Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: To address the Navy"s need for a technology for in situ imaging and displaying intern

Description

To address the Navy"s need for a technology for in situ imaging and displaying internal components (firing train components, anti-removal and anti-tamper devices, methods of attachments if applicable, and air voids) of underwater explosive threats such as limpet mines or underwater improvised explosive devises (IEDs), Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Portable Non-Contact Non-Invasive Underwater Compton Imaging Tomography (PUNICITO) system. This proposed PUNICITO is based on a novel POC-developed Compton Imaging Tomography (CIT) technique. The innovative PUNICITO will enable users to obtain three-dimensional, high-resolution, and high-contrast X-ray images of investigated objects with detailed spatial localization of all features of internal components. PUNICITO"s hardware is mounted in one submersible enclosure attached to a remotely operated vehicle. PUNICITO requires only one-sided, noncontact access to the object. PUNICITO provides a full exposure time of 2-5 min per 1 sq ft, spatial resolution of less than 0.5 mm, and sensitivity of less than 1%, which meets Navy requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of PUNICITO in X-ray laboratory underwater experiments with simulated limpet mines/IEDs. In Phase II, POC plans to assemble, test, and demonstrate a fully functional TRL-6 PUNICITO system laboratory prototype.