Low Cost, Single Use Precision Aiming Device for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Disrupters and Tools

RT&L FOCUS AREA(S): Autonomy; General Warfighting Requirements TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Battlespace Environments; Ground / Sea Vehicles OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate a low cost, single shot, precision aiming device designed to fit onto multiple Explosive Ordnance Disposal Disrupters. DESCRIPTION: Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) disrupters and tools are used to remotely open or render safe a suspect item or improvised explosive device (IED). Current precision aiming systems utilize reusable lasers that are expensive and under certain recoil forces/conditions exhibit limited survivability. The EOD community has identified the need for a low cost, lightweight, precise aiming capability for one-time use (single shot) on a variety of disrupters and tools. The aiming capability should aim and hit a variety targets with different surfaces at a standoff distance threshold of 25 feet and objective of 50 feet. It should have an aim-spot accuracy of approximately 0.955 inches (the diameter of a U.S. quarter). The capability should be able to wrap around multiple disrupter/tool barrels with a threshold requirement of 1"-2" diameters and an objective requirement of 1"-6" diameters. Separate configurations to achieve the range of 1"-6" diameters is acceptable. Battery operation of the device is acceptable. A concept of employment that provides minimal setup time with no tools is preferred along with the smallest, lightest weight configuration. Operators should be able to see the aim-spot in daylight with their eyes and remotely through a camera interface. At night, the capability should be infrared (IR) or night vision compatible. Examples of evaluations and descriptions of some DoD, local and state bomb squad disrupters and laser aiming devices are provided in References (1) and (2). The innovation of this research is in the development of a precision aiming device that is one use, lightweight, low cost and capable of easy operator set up on multiple diameter disrupters and tools. Novel laser or non-laser solutions are acceptable. PHASE I: Define, develop and possibly validate the initial design concept for a low cost, single shot, precision aiming device. If requested, the Government can provide an inert 155mm round fuze as an exemplar validation target. Provide a final report of the initial work and results for the single shot precision aiming device, the concept of employment for the various disrupter sizes, a device cost forecast and Phase II implementation plan. PHASE II: Produce prototype hardware. Develop, demonstrate and validate the design. The Government can provide test opportunities on actual systems if the validation work is mature enough to enable a viable test. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Transition the device to the Joint Service Explosive Ordnance program. Manufacture a sufficient number of devices to support a statistically relevant field test validation and verification using a variety of disrupters. Additionally, the device could transition to use by state and local bomb squads. REFERENCES: U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Disrupters. System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER), June 2012. https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/EODDisrupters-SUM_0612-508.pdf U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Laser Aiming Devices for EOD Disrupters. System Assessment and Validation for Emergency Responders (SAVER), May 2013. https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/LaserAimingDevices-SUM_0513-508_0.pdf