FREEDOM PHOTONICS LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: A13-057

Description

Tactical Engagement Simulation System (TESS) is a key training system for using weapons and simulating real combat experience for US and allied troops. In this system, laser transmitters, and distributed optical receivers are mounted and aligned to the weapon barrels. Optical receivers are mounted on helmet halos and vests that the troops wear, as well as various locations around the perimeter and surface of vehicles that participate in the exercise. A free-space optical link is established each time when a weapon is fired, and limited amount of data is transmitted based on the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement Simulation (MILES) standard. Freedom Photonics will develop the next generation laser transmitters for Tactical Engagement Simulation Systems (TESS). These new laser transmitter products will be based on high-power, eye-safe 1550 nm diode lasers modulated at high speeds. The higher eye-safety threshold at this wavelength allows for the average link optical power to be increased by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude, improving the optical link range and communications reliability many-fold. In addition, the TESS laser transmitters will include GPS coordinate acquisition and transmission, as well as modern Forward Error Correction (FEC) techniques that further improve the link reliability.