Shared-Aperture Polarization-Grating Beam Steering for Attritable Platforms

Beam control for a SWIR 3D imaging lidar which shares an aperture with a forward looking MWIR sensor is proposed. To enable this combined passive and active sensor architecture, polarization grating based non-mechanical beam steering (NMBS) will be investigated. Using the proposed beam control technology will enable the SWIR lidar to track and identify regions of interest within the MWIR sensor field of view. Boulder Nonlinear Systems (BNS) and our teaming partners, LCMatter, and Exciting Technology, will investigate novel substrates and liquid crystal materials with an emphasis on improving the polarization grating based beam steering technology’s MWIR throughput. A beam control system will be designed based on the materials and components investigation as well as sensor system constraints. With the approach proposed here we expect to significantly enhance the capabilities of sensor systems for attritable platforms.