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A02-088 TITLE: Variable Optical Transmission Lens Element (for Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) Applications) TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PM Soldier PM Comanche OBJECTIVE: Incorporate current or emerging technology in variable optical shuttering, reflective and anti-reflective coatings, and plastic element fabrication to develop and demonstrate a variable transmission lens element capable of meeting size, shape, weight and power constraints of an head or helmet mounted display optical combiner. DESCRIPTION: Army missions require operation in daylight, twilight and nighttime conditions. In full daylight, the see-through displays must maintain enough contrast against the external scene that the display information can be readily seen and interpreted without strain. Under twilight conditions, natural vision is still superior to night vision sensors for situational awareness provided as much light as possible reaches the users eyes. The daylight display readability requirement coupled with the twilight ambient scene visibility requirement forces display sources used in Army HMDs to exceed 5000 ft-L brightness at the display source. The flow down brightness requirement attached to the miniature display devices used in HMDs severely impacts either the life of the display device or the power dissipated by the display device or both depending upon the miniature display technology being employed. The Army seeks a variable transmission combiner (VTC) feasible technology so that ambient attenuation for daylight conditions is less than 30% and for twilight conditions is greater than 85%. PHASE I: Perform quantitative study of innovative approaches to the application of variable transmission technology to complex curvature optical elements from 1” to 3” diameter. This study should examine several candidate approaches and at a minimum address the following items: 1) slew rate of transmission change, 2) range of element photopic transmission, 3) spectral transmission characteristics as function of total photopic transmission, 4) compatibility with complex curved substrates including torric and torric aspheres, 5) compatibility with molded and diamond turned plastic substrates, 6) environmental susceptibility, 7) Environmental emissions, 8) weight, and 9) total power consumption. Submit for Government review physical test data from laboratory measurements on one or more candidates of the variable transmission technologies. Establish preliminary concept design based on the "lessons learned" from the quantitative study. PHASE II: Develop and deliver a brass board system to the Government of a functional, head mounted display with see through variable transmission to the external scene for evaluation and testing. The phase II brass board shall contain a monocular display with a variable transmissive/reflective combiner element. The system delivered to the government shall include all cables, display drive hardware, and variable transmissive element drive electronics. The Phase II brass board shall demonstrate see-through display interaction with various ambient lighting conditions in the ability to modify the ratio of external scene luminance to display luminance reaching the operator’s eye. PHASE III: A variable transmissive see-through optical element capable of use in an HMD is beneficial both in the military and commercial applications that require high contrast visibility of head mounted display information overlayed against a high luminance level external scene as well as maximized transmission for low level luminance external scenes. The military application will include integration of the variable transmissive combiner element into candidate sensor/HMD systems such as Head Tracked Vision System (HTVS), Land Warrior, or Comanche. Commercial demonstration could be performed by utilizing the variable transmissive optical element in ski-goggles and driving vision enhancement. REFERENCE: 1) * Bahman Taheri, Peter Palffy-Muhoray , Tamas Kosa and David L. Post, “Technology for Electronically Varying Helmet-Visor Tint,” Proc. SPIE Vol. 4021, p. 114-119, Helmet- and Head-Mounted Displays V, Ronald J. Lewandowski; Loran A. Haworth; Henry J. Girolamo; Eds., 6/2000. KEYWORDS: Display, Virtual Display, Head Mounted Display, optical shutter, variable attenuation, variable transmission A02-089 TITLE: Standoff Mine Neutralization Using Forward Looking Mine Detection Sensors TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PM, Mines, Countermine and Demolitions OBJECTIVE: Develop a state-of-the-art mine neutralization system capable of neutralizing existing and next generation land mines at safe standoff distances using detection data from forward-looking mine detection systems which will have some degree of error in location accuracy and which are expected to generate both false alarms and true detections. DESCRIPTION: The objective is to develop advanced mine neutralization technologies which are capable of providing a high probability of kill at safe standoff distances when the location of the target is known with only limited accuracy and when numerous false alarms will have to be addressed in order to complete the mission within desired timelines. Novel concepts and techniques are required to overcome the accuracy, rate of advance and logistical concerns. All technologies may be considered but accuracy, logistics, safety, speed and environmental factors must be addressed. The effort should have