Compact Optical Proximity Sensor

To address the Army’s need for a small, low cost, optical-based proximity sensor for fuzing applications, Intellisense Systems, Inc. (Intellisense) proposes to continue the development of a new Compact Optical Proximity Sensor (COPS) based on the integration of miniaturized and ruggedized time-of-flight measurements and optical triangulation to rapidly determine the distance to a target to initiate fuzes. Specifically, the COPS device, proven feasible in Phase I, will have a target detection range of 1 m to 20 m while consuming <150 mW of power. It is compact (<5 cm^3) and suitable for use with various types of munitions and for detection of various targets as requested by the Army. In Phase I, Intellisense proved the feasibility of COPS through the design and fabrication of an experimental prototype and demonstration of its operation against various targets in normal and adverse atmospheric conditions. The ability to meet the established price goal was also confirmed. In Phase II, Intellisense will develop a ruggedized design, establish the manufacturing technology, and fabricate multiple sets of COPS prototypes. The prototypes’ compliance with the Army requirements for performance and producibility will be verified in a series of tests in normal and extreme environmental conditions (TRL-5). A manufacturing plan will be developed for transition to mass fabrication in Phase III. Fabricated prototypes will be delivered to the Army for the gun-fired tests.