Covert Fiber-Coupled Periscope Laser Rangefinder Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2016.1 Topic No.: N161-033 Topic Title: Covert Fiber-Coupled Periscope Laser Rangefinder Proposal No.: N161-033-0120 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation 1845 West 205th Street Torrance, California 90501 Contact: Kenneth Levin Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: http://www.poc.com Abstract: To address the Navy need for a compact, fiber-based, low-power laser range finder (LRF) for submarine periscope masts, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Covert Fiber-Coupled Periscope Laser Range Finder (COFIL) that achieves covertness by using a very low power eye safe laser remotely located below the water line using fiber optics, combined with covert waveforms. COFIL incorporates compact optical components including a low-power solid-state eye safe laser, fiber coupling optics, and high-efficiency receiver optics that will allow covert operation of a laser rangefinder for long (15 km) range. The use of a low-power covert laser is made possible by innovative optics that concentrates the return signal on the detector, and a novel pulse waveform; a non-periodic/short-pulse waveform that further improves covertness. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of COFIL by designing and assembling a breadboard prototype and testing it with various targets that demonstrate its performance. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a prototype and demonstrate methods to integrate it with Navy periscope masts. Benefits: Commercial use of this technology includes a lightweight fiber-based laser rangefinder for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), land surveys, and commercial navigation systems. The COFIL laser range finder is covert, which makes it useful for targeting applications in ships, aircraft, tactical vehicles, and UAV aircraft. Other applications include aircraft collision avoidance systems and improved laser rangefinder systems for commercial ships. Return