The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has identified highly accurate but human-portable azimuth sensing as critical to the advancement of targeting and engagement capabilities. Precise location and designation of targets, coupled with precise aiming of weaponry, are crucial for success not only in conventional warfare but in asymmetric and urban conflict, particularly as light-armored and dismounted tactics are required. The key technology for achieving this precision is accurate azimuth and vertical angle sensing by the dismounted spotter and gunner operating under adverse conditions. In order to move forward in the development of this technology, DoD program/project management centers are coordinating their various efforts in order to seek a common solution for a human-portable azimuth and vertical angle measurement (AVAM) device. This announcement is a call for abstracts from the inertial sensing industry, academia, laboratories, and relevant developers that wish to make known to the DoD their ideas, concepts, technologies, experiences, and recommendations toward realization of a human-portable AVAM device. Each abstract submitted in response to this request will be for official use only (FOUO) and will not be shared among other submitters. Submitted abstracts shall not contain classified material. Arrangements can be made for classified material upon request. Furthermore, an abstract submitted in response to this call shall not be construed as a proposal for future developmental work, but only as a communication of information to the DoD. Based on the contents of the abstracts, submitters may be selected to individually and privately present to a DoD-only audience of program/project managers and engineers at the 2007 Joint Precision Azimuth Sensing Conference (JPASC). Other JPASC presenters/participants will be excluded from the individual presentations in order to maintain a level of confidentiality with respect to the potentially proprietary information of the presenter. Again, presentations shall not contain classified material. ABSTRACTS Submitted abstracts are at liberty to discuss some or all of the following issues related to human-portable AVAM technology: - technology solution(s), current and potential - accuracy considerations relevant for targeting and weapon aiming - setup/alignment time - suitability for difficult military environments including dismounted operations and weapon mounting - for applications in both GPS allowed and GPS denied environments - weight/size/power considerations - unit production cost considerations Of particular interest are novel and innovative approaches toward improving the current state-of-the-art. However, the contents of abstracts should correspond with what the submitters would present at the 2007 JPASC if selected. For purposes of guiding and focusing discussion, a preliminary list of desirable AVAM performance characteristics or goals follows: Near Term Performance Goals Key Parameter Azimuth Accuracy plus or minus 4 mils PE (see note below) Vertical Angle Accuracy plus or minus 2 mils PE (see note below) Orientation Angle Pitch: plus or minus 500 mils (approx. 30 deg) Bank: plus or minus 270 mils (approx. 15 deg) Slew Rate 30 degrees per second Set up Time less than 180 seconds Operational Temperature minus 40C to plus 70C Shock 40g per 11 ms Vibration MILSTD 810 min integrity Volume less than or equal to 50 cu in Weight less than or equal to 4.0 lbs Power less than or equal to 10 W Average Unit Production TBD Cost at FY07 dollars Long Term Performance Goals Key Parameter Azimuth Accuracy plus or minus 1 mil PE (see note below) Vertical Angle Accuracy plus or minus 1 mil PE (see note below) Orientation Angle Pitch: plus or minus 1511 mils (approx. 85 deg) Bank: plus or minus 500 mils (approx. 30 deg) Slew Rate 1000 degrees per second Set up Time less than 1 second Operational Temperature minus 40C to plus 70C Shock 2000g per 1.5 ms at weapon fire Vibration MILSTD 810 min integrity Volume lest than or equal to 0.25 cu in Weight less than or equal to 0.2 lbs Power less than or equal to 250 mW Average Unit Production TBD Cost at FY07 dollars Note: PE is defined as the magnitude of a deviation from a statistic that will be exceeded with probability of 0.50, or on half the occasions. For a normal distribution it is 0.6745 times the standard deviation. Azimuth capability must be achievable between 60 deg N/S Lat. Abstract submissions should be limited to one page in Microsoft Word format. A single-page cover letter should accompany the abstract. Submissions must be unclassified. Submissions will not be shared among the other submitters/participants. The abstract and cover letter should be submitted both electronically as an email attachment and in hard copy form to: Ms. Karin Chandler Coordinator, JPASC 2007 Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane) Code 6062 Bldg. 3395 300 Highway 361 Crane, IN 47522-5001 Email:
contact@example.gov Electronic submissions of abstracts are due by 20 July 2007. Submitters will be sent email confirmation of receipt of their submittals. Submitters selected for presentation at the 2007 JPASC will be subsequently notified. CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS If selected, presenters should describe their potential, recent, or ongoing developmental efforts in the area of human-portable AVAM, consistent with their abstracts. Presentation of late breaking results and work in progress is especially encouraged. Presentations will be limited to 30 minutes plus 15 minutes for questions. There may also be an opportunity for breakout sessions where presenters may be invited for in-depth discussions on their topic at the request of one or more of the government participants. IMPORTANT DEADLINES Abstract Submission: 20 July 2007, 1700 EDT Notification of Paper Acceptance: 3 August 2007 Conference Presentation Submissions: 20 August 2007, 1700 EDT Conference Dates: 05 to 07 September 2007 Conference Location: Embassy Suites Convention Center Las Vegas, NV
