Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: To address the NAVAIR need for advanced avionics data recorders, Physical Optics Corporati

Description

To address the NAVAIR need for advanced avionics data recorders, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) developed a new Automatic Real-Time, Reconfigurable interface Generalization Hardware (ARRGH) multiprotocol data recorder. The Phase I ARRGH design is based on innovative integration of hybrid transcoding hardware, RAID-based mass storage, and intelligent transcoding heuristic software. This 40 W (50% of competition) 11 lb (about 1/3 of competition) design offers seamless on-the-fly rerouting and data translation of input signals to/from the data recorder irrespective of interfaces involved. A plug-and-play self-sealing (environmentally protected) removable memory unit (RMU) allows rapid upgrades to avert obsolescence by leveraging commercial solid-state memories. The TRL-4 Phase I prototype includes shell adapters ensuring form-factor compliance with a variety of current data recorders (including the RM-6000f on F/A-18). It provides 1TB of removable memory, sustained write speeds of 550MBps (2700MBps burst) and has a built-in self-test, thus meeting NAVAIR (PMA-265 and others) performance requirements. In Phase II, POC will advance this development to produce a fully functional ground-tested year-1 prototype and a TRL-6 flight-test-ready year-2 prototype, define a platform integration roadmap, and initiate device certification. Successful Phase I demonstration has enabled POC to attract prime contractors as potential Phase II/III commercialization partners, including General Dynamics.