SBIR Phase II: Novel Autonomous Electronic Methods to Prevent Biofouling

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力解决了如何处理船舶生物污损(生物物种的有害附着，例如藤壶、牡蛎、贻贝)这一世界性问题。目前的防污方法对环境有害(使用有毒涂料，会污染水道)，而且在维护方面成本高昂，以减轻生物污染和船舶运行期间摩擦阻力导致的燃料成本增加。该项目旨在开发一种创新的电子方法，通过开发针对码头水下操作进行优化的超声波换能器阵列来防止生物污垢。近期的商业机会是码头所有者和全国性的码头运营商。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。该项目旨在加强对使用压电换能器和传感器阵列在水中产生声波的科学了解，并了解这些波如何防止生物物种附着在船体上。这一小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目旨在解决在商业部署换能器和传感器阵列以防止停靠在码头的船舶出现生物污垢的挑战。该计划有四个科学目标：1)改进换能器和功率放大器的组件和结构，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，以防止生物污垢附着在船舶上；3)将传感器阵列集成到一个可以根据反馈算法调整声压级的自主系统中；以及4)开发一个概念验证系统，以采用自主的、电子可操控的换能器阵列系统到船体内部。后一种适应可能会打开市场，在那里可以处理大型船舶，如商业运输和海军舰艇。该项目将在声波束控制、压电换能器的电子设计、声学放大器设计、潜水海洋电子学和潜水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优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.