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Optical Communication Turrets for Highly Mobile Vehicles

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA8650-05-C-1812
Agency Tracking Number: F041-223-2112
Amount: $750,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF04-223
Solicitation Number: 2004.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2004
Award Year: 2005
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2005-02-04
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2007-02-04
Small Business Information
700 Research Center Blvd
Fayetteville, AR 72701
United States
DUNS: 044870363
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Charles Chalfant
 President/CEO/PI
 (479) 575-5316
 cchalfant@spacephotonics.com
Business Contact
 Shonna Butler
Title: Project and Finance Admin
Phone: (479) 575-5221
Email: sbutler@spacephotonics.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Space Photonics proposes a miniature, low power, high speed, optical communications turret utilizing a unique system design requiring no gimballing. This technology and design enables optical communications turrets specifically for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and other airborne vehicle applications to rapidly acquire and track optical cross-link signals crucial for advanced high speed, high data rate communications systems using laser based data links. The system is based on our innovative multi-aperture turret design with multiple telescopes each using our MEMS beam steering techniques for accurate pointing and tracking of the transmit and receive signals.. This proposed approach provides a capability for a wide range of wavelengths and data rates, with each telescope providing independent acquisition and tracking and fast response closed loop tracking that will meet the requirements for the dynamic range of motion faced by aircraft. This innovation coupled with our development of 10.0 Gbps free space and fiber optic communications transceivers provides a unique opportunity for Air Force programs that require advanced, high bandwidth, high data rate, and mobile communications capabilities.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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