Design, Analysis, and Optimization Environment for Directed Energy Systems

We propose to develop a comprehensive model-based system engineering environment designed to support the design, development and optimization of directed energy systems, including both high powered microwave (HPM) and high energy laser (HEL) systems. We propose to demonstrate the feasibility and utility of this environment by showing how it could be applied in the design, development, and optimization of a DE system to be carried aboard a representative Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), with the capability to develop and evaluate both HPM and HEL-based system designs within the same framework. The proposed environment would be designed to support all phases of the design and development process, from the first "what-if" games all the way through concept evaluation, design, implementation, incremental integration, and testing. It would provide powerful integrated facilities for automated system level design optimization based on user-defined requirements, priorities, and constraints. Our ultimate objective is to provide to the DE R&D community a model-based system engineering platform on par with the kinds of virtual engineering environments which have already revolutionized the automotive and aircraft industries.