Swift engineering proposes to provide a high quality, affordable, internet of things (IOT) enabled multi-functional, water sensor solution called "kelp." an affordable and self-powered buoy…

Swift Engineering Inc. received a $150,000 Project Grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Small Business Innovation Research Program to develop an Internet of Things-enabled water sensor solution called Kelp. The buoy-based Kelp system will monitor multiple water quality parameters with high-resolution, near real-time data collection for emerging markets in estuarine environmental monitoring, dam facilities, harmful algae bloom monitoring, and sewage/chemical outfall monitoring. Under the September 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 performance period, Swift Engineering will develop Kelp as a modular platform customizable with third-party sensors and remote firmware/software updates. The Small Business Innovation Research Program aims to stimulate technological innovation through small business-focused federal research and development funding.

Swift engineering proposes to provide a high quality, affordable, internet of things (IOT) enabled multi-functional, water sensor solution called "kelp." an affordable and self-powered buoy platform, kelp will be adaptable to changing needs of the global blue economy market. The first generation of this product specifically targets emerging markets in estuarine environmental monitoring, DAM and large-scale water storage facilities, harmful algae bloom (HAB) monitoring, and sewage and chemical outfall monitoring. Each of these markets presents a unique need to monitor multiple water quality parameters with high resolution and near real time data collection, which kelp is uniquely designed to provide. To serve the needs of these market, swift will develop several key features of the kelp system. Swift will develop software and hardware layouts to turn kelp into a modular system that allows for the addition of custom 3RD party sensors. Kelp will also be developed with RE