eggs and larvae with superior qualities of growth, feed conversion and disease resistance. The sequencing of the human genome took 10 years and 3 billion dollars. The cost of genome sequencing has declined to <10 days and < 1,000 per human genome. Perhaps more important non-model genomes such as abalone, yellowtail (Seriola sp.) bluefin tuna, and rock scallop can be developed based on linkages to data bases from better studied biomedical model organisms such as the zebrafish. NOAA resource managers and the aquaculture industry seeks assistance in developing high-throughput, low cost methods to conduct pedigree analyses, and to identify and routinely screen for functional genes associated with favorable growth characteristics and genes associated with disease sensitivity and resistance.

Project Goals: Genetic trait selection is an integral part of land based agriculture and has revolutionized the production of corn, rice and soybeans. Atlantic salmon is the only marine species to undergo extensive selective breeding. Concerns over escapement from offshore farms, the need to recover endangered species via hatchery rearing, as well as consumer preference, dictates that the domestication of newer aquaculture species such as yellowtail and the stock enhancement of natural populations of depleted abalone must rely on a full understanding and the retention of mostly wild genetic characters, but it must also weed out the inferior spawning stock with each broodstock collection and spawning event. Assistance from the private biotech community is critical to developing rapid, cost-effective screening procedures designed for pedigree analysis, genomic trait selection to improve outcomes of aquaculture, and monitor the success of out-planting as a means of wild stock recovery. While the ultimate goal might be commercial biotech kits that could be sold to hatchery managers (similar to a modern pregnancy kit), the immediate and perhaps longer term economic model would be to provide a continuing fee-for-service business to support hatchery managers.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities Include:

• Identification of a family of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), to allow parent-offspring and kinship analyses in a candidate aquaculture species among the tuna family (Scombridae), jack family (Carangidae), the drum and croaker family (Sciaenidae), or the abalone genus (Haliotis). This could include Pacific bluefin tuna, yellowtail jack, white seabass, or red abalone.
• Genetic screening of existing data bases for identification of trait-associated genes in a candidate aquaculture species among the tuna family (Scombridae), jack family (Carangidae), the drum and croaker family (Sciaenidae) or the abalone genus (Haliotis). This could include Pacific bluefin tuna, yellowtail jack, white seabass or red abalone.

Deliverables include:

• A next-generation SNP assay or similar approach to identify parent-offspring relationships that is not dependent on conventional micro-satellite or sequence based approaches.
• A roadmap to the development of a high-throughput, low cost automated assay of parent-offspring relationships in a hatchery environment.
• A roadmap to the development of a SNP chip or similar approach to allow rapid and low cost screening for hatchery managers for favorable and unfavorable genetic traits.

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities Include:

• Development and testing of a market ready technique for high-throughput, automated screening of parent stock and eggs for paternity analysis
• Development and testing of a prototype chip for screening polymorphic genes associated with desirable and undesirable traits in an aquaculture setting. Design should be flexible to allow the addition of new markers as our understanding of the underlying genomes improves.

Deliverables include:

• Market ready technique for high-throughput, automated screening of parent stock and eggs for paternity analysis
• Prototype chip for screening polymorphic genes associated with desirable and undesirable traits in an aquaculture setting. Prototype should be designed to be flexible to allow the addition of new markers as our understanding of the underlying functional genomes improves.

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment.

Subtopic 8.1.2F Developing Technologies for Offshore Aquaculture in The United States

Summary: Offshore aquaculture refers to aquaculture in the waters between state maritime boundaries and the end of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Offshore aquaculture has the potential to complement wild harvest fisheries, increase our domestic supply of safe, healthy seafood and contribute to resilient coastal communities and economies. There is huge opportunity for offshore aquaculture development in the United States. The U.S. EEZ is the largest in the world, spanning a wide range of ocean conditions and habitats. Less than 0.01% of the U.S. EEZ could potentially produce up to 600,000 metric tons or more per year of an equally wide range of farmed aquatic species. Dozens of commercial operations around the world currently use offshore aquaculture technologies, and U.S. companies, investors, and farmers have participated in this global aquaculture industry by exporting technology, equipment, seedstock, services, investment and feed. With the development and impending implementation of the Fishery Management Plan for Regulating Offshore Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico, the United States is poised to grow its domestic offshore aquaculture industry. With this growth will come new challenges to working in remote, offshore environments, and a range of technologies will be needed to address logistical and environmental issues. Proposals are requested for research towards innovative products and services to specifically develop offshore aquaculture capabilities for finfish, shellfish, or seaweeds. Priority is given to research that addresses technology bottlenecks to developing domestic offshore aquaculture operations and in turn increase our sustainable seafood supply, protect our ocean resources, and create economic opportunities for coastal communities.

Project Goals: New technologies, products and methods are needed to address challenges in developing offshore aquaculture for finfish, shellfish, and seaweeds. Projects that would support production improvements can include but are not limited to: technologies, methods or products that address offshore farming technologies , preventing risks from escapes (such as sterile stock), development of tools for management, remote and/or real-time monitoring, transportation, facility maintenance, and harvest, feeds for offshore culture, preventing disease transfer, and hatchery technology. Priority will be given to proposals that specifically target and address issues associated with offshore aquaculture and the unique challenges it presents.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities Include:

• Develop high probability solutions to key bottleneck issues.
• Execute research and development of techniques and management measures to address these bottlenecks.
• Explore commercialization opportunities (preliminary business planning)

Deliverables include:

• Proof of concept at the lab or bench scale
• Refinement of products or solutions
• Commercialization plan with permit requirements, preliminary enterprise budgets and business plan
• Technical Report showing commercial application of developed technology/technique and research results.

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities Include:

• Prototype or pilot scale trials of the techniques and products developed in Phase I.
• Further refinement and/or expansion of product or solutions
• Refinement of profit/loss models, enterprise budgets and business plan

Deliverables include:

• Detailed report on developed technology/technique showing biological, legal and economic feasibility under commercial conditions

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment

References:

• Overcoming Technical Barriers to the Sustainable Development of Competitive Marine Aquaculture in the United States (2008) http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/docs/aquaculture_docs/noaanist_techbarriers_final.pdf
• NOAA Marine Aquaculture Policy (2011) http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/docs/policy/noaa_aquaculture_policy_2011.pdf
• Department of Commerce Aquaculture Policy (2011) http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/docs/policy/doc_aquaculture_policy_2011.pdf

Subtopic 8.1.3F Orthogonal Stereo Camera System for Visual Fish Surveys

Summary: NOAA Fisheries is mandated to provide the best scientific information available to establish conservation and management measures for the sustainability of our Nation’s living marine resources and healthy oceans. One national priority relevant to this mission is the need resolve data-limited fish assessments. Many of the data-limited assessments result directly from the inability to effectively sample rocky and reef habitats. The scientific community has relied on camera systems deployed along the bottom to provide counts and measures for assessments. One research approach is the accurate synchronization of paired stereo cameras which provide the counts and precise length measurements of fish during camera surveys. Another research approach is the use of multiple synchronized pair stereo cameras where their view fields are orthogonally arranged and stitched to provide a 360 degree horizontal view to eliminate double counting targets while providing accurate length measures (to 0.5 cm accuracy). Research has demonstrated that the use of paired stereo cameras with sufficient accuracy in “synchronization” and “stitched view fields” have significantly improved abundance estimates for assessments; however to date, commercially available stereo camera systems lack the accuracy in “synchronization” and “stitched view fields” for scientific data collections. There is consensus (and market) among fisheries scientists within the agency and among the international scientific community regarding a need for an off-the-shelf (easy to use turn-key) orthogonal stereo camera system with accurate “synchronization” and “stitched view field” capabilities that could be widely deployed to improve visual fish survey operations to resolve data-limited stock assessments in difficult to sample reef and rocky habitats.

