TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Sensors, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Fire Support Systems ACAT IV

OBJECTIVE: This topic seeks technology to determine azimuth for a hand-held and tripod mounted targeting system. The sensor shall not depend on the earth�s magnetic field, GPS, or triangulation to determine the observer to target azimuth as referenced to True North. The sensor shall be small enough such that it can be integrated into targeting systems, be able to determine azimuth within a minimum set-up time, and accurate enough to enable the use of precision guided weapons at long standoff ranges. There are handheld systems currently fielded and under development that provide ideal platforms for immediate transition for this technology.

DESCRIPTION: Current precision guided weapons far exceed the target location accuracy that is generated by the combination of a handheld laser range finder, digital magnetic compass, and GPS for self location. These weapons require accuracy greater than 10 meters TLE. The system must obtain 2 mil accuracy to meet the TLE requirement at a standoff range of 5km. The goal of this SBIR is to replace the digital magnetic compass with an azimuth sensor that does not depend on the earth�s magnetic field, or GPS, or triangulation to determine the observer to target azimuth as referenced to True North, nor rely on any of these technologies to assist in determining True North. The sensor must be designed such that it can not be electronically jammed nor magnetically interfered; but can be either integrated into or attached to existing and future man-portable targeting equipment in future GWOT and battlefield environments.. The sensor may be incorporated into a tripod. Size, weight, accuracy, and setup time are of primary importance.

PHASE I: Determine, insofar as possible, the scientific and technical approaches for completing the following tasks:
- Determine the sensor components, trade-offs (including size, weight, power consumption, setup and measurement time, etc) required to achieve 2 mil (one sigma) azimuth sensor.
- Determine a method to interface the sensor with existing and future laser range finders and laser designators.
- Investigate tactics, techniques, and procedures necessary to use the sensor system.

PHASE II: Develop proof-of-concept demonstrators of system. Fabricate prototype sensors and evaluate the sensor as an integrated part to its parent system.

PHASE III: Integrate proof-of-concept demonstrators with existing laser range finder and designator systems.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Application to recreation and other sporting activities, rescue operations and anything else the requires determination of direction. Many commercial applications would benefit from a rapid and highly accurate miniature azimuth sensor. These include, but are not limited to: survey equipment, wireless communications, personal navigators such as GPS equipped cell phones or PDA�s, land and sea transportation and recreation equipment.

REFERENCES:
1. Initial Capabilities Document for the Joint Effects Targeting System.

2. Operational Requirements Document for the Advanced Eyesafe Rangefinder Observation Set.

3. Operational and Organizational Concept for a Target Location, Designation and Handoff System.

KEYWORDS: Precision Azimuth, True North, Rangefinder, Target Location.

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between April 21 and May 18, 2008, you may talk directly with the Topic Author(s) 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 May 19, 2008, 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 (08.2 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 08.1 topic under which they are proposing.

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