W911NF23C0029

Small Technology Transfer Research Program (STTR) Phase II

FastFish

Biologically-informed Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (BIUUVs)

High performance underwater operation with low probability of detection in challenging areas can provide significant value across many naval missions. There is an ongoing desire for greater range, endurance, and speed for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Bio-informed UUV designs offer potential improvements, particularly in swimming speed. Boston Engineering is proud to offer bio-robotics convergent evolution : a solution based on the combined technology and expertise of our world class team. Our team includes leaders in bioinspired robotics: Dr. Hilary Bart-Smith, her team at the University of Virginia, Dr. George Lauder of Harvard University, and Boston Engineering, producers of GhostSwimmer, the Navy's highly successful autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that replicates the dynamics of fish to move rapidly and accurately in areas inaccessible to other vehicles. This proposal leverages the existing proven technology of Boston Engineering with the latest ground-breaking bio-informed robotic system development and analyses of our team. This combination provides major advances in UUV speed-at-low-cost of transport that is beyond state of the art and focuses on the specific challenges of this development. Our unique approach advances to well-beyond-SOTA more rapidly, provides greater probability of success in all Phases, and focuses on the right risks, while reducing the others.

The goal of phase II is to continue the R&D efforts initiated in Phase I. Funding is based on the results achieved in Phase I and the scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the project proposed in Phase II. STTRs are completed in conjunction with a research institution.

The University of Virginia

OSD21C-007

O21C-007-0057

21.C

David Shane