DON26BZ01-NV017 TITLE: Bridge Environmental Light Pollution Mitigation and Control

OUSW (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Contested Logistics Technologies (LOG)

COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY PRIORITY AREA(S): Human-Machine Interfaces;Integrated Sensing and Cyber

PROJECTED CMMC LEVEL REQUIREMENT: Level 2 (Self)

OBJECTIVE: Develop and deploy a safe, sustainable technology suited for controlling light pollution, thereby reducing ambient light levels across a bridge environment and providing adequate situational task lighting at select workstations across the bridge.

DESCRIPTION: The Navy seeks a light mitigation technology for adequate situational lighting compliant with the Bridge Light Pollution Mitigation and Control Program (BLPM & CP). A comprehensive review of collisions involving U.S. Navy ships cited bridge lighting conditions as a possible contributing factor, stating the need to adhere to military standards for light producing displays and equipment installed on the bridges of surface combatant ships. The principal BLPM & CP’s objective is to resolve non-compliance of current bridge equipment and hardware with Military Standard MIL-STD-1472H, DOW Design Criteria Standard for Human Engineering [Ref 2]. Existing hardware often fails to satisfy requirements as outlined in the referenced standard (MIL-STD-1472H).

Light pollution mitigation efforts are necessary for all light producing technology installed on surface ship bridges/pilot houses. Reducing the undesirable effects of excessive or poorly designed lighting (i.e., light pollution) on night vision and bridge-watch stander performance will create greater situational awareness for crew members in a darkened bridge environment, therefore enhancing ship safety at sea.

The Navy seeks light mitigation technology for the bridge environment that complies with MIL-STD-1472H and enhances the effectiveness of all lights (e.g., screens, indicator lights, LED) during dark operations. This solution must also include a ruggedized work light that complies with free translation in three-dimensional space and free rotation on all three axes of rotation. There is currently no commercial technology that can meet this need.

The light should comply with all surface ship environmental standards regarding Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3), shock, vibration, and power quality and be able to produce light at the levels described in MIL-STD-1772H. The work light shall allow bridge watch standers to observe printed material at nighttime while still preserving night vision. A shipboard bridge work light must provide a focused beam of light with minimal glare, must be adjustable to direct light precisely where needed, and must offer the ability to control brightness levels with a cool color temperature to minimize eye strain while performing detailed tasks like reading or writing notes especially for crew members in a darkened bridge environment.

This scope of this effort includes all light emitting devices on the bridge, and is not limited to the following bridge systems:

• Navigation Radar

• Surface Search Radar

• Situational Awareness Radar

• Electronic Charting System

• Ship Control Consoles

• Voyage Data Recorder

• Bridge-to-bridge Radio

• Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (HM&E) Systems

• Damage Control Equipment/Displays

• Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) Systems Desired light mitigation solution parameters include but are not limited to:

• Overlay applications, easily applied to existing displays, requiring no special tools, equipment, hardware, fixtures, adhesives, tapes, or fasteners.

• Collapsible, foldable, stackable, and/or portable solutions to allow effective and easy storage when not in use.

• Various optical densities and sizes of Neutral Density filter material may be overlaid on displays.

• Solutions shall allow operator adjustment during application or installation.

• Temporary covers, fixtures, filters, shades, etcetera must not alter the original design characteristics nor interfere with normal operation of mitigated light emitting sources.

• Technology should not require external electrical power nor include additional electronic control systems or require any form of computer network connections.

• Solution shall not leave any adhesive residue behind on surfaces after removal.

• Mitigations may also include other formed caps to cover various instrumentations to reduce or eliminate light pollution associated with installed bridge equipment and other environmental light polluters.

• Solution must be able to withstand extreme environmental conditions (e.g., high humidity, persistent vibration, temperature below 40° degrees Fahrenheit, etc.).

PHASE I: Develop a concept for reducing ambient light levels across a bridge environment that meets the requirements outlined in the Description. Demonstrate the feasibility of the concept in meeting Navy needs and establish that the concept can be developed into a useful product for the Navy. Feasibility will be established via modeling or other means deemed appropriate. The Phase I Option, if exercised, will include the initial design specifications and capabilities description to build a prototype solution in Phase II.

PHASE II: Develop and deliver a prototype light pollution mitigation system. The prototype will be evaluated to determine capability in meeting the performance goals defined in the Phase I. Product performance will be demonstrated through evaluation, modeling, and demonstration over the required range of parameters. Prepare a Phase III manufacturing and development plan to transition technology for Navy use. Prototypes expected during Phase II must apply to indicators and systems. The Navy will measure the suitability and sustainability of prototype using the criteria outlined in the references.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support the Navy in transitioning the light pollution mitigation system to Navy use. Develop installation, maintenance, and operations manuals during deployment to support the transition to the fleet.

The potential for application beyond military use cases exists within the commercial shipping industries like commercial fishing, cruise lines, cargo transport, oceanographic exploration, and other seagoing operations involving the need for optimized crew performance on the bridges of large ships during darkened and nighttime conditions. There are many potential commercial applications for light pollution mitigation technology in inimical conditions.

REFERENCES:

1. "Request for Information - Shipboard Bridge Ruggedized Desk Lamp." Posting on System for Award Management, Sam.gov, Department of Defense, Department of Navy, NAVSEA HQ, 6 Jan. 2025. The details posted to this RFI, specifically items 1 & 2 under the Description heading, are to be used for informational purposes as a reference to this SBIR topic. sam.gov/opp/985a1859f2fe41b0ac5f5a514de24964/view
2. "MIL-STD-1472H, Department of Defense Design Criteria Standard: Human Engineering (15-SEP-2020)." https://quicksearch.dla.mil/qsDocDetails.aspx?ident_number=36903
3. Lagrone, Sam. "Navy Comprehensive Review of Surface Forces." USNI News, 2 Nov. 2017. https://news.usni.org/2017/11/02/document-navy-comprehensive-review-surface-forces

KEYWORDS: Bridge Illumination; Light Pollution; Darkened Ship; Night Vision; Safety at Sea; Collision

TPOC 1
Darin Callahan
(202) 781-0880
darin.l.callahan.civ@us.navy.mil

TPOC 2
Adam Goetz
(540) 653-3658
adam.r.goetz.civ@us.navy.mil