Title: Broad-Area Laser Awareness Sensor
Advance the patent-pending Broad-Area Laser Awareness Sensor (BALAS, Patent Application 17/337,837) technology from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 Concept Demonstrated Experimentally' to TRL 4 Key Elements Demonstrated in Laboratory Environment' by designing, integrating, and demonstrating a fast (nanoseconds) trigger to latch transient data.
Background information:
National Technologies and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS) has demonstrated the core component of a novel laser warning technology, the Broad-Area Laser Awareness Sensor (BALAS), enabled by over $23M of prior and ongoing investment by the Department of Energy (DOE). Essentially a vehicle-facing giga-frame-per-second pixelated imager coupled to a time-of-flight image processing module, BALAS monitors a broad surface for pulsed laser strikes and computes direction to the source. BALAS itself need not be struck; it detects laser light scattered from the monitored surface. Of the area-monitoring laser warning sensors listed in the 2017 Janes catalog, BALAS appears to be most like BAE Systems PA7030, which we infer likewise detects laser light scattered from the target.
BALAS reveals direction to the laser source, has broadband response, and the underlying detector technology is radiation-hardened an important advantage in potential spacecraft application.
Opportunity Description:
NTESS is seeking collaboration with industrial partners who have proven experience developing laser warning sensors. The collaboration has one technical and one partnership goal.
The technical goal is to advance BALAS from TRL 3 Concept Demonstrated Experimentally' to TRL 4 Key Elements Demonstrated in Laboratory Environment' by designing and integrating the missing component a photodetector and trigger circuit fast enough (nanoseconds) to latch transient data on its unique focal-plane array (FPA). Whereas concept demonstration avoided the need for a trigger circuit by contriving experimental conditions, advancement to TRL 4 requires integration of a latching trigger to the existing or modified FPA read-out integrated circuit (ROIC).
The partnership goal is an enduring business relationship wherein the industrial partner builds and markets BALAS laser warning sensors based on FPA IP developed at NTESS.
Qualified respondents will, collaboratively with NTESS engineers, design the photodetector and trigger circuit and its interface to the focal-plane array timing and control circuitry. The circuit will likely need to interface at the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device level, so the qualified respondent preferably has experience with CMOS design. The technical goal includes fabricating and integrating the trigger circuit and demonstrating successful latch.
What NTESS Brings to the Collaboration:
NTESS designs and collaboratively manufactures the radiation-hardened giga-frame-per-second focal-plane arrays serving DOE's fusion research and high-energy-density physics missions. NTESS brings to the table decades of experience designing and producing CMOS components and similarly long experience designing and building optical remote sensing systems. The CMOS production line at NTESS is suitable for fabricating and integrating a prototype of the trigger circuit, and on-site laboratories are equipped to demonstrate latching.
Information Sought:
We seek a detailed description of relevant background experience, expertise, and capabilities that an industrial partner could bring into a collaborative partnership with NTESS. The following information is requested:
- A description of the industry partner's experience, expertise, and capabilities in high-speed integrated circuit design and development of fast (nanoseconds) digital and FPA circuit designs.
- A brief profile of the company emphasizing laser warning receiver products, if any.
- A description of relevant experience, expertise, and capabilities that the industry partner feels distinguishes their firm.
- A description of past experience partnering with Research and Develop organizations such as Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC), Universities, National Laboratories, or Government Laboratories to develop and implement sensors or circuits.
- Additional relevant information that may enhance NTESS's understanding of industry partner's goals for the collaboration.
Instructions to Respondents:
Interested industrial partners that meet the Mandatory Requirements provided below are invited to respond to this FBO. Any information provided in response to this FBO will not be returned. Any and all responses are voluntary and NTESS will not pay for any information in response to this FBO. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Responses should be emailed to rtwilso@sandia.gov and should include the FBO title and submitting organizations name in the subject line. Attachment sizes should not exceed 5 MB and only the following document types will be accepted (.doc, .docx, .pdf). Responses should be submitted electronically no later than 5:00 PM MST on Monday, February 28, 2022.
Evaluation Criteria:
NTESS will evaluate all the responses and select prospective parties with which to engage in further discussion based upon the following criteria, pursuant to NTESS Technology Transfer mission (more than one respondent may be selected):
Mandatory:
- Meet the DOE requirement of enhancement or accrual of economic and technological benefits to the U.S. domestic economy through the technology transfer
- Required by DOE in the Technology Transfer Act of 1989.
- A U.S. or NATO firm able to enter into a CRADA agreement with NTESS to develop the BALAS technology.
- A description of the industry partner's experience, expertise, and capabilities in design and development of fast (nanoseconds) photodetector and trigger circuits.
- Demonstrate a willingness and ability to partner for BALAS technological advancement and future production and marketing.
- The terms of the partnership must comply with Federal Export Control requirements per the Department of State
- This is embodied in the regulations in USC: Title 22 Foreign Relations and the DOE Prime Contract #DE-NA0003525
Desired:
- Demonstrated experience, expertise, and capabilities in:
- Design and development of fast (nanoseconds) photodetector and trigger circuitry for integration to CMOS timing and control circuitry.
- Production and marketing of laser warning sensors
- Demonstrated successful collaborative relationships with R&D organizations
- Experience partnering to advance technology from TRL 3 to TRL 4.
- A partner able to provide funds into NTESS to dedicate select NTESS staff to collaborate in designing, building, and demonstrating the trigger circuit.
NTESS may select a pool of industrial partners collectively spanning the mandatory and desired criteria.
Primary Point of Contact:
Richard T. Wilson
CRADA Specialist
Sandia National Laboratories
Email: rtwilso@sandia.gov
Keywords
Laser warning receiver; laser warner; laser threat; laser warning receiver; LWR; off-axis laser detection; threat warning equipment; TWE
