Gradient Index Optics at DARPA

TLDR: In 2008, DARPA initiated the Manufacturable Gradient Index Optics (M-GRIN) program to address the development of low-cost, customizable GRIN-based optics for use in a variety of military systems as mentioned in this paper.

Abstract: : The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is interested in developing optical materials and related technologies to meet the challenge of cost-effective, reproducible, large-scale manufacturing. Modern optical systems have many individual lens elements and are often complex, bulky, and heavy. In 2002, DARPA initiated the Bio-Optic Synthetic Systems (BOSS) program, which was aimed at simplifying complex optical sensors. The goal of the program was to understand and synthesize the components of a biologically inspired vision system that would demonstrate a level of performance beyond standard optical imaging systems, with reduced size and complexity. Under the BOSS program, DARPA focused its interest on the nanolayer GRIN lens technology. Out of more than a dozen exploratory efforts, four were selected for further development and demonstration: fluidic adaptive zoom lenses, foveated imaging, photon sieves, and nanolayer lenses. However, limited manufacturing capabilities still hindered the practical applications of GRIN lenses. In 2008, DARPA initiated the Manufacturable Gradient Index Optics (M-GRIN) program to address the development of low-cost, customizable GRIN-based optics for use in a variety of military systems. This document briefly outlines the history of optical instruments, addresses bio-inspiration in optics (relying on exploiting what has been developed by nature) and nanolayer GRIN lens technology, and concludes with a discussion of the M-GRIN program.