SBIR-STTR Award

The primary objective of this SBIR will be to perform the design processes leading to a preliminary design of an Advanced Fast Steering Mirror (AFSM) traceable to ABL and applicable to tracking tests underway at NOP. Trade studies, control simulations, modal analysis, and thermal analysis will be performed to produce an AFSM design which strikes an effective balance of performance drivers and available technology for actuators, flexures, and mirror sensors. The AFSM electronics will support implementations of control algorithms as developed by Mr. Karl Schrader, an SVS employee, in his Master's Thesis Paper titled: "A Modulated White Light Interferometer forSensing Sub-Wavelength Structural Disturbances". Karl will also investigate a new High Resolution Si Position Sensor (HRSPS) developed by The University of New Mexico. Karl has been granted the use of prototype sensors, from UNM, for development and application to this project. Mr. Mike Meline will lead the effort as Program Manager and Principle Investigator. Mike has 20 years of experience with design, fabrication and test of fast steering mirrors, and has published several fundamental papers on beam steering mirror technology. Mike will guide the SVS team through the design trades and technology selections culminating in a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) by the end of Phase I of this effort.