SBIR-STTR Award

Near Field Scanner
Award last edited on: 10/11/2019

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : AF
Total Award Amount
$749,998
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
AF161-022
Principal Investigator
Ziran Wu

Company Information

Physical Optics Corporation (AKA: POC~Mercury Mission Systems, LLC)

1845 West 205th Street
Torrance, CA 90501
   (310) 320-3088
   info@pocsports.com
   www.poc.com
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 43
County: Los Angeles

Phase I

Contract Number: N/A
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase I year
2018
Phase I Amount
$1
To address the Air Force need for advanced radar characterization of fighter aircraft, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) is developing a new Near Field Scanner (NeFS) based on novel RF/microwave sensing and scanning technologies. Specifically, innovations in sensor miniaturization and broadband functionality, combined with an innovative 3D scanning platform, enable NeFS to measure near-field radiation patterns from a large-scale radar installed on an aircraft in an anechoic chamber and in open air. The fully-automated NeFS technology offers significantly enhanced portability (installation/removal in <1 hr), broadband operation capability (0.1~18 GHz), sub-wavelength spatial resolution in near-field measurements, and accurate far-field extraction from near-field data. The enhanced functionality of the system directly addresses the Air Force requirements for portable near-field measurement systems. In Phase I, POC successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the NeFS technology. A fully functional prototype system was built with developed photonic sensor probes and continuous 3D location tracking during the scan. Near field to far field calculation algorithms were also implemented, and preliminary far field calculated results of a calibrated horn antenna showed good consistency with vendor specifications. In Phase II, POC will enhance, integrate, and ruggedize the NeFS technology to meet Air Force requirements and reach technology readiness level (TRL)-6.

Phase II

Contract Number: FA2487-18-C-0007
Start Date: 00/00/00    Completed: 00/00/00
Phase II year
2018
Phase II Amount
$749,997
To address the Air Force need for advanced radar characterization of fighter aircraft, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) is developing a new Near Field Scanner (NeFS) based on novel RF/microwave sensing and scanning technologies. Specifically, innovations in sensor miniaturization and broadband functionality, combined with an innovative 3D scanning platform, enable NeFS to measure near-field radiation patterns from a large-scale radar installed on an aircraft in an anechoic chamber and in open air. The fully-automated NeFS technology offers significantly enhanced portability (installation/removal in <1 hr), broadband operation capability (0.1~18 GHz), sub-wavelength spatial resolution in near-field measurements, and accurate far-field extraction from near-field data. The enhanced functionality of the system directly addresses the Air Force requirements for portable near-field measurement systems. In Phase I, POC successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the NeFS technology. A fully functional prototype system was built with developed photonic sensor probes and continuous 3D location tracking during the scan. Near field to far field calculation algorithms were also implemented, and preliminary far field calculated results of a calibrated horn antenna showed good consistency with vendor specifications. In Phase II, POC will enhance, integrate, and ruggedize the NeFS technology to meet Air Force requirements and reach technology readiness level (TRL)-6.