Month: June 2021

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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate to participate in Phase II of the DHS Small Business Innovation Research Program. PSI will develop a deep-learning based classification algorithm for detection and classification of trace explosives, opioids and narcotics on surfaces for optical spectroscopic systems.

PSI’s sensor-customizable algorithm will be trained using a module consisting of a standard desktop CPU and GPU for accelerated training times. The algorithm will be deployable on a smaller, hardened operational module containing a single-board computer with low SWAP that can be integrated with a spectrometer system. The algorithm uses a one-dimensional convolutional neural network architecture (1D-CNN) that is trained using synthetic data produced by a data injector model to negate the need for a large data collection effort.

During this program, PSI will extend the algorithms capabilities from infrared (IR) reflectance spectroscopy to include Raman spectroscopy. Feasibility of the algorithm was established in a previous program though demonstrations of training models using synthetic IR data produced by the injector, and achieving classification accuracies >90% against evaluation data sets comprised of real spectra and synthetic spectra.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Jay Giblin
Group Leader, Exploitation Technologies
jgiblin@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

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Physical Sciences Inc (PSI) has been awarded a contract by the US Army to develop the Low-Shot Object Tracking and Targeting (LOTT) system that integrates state-of-the-art machine-learning object detection and tracking capabilities with IR and visible imaging sensors utilizing “low-shot” training techniques.

PSI’s LOTT algorithms will enable the detection, characterization, and tracking of an easily-updated target set of objects in the complete 360 degree environment around modern, instrumented combat vehicles. These algorithms will be optimized for and demonstrated on embedded processing platforms. The LOTT algorithms will fuse all available, stationary and slewable, single-channel and multi-spectral, IR and visible EO imaging systems into a complete situational awareness view. This capability will leverage an existing, PSI-developed object detection and tracking framework for visible EO cameras that executes on low SWaP embedded platforms, but expands this framework to operate in the IR. The system will assist Soldiers in detecting and prioritizing threats, and provide reliable tracking output to enable slewable sensors to maintain targeting on selected objects. PSI’s development will maximize the effectiveness of deployed and planned sensor systems while minimizing associated operator burden. LOTT technology will also provide contextual video analysis for sensor fusion in our radiation detection products, the commercially-available MURS and OWL systems.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Bogdan Cosofret
Vice President, Detection Systems
cosofret@psicorp.com

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release, distribution unlimited
This material is based upon work supported by the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate under Contract No. W909MY21C0010
Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate.

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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), has received a contract award from the Naval Air Warfare Center to develop and demonstrate a low cost, accurate, and single-use aiming device for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) disrupters.

Current low cost aiming devices requires the removal of the device before firing, affecting the aim of the disrupter and tends to become damaged after firing due to the high recoil forces. PSI plans to overcome the shortcomings of current aiming devices without sacrificing the low cost by developing a single-shot aiming device that will allow for the disrupter to be aimed and fired simultaneously. The device will wrap around any disrupter barrel size from 1 to 6 inches. The device will achieve an accuracy of under 1 inch from the intended target at a 50-foot distance in both day and night conditions, allow for an installation of the device in under 30 seconds with no tools required, and function at a wide range of operating conditions exceeding current state-of-the-art aiming devices.

PSI’s aiming device will allow for reduction in costs by reducing material costs and labor hours required for ordnance disposal. The ability to use the aiming device while firing will significantly increase the accuracy of the disrupter and reduce the number of shots necessary to properly dispose of an explosive ordnance. The technology will be transitioned to federal (Joint Service Explosive Ordnance Division) and state governments (bomb squads, etc.) for EOD operations.
For more information, contact:

Dr. Jeffrey Wegener
Group Leader, Propulsion and Energetics

jwegener@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with University of Michigan, has been awarded a contract from the Naval Air Warfare Center to design, develop, and demonstrate a rotating detonation combustor (RDC) for gas turbine engine augmentors.

This program advances a novel combustor design based on a unique geometric approach that addresses the stability and efficiency issues that have prevented RDCs from reaching performance metrics predicted by theory. Flow uniformity is improved in the combustor and the combustor exit by decreasing pressure fluctuations and discontinuities. The integrated combustor and combustor exit geometry allows this innovation to be used for RDC-based pilot detonation for augmentors or for a full detonation RDC-based augmentor. PSI has previously demonstrated the performance benefits of this technology in ground-based rotating detonation rocket engine firings up to 200 lbf of thrust.

PSI’s rotating detonation combustor (RDC) technology allows for both small and large engine sizes to be realized. This enables RDCs to be used in augmentors for aircraft engines as well as weapons applications. The technology can also be adopted for ramjet engines and rockets, both of which can achieve an increase in specific impulse and range in comparison to the baseline system. The use of this technology for rocket propulsion systems creates a transition path for commercial markets, while applications in ramjet and gas turbine engine systems are being pursued in defense markets.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Jeffrey Wegener
Group Leader, Propulsion and Energetics

jwegener@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop integrated optical frequency shifters to enable Quantum-memory Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (QWDM).

PSI’s approach will enable the connection of multiple quantum memory registers across a free-space or fiber optical channel, increasing the bandwidth of near-term quantum networks by 10–100×. As many optical quantum memories operate at a single wavelength, we cannot readily apply wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) techniques to increase the bandwidth of a quantum link. To overcome this challenge, PSI will utilize high-efficiency frequency shifters at the transmitter to shift the output photon from each quantum-memory register within a memory unit onto a separate wavelength channel, which can then be combined using WDM techniques. These results, in conjunction with an architecture-design that can efficiently shift and route photons between quantum memory registers, will pave the way for the creation of highly-scalable quantum networks using QWDM.

The development of quantum communications and networks are key technologies to enable secure communication, sensor arrays, and quantum computer networks. PSI’s technology will enable wavelength-division multiplexing for quantum communications and networking, greatly increasing the bandwidth of free-space or fiber links for quantum memories as well as for single- and entangled-photon sources.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Joel Hensley
Vice President, Photonics
hensley@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

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PSI-lead Team Selected by the DoD Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Office To Demonstrate Pilot Scale Extraction, Separation, and Refinement of Critical Minerals from Domestic Ponded Coal Ash Resources

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), with our partners Southern Company Services (SCS), Winner Water Services, and Neo Performance Materials, has been awarded a $4.1M, 30 month program to demonstrate extraction, separation, and refinement of rare earth elements (REEs) from over 50 tons of ponded coal ash from Plant Gorgas, near Birmingham, AL. Southern Company subsidiaries maintain several coal ash surface impoundments containing material rich in rare earth elements and other critical minerals in AL and neighboring states. SCS’s collaboration with the PSI team represents a significant demonstration of scaling production of rare earth elements, and other critical minerals, from this valuable domestic resource.

Using a pilot scale facility designed, constructed, and operated by Winner Water Services, based on PSI-patented extraction technology, over 12 kg of mixed rare earth oxide (REO) concentrate will be produced and used for further refinement and separation of selected REOs/REEs. This program is a critical step in the establishment of a fully domestic supply chain for these critical minerals and is expected to lead to larger scale engineering demonstration and commercial plant facilities.

For more information, please contact Mark Allen, Executive Vice-President of R&D for PSI – allen@psicorp.com