Project Goals: An orthogonal stereo camera system needs to be designed and commercialized to provide accurate “synchronization” and “stitched view fields” among multiple stereo cameras to enable accurate counting and measuring (length to within 0.5 cm) of fish during scientific underwater visual surveys. Researchers have investigated the applicability of using accurately synchronized stereo cameras for measuring fish length and recommend arranging multiple pairs of synchronized stereo cameras orthogonally and horizontally to stitch the stereo view fields together to provide a horizontal 360 degree sampling field will prevent double counting of fish. Although there are underwater stereo cameras and spherical cameras that are commercially available, there are no commercial products that provide sufficiently accurate “stereo camera synchronization” and accurate “stitching between multiple synchronized stereo cameras” that can be utilized for visual fish surveys providing precise fish length measurements to the nearest 0.5 cm. There is a need to develop and commercialize an orthogonal stereo camera system with these features that is easily to deploy and use, including clear protocols for its calibration, operation, and performance metrics. Another system feature that researchers have investigated is an optional fish detection trigger (through active acoustic and/or far-field infrared detection) which minimizes data collect for only detected targets having applicability for prolonged deployments. Although this is not a requirement for this SBIR, it is important to recognize this might be an optional feature that is desired by the scientific community. There is sufficient research published to guide the specifications of developing and commercializing a standardized low-cost stereo camera system with these requirements that will be widely used for visual fish surveys both domestically and internationally. This orthogonal stereo camera system will wide international applicability for the data-limited regions that require stakeholder engagement, therefore its operation must be relatively simple and reliable. The goal of commercializing this portable underwater stereo camera system is to provide a low cost and reliable tool that will be widely deployed in standardized visual fish surveys to resolve data-limited stock assessments. There is a need to commercialize an orthogonal stereo camera system for visual fish surveys to accurately identify, count, measure fish per unit sampling volume. Underwater stereo cameras have recently become available as commercial products; however none of these existing products are designed with accurate “synchronization of stereo cameras” and accurate “stitching of view fields of multiple stereo camera units” for providing accurate fish length measures (to the nearest 0.5 cm) from scientific visual fish surveys. Therefore, the NOAA mission and the wider scientific community would benefit from the development and commercial availability of an orthogonal stereo camera system with accurate “synchronization” and “view field stitching” that can be deployed for visual fish surveys.

An orthogonal stereo camera system with accurate “synchronization between stereo cameras” and accurate “stitching of stereo camera view fields” to count fish and accurately measure fish length to the nearest 0.5 cm within a 360 degree horizontal view around the system to be deployed on the seafloor (to depths of 500 meters) during visual fish surveys. This orthogonal stereo camera arrangement should have the ability to capture high definition (HD) video (at least 1080p at 30 f/s) or capture HD still images (at least 6 megapixels) to count, identify, and accurately measure fish (accuracy within 0.5 cm) in the 360 degree sampling volume around the system with the intent of reducing double counting of fish. Camera must have minimal lens distortion to obtain accurate fish length measurements using stereo camera imaging. The cameras must have low light sensitivity (at least 0.2 lux @ f 1.4). An optional feature that enables a fish detection trigger is desirable to capture digital fish images. The system could include an optional feature of synchronized lighting or strobed modules synchronized to the stereo camera units for capturing digital fish images at night or low light conditions. The system should be relatively user-friendly turn-key operation with clear operational instructions. Software needed for calibration of stereo camera modules and lens distortion compensation to achieve accurate and precise fish length measurements to the nearest 0.5 cm within the sampling volume at various angles of fish orientation. Software interface for accurate synchronization, operation data collection and data storage. Software is needed for data export with metadata and post processing (i.e., stitching sampling fields of the orthogonal stereo cameras, fish counts and length measurements). The system must contain sufficient data storage capacity for continuous HD video recording for duration of 2 hours with data downloading capability.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Explore the feasibility in building out an orthogonal stereo camera for visual fish surveys to accurately identify, count, measure fish per unit sample volume.
• Provide proof of concept in ensuring the stereo cameras (either two or more) is synchronized.

Deliverables include:

• Progress Reports and Detailed Final Report as outlined in solicitation
• Provide design and technical report for (and any white papers associated with) the camera
• Provide prototype buildout specification and blueprint for camera, ensuring the details outlined above is taken into consideration.

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Prototype or pilot scale trials of the techniques and products developed in Phase I.
• Further refinement and/or expansion of product or solutions
• Refinement of profit/loss models, enterprise budgets and business plan

Deliverables include:

• Progress Reports and Detailed Final Report on developed technology/technique of the low cost stereo camera system for visual fish surveys showing the accuracy, precise, and reliability of measures, and the economic feasibility under commercial conditions

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment

Topic 8.2: Healthy Oceans

Subtopic 8.2.1N Affordable, lightweight, wireless-control ROV for sustained observation of benthic ecosystems

Summary: Conserving coastal places provides economic benefits to local communities. These communities rely on dollars spent on activities such as recreation and tourism. NOAA's National Ocean Service works to conserve marine areas — and preserve the economic benefits of these special places to local communities through its coastal management and place-based conservation programs. National Marine Sanctuaries are mandated to fulfill this placed-based conservation and through our research we are working to understand the natural and anthropogenic changes and interactions occurring at Gray's Reef.

Traditional neutral buoyancy ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) have more flexibility with endurance underwater by way of the powered umbilical connecting it to the surface operating station. Unfortunately, currents, wave action and underwater stability inconveniently limit long term studies at many sites due to the complexities of the vessel support station needing constant maneuvering to keep from dragging the ROV from its subject of study. Scuba divers, neutral buoyancy ROVs, and the vessels that support them are loud and behave awkwardly and invasively compared to the natural environment surrounding them. This awkward, intrusive behavior results in altered organism behavior thus altering the study itself. A benthic ROV operated wirelessly from the surface can eliminate much of the altered behaviors. The divers are no longer present. With a wireless benthic ROV, the constant maneuvering of the neutral buoyancy ROV is removed and reduced to a slow crawl or no movement at all. This is very important in the study of fishes as the loud and disruptive noise from the support vessel can be eliminated by providing some distance to the surface communications of the crawler. Once the ROV is positioned onto the study site, it can monitor and film its subject silently and without movement. While it is filming, payloads on the chassis such as scientific sensors are also quietly recording data and delivering both the video and data in real time to the surface by way of the wireless transmissions from surface buoy to support station. Government agencies, universities, private organizations and citizens conduct thousands of dives each year studying the waters beneath our global oceans, lakes, and rivers worldwide. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the wider ocean science research and education community would benefit from an affordable (under $15,000.00), lightweight, benthic ROV that communicates wirelessly from its support station (vessel, shore, etc.). To our knowledge, this technology does not exist in the wireless capacity; however there is ample evidence it is needed to accomplish studies over a period of time much longer than that allowed by a scuba diver or the limited resources of the support vessel/station in terms of fuel and personnel. In addition, non-diving personnel should be able to provide direct observations of a reef or its inhabitants, even tiny macro video subjects, in real time without going to the seafloor.

Project Goals: Currently commercially available benthic ROVs are proprietary hardware and software and the ability of the end user to easily customize, repair, or extend the hardware or software capabilities is very limited, and thus NOAA personnel are at the mercy of the manufacturer for support. NOAA personnel should be able to have the control to modify their crawler platform to meet NOAA's changing mission requirements, via commercially available components, access to all spare parts at low cost, and open source software with full access to all source code. The ROV should be a platform which NOAA personnel have full ability to customize, extend, reconfigure, adapt, and repair.

