N121-050 TITLE: Atom Interferometric Surface and Subsurface Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PEO IWS 6.0; Inertial Navigation System (INS) Improvement

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: The Navy seeks to improve the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) in Naval surface and subsurface inertial navigation systems by achieving an order of magnitude improvement in error budget, accuracy, and improved stability through the use of enhanced atom interferometry.

DESCRIPTION: Interferometric Inertial Measuring Units (IMUs) have been in production for several decades. IMUs form the heart of an Inertial Navigation System (INS). Optical interferometric gyroscopes measure the interference between counter-rotating laser beams in a gyroscopic plane. Current U.S. Navy shipboard IMU�s use laser beams reflecting off mirrors (Ring Laser Gyroscope - RLG). Beams traveling through fiber optics (Fiber Optic Gyroscope - FOG) are the current commercial navigation technology (state of the art).

Long periods of accurate INS position estimation are critical for long-duration submerged voyages and other GPS-denied environments as articulated in the Navigator of the Navy Navigation Vision 2025. In addition, there are stringent position, attitude, and velocity requirements for missions conducted by Navy ships and systems that use the ship�s INS. These missions require very accurate position and reference frame alignment along with highly stable position, velocity, and attitude data. The power spectral density must be confined and/or have a low mean value in order to achieve the required precision.

The Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) technology currently deployed in the fleet has reached its performance and accuracy limits. The current Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG) technology, which could provide some improvements in accuracy, has some of the same limitations as the RLG. Because new mission areas require highly accurate and reliable IMU performance, new technologies are needed to meet the need.

DoD has sponsored research on atom interferometric sensors and application to IMU via DARPA and the Army Research Lab. Areas that require further innovation to enable practical application to Navy ships include maintenance of coherence long enough for the interferometric pattern to be measurable, non-destructive ways to cause an interferometric pattern, continuous operation, INS mechanization, and size, weight, power, and ruggedness for Navy shipboard application. Phase I will not be classified; however, Phase II may be classified because of certain performance parameters of the current INS system. Analysis and data collection on the prototype system may contain classified data.

PHASE I: This Phase will be unclassified. The company will develop and demonstrate concept feasibility for a prototype atom interferometric IMU sensor and mechanization suitable for Navy ship Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) and Reliability, Maintainability, and Availability (RMA) requirements. Feasibility demonstrations will include analytical modeling and , where possible, material testing. The demonstrations will also provide derivations and estimates of sensor measurement noise, stability, power spectral density, and angular random walk with performance at least an order of magnitude better than current commercial FOG-based IMU. Mechanization concepts should take into account IMU operational modes such as indexed versus strap-down, vibration isolation, and indexing. The concepts should also account for environmental factors and systematic uncertainties such as pressure factors, temperature, parasitic noise reduction, and shock survival as well as other considerations for operation in surface ships and submarines. Defined performance goals and methods to measure their achievement will be required. A Phase II development plan with performance goals and key technical milestones will be required.

PHASE II: This Phase and any subsequent phases will be classified. Based on the results of Phase I and the Phase II development plan, the company will develop and fabricate the prototype sensor and verify performance goals. The prototype will be evaluated to determine its capability in meeting the performance goals defined in Phase I and the Navy requirements for shipboard INS�s. System performance will be demonstrated through analytical methods, prototype evaluation, and modeling over the required range of parameters including numerous deployment cycles. Evaluation results will be used to refine the prototype into an initial design that will meet Navy requirements. Certain performance parameters of the current system are classified. Analysis and data collection on the prototype system may contain classified data. A Phase III development plan to transition the technology to Navy use will be required.

PHASE III: If Phase II is successful and if a Phase III award is made, the company will be expected to support the Navy in transitioning the technology to Navy use. The company will develop a production model atom interferometric IMU and demonstrate performance in technical and operational evaluation. The awarded company will support the Navy for test and validation to certify and qualify the system for Navy use.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: A derivative system may provide performance improvements in commercial ship Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). This will improve ships' abilities to navigate by improving position determination and reduce reliance on GPS.

REFERENCES:
1. Xiaolei Zhang, (2005), A Survey of Atom Interferometer Beam-Combination Configurations and Beam Splitter Designs, Naval Research Laboratory report number NRL/MR/7210--05-8866

2. Berman, P.R. (ed.), Atom Interferometry, Academic Press, 1997

3. McCarthy, Wil, This Looks Like a Job for Superatoms, IEEE Spectrum, August 2005

KEYWORDS: atom interferometry; navigation; Inertial Measuring Unit (IMU); Inertial Navigation System (INS)

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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