Draft_SOW.pdf

Request for Information: N00173-18-R-SE03

Statement of Work

TNWAS Program

Research and Development for Airborne-sensor System

Objectives

The objectives of the overall TNWAS program are to build, integrate, and test an airborne-sensor system which provides a unique capability for conducting precise, high-resolution day/night surveillance of large areas, in a configuration meeting the extremely tight size, weight, and power constraints of the Navy/USMC Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS) aircraft.

This contract completes and integrates the products of several prior development efforts, described below, enabling delivery of the completed TNWAS system.

Background

Under contract N00173-12-C-6020, the contractor developed the Tactical Infrared Night Surveillance System (TNWAS) infrared sensor, which will operate in conjunction with an NRL-developed video processor to make up the full TNWAS airborne surveillance system. Some major components of the sensor were provided as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) from other programs: the optics and Pointing Mirror Assembly (PMA), from ONR’s UltraWide Optics program, and the Integrated Dewar/Cooler Assembly (IDCA) from ONR’s 8K Focal Plane Array program. Sensor development culminated in a successful static ground-based demonstration of the sensor’s basic imaging capability, conducted in December 2017.

This contract will fund the effort required to implement those remaining aspects of sensor capability which are needed to support airborne operation. Briefly, these added capabilities include:

stabilization of the sightline against effects of platform motion and vibration;

precise measurement of sightline direction, to support geolocation of ground objects; and integration of the sensor with the NRL processor.

Following completion of these tasks, the contractor will support demonstrations of the integrated system in dynamic ground (truck-based) testing, and airborne testing.

Government-Furnished Equipment and Information

All effort will be performed on the single TNWAS sensor developed to date by Sonoma Electro- Optics (SEO) and L-3 SSG. The government has not yet taken delivery of this equipment, however, it will need to be transferred from N00173-12-C-6020. The Government will continue to make the equipment available for the contractor’s use at his facilities and approved test sites in performance of this effort. Additionally, the contractor may and should use applicable residual assets previously acquired for use in this development effort. Finally, the Government assumes the contractor will utilize any information he developed on this effort to date, and will make available applicable information which it controls from the above-referenced contributing developments.

Information Access Requirements

Contractors who require access to other than public release information in conjunction with this contract must be US citizens with a completed NACLC.

Requirements

This effort is to be conducted in two phases, with successful completion of the first stage a precondition for performance of the second. The first phase involves completion of all capability enhancements needed for successful airborne operation, but concludes with ground-based testing. Phase 1 represents the base portion of the contract. Contingent on successful ground demonstration of the capability enhancements, the second phase continues into aircraft integration and flight testing of the integrated system. Phase 2 should be exercisable as a contract option. Specific work to be accomplished in each phase is as follows:

Phase 1 – Capability enhancement and ground-based testing

Phase 1 focuses on achieving the capability to collect high-quality imagery and to determine sightline pointing direction while operating in a dynamic, mobile ground environment. It will demonstrate end-to-end optical and sightline stabilization performance via a truck-borne test, operating while being driven around in a location near the contractor’s facility. Specific tasks include:

Integration and performance optimization of the (2) sightline stabilization servo loops and related sightline measurement provisions, including any required dynamic balancing;

Completion of the L-3-developed TNWAS Sensor Controller (TSC) computer, and completion of its software to fully implement communication with the NRL Payload System Computer (PSC), in accordance with the TSC-to-PSC interface control document; and

Completion of sensor packaging and other minor tasks as required to bring the sensor to its final configuration suitable for ground and airborne field testing.

Following completion of sensor fabrication, the contractor will support truck-based testing by:

Performing a lab vibration test using an in-house electro-dynamic shaker while viewing a target through the associated 200" collimator, to verify performance prior to field testing;

Installing the sensor along with the NRL Processor and any required support provisions such as power supply and/or cooling arrangements in a suitable truck to allow system operation while moving; and

Participating in measurements and analysis of quantitative performance aspects such as Ground Sample Distance, Relative Edge Response, and sightline direction measurement to demonstrate the level of sensor capability needed to meet the TNWAS program’s Exit Criteria performance levels (furnished previously). (While actual validation of Exit

Criteria performance can only be done in-flight, ground-based testing can provide strong indications of the sensor’s ability to provide the required performance.)

It’s anticipated that truck testing will occur at a hillside location near the contractor’s facility.

