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Program Manager: LtCol John Lowell, Ph.D.
 The Bio-Optic Synthetic Systems Program is developing and demonstrating new bio-inspired concepts in optics through materials chemistry and hierarchical materials structure. These components are being synthetically reproduced as robust systems with enhanced bio-inspired capability for use in military optical systems such as UAVs and missile guidance components. Specific thrust areas include—
- Variable Field-of-View (FOV) lenses suitable for unmanned air/ground vehicle electro-optic vision. Approaches being examined include fluidic lenses and more conventional lens moveable systems in which gradient index (GRIN) lenses are used to significantly reduce complexity. Materials and modeling of control systems and lens designs are critical to both approaches. Researchers are also addressing surface modification technologies needed for deformable antireflection (AR) surface for lens membranes. Compact zoom lens systems, ranging
from 5–30X have been built and characterized.
- Foveated imaging system utilizing innovative hardware and software concepts to develop high-birefringence liquid crystal (LC) spatial light modulators (SLMs) and dynamically reconfigurable, foveated imaging systems are being pursued. Researchers have demonstrated a 120-degree full field-of-view (FOV) foveated imaging system using a transmissive SLM that utilizes a new generation of LC materials (Δn > 0.4). The entire system weights 4.81 pounds with a footprint of
8” x 7” x 4” and a total volume of
49 in3.
- Photonic sieve diffractive optics can effectively replace refractive or reflective optics in imaging systems with a savings in weight and volume. Under this effort, a prototype imaging system has been designed and built to replace the current optical system in the Medium Range Munitions (MRM). Size and weight are at a premium in this 120mm projectile and the diffractive optics technology being developed will eliminate the gimbal and supporting hardware used to provide a wide field of regard (FOR), as well as substantially simplify the optics while maintaining the original seeker performance.
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