Bodkin Design & Engineering (BD&E) contracted to develop a coastal water prototype wave power harvesting system.
A prototype unit was constructed and tested at the company's Newton facility and was found to have a power conversion efficiency between 34% and 50%. This covert system is designed to be alternative power source for submerged sensors and systems. In addition to its military uses, this submerged system can find application to commercial moorings and on pleasure boats.
The fully submerged, robust, self-contained design is anti-fouling and ideally suited for surf zone operation where extreme environmental conditions could damage systems that rely on deployed arms, floats or fragile mechanics.
This six month project, awarded under a Phase I SBIR contract from the Navy is funded by the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR), a program established by the Small Business Administration Office to ensure that the nation's small, high-tech, innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal government's research and development efforts.
Bodkin Design and Engineering, LLC has been providing concept development, prototype design/build, and engineering services to commercial, military, and research communities since 1992. Headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts, BD&E holds contracts with the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Department of Homeland Security, National Aeronautic and Space Agency, and the Missile Defense Agency.