Algorithm Development and Onboard Processing for Next Gen OPIR Sensors

The US Air Force (AF) Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) along with the US Space Force (USSF), Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and Space Development Agency (SDA) are all developing next generation satellite constellations for Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) missions. SMC is also sponsoring the “Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE)” programs through the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) that are designed to enable a future open architecture for OPIR ground processing, and the “Evolved Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Space Modernization Initiative Collaboration with AFRL” for resilient OPIR on-orbit processing. These programs are aimed at modernizing our global surveillance systems and increasing our data processing capabilities to combat against current and emerging threats. With the pressing need for improved space-based technologies, Toyon Research Corp. proposes the development of novel algorithms for automated detection and tracking (ADAT) of new and existing threats from great-power adversaries, as well as research of on-orbit hardware processing architectures and the implementation of the developed algorithms for such hardware. Toyon will leverage their vast experience in OPIR data processing to expand technological developments, and use their existing membership of the resilient OPIR on-orbit processing team with AFRL/SMC to transition the work to existing, large-funded programs.