Generic Electronics for Microbolometers

The objective of the Generic Electronics for Microbolometers (GEM) project is to provide the Government with the freedom to select the best uncooled Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) sensor for use in applicable missile seekers. Currently, proprietary interfaces restrict sensor selection for missile seeker systems. This issue limits healthy competition between vendors and increases risk. GEM is an innovative concept intended to provide the interface between the seeker electronics and any appropriate LWIR sensor.

AOS will transition parts of the SBIR work done as part of the NightOwl SBIR Phase II and the Rocketball Phase II Plus efforts into the GEM project. The objective of NightOwl was to develop a universal, inexpensive, optical testbed utilized in the lab evaluation of uncooled infrared detectors. This project was successful and the resulting testbed is in use by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM). For the Phase II Plus effort, AOS developed two prototype seekers based on requirements that allow the collection of uncooled infrared imagery at velocities representative of missile applications.

The GEM work plan is geared to develop a prototype circuit board set for interfacing different sensors into the Precision Attack Missile (PAM) seeker. The benefits of this effort would be directly applicable to seeker program objectives at AMCOM.