TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Sensors, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-265 - F/A-18 SHARP and ATARS

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Using the optimum imagery format, develop a lightweight, low cost electro-optic (EO)/infrared (IR) polarimetric sensor.

DESCRIPTION: The evolution of technology in the area of imagery collection has created the opportunity to extend and enhance the capability of traditional reconnaissance efforts in current tactical collection platforms. Polarimetric imaging is a form of remote sensing that relies on the relative intensity of the polarized components of reflected radiation from natural radiation sources in an uncontrolled environment. The topic seeks to explore various forms of polarimetric imagery and the information that may be gleaned from such imagery in order to exploit the polarization properties of targets and backgrounds [e.g., improvised explosive device (IED) detection]. Sensor output should be interoperable with existing DoD processing systems. Size, weight, and power (SWAP) will be limited to existing air platform resources as detailed in the reference materials. Data exchange should utilize interoperable network communication standards. These standards should include, at a minimum, those cited in the references.

PHASE I: Determine the polarimetric imaging format for use with existing tactical air reconnaissance systems and analyze the feasibility of developing a sensor variant for formatted data collection. The candidate format and sensor should meet existing reconnaissance system size, weight, and power limitations while complying with existing imagery sensor performance standards (e.g. NIIRS).

PHASE II: Using the format and sensor packaging technique identified in Phase I, develop a prototype of the polarimertic sensor. Provide detailed analysis of the sensor performance in a laboratory or static aircraft environment. Provide parametric data to show that the sensor meets size, weight and power limitations required for use in tactical reconnaissance systems.

PHASE III: Develop a polarimetric sensor design package for integration into a tactical reconnaissance system such as the shared reconnaissance pod (SHARP). Conduct flight testing of the sensor on a Navy aircraft to show that the sensor meets all performance requirements.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Military, civil and commercial users can utilize lightweight, small volume, polarimteric sensor capability for a number of applications. This type of sensor can be used to track the movement of potential terrorist threats on our borders and those seeking to enter the country illegally through comparative imagery analysis. Polarimetric sensors would provide a significant value in the DEA�s drug interdiction efforts through the tracking of drug shipments to and within a country�s borders. It would also help border patrols in monitoring changes/disturbance of the national borders that would be uniquely detected by using polarized imagery.

REFERENCES:
1. "FORCEnet Architecture and Standards Volume II Technical View", Office of the Chief Engineer (SPAWAR 05), 31 December 2004 Available at:
enterprise.spawar.navy.mil/getfile.cfm?contentld=810

2. SHARP Pod Structure and pod subsystem, 05 August 2003

3. Size, Weight, and Power for SHARP sensors 01 July 2001

4. NIIRS Rating scale, Date

KEYWORDS: Polarimetric; SWAP; Imagery Sensor; Polarized Imagery; Remote Sensing; SHARP

TPOC: (301)757-0729
2nd TPOC: (301)757-0725
3rd TPOC: (301)757-0728

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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