Fri, Nov 06, 2009
Third Phase Of DARPA Program Will Enhance Objects In Darker
Conditions
Goodrich has been tapped by the Defense Advanced Research
Project Agency (DARPA) to further develop its short wave infrared
(SWIR) imaging technology for enhanced night vision capability.
Under DARPA's Photon Counting Array (PCAR) program, Goodrich will
develop materials and circuitry to allow its small, lightweight
cameras to provide images under darker conditions than previously
possible. Work will be performed at Goodrich's ISR Systems business
in Princeton, New Jersey.
The selection represents the third phase of the PCAR program;
Goodrich completed the first two phases of PCAR from 2005 through
mid-2009, and demonstrated the technology's ability to produce
imagers that delivered less "noise," or random brightness
variation, allowing better identification of people under darker
night conditions. Phase three of the development program will
advance the technology's ability to provide crisp images under
no-moon conditions, providing greater human identification
capabilities as well as increased situational awareness of terrain
changes on the battlefield.
Ed Hart, vice president and general manager, Goodrich ISR
Systems in Princeton, said "Our work in the PCAR program will
further the capability of Goodrich's SWIR cameras, giving our
warfighters a great advantage on the battlefield. Going beyond
detection to identification is an urgent need, and we look forward
to developing and deploying this technology to many diverse
platforms."
SWIR technology detects reflected light at wavelengths that the
human eye cannot see, in wavelength bands between visible and
thermal cameras. The Goodrich system is extremely small and
lightweight; use of specialized indium gallanide arsenide (InGaAs)
materials and advanced circuitry allow it to run without cooling,
whereas other imaging devices in the SWIR band need cumbersome
power-hungry cooling systems.
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