Materials Systems Inc. (MSI), a supplier of transducers for sonar and industrial ultrasound, won a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop a novel Common Acoustic Communications Module (CACM) for Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUV’s).
MSI was selected for this program based upon its prior experience with the development and application of innovative single-crystal and piezocomposite technologies. Through prior R&D efforts, MSI has developed an alternative ceramic-based method of producing single-crystal relaxor ferroelectrics. Under this contract, MSI will utilize its unique fabrication method to incorporate their material into broadband transducer elements, which are planned for integration with the Micro-Modem acoustic communications (ACOMMS) system developed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) for use in UUV applications.