SIVANANTHAN LABORATORIES, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF221-0002

Description

Infrared (IR) imaging technology is crucial to the success of the US military by providing critical functionality and strategic advantages. IR systems provide vital battlespace information for human and machine consumption. The Air Force needs tactical imaging solutions for attritable airframes that add capabilities for air-to-ground missions while maintaining a size, weight, power, and cost (SWAP-C) amenable to an attritable mission. Modern non-attritable airframes contain multiple highly specialized sensor packages which greatly add to the overall SWAP-C. Our team proposes to design and develop a specialized and high-performance two-color focal plane array (FPA) and imaging system that maximizes the performance and tactical capabilities in a single low SWAP-C system. This will enable state-of-the-art SWIR, eSWIR, and MWIR imaging capabilities in a single system with the potential for simultaneous dual-band operation. Sivananthan Laboratories is uniquely positioned as a small business to apply expertise in the development of infrared sensors and imagers with a variety of material systems including HgCdTe, InAs/InAsSb type II superlattices, and colloidal quantum dots. Sivananthan Laboratories proposes to develop, fabricate, and evaluate co-registered simultaneous dual-band (eSWIR/MWIR) FPAs by leveraging its expertise in FPA development and its unique and versatile device simulation tool kit, and perform camera integration.