Thomas Nicholas
Aerospace engineering
Hometown: Tempe, Arizona, United States
Graduation date: Spring 2027
FURI | Spring 2025
Expansion of Underwater Tracking Capabilities
As subsurface regions gain strategic and economic importance, current limitations in detecting torpedoes and tracking submarines create significant vulnerabilities. This study will be exploring the use of LiDAR (visual light rangefinding) as an alternative sensor type to the acoustic and magnetic sensors already in use. The goal of using LiDAR is to subvert the jamming and decoy interference currently employed by subsurface offensive weapons so that they may be intercepted or avoided. The research aims to fill critical gaps in seaborne defensive systems, addressing deficiencies in torpedo tracking and response times while enabling discreet surveillance of underwater threats such as mines and submarines. A multistatic system of diverse sensors is proposed to mitigate vulnerabilities and improve defensive agility. The development process includes surveying experienced naval personnel, iterative design and prototyping of a submersible sensor package, and programming systems to autonomously identify and track underwater targets.
Mentor: Anoop Singh
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