Miniature Laser Designator for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Advanced Scientific Concepts, Inc. (ASC) has developed 3D Flash LIDAR range finding cameras based on its patented 3DFPA technology and is producing high powered compact diode pumped lasers for Flash LIDAR. The purpose of the proposed Phase I SBIR is to develop a 30mJ 1.064 laser designator and 3D tracking sensor that will be compact and fit into a light weight 5" gimbal. Flash LIDAR Cameras (FLC) are 3D vision systems that return range and intensity information for each pixel in the Focal Plane Array (FPA) simultaneously in real time. ASC’s 128x128 3D array FLC has the equivalent of 16,000 range finders on a single FPA which allows the sensor to act as a 3D video camera with enhanced functionality and value well beyond range finding. ASC is proposing in this Phase I effort to develop a more compact higher efficiency laser designator system. ASC will demonstrate the feasibility of a miniature laser and 3D tracking sensor that meets the size weight and power (SWAP) goals as outlined in this solicitation. In Phase II, ASC will produce and tests a prototype UAV laser designation system.