TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-281 - Cruise Missiles Command & Control Program, ACAT 1

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Develop novel data storage technologies that would enable forward operating units and Troops-in-Contact to engage and prosecute hostile targets with Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) to include Tomahawk.

DESCRIPTION: Reference imagery for strike and mission planning, i.e., digital point position data base (DPPDB) and digital terrain elevation data (DTED), are required to generate aim points for precision-guided munitions (PGMs). These peta and terabyte size data files are currently stored on multiple tape cartridges, several DVDs or Redundant Arrays of Independent Drives (RAIDs). The time sensitive targeting (TST) and mission planning require rapid access to this data. These activities can be severely impacted due to inadequate local data storage � especially at the forward operating units where troops are in contact. Depending on the imagery requirement for the area of coverage, insufficient local data or laptop storage severely limits real-time performance.

Innovative, ultra-high capacity, small, lightweight, and low power data storage concepts are sought that capitalize on advances in optical (holographic), carbon nanotube, magnetic recording capability, and others, and enable local and ultimately laptop storage of reference imagery for strike and mission planning at the forward operating Unit level. The combination of reference imagery, digital terrain elevation data and real time imagery data will allow real time generation of geo-referenced imagery, further reducing the kill chain time line. Innovative data storage device solutions to be developed should be highly survivable and reliable, encrypted, require little or no power and be small enough to be able to be installed within a standard laptop computer with no specialized hardware or adapters. Read/write rates should exceed today�s highest rates by an order of magnitude. The MUHCS should be operator configurable into partitions and should be able to function singularly or in clusters or groups. It is anticipated that these storage devices will be embedded and operate with all precision weapon systems; Tomahawk Cruise Missiles, Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and numerous other PGMs. The operational requirements will put critical emphasis not only on size, weight, and power but other characteristics that allow real-time operation within rather hostile conditions. There is considerable progress in commercial research on this topic; however the focus is on magnetic recording devices, not storage of multiple Terabytes within small form factor.

PHASE I: Determine the feasibility of developing a MUHCS for use in high capacity, high data transfer and recording rates, data storage-systems. The emphasis should be directed towards storage of multiple Terabytes within small form factor (no larger then DVD, prefer size of current USB memory sticks) providing real-time performance.

PHASE II: Develop the prototype system and demonstrate mark recording onto the media at desired mark sizes, and subsequently access written marks to determine the media signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and obtain raw error data from the disk.

PHASE III: Evaluate the MUHCS in a field operation. Transition the developed capabilities to the Tomahawk Command and Control Station (TC2S), Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS), Precision Strike Suite � Special Operations Forces (PSS-SOF) and Digital Precision Strike Suite (DPSS) laptop environments and ultimately precision weapon system. This technology could also be used in other military applications such as new unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and other surveillance platforms, with size and weight restrictions, that require collection of voluminous amounts of image, radar, and other intelligence data.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: This technology would be useful for any commercial application where large volumes of imagery or other critical data must be kept permanently. These applications could include digital cinema, banking, oil exploration, and satellite imagery.

REFERENCES:
1. Bourzac, Katherine. "TR10: A New Focus for Light." Technology Review, posted March 12, 2007. http://www.technologyreview.com/nanotech/18295/.

2. "Nano-Sized Data Storage Devices Carved from Silicon Prove Superior to Current Electromechanical Technology." Nanotechnology News Archive, posted October 5, 2004. http://www.azonano.com/news.asp?newsID=353.

3. Utsumi, Takeo. "Keynote Address � Vacuum Microelectronics: Whats New and Exciting." IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol 38. No. 10 (October 1991).

KEYWORDS: Imagery; Data recorders; Nanotechnology; Data Storage; Computers

TPOC: (301)757-7998
2nd TPOC: 301-757-6150

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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