SBIR-STTR Award

To address the Armys need for a fire control radar for small UASs, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop an Advanced Fire Control Radar for Group 1 and 2 Unmanned Surveillance Systems (ARGUS). ARGUS is a compact, lightweight, and low power sensor that directly fits in the electronics or payload bay of Group 1 and 2 UASs. It interfaces with the platforms flight computer through standard UAS buses, through which it transfers the high fidelity radar information to a remote operator or the ground control station for visual confirmation and countermeasure. ARGUS innovative system design and algorithms provide (a) a device with large computational capability within a small form-factor that consumes low power, which is sufficient to detect, identify, and track threats with a low false alarm rate using radar cross-section data; and (b) a system with a platform-agnostic, low SWAP design which can be used in both Group 1 and 2 UASs. In Phase I, POC will design ARGUS and develop limited-scale benchtop hardware to show component feasibility. In Phase II, POC will develop a field ready, TRL-5/6, UAV-mounted ARGUS with threat detection capability that can be demonstrated to a suitable customer for further transition.

To address the Army’s need for a platform-agnostic, low-SWaP-C fire control radar, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to advance the development of the Advanced Fire Control Radar for Group 1 and 2 Unmanned Surveillance (ARGUS) systems proven feasible in Phase I. This system is based on integration of patch antenna arrays for transmit and receive capabilities tied into low-power COTS processing modules harnessing algorithms for target detection and identification from a long range. These innovations bring advanced radar capabilities to small UAVs that can operate in degraded visual environments. In Phase I, POC successfully met all the objectives and conclusively demonstrated the feasibility of ARGUS. Key technical risks associated with the technology were reduced via designing, developing, and testing a limited-scale prototype in a controlled environment. As a result, Phase II development is now a straightforward process of engineering, optimization, and risk-reduction. In Phase II, POC plans to further mature this technology along with its partners by building a full prototype system that can be integrated with select platforms for preliminary flight testing. We anticipate that at the end of Phase II, ARGUS will reach technology readiness level (TRL)-6 and will be mature enough for further Army testing and pre-productization.