the goal of demonstrating technologies for neutralization with a 0.95 Probability of Kill (Pk) at standoff distances of 10 to 30 m. Novel concepts for precision delivery of the neutralizers at safe standoff distances are of interest. Techniques that result in minimal damage to road surfaces are also of interest. The proposed technologies shall address individual anti-tank (AT) and anti-personnel (AP) mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), whose burial depths can vary from surface laid to 20 cm below the ground surface. Burial depth is measured from the surface of the ground to the top of the target. The landmines will range in size from 4.5 cm to 38 cm (which covers AP to AT respectively) in diameter or width. Explosive fill is typically TNT, RDX or PETN. The mines may employ a variety of fuse types, including pressure, tilt rod, magnetic influence, mm-wave, infrared, seismic/acoustic and other sensors. The ability to neutralize both "dumb" and "smart" mines is desired. Both on- and off-route mines must be considered. Sensored off-route and side-attack mines are of particular interest. The proposed technologies are intended for use in support of a highly mobile force; therefore, rate-of-advance (Operational Tempo) is an important factor. The Army's Future Combat System (FCS) family of vehicles are likely host platforms. Solutions requiring dedicated or specialized vehicles are not acceptable. Techniques should lend themselves to modular and bolt-on applications. Size, weight and power consumption are important factors. The neutralizer will be used in conjunction with a forward-looking mine detection system that will provide targeting information for individual mines but with some degree of error in location accuracy. Proposed technology applications should be planned to overcome this lack of accuracy in target location (approximately 0.5 m dia.). The effect of false alarms (~0.01/m2) should also be considered. This effort will support and leverage ongoing STO programs in FCS Mine Detection and Neutralization and Emerging Sensors for Off-route Mine Detection. PHASE I: This phase will focus on laboratory and limited field investigation of the novel mine neutralization technique as a potential candidate for application as a tactical mine neutralization system. The sensitivity of the mine initiation process will be determined as well as the vulnerability thresholds for various components, subsystems, and the total system of various mine targets. Practical application of the technology, including proposed delivery mechanisms, will be investigated. Estimates, with supporting data, will be made of size, weight, power requirements, PK, and standoff. Phase I will include a demonstration to experimentally confirm/verify the lab results and analyses by utilizing a variety of mines and surrogate mines or representative components for different classes of mines. PHASE II: The purpose of this phase is to design and fabricate a brassboard system and to use this brassboard to experimentally confirm/verify the neutralization capability under varied environmental and application conditions. PHASE III: This technology has numerous applications in the humanitarian demining area as well as counter terrorism. This tool could be utilized either in a joint mode of detection (utilizing the detection technology referred to above) and neutralization or independently. REFERENCES: 1) Information regarding the current state-of-the-art in countermine technology can be obtained through the following conferences: SPIE AeroSense Conference (Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mine and Minelike Targets Session) in Orlando, FL; Mine Warfare Conference; and UXO Detection and Remediation Conference.FM 20-32 Mine/Countermine Operations is the Army Field Manual which provides technical guidance for conducting mine and countermine operations. 2) Numerous references and links are available through the following sites: Mine Warfare Association - www.minwara.org; 3) BRTRC humanitarian demining website - www.demining.brtrc.com; 4) demoz.org/Society/Issues/War,_Weapons_and_Defense/Landmines; Demining Technology Center (DeTeC) website. KEYWORDS: Landmine technologies, mine neutralization, lethality mechanisms, countermine applications A02-090 TITLE: Adaptive Analysis for Chemical Recognition and Identification Using Remote Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Chemical/Bio Defense OBJECTIVE: Develop an automated adaptive analysis and detection algorithm for use with existing remote Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometers. The objective is to develop the concept, then provide a demonstration, and eventually show the way to a robust algorithm that will provide analysis for chemical recognition and identification using existing FTIR spectrometers. The objective in Phase I should be to provide a feasibility concept, Phase II should demonstrate the concept and a Phase III should provide an automated analysis algorithm prototype demonstration. The final goal is to have a reliable remote FTIR spectral analysis system that will identify and characterize chemical signatures with minimal user intervention. DESCRIPTION: The Technology area identified in this topic applies directly to chemical defense. The primary technology area identified in this topic is Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy for remote chemical identification. The principal area for consideration is remote FTIR spectral chemical data analysis. The specific technology area involves a