N111-001 TITLE: Active Laser Protection System

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors, Human Systems, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Pm Advanced Amphibious Assault (PM AAA) (ACAT 1)

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 innovative technology approaches to protect vehicle crewmen eyes from frequency-agile lasers.

DESCRIPTION: The proliferation of threat lasers possessing multiple wavelengths present a significant danger to ground vehicle crew members looking through direct view optics (vision blocks/unity periscopes). The present mitigation strategy to protect vehicle crewmen against fixed frequency threats is to filter lasers through narrow band spectral line rejection at the threat laser wavelengths, attenuating incident laser energy at these wavelengths, thus preventing laser radiation from damaging the eyes. The current state-of-the-art approach used to protect against frequency-agile lasers relies on nonlinear optical materials (nonlinear absorbing dyes, nonlinear scattering suspension, etc.) which must be located at the focus of an optical system in order to obtain high fluences necessary to trigger the nonlinear mechanism. Direct view optics carries with them a host of limitations and integration issues that make incorporation of nonlinear mechanisms impractical (field of view, image quality, space claim, cost and complexity, etc.). This SBIR topic solicits new, innovative approaches to provide frequency-agile laser eye protection throughout the visible spectrum. The proposed technology should allow ample transmission of ambient visible light and be of high optical quality so as not to significantly degrade normal vision. It should have a fast response time when exposed to dangerous fluence levels, sufficient to react to and block incident laser pulses to a high optical density. The technology must have a broadband response; blocking any visible wavelength (i.e. 400-700 nanometers) which has sufficient irradiance to damage eyes. The concept should be capable of changing from a high transmission state to a very low transmission state within sufficiently short time to block nearly all of the light contained in a light pulse emitted from a Q-switched laser. When harmful radiation is no longer incident, it must recover to a high transmission state in a short amount of time so that the user�s vision is not interrupted or significantly degraded after exposure. The proposal should discuss in detail the spectral transmittance in the attenuating state, activation threshold, response time, optical density in the attenuating state, and recovery time of the technology, as well as any other important technical details. If the technology is capable of exceeding any of the above requirements, the proposal should note this as well. Likewise, the proposal should note any limitations inherent to the proposed technology.

PHASE I: Develop a laser protection concept designed to meet the requirements stated. Identify critical technologies for realizing this concept. Conduct theoretical analysis and limited laboratory testing on sample materials or devices to prove the feasibility of the concept. Phase I deliverables will be monthly progress reports, a final technical report, a final review and sample materials or devices.

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a laser protection prototype system. Prototype should be built in the form, fit and function of, or integrated for use in conjunction with, common periscopes or vision blocks on ground combat vehicles. This prototype shall be tested for laser protection performance and degradation to optical system performance in a laboratory environment. Factors to be considered include, but are not limited to, optical density upon laser illumination, response time, recovery time, linear optical properties under normal daylight illumination, manufacturability, and environmental stability. Phase II deliverables will include a prototype laser protection system, interim sample materials (if applicable), test data, monthly progress reports, semi-annual progress reviews, a final review, and a final report. Depending on the work performed, the Phase II may become a classified program.

PHASE III: The most likely Phase III transition path is integration of this technology into the unity vision periscopes of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This system could be applied to other military platforms as well as the commercial and private airline industries as a defense against real world terrorist threats.

REFERENCES:
1. Standards for Hardening U.S. Army Sensors Against Antisensor Lasers, 27 April 2008

2. Periscope, Tank, MIL-PRF-62420A(AT), 23 January 1997

3. Filter, Laser Hazard Protection, MLMIL-PRF-62422B(AT), 27 February 1997

KEYWORDS: Lasers, wavelengths, energy, frequency, hazardous, optics

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between November 10 and December 12, 2010, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting December 13, 2011, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the DoD's SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (11.1 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 11.1 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.