Highly Compact Broadband Acoustic Sources

The proposed research is to develop and demonstrate (during Phase 1) a new design concept for active underwater acoustics sources that uses single crystal multilayer ceramics technology in an essential way. The proposed new subcompact acoustic source design will enable maximum broadcast power over wide frequency band. The resulting design would be a fully self-integrated and extremely compact module that is easily scalable and could readily be integrated in a number of AUV’s, UUVs, gliders, surface combatants or submarines. Similarly, the self-contained unit will permit integration as an enclosure on the outside of a surface ship or underwater vessel with a minimum number of hull penetrations.