feasibility study, concept design and demonstration of automated adaptive analysis for chemical identification using existing Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometers. The key phrase discussed in this topic is “automated adaptive analysis for chemical identification using existing Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometers”. Automated adaptive analysis is not yet a reality for use with FTIR sensors. Fourier Transform Infrared sensor technology has advanced in recent years. Remote hyper spectral sensor data collection has been demonstrated in ground based and airborne applications. These instruments are considered mature, offering high sensitivity and high-resolution spectra for chemical analysis. However, these FTIR instruments have not yet been demonstrated in an automated, remote, realistic scenario as stand-off chemical threat detection and identifications systems. A realistic scenario is any scenario outside of a laboratory that would represent a threat. A threat could be a chemical processing plant producing weapons or emissions of any number of toxic or precursor chemicals. A realistic threat scenario could involve a chemical plume from primary or secondary explosions or from the burning wreckage of a “9-11” type scenario. A realistic scenario would also involve strategic monitoring of a facility to detect and identify process or events. All of these realistic scenario situations would involve field demonstrations outside of and not using a laboratory test cell. Specific chemicals or sets will not be defined here. The algorithm development is not dependent on any specific chemical or set of chemicals. It must respond to a broad set of spectral signatures. The analysis algorithm will utilize or match spectral signatures provided either from a spectral library or from spectra collected from the sensor itself. Typically, post-processing techniques are used to characterize/identify chemical signatures using a number of hyper spectral processing techniques available in the open literature. In order to advance these sensors to the next level of capability, automated chemical detection algorithms are needed to increase the reliability and broaden sensor capability to a variety of different chemicals. An automated algorithm is defined as an automatic algorithm to produce a yes or no response to the detection and identification of a specified chemical. The user of the sensor and algorithm should not be required to have a high level of technical expertise. The goal of this concept is to provide a chemical detection and identification capability for use by a variety of users in a variety of situations. New or unexpected chemicals are a special challenge to FTIR spectral analysis. Autonomous or self-guided processing is needed to identify unexpected chemicals or characterize unknown chemical signatures in the absence of user intervention. This will expand the reliability and capability of current FTIR hyper spectral sensors on a broad and expanding range of chemicals. The first phase provides feasibility and concept study of automated processing for current remote sensor technology using existing or new concepts. The second phase provides demonstration of an analysis process to be utilized for the detection and characterization of predicted and unpredicted chemical threats. The following phase should provide for a functional prototype demonstration. PHASE I: Effort in this phase should consist of investigation and feasibility study toward an advanced algorithm to perform chemical detection and identification utilizing data from existing field portable FTIR spectrometers. The purpose of this phase is to use insights and methods of current processing technology and push forward the concept of an advanced automated algorithm utilizing an existing set of calibrated portable FTIR spectral sensors. This phase should provide feasibility and concept study that will eventually result in a realistic (as described above) algorithm concept to perform detection and identification in a near real time effort. Near real time is defined as a period of time that would be required for the algorithm to perform a detection and identification process and provide an indication to the user. This indication would be provided in the form of actionable information. The output indication could be in the form of a red or green light or a text message. The long-term goal is to provide autonomous remote spectrometers for battlefield and urban use that leverage existing FTIR hardware designs together with new advanced algorithms. The chemical detection and identification process will be based on a known and limited reference spectra library. (It is essential in Phase I to provide for interface ability with existing FTIR spectral sensors.) Deliveries will include a technical study/plan and concept design. PHASE II: Based on successful results of Phase I, Phase ll will provide demonstration based on a realistic scenario. This development will leverage advanced technology and provide an underlying algorithm structure for continued development. The result of this phase is to advance design, and development and most importantly to demonstrate the concept of an automated algorithm to identify and characterize a set of chemicals in a near real time process. This effort should be mature enough to perform functionalities cited and attract additional funding for full development and implementation. This technology should be pushed forward toward the development of an autonomous and adaptive