Miniature High-Performance Integrated Photonics Inertial Measurement Unit

We propose a radical new approach for to the design and fabrication of Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) that will meet the requirements for future NASA applications. The IMU is based on photonic Planar Light Circuit (PLC) technology and will implement a Multi-layer Integrated Silicon-photonics interferometric Optical Gyroscope (MiSOG). The MiSOG includes all the sensor’s optical elements in one small optical chip and enables the development of a 5 cube inches IMU that combines high-tactical grade performance (better than 0.2 deg/hr over temperature) with higher reliability, high level of robustness and lower cost. Such an IMU will provide the best performance in a compact, ruggedized configuration suitable for the future low weight and harsh radiation environments experienced by satellite and space exploration. The MiSOG based IMU will have more than an order-of-magnitude improvement in bias stability over temperature when compared to the highest performance commercially available MEMs in the same volume and is also inherently radiation hardened, vibration and shock hardened and is best suited technology for future NASA and DoD missions

Low cost, higher precision, high reliability and low weight and size inertial sensors are necessary components for future NASA applications that include the Artemis, Lunar Gateway, broader Moon2Mars missions, LEO satellites, CubeSats, small sats and complementary launch vehicles; Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and other planetary missions. The inherent solid state, ruggedized construction combined with radiation hardness offered by the on-chip implementation. Some other specific use cases include precision Pointing and Formation Flying Navigation (PPFFN) control (i.e. micro-Newton thrusters); difficult spacecraft docking, spacecraft landing operations; Relative and Proximity Navigation to support cooperative flight – precision positioning, trajectory determination, trajectory traverse and rendezvous with small bodies including Automated Rendezvous and Docking (AR&D); Coordinated lunar surface rovers (such as CADRE, etc.) that will communicate with other rovers and orbiting spacecraft; Equipment/systems that facilitate greater autonomous operations on the lunar surface and in spa The proposed MiSOG technology will result in the smallest volume better than tactical grade, vibration robust optical gyroscope on the market today. It enables new DoD applications that include missiles, self-guided ordinance and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)/drones, especially in areas where GPS is unreliable or jammed by an adversary; airborne PODs; line of site stabilizing weapons platforms; weapons designation; interceptor technology; turret stabilization; on soldier navigation and overall battlefield management, etc. Other non DoD applications include last-mile delivery robots and drones; other autonomous platforms like mining trucks and warehouse robots; robotic/autonomous systems used in harsh environment applications, including nuclear plant inspections at nuclear power plants and coal mines; down-hole mapping and navigation in the oil & gas industry; autonomous farming and construction equipment; industrial drones, robotics, etc. An increasing demand for offshore autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) in the energy and exploration industry presents new market opportunities as well.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.