Autonomous Hull Inspection
Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N65538-08-M-0158
Agency Tracking Number: N082-182-1057
Amount:
$99,918.00
Phase:
Phase I
Program:
SBIR
Awards Year:
2008
Solicitation Year:
2008
Solicitation Topic Code:
N08-182
Solicitation Number:
2008.2
Small Business Information
15852 Mercantile Court, Suite 2, Jupiter, FL, 33478
DUNS:
123680329
HUBZone Owned:
N
Woman Owned:
N
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged:
N
Principal Investigator
Name: Kenneth Holappa
Title: Sr Researcher
Phone: (561) 627-2676
Email: kholappa@searobotics.com
Title: Sr Researcher
Phone: (561) 627-2676
Email: kholappa@searobotics.com
Business Contact
Name: Donald Darling
Title: President
Phone: (561) 627-2676
Email: ddarling@searobotics.com
Title: President
Phone: (561) 627-2676
Email: ddarling@searobotics.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract
This proposal meets the goals of the solicitation topic N08-182 through the leveraging of technology already developed with funding from the ONR and direction of the NAVSEA Carderock Division Naval Surface Warfare Center. Through the use of the existing HullBUG platform combined with third party sensor systems, a comprehensive autonomous inspection system may be developed in a relatively short period of time that is cost effective. The HullBUG vehicle is a small (<30kg) tethered or tetherless vehicle that crawls on the underwater surface of a ship. The vehicle stays attached to the ship using a patented non-contact negative pressure device and uses soft rubber tires that do not mar or scratch the hull coating. Ship hull inspection with the HullBUG and the sensor suite allows for the assessment of the hull structure, investigation into corrosion, determination of the level of biofouling and the discovery of objects or threats that may have been attached to the hull by hostile parties. The system proposed herein provides the platform and the sensing technologies for accomplishing inspections while at sea or while moored in port. * Information listed above is at the time of submission. *