GhostSwimmer: Tactically Relevant, Biomimetically Inspired, Silent, Highly Efficient and Maneuverable Autonomous Fish Robot

Operations in shallow, complex, and high current areas are becoming more and more important for Naval missions. Areas such as harbors and other close quarters navigation and operation are an expanding area of mission requirements. Specifically, surface, underwater and buried mines pose one of the most serious threats to US Navy vessels operating in littoral and very shallow waters (VSW), denying access by the Navy to critical seaways and ports such as those in the Middle East and the Pacific. The Navy needs enhanced capability beyond the performance of currently available anti-mine systems to detect, localize and neutralize such mines. Boston Engineering proposes to meet the Navys requirements for shallow water, complex environment missions with an advanced autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). This AUV, GhostSwimmer, underwent limited sea testing in summer 2012 and is ready for the next step. Our proposed program is aimed at advancing the technology, as well equipping it with the appropriate sensor/payload package, with a particular focus on littoral and VSW operational conditions.