Flash 3D Rendezvous and Docking Sensor, Phase II

With NASA's exploration initiative to return to Lunar Exploration and eventual human exploration of Mars, NASA has an increased need for an Autonomous Rendezvous and Docking (AR&D) solution. First generation rendezvous sensors used video guidance and required extensive human intervention and ground control. Data latency in these systems is problematic and has uncovered the need for an autonomous rendezvous and docking system. Scanning Ladar and stereo video have significant shortcoming and have not proven they can provide a solution to reduce the reliance on human interaction during proximity operations. ASC's Flash Ladar video cameras can provide the 6 Degree-of-freedom data in real time, not available in any other video system. Advanced Scientific Concepts Inc. (ASC) is a small business that has developed a number of 3D flash LADAR systems. Flash Ladar Video Cameras (FLVC) are 3D vision systems that return range and intensity information for each pixel in real time. The ASC camera with its 128x128 3D array is the equivalent of 16000 range finders on one chip. This allows the sensor to act as a 3D video camera with functionality well beyond just range finding. Its small size, low power and fast range data frame rate (30Hz) allows the sensor to be configured for a variety of rendezvous and proximity missions.

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.