Micromechanically Stabilized Surveillance Platform

To address the Army need for inertially stabilized smart cameras (ISSC), Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Micromechanically Stabilized Surveillance Platform (MSSP) based on a new optical stabilization scheme using MEMS scanning mirror and a novel design integrating computer-on-module technology. The innovation in the optical system design will allow image stabilization of less than 1 milliradian in the presence of vibrations in the 10 to 100 milliradian range and with the bandwidth of 1-100 Hz. The novel use of extremely compact microcomputers will enable onboard camera control, video data processing, and wireless communication. As a result, the MSSP system can be deployed on small unmanned ground and aerial vehicles and will provide the Army with long-range surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, which directly address the Future Combat Systems (Brigade Combat Team) program requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of MSSP system by studying and analyzing suitable camera, embedded computation, and inertial stabilization technology and assembling and testing the proof-of-concept prototype. In Phase II, POC plans to develop the functional prototype and demonstrate its performance with prescribed parameters, estimate the Phase III preproduction costs, and suggest necessary revisions to the design.