STTR Phase I: Empowering Oceanic Intelligence with Unlimited Marine Energy

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is in addressing a critical challenge in maritime sensing: the lack of long-lasting, reliable power for ocean monitoring. Currently, many sensors depend on batteries or solar panels, which often fail in remote areas or cloudy conditions. This limitation restricts how much data can be collected and how long missions can last. Using ocean wave energy, the project investigates how to provide a higher-output power source for small, autonomous sensing platforms. If successful, these systems could operate for extended periods without the need for frequent maintenance or battery replacements. The research aims to improve the ability to monitor maritime activity, protect coastal infrastructure, and track ambient changes. By advancing wave energy conversion technology, this project supports national interests in ocean observation, scientific innovation, and coastal resilience. This research investigates high-power-density ocean wave energy conversion (WEC) mechanisms—specifically electromagnetic induction and pressure-volume-work pathways—to enable compact, wave-powered autonomous sensing platforms. The primary objective is to determine the feasibility of achieving scalable electrical power outputs up to 100 W within small-form-factor systems. The intellectual merit of this work lies in advancing WEC technology through the optimization of design parameters, conversion efficiencies, and dynamic energy transfer control for maritime applications. The methodology utilizes integrated analytical and computational modeling to characterize wave-to-electric energy conversion, followed by rigorous design trade studies to identify high-performance configurations. To validate these models, benchtop prototypes will be fabricated and experimentally evaluated under representative loading and simulated sea states, measuring empirical energy capture and end-to-end conversion efficiency. The resulting feasibility data and verified performance estimates will provide a technical framework for developing persistent maritime domain awareness (MDA) platforms. By overcoming the energy density limitations of current small-scale WECs, this research offers a path toward self-sustaining, long-endurance oceanographic and defense sensing capabilities that are independent of battery capacity or solar availability. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2537673 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Blake Boren | Institution: HYDROKINETX CORPORATION, ARNOLDS PARK, IA | Award Amount: $304,950 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2537673 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2537673.html