The Department of Defense, specifically the Army, is seeking proposals for the development of a Meta Lens Solar Compass (MLSC) through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The objective is to design and prototype a solar compass that utilizes recent advancements in meta lens technology to enhance performance while reducing weight and cost compared to traditional solar compasses. This innovative technology aims to simplify the design of optical sensors used for celestial navigation, providing accurate azimuth information for geo-locating objects at extended ranges. Interested vendors can submit Direct to Phase II proposals for up to $2,000,000 over a 24-month period, with applications due by June 25, 2025. For further details, interested parties can refer to the solicitation documents available at the provided links.

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Advanced Materials; Microelectronics; Integrated Sensing and Cyber OBJECTIVE: Recent advancements in meta lens technology show promise for reducing the size and cost of optical sensors used for daytime (solar) celestial navigation. This topic’s objective is to design and prototype a solar compass that leverages meta lens technology to increase performance while reducing weight and cost. DESCRIPTION: Traditional solar compasses often require multiple optical elements, which cause them to be bulky and complex. The meta lens, being a single-element structure, could simplify solar compass design while still performing as well or better than traditional lenses for celestial compass applications. Product Manager, Soldier Precision Targeting Devices (PdM SPTD) has funded the development of a prototype meta lens by Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Lab (JHU/APL). Upon award of the SBIR contract, six samples of the prototype lenses can be provided by JHU/APL to the vendor to execute this effort, along with technical documentation on the design. When the sun is visible and unobscured, the meta lens solar compass (MLSC) will provide accurate azimuth information to precisely geo-locate objects at extended ranges. The MLSC will increase accuracy, reduce system weight, and lower cost compared to traditional multi-element refractive fish-eye objective lens assemblies. PHASE I: This topic is accepting Direct to Phase II proposals for a cost up to $2,000,000 for a 24-month period of performance. Proposers interested in submitting a DP2 proposal must provide documentation to substantiate that the scientific and technical merit and feasibility equivalent to a Phase I project has been met. Documentation can include data, reports, specific measurements, success criteria of a prototype, etc. (DIRECT TO) PHASE II: The desired outcome is for the vendor to design, demonstrate, and deliver two solar compasses utilizing meta lens technology. Interested companies must show that they currently have a foundational experience base into celestial compass systems and components, by having integrated a celestial compass into a targeting system (at least into a prototype targeting system). A working knowledge of the key aspects of celestial compass system such as optical design, digital image processing, computational algorithms, micro-processor, and other support electronics is a necessity in order to be considered for award. While the MLSC could have many applications, this SBIR has a specific potential application for incorporation into an army system. The MLSC must obtain azimuth solutions without reorientation The azimuth requires high accuracy measured as the root-mean-square (RMS) of data taken over all headings, and with a specific solar elevation angle. “Error Modeling and Testing of Celestial Compass Equipped Precision Targeting Systems,” 3 November 2015 highlights the difficulty of obtaining a high accuracy solar celestial solution over the operational temperature range. This document is Distribution A (Approved for Public Release) but is not available in a public forum. A request for this document can be made by contacting nakia.s.ewing.ctr@army.mil. It is acceptable to base the MLSC on the existing meta lens prototype previously funded by PdM SPTD, samples of which can be provided upon award as noted above. Proposers are not precluded from developing their own design of a meta lens. The purpose of this effort is to develop a complete MLSC ready for transition into an army system and other applications. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: • Consumer electronics: Electronics ranging from smart phones and wearables leverage similar enabling technologies. • Scientific Research: Similar optical technologies are used in tools like microscopes. • Healthcare: Like the above, the enabling technologies are used in healthcare sensing technologies and health IT equipment REFERENCES: 1. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c02783 2. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.0c00479 KEYWORDS: Meta lens; solar compass; celestial compass; azimuth determination; handheld targeting system; far target location; forward observer; geolocation; celestial navigation

Meta Lens Solar Compass (MLSC)

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