A Photonic Soldier Identification System

Dynetics, teamed with Harris Corporation, proposes to integrate our innovative optical receiver technology with existing components to produce a novel Soldier Identification System. Our unique approach couples a specially designed, hand-held interrogation unit and a small, passive responder located on the soldier. In operation, the interrogator transmits a 1024-bit coded sequence to the soldier via a highly directional laser diode beam. Within this sequence is a smaller, seven-symbol sequence that opens an electronic shutter and exposes a low-cost retroreflecting tape that returns an optical flash to the interrogator. The presence and timing of this flash establishes identification and makes the Soldier Identification System robust to countermeasures. The Dynetics proposed solution has a very small package size, is lightweight, and is resistant to countermeasures, all of which are critical for practical field uses. During Phase I, Dynetics will finalize the design, demonstrate key system aspects with a laboratory demonstration, and document systematic investigation of Phase III markets. This research will allow rapid development of a prototype device in Phase II.