Fly Eye Sensor for Countering Rocket and Mortar/Missile Attacks Navy SBIR FY2004.2 - Quick Response Topics Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2004.2 Topic No.: N04-903 Topic Title: Fly Eye Sensor for Countering Rocket and Mortar/Missile Attacks Proposal No.: N042-903-0283 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation Electro-Optics & Holography Division 20600 Gramercy Place, Bldg 100 Torrance, California 90501-1821 Contact: Tin Aye Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: www.poc.com Abstract: To address U.S. Marine Corps need to counter mortar, rocket, and missile attacks against U.S. forces, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new high-speed electro-optical sensor system based on the visual system of the fly. The proposed Sensor for Countering Rocket and Mortar/Missile (SCRAM) attacks uniquely combines a miniature staring multi-aperature compound eye (fly eye), with a low-cost smart vision sensor chip that consists of a compact miniature photodiode array and a neural-network processor. Initially SCRAM will perform high-speed moving-object detection and warning of the incoming projectiles over a wide (~180 degree) hemispherical field-of-view (FOV) without any moving part. SCRAM will also continuously track the location and direction of the projectile, showing the projectile's impact and launch points. The unique architecture results in a high-speed and high-performance system that ideally matches the stringent speed, robustness, size, weight, and power requirements of hostile environments. In Phase I, POC will design the SCRAM system to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach in a laboratory setting by means of a breadboard setup. In Phase II we will optimize the design and develop an engineering prototype to be demonstrated and performance evaluated in simulated encounters. Benefits: Because of its speed, light weight, and compact size, the SCRAM system can be installed in police vehicles for surveillance and flight control of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). Its low cost will also suit it to collision avoidance in automobiles and trucks. Return