An investigation will be conducted to identify candidate materials and technologies to enable the design and feasibility analysis of a computer-controlled remotely operated thermal bar target. Thin film heaters and transonic air flow chambers will be among the technologies considered for providing heating and cooling capacities required to enable the proposed device to function at a level suitable for supporting field and flight captive thermal sensor testing. The requirements for the prospective device are as follows: (1) Frontal dimensions 3mx3m (not including a 1m border), (2) The capability of presenting a variable number of target bars, (3) The ability to change the relative orientation of the bars from horizontal to vertical, (4) The capability to maintain target operating temperatures ranging from 1.5 to 10.0 Deg. C above the amient background temperature, (5) A total physical and thermal configuration response time of two minutes or less, (6) A stable 0.2 Deg. C thermal control precision over the entire operating range of the target, and (7) Remotely located computerized monitoring and control of the target.
Benefits: Successful Phase I efforts will serve to analytically and experiementally identify the materials and methodologies necessary for the further development of a test-quality infrared bar target with the above described attributes. Such a device would prove valuable for early program proof of principle testing as well as periodic checkup of on-line systems. Due to its utility and flexibility of configuration, it would be employable by any Government organization undertaking infrared sensor testing and may be adaptable for use in the calibration of Satellite IR sensors.
