Imaging through low-visibility fire smoke for ship-board navigation of robotic fire-fighting systems Navy STTR FY2012.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2012.A Topic No.: N12A-T021 Topic Title: Imaging through low-visibility fire smoke for ship-board navigation of robotic fire-fighting systems Proposal No.: N12A-021-0333 Firm: Advanced Scientific Concepts, Inc. 135 E. Ortega Street Santa Barbara, California 93101 Contact: Bradley Short Phone: (805) 966-3331 Abstract: With the increased threat of shipboard fires, due to the use of composite structures, automated 3D fire control has become an important requirement. These sensors must provide fire detection and 3D localization that can trigger an automated firefighting response. Advanced Scientific Concept's (ASC) eye-safe 3D Flash LIDART cameras provide a unique 3D imaging solution for fire suppression systems. 3D Flash LIDAR (3DFL) is a near infrared 3D imaging sensor that can penetrate fog and smoke. ASC has developed 3D LIDAR staring array imagers based on its patented 3DFPA technology that output 128x128 3D point clouds at video rates. The proposed effort will leverage the ASC's on-going development work, with a focus on producing a autonomous 3D fire sensor that will provide navigation and 3D localization of shipboard fires. To answer the Navy's request for a sensor that can image through smoke, ASC is proposing to combine its 3D sensing capability with UCSBs image processing and path planning algorithms. In Phase I, ASC will demonstrate the 3D sensing capability and create a Phase I system concept to be built and tested in Phase II. Benefits: ASC has developed, designed, and fabricated multiple commercial and military 3D camera products with range-finding and 3D localization capabilities. The proposed development would enhance the current technology by creating robotic navigation in obscured environments. Autonomous systems for fire suppression, collision avoidance, helicopter landing and hazard detection can all benefit from navigation algorithms developed in this effort. ASC is also developing sensors for other autonomous applications including autonomous rendezvous and docking in space, autonomous navigation for UAVs and UGVs as well as autonomous refueling. Return