DoD 2017.3 SBIR Solicitation

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform, Human Systems 

OBJECTIVE: To support Warfighter (soldier, airman, commander, etc.) situational awareness and decisive actions through the development of presentation techniques capable of providing 360 degree field of view with enhanced symbology in a 120 degree field of view immersive virtual reality display. 

DESCRIPTION: Background Advancements in computer processing power and memory, 3D and virtual reality displays, and sensor technology have reached a point that allows for substantial augmentation of the human warfighter. The warfighter of tomorrow will have extra-human capabilities that will allow him or her to perceive, evaluate, plan, and respond in manners far beyond those of either humans or machines acting in isolation. Current limitations of the human body (e.g., limited sensory range and capability, limited retrospective, prospective, and declarative memory, and limited computation) can be overcome using augmentation. Humans currently use a stereo-optical visual system that is limited to roughly a 120 degree field of view, but they must operate in a 360 degree world. Thus, two thirds of the environment is unavailable to the human at any one time. The human must turn his or her head or body to see anything in the other 240 degrees. Numerous studies in altered or inverted visual fields strongly suggests that the human visual system is limited primarily by the sensors (eyes) rather than the computational mechanism (brain). Indeed, while theories vary, it appears that the brain is quite capable of acclimating to non-standard visual fields and that humans can perform at the same proficiency using these altered visual fields. There is usually a period of retraining/acclimation that is required to transition to the new field and there is usually a period of acclimation required to return to the normal field of view (negative after effects). Some research has evidently demonstrated it is possible for the human to rapidly switch between the different fields of view. Solution This task seeks to develop visual compression techniques that will display a live, real-time 360 degree sensory visual image in a 120 degree field of view using a virtual reality headset. Rather than a linear compression, an algorithm should be developed such that there will be no resolution or distance distortion for images in the fovea (~ +/- 5 degrees off of the center line of sight), and that the remaining peripheral view is compressed to present the remaining 350 degrees. The exact method of compression (e.g., linear, logarithmic) should be explored to determine the ‘best fit’ for human performance. Best fit is defined by factors such as task performance, situation awareness of objects and the movement of objects in the environment, length of acclimation and after effects periods, ability to switch between normal field of view and 360 field of view, and subject comfort and endurance. Current Limitations Many gaming development software and 3D computer modeling and animation software packages offer ways to increase the field of view. However, these packages do not allow for variations in the compression pattern (e.g., keeping the resolution and distance of objects in the foveal view at those of normal field of view). There has been no rigorous experimentation and research into the effectiveness of 360 degree field of view presentations similar to those that have been conducted in distorted fields of view such as inverted or prism displays. 

PHASE I: Develop a functional proof-of-concept system capable of providing 360 degree field of view with enhanced symbology in a 120 degree field of view immersive virtual reality display to the user. The user’s foveal vision (+/- 5 degrees) should have a resolution and apparent distance that is 1-to-1 with normal field of view. At least two variations of compression fall off from the foveal vision (linear, logarithmic) should be produced. The user should be able to move around within a virtual 3D environment and react to (e.g., identify, turn to, target) artificial objects in the environment. A protocol for acclimation to the 360 view and re-acclimation to the normal field of view should be proposed and demonstrated on at least one individual. 

PHASE II: Evaluate variations proof of concept system (including acclimation and re-acclimation protocols) to establish best concept. Enhance best concept to demonstrate more realistic warfighter scenarios for ground and air. Examine candidate sensor solutions and make recommendations for best uses of the concept. Evaluation criteria include (but are not limited to) the following: time to detect threats (single and multiple) – faster = better; Accuracy of classification of threat – greater = better; negative physiological effects (e.g., spatial disorientation, headache, fatigue, vertigo, dizziness, difficulty assessing distances) – fewer = better; Ability to navigate, move, and avoid obstacles through complex environments – easier + faster = better; and Ease of transition between 360-mode and normal mode (i.e., acclimation) – easier + faster = better. 

PHASE III: Develop combined VR display and sensor system prototypes and demonstrate the combined system in a real world setting (e.g., outdoors, navigating indoor office hallways and spaces; operating vehicles such as aircraft or ground vehicles) where the system presents real time data with the user carrying out a number of activities. The system will also be well-suited for transition to a variety of commercial applications, including: monitoring systems for police, border patrol, and private security; and the entertainment industry, specifically motion capture for the production of video games and movies. Evaluation criteria are the same as for Phase II, but also include (but are not limited to) the following: system weight – less = better; wearer comfort - more = better; Visual Resolution – greater = better; system robustness – greater = better; all weather capabilities – greater = better. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Welch, Robert B. Perceptual modification: Adapting to altered sensory environments. Elsevier, 2013

2:  Martin, T. A., et al. "Throwing while looking through prisms. II. Specificity and storage of multiple gaze-throw calibrations." Brain 119.4 (1996): 1199-1212.

3:  Fernández-Ruiz, Juan, and Rosalinda Díaz. "Prism adaptation and aftereffect: specifying the properties of a procedural memory system." Learning & Memory 6.1 (1999): 47-53.