algorithm concept to identify and characterize chemicals in battlefield or urban environments. Deliveries include a technical design concept of an algorithm and demonstration with existing FTIR spectrometer sensor technology. PHASE III: The effort of this phase as applied to FTIR remote sensing will demonstrate automated chemical detection and identification. This phase provides automated chemical detection and identification of chemical threats. The effort would be applicable to military, industrial and natural resource monitoring. Detection and identification of chemical effluents; illicit drug manufacture enforcement/surveillance; treaty monitoring; Chemical Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) detection. This phase should produce a functional prototype of an adaptive analysis algorithm for chemical recognition and identification using remote Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. REFERENCES: 1) Brian C. Smith, “Fundamentals of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy” New York, CRC Press, 1996.P. 2) Swain and S. Davis, Remote Sensing: The Quantitative Approach, New York: McGraw-Hill, 1983. 3) J. B. Lee, A. S . Woodyatt, and M. Berman, “Enhancement of high spectral resolution remote sensing data by a noise-adjusted principal components transform”. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sensing, Vol28, May 1990. Howard Mark and Jerry Workman, “Statistics in Spectroscopy”, Academic Press, 1991. 5) Andrew R. Korb, Peter Dybwad, Winthrup Wadsworth, and John W. Salisbury, “ Portable Fourier transform infrared spectrometer for field measurements of radiance and emissivity”, Applied Optics Vol. 35, No. 10, 1 April 1996. 6) Chemical and Biological defense program, Annual Report to Congress, March 2000, DTIC-E, Fort Belvoir, VA. KEYWORDS: Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Automated analysis, Spectral signal processing, Spectroscopy, Measurement and Signature, Chemical warfare, Chemical detection, Chemical identification A02-091 TITLE: Land Mine Detection Algorithm Development TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Program Manager, Mine, Countermine, Demolition OBJECTIVE: Develop state-of-the-art automatic detection algorithms for the detection of individual buried mines with ground-based sensors to include ground penetrating radar, seismic/acoustic, and induction metal detector. DESCRIPTION: The Countermine Branch of the Science and Technology Division of the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate has a large amount of data from a number of existing data collection systems with application to the buried landmine detection problem. This data was taken at U.S. Army test lanes at several sites in the U.S and is entirely taken with ground-based sensors. The data include individual anti-tank (AT) and anti-personnel (AP) mines, whose burial depths can vary from flush buried to buried 20 cm below the ground surface. Burial depth is defined from the surface of the ground to the top of the target. The landmines will range in size from 4.5 cm to 38 cm (which covers AP to AT mines respectively) in diameter or width. Explosive fill is typically TNT, RDX or PETN. The technologies used by these sensors include ground penetrating radars, seismic/acoustic sensors, and induction metal detectors. Specifically these sensors include the following: 1) A forward looking stepped frequency ground penetrating radar that operates in the frequency range of 300-3000 MHz. The horizontal synthetic aperture is 4 m. and the polarizations are VV, HH, VH, and HV. The downrange field of view is 7-30 m. 2) A downward looking stepped frequency ground penetrating radar that operates in the frequency range of 500-4000 MHz. An array of 30 transmit and 30 receive antennas span a width of slightly over 2 m. and whose height above the ground, while adjustable, is nominally 30 cm. The array moves forward and produces a three dimensional image beneath the ground. 3) Acoustic sensors that operate by vibrating the ground with sound transmitted through the air in the frequency range of 80-600 Hz. A scanning laser Doppler vibrometer measures the ground vibrations, which are greater over a mine. The horizontal distance from the mine to the laser can be from 1 to12 m. Both linear and nonlinear measurements have been gathered. 4) An induction metal detector that measures the time domain signal of metallic objects. The primary purpose of this effort is to automatically detect individual buried mines using data from the above ground-based sensors and from multi-sensor combinations. The goal is a near 1.0 probability of detection (Pd), sub 0.01 false alarms per square meter at rates of advance appropriate for ground platforms. Algorithms that improve the resolution or signal quality will also be considered. Registered data exists for both ground penetrating radars and the acoustics sensors. Further multi-sensor data collections, which will include additional sensors, are planned. Additional detailed information regarding the individual sensors is available by email. The proposal should address algorithms for one or more of the above sensors. PHASE I: This phase will be devoted to demonstrating the promise of the proposed algorithms. These algorithms will be implemented and tested using a limited data set. Different algorithms or variations of the same algorithm will be compared. The preferred computer language is Matlab. PHASE II: During this phase large quantities of data will be processed and the robustness of the algorithms