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Pioneering Ocean Acoustic Tech Emerges from NPS Industry Research Breakthrough
Naval operations hinge on the twin pillars of discretion and stealth. Retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Joseph, representing the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), highlights a significant advancement funded by the school’s Consortium for Unmanned Systems Education and Research (CRUSER). This project, notable for its integration of energy-harvesting technology, is supported by the Office of Naval Research.
The innovation began when Yi Chao, CEO of Seatrec, spoke at NPS about a novel energy-harvesting system. Joseph saw an opportunity to merge NPS’s oceanography capabilities with Seatrec’s technology to create something groundbreaking.
NPS has carved a niche in applying research to real-world environments. The PSAP (Persistent Surveillance of the Acoustic Profile) system enables the continuous gathering and transmission of oceanographic and acoustic data. This is powered perpetually by thermal gradients in the ocean, revolutionizing how data is collected without the need for manual intervention.
Joseph explained that the PSAP can communicate its findings without needing retrieval for battery replacement or data offloading, significantly reducing costs for ongoing acoustic monitoring operations.
Collaborative efforts with industry players are proving crucial for student engagement at NPS. The active operational tests of the PSAP Voyager, which can be followed online, have yielded a wealth of data, offering a fertile ground for student research.
The accumulated data will substantially benefit students specializing in undersea warfare and oceanography, providing essential material for academic exploration and thesis development, said Joseph.
Acoustic sensing remains a cornerstone of naval operations, integral to detection and monitoring tasks performed by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Joseph remarked on the broad application of passive acoustic listening, vital for understanding underwater soundscapes and tracking marine life.
The PSAP Voyager’s key value lies in its ability to gather live acoustic data over extended periods without costly ship support, significantly enhancing the Navy’s research and operational capabilities.
Yi Chao noted the system’s transformative potential for both underwater observation and cost efficiency. Unlike previous models dependent on high-engineering solutions like underwater cables, the PSAP Voyager offers a more economic approach by untethering hydrophones for almost unlimited data collection.
This technology stands to bolster maritime domain awareness and improve naval operational planning models, paving the way for enhanced sonar system efficiency.
(Note: This news article does not represent an endorsement of Seatrec’s products and services by any military entity.)