LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N211-062

Description

Luna Innovations Incorporated (Luna) proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing a low cost 20.0 to 20.25 GHz millimeter wave (mm-wave) frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar linear array to develop a compact, lightweight, stand-alone, handheld “push-broom” rolling odometery multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) synthetic aperture (SAR) imaging device.  The proposed mm-wave imager enables single sided non-destructive evaluation (NDE) imaging of thick, highly electromagnetic absorbing polymers adhered to metal substrates. The design will be fully self-contained with internal computer, battery power supply, and touchscreen display - weighing 15 lbs. or less. The device will be able to wirelessly transmit data to a remote device for user-analysis. The system and all accessories will be useable and carriable by a single technician. The device will be certifiable under FCC Part 18 Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) regulations. The Phase I work plan will demonstrate that the NDE system will detect and classify debonds of any separation distance, corrosion, water intrusion, and surface metal loss (due to damage) of 0.41" diameter or greater on a metal substrate through a thick polymer coating with a (hypothetical) refractive index of 1.0. The proposed linear array will image a stripe 300 mm wide at approx. 300 mm/s speed providing near real time results.