will be maximized and quantified. Individual sensor and multi-sensor algorithms will be developed. To the extent possible the detection algorithms will be incorporated into the actual data collection devices in order to make near real time assessments. If feasible the algorithms will be subjected to blind tests. PHASE III: This technology has numerous applications in the Army, Navy, humanitarian demining area as well as counter terrorism. REFERENCES: 1) A host of information regarding the current state-of-the-art in mine detection can be obtained through the following conferences: SPIE AeroSence Conference (Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mine and Minelike Targets Session) in Orlando, FL; Mine Warfare Conference; and UXO Detection and Remediation Conference. KEYWORDS: Landmine technologies, mine detection, ATR, algorithms A02-092 TITLE: Longwave Spectrometer Gratings TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Aerial Common Sensor OBJECTIVE: To develop fabrication techniques for producing spectrometer gratings in the longwave infrared. DESCRIPTION: Convex gratings are required to construct compact Offner spectrometers to meet the needs of the Army’s tactical imaging sensor efforts. Current technology has been developed for visible to shortwave gratings using e-beam techniques. Longwave gratings require larger substrates with greater sag and deeper grooves than short wavelength gratings. The current e-beam technique is the state-of-the-art in convex grating fabrication, but has problems meeting the sag and depth requirements for longwave gratings and is limited in substrate material choices. New fabrication techniques are required to generate longwave gratings with high quality, in a selection of materials and in sufficient numbers to meet sensor development needs. PHASE I: The desired result is development of fabrication techniques for convex longwave spectrometer gratings in aluminum. Techniques that may be considered include but are not limited to e-beam, ion-milling, etching, mechanical ruling and replication processes. PHASE II: The desired result is fabrication, testing and demonstration of prototype convex longwave spectrometer gratings. The contractor will demonstrate grating performance such as efficiency, MTF response and coherence over the grating. PHASE III: Longwave spectral imaging sensors are used to remotely identify materials. Minerals exhibit spectral signatures that can be identified in the longwave spectrum. Thus the sensor can provide mineral maps for exploration of new mines, and detection of illicit activity. The longwave spectrum also provides opportunity to identify gaseous effluents and can be used for pollution monitoring and hazard detection. In Phase III prototype gratings will be integrated in the Hyperspectral Longwave Imager for the Tactical Environment (HyLITE) under development at NVESD. HyLITE will be used for operational demonstrations and testing of grating performance. REFERENCES: 1) Low-distortion imaging spectrometer designs utilizing convex gratings 3482-87, TOL 11-05-98 RN052128845 NDN- 169-0344-8754-5 2) Mouroulis, P. Z., editor- Gardner, L. R.; Thompson, K. P. JOURNAL NAME- PROCEEDINGS- SPIE THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR OPTICAL ENGINEERING, VOLUME TITLE- International Optical Design Conference 1998 1998; ISSUE 3482, PAGE- 594-601, PUBLISHER- SPIE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR OPTICAL 3) P. Mouroulis, D. W. Wilson, P. D. Maker, and R. E. Muller, “Convex grating types for concentric imaging spectrometers,” Appl. Opt. 37, 7200-7208 (1998). 4) P. Mouroulis and D. A. Thomas, “Compact, low-distortion imaging spectrometer for remote sensing,” in Imaging Spectrometry IV, M. R. Descour and S. S. Shen, eds., Proc. SPIE 3438, 31-37 (1998).
6) D. R. Lobb, “Theory of concentric designs for grating spectrometers,” Appl. Opt. 33, 2648-2658 (1994). 7) M. Chrisp, “Convex diffraction grating imaging spectrometer,” U.S. patent 5,880,834 (9 March 1999). 8) D. Kwo, G. Lawrence, and M. Chrisp, “Design of a grating spectrometer for a 1:1 Offner mirror system,” in Current 9) Developments in Optical Engineering II, R. E. Fischer and W. J. Smith, eds., Proc. SPIE 818, 275-279 (1987). 10) L. Mertz, “Concentric spectrographs,” Appl. Opt. 16, 3122-3124 (1977). 11) http://www.nasatech.com/Briefs/May01/NPO20239.html 12) http://www.nasatech.com/Briefs/Mar98/NPO19293.html 13) http://www.nasatech.com/Briefs/Mar99/NPO20343.html KEYWORDS: grating, infrared, spectrometer, hyperspectral, Offner, convex, imaging, longwave Directory: osbp -> SBIR -> solicitations solicitations -> Army sbir 09. 1 Proposal submission instructions dod small Business Innovation (sbir) Program solicitations -> Navy sbir fy09. 1 Proposal submission instructions solicitations -> Army 16. 3 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions solicitations -> Air force 12. 1 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions solicitations -> Army 14. 1 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions solicitations -> Navy small business innovation research program submitting Proposals on Navy Topics solicitations -> Navy small business innovation research program solicitations -> Armament research, development and engineering center solicitations -> Army 17. 1 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions solicitations -> Navy 11. 3 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions Download 1.78 Mb. Share with your friends:
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