SBIR-STTR Award

Analysis and Applications and Associates, Inc. (AAA) proposes to develop software that evaluates effects of the hypersonic flow environment on electro-optic/infrared optical systems and vehicles for specific hypersonic flight profiles. We propose a high fidelity definition of the near-field flow, using the latest CFD and turbulence modeling technologies, to determine the environment from which the aero-heating and aero-optic aberration are computed. The analytical tools will allow us to determine window and optical system temperature history for a specific mission profile. Use of these technologies will allow the evaluation of candidate hypersonic aerial survey platforms for commercial application such as aerial survey and remote resource sensing.

Benefits:
Use of these technologies will allow the evaluation of candidate hypersonic aerial survey platforms for commercial application such as aerial survey and remote resource sensing. Using a hypersonic vehicle with the appropriate optical sensors could greatly reduce these costs.

Keywords:
hypersonic aerothermodynamics, aero-optics, electro-optic window, turbulence model, signal to noise ratio

EO/IR sensors can provide high spatial resolution images using multiple frequency bands ranging from the visible to mid-wave IR. EO/IR sensors have been very successful for terrain imaging from subsonic aircraft and from satellites. Imaging using these platforms has been studied extensively. EO/IR sensors can provide high spatial resolution images using multiple frequency bands ranging from the visible to mid-wave IR. EO/IR sensors have been very successful for terrain imaging from subsonic aircraft and from satellites. Imaging using these platforms has been studied extensively. However, the study of such sensors on-board hypersonic platforms has not been performed with any detail thus far. The objective of this effort is the development of a set of software tools to assess the effects of the hypersonic flow environment on electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) optical systems for a given flight profile and mission. This toolset consists of standalone applications for evaluation of the hypersonic effects and middleware to link various state-of-the-art discipline-specific engineering applications used for multidisciplinary design and analysis of Electro/Optic (EO/IR) systems.

Benefits:
The proposed software toolset will enhance the ability of the sensor community to support development and deployment of existing hypersonic vehicles.

Keywords:
EO/IR Sensor Hypersonics Aero-optics Image-chain