For an operator aboard a nearby surface vessel to most effectively control the robot in real time, the communications and control link between operator and robot should be wireless, allowing the surface vessel freedom from constant maneuvering to precisely station-keep above the robot as it would if it were directly tethered to it. This reduces both manpower required to pilot the vessel while operating the rover and reduces the cost of fuel otherwise consumed in station-keeping. A wireless communication link also allows the operation of the robot from shore.

Most currently available benthic ROVs are designed for greater than 1000 meter depths. While essential for doing deep ocean surveys, this high level of performance (and the inevitable high cost to achieve it) is unnecessary for shallow water surveys such as those typical in the majority of the NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries such as Gray's Reef, Thunder Bay, Channel Islands, Florida Keys, American Samoa, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whaler and others.

A benthic ROV designed for the littoral zone incorporating a wireless link can be much lower in cost and complexity. This allows NOAA and the scientific community to acquire more of these vehicles and perform more surveys per dollar while also obtaining the cost benefits of reduced manpower required for operation, easier operator training, and greatly reduced vessel fuel consumption.

Even in a well-surveyed Sanctuary like Gray's Reef, many fundamental questions have not been answered. Example: Does this species of fish stay in one area, or wander down the reef over 24 hours? How far does it go? Conducting such a behavior survey involving physically following an organism at unpredictable times over an unpredictable distance would require close coordination of multiple teams of divers doing as many as 24 separate dives (at 60 feet), and a massive logistic and diver support operation. An event whose time of occurrence may be unpredictable such as the time of night an octopus leaves its lair to hunt and when it returns can be difficult to capture for divers with a 50 or 60 minute no-decompression dive limit (especially when divers with their noise, motion and bubbles would have to hover around in front of its lair).

A benthic ROV with a high-definition camera recharged from the surface could follow the organism across the seafloor thereby completing such a survey efficiently and easily. Currently, to complete that survey with any commercially available benthic robot operated via a tether wire directly connected to a surface vessel operator control unit (OCU) the vessel would need to continuously run its engines to maintain constant course corrections to keep station above the rover and so as not to drag it along the seafloor. An untethered radio link of approx. one mile range is desired to allow the vessel some distance from the study site.

System Minimum Requirements

• Wet Weight Environmental Footprint Threshold <.1psi target <.08 psi. exerted on substrate being traversed, to minimize harm to fauna living in seabed.
• Dry Weight threshold 40 lbs, target 30 lbs – deployable and recoverable by one person at sea.
• High Definition 1080P video camera with sufficient control over the camera from the OCI to: (1) Record/Stop (2) Playback Recording (to OCI monitor) (3) Delete Recording (4) Camera Menu System (5) Manual/Auto focus (6) Iris Control (7) Wide Angle / Zoom (8) Turn Video Lights On/Off (9) Camera Pan/Tilt (10) Camera Positioning Arm deploy/retract (11) Desired Radio Link Range Over Seawater with two-foot waves, two-foot swells (12) Minimum 0.4 miles 1.0 miles or better is desired.

Activities include:

• Trade study of design tradeoffs to achieve threshold and target reliability for ROV and wireless control station at target cost
• Study of approaches for maximizing surface wireless link range over water
• Design for digital remote control and mounting of NOAA's three preferred underwater video camera systems and Remote Video Lighting Management
• Study of methods of scaling the ROV for operation in deeper depths and higher sea states.
• Study of feasible approaches to long term power and recharging while at depth.

Deliverables include:

• Detailed proof of concept report documenting the feasibility of designing low cost versions of the subsystems that make up the ROV and the feasibility of building such an ROV (rated for 200 feet), Buoy, Tether, and Control station for under the threshold price of $14,000.00 with a target price of $10,000.00.
• Detailed trade study of the cost/performance/deck-handling options for the ROV.
• Detailed trade study of different approaches to maximizing the range of the wireless communications link.
• Detailed assessment of costs and the additional changes to extend depth to 600 feet.
• Detailed assessment of power strategies and preferred battery chemistry and in-situ charging techniques.

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Assemble prototype of complete benthic ROV 63
• Contract with engineers to optimize mechanical and electronic components for robustness and reliability, design modularity, ease of maintenance, and ease of low cost manufacture.
• Explore least-cost options for components, including injection molding, rapid prototyping, etc.
• Complete CAD/CAM design of all mechanical and electrical components necessary for assembly.
• Develop User-Friendly Operator Control Interface software for use with a standard Windows or Linux Computer and standard "game controller" joystick or other standard 'human interface device' (HID) controller; with options for modular addition of HTML based graphical screen displays of controls such as ROV speed, compass, pitch and roll indicators, battery life, arm position, etc.

Deliverables include:

• Prototype ROV delivered for test and evaluation to characterized strengths and weaknesses of the system before Phase 3 commercialization.
• Full engineering documentation for manufacturable components, they should be complete enough to produce all parts ready for assembly. Detailed manufacturing prints for ROV mechanical and electronic systems, Buoy, Cabling, Camera control system, power supply and charger, shipping container, manual; Control Software

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment.

Subtopic 8.2.2N Lionfish Control

Summary: The western Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico are currently experiencing a rapidly expanding and seemingly uncontrolled invasion by Indo-Pacific lionfish. In the last 15 years, populations have grown beyond our ability to control them by traditional response modes – diver removal, for example. Impacts to reef communities are being observed in many locations, with predation rates that can remove up to 70% of the forage base of other reef fish. Lionfish now occupy depths down to 1000 feet, and are in very high densities in many places, the vast majority of which are below diving depths, and they appear to have no currently functioning natural controls. Lionfish have been caught in deep water in some traditional traps, principally lobster traps, and some by hook-and-line, but in insufficient numbers to control populations.

Project Goals: Most fish traps currently in use are not considered environmentally friendly. They can damage habitats, and most are non-selective, capturing and containing fish throughout their deployment period, and subjecting them to predation by other animals that enter the trap. They also produce by-catch, which are non-targeted animals (for example, eels, sharks and grunts in traps intended for other reef fish). The by-catch often dies before it can be released back to the sea, and much that is released cannot return to the bottom because gases that expand in the fish during ascent cause them to be too buoyant to swim back to the bottom on their own. These animals, invariably under heightened stress, are often eaten by barracuda and other predators soon after release. And when lost, traps often continue “ghost fishing,” attracting and killing captured animals as long as they stay intact. Unless new ways are developed to deal with the lionfish invasion through biological controls (parasites, diseases, genetic sterilization), the only practical ways to remove lionfish from deep habitats may be by using innovative capture devices. This subtopic addresses the challenge of developing and testing devices that remove invasive fish from deep water rapidly, in high numbers, and without the drawbacks of other collection techniques.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables: 

Activities include:

• Prepare conceptual design for device that will: (1) selectively capture lionfish with minimal impact to the environment while operating or if lost, and (2) avoid impacts to non-targeted

Deliverables include:

• Concept for operations
• Prototype design
• Commitments in principle from potential users

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Build prototype to test operational characteristics
• Conduct field tests to evaluate function and effectiveness
• Construct devices using materials intended for actual operations
• Demonstrate viability of any ancillary operations intended to complement fish removal (e.g., disposal, or distribution as part of supply chain for restaurant use)

Deliverables include:

• Prototype
• Field test results
• Operational device built with final materials
• Disposal or distribution plan.

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment.

Subtopic 8.2.3D Sensor System for Measuring Oxygen Demands in Natural Waters

Summary: Occurrences of large volumes of hypoxic or anoxic waters, also known as “dead zones”, are widespread in the United States, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay, the Long Island Sound, and coastal waters off Oregon and Washington. A capability to monitor and forecast the locations of these dead zones is highly desired from the standpoint of ecosystem and water quality management. Satellite optical remote sensing is a promising tool to build such a capability because light absorption and scattering by oxygen-consuming organic matter is detectable from space. Establishing direct linkages between the optical signatures of these organic materials and their oxygen consumption is currently hindered by the lack of adequate and user-friendly instruments for routine and quick response measurements of oxygen consumption in natural water bodies. Such instrumentation would greatly facilitate NOAA’s development of remote-sensing algorithms for monitoring, forecasting, and managing aquatic ecosystems and water quality.

