Maritime Sensing Program

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Maritime Sensing Program conducts multidisciplinary science and technology development of acoustic and non-acoustic sensors systems as a means to automatically develop and maintain comprehensive tactical and strategic awareness in the maritime undersea battle space. These systems may be carried as on-board equipment for Navy surface ships, submarines, aircraft, and unmanned vehicles or may deployed from those platforms as mobile, drifting, or fixed ocean surveillance systems operating under autonomous or remote control.

The intent of this program is to provide next-generation acoustic and non-acoustic sensing technology for the tactical, surveillance, and undersea warfare missions of the Navy. Project scopes may range from component-level research and development to system-level technology demonstrations.

Areas of interest in undersea sensor technology include:

• Autonomous sensors with in-sensor signal processing
• Computationally intelligent sensor systems
• Automated system employment and command and control decision aids
• System design and system peformance assessment tools
• Deployable sensor components, technology and Concepts of Operations
• Energy storage technology, especially high power density/high energy density technology
• Environmental adaptation for acoustic sensors
• Environmental sensors in support of acoustic and non-acoustic systems
• High power, high efficiency, low cost, low weight/volume transduction materials or designs
• High efficiency, high performance non-acoustic sensor technologies, components and assemblies
• Innovative sensor and/or telemetry systems
• Innovative sensor delivery and deployment concepts
• Acoustic and non-acoustic sensors and sources for tactical and surveillance applications
• Volume and weight efficient power components

The program is currently emphasizing these specific technology areas:

• Persistent Undersea Acoustic Surveillance
• Transducer Technology
• Sensor System Adaptation and Control
• Acoustic Vector Sensors
• Mine Detection & Classification
• Non-acoustic Mine and Undersea Warfare
• Deployable Autonomous Distributed Systems
• Stand-off Sensors

Annual Call for Planning Letters

Our annual call for planning letters is posted. Planning letters should be received by close of business June 1, 2011, to receive full consideration. Please note that the goal is to issue awards early in fiscal year 2012 (October 2011) so that technical objectives can be achieved and expenditure benchmarks can be met within the fiscal year.

Program-Related Links:

• Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington
• Applied Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University
• Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
• Future Naval Capabilities 
• Naval Air Systems Command
• Naval Air Warfare Center, Weapons Division
• Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)

Naval doctrine, requirements and publications of interest:

• Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division
• Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division
• Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City
• Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, RI
• Space and Naval Warfare Center, San Diego, CA
• The University of Texas at Austin Applied Research Laboratory
• Joint Vision 2010
• Sea Power 21
• Future Readiness
• Forward...From the Sea: Anytime, Anywhere, 1998 Posture Statement
• Forward...From the Sea, the Navy Operational Concept
• ...From the Sea