DST developing maritime application for SPAD technology
Australia’s Defence and Science Technology (DST) is developing a maritime application for its single-photon avalanche detector (SPAD) technology, the DST announced on 10 April.
The project aims to develop a SPAD sensor and laser system that can be mounted on a gimbal on a hovering UAS tethered above the ocean surface to scan the depths for underwater vehicles and sea mines.
Partly funded by the Royal Australian Air Force’s Plan Jericho, the team has tested the sensor mounted on a wharf, and on a vessel at sea. The team measured the open water transparency using Secchi disks, the disks that are lowered into a water body until no longer visible. This depth of disappearance, called the Secchi depth, is a measure of the transparency of the water.
The SPAD sensors are designed for low-light detection of objects. With 256×256 pixels of resolution, the new version of the SPAD chip will improve the sensor's capability. Two chip layers will be joined together to create an advanced sensor.
Initial trials with a custom-built, heavy-lift, unpiloted multicopter version of the SPAD system were recently conducted over the waters off the South Australian coastline. The next stage of work will focus on optimising optics and image processing.
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![South Korean navy orders four more Geomdoksuri Batch-II patrol vessels]()
South Korean navy orders four more Geomdoksuri Batch-II patrol vessels
The contract follows on from previous work by Hanjin Heavy Industries on the Republic of Korea's Navy’s (ROKN's) fleet.
-
![Virginia and Columbia-class submarine programmes sign long-term parts deals]()
Virginia and Columbia-class submarine programmes sign long-term parts deals
Parts from both US and Australian manufacturers will be used to build two critical submarine classes.
-
![Joint Expeditionary Force launches AI protection net for undersea cables]()
Joint Expeditionary Force launches AI protection net for undersea cables
The UK-led system assesses potential threats before they result in undersea cable damage.
-
![Entire Black Sea “a contested maritime area”, says Commander of Estonian Navy]()
Entire Black Sea “a contested maritime area”, says Commander of Estonian Navy
The use of uncrewed vessels and vehicles has been crucial so far, but the Commander of the Estonian Navy warns against inflating their importance.
-
![Algeria signals a shift to domestic shipbuilding for Type 056 corvettes]()
Algeria signals a shift to domestic shipbuilding for Type 056 corvettes
The government recently commissioned a report on the viability of increased Algerian shipbuilding.
-
![US Navy names DDG 146 Arleigh Burke destroyer after former US Senator]()
US Navy names DDG 146 Arleigh Burke destroyer after former US Senator
The latest of the Flight III Arleigh Burke vessels has been named for a former US Senator and Vietnam veteran.
