An innovative optical based wireless communications technology for smart munitions

The objective of this SBIR project is to study the feasibility of a novel wireless, optical based communications concept for data transmission between sensors, actuators, processors and communications devices within munitions housing. The concept beingproposed is an alternative to Radio Frequency (RF) wireless transmissions, and will provide a noise free and high bandwidth communication interconnect between major munitions elements, as well as close proximity sister munitions. The communicationstechnology to be developed under this project is capable of withstanding the harsh environment of gun launched munitions, such as the high temperatures and pressures of firing and very high accelerations of sometimes in excess of 100,000 g's. The developedinterconnect technology would also not emit energy, so that intelligence could not be monitored by external means. The proposed data communication networks also provide the possibility of being integrated into the structure of munitions, thereby occupyingminimal added volume and greatly simplifying the problems related to wiring and their survivability, as well as high g hardening and survivability in the harsh firing environment Secure wireless optical based communications technologies that provide noisefree and high bandwidth communication interconnect between various components of a device have numerous other military and commercial applications. Such communications links are ideal for use in different types of missiles and rockets, in satellites and indifferent types of commercial handheld electronic devices.