Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: SOCOM15-006

Description

To address the USSOCOM need for Team Day/Night Motion Sensors, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Night/Day-Enabled Miniature Emplaced Sensor and Infrared Surveillance (NEMESIS) system, based on the novel use of multi-aperture, compound-eye motion detectors to cue the capture of thermal surveillance imagery. Specifically, the innovation in the compound-eye optical design allows NEMESIS to simultaneously cover a wide-field of regard (up to 60 deg) while providing high resolution imagery to identify personnel activity, clothing, and weapons at 45-75 m range. The high resolution imagery is wirelessly transmitted to the handheld control/display unit for camera activation and viewing via a software application (app) to maximize compatibility with existing mobile devices, radios, and emerging handheld device standards. As a result, NEMESIS provides a lightweight, low cost day/night camera with motion sensor to identify personnel with a modular display/control interface. In Phase I, POC will conduct and document a feasibility study of the NEMESIS system to satisfy USSOCOM requirements. POC will assess trade-offs, risks, and potential payoffs of the proposed technology and recommend the best option to achieve the USSOCOM objectives. In Phase II, POC will develop and demonstrate a prototype motion-detection sensor prototype based on the most feasible solution.