Direct Energy Conversion Acuators for Ambulatory Robotic Systems

Not Available Photonic Systems proposes a novel approach to significantly improve the RF performance, and drastically reduce the cost, of RF photonic links. The key technical innovation to be pursued in this work is the application of the cascade laser to increase the slope efficiency of directly modulated links. The slope efficiency achievable from the cascade laser should permit direct modulation to enter the realm of performance which has here to fore only been attainable via the more costly external modulation. Removing the slope efficiency limitation means it is now important to ask what slope efficiency limitation means it is now important to ask what slope efficiency is the most desirable from a cost and performance perspective. To establish a basis for commercialization of this approach, Photonic Systems proposes a Phase I program composed of four major parts: 1. Analyze the design tradeoffs among cascade laser, link and pre-amplifier parameters; 2. Select a specific configuration and fabricate a small cascade array; 3. Assemble and test a link using the cascade laser; and 4. Design, fabricate and test a low cost ($100) link with better performance that is available today. The links that results from these design initiatives will meet the needs of government and commercial applications.