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Optical Inertial Reference Unit for Navy Tactical Airborne High Energy Laser (HEL) Applications
Navy SBIR 2013.1 - Topic N131-010 NAVAIR - Ms. Donna Moore - navair.sbir@navy.mil Opens: December 17, 2012 - Closes: January 16, 2013 N131-010 TITLE: Optical Inertial Reference Unit for Navy Tactical Airborne High Energy Laser (HEL) Applications TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Weapons ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-265 RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted". The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected. OBJECTIVE: Develop and fabricate a compact optical inertial reference unit (IRU) for operation suitable for High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapon systems on tactical air platforms. DESCRIPTION: Recent developments in subsystem performance have made realistic the potential for the incorporation of high energy lasers (HEL) on tactical aircraft. The volume and weight restrictions of air platforms as well as performance requirements have placed serious constraints on the overall system. The dynamic scenarios for tactical aircraft are challenging from the standpoint of absolute knowledge of platform position and orientation (for predictive avoidance and target acquisition and de-confliction), as well as line of sight stabilization in the high vibration environment in which the HEL must operate. Ideally, one IRU could fulfill both roles, having low drift, for precise attitude determination, and good high frequency characteristics, along with a guide beam to mitigate optical train jitter. If not quantified, the resulting LOS jitter can increase noise in target state estimates, leading to more jitter and decreased track continuity. The specific constraint of the platform environment requires component precision alignment as one of the most critical requirements for a laser weapon system which leads to aim point maintenance/jitter rejection. An Optical Inertial Reference Unit forms the core of jitter rejection concepts in high energy laser and other precision optical systems. Generally each application and platform brings its own requirements and thus suggests a unique design, or at least a modification of existing designs. The focus of this solicitation is for an optical IRU that can address the requirements of multiple platform-based high energy laser systems, such as the F/A-18 and MH-60S. These requirements include: • Small package on the order of 2"x2"x2" cube for electronics and sensor able to be remotely mounted NAVAIR is seeking innovative ways to improve IRU performance in a reduced size. Although specifically targeted for implementation in future high energy laser systems for tactical air platforms, the same technology would undoubtedly provide benefits to ground and sea based high energy lasers and programs in all the services for applications such as target designation, laser radar and laser countermeasure systems. Current systems under development that would benefit include DoD HEL Weapons and Marine/Army ground designation devices. The target of this program will be to demonstrate a rejection of the platform vibration induced HEL jitter to < 1 micro-radian per axis RMs for a platform such as the F/A-18 mounted in a pod in a compact device ~ 2 inch cube. Operation in a military environment will be essential for future applications; therefore the IRU must survive the shock, vibration, and temperature environments of a deployed device. Finally, the resultant IRU must be designed in a way as to be consistent with current state-of-the-art high volume manufacturing practices in the industry (i.e., cost competitive on a $/rejected jitter basis with current technology). The goal for the end of the program would be to achieve a per unit cost of < $120,000. PHASE I: Develop a conceptual design for compact optical inertial reference unit that meets Navy requirements. Include methodology and prototype performance that will demonstrate the proposed concept at the performance above. PHASE II: Develop detailed designs for the Phase I compact optical inertial reference unit and fabricate a limited number of IRU's suitable for proof of concept testing. Conduct preliminary testing. PHASE III: Scale up for mass production of the IRU. Transition into various laser weapon programs on multiple air platforms. PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Potential commercial use is in for lasers systems that operate in a rugged environment where component alignment is critical to system operation. These include precision pointing systems such as required for laser communication. REFERENCES: 2. Merritt, P. (2011). Beam Control for Laser Systems. Directed Energy Professional Society, Albuquerque, NM. http://www.deps.org/store/merchandise/TOCs/BeamControlLaserSystemsTOC.html KEYWORDS: Jitter Control; High Energy Laser Weapons; Beam Control; Precision Optical Systems
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