Autonomous Vehicle Awareness Sensors

The program will report on a novel design approach for a dual mode satellite sensor to be mounted on a Geo-COPS satellite. A mission and sensor trade study will rely heavily on available simulation programs to predict performance outcome. The satellite would be located strategically in Geo-orbit to monitor the location and activity of all satellites in the zone of interest. Proposed is very high resolution three dimensional imaging data of satellites in the detection zone of the GEO-COPS satellite so that, not only tracking of satellite location is possible but, satellite change detection can be achieved if the satellite rotates, divides, or takes some action of interest to the US Air Force. BENEFIT: The Phase II program will define and analytically validate dual mode sensor technology for Geo-COPS. The initial application for this dual mode sensor is for the Geo-COPS application. This system could be used for border surveillance and protection, infrastructure protection, port security and other Homeland Security needs. Another important and critical application for this dual mode concept is for Sense and Avoid (SAS) for unmanned aircraft so they can be authorized for operation in the National Air Space (NAS). The field-of-view requirements for SAS are similar to those for Geo-COPS, requiring long range radar and EO sensors for high reliable detection and wide angle coverage ahead of the aircraft.