Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: ABSTRACT: To address the Air Force need for airborne high-speed video (AHSV) capability i

Description

ABSTRACT: To address the Air Force need for airborne high-speed video (AHSV) capability in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Crash-Hardened Airborne Overhead High-Speed (CHAOS) video system. This system is based on a POC-proprietary segmenting hardware, parallel image acquisition, FPGA-based processing, high-speed cache memory, and ruggedized flash memory that can store 16 sec of AHSV. The innovative system design results in 5-W operation off a 12-18VDC power source and a 2000 fps, 1920-pixel x 1080-pixel imaging capability using parallelized CCD and memory trains. No additional cooling is needed, and elimination of complex optics results in a<250 g package suitable for overhead imaging of weapon blast events from small (e.g., Pointer, BAT3) UAV platforms. In Phase I, POC will survey existing micro-HSV systems and design a complete prototype AHSV camera system to replace existing Sony block cameras. We will also validate the use of our optical segmenting hardware in tiled imaging applications and fabricate a proof-of-concept prototype to demonstrate our results. In Phase II, we will refine our design per client input and fabricate a complete production-ready CHAOS video system. BENEFIT: The proposed CHAOS video system will make possible new classes of imaging technologies, such as high-resolution, high-speed, low-cost imager systems. Conventional approaches to fabricating large imaging arrays have either been based on stitching of smaller arrays or actual physical construction of large arrays. Both approaches have drawbacks that are directly overcome by the CHAOS video system, thereby allowing POC"s CHAOS to directly extend the capabilities and lifecycles of military and commercial imaging technologies. A unique feature of CHAOS is its capacity to fuse sensor devices in a manner that improves overall performance. The CHAOS video system can employ lower-cost, poorer-performing imaging components to provide high-performance operation. This breathes new life into these mature technologies, and directly reduces fabrication and design costs of various technologies.