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Low Cost, Strapdown Seeker Technologies

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Missile Defense Agency
Contract: W9113M-05-C-0066
Agency Tracking Number: 044-0727
Amount: $100,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: MDA04-118
Solicitation Number: 2004.4
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-02-15
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2005-08-14
Small Business Information
488 Ridgefield Rd
Shelburne, VT 05482
United States
DUNS: 145965310
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Ajay Jain
 Chief Technical Officer
 (802) 985-4009
 djoneaj@hotmail.com
Business Contact
 George Powch
Title: President/CEO
Phone: (802) 985-4009
Email: gpowch@alum.MIT.edu
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Advanced seeker systems such as for THAAD require wide FOVs and image stabilization under the shock and vibration of aerodynamic buffetting and rocket propulsion. Traditional solutions involve complex optical trains vis-a-vis FPAs to overcome field (Petzval) curvature and complex, multi-axis gimbals, inertially stabilized using expensive, precision rate gyros. Applicant proposes a highly innovative solution to these challenges combined with cost reductions for next generation FPA seekers or as an improvement to current seekers, based on a breakthrough technology for low cost manufacturing of high performance IR detectors and transistors on thin, flexible conformal substrates. The Company has developed a new substrate material system targetting TFT backplanes for displays which it proposes for band-gap engineered materials used in advanced FPAs. The material is branded as "Versulite" and has a lamellar phyllosilicate structure, which allows thin layers to be cleaved off post processing and transferred onto flexible substrates like plastics or foils. The technology can allow, in principle, curved, rather than planar focal arrays, and integration of associated electronics such as DACs and FPGAs directly onto the FPA itself, substantially reducing cost & mass. While bandgap engineered structures such as Quantum Wells (QWIPs) and Superlattices based on InAsSb for LWIR or AlGaAs/GaAs are increasingly being used, applicant proposes to simultaneously demonstrate feasibility of GaSb devices on Versulite, including potential intermixing of GaSb with GaSb Superlattices on a common substrate for a multi-spectral FPA. A Curved Focal Array would dramatically increase FOV for a strapdown seeker, obviate Petzval correction, and can simplify greatly the optics, opening up a number of new design possibilities.

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

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