ABL (Airborne Laser) Detection Sensor Improvements

The first sentinel of ABL’s present target acquisition suite is a passive infrared search and track sensor of 1970s vintage, which we propose replacing with HyPAWS. HyPAWS is a low-cost passive wide-field of view staring sensor. Several such units suffice to provide full 360-degree view coverage. Leveraging revolutionary sensing techniques in ongoing development, HyPAWS offers advanced detection capabilities. In Phase 1, we will complete preliminary design of the HyPAWS sensor, flowing-down ABL operating, detection, and passive-to-active handover performance requirements. We will determine the most feasible Image-Stabilization-in-Silicon (ISiS) architecture to support HyPAWS processing. ISiS will implement the equivalent of 1000 COTS CPUs executing a specialized algorithm, on a small silicon chip. Our ISiS approach will trade principally between Cellular Nonlinear Network (CNN) chip, digital processing onboard a customized VLSI chip (e.g. “structured ASIC”), or digital processing onboard a customized read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) in concert with an FPA vendor. For full-scale Phase 2 fabrication of ISiS, we will employ our research institute partner (University of Notre Dame) nanofabrication facilities or MOSIS, or otherwise secure an industry partner to exploit envisioned synergistic technology combinations. In Phase 2, we will implement and field demonstrate a brassboard prototype HyPAWS sensor, employing our full-scale ISiS.