Significant Optical Manufacturing Advancement

Advanced Optical Systems, Inc. (AOS) believes considering manufacturability in early designs of innovative electro-optical systems provides major benefits in affordability and reliability. The objective of the Significant Optical Manufacturing Advancement (SOMA) process is to develop and validate an improved method for manufacturing at least one class of electro-optical systems. The approach taken by AOS to accomplish this objective is as follows:

• Study DFA concepts and their application to precision optical systems
• Study the impact of optical components on system cost, assembly, and performance
• Apply DFA principles and validate with a baseline optical system.

AOS believes that the SOMA technology can be a significant contributor in a number of programs in the Navy’s future. The importance of manufacturing efficiency improvement efforts, such as SOMA, has been recognized by the Department of Defense. The National Defense Authorization Act for FY2006¹ includes several provisions impacting the SBIR program. One component is the incorporation of the 2004 Executive Order 13329², “Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing,” which promotes small manufacturing enterprises, into 15 U.S.C. 638 – the Small Business Act. This will lead to greater interaction between the Navy’s MANTECH and the SBIR program. With the SOMA project reaching Phase II status, it should be well positioned to take advantage of the changes in the coming few years.

The SOMA technology developed as part of this Phase II SBIR has transitioned to two separate Phase III efforts. The Biometric Corridor is a project funded through USMC Headquarters, Physical and Electronics Security Division. This project is a macroscopic implementation of the SOMA principles. The Biometric Corridor will demonstrate a facial recognition system that will simultaneously confirm the identities of several individuals walking through a well-defined corridor. The Modular Integrated Dewar Assembly project is an MDA Phase II Enhancement effort funded by MDA and Raytheon Missile Systems, Inc. This project focuses on designing a key component of a missile seeker such that it will be easy to manufacture, relatively inexpensive, and potentially modularized for use on multiple missiles.

¹ Krieg, K.J., “Memorandum on the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Program”, Department of Defense, USD-AT&L, June, 27, 2006. Retrieved on February 24, 2007 from http://sbc.senate.gov/republican/pdf/06.27.06%20Inquiry%20Response.pdf.

² Executive Order 13329, “Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing”, George W. Bush, February 24, 2004. Retrieved on February 17, 2007 from http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040224-6.html.