Project Goals: NOAA is requesting proposals for a field instrument system equipped with sensors capable of simultaneously and directly (not by proxy) measuring biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in both freshwater and marine environments. Once developed, data-acquisition should be achievable in both stationary and profiling modes, and the system should be accurate, rugged, reliable, portable, low-cost, quick-response, anti-foulant, submersible to ~100 m, and easy to deploy from a variety of platforms (e.g., land, zodiac, small research vessel).

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Research and technology development for a proof-of-concept BOD/COD sensor system.

Deliverables include:

• A detailed proof-of-concept report describing research results and technology development completed for a BOD/COD sensor system, and
• A description of where the principal investigator expects the project to be at the end of Phase II, including a description of how this sensor system will be commercialized.

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Development of a prototype system;
• Lab calibration of the prototype system; and
• Demonstration field tests of the prototype system. Build prototype to test operational characteristics

Deliverables include:

• A prototype system calibrated in the lab which demonstrates the success of the research / technology development;
• A detailed report on the results of demonstration field deployments in both modes (stationary and profile) of the prototype system; and
• A thorough plan, including a timeline, describing the transition of this prototype system into the commercial marketplace

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment.

Subtopic: 8.2.4D Innovative Multi-Platform Sensor for Marine Debris and Object Detection and Mapping

Summary: Detecting and mapping objects and debris in our oceans, coastal areas and marine navigation routes has been a difficult problem. Advancements in sensor and measurement technologies are drastically needed. Marine debris and pollutants pose significant navigational and environmental threats. The tsunami on March 11, 2011 making landfall in Japan produced 5 million tons of debris in the ocean, and it is believed that more than 1 million tons of debris are still floating. This debris significantly threatens marine navigation and coastal environments. As the downhill flow rate of the Greenland glaciers further increases (doubled in the last decade), a larger number of icebergs are being calved. With the warming trend in ocean temperatures, these icebergs are melting at a faster rate and calving to produce smaller icebergs that are more difficult to detect. The same is occurring in the southern ocean. Wind and ocean currents are transporting these icebergs into shipping routes, posing significant threat to marine navigation. With the warming trend, sea ice is also changing affecting navigational paths. Routine monitoring of these changes is urgently needed. Melting sea ice also plays a role in climate change. Accurate knowledge of sea ice extent and location is needed for climate studies and forecasting. Accidents at sea, be it marine vessels, cargo or aircraft, require an ability to rapidly search large regions for debris in order to focus search & rescue and recovery resources. Identifying the location of the debris allows the search & rescue area to be reduced significantly and thereby improving chances of finding survivors, minimizing cargo loss and reducing costs in these efforts. NOAA seeks innovative sensor and measurement technology that can be deployed from manned and unmanned ships and aircraft, as well as satellite platforms in the future, that can provide accurate detection and mapping of marine debris and objects over large swath / coverage areas.

Project Goals: This project seeks an innovative sensor and measurement approach for detecting and mapping debris and objects in our oceans, coastal areas and marine navigational routes. The sensor should be deployable from manned and unmanned marine vessels and aircraft; provide wide swath coverage; and the measurement technique can be applied from a spaceborne platform in the future.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables

Activities include:

• Define measurement and operational requirements for applications discussed above in the project summary. These should include specific requirements that each type of platform (e.g. marine vessel, aircraft, manned, unmanned, etc.) will place on the final sensor and measurement technique.
• Develop and define measurement concept(s), sensor concept and system specifications.
• Develop preliminary system design to meets above requirements and specifications.
• Determine measurement performance in terms of final geophysical parameters, spatial coverage and temporal coverage.
• Determine feasibility and cost to build prototype and estimate operational costs of a Phase 3 system for each type of platform (spaceborne excluded).
• Identify commercial applications / market spaces and potential revenue from the product (maybe sensor itself and/or data products it produces) developed based on the system developed through the SBIR.

Deliverables include:

• Requirements Definitions.
• Sensor Concept and Preliminary System Design.
• Performance, Feasibility, Cost Analysis.
• Commercial Application Analysis.
• Final Report.

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Develop detailed system design for Phase II prototype system.
• Perform full system performance analysis and determined compliance with requirements and specifications from Phase I.
• Develop test / verification plan for evaluating Phase II prototype performance.
• Fabricate Phase II prototype system.
• Execute performance / verification testing.
• If possible within the funding scope of the Phase II, execute small demonstration experiment exhibiting the performance of the sensor in a real-world environment.
• Identify commercial products and market space being addressed by the technology developed through this effort.

Deliverables include:

• Performance Analysis Report.
• Test/Verification Plan
• Performance Testing Report
• Phase II Prototype System.
• Commercial / Market Analysis Report.

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment

Subtopic 8.2.5R Autonomous direct measure of carbonate ion in saline waters

Summary: Chemical changes in seawater result from the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) either as a result of rising atmospheric CO2 levels (i.e. ocean acidification), or as a result of enhanced respiration particularly within coastal waters. These changes include increasing concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), the production of carbonic acid (e.g. acidification), an increase in the partial pressure of seawater CO2, and shifts in the ratio of bicarbonate to carbonate ion availability whereby carbonate ion concentration decline with increasing CO2 levels. How these changes affect marine life is a prominent issue for contemporary oceanography and marine resource management. Geological evidence reveals dramatic changes in marine life as a consequence of past events where similar rates of CO2 increase occurred and experimental studies indicate that a broad range of contemporary taxa are sensitive to such changes. Documentation of the chemical changes accompanying ocean acidification is a key element in acquiring the environmental intelligence needed to foster a resilient society. Carbonate ion concentration is a particularly important variable with regards to ocean acidification as a number of important impacts to marine calcifiers are often attributed to its decrease. However, rather than being directly measured, carbonate ion is generally calculated from two of the four major CO2 system parameters: pH, pCO2, DIC, and total alkalinity resulting in a propagation of error associated with the two measured parameters as well as the dissociation constants used to solve the carbonic acid system from them. Direct measurement using existing ion selective electrodes (ISE) significantly lack the sensitivity or precision needed for marine science or monitoring applications. Spectrophotometric methods are available remain laborious and not available at this time for autonomous applications. There is an emergent need for an accurate direct determination of carbonate ion with a precision of ±5 μM that is suitable for autonomous applications including sustained deployments and in experimental research applications.

Project Goals: This project will provide the field with an autonomous direct measure of carbonate ion concentration with suitable precision and accuracy for marine monitoring and research applications. The new Method will be useful to a wide range of users (e.g., marine resource managers, environmental monitoring entities, aquaculturist, fisheries, etc.) and would prove immensely valuable in assessing the impact of ocean acidification on the health of the marine ecosystem. Other applications would include clinical chemistry whereby the most important buffer of plasma is the bicarbonate/carbonic acid pair due to the important role CO2 plays on the regulating plasma pH.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables

Activities include:

• Investigate technical feasibility of the proposed new technique
• Demonstrate that the new method works in seawater
• Demonstrate that the proposed new technique will provide high sensitivity and high precision measurements of carbonate ion concentration

Deliverables include:

• Theoretical proof or/and practical testing results
• Comprehensive and detailed proposal outlining the research tackled in Phase II
• Provide a cost analysis for Phase II and future operational systems.

