Intelligent Automation, Inc. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A20-052

Description

Designation at long ranges is typically restricted to non-moving targets with the designator mounted on a stable platform, adding weight and limiting the scenarios where designation can be used. For handheld operation, user jitter significantly limits the range that can be achieved, and moving targets require the user to precisely pan and tilt the designator to maintain energy on the target. While relatively simple image stabilization techniques will neutralize hand jitter, reliable target detection and laser spot imaging are needed to maintain an aimpoint on a moving target. To address this critical need, Intelligent Automation, Inc. (IAI) proposes to develop the Handheld Laser Designator (HandLD).  The key innovations of the proposed effort are the development of laser steering techniques together with a mature and efficient control algorithm and processing hardware.