ARETE ASSOCIATES — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A214-027
ARETE ASSOCIATES — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Defense.
- Amount
- $259,603
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Army
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Topic
- A214-027
- Solicitation
- 21.4
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- CA
- Period
- 2021-07-19 → 2022-08-22
Description
Using directed energy weapons to counter hypersonic threats promises a high potential for mission success, due to their ability to rapidly track and maintain dwelling power on high-speed, dynamic targets. However, High Energy Laser (HEL) lethality is limited by turbulence-induced beam broadening. Since slant-range calculation of turbulence effects relies on vertical C_n^2 profiles, Areté will develop a novel platform to quantify these vertical turbulence profiles using a drone-mounted optical beacon and a ground-based, actively-tracking Hartmann turbulence sensor. The Areté system will use proven Areté drone-tracking technology to maintain alignment with the beacon and a novel, high-bandwidth wavefront sensor design based on a modification of the typical Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. This new platform will enable the collection of the vertical C_n^2 profiles needed to assess lethality degradation probabilities in strategic areas of interest and support new HEL systems development.