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