Multimode Distributed Optical Sensor for Target Detection Classification and Tracking
Navy SBIR FY2014.1


Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2014.1
Topic No.: N141-070
Topic Title: Multimode Distributed Optical Sensor for Target Detection Classification and Tracking
Proposal No.: N141-070-1068
Firm: VIP Sensors
32242 Paseo Adelanto
Suite C
San Juan Capistrano, California 92675-3610
Contact: Alexis Karolys
Phone: (949) 429-3558
Web Site: www.vipsensors.com
Abstract: Vibration Impact and Pressure (VIP) Sensors Inc. proposes to develop a small, very low noise, highly sensitive low power, extrinsic fiber-optic sensor and signal processing module that can be integrated into a single node of the Autonomous Undersea Weapon System (AUWS) for target detection, classification, localization and tracking (DCLT). This sensor is enclosed in a cylindrical canister containing a battery pack, a miniature Optical MOMS(micro-optical-mechanical-systems) sensor chip, and a surface mounted printed circuit board that includes all the electronics to process the sensor signals through highly effective DCLT algorithms, and when appropriate, broadcasts commands to other deployed assets. Normally different nodes with different types of sensors would be needed to provide proper AUWS trigger information. VIP Sensors proposes for this program to specifically develop a single sensor, a fiber optic hydrophone, specially designed to be a multi-mode distributed sensor. Multiple fiber-optic sensors of different types (accelerometer, magnetometer, pressure, etc.) can be processed with the same hardware and be included in the same sensor module. The fiber-optic sensors are miniature MOMS Silicon chips based on the Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometric principle. The MOMS technology allows customizing the performance and design for different types of sensor modalities and low cost production rates.
Benefits: The proposed Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Optical Sensor technology will fuel the development of various multimillion dollars product lines. Besides the Multimode Distributed Optical Sensor for Target Detection Classification and Tracking, there are multiple applications in the test and measurement community for derivative products such as the optical hydrophones, pressure sensors, magnetometers, etc. This basic new technology has the potential to significantly improve the measurement systems across many industries that use large numbers of sensors, such as: Flight Testing, Wind Tunnel Testing, Structural Testing, Structural Monitoring, Airplane, Satellite and Ship Monitoring

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