Real-time Holographic-Optical-Element-Based Damage Assessment for HEL Weapon Systems

To address the Air Force need for rapid, robust, remote real-time damage assessment for HEL weapon systems, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a Holographic-Optical-Element-Based Damage Assessment (HOEDA) system. The proposed HOEDA fuses data from three laser remote-sensing technologies: laser remote polarimetry, vibrometry, and spectroscopy. The innovative multifunctional HOE-based beam divider will enable the HOEDA to assess the structural and surface damage of the target by measuring the damage-induced changes in polarimetric, Doppler shift, and spectral properties of the collected optical signal from the target. This system offers: 1) rapid, accurate, comprehensive, and robust real-time damage assessment through sensor and data fusion of three laser remote-sensing technologies; 2) compactness and lightweight due to the use of HOE; 3) reliability because of the few moving parts and packaging design; and 4) compatibility with the existing HEL platform. In Phase I POC will analyze the HOEDA system design by computer modeling, fabricate a laboratory prototype, and conduct mock-up experiments to demonstrate the feasibility of HOEDA. In Phase II, an advanced HOEDA engineering prototype will be assembled and tested both at POC and at an Air Force facility.