Quantum Imaging

*** NEW – March 21, 2023

An attachment has been added. The document contains an extension to the closing date related to the Challenge.

*Please note the ISC Website will be available on February 15, 2023 at 14:00 EDT

This Challenge Notice is issued under the Innovative Solutions Canada Program (ISC) Call for Proposals 003 (EN578-20ISC3). For general ISC information, Bidders can visit the ISC website.

Please refer to the Solicitation Documents which contain the process for submitting a proposal.

Steps to apply:

Step 1: read this challenge

Step 2: read the Call for Proposals

Step 3: propose your solution here

Challenge title: Quantum Imaging

Challenge sponsor: Department of National Defence (DND)

Funding Mechanism: Contract

MAXIMUM CONTRACT VALUE:

Multiple contracts could result from this Challenge.

Phase 1:

• The maximum funding available for any Phase 1 contract resulting from this Challenge is : $150,000.00 CAD excluding applicable taxes, shipping, travel and living expenses, as required.
• The maximum duration for any Phase 1 contract resulting from this Challenge is up to 6 months (excluding submission of the final report).
• Estimated number of Phase 1 contracts: TBD

Phase 2:

Note: Only eligible businesses that have successfully completed Phase 1 will be invited to submit a proposal for Phase 2.

• The maximum funding available for any Phase 2 contract resulting from this Challenge is : $1,000,000.00 CAD excluding applicable taxes, shipping, travel and living expenses, as required.
• The maximum duration for any Phase 2 contract resulting from this Challenge is up to 24 months (excluding submission of the final report).
• Estimated number of Phase 2 contracts: TBD

This disclosure is made in good faith and does not commit Canada to award any contract for the total approximate funding. Final decisions on the number of Phase 1 and Phase 2 awards will be made by Canada on the basis of factors such as evaluation results, departmental priorities and availability of funds. Canada reserves the right to make partial awards and to negotiate project scope changes.

Note: Selected companies are eligible to receive one contract per phase per challenge.

Travel

No traveling will be required in Phase 1.

Challenge Statement Summary

Department of National Defence is seeking an optical sensing technology solution to simultaneously improve the operational range, resolution, and acquisition time of eye safe, stealth, secure 3D active imaging systems.

Challenge Statement

The performance of a 3D active imaging system, often referred as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), is fundamentally based of the time resolved detection of reflected photons emitted by the LiDAR laser source. Active imaging system performance is a trade-off between emitted laser power, integration time and range. For defence applications, it is highly desirable to avoid detection while in operation by keeping the emitted laser power low. Laser safety is also a concern to address. We are looking for novel solutions that will improve detection sensitivity and range while emitting low power. Other parameters that are important for military applications include a high imaging rate (or refresh rate), the ability to operate in a variety of lighting conditions and the ability to see through obscurants.

Desired outcomes and considerations

Essential (mandatory) Outcomes

The proposed solution must:

1. Achieve a field of view of 1o (horizontal) by 0.2o (vertical) at a range of 1 km or more.

2. Achieve an axial resolution <10cm at a range of 1 km and a cross-axis resolution of 100µrad.

3. Detect a target with 50% reflectivity at 1 km or more.

4. Be portable: Each module must weigh less than 15 kg.

5. Be a modular system that can be disassembled and re-assembled within less than an hour.

6. Be able to operate in a variety of lighting conditions: (a) Daylight and night; (b) Clear sky, partly cloudy and cloudy.

7. Use a laser that is class 1 or class 2 according to the ANSI Z136.1 or IEC 60825-1:2014 laser safety standards.

Additional Outcomes

The proposed solution should:

1. Be able to operate in a variety of environmental conditions such as but not limited to dust, fog, or other obscurants.

2. Operate without cryogenic cooling from 0 oC to 40oC.

3. Detect targets with 10% reflectivity at 1 km or more.

4. Be able to operate with other laser sources pointing towards the system (resistant to dazzling and jamming).

Background and Context

Previous work has explored LiDAR and gated active imaging for object detection and 3D mapping. Current system performance is driven by the trade-off between laser power, time, and sensor sensitivity. DND is exploring quantum technologies to address this trade-off and to improve active imaging systems while using low laser power for safety, low probability of detection and to maintain a high imaging rate while avoiding being dazzled by the background illumination or other sources of light. Recent papers on single-photon detection/imaging and quantum LiDAR show possible improvements in laboratory environments. DND is looking at transitioning these technologies to the field to benefit Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces.

ENQUIRIES

All enquiries must be submitted in writing to TPSGC.SIC-ISC.PWGSC@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca no later than ten calendar days before the Challenge Notice closing date. Enquiries received after that time may not be answered.

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