Sense-and-Avoid Postern Insect Eye/Neuromorphic Sensor System

ABSTRACT: Addressing the Air Force need for a postern sense-and-avoid (SAA) system that can enable remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) to perform real-time reporting of mid-air-collision (MAC) threats, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to advance the development of the SAA Postern Insect Eye/Neuromorphic (SAPIEN) sensor system proven feasible in Phase I. SAPIEN uniquely combines multi-aperture imaging, ranging and warning over a wide field in a strap-down configuration. SAPIEN employs a compact eye-safe laser ranger using high bandwidth photo-detectors and custom Kalman/probability propagation algorithm to detect, locate, and track. The innovative use of multi-aperture infrared signal data fusion will enable SAPIEN to warn of impending MACs. In Phase I POC finalized the requirements, architecture, and components for the prototype and demonstrated feasibility through simulation and testing of the proposed SAPIEN system which showed the capability to mitigate propellers, fog, vibration, and engine exhaust. In Phase II, POC will finalize the system architecture, validate the model, mature algorithms and software, and apply the design to fabricate a prototype. We plan to perform prototype testing and modeling to validate SAA performance. Working together with prime system integrators, we will investigate a roadmap for commercialization and technology transition to Air Force applications. BENEFIT: Recent (1991-2000) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) statistics indicate a majority (80%) of mid-air collisions (MACs) occur when one aircraft overtakes another from the rear hemisphere (postern collision). Now that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are making their way into commercial arenas like aerial photography, land surveying, and crop monitoring, while slow-flying Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) are allowed operations inside FAA regulated airspace, incidences of postern collisions and overtake MACs are expected to rise. When the regulations governing UAV flight in National Airspace System (NAS) take effect in 2015, the demand for reliable autonomous postern see-and-avoid systems, such as our proposed SAPIEN, will surge. In addition, because of its compact size, lightweight, and low cost, the SAPIEN system can be installed into small, remotely controlled aerial vehicles for applications such as police surveillance and traffic control. SAPIENs low cost will also make the system suitable for collision avoidance in automobiles, boats, and larger aircraft.