Electro Magnetic Probability of Effect (EMPE)

The Navy is required to demonstrate the immunity of its ordnance and electronic systems to electromagnetic threats. Simple pass/fail testing is no longer adequate for demonstrating compliance in a field environment increasingly characterized by high power transmission. The Electro-Magnetic Probability of Effect (EMPE) tools proposed in this SBIR will enable the Navy to design new systems and assess their electro-magnetic vulnerability based on statistical characterization. EMPE offers the ability to quantify system hardness, margin of safety, and to extrapolate likelihood of failure under severe electromagnetic exposure without resorting to simplistic, expensive, and hazardous tests. The intent of this SBIR is to support the development of a methodology for assessing the probability of effect (PE) or failure of subsystems/components when used in a variety of systems at different EM stress levels. This methodology removes the requirement for testing using exact simulations of the specified EME. In addition, it provides procedures for addressing the impact of system configuration and EME changes. The methodology is comprised of two elements, which when combined provide a prescription for estimating the PE of the subsystem/components located in a system when subjected to a specified EM level.