Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N183-140

Description

To address the Navy’s need for a small-caliber, non-lethal, untethered human electro-muscular incapacitation (HEMI) munition, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a Non-Lethal Electro-Muscular Incapacitation Munition (NLEMIM) based on a novel projectile design integrated with electronics. It can be designed to be deployed from different caliber weapons ranging from 9mm to 40mm. Its unique geometry extends its range and keeps its flight path straight. It houses a battery and electronics that deliver HEMI voltage through its barbed prongs to incapacitate a human target upon impact. In Phase I, POC will develop the NLEMIM concept designs for 9mm, 12-gauge, and 40mm projectiles. These designs will be used to fabricate inert prototypes for live-fire testing to obtain preliminary experimental data on min-safe/max-effective range, flight stability, reduced blunt impact, round accuracy, precision aiming, and prong attachment on target. These results will be analyzed to determine NLEMIM’s technical feasibility. In Phase II, we will develop =100 fully functional NLEMIM prototypes for evaluation and determine their capabilities in meeting the performance goals of being effective and safe at a range from 5 m to 100 m, having a non-lethal HEMI duration of >30 s, and capable of withstanding gun launch accelerations.