Advanced Optics Zoom Hyperspectral Sensor Navy SBIR FY2008.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2008.1 Topic No.: N08-064 Topic Title: Advanced Optics Zoom Hyperspectral Sensor Proposal No.: N081-064-0087 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation Applied Technologies Division 20600 Gramercy Place, Bldg.100 Torrance, California 90501-1821 Contact: Min-Yi Shih Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: www.poc.com Abstract: To address the U.S. Navy's need for an Advanced Optics Zoom Hyperspectral Sensor, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Advanced Hyperspectral Zoom Optics System (AHZOS) System based on POC's mature 360 omnidirectional optics and high-refractive index optical materials in a compound zoom configuration. Innovations in the optical design of this system enables it to achieve a wide-angle field of view (>60) for a hyperspectral sensor in a compact form factor (<150 mm, <1.5 lbs) package suitable for use on the handheld class of Navy unmanned aerial vehicles. Innovative folded optics combined with high-refractive index (n>2) materials offers a continuously variable zoom telescope with close-up imagery capability (up to 20x) and offers broadband wavelength operation from 0.4 microns in the visible to 6 microns in the infrared. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the feasibility of AHZOS to Navy personnel by assembling and testing a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 prototype. In Phase II POC plans to develop a TRL 5-6 prototype to show how the approach will provide a wide field of view while searching for targets of interest and a narrow field of view for homing in once a target is identified. Benefits: Military applications of the AHZOS will include: aerial surveillance and reconnaissance for all U.S. UAV, particularly for Navy ships. These forces need the direct support of tactical sensor feeds that can automatically alert and warn the Naval forces of impending dangers. Its basic optics module can be used in situational awareness sensors for base security applications. Commercial applications of the proposed technology will include security of large-area locations such as nuclear plants or airports. Its camera section can be used in security, cell phones, or any applications in which being small and stealthy are paramount. This system can address the large potential U.S. UAV market need of over $100M, according to our estimate based on the published U.S. annual budget for UAV. In addition, this will have applications in the "origami" cell phone camera, thus opening a new market opportunity. Return