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Test the new technique.
• Design a prototype using the new technology
• Demonstration of the proposed technology

Deliverables include:

• Provide test results proving the success of the new technique.
• Deliver a prototype using the new technology
• Comprehensive report outlining the research in detail
• Plan to commercialize the final product
• A Company presentation to the SBIR Panel

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment

Subtopic 8.2.6R Laser-Based Analyzer for Methane, Carbon and Hydrogen Isotopic Measurements in the Deep Sea

Summary: Development of laser-based sensors that are capable of measuring chemical species (gases and isotopes) will greatly enhancing the ability to understand biogeochemical processes in a range of ocean environments from the deep sea to coastal environments. Laser-based platforms can provide highly sensitive and precise measurements and be designed to target isotopic species. Laser-based platforms are particularly well suited to gas and stable isotope measurements but currently are large in size and have power requirements limiting the ability to deploy them in the deep sea. The development of smaller, more compact, and less power-hungry instruments will allow new in situ studies of biogeochemical processes in the ocean, including surveys of hydrate-hosting continental shelf sediments or hydrothermal vent settings. Other advances will come from the utilization of different lasers, different sensing schemes, new detectors, and targeting a variety of chemical species. Atmospheric sensors exist that utilize laser-based spectroscopy for such gases as methane, CO2, and N2O. Many such sensors are currently being used for surface water analysis, but very limited work has been done to push the technology into submersible sensors.

Project Goals: New laser-based sensors that can be deployed on a variety of platforms, such as ROV’s, AUV’s and seafloor observatories are needed to understand biogeochemical processes and the carbon cycle in the deep sea. Technology advancements to decrease sensor size, power requirements and sensor accuracy are needed. Other areas of technology innovation will come from advancing gas extraction techniques, targeting a range of gases, utilizing new sensing schemes, and using novel lasers and detectors.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include

• Identify key challenges for sensor design
• Execute research and development of sensor design including identifying target gas species, package size and power requirements Deliverables include
• Proof of concept
• Report showing promise for commercial application of developed technology/techniques

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include

• Design and build prototype
• Test prototype in ocean environment

Deliverables include

• Detailed report on developed sensor technology showing sensitivity, precision, and accuracy and reliability with calibrations

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment

References:

• Wankel S. D., Huang Y. W., Gupta M., Provencal R., Leen J. B., Fahrland A., Vidoudez C. and Girguis P. R. (2013) Characterizing the distribution of methane sources and cycling in the deep sea via in situ stable isotope analysis. Environmental Science and Technology 47: 1478-1486. doi: 10.1021/es303661w
• Yvon-Lewis S. A., Hu L. and Kessler J. (2011) Methane flux to the atmosphere from the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster. Geophysical Research Letters 38. doi: 10.1029/2010GL045928
• Zang K., Zhao H., Wang J., Xu X., Huo C. and Zheng N. (2013) High-resolution measurement of CH4 in sea surface air based on cavity ring-down spectroscopy technique: The first trial in China Seas. Huanjing Kexue Xuebao/Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae 33: 1362-1366.
• Maher, D. T., Cowley, K., Santos, I. R., Macklin, P. A., & Eyre, B. D. (2015). Methane and carbon dioxide dynamics in a subtropical estuary over a diel cycle: Insights from automated in situ radioactive and stable isotope measurements. Marine Chemistry, 168, 69-79. doi: 10.1016/j.marchem.2014.10.017 71
• O'Reilly, C., Santos, I. R., Cyronak, T., McMahon, A., & Maher, D. T. (2015). Nitrous oxide and methane dynamics in a coral reef lagoon driven by porewater exchange: Insights from automated high frequency observations. Geophysical Research Letters, 2015GL063126. doi: 10.1002/2015GL063126
• Call, M., Maher, D. T., Santos, I. R., Ruiz-Halpern, S., Mangion, P., Sanders, C. J., . . . Eyre, B. D. (2015). Spatial and temporal variability of carbon dioxide and methane fluxes over semi-diurnal and spring-neap-spring timescales in a mangrove creek. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 150, 211-225. doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2014.11.023
• Schneider B., Gülzow W., Sadkowiak B., Rehder G. (2014) Detecting sinks and sources of CO2 and CH4 by ferrybox-based measurements in the Baltic Sea: Three case studies. J. Marine Syst. 140:13 – 25. doi: 10.1016/j.jmarsys.2014.03.0140924-7963
• Li Y.-H., Zhan L.-H., Zhang J.-X., Chen L.-Q. (2015) Equilibrator-based measurements of dissolved methane in the surface ocean using an integrated cavity output laser absorption spectrometer. Acta Oceanologica Sinica 34: 34-41. doi: 10.1007/s13131-015-0685-9
• Huang K., Cassar N., Wanninkhof R. and Bender M. (2013) An isotope dilution method for high-frequency measurements of dissolved inorganic carbon concentration in the surface ocean. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods 11: 572-583. doi: 10.4319/lom.2013.11.572
• Gülzow W., Rehder G., Schneider v. Deimling J., Seifert T., Tóth Z. (2013) One year of continuous measurements constraining methane emissions from the Baltic Sea to the atmosphere using a ship of opportunity. Biogeosciences 10: 81–99. doi: 10.5194/bg-10-81-2013.
• Gülzow W., Rehder G., Schneider B., Schneider v. Deimling J. and Sadkowiak B. (2011) A new method for continuous measurement of methane and carbon dioxide in surface waters using off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (ICOS): An example from the Baltic Sea. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods 9: 176-184. doi: 10.4319/lom.2011.9.176
• Grefe I. and Kaiser J. (2014) Equilibrator-based measurements of dissolved nitrous oxide in the surface ocean using an integrated cavity output laser absorption spectrometer. Ocean Science 10: 501-512. doi: 10.5194/os-10-501-2014
• Friedrichs G., Bock J., Temps F., Fietzek P., Körtzinger A., Wallace D. (2010) Toward Continuous Monitoring of Seawater 13CO2/12CO2 Isotope Ratio and pCO2: Performance of a Cavity Ringdown Spectrometer and Gas Matrix Effects. Limnol. Oceanogr.: Methods 8: 539-551. doi: 10.4319/lom.2010.8.539
• Du M., Yvon-Lewis S., Garcia-Tigreros F., Valentine D. L., Mendes S. D., Kessler J. D. (2014) High Resolution Measurements of Methane and Carbon Dioxide in Surface Waters over a Natural Seep Reveal Dynamics of Dissolved Phase Air−Sea Flux. Environ. Sci. Technol. 48: 10165−10173. doi: 10.1021/es5017813

NOAA’s goals of (1) resilient coastal communities and economies, (2) healthy oceans, (3) a weather-ready nation, and (4) climate adaptation and mitigation, all hinge upon the depth of intelligence gathered about the dynamic ocean environment. Key oceanographic information drives climate and weather models, provides bench marks for how the ocean is changing, and is also important for other forms of coastal intelligence such as hydrography. A time varying and fully three dimension understanding of the subsurface ocean temperature and salinity is fundamental to improving our understanding of this important boundary condition, yet many measurements rely on inefficient in situ instrumentation beyond the top few meters of the ocean. Fine-scale ship based measurements are dependent on observations using equipment to sample vertically through the water column at a fixed location, or on hull-mounted and towed-sensor equipment for measurements along transects at a quasi-fixed depth. Such instrumentation is expensive in terms of either the time spent for the deployment and recovery or in terms of expendable probes that are simply dropped not recovered. Ship-based remote sensing to measure efficiently an extended region of the sub-surface oceanographic profiles would offer a huge improvement. There are techniques that may be leveraged to provide remotely-sensed oceanographic profiles in real time. For example, temperature, salinity, and density effects have been shown to cause measureable and statistically deterministic shifts in the scattered spectrum from lidar. Using the highly directional and stable frequency characteristics of lasers, Raman and Brillouin scattering may be leveraged to characterize the temperature, salinity, or overall sound speed profile of the water column. While these phenomena have been demonstrated for decades, no commercial instrumentation has been built to provide reliable measurements to the shipboard oceanographic community.

