NON-PROPRIETARY DATA NASA SBIR/STTR Technologies Proposal No. S – EO Scanned Micro-LADAR PI: Dr. Scott Davis Vescent Photonics - Denver, CO Technical Objectives and Work Plan Combine continuous coverage SEEORs with discrete scanning PGs to prove feasibility of very large FOV scanners. Polarization Gratings (PGs) were used to increase the total FOV of the refractive scanners by a factor of four. This is a key phase I milestone, demonstrating that bigger scan angles and beam sizes are feasible. Perform an EO Scanned micro-LADAR demonstration. We designed, built, and tested two versions of an EO scanned micro-LADAR unit. These unit enabled <100ms frame times, an EO scanned FOV of 30 o ×5 o (though much larger is now possible with PGs), ranging out to 100 meters, and a very compact non-mechanical package. Design a phase II micro-LADAR system. We completed a preliminary design of a phase II micro-LADAR deliverable. The whole system will be size of a paper back book, have a dynamically adjustable 40 o ×40 o FOV, range out to 1 km, and change the game for how LADAR is used. NASA Applications A specific NASA application for Micro-LADAR is for deployment on geosynchronous satellite servicing and refueling missions, such as “Restore”. Micro-LADAR will aid with location, alignment, and docking between the servicing satellite and the GEO-satellite to be serviced. Other potential NASA applications include asteroid and space junk rendezvous; both areas of growing significance. Furthermore, situational awareness, terrain mapping, and collision avoidance will be enabled by micro-LADAR deployed on small UAV platforms. Non-NASA Applications Commercial applications for Micro-LADAR are numerous. In Oil & Gas LADAR is used for dynamic positioning of tankers during docking operations with platforms and for security on oil platforms due to its ability to track vessels and better sensitivity to non-metallic vessels. LIDAR is also being used to measure the length of the drill string. Transportation is a large potential market for Micro-LADAR. It may be used to trigger fixed cameras and measure vehicle speeds. A new application is to mount imaging LADAR under gantries for vehicle profiling and tracking for law enforcement. Firm Contacts Scott Davis, Vescent Photonics Expected TRL Range at the end of Contract (1-9): TRL 4 at end of phase I In this phase I SBIR we unequivocally demonstrated that new scanning based micro-LADAR sensors with unprecedented small size, weight, and power (SWaP) are feasibly. These new Micro-LADAR modules will enable scanning LADAR deployment on previously inaccessible platforms such as satellites. For example, these will be suitable for deployment on geosynchronous satellite servicing and refueling missions, such as “Restore”. This micro-LADAR will aid with location, alignment, and docking between the servicing satellite and the GEO-satellite to be serviced. Other potential NASA applications include asteroid and space junk rendezvous, both areas of growing significance. The enabling technology for the micro-LADAR system is a combination of two new electro-optic laser scanning technologies: high speed refractive continuous scanners with up to a 60o×15o field of view (FOV) and diffractive-waveplate discrete or step-wise scanners to boost the total FOV up to 120o×120o.