Award Data

The Oceanit¡¦s/APL Foveal InfraRed Search and Track (FIRST) prototype is a dual channel cryogenic WFOV optical sensor system. FIRST provides multifaceted support for an airborne IR search and track and uses the unique Multi-target-tracking Optical Sensor-array Technology (MOST) sensor chip, which has been developed at MDA. FIRST supports instantaneous field-of-view up to 90 degrees, with 360 deg ...

Mobile information consumption is evolving alongside mobile computing technology. Mobile media monitoring however, and automated intelligent event alerting services have yet to be developed. We propose to research, design, and prototype a mobile application to extract and disseminate events from raw audio feeds based on users' interests and priorities. The solution will leverage an array of exis ...

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 ...

Screening is a repetitive and often monotonous task, involving long periods of vigilance despite low occurrences of threat. Because of the nature of this task and the high consequence if a threat is missed, a screener`s vigilance and avoidance of operation during fatigue are critical to their job effectiveness. This proposal describes an integrated solution to monitoring vigilance levels in airpor ...

The Department of Homeland Security's charter has a fundamental requirement to collaborate with other government agencies. Secure collaboration on this scale requires strong identity management which can "vouch for" DHS personnel working with other agencies, and makes it possible to provide DHS resources to individuals in other agencies whose work requires it. We propose the development of a reu ...

With the range and variety of radiation detectors that exist and the continuing threat of a radiological disaster in the future, the need for training of first responders and personnel in the front lines of interdiction is extraordinary and daunting. It is daunting because of the number of people across the nation that must be trained initially and who must continually maintain their training to b ...