Topic 8.4 Weather-Ready Nation

Subtopic 8.4.1W Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Applications Supporting the NWS Mission

Summary: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are a technology supporting an explosive rate of private sector innovation. This project focuses on unmet need of every branch of NOAA, but particularly the NWS, which will then branch outward to numerous state and local government entities (e.g. Emergency Management, Department of Transportation, US Forestry Service, Coast Guard etc.), and to private entities supporting the government entities. The project, in particular, focuses on UAV utilizations that can directly save lives, as well as indirectly save lives through improved forecasts, warnings, and public alerts.

Project Goals: A NOAA White Paper (available upon request) has been developed with two dozen valuable applications of small UAVs for the National Weather Service and its partners (e.g. Emergency Management, Department of Transportation, US Forestry Service, Coast Guard, etc.). The funded project will utilize air worthy craft, appropriate payloads, and approved testing facilities, to demonstrate the following applications:

1. Acquisition of boundary layer temperature, humidity, and wind information for high-res models in support of more accurate forecasts of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, flash floods, and winter storms.
2. Ability to survey storm damage, provide before- and after-storm imagery, and access imagery to wildfire burn scars.
3. Ability to access river level information that could support more accurate river flood forecasts.
4. Ability to utilize UAVs to monitor, and potentially alert swimmers to, the presence of deadly rip currents.
5. Ability to utilize UAVs to alert communities of approaching deadly weather, e.g. flash flood, tornado, etc. (i.e. a flying siren for communities that cannot afford ground-based siren systems).
6. Ability to assess road conditions during and after winter storm events.
7. Utilization of UAVs for meteorological research initiatives (e.g. sensing boundaries that could initiate thunderstorms).
8. River flood or storm surge inundation impacts using LIDAR payload.
9. Utilizing UAVs for search and rescue efforts.
10. Utilizing UAVs for wildfire support, both gathering video of fire area and gathering meteorological data to support better near-term forecasts to help wildfire incident teams.

These are all critical needs that cannot be easily addressed without UAVs and the payloads they would carry.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Develop and demonstrate a cost-feasible, air-worthy craft that could accomplish the project requirements. "Cost-feasible" refers to a means by which smaller potential customers could afford the technology.
• Ensure ability to transmit UAV accessed information in real time to a ground station.
• Ensure ability of craft to fly in variety of conditions that could be faced, including precipitation, moderate winds, etc.
• Developing a cost-feasible proposal

Deliverables include:

• Video captured from UAV over a "simulated" damage area in different conditions (e.g. in precipitation, in moderate winds, etc.)
• Meteorological data (temperature, wind, and humidity) acquired in real-time at a test facility, at least every 100 ft up to a height of at least 3,000 ft AG (5,000-10,000ft preferable.
• Illustration of cost-feasible nature of the technology, preferably under $50,000, as well as the total cost of ownership (i.e. required maintenance costs, insurance, expected lifetime for daily operation, etc.).

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Demonstrate each of the two dozen UAV applications given in NOAA's White Paper at a variety of test facilities and in different atmospheric environments.

Additional applications from NOAA's partners (e.g. emergency management, coast guard, etc.) may be added.

Deliverables include

• Demonstration results for each application from NOAA's White Paper and NOAA's partners. Each demonstration should illustrate the ability of the craft to acquire and transmit the desired data or imagery, or perform the required task.
• Results gathered from different flying environments should be separated to illustrate UAV abilities and limitations.
• Demonstration of ease of operation and training by entities not familiar with these craft.
• Company plans for commercialization of their UAV craft for customers focused on the needs described in NOAA's White Paper.
• Company presentation of results at AUVSI national meeting

Subtopic 8.4.2W Satellite Environment Space Weather Products

Summary: Satellite systems are susceptible to the low-energy and high-energy particle environment in space, which can cause surface charging, bulk charging, and single-event upsets in electronic devices. Currently real-time data and numerical models are available to provide information on the conditions in space and the likelihood that the recent conditions could be responsible for anomalous spacecraft effects. In addition to the particle data available from the current NOAA Geostationary Operational Environment Satellites (GOES), the next generation satellite series beginning with the launch of GOES-R in 2016 will include a broader suite of low- and high-energy charged particle measurements. It is desired to improve the utilization of the real-time data and models and to develop new products and services that address specific needs of the satellite industry.

Project Goals: The goal of this project is to develop improved products to address the impacts of space weather on the satellite industry. This activity will:

1. evaluate the utility to the satellite industry of specific products, including forecasts, real-time information, and retrospective information, both existing and potential;
2. utilize currently available data to develop test products for evaluation;
3. plan for products that will be possible with data soon to be available on the upcoming GOES-R mission;
4. develop products utilizing available numerical models. Products may be public-facing or tailored to specific users, or some combination of the two.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

• Assess the needs of potential customers and users of satellite-environment products.
• Develop test products based on customer feedback utilizing existing data (from NOAA and/or other sources) and evaluate the accuracy and consistency.
• Develop a product plan for data that will be available from GOES-R.
• Develop test products using available numerical models of the satellite environment.
• Obtain feedback on the test products and planned products from potential customers.
• Deliver a report and documentation on test and planned products, including customer feedback. Provide prototype code for all products.

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

• Develop prototypes of the products for test and evaluation
• Establish links to real-time data
• Develop code that could be made operational
• Document code for possible transition to operations
• Run the test code in real-time, and retrospectively if appropriate, and evaluate the performance.
• Develop products based on customer needs and requirements

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment

Subtopic 8.4.3W Satellite ground station network for real-time space weather data

Summary: The Nation’s critical infrastructure and economy are increasingly susceptible to the impacts of space weather. Leadership at the highest levels of government, including DHS, DoD, and the White House, are involved in efforts to prepare and respond to severe space weather outbreaks. Some of the most critical real-time space weather data comes from satellites both near Earth and at various locations around the solar system. Data from geosynchronous or geostationary satellites are fairly easy to acquire in real-time as it requires only one downlink site on the ground. Data from LEO and MEO satellites often have 60-90 minute latency between satellite and the operational data processing sites. This is typically due to the lack of satellite downlink sites and the time between when the data is acquired by the sensors on the satellite and when the satellite can downlink the data to a site on the ground. Similarly, satellite out in the solar wind such as ACE or DSCOVR at the first Lagrange point (L1) or at other points such as the fifth Lagrange point (L5) require a number of downlink sites around the world in order to provide continuous real-time data links. Current satellite downlink options are being met by a number of different solutions. Some solutions require international partnerships. Other existing solutions for satellites constellations such as COSMIC II are not adequate for providing real-time data with less than 15 minute latencies.

Project Goals: The goal of this activity is to assess the needs of the operational satellite data systems for space weather and explore options for optimizing down-link locations and satellite dishes to provide continuous and near-real time access to the satellite data. Phase I of this activity would require an assessment of current and planned satellite systems, including LEO, MEO, L1, L5, and even polar Molniya orbits and what the real-time satellite data downlink systems might look like. Phase II of this effort would involve investigation into satellite communication and dish technologies that might provide improved downlink capabilities and flexibilities.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include

• Assess requirements and current capabilities of the Real-time Solar Wind Network used for tracking the ACE and DSCOVR satellites at L1
• Assess requirements for tracking satellites at L5
• Assess requirements and current capabilities for tracking constellations of LEO satellites to provide near-continuous real-time data flow.
• Assess downlink options for other orbits such as MEO and Molniya.

Deliverables include:

• A report on the technical requirements for real-time satellite data downlinks for each type of orbit described above. This report should include an assessment of current capabilities and areas where current solutions are not providing optimal data access and latencies

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Concept implementation and product development.
• Identify various solutions to providing improved data downlink for the various satellite orbits. Explore options such as satellite-to-satellite data relays to improve latencies.

