USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Simon E Freeman

Thomas E Hansen

David J Daily

William A Visser

Rylan C King

Lewis B Shattuck, Iv

Lauren A Freeman

Jason R Morin

A planar sensor array includes a center tube, a first group of tubes, and a second group of tubes. One or more of the first group of tubes is positively buoyant, and at least one of the second group of tubes is negatively buoyant. Adjacent tubes are joined together by hinges. Acoustic sensors are positioned within the tubes. First and second half-shells are connected to the most distal tube of each group. The first half-shell is positively buoyant, and the second half-shell is negatively buoyant. An actuator attached to said center tube, and fins are attached to the actuator. The actuator is adjustable to change the fins angle of attack. Environmental fluid flow over the fins induces a torque on the actuator and center tube and causes these components to rotate. Rotation of the center tube causes the first and second groups of tubes to wrap around the center tube.

Rollable, large vertical aperture, acoustic planar towed array

A shape memory alloy composite fabric and a method of use is provided in underwater pressure vessels and as flexible joints in atmospheric diving suits. The atmospheric diving suit internal pressure is one atmosphere for underwater transit to and from an underwater work site. During operations at a work site, the shape memory alloy joints transform to a martensite phase and enable greater flexibility while the pressure in the atmospheric diving suit equalizes with ambient depth pressure.

Shape memory alloy composite fabric pressure vessel and diving suit

An acoustically stealthy, soft-bodied underwater propulsion system includes a central chord member and a series of successive muscle layers each having a skeletal mechanism and a set of actuators. Each skeletal mechanism includes a central vertebra, two or more actuator arms extending radially outward from the central vertebra and disposed axially symmetrically about the central chord member, and an actuator plate extending from a radially outward end of each actuator arm and oriented substantially transverse to the actuator arm. Each actuator is situated between an actuator plate from a first muscle layer of the series and a second muscle layer of the series.

Acoustically stealthy soft-bodied UUV propulsion system

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Alexandria, VA, United States of America

Simon E Freeman