SBIR-STTR Award

Current methods for physically interconnecting the electrical interfaces on micro-munitions or other small stores to host platforms or other carriage devices rely on traditional military style circular connectors. These connectors have significant physical footprints in locations where space is at a premium, typically exhibit higher than desired release forces that undesirably constrain potential store ejection techniques, have reliability/durability issues, and are cumbersome to connect for some store physical installation scenarios. Other physical interconnection techniques including both wireless technologies and alternative conductor-based interconnection techniques (such as tear-away connectors or butted contacts on mating surfaces) have the potential to provide the necessary physical signal interconnectivity while eliminating some or all of the stated drawbacks. The effort proposed here will investigate/evaluate alternative technologies for physical interconnection of required signal paths across micro-munition electrical interfaces, and define one or more candidate alternative interconnection schemes based on those alternative technologies deemed to be most viable within the applicable implementation constraints. A plan for a recommended follow-on program to accomplish prototyping and demonstration of the defined alternative interconnection scheme(s) will also be documented.

Benefit:
The technology developed under this effort will facilitate easier and more reliable electrical mating of micro-munitions with host platforms. It also has significant potential for commercial application in integration of external sensors on non-military air and ground platforms.

Keywords:
Micro-Munitions, Smart Weapons, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Aircraft/Store Integration, Aircraft/Store Interfaces, Avionics, Data Communications

Current methods for physically interconnecting electrical interfaces on micro-munitions to host platforms or other carriage devices rely on traditional military style circular connectors. These connectors typically have significant physical footprints in locations where space is at a premium, exhibit undesirably high release forces that constrain potential store ejection techniques, have reliability/durability issues, and are cumbersome to connect for some physical installation arrangements. An alternative connector-less micro-munition interface interconnection concept defined under Phase I utilizing fiber optic signal transfer techniques and inductive power coupling was assessed as a potentially significant improvement over current approaches. The fiber optic technology element of the proposed concept was identified as also being applicable to current initiatives to incorporate a fiber optic interface capability into the MIL-STD-1760 aircraft/store interface, to support future enhanced signal throughput requirements anticipated for advanced weapon carriage platforms including the F-35. The effort proposed here would develop a fiber optic munition interface capability and demonstrate it as part of the connector-less micro-munition interface concept defined under Phase I, and also as part of a MIL-STD-1760 connector-based interface arrangement. Recommended additions to current interface standards to incorporate the developed capability would also be provided.

Benefit:
The results of this effort will facilitate easier and more reliable mating of munition interfaces with host platforms while enhancing performance, and also provide significant commercial potential for improved integration of external sensors on non-military air and ground platforms.

Keywords:
Micro-Munitions, Fiber Optics, Smart Weapons, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Aircraft/Store Interfaces, Avionics, Data Communications, Sensors