Electromagnetic Wireless Communications System for Hard Target Penetrators

This Phase II SBIR proposal describes the continuation of our Phase I effort to develop a hardened and robust method for communicating between two locations within a hard-target penetrating weapon. Our approach uses resonant electromagnetic (EM) fields toeliminate hardwired physical links that are often severed by the tremendous shock loads experienced by these weapons upon impact. The resonant EM field method will be applicable in advanced weapon concepts that may require multiple sub-munitioninitiations and the collection of sensor data from an array of weapon-mounted sensors.The primary objective of the effort described in this proposal is to develop working prototypes to further demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. This will include the development of static prototypes for laboratory studies, and finally a dynamicprototype that includes shock-hardened components for use in live firing tests. We will also continue to refine the finite-element analysis (FEA), the measurement of explosive electrical properties, and the component engineering analyses that wereinitiated in Phase I.