Secure Communicating Optical Ultra-Small Transponder (SCOUT)
Developer: Boston Micromachines Corporation
The U.S. Army is funding the development of a new combat
identification device that will be able to warn dismounted soldiers, pilots, tank gunners or
missile operators as they aim their weapons on friendly troops. The new
system will identify between Friend and Foe (IFF) utilizing a low-power
active optical device that can be patched on the uniform, helmet or
around the vehicle's sides.
The patches will respond to an incoming coded infrared aiming laser
system, modulating the reflected beam with their
unique IFF code. Slightly larger than a matchbox the ultra-low power
transponder will be located on the IFF patch and will establish reliable
battlefield identification between friendly ground forces at all ranges
where lasers are effective (up to 10kilometers). The device will also enable secure and
covert ground- and air-based communication among soldiers and
vehicles. SCOUT technology is under development at the MEMS specialist
Boston Micromachines Corporation and research partner Boston University,
under a first phase US$100,000 Small Business Technology Transfer
Program. The program is scheduled to mature over the next 12 months and
be ready for implementation in within two years.
The device, known as "Secure Communicating Optical Ultra-small
Transponder" (SCOUT) will utilize Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS)
based modulated "active mirror", which will be activated by a coded
incoming laser and reflect the beam back to the source, modulated with
its unique identification code. SCOUT compatible lasers will be
implemented as upgrades for current laser rangefinders and designators,
thus offering seamless integration to existing systems. SCOUT technology
promises to extend beyond Identify Friend or Foe (IFF), to include
situational awareness, covert communication and reading from remote
sensors such as bio-weapon detector and motion trackers.
The device has several inherent advantages. First, unlike RF
transmitters, SCOUT does not send an omni-directional signal but instead
directs an optical signal along a narrow path which is not spotted by
conventional laser detection systems, increasing security and stealth
with minimal power consumption. Second, since all optical energy comes
from the source, SCOUT requires no on-board transmission power.
The Active Mirror technology uses a deformable mirror surface to
modulate and reflect light through a simple optic, returning the beam to
its point of origin. The heart of the system is a wavefront control
device, which consists of a mirror membrane supported by an underlying
actuator array. Each actuator in the array can be individually deflected
by electrostatic actuation to achieve the desired pattern of
deformation. SCOUT will implement standard bulk micromachining (CMOS) production technologies to reduce
production and acquisition costs.More news -
September 6, 2006
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Armored Fighting Vehicles