High speed, multispectral, linear polarization display

Several birds and insects use sky features such as sun, moon or star positions, sky polarization and even forest canopy structures to navigate and maintain heading in day or night conditions. To better understand this ability in insects, a sky projector is needed to allow researchers to project realistic sky images to the insect so that insect response can be studied. Polaris proposes to partner with the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to design in Phase I and build in Phase II such a sky polarization projection system (named Synapsys) that includes pixel level control of brightness, wavelength (350nm-650nm), linear polarization orientation and degree of polarization. In one of the designs that will be studied, Synapsys projects a 180 degree hemispherical sky map onto a special polarization preserving, retro-reflecting screen that allows the downwelling sky radiance, color and polarization to precisely mimic sky conditions with a 1 degree IFOV. The insect is positioned in the center of the hemispherical screen in an insect platform that allows the investigator's probes to measure response to insect stimuli. In Phase I, a trade study will be done to refine the design for Synapsys, which will be proposed for development in Phase II.