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Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Increased Automation for RMMV Recovery Operations

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N00024-13-P-4596
Agency Tracking Number: N131-041-0568
Amount: $79,917.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N131-041
Solicitation Number: 2013.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2013
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-06-18
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2013-12-18
Small Business Information
1410 Sachem Place Suite 202
Charlottesville, VA -
United States
DUNS: 120839477
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Jason Burkholder
 Principal Research Scient
 (434) 973-1215
 barron@bainet.com
Business Contact
 Connie Hoover
Title: General Manager
Phone: (434) 973-1215
Email: barron@bainet.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

Shipboard launch and recovery of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) is a challenging engineering problem requiring careful design and integration of hardware and software. The seaway-induced relative motion between the host vessel and ROV is often difficult to measure or model, which may render automatic control approaches ineffective and force reliance on manual operation by a very small number of highly trained operators. The success of a launch or recovery is thus highly dependent on the proficiency and alertness of the operator(s). Recovery of the RMMV from the LCS Independence variant is especially challenging and labor-intensive. The overall objective of the research is to provide increased recovery automation to enhance safety and repeatability while reducing operator workload. Barron Associates, Inc. and its research partners propose a tiered research and development program that assesses and quantifies the degree of recovery automation achievable with varying levels of cost. A simulation environment that includes vehicle, flow, and recovery system models will be developed. The team will follow a building-block approach that first maximizes the autonomy that is achievable within the basic confines of the existing infrastructure. Based on the simulation results, innovative modifications will be considered within given cost and technical risk guidelines.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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