Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A16-103

Description

To address the Army need for technology and methodology to cost-effectively image through non-spherical infrared missile domes, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Digital Aberration Corrector for Aspheric Domes (DACFADO), utilizing an innovative combination of computational imaging algorithms based on Extended Nijboer-Zernike (ENZ) theory of diffraction. These algorithms will work in a highly parallel manner on a modern graphics processing unit (GPU), enabling 30 fps real-time aberration correction. POCs innovation in computationally-assisted imaging will enable stationary and gimbaled infrared imaging missile seekers equipped with the DACFADO system to reliably image infrared radiation sources through a variety of aerodynamically optimized, non-spherical dome shapes. As a result, this technology offers a unique, highly adaptable infrared imaging capability, requiring only inexpensive, low size, weight, and power (SWaP) digital processing hardware, and enabling the use of low-drag domes in missiles, which directly addresses the Army requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the DACFADO system by developing a Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-3 prototype. In Phase II, POC plans to build a TRL-6 prototype implemented in a low SWaP processing hardware.