Dual Use Opportunities for EO Sensors zy - How to Afford Military Sensing zyx Paul F. McManamon Air Force Research Laboratory, Sensors Directorate, AFRL/SNJ Building 620,2241 Avionics Circle Wright -Patterson AFB, OH 45433-73 18 937-255-4039, ext. 4024 Mcmanapf@,sensors.wpaf%.af.mil High Bandwidth ABSTRACT There are many dual use opportunities for Electro-optical sensors. A number of EO sensors have already been transitioned from military development to commercial applications. Many more need to be transitioned for the military to be able to afford the sensing technology that it needs. The old paradigm was that the military developed what it needed and then produced it. Companies then exploited that development for commercial markets. The new paradigm will be that the military asks for participation from companies with commercial interests even in the development phase. In addition, the military will plan its developments to promote a volume manufacturing market as a method of getting production costs down to affordable values. This has to be carefully planned to preserve a military edge over potential adversaries. With rapid technical progress the military edge occurs simply because we are first to market" with the military hardware. In a slower technical development this edge is not enough. High Bandwidth INTRODUCTION A number of potential areas for cooperation between military and commercial interests in the Electro-optic sensing arena will be considered. These include: Co&munications Table 1. Military and Commercial Applications Pairings Cokmunications Military Commercial Wind Sensing Wind Sensing 1 Imaging through Monitoring & Chem. / bio detection Noninvasive Imaging in Clouds the body Hyperspectral IRCM 2D & 3D imaging Underground Tunnel detection Missile Seekers ,, detection Inexpensive IRCM Robotic Vision Oil / gas exploration Archeology Obstacle Avoidance Table 2. Military Applications of laser radar or laser radar like hardware Hard Target Detection I I Wind sensing I I Cloud mapping Ohstacle Avoidance - - - .- -. - . - - - . - Laser Communication ~. . Laser Designation FoliaEe / camouflage penetration 49 zyxwv U.S. Government work not protected by U.S. copyright