Design and Analysis of Agile Optical-Zoom and Field-of-View Steering Systems for Small-Scale UAV Cameras

UAV based electro-optic imaging sensors are now an integral tool in target detection, identification, engagement, and battle damage assessment. To further this tactical advantage, EO sensors must become adaptable to a variety of mission profiles and platforms. Our principal objective is to develop a refractive imaging system capable of zooming and scanning over a wide field of regard, while significantly reducing the size, weight, and power compared to conventional technologies. We propose to accomplish this via a (unique) Risley prism scanner combined with an adaptive polymer based zoom lens system.