Below is a list of our class seminars and guest speakers from the spring semester of 2018.
Emerging Opportunities in Marine Robotics
Thayer Mahan Inc. - January 31st, 2018
Presenters:
- Vice Admiral (Ret) Micheal Connor - Founder
- Richard Hine - Chief Operating Officer
Description:
Mike Connor founded ThayerMahan Inc. in January 2016 to accelerate the United States’ ability to effectively and efficiently monitor ocean activity using autonomous systems. In the short history of the company, ThayerMahan has worked effectively with multiple industry partners to integrate state-of-the-art technologies and develop autonomous, low-observable acoustic sensing platforms capable of delivering undersea awareness at a fraction of the cost of the U.S. Navy’s legacy approach. In less than nine months, ThayerMahan developed, integrated and completed successful end-to-end at-sea testing of its first prototype, OUTPOST – a low-profile, long-endurance autonomous surface vehicle employing a capable linear acoustic array at a depth well below interfering surface noise. Recognized globally as one of the foremost authorities in undersea operations, Mike brings a wealth of experience. In his 35 year career, he rose to the rank of Vice Admiral in the United States Navy and commanded the United States Submarine Force and NATO’s Allied Submarine Command from 2012 to 2015.
Underwater Robotics and the Challenge of Autonomy at Sea
Exocetus Autonomous Systems - February 6, 2018
Presenters:
- Joe Turner - Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer
Description:
An overview of the autonomous marine vehicle industry, specifically focused on small and medium sized unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The talk will discuss the technical challenges presented in designing and deploying these vehicles for varieties of missions.
Navy Undersea Vehicle Structural Acoustics and Stealth
General Dynamics Electric Boat - February 28th, 2018
Presenters:
- Dr. Robert M. Koch - U.S. Navy Senior Technologist
Description:
A broad array of technologies is involved in allowing the U.S. Navy’s undersea vehicles to operate in a covert and stealthy manner and live up to their apt name as the ‘Silent Service.’ Keeping this technological edge in a chaotic and ever-changing world involves both the fundamental understanding of the physics of structural acoustics and structural vibrations as well as the application of these and other engineering technologies to the acoustic and non-acoustic silencing of advanced undersea vehicles. This seminar includes both an examination of the definition and importance of vibro-acoustics physics and how it is applied by scientists and engineers to both manned and unmanned Navy undersea vehicles and associated systems. A short discussion of other related cutting-edge technologies that also support the undersea Navy and help keep it the quietest military force in the world will also be included.
Naval Design Science and Prototyping at Navatek
Navatek - March 6th, 2018
Presenters:
- Dr. David Kring - Ph.D. - Chief Scientist
Description:
Naval engineering involves unique challenges depending on mission objectives, operating conditions, costs, and many other factors. Navatek, with offices in Hawaii and Rhode Island, has a unique background in innovative ship design and development of system prototypes. Our work includes developments in computational physics, data science, and multi-disciplinary engineering. This seminar will present a broad overview of Navatek’s projects in Naval Science and Technology and delve more deeply into two particular examples, inflatable technology and early-stage ship structural design.
Undersea System Modeling
Raytheon - March 7th, 2018
Presenters:
- Scott Allison - Seapower Director of Engineering
- Dr. Pierre Corriveau - Chief Undersea Technologist
Description:
There’s an underlying physics and phenomenology layer that grounds all of our ideas – you can’t wish that an idea is valid, you must prove it through physics and engineering calculations. We explore how system engineering helps define models that help drive design decisions and reduce implementation risk. Additionally, we explore how Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) is showing us the undersea world in high definition!
Navy Science and Technology: The Race to Undersea Superiority
Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC) - March 28, 2018
Presenters:
- Dr. Robert LaFreniere - Director of Tactical Analysis Group
Description:
The UWDC develops and executes a coherent tactical development program to further develop and validate undersea warfare tactical procedures, advance undersea vehicle concepts and identify undersea tactical systems capability gaps.
Transparent Oceans and Invisible Ships
General Dynamics Electric Boat - April 3rd, 2018
Presenters:
- Priya Hicks - Program Manager for Independent Research & Development
Description:
General Dynamics Electric Boat has been designing and building submarines since 1899, beginning with USS Holland, the U.S. Navy's first commissioned undersea warship. Over that time, the company has maintained its dedication to delivering the most capable submarines in the world by emphasizing technical excellence, innovation and responsiveness to customer requirements. This emphasis enables Electric Boat to consistently develop and integrate complex systems and to deliver a long line of first-of-a-kind ships to the Navy. While Electric Boat's primary focus is on submarines production, the company actively participates in markets adjacent to its core business, leveraging expertise and technical innovation to naval surface ship and commercial nuclear programs.
US Navy Nuclear Submarine Life Support Systems
United Technologies Aerospace Systems - April 11th, 2018
Presenters:
- Arthur K. Colling - Chief Engineer of Maritime Systems
Description:
Nuclear submarines are capable of extended submerged operation, limited only by their 90-day food supply and crew endurance. Systems to maintain a breathable atmosphere in their enclosed environment are among the many critical enablers of this capability. Temperature and humidity control are provided by the ship’s air conditioning system. However, replenishing oxygen and removing atmospheric contaminants, specifically carbon dioxide, as well as trace contaminants such as carbon monoxide require specialized technologies. These systems must be designed for reliable, continuous operation and must be easy to operate and maintainable by the crew. Their development and qualification for submarine service includes an extensive series of rigorous tests. This seminar reviews overall nuclear submarine atmosphere control and discusses the design of modern oxygen generation, gas management, and carbon dioxide removal systems. Specific discussions of their designs for operability and maintainability and a review of the qualification process are included.
The Evolving Role of Non-Destructive Evaluation in Manufacturing, Industrial Process Monitoring, and Asset Protection in the 21st Century
Mistras Group - April 17th, 2018
Presenters:
- Dr. Valery Godinez-Azcuaga - Vice President of Engineering & Product Development
Description:
Since its inception in industrial practice at the beginning of the 20th century, Nondestructive Evaluation technology has played an important role in testing raw materials and assembled components in industrial processes. This role has evolved from purely testing of raw materials or cracked joints or components to extended inspections and process monitoring of large industrial facilities such as power utilities, refineries and chemical plants using NDE advanced technologies. In the 21st century, with the availability of miniaturize powerful electronics, wireless communication, data analytics and the internet, the evolution of NDE technology continues and, through continuous monitoring, is becoming an integral part of the emerging field of asset protection in industrial and civil infrastructure.