Multi-Mission Electro-Optical Sensor System

In this SBIR Phase I proposal, Kent Optronics Inc proposes to design and validate a compressive spectral sensor for multiple military missions. The sensor is expected to enable both multispectral (MS) and hyperspectral (HS) sensing capability. The multispectral sensing is for wide area situational awareness and target tracking; while hyperspectral sensing for target recognition/identification. The sensor exhibits the following key remarkable features: 61 Flexible switching between MS and HS sensing modes under user desire, from a single sensor system; 61 Zoomable field of view (FOV) of 60o; 61 Fast sampling rate and imagery display refresh at video rate or greater; 61 Reduced data volume and data transmission bandwidth; 61 Optional spatial and spectral fovea driven by the detection result(s); 61 Small foot-print profile in size, weight, power consumption, and cost (SwaPC). In Phase I, a thorough trade analysis among all the candidate approaches will be performed, leading to an optimal sensor design. In Phase II, a pre-prototype will be developed.