Niuvt - academic partnerships on applied research in the undersea vehicle domain (FY24)

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) awarded the University of Connecticut $15,834,174 under the Basic and Applied Scientific Research program (CFDA 12.300) for the NIUVT (Naval Innovative Undersea Vehicle Technology) – Academic Partnerships on Applied Research in the Undersea Vehicle Domain initiative. This four-year project grant, effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2029, supports fundamental and applied research with direct applications to naval operations and Marine Corps undersea vehicle capabilities. The award funds multidisciplinary research conducted through academic partnerships focused on advancing technology in undersea vehicle systems, including hydrodynamics, propulsion systems, materials science, and related engineering disciplines critical to next-generation submarine and unmanned underwater vehicle development.

The University of Connecticut, serving as the prime awardee through its Office of Sponsored Programs, administers the research initiative across multiple sub-awards to the University of Rhode Island's Research Office. Research projects distributed through sub-awards include investigations into unsteady control surface modeling using bioinspired fish tail sensors, hydrodynamic forcing on shape-changing bodies, improved turbulence modeling using data-driven closure models, sparse sampling of sonar signals for enhanced detection capabilities, heat transfer and thermal management solutions in lithium-ion batteries, development of high-energy-density primary lithium-iron disulfide cells for unmanned underwater vehicles, pressure statistics in turbulent boundary layers, magnesium-based rechargeable battery development, coastal and offshore biogeochemical oceanographic observatories with distributed sensing capabilities, and submarine habitability improvements including quiet bunk investigations. The research program combines fundamental science with applied engineering solutions to enhance Navy and Marine Corps technological capabilities in undersea operations.