Integrated Optical Processor
Abstract
The Integrated Optical Processor (IOP) program was designed to investigate the applicability of optical and hybrid opto-electronic approaches to near term surveillance platform processing requirements. The goal of the IOP is the exploitation of the inherent advantages in both optical and electronic technologies to deliver increased throughput with reduced size, weight, and power as compared to an all electronic implementation. As a target for technology insertion, the Enhanced Objective Airborne Warning and Control System (EOA-AWACS), a major upgrade to the AWACS platform, was identified as a likely candidate to benefit significantly from opto-electronic technology application. Since Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) will play a key role in improving the performance of AWACS, the Lincoln Labs Mountain Top STAP algorithm program was used for the IOP processor analysis model. Using a commercial off the shelf (COTS) approach, a system was designed to be amenable to use as an airborne real time STAP processor. Results are tabulated and documented which conclude COTS opto-electronic technology, which if implemented into an IOP design, would yield more than an order of magnitude improvement over an all electronic configuration in each volume weight power figure of merit category benchmarked.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA340422
Entities
People
- D. K. Sloper
Organizations
- Northrop Grumman