buoys with an ODtimum capability. The second study compared 

 alternate levels (vertical) of sensing capability with costs 

 associated with achieving the postulated capability. The latter 

 results indicate that systems incorporating advanced technology 

 are significantly more cost effective than systems based on 

 existing capability. The extent of systems implementation should 

 not ailter this relationship. However, there does not appear to 

 be a clear cut differentiation among the various levels of 

 capability based on cost-effectiveness alone. Therefore, systems 

 planning should incorporate flexibility during the early develop- 

 ment phases. These study efforts will be used, in conjunction 

 with contractual support, to develop a proposed technical approach. 



(12) Through competitive selection, the Project Office 

 has contracted with the Systems Management Division, Sperry Rand 

 Inc., for system engineering and project management support. 

 Sperry Rand is now assisting the Project Office in documenting 

 the proposed technical approaches as part of a long-range develop- 

 ment plan. The work will include, in more detail, a concept 

 formulation plan down to the work statement level and a test and 

 evaluation program. 



FUTURE PLANS 



The scope of future plans will depend upon the level of 

 funding authorized. It is anticipated that the Fiscal Year 1970 

 program will continue mission and systems engineering analyses, 

 initiate a program of sensor tests and development, and investi- 

 gate and test design factors for buoy hulls and moorings. Addi- 

 tional important work, however, needs to be accomplished. 

 System performance requirements must be defined more accurately 

 to permit improved system engineering analyses, and reliability 

 and maintenance concepts must be investigated in detail as part 

 of the systems engineering effort. The initiation of sensor 

 development and a testing program are critical first steps in 

 pilot-buoy network development. Buoy hull and mooring design 

 factors are needed now, due to the extensive interaction of these 

 two components with other segments of the system. The efforts of 

 Fiscal Year I969 will form the basis for selection of the critical 

 activities to be carried out in 1970. 



CONCLUSION 



The development of NDB Systems is difficult, time consuming 

 and costly, even using the experience of related programs. Yet 

 all initial analyses indicate that the benefits which should be 

 derived from improved imderstanding and prediction of the global 

 environment will exceed costs by a large margin. Near real-time 

 synoptic information from the ocean areas of the world is essen- 

 tial to improved understanding and prediction of the environment, 

 and buoys are a cost-effective approach to obtaining that 



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