The system will be used to image an NRL-provided resolution target as well as target scenes of opportunity at appropriate ranges from the sensor. Image collection and storage will be done using both the contractor’s image capture computer and the NRL Processor’s image storage means. Following an initial checkout period during which the sensor is verified to be performing satisfactorily, image data will be collected over at least one full day of operation, to include nighttime operation, under reasonably clear weather conditions, to document achieved sensor performance.

Following testing, the contractor shall participate with NRL on the reduction and analysis of image data collected in the lab and field. To support the analysis, the contractor and NRL shall exchange copies of all recorded image data which may contribute to the analysis (note that this may require the exchange of several terabytes of data, for which commercial off-the-shelf multi-terabyte storage units shall be procured.) Analysis results shall compare achieved with predicted and required performance, and shall be reported in viewgraph format, with accompanying text descriptions as required to clarify complex topics.

In this phase, the contractor will also measure the power consumption, weight, 3-axis center-of-gravity location, and size of the TNWAS sensor in its final configuration, and compare them to the requirements flowed down from the relevant Exit Criterion.

Phase 2 – Flight Testing

This Phase focuses on supporting the integration of the sensor into an aircraft platform for flight testing, support of the sensor during testing, and participation in post-flight sensor data analysis.

Note that, although multiple flight test platforms may be used, the contractor’s involvement is expected to be minimal following the first successful integration and flight demonstration, with subsequent installation(s) handled by NRL; an exception would occur if the sensor experiences a failure during either normal operation or the safety-of-flight (SOF) testing discussed below.

Four aspects of sensor operation may require attention during this phase:

The overall system will be operated remotely, over data links, rather than “hands-on” as previously (while this change is primarily NRL’s responsibility, some TSC updates may be required);

System geolocation performance will be measurable, and sensor sightline measurement may need reoptimization to meet requirements while operating in the actual platform motion environment;

Sensor sightline stabilization (i.e. jitter control) may need reoptimization to avoid image blurring while operating in the platform’s vibration environment; and

The sensor must operate satisfactorily in the platform’s thermal environment.

Additionally, the sensor will undergo safety of flight (SOF) testing to determine its capability to operate in the test platform’s shock/vibration/electromagnetic environment. This testing may subject the sensor to forces near the limits called out in the original environmental specifications.

Any breakage or deficiency resulting from these tests shall be repaired appropriately to prevent recurrence.

The contractor shall coordinate with NRL and the operators of the selected test platform to address sensor issues that may arise during integration with the platform. The contractor shall be available to provide support as required during flight testing, although minimal support should be required except in the event that failures or deficiencies are uncovered during testing.

Depending on the expected level of contractor involvement, airborne testing may occur near the contractor’s facility, or at another location; selection of an alternate location would be based on consideration of factors such as aircraft operating expenses and suitable venues for arranging targets of interest.

As in Phase 1, the contractor shall participate with NRL on the reduction and analysis of data collected in flight. Imagery and ancillary data will be recorded on the NRL Processor, and selected portions will be provided to the contractor to assist in analysis.

If any change to the sensor or its mounting provisions could produce a change in size, weight, and/or power consumption, the contractor shall remeasure the affected value(s) prior to sensor delivery.

Deliverables

Phase 1

Measurements and analysis to show power, weight and size compliance with system requirements

Performance data and analysis for in-house testing including imaging performance under vibration

Collected image data (exchanged with data collected by NRL)

Pictures illustrating indoor and outdoor test setups and ambient conditions, as well as 3rd party ambient environmental data for outside testing

Image and data analysis updating models to verify compliance with ground sample distance, modulation transfer function, and sightline measurement requirements

Phase 2

Measurements and analysis to show power, weight and size compliance with system requirements (if changed from Phase 1)

Pictures illustrating indoor and outdoor test setups and ambient conditions, as well as 3rd party ambient environmental data for outside testing

Image and data analysis updating models to verify compliance with ground sample distance, modulation transfer function, and geolocation requirements

The completed TNWAS sensor system

Residual equipment procured or fabricated under the TNWAS program, except for equipment which the contractor and NRL agree should be retained by the contractor

Drawing depicting the installation of the TNWAS sensor in the Insitu “CG Bay” housing

Summary final report and documentation comparing performance of the as-built TNWAS sensor with design specifications