Research Summaries

Back Feasibility of underwater MEMS DF acoustic sensor for narrowband detection

Fiscal Year 2019
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Physics
Investigator(s) Roberts, Jason C.
Sponsor Space & Naval Warfare Systems Center-Pacific (Navy)
Summary Feasibility of underwater MEMS DF acoustic sensor for narrowband detection. The proposed research is to explore a miniature direction finding (DF) sensor for underwater detection based on a MEMS directional microphone developed by our group that operates similar to the Ormia ochracea fly’s sensing ability.
The directional sound sensing using a MEMS sensor modeled after an Ormia ochracea fly’s sensing ability has already produced positive results in direction sound sensing. The sensor operates on a narrow frequency band, which depends on the mechanical structure and stiffness of the material used. The design, fabrication and testing by our group has generated a device that can detect very specific narrow frequency band with a high degree of accuracy.
The intent of the proposed research is to develop a directional MEMS sensor capable of detecting narrowband signals in an underwater operating environment, with specific harmonic detection that does not respond to environmental noise.
The motivation for this research is to provide a low cost, effective device capable of rapidly determining direction of a water-transmitted narrowband sound source, thus improving ship response time to a potential threat. In addition, as ocean environments become increasingly cluttered with additional sound sources, the ability to rapidly identify a threat contact will be critical is assuring dominance in the surface and subsurface realm.
Keywords MEMS Underwater sensors
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal