The objective of this research is to develop an operational model for the design and placement of wind breaks to controlsoil erosion. optimum protection is related to physical parameters (height, width, porosity, material), number of barriers, local terrain features, soil characteristics (including… More

Very-high-altitude, long-endurance (vhale) type aircraft operate over a wide power range due to altitude and fuel load changes. matching the propeller to the engine over this range is difficult without a complicated variable-pitchpropeller or gearing. passive, optimal-pitch control is thegoal of… More

Existing control systems for pitch-controlled wind turbines stabilize rotor power by adjusting blade pitch in response to over-or-under power conditions in a feedback loop. the pitch control mechanism lags behind the rotor power variations that are being controlled. the time lag causes power… More

Aerovironmet Inc. proposes to undertake Phase I of DDARPA SBIR 962-080 to develop and assess operational utility of micro air vehicles (micro AV) for unique military applications. We will downselect from nine general categories of airframes, four general categories of propulsion systems to a… More

A new high-power, high voltage sealed, quasi-bipolar lead acid battery design is proposed for development which can operate under the broad range of conditions important to the Air Force. Key features of the design include: Low cost 700 W/kg, calculated Very high power density >1800 W/I, calculated… More

Aerovironmet Inc. proposes to undertake Phase I of DDARPA SBIR 962-080 to develop and assess operational utility of micro air vehicles (micro AV) for unique military applications. We will downselect from nine general categories of airframes, four general categories of propulsion systems to a… More

The Skytote concept has emerged from a system analysis seeking a remotely/ autonomously controlled air vehicle for transporting materials -- a vehicle system that emphasizes simplicity, economy, and versatility. In one version it is envisioned as a ing less than 250… More

Not Available This proposal is for the construction and preliminary testing of a simple crankcase scavenged, high speed, compression ignition, two-stroke engine which has a cylinder displacement suitable for a six cylinder engine of approximately 80 horsepower, primari

60765 Current designs for electric motors use a housing that acts as both a structural support and as a method of cooling the stator and rotor. This approach to cooling is not as effective as possible because heat must flow from the rotor and stator through the housing to the cooling media. … More

60765 Current designs for electric motors use a housing that acts as both a structural support and as a method of cooling the stator and rotor. This approach to cooling is not as effective as possible because heat must flow from the rotor and stator through the housing to the cooling media. … More

"The development of batteries, fuel cells, flywheels, and other portable energy sources requires power electronics devices to test performance parameters. In most cases, the power electronics devices serve as a load, distributing energy to the grid. Forbatteries, the devices can also serve as a… More

"Recent advances and development efforts in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and sensor technologies have resulted in potential for increased capability in small and micro-sized UAVs. While advanced have been made in the capabilities of the vehicles and somesubsystems, a lack of emphasis has been… More

"The Clean Air Act requires flight line Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to convert from highly polluting diesel engine technology to electric or hybrid-electric operation as a measure to mitigate overall airport emissions. The proposed Phase I effort willinvestigate the feasibility of replacing a… More

"The national move toward electric and hybrid vehicles addresses two issues: (1) Clean Air Act requirements for areas to attain ambient air quality standards, and (2) energy conservation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and U.S. reliance on foreign oil.This move has taken longer than regulators… More

Flightline Ground Support Equipment (GSE) must meet ever increasing technical requirements while reducing emissions. Pressure is on to consolidate many sizes into fewer standard models and to convert to electric or hybrid-electric operation. As part ofthis movement, the need has arisen for a DC… More

Satellite platforms require lightweight, highly reliable energy production and storage systems to maximize payload power and performance. The regenerative fuel cell (RFC) system is a promising electrochemical technology that has a high specific energy on the order of 550Wh/kg. An RFC system in… More

Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) require a low signature power source for on-station operation of sensor payloads. The power source must have a high energy density, be reliable, require low maintenance, and be able to withstand salt spray and heavy seas for a two week mission duration. In addition,… More

Satellite platforms, high altitude long endurance (HALE) aircraft, and remote terrestrial telecommunications stations require highly reliable energy production and storage systems to maximize payload power and performance. The regenerative fuel cell (RFC) system, in hybrid configuration with a… More

As world oil production begins to peak, the increasing U.S. and worldwide usage of oil will have a negative impact on our national security, environment, and economy. Unfortunately, alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, ethanol, bio-diesel, and hydrogen are not a satisfactory near-term,… More

A hybrid energy storage (HES) system that combines lithium batteries and ultracapacitors can provide both high energy and high power. The proposed work will develop a prototype HES system that will target the Phase I SBIR objectives of 110 Wh/kg energy along with 1000 W/kg power, economically. HES… More

Conversion of conventional powered and non-powered Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to electric and hybrid electric power requires careful consideration of safety, efficiency, weight and volume of the new electric components, while also enabling operation in demanding conditions. This is especially… More

The innovative integration of two emerging technologies, computer vision systems and Un-manned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's), can dramatically improve the capabilities of the UAV for real-world urban missions. Computer vision is being developed for robotic planetary exploration. UAV's are being… More

The P-3 aircraft is required to fly multiple diverse missions, many of which could intrude into contested or hostile environments, jeopardizing the safety of the crew and aircraft. The aircraft can reduce this vulnerability by conducting its mission from high altitude and standoff range through the… More

As with most forms of transportation, ships have weight and volume constraints relative to operational equipment. Conventional transformers, in use to convert high voltage electric power to lower voltages and vice versa, are both heavy and big. With recent advances in semiconductor devices and… More

Special operation forces utilize C-130 aircraft that often operate in night/adverse weather, low-level, deep-penetration missions in contested or hostile environments. These low altitude missions result in higher risks to the crew and aircraft. AeroVironment proposes to leverage their current… More

Power generation at remote locations is increasingly important to provide support for logistic and combat operations. The traditional genset driven by a diesel engine, however, is bulky, not highly efficient, and requires non-trivial maintenance. In addition, the power quality that these traditional… More

Power generation at remote locations is increasingly important in providing support for logistic and combat operations. The traditional genset driven by a diesel engine, however, is bulky, not highly efficient, and requires non-trivial maintenance. In addition, the power quality that these… More

Shipboard power distribution requires both step-up and step-down transformation. Conventional 60Hz transformers, however, are both bulky and heavy. The proposed Phase II effort will develop a prototype 2.7MVA Electronic Transformer that combines high frequency switching power electronics and… More

For operational and logistic reasons, the warfighter requires longer flight duration hand-launched, Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAVs). PUMA, a 9-ft wingspan SUAV, designed and manufactured by AeroVironment (AV), has a flight duration of four hours on primary batteries, while Dragon Eye, another… More

Reliable, high quality power is one of the most important, yet tactically difficult tools the Marine uses. In many locations, grid reliability and power quality are uncertain, and battery use, where the grid isn't available, is even more challenging. Thus, a solution that provides uninterruptible… More

The Air Force has a need to deliver a payload to a specifically identified target location within prescribed accuracy limits. The delivery system must be small, light-weight, and capable of operating effectively at significantly greater distances than existing man-portable systems. AeroVironment… More

The warfighter requires long flight duration, hand-launched, small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Batteries are expensive and provide limited flight duration. A viable alternative to batteries, that could provide higher gravimetric and volumetric energy density, and lower life cycle cost, are… More