Transversely-cooled Atomic Inertial Navigator

ABSTRACT: AOSense proposes to design, build, and deliver an atomic inertial measurement unit (IMU) for aircraft navigation. The proposed sensor will be integrated into an 8 liter physics package and delivered with a 3U rack mount controller for laboratory testing and field demonstrations. To guide the sensor design, tests will be performed in Phase I using existing hardware coupled with novel data acquisition strategies for improved long-term stability. The packaged device will be built and tested in Phase II prior to delivery to the government for independent testing and/or a field demonstration. Such a device could greatly reduce the reliance on GPS for aircraft navigation.; BENEFIT: Inertial navigation systems are a key DOD asset for cases in which GPS is either unavailable or actively denied. Defense systems such as aircrafts, ballistic missiles, submarines, and spacecraft all rely critically on inertial measurement units to aid or provide positioning. Atom-optical inertial sensors have demonstrated superior performance over conventional inertial devices owing to the intrinsic stability of the atom and have the potential to transform precision navigation and guidance. While our target application for the SBIR is aircraft, once the technology is demonstrated, we can modify the design to accommodate a variety of SWaP and performance levels that would enable many applications ranging from missile to submarine navigation.