DIRDI has been successfully awarded an Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Innovation Feasibility Study Grant.
The study will begin in July and will combine technical investigation, manufacturing assessment, and early-stage prototyping to determine whether Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) techniques could provide a scalable route to producing a new generation of underwater acoustic sensors within the UK.
The project forms part of DIRDI’s wider work in underwater and acoustic science, building on established expertise within the institute and creating an opportunity to develop new capabilities in underwater sensing.
If you wish to explore grant opportunities with DIRDI, please email jack.goldsack@dirdi.org or get in touch with us via our contact us page.
The Importance of UK Sovereign Underwater Acoustic Sensing
Underwater acoustic sensing plays a critical role across the UK economy. Their applications span a wide range of areas, including offshore energy, environmental and ocean monitoring, maritime security, defence, and subsea autonomous systems.
Hydrophones convert underwater pressure fluctuations into electrical signals. They enable researchers and industry to detect, measure, and characterise sound in the marine environment. Conventional hydrophone technologies can be relatively expensive, bulky, and difficult to manufacturing for high-volume production which prevents widespread deployment.
Demand for distributed underwater sensing is increasing. The growth of autonomous marine systems, offshore renewable energy, and large-scale ocean monitoring is creating demand for acoustic sensors that are smaller, lower-cost, and scalable. MEMS manufacturing processes are believed to offer a promising route to achieve this.
A key objective is to understand whether MEMS hydrophones can ultimately be developed and manufactured within the UK, creating a foundation for further research and potential commercialisation.
Through the successful commercialisation of MEMS, DIRDI would be able to support more fundamental research within the institute, and we will be able to use this capability to support Members and Fellows conducting research in related areas who require access to MEMS hydrophones.
UKSIRTMO and Edisonian Commercialisation
This project contributes to DIRDI’s Edisonian commercialisation ambition and is part of the transition into an UK Sovereign Integrated Research to Manufacturing Organisation (UKSIRTMO) within which sits a designated sensor capability.
Traditional piezoelectric hydrophones are an area heavily dominated by manufacturers based in East Asia, but as an emerging technology the same is not true for MEMS Hydrophones. Developing advanced a MEMS manufacturing base and supply chain domestically could help retain specialist skills, technical knowledge, investment and manufacturing capability within the UK.
For DIRDI, the project represents a tangible step in advancing its Sovereign Sensor Capability and demonstrating how research, innovation and manufacturing development can work together to address emerging requirements across the maritime environment.
