A Wave Glider for Studies of Biofouling and Ocean Productivity
Abstract
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, under authority of 10 U.S.C. ยค 2362 and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OASD(R&E)), allocated $28 million to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) with equipment and instrumentation enhancements to improve their research and education capabilities in scientific disciplines important to the defense mission. The program aims enhance the capacity of HBCU/MI to participate broadly in defense research programs and activities and to increase the number of graduates, including underrepresented minorities, in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The PI requests support for the acquisition of a Wave Glider vehicle outfitted with environmental sensors and surfaces to enable better understanding of biofouling. The long-term goals are to understand (i) the surface biofouling process, (ii) the relevant forcing processes imposed by ocean productivity and biofouling community composition and (iii) to improve mitigation provided by hull coating systems and maintenance practices. These goals include understanding biofouling of naval hulls in general and the biofouling of autonomous ocean observing vehicles in particular. The relationship between engineered surfaces and ocean life is a dynamic one. The specific goal of this project is acquisition of an autonomous Wave Glider ocean-observing vehicle outfitted with environmental sensors and arrays of engineered test surfaces, which will be capable of studying key aspects of the biofouling process as it occurs. This instrument will be used in studies designed to predict biofouling rates, improve biofouling mitigation and thereby increase ocean vehicle endurance and reduce energy requirements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610477
Entities
People
- John A. Breier
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley