SBIR-STTR Award

This effort will develop and demonstrate the design of a Doppler-based laser radar system to measure in-bore velocity of a projectile accelerated by an electromagnetic launcher. The system will measure the absolute velocity at 30 microsecond intervals for a duration of at least 30 milliseconds. The velocity measurement resolution will be at least 10 meters per second. Absolute velocity measurement permit recovery of information after isolated data dropouts. The use of an optical measurement technique provides inherently high immunity to electromagnetic launcher generated noise.

Electromagnetic Launchers are being developed by all branches of the U.S. Military. Furthermore, extensive research and development have been conducted into armature and projectile design. Detailed knowledge of the velocity and acceleration experienced by the projectile as a function of time and position as it travels down the barrel of the launcher is critical for further advancement of this technolgy. Currently available instrumentation does not have sufficient temporal or spatial resolution to provide the detailed information needed on the interior ballistic motion of the projectiles fired by an electromagnetic launcher. The primary objective of this program is to experimentally demonstrate that an affordable laser radar system can measure the motion of an accelerating projectile interior to an EML. Phase I demonstrated by analysis that a laser radar system can measure the interior ballistic motion of a projectile accelerated by an EML. Phase II will demonstrate the performance of a coherent laser radar for interior ballistics measurements experimentally. The secondary objective of phase II is to provide the qovernment with an experimental instrument which may be for additional, independent test and evaluation. The near term bentfit of this project is centered upon advanced gun technology permitted by the improved diagnostic tool delivered by this effort. In the far term, this project will provide the technical basis for major advances in commercial communications equipment and electronic warfare instrumentation.