Bodkin Design Receives SBIR Funding to Develop Low Background Temperature Differential Blackbody for Infrared Reconnaissance
NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS April 24, 2013
Bodkin Design & Engineering, LLC (BD&E) has received a $150,000 SBIR award from the U.S. Air Force to develop calibration equipment for airborne nighttime reconnaissance cameras. The technology developed under this program may reduce costs and enhance the Air Force’s capabilities to simulate real-world environmental conditions during laboratory testing. Under this contract, BD&E will develop a scene simulator to conduct performance tests at background temperatures ranging from -40°C to 100°C.
In order to reduce the risk associated with expensive flight tests, ground test facilities are used to mimic operational conditions. Innovative approaches will be applied to create an infrared scene projector capable of producing realistic target simulations over a wide range of temperatures, particularly in the colder range. Hardware and techniques researched and refined under this contract have extensive military and commercial applications where broad temperature thermal characterization is required.
This nine month project is funded by the Small Business Innovation Research program (SBIR), a program established by the Small Business Administration Office to ensure that the nation’s small, high-tech, innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal government’s research and development efforts.
About Bodkin Design & Engineering
Bodkin Design and Engineering, LLC has been providing concept development, prototype design/build, and engineering services to commercial, military, and research communities since 1992. Headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts, BD&E holds contracts with the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Department of Homeland Security, National Aeronautic and Space Agency, and the Missile Defense Agency. In addition, BD&E has overseen the successful introduction of products ranging from miniature infrared cameras and spectrometers, to heavy equipment for railroad yards. To learn more, visit the website at www.bodkindesign.com.