SBIR-STTR Award

Rifle projectiles follow complex trajectories influenced by many factors, including wind. There is currently no man-portable, low-cost, low-SWaP technology available to capture the trajectory of a standard rifle projectile in field conditions. Vadum proposes a new approach to capture projectile trajectory from the point of origin to the point of impact. The low-latency measurement technique is capable of enabling rapid corrections to the point of aim for follow-up shots, and requires minimal modifications to existing weapons, projectiles, and aiming systems. In Phase I, Vadum will establish the feasibility of this new approach and bound the required size, weight, and power to perform trajectory measurement in daytime and nighttime.

Vadum has shown the TRL4 feasibility of the innovative Compact Projectile Tracker (CPT) method for capturing small-arms projectile trajectories from a position at or near the point of origin to the point of impact, using fully-passive optical sensing techniques with low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) burden. Notable aspects of the proposed approach include the use of visible-band optical sensors and standard glass lenses, the use of fully-passive sensing modalities, and potential for low-SWaP compatible with dismount operations, including weapon-mounted variants. The measurement principle and algorithms are also applicable using near infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) optical hardware, offering the possibility of low-light operation. Unlike active optical techniques, the passive CPT technique emits no light and is therefore tactically advantageous. This method has a strong potential for integration with advanced and emerging digital weapon sight systems. In Phase II, Vadum will continue development of the novel CPT technology.