Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: The Army needs a miniature laser rangefinder built into M-25 binoculars, which have active

Description

The Army needs a miniature laser rangefinder built into M-25 binoculars, which have active stabilization. To meet this need, Physical Optics Corporation proposes to build and test a Stabilized Laser rangefinder built into a Binocular (SLABIN), with tilt compensation by a feedback loop. In Phase I we proved that the laboratory SLABIN prototype with MEMS mirror-position sensitive detector feedback effectively suppressed jitter introduced by the scanning mirror by up to 20 dB. The feedback loop exhibited high stability at up to 300 Hz. The Phase I demonstration involved integrating SLABIN components with our existing technologies, including laser rangefinders, adaptive optics, electro-optical elements, and design of complex measurement systems. Our Phase II efforts will significantly improve the SLABIN, speeding up the feedback loop (up to 3 kHz), expanding range (to>5 km) and measurement precision (<0.5 m) of target coordinates (<5 m) and speed, adding functions of laser beam divergence compensation, target designation, and wireless data transmission. The Phase II prototype will be integrated with M-25 binoculars and tested in the field to verify that its performance meets the Army need.