Optical Methods to Detect and Classify Hull Surface Contaminants

This SBIR Phase I project will develop a design concept for a standoff optical approach for rapid hull contaminant detection and classification. Physical Sciences Inc. in collaboration with the Navy sponsor will develop a requirements specification document to guide the analysis of candidate optical approaches and subsequent system design in Phase II of the program. PSI will assemble a spectral database of infrared and fluorescence signatures of contaminated surfaces and use these in combination with the characteristics of spectral imaging and illumination technologies to formulate a system performance model. The model will be used to perform a trade space analysis to predict the measurement performance of notional systems, resulting in identification of preferred potential components for an integrated rapid inspection system for shipyard use. Components suppliers will be identified, and preliminary validation of the system concepts will be carried out through initial spectral imaging experiments. This will result in a recommended design to be pursued in a Phase II program.