Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF161-136

Description

ABSTRACT: To address the Air Force need for a deployable lightweight upper air sensing system, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Portable Air Data LIDAR (PADL). It is based on a compact and modular LIDAR design consisting of a tri-wavelength miniature pulsed LIDAR module with control, power management, and signal processing hardware and software components. The novel system design will enable the ground-based weather sensor system to measure critical weather parameters in a completely integrated package, unlike current portable weather systems, and is employable at any remote location due to its lightweight portability and low power requirements. As a result, this technology offers a reliable means to seed military weather forecasting models with more reliable local data from global locations and to provide actionable data from which to improve tactical decisions in the field. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate feasibility of the PADL by determining the optimal system design, factoring in system size, weight, and performance requirements. Trade-offs between system parameters will be analyzed according to the DoD priorities, and a final system design will be prepared for Phase II implementation. In Phase II, POC will build and optimize the PADL prototype, reaching technology readiness level (TRL)-6.; BENEFIT: The development of PADL will benefit government and commercial sectors in many ways. For the government it will provide a man-portable, reliable, small-size, easy-to-deploy LIDAR technology to accurately measure multiple weather parameters in the upper air column for successfully conducting various military missions. PADL will also help the military take and disseminate local observations and provide mission-tailored global forecasts, and assist civilian aviation by providing weather briefings, forecasts, and warnings. Commercial benefits include wind flow monitoring near civil structures and other buildings, wind flow monitoring near wind turbines, and analysis of rotor downwash on personnel and parked aircraft at airports and building helipads. The proposed PADL, with minor modifications, can be used as a research tool to study the lower atmospheric phenomena and develop new weather models and forecasting methods.