SBIR Phase II: Novel Autonomous Electronic Methods to Prevent Biofouling

SBIR 第二阶段：防止生物污垢的新型自主电子方法

• 批准号: 2110275
• 负责人: James DiLorenzo
• 金额: $ 99.91万
• 依托单位: WAVEARRAY ANTIFOULING SYSTEMS, LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-03-01 至 2024-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2110275&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; II; Novel; Autonomous

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project addresses the worldwide issue of how biofouling (unwanted attachment of biological species, e.g., barnacles, oysters, mussels) of ships is addressed. The current antifouling methods are harmful to the environment (toxic paints are employed and they can pollute waterways) and costly in terms of maintenance to mitigate biofouling and the increased fuel costs due to frictional drag during a vessel’s operation. This project seeks to develop an innovative, electronic approach to biofouling prevention by developing ultrasonic transducer arrays that are optimized for submerged operation in a marina. The near-term commercial opportunity is with both marina owners and nationwide marina operators. Over time and with further product development, commercial transport and large Navy vessels may also be addressed. This project seeks to enhance the scientific understanding of acoustic wave generation in water using piezoelectric transducers and sensor arrays along with the understanding of how these waves prevent the attachment of bio-species to ship hulls.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to address the challenges of commercial deployment of transducer and sensor arrays to prevent biofouling of ships docked in marinas. The program has four scientific objectives: 1) Improve transducer and power amplifier components and construction to maximize sound pressure levels in water; 2) Develop and construct complex coherent transducer arrays to project adequate sound pressure levels at distances greater than 10 feet to prevent biofouling agents from attaching to ships; 3) Integrate sensor arrays into an autonomous system that can adjust sound pressure levels based on feedback algorithms; and 4) Develop a proof-of-concept system to adopt an autonomous, electronically steerable transducer array system to the interior of boat hulls. This latter adaptation may open markets where large ships such as commercial transport and Naval vessels can be addressed. The project will innovate in areas such as acoustic beam steering, electronic design of piezoelectric transducers, acoustic amplifier design, submersible marine electronics, and electro/mechanical design for submersible housings.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力解决了生物污染（生物物种的不必要附着，例如，藤壶、牡蛎、贻贝）。目前的防污方法对环境有害（使用有毒油漆，它们会污染水道），并且在维护方面成本高昂，以减轻生物污垢和由于船舶操作期间的摩擦阻力而增加的燃料成本。该项目旨在开发一种创新的电子方法，通过开发超声波传感器阵列来防止生物污损，该阵列针对码头的水下操作进行了优化。近期的商业机会属于码头所有者和全国码头运营商。随着时间的推移和进一步的产品开发，商业运输和大型海军舰艇也可能得到解决。该项目旨在提高科学认识的声波产生在水中使用压电换能器和传感器阵列沿着与了解这些波如何防止附着的生物物种的船体。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目旨在解决的挑战，商业部署的换能器和传感器阵列，以防止生物污损的船舶停靠在码头。该计划有四个科学目标：1）改进换能器和功率放大器组件和结构，以最大限度地提高水中的声压级; 2）开发和建造复杂的相干换能器阵列，以在10英尺以上的距离投射足够的声压级，以防止生物污损剂附着在船上; 3）将传感器阵列集成到自主系统中，该系统可以基于反馈算法调整声压级;以及4）开发概念验证系统，以将自主的、电子可操纵的换能器阵列系统采用到船体内部。后一种适应可能会打开市场，使大型船舶，如商业运输和海军船舶，能够得到解决。 该项目将在声束转向、压电换能器的电子设计、声放大器设计、水下海洋电子设备和潜水器外壳的机电设计等领域进行创新。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。