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Adaptive Controls for Aero-Optics Compensation

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA9451-07-C-0030
Agency Tracking Number: F061-006-1918
Amount: $749,922.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF06-006
Solicitation Number: 2006.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2007
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2007-02-23
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2009-05-22
Small Business Information
2021 Girard SE Suite 150
Albuquerque, NM 87106
United States
DUNS: 794350025
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Matthew Whiteley
 VP Dayton Operations/Sr.
 (937) 432-6560
 whiteley@mza.com
Business Contact
 Robert Praus
Title: President
Phone: (505) 245-9970
Email: praus@mza.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

MZA proposes to conduct laboratory testing of adaptive control for wavefront compensation of aerodynamic optical disturbances. The laboratory system will use a low-cost polymer deformable mirror with actuator patterns specialized for adaptive control. Aero-optical disturbances will be imparted in the laboratory by a liquid crystal spatial light modulator using wind tunnel measurements. A Hartmann wavefront sensor and scoring camera will be operated in scaled real-time using a WaveTrain-Lab controller. Performance comparisons will be made between the adaptive control algorithm and a conventional control method. Laboratory build-up and initial compensation tests will occur in the first year of the effort. Performance characterizations and optimizations will be conducted during the second year. MZA also proposes to conduct wave-optics simulations of the adaptive controller applied to candidate laser directed energy systems to determine the performance benefit offered by advanced adaptive optics control.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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