DURIP ModPen - Modular Free Fall Penetrometer System for Seabed Sediment Testing
Abstract
BAA #: N00014-24-S-F001 Prime offeror: Nina Stark, University of FloridaABSTRACTPublicly ReasonableModPen - Modular Free Fall Penetrometer System for Seabed Sediment Testing The rapid characterization of geotechnical seabed properties is of high importance to various naval applications including sensor/effector network deployments, mine burial prediction, sonar calibration, unexploded ordnances detection and management, navigation, and trafficability. Traditionally, sediment coring and sampling or in-situ cone penetration testing are used to obtain the required geotechnical data. However, those methods are time-intensiveand require access with heavy equipment and vessels, often unfeasible for naval applications. Free fall penetrometers (FFP) and particularly portable free fall penetrometers are a reliable alternative when rapid geotechnical seabed characterization is required, access is limited, and/or measurements of the uppermost meter of the seabed surface are of high importance. FFPs are typically designed to satisfy certain deployment conditions (e.g., from a small vessel, during transit, in strong current, by robotic tools). This has recently been identified as an issue creating less flexibility in deployment and restricting the collection of data in diverse ocean environments. Additionally, deployments from autonomous or remotely controlled vehicles have gained in importance, and few FFPs can currently accommodate deployment by a vehicle payload unit. This proposal requests funds to assemble a modular free fall penetrometer system (ModPen) that can accommodate different deployment settings through a modular assembly. The ModPen will focus specifically on the following deployment settings: (i) manual deployment from the water surface in shallow-water environments, (ii) winch-based deployment from the water surface in deep-water environments, (iii) deployment from autonomous surface or underwater vehicles, and (iv) deployment from unmanned aerial vehicles. We will purchase off-the-shelf penetrometer sensors and data acquisition units, will fabricate housing units for the specific deployment settings in our machine shop and 3D printing shop, and assemble them into a modular free fall penetrometer system that can satisfy different modern deployment requirements. The proposed effort will also includea demonstration in each listed deployment setting. The system would immediately assist with multiple current and pending ONR-fundedresearch projects including the investigation of deep-ocean seabed sediments and highly inaccessible tidal mud flats, as well as for projects related to mine burial prediction and sensor/effector placements. Furthermore, the system will make geotechnical testing significantly more accessible to other ONR performers and promote new fundamental and applied research and research-related education.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 24, 2025
- Source ID
- N000142512167
Entities
People
- Nina Stark
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Florida