DON27TZ02-NV006 TITLE: Compact Unmanned Aerial System for Marine Species Monitoring

COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY PRIORITY AREA(S): Biotechnology

PROJECTED CMMC LEVEL REQUIREMENT: Level 2 (Self)

OBJECTIVE: Develop an inexpensive, compact, and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)-compliant Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) – optimized for marine mammal monitoring.

DESCRIPTION: A major remaining hurdle with marine species management is to know if, and when, measurable short-term behavioral and/or physiological responses of marine species to sound exposure results in biologically significant or meaningful effects on individuals and/or their populations. Advances in UAS methods and technology present unprecedented opportunities to improve the capacity to collect this robust data with minimal disturbance to marine species. However, while UAS methods have led to significant advances in our understanding of marine species’ behavior, health, and body condition, thus far many obstacles remain including cost, flight duration, size, and image resolution.

This STTR topic seeks to develop a compact, inexpensive, and NDAA-compliant UAS and payloads designed to collect high-resolution photogrammetry imagery to improve marine mammal monitoring, health measurements, and behavioral sequencing. In particular, the prototype device should contain the following technical parameters: high resolution flat zoom lens camera integrated with a gimbal system; highly maneuverable and flexible payload system; lightweight batteries less than 100 Watt hours; an accurate Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) altimeter and range finder integrated with the camera and capable of measuring distances up to 50m or more; and a monitor that is operational in direct sunlight and with polarized sunglasses;. It should be designed for flight times as much as or greater than 40 minutes; be compact and portable in both size and weight such that the UAS and case can fit airline luggage restrictions; have the ability to be quickly calibrated, launched, and caught by hand during small boat-based operations and to tolerate temperature range of -20 degrees to +40 degrees Celsius; and have a minimum weather resistant rating of IP45 to allow for operations in wet conditions; be capable of dynamic home point positioning; and produces minimal noise.

While there are several existing NDAA-compliant drones available in the marketplace, the desired components and capabilities only exist in piecemeal and further, these UAS are prohibitively expensive for the field. The DON seeks to develop a prototype device to be designed and optimized for marine species monitoring, encompassing all the above technical parameters. Critically, this device must be affordable for the marine research community with the target market price between $10,000 - $15,000.

PHASE I: Develop concepts for and determine the feasibility of UAS technologies suitable for marine species-focused photogrammetry in a compact, efficient, and cost-effective design, including the identification of components to increase imagery resolution, increase flight time, and decrease size and weight of the prototype device. Develop key component technology milestones and conceptual designs for hardware. Prepare a Phase II plan.

PHASE II: Develop prototype hardware based on the Phase I effort. Establish hardware performance and develop a conceptual plan for integration into a compact system. Deliver the prototype ready for integration and testing by the Government at the end of Phase II. Prepare a Phase III commercialization/transition plan.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Continue refinement and iterative field testing of the prototype. Provide documentation and support to the Navy and Government user community to ensure best practice use. Clearly identify and describe the expected transition of the product/process/service within the government under a Phase III effort.

Successful development of an improved UAS suitable for marine species research will open tremendous opportunities for small businesses to provide monitoring capabilities to a wide range of government agencies having equities in marine life issues. For example, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries, National Ocean Service, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, among others would benefit from this capability. Additionally, any commercial entity with a need or support mission to monitor and assess a small area from an aerial perspective with high-resolution imagery would benefit from this technology.

A key goal of this phase will be making the technology available to the broader research and Navy communities.

REFERENCES:

1. Álvarez-González, M., Suarez-Bregua, P., Pierce, G.J. and Saavedra, C. "Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in marine mammal research: A review of current applications and challenges." Drones, 7(11), 667. https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7110667
2. Bernier-Graveline, A. et al. "Drone-based photogrammetry provides estimates of the energetic cost of migration for humpback whales between Antarctica and Colombia." Marine Mammal Science, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70048
3. Christiansen, F. et al "Estimating body mass of free-living whales using aerial photogrammetry and 3D volumetrics." Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 10(12), 2019, pp. 2034-2044. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13277
4. Durban, J. W., Fearnbach, H., Barrett-Lennard, L. G., Perryman, W. L. and Leroi, D. J. "Photogrammetry of killer whales using a small hexacopter launched at sea." Journal of Unmanned Vehicle Systems, 3(3), 2015, pp. 131-135. https://doi.org/10.1139/juvs-2015-0020

KEYWORDS: Unmanned; aerial; system; vehicles; drone; NDAA-compliant; photogrammetry

TPOC 1: Michael Weise
michael.j.weise.civ@us.navy.mil

TPOC 2: Anurag Kumar
anurag.kumar.civ@us.navy.mil