Award Data

Stochastic parameterization of large scale models is becoming an important tool for evaluating climate predictability and for enabling accurate representation of effects of micro-scale and short time physics on long time climate statistics. The models currently used to evaluate climate risk do not incorporate these stochastic effects, but represent multi-year development and collaboration between ...

Propagation Research Associates, Inc., (PRA) proposes to utilize its unique capabilities in atmospheric effects characterization, atmospheric effects mitigation, and track processing to develop multi-spectral track correlation algorithms to improve boost phase optical-to-radar track correlation for multiple sensor fusion in support of ascent phase intercept of ballistic missiles. PRA proposes to ...

There is a need for a high-resolution two-dimensional focal plane array (FPA) with single photon sensitivity (SPS), pulse amplitude storage, and GHz bit rates that can record both the time (with 10 bits) from multiple returns from a single laser pulse. Such a system has the potential to significantly reduce LADAR size, weight, and power (SWAP) by alleviating the laser requirements. In this program ...

New, modular radiation hard [>300 kRad (Si)] ROIC designs are required to address the needs of planned ballistic missile defense system. Anticipating the needs for large formats, small pixel sizes, and multiple spectral bands, the features of an existing radiation-hard space imager ROIC will be used to develop the design of an extensible 1024 × 1024, 15-μm pixel ROIC design. The design includes ...

Future seekers of the future will need to allow for multiple targets and various advanced countermeasures, likely including a dual-mode component to do so. A Dual Mode Seeker (DMS) has at least an infrared (IR) Focal Plane Array (FPA) as well as an active means to capture target range and preferably 3-D imagery. Future technology insertion will benefit from a monolithic dual mode focal plane, wher ...

A back-illuminated planar InGaAs photodiode tested to have 95% quantum effiiency (QE) at 1550 nm, area greater than 1 mm2, low capacitance (125 MHz) will be improved. Although the existing Phase I device exhibited bulk material dark current generation better than commercially available devices, the sidewall-generated dark current was found to dominate the noise equiva ...

A 128 x 128-format avalanche photodiode (APD) focal plane array (FPA), including a low-power dual-mode readout integrated circuit (ROIC) and low excess noise, high gain (M>1,200) will be developed for laser radar (LADAR) applications requiring reduced SWAP. The FPA gives LADAR seekers an advanced active tracking sensor capability, providing a sufficiently wide field of regard (FOR) to eliminate th ...

In the proposed effort we plan to build a fully-operational X-band T/R Integrated Circuit. One of the key-elements to building a fully operational radar is the requisite RF electronics that feed to each antenna element. Historically, radar transmit/receive (T/R) modules have been implemented as complex, multi-chip GaAs MMICs, resulting in very high cost per T/R module, high launch weight, and high ...

Ballistic missiles pose formidable challenges for target tracking and intercept because of their spiraling dynamics and significant maneuverability potential as they re-enter the atmosphere at high speeds. Recent studies have shown that conventional methods to estimation, guidance and control design are unable to guarantee sufficient accuracy against such highly maneuvering targets. This is not un ...

We propose to develop Open Service Gateway Initiative (OSGi) enhancements for configuration management and validation to enable assured switching between operational and test modes. We will design a moded configuration management and validation suite that extends public-domain OSGi implementations with capabilities for trusted bundles, XML-based device inventories, and mode switching and configura ...