Princeton Infrared Technologies, Inc. (PIRT), has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase II contract in the amount of $749,961 focused on the development of extended wavelength short wave infrared (SWIR) for hyperspectral imaging on unmanned systems to investigate its potential to fill capability gaps in the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
Hyperspectral imaging in the (SWIR) wavelength range from 900 to 1700 nm can be used for applications such as agricultural crop health monitoring and humanitarian aid and logistics. Current hyperspectral systems are expensive due to their use of large format arrays and complicated optical components. In this program, a micro-lens array (MLA) will be fabricated directly into the detector array substrate. This novel approach will improve alignment accuracy and structural integrity and is conducive to wafer-scale processing techniques for large volume production at a significantly reduced cost. To enhance the number of material types that can be identified and detected using SWIR hyperspectral imaging, the team will develop and demonstrate imagers with extended wavelength detection capabilities from 900 to 2500 nm utilizing only TEC cooling to support operation.
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through a faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and losing bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution.
The DAF began offering ‘The Open Topic’ SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on May 23, 2022, Princeton Infrared Technologies, Inc. will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
Source: Press Release