Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      AF research will improve camera for targeting munitionsPublished March 7, 2015
                    
                    By Timothy Anderl
                    
                    
                    Air Force Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Program Office
            **WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) --**In order for an imaging munition to find and make its mark, a variety of information is required, including high-resolution video imagery. Future Air Force munitions will likely feature wide field-of-view (WFOV) imaging seekers that provide Air Force warfighters several advantages over using traditional imaging seekers, including improved capability and lower cost. The Air Force Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program office recently provided nearly $100,000 of additional funding for a SBIR effort that will give the warfighter a WFOV technology system. The objective of this SBIR Phase II follow-on contract is to address critical sub-system technologies in the WFOV system and its biologically inspired Artificial Compound Eye (ACE) optical technology. Spectral Imaging Laboratory, located in Pasadena, California, will use the additional funding to address the data acquisition hardware and software requirements needed for image acquisition and processing, maturing the technology for the WFOV Seeker Program. According to Dr. Nicholas Rummelt, an Air Force Research Laboratory researcher involved in the project, new ACE optical systems generate images from multiple sub-images that view different parts of the field-of-view, similar to the compound eye of an insect. Image processing is then required to seamlessly stitch together the sub-images and produce a smooth, easily read image. By implementing this processing within the camera system's data acquisition hardware, the video output quality improves significantly. "The WFOV seeker concept was originally inspired by insects such as bees which use the optic flow field to control their flight and navigate. So one of the advantages of having a WFOV seeker is the potential for GPS-denied navigation," Rummelt said. This program leverages more than $100,000 in additional AFRL project funds. These funds will help ensure the Phase II project graduates into a Phase III program that successfully transitions the technologies into military or private sectors. The Air Force SBIR and STTR programs are mission-oriented programs that integrate the needs and requirements of the Air Force through research and development topics that have military and commercial potential. The SBIR program was established by Congress in 1982, to fund research and development (R&D) through small businesses of 500 or fewer employees. The STTR program was established in 1992, to fund cooperative R&D projects with small businesses and nonprofit U.S. research institutions, such as universities. Since 2006, the Commercialization Readiness Program has directly linked Air Force centers to AFRL technical points of contact to identify and evaluate Air Force needs and innovative solutions. Its primary objective is to accelerate the transition of SBIR/STTR-developed technologies into real-world military and commercial applications. The Air Force SBIR and STTR programs provide more than $300 million in funding for research and development activities by small businesses annually. With this budget, the Air Force funds research from the early stages of concept development until it transitions to military or commercial use.Small Business Technology Transfer 



SBIR 



SBTT 



Wright Patterson AFB 



AFRL 



AFMC 



Small Business Innovation Research Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFB
                    
                    Allvin: Aligning Air Force’s approach is key to reoptimizing for Great Power Competition
                    
                    Air Force exercises two Collaborative Combat Aircraft option awards
                    
                    Air Force honors Airmen with 2024 Lance P. Sijan Leadership AwardInnovation
                AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAF
                    
                    Air Force researchers design, build, fly autonomous aircraft in 24 hours
                    
                    Project Arc: Delivering tailored innovations to 435th AGOW warfightersMAJCOM News
                Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
                    
                    Cope Tiger concludes in Thailand
                    
                    Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil