Program: SBIR

Agency: DARPA

TOPIC Number: DARPA2003-021

Contract Number: W31P4Q-04-C-R322

Awarded In: 2004

Award Start Date: 24AUG04

Proposal Title: Pioneer Sea Glider

Principal Investigator Name: Robert M. Zubrin

Principal Investigator Phone: (303) 980-0890

Principal Investigator Email: zubrin(AT)aol.com

Field Office: ATO

Control Number: 03SB1-0311

Phase: 2

Award Amount: $748,947

Award Completion Date: 26NOV06

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Firm:

PIONEER ASTRONAUTICS

11111 W. 8th Ave., Unit A

Lakewood, CO 80215

URL: www.pioneerastro.com

Woman Owned: N

Minority Owned: N

Number of Employees: 8

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Keywords: SEA GLIDER, NITROUS OXIDE, BOUYANCY ENGINE, UNDERWATER PROPULSION

Abstract: The proposed Pioneer Sea Glider is a new method for underwater transport of equipment and personnel over long distances in a quiet manner. A unique buoyancy control system is based on the conversion of liquid nitrous oxide to a mixture of gaseous nitrogen and oxygen. This nitrous-oxide-derived buoyancy gas can also provide breathing air and heat for crews and is based on technology developed and patented by Pioneer Astronautics for long-duration space flight, SCUBA, and terrestrial rescue operations. Because one volume of nitrous oxide gas dissociates to 1.5 volumes of nitrogen plus oxygen, buoyancy gas mass requirements are reduced by one-third compared to those required for other gases. In the proposed Phase 2, a sea glider bouyancy engine capable of propelling an 1100 liter displacement sea glider operating at depths of up to 1000 ft will be developed and tested at pioneer Astronautics, and then integrated with a Scripp sea glider vehicle for testing at sea.