Low SWAP, eye safe LIDAR for airborne detection of periscopes in clutter
Navy SBIR FY2018.1


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2018.1
Topic No.: N181-022
Topic Title: Low SWAP, eye safe LIDAR for airborne detection of periscopes in clutter
Proposal No.: N181-022-0653
Firm: Physical Sciences Inc.
20 New England Business Center
Andover, Massachusetts 1810
Contact: Scott Bender
Phone: (978) 689-0003
Web Site: http://www.psicorp.com
Abstract: To decrease the probability of false alarms encountered in radar detection of periscopes in the cluttered environment presented by operation in littoral regions, the Navy seeks to develop a complementary technology to existing periscope search radars. Physical Sciences Inc., in collaboration with our subsidiary Q-Peak Inc., proposes to develop a SWIR lidar for long-range detection of periscopes in maritime environments from aircraft at both low and high altitudes. Our SWIR lidar utilizes a highly compact, state-of-the-art solid state laser transmitter operating at 1.5 A�m for eye safety. Our laser transmitter design benefits from experience gained while developing a related, multispectral solid state laser transmitter for the Navy in support of the Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) program. The Phase I program will develop designs for both the laser transmitter and the lidar system.
Benefits: Successful completion of the Phase I and II programs will result in a new technology for long-range detection of periscopes in maritime environments using a high-power Short Wave Infrared lidar to detect submarine periscopes and submarine optics masts from aircraft at both low and high altitudes. By the end of the Phase II program, the lidar design developed in Phase I will have been highly refined, and an engineering prototype tested in a relevant environment. Commercial environmental monitoring applications include oceanographic bathymetry systems for survey and exploration work.

Return