Deliverables include:

• Report on suggested solutions to satellite downlink options including ground system hardware specifications

Subtopic 8.4.4D L-Band Radio Frequency Interference Filtering

Summary: The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Section 6401 (a), (3) directed the Secretary of Commerce to identify 15 MHz of U.S. government use spectrum suitable for repurposing, i.e., sharing with commercial wireless carriers. The Secretary of Commerce identified 1695 – 1710 MHz as the band to be designated for sharing with the wireless carriers. In order to ensure the continued successful capture of satellite meteorological data, while providing opportunity for the wireless carriers to also operate in the band, NOAA is seeking innovative approaches to potentially mitigate interference signals from wireless user equipment (UE), such as, handheld smart phones and devices in close proximity to NOAA/NWS satellite ground stations. An effective interference mitigation approach will ensure the uninterrupted flow of critical meteorological data from Low Earth Orbiting (LEO)/Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES) and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system (GOES) satellites once spectrum sharing begins. The wireless carriers could begin commercial use of the frequency soon. Additionally, it is likely that in the future there will be more spectrum auctions, which may require additional spectrum sharing between the government and wireless telecommunications industry. The Radio Frequency Interference Monitoring System (RFIMS) program was initiated to investigate mitigate the risk associated with sharing the frequency band. A key aspect of the project will be to investigate opportunities to filter/separate out interference, rather than simply monitor it and identify it. The filtering of interference as opposed to simply monitoring for interference provides for a significantly better solution as it proactively negates the affects the of interference; where simply monitoring would interaction with the wireless carriers and reliance on the wireless carriers to take corrective action.

Project Goals: The L-Band Radio Frequency (RF) Filtering project goals are to significantly advance the technology of the hardware and software used in satellite communication by developing a fully adaptive and re-configurable architecture that is agnostic to specified waveforms and standards; i.e., NOAA L-Band RF Filtered ground stations will be able to cognitively choose to operate in any frequency band with any modulation and multiple access specification depending on the restrictions of the environmental and operating conditions capable of identifying and separating unwanted signals; including LTE with Orthogonal Frequency Division multiplexing (OFDM) and unintentional broad band radio frequency interference (RFI) in the 1695 – 1710 MHz band from the operational Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulated satellite downlink signals. While the interference issue primarily affects government users (e.g. National Weather Service, Department of Defense (DoD), and the Department of Interior (DOI)), civilian and commercial organizations that capture these down-links and use the data for daily and critical weather forecasting in support of a weather ready nation could also potentially benefit from this project. The project is intended to demonstrate a reconfigurable RF front-end filter covering a frequency range of greater than or equal to 1695 – 1710 MHz up to the entire L-Band range. This front-end will consist of fully waveform-agile channels and analog-sensing channels designed to detect, identify and separate waveforms over the spectral field of regard. Depending on the design, the system could filter/separate signals at the RF or IF (intermediate frequency) level, or both. In addition to maintaining critical communication links, this project will equip each satellite receive ground station with a compact and powerful signal sensing and analysis platform capable of characterizing the signal environment. This project will also enable rapid RF front-end filter platform deployment for new waveforms and changing operational requirements.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include:

• Demonstrate the feasibility of a filter to effectively identify and separate out unwanted interference from Long-Term
• Evolution (LTE) wireless carriers, in real-time, without a priori knowledge of the interfering signals in the 1695-1710 MHz band. Where the interference could be 10 db below the noise floor, sources are very mobile and transient, as is expected in LTE operations. Also the interference may be the result of aggregation of multiple low-power interference sources.
• Produce a feasibility study, documenting the proof of concept design of an adaptive filter capability.
• Document all analysis, laboratory test environments/equipment configurations, modeling and simulations utilized during the study phase.

Deliverables include:

• A feasibility study documenting the offerors’ proof of concept, with supporting analysis using a prescriptive model.
• Analysis using mathematical (deterministic) models of the impact of the developed algorithms, simulations and laboratory experiments.
• Report showing the promise for commercial applications.

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include

• Simulation using statistical (stochastic) models of the techniques and products developed in phase I.
• Development and initial testing of prototype(s).
• Prototype trials in either a laboratory or field environment of the techniques and products developed in Phase I.

Deliverables include

• A prototype or laboratory equipment and documented configuration with detail on how either could be turned into a production model.
• Detailed report on developed technology/technique showing the results of simulation and prototyping and economic feasibility under commercial conditions.

NOTE: Even though a prototype may be required to be delivered for the project, it is important to note that this prototype is still the property of the offeror. NOAA would only do field or lab testing on that product to see its feasibility in a production (or development) environment

Topic 8.5 SBIR Tech Transfer (SBIR-TT)

Subtopic 8.5.1TT NOy Cavity Right-Down Instrument

Summary: The Patent Pending NOAA NOy-Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer is a sensitive, compact detector that measures total reactive nitrogen (NOy), as well as NO2, NO and O3 using cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS). This product is unique in that the optical cage system holds four optical cavities (with associated sample cells) and a laser together, allowing a measurement of all four trace gases simultaneously and with a robust calibration in a small package. The NOAA CRDS is compact and has lower power, size, weight, and vacuum requirements than chemiluminescence-based instruments while approaching equivalent sensitivity, precision and time response. Climate science and air quality monitoring provide ongoing applications for instrumentation to accurately measure atmospheric trace gases. The precision and accuracy of this instrument make it a versatile alternative to standard chemiluminescence-based NOy instruments currently on the market. The markets for scientific instruments in the U.S. and abroad are well-established and supported by a number of known scientific instrument manufacturers, including at least three domestic and three international commercial manufacturers of a cavity ring down NO2 instruments. Given the compact and efficient performance and other unique features of this instrument for measuring ambient air across a range of environments and measurement platforms, it is an excellent licensing opportunity for the scientific instrument manufacturing sector.

Project Goals: The NOAA NOy CRDS was developed for the Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, CO, in order to support the lab’s research activities. There is one prototype in existence, which is in regular use by the lab. The goal of NOAA’s Technology Transfer program is to encourage the broader use of NOAA’s patented or patent-pending technologies in commercial markets and/or to encourage the development of new uses for our technologies. The project goal, therefore, for this SBIR Technology Transfer solicitation is to receive proposals from companies that are interested and able to develop a more compact and commercially viable version of the NOAA NOy for sale. In order to accomplish this goal, companies sending proposals against this SBIR Technology Transfer topic would be required to sign a one-year, no-cost research and technology license (see Reference below) which may be renewed under Phase II, should the Phase I activities be deemed successful.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include

• Define baseline requirements including operation/install requirements on targeted platforms
• Refine system concept and specifications for intended use, if necessary
• Define commercial design concept to meet intended requirements and specifications
• Determine feasibility and cost to build prototype and estimate operational costs for a Phase III system
• Perform commercial application study identifying market space and potential revenue from the product

Deliverables include

• Commercial Product Design and Feasibility: 1) Product/application design and description, 2) Need - what problem is this application solving?, 3) Target industry sector(s) for the product/application, 4) Additional Research and Development needs, 5) Anticipated costs to bring product to market

• Marketing study: 1) Size of the industry, 2) Room for growth, 3) Competitive landscape, 4) Prospective markets

• Sales and Marketing Plan: 1) Target markets for years 1, 5, and beyond, 2) Anticipated sales for years 1, 5, and beyond, 3) Anticipated selling price and per unit profit margins, 4) Anticipated time to turn a profit

• Phase II Prototype Design and Build Plan

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include

• Develop detailed system design for Phase II prototype system.
• Perform full system performance analysis and determined compliance with requirements and specifications from Phase I.
• Develop test / verification plan for evaluating Phase II prototype performance.
• Fabricate Phase II prototype system.
• Execute performance / verification testing.
• Identify commercial products and market space being addressed by the technology developed through this effort.

