Air-launched expendable micro-sized wave buoy

As part of a Phase II Office of Naval Research (ONR) Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract, Neptune Sciences, Inc. (NSI) successfully developed and tested a micro-sized expendable wave measurement buoy. This is the first in a series of microsensors to be developed by NSI and is designated the Expendable Micro-sized Environmental Sensor-Nondirectional Wave Buoy (XMES-NWB). The buoy is designed to be launched from manned or unmanned aircraft using the standard tri-service ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser System (CMDS), or it can be deployed by hand from a surface ship. Anticipated scientific uses for production versions of the XMES-NWB include the study of tropical cyclones, monitoring nearshore and deep-water hydrodynamics, and validation of numerical wave models covering a full range of wave conditions. Tactical uses include deployment of the XMES-NWB to provide wave and surf data in support of amphibious and nearshore operations involving critical systems such as the Marine Corps' Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV) and Navy LCAC air cushion landing vehicles.