MDUSV
Abstract
The Medium Displacement Unmanned Surface Vehicle (MDUSV) project will develop and test a 132 ft. unmanned surface vehicle with ocean-spanning range, months of endurance, good seakeeping, and substantial payload. The vessel will have a high level of autonomy for independent operations under sparse supervisory control and have utility for a variety of Navy missions. MDUSVs capable of deployed blue-water operations with operator trust in safe, reliable operation, long-range and endurance autonomous operations. This will create a new paradigm for Navy surface force, a hybrid manned/unmanned force, and enable new tactics in performing naval missions. The Activity identified in Project Unit 3454 specifically addresses Applied Research in support of the MDUSV INP effort. The efforts described in this Project address the Applied Research associated with the Innovative Naval Prototypes (INP) Program. These investments represent game changing technologies with the potential to revolutionize operational concepts. They are disruptive in nature, as they would dramatically change the way naval forces fight. Due to high technical risk, INPs typically have long duration but have no more than three years between decision points. They mature technologies from a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 2 or 3 to a TRL of 6. As such, INPs require both Budget Activity (BA) 2 and BA3 funding. The BA3 INP funds are specified in a separate Program Element (PE), 0603801N Innovative Naval Prototypes (INP) Adv Tec Dev. INPs do not develop hardware for service use; rather they provide feeder technology that can be demonstrated in prototypes in the 6.3 portion of the INP program. Developing INPs requires a systematic expansion and application of knowledge to develop useful materials, devices, and systems oriented toward the design and development of prototypes applicable to specific mission area requirements. The efforts funded within this PE translate promising basic research into solutions for broadly defined military needs. These efforts include developing breadboard hardware and algorithms that establish the initial feasibility and practicality of proposed solutions to technological challenges, such as concept exploration efforts, studies, investigations, and non-system specific technology efforts. The Department of the Navy would have to make significant acquisition decisions to integrate the new technological capabilities into naval warfighting systems. INPs are selected by a process that involves senior leadership in the Department of the Navy. Information security concerns preclude fully detailed descriptions of project efforts, research activities, and technology development plans. Specific information on each project and activity will be provided separately to the Congressional oversight committees.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2021
- Source ID
- 3454_0602792N_2_1319_PB_2021
Related Documents
- Root: Innovative Naval Prototypes (INP) Applied Res
- Child Accomplishment: MDUSV