Deliverables include

• Performance Analysis Report.
• Test/Verification Plan
• Performance Testing Report
• Phase II Prototype System

References:

• For more information on NOAA NOy Cavity Ring Down Spectrometer: http://techpartnerships.noaa.gov/WorkingwithNOAA/OpenOpportunities/TabId/299/ArtMID/1381/ArticleID/10778/LICENSING-OPPORTUNITY-NOy-Cavity-Ring-Down-Spectrometer.aspx
• One-year, no-cost research and technology license information: http://techpartnerships.noaa.gov/sites/orta/Documents/RESEARCH%20LICENSE%2011-6-12.pdf

Subtopic 8.5.2TT Smart Module for Communications Processing and Interface

Summary: Engineers at NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center have developed a patent-pending data collection and reporting system, the Smart Module for Communications Processing and Interface, for use on data buoys or similar ocean- or land-based platforms where environmental data are being collected. The benefit of the Smart Module design is that it may be readily retrofitted to a data buoy, weather station, or other similar applications, in order to add additional data acquisition capabilities or features, without disturbing existing communications and data logging equipment at the location. This saves both time and money for testing and certifying new equipment at existing data gathering sites, some of which may be quite remote and difficult to access. By eliminating the risk of compromising an entire system by adding new components, the Smart Module makes adding new capabilities to existing platforms relatively simple and extremely cost effective.

Project Goals: The Smart Module was developed for the National Buoy Data Center (NDBC) in Stennis, MS, in order to support NOAA’s operational buoy systems around the world. The NDBC manufactures a small number of these modules in house for its own use. The goal of NOAA’s Technology Transfer program is to encourage the broader use of NOAA’s patented or patent-pending technologies in commercial markets and/or to encourage the development of new uses for our technologies. The project goal, therefore, for this SBIR Technology Transfer solicitation is to receive proposals from companies that are interested and able to develop one or more commercially viable applications for the patent-pending Smart Module technology. In order to accomplish this goal, companies sending proposals against this SBIR Technology Transfer topic would be required to sign a one-year, no-cost research and technology license (see Reference below) which may be renewed under Phase II, should the Phase I activities be deemed successful.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include

• Define baseline requirements including operation/install requirements on targeted platforms
• Refine system concept and specifications for intended use, if necessary
• Define commercial design concept to meet intended requirements and specifications
• Determine feasibility and cost to build prototype and estimate operational costs for a Phase III system • Perform commercial application study identifying market space and potential revenue from the product

Deliverables include

• Commercial Product Design and Feasibility: 1) Product/application design and description, 2) Need - what problem is this application solving?, 3) Target industry sector(s) for the product/application, 4) Additional Research and Development needs, 5) Anticipated costs to bring product to market

• Marketing study: 1) Size of the industry, 2) Room for growth, 3) Competitive landscape, 4) Prospective markets

• Sales and Marketing Plan: 1) Target markets for years 1, 5, and beyond, 2) Anticipated sales for years 1, 5, and beyond, 3) Anticipated selling price and per unit profit margins, 4) Anticipated time to turn a profit

• Phase II Prototype Design and Build Plan

Phase II Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include

• Develop detailed system design for Phase II prototype system.
• Perform full system performance analysis and determined compliance with requirements and specifications from Phase I.
• Develop test / verification plan for evaluating Phase II prototype performance.
• Fabricate Phase II prototype system.
• Execute performance / verification testing.
• Identify commercial products and market space being addressed by the technology developed through this effort

Deliverables include

• Performance Analysis Report.
• Test/Verification Plan
• Performance Testing Report
• Phase II Prototype System

References:

• For more information on Smart Module: http://techpartnerships.noaa.gov/WorkingwithNOAA/OpenOpportunities/TabId/299/ArtMID/1381/ArticleID/11371/Smart-Module-for-Communications-Processing-and-Interface-Patent-Pending.aspx
• One-year, no-cost research and technology license information: http://techpartnerships.noaa.gov/sites/orta/Documents/RESEARCH%20LICENSE%2011-6-12.pdf

Subtopic 8.5.3TT System for Monitoring, Determining, and Reporting Directional Spectra of Ocean Surface Waves in Near Realtime from a Moored Buoy

Summary: NOAA and a number of other scientific and academic institutions have built and maintained an extensive national network of buoys with the purpose of providing more accurate weather and water forecasts to the public. As a part of this network, NOAA engineers have developed a System for Monitoring, Determining and Reporting Directional Spectra of Ocean Surface Waves from a Moored Buoy, which was awarded a US patent in 2009. While many existing weather data buoys adequately measure wave height, oftentimes other useful wave data, such as direction, are not captured. This could be important, for example, if wave direction is opposite tidal direction, causing conditions near shore where wave heights may increase. In addition, wave direction may differ from wind direction, and thus a report of wind direction may not always be indicative of wave direction. Wave direction in particular is useful for mariners (both commercial and recreational) when plotting a course to avoid broaching waves. Similarly, scientists, decision makers, and the general public find wave direction data useful in studying shore erosion, environmental impacts of waves, and for calculating ideal surf times and locations. Furthermore, other wave data (e.g. - slope) may be useful to oceanographers and engineers, as well as mariners. While NOAA has integrated this technology into its buoy network, there is still great potential for a commercial venture to use the technology to new networks and applications using this technology to serve highly personalized data to specific regions or industries (e.g., energy, tourism, etc.).

Project Goals: The technology was developed for the National Buoy Data Center (NDBC) in Stennis, MS, in order to support NOAA’s operational buoy systems around the world. The goal of NOAA’s Technology Transfer program is to encourage the broader use of NOAA’s patented or patent-pending technologies in commercial markets and/or to encourage the development of new uses for our technologies. The project goal, therefore, for this SBIR Technology Transfer solicitation is to receive proposals from companies that are interested and able to develop one or more commercially viable applications for the patent-pending wave direction technology. In order to accomplish this goal, companies sending proposals against this SBIR Technology Transfer topic would be required to sign a one-year, no-cost research and technology license (see Reference below) which may be renewed under Phase II, should the Phase I activities be deemed successful.

Phase I Activities and Expected Deliverables:

Activities include

• Define baseline requirements including operation/install requirements on targeted platforms
• Refine system concept and specifications for intended use, if necessary
• Define commercial design concept to meet intended requirements and specifications
• Determine feasibility and cost to build prototype and estimate operational costs for a Phase III system
• Perform commercial application study identifying market space and potential revenue from the product

Deliverables include

• Commercial Product Design and Feasibility: 1) Product/application design and description, 2) Need - what problem is this application solving?, 3) Target industry sector(s) for the product/application, 4) Additional Research and Development needs, 5) Anticipated costs to bring product to market

• Marketing study: 1) Size of the industry, 2) Room for growth, 3) Competitive landscape, 4) Prospective markets

• Sales and Marketing Plan: 1) Target markets for years 1, 5, and beyond, 2) Anticipated sales for years 1, 5, and beyond, 3) Anticipated selling price and per unit profit margins, 4) Anticipated time to turn a profit

• Phase II Prototype Design and Build Plan

Activities include

• Develop detailed system design for Phase II prototype system.
• Perform full system performance analysis and determined compliance with requirements and specifications from Phase I.
• Develop test / verification plan for evaluating Phase II prototype performance.
• Fabricate Phase II prototype system.
• Execute performance / verification testing.
• Identify commercial products and market space being addressed by the technology developed through this effort

Deliverables include

• Performance Analysis Report.
• Test/Verification Plan
• Performance Testing Report
• Phase II Prototype System

References:

• For more information on US Patent 819,5395: http://www.google.com/patents/US8195395
• One-year, no-cost research and technology license information: http://techpartnerships.noaa.gov/sites/orta/Documents/RESEARCH%20LICENSE%2011-6-12.pdf