Tunable Nonlocal Metasurfaces for Edge Computing and Processing - SBIR Topic OSW26BZ04-DV011
Funding Amount:
$1,500,000
Deadline to Apply:
August 19th, 2026
Objective:
Design, fabricate and characterize tunable nonlocal metasurfaces that perform light-based pre-processing and computing functions on the edge, including Fourier operations, de-noising and object recognition, directly in the optical path of mid-wave infrared thermal-imaging systems under partially coherent illumination.
Description:
Current thermal-imaging systems rely heavily on digital post-processing to perform feature extraction and image processing, increasing latency, power consumption and system complexity.
Recent advances in nonlocal metasurfaces have demonstrated analog optical operations including spatial differentiation, edge detection and image filtering by engineering the optical response in momentum space. However, most prior demonstrations have been limited to coherent illumination in controlled laboratory environments and do not sufficiently address realistic partially coherent mid-wave infrared (MWIR) thermal-imaging conditions.
Novel devices are sought to operate directly in the optical path of thermal-imaging systems to perform front-end analog image processing and reduce the computational burden on downstream electronics.
Devices should be based on patterned metasurfaces using practical MWIR-compatible materials, including silicon, gallium arsenide or other high-index transparent dielectrics, suitable for scalable fabrication.
Offerors must address the effect of partial coherence on device performance and develop predictive design rules linking source coherence, transfer function, contrast, throughput, signal-to-noise ratio, and numerical-aperture compatibility.
Preference will be given to approaches providing broadband MWIR operation, low SWaP burden, and clear paths to integration in deployable sensing architectures.
Approaches enabling tunability at electro-optical speeds are of particular interest.
The successful team will design and demonstrate proof-of-concept devices under realistic illumination conditions.
PHASE I:
As this is a Direct-to-Phase-II (D2P2) topic, no Phase I awards will be made as a result of this topic.
To qualify, the Government expects the applicant(s) to demonstrate feasibility by means of a prior "Phase I-type" effort that does not constitute work undertaken as part of a prior or ongoing SBIR/STTR funding agreement.
In this effort, the applicant shall have designed and characterized nonlocal metasurface structures capable of at least one analog image-processing function, such as edge detection or spatial differentiation, at relevant infrared wavelengths, with simulation or experimental evidence linking unit-cell geometry to momentum-space transfer function.
Fabricated and bench-characterized prototype devices are strongly preferred.
A D2P2 award is requested because prior work has established the scientific basis and initial feasibility of nonlocal metasurfaces for analog image processing.
Prototype nonlocal metasurface devices have been successfully demonstrated to perform analog edge-detection functions at relevant wavelengths, with a defined transfer function and measurable contrast enhancement under controlled imaging conditions.
Awarding a Phase II SBIR would enable maturation of these concepts to tunable operation, MWIR-compatible materials, and system-relevant prototype demonstrations aligned with Air Force sensing and edge-computing needs.
PHASE II:
Awardee(s) will develop, fabricate, and test prototype MWIR nonlocal metasurfaces for analog image processing, refining system requirements in coordination with the topic's principal investigator.
The effort will encompass:
Development of a predictive simulation framework for partially coherent MWIR illumination.
Design of metasurface layouts compatible with relevant numerical apertures, bandwidth, and signal-to-noise requirements.
Fabrication using practical MWIR-compatible materials.
Experimental characterization benchmarked against modeled transfer functions.
Key metrics include:
Throughput.
Signal-to-noise ratio.
Bandwidth.
Isotropy or controlled anisotropy.
Numerical-aperture compatibility.
Robustness to partial coherence.
Tunable or multifunctional operation may be pursued as a secondary objective when consistent with timely delivery of a primary prototype.
It is expected that a fully integrated prototype system—comprising all custom hardware, software, modifiable/changeable code, and at least 5 devices—will be delivered to, installed, and demonstrated in a representative laboratory environment at AFRL.
This operational milestone and the delivery of all associated source code and technical documentation related to operating the prototype shall be completed no later than one quarter (three months) prior to the conclusion of the Phase II period of performance.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS:
Energy-directing and image-processing devices of this type have broad defense and commercial applications.
Military uses include:
Compact thermal-imaging systems.
Onboard edge preprocessing.
Low-latency feature extraction for airborne, spaceborne, and deployable platforms where SWaP-C reduction is critical.
Commercial applications include:
Thermal cameras.
Industrial inspection.
Machine vision.
Advanced infrared imaging modules.
Devices meeting the desired criteria would provide a considerable improvement over existing solutions and find widespread application in these areas.
Who will win?
If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.
Who is eligible to apply?
Any company that meets the following criteria:
For-profit company
U.S.-owned and controlled.
500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)
How Can BW&CO Help?
1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.
2) Proposal strategy and review.
3) Administrative & compliance support.
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