Autonomous Detection, Acquisition, Pointing, and Tracking of Small UAVs

Enemy forces are accelerating their use of small, inexpensive, hard-to-detect UAVs, threatening the US intelligence advantage and putting our forces at risk. The need is clear to implement a counter-measure to the proliferation of small enemy UAVs. Use of a High Energy Laser (HEL) to deny the small UAV mission has been identified as a viable technique, but initial detection and tracking of these vehicles is a challenge. The Adsys Controls team proposes an innovative system solution, employing a modular, full 3600 surveillance subsystem utilizing redundant acoustic and optical sensing methodologies to cover the broad spectrum of potential threats. A beam control subsystem will deliver the HEL beam to the target aimpoint. To meet the demanding technical objectives, Adsys Controls has assembled a team including Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp and Bruel & Kjaer, both of whom are industry leaders in optical and acoustic sensing systems, respectively. In the Phase I effort, Adsys will perform a requirements flowdown, develop the surveillance and beam control designs, simulate performance, and demonstrate feasibility by identification of vendors to supply key components. The Phase I activity will include Phase II program planning, which would conclude with a prototype system being built and tested.