4:  Kennedy, Robert S., and Kay M. Stanney. "Postural instability induced by virtual reality exposure: Development of a certification protocol." International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction 8.1 (1996): 25-47.

5:  Clower, Dottie M., and Driss Boussaoud. "Selective use of perceptual recalibration versus visuomotor skill acquisition." Journal of Neurophysiology 84.5 (2000): 2703-2708.

6:  Lin, JJ-W., et al. "Effects of field of view on presence, enjoyment, memory, and simulator sickness in a virtual environment." Virtual Reality, 2002. Proceedings. IEEE. IEEE, 2002.

KEYWORDS: Image Processing, Three-dimensional Imagery, Photogrammetry, Human Systems, Virtual Reality, Field Of View, Augmented Reality, Situation Awareness, Sensor, Computer Vision 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Design and develop novel materials, processes and/or geometries of optical pump combiner to increase coupling efficiency. 

DESCRIPTION: Lasers and optical amplifiers are pumped with shorter wavelength light to excite electrons required for the amplification of optical signals. The pump light needs to get into the center of the laser fiber in order for it to be absorbed and excited by the laser ions. If the pump light does not get into the core, it is converted to waste heat. Any waste heat must be removed. With the rapid improvement in laser and amplifier power seen in the past two decades, kilowatts of power are routinely achieved. With this high power, heating due to coupling inefficiencies presents real problems. If the coupling efficiency were improved from 90% to 95%, there would be fifty fewer Watts of heat to remove from the coating of a 1 kW pump fiber. This two-fold reduction could be the difference between water- and air-cooling of the contact area. The simplicity of the air-cooled system might be the tipping point needed in a candidate laser system to show the value of laser solutions to military problems. This SBIR announcement calls for novel methods and geometries that could increase coupling efficiency. If greater coupling efficiency designs could be created that have similar, or even improved reliability, these new pump combiners could be used in future weapons systems. Pump light is produced at expense, and any gain in coupling efficiency would also reduce the burden on the pump lasers. 

PHASE I: Design and develop novel materials, processes and/or geometries of optical pump combiner. Provide theoretical justification for the method(s) selected and utilize mathematical modeling to predict coupling efficiencies. Prepare a preliminary manufacturability and validation/testing plan in preparation for Phase II. 

PHASE II: Optimize design(s) based on the output of Phase I. Construct prototype device(s) based on the most promising methods. Conduct experimentation and evaluation testing. Compare data to modeling predictions and make recommendations for further design iteration if warranted. Provide prototype hardware and final report. 

PHASE III: Collaborate with ARDEC engineers for possible prototype integration for TRL7 demonstration and/or transition to military program. Industrial lasers must also remove waste heat, industry would benefit from more efficient energy conversion. Other uses include applications in which energy is at a premium, such as satellites or undersea applications, such as amplifying optical signals in transatlantic communications cables. In industrial lasers, uncoupled pump light can exit the fiber and add to unwanted heating of a larger material surface as light exits the fiber, so increased efficiency would improve the precision of the laser machining process. 

REFERENCES: 

1: https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-20-27-28125

2:  http://www.google.com/patents/US8818151 3.

3:  https://www.google.com/patents/US6956876?dq=Presby+Fischer+pump&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjr9eDwyr7MAhVDkh4KHeBFA4IQ6AEIHTAA

4:  http://www.lightcomm.com/product/lists/typeid/125.html https://www.rp-photonics.com/passive_fiber_optics8.html

5:  http://www.laserfocusworld.com/articles/print/volume-48/issue-04/features/the-state-of-the-art.html

6:  http://www.nlight.net/nlight-files/file/technical_papers/PW10/Jan%2030%20High%20Brightness%20Fiber%20Coupled%20Pump%20Lasers.pdf

KEYWORDS: Laser, Fiber, Pump, Coupling, Efficiency 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Design and develop a handheld robotics and armament controller that can receive information from combined group of manned and unmanned platforms treated as a single operator control unit. 

DESCRIPTION: Mounted/dismounted computing platform architectures will rely on multiple unmanned systems to perform focused mission; i.e. mapping, reconnaissance, fire mission execution, etc. Recent advances in agent software technologies, and high bandwidth wireless communication, allow for multi-sensory based perception, collaborative planning, 3D visualization technology and intelligent control to enable a new generation of multi-platform controller capable of mixed initiative planning, task execution and control within a manned-unmanned teaming environment. This represents a revolution advance in current controller technology in which any mission involving multiple unmanned platforms, requires an operator to manually break the group mission into individual unmanned platform tasks/subtasks before he/she can use the vehicle’s mission planner. The operator has to manually address deconflicition issues like planning the vehicle’s reconnaissance route to avoid friendly fire, avoid overlap and plan individual ingress/egress paths for each unit. The key technical challenge will be to provide an integrated architecture and solution that addressed fundamental problems of mobility, flexible task level control and automation, multi-sensor integration, multi-platform coordination associated with network centric, manned-unmanned teaming operation in complex environments. Technical issues of interest include brain-computer interface, task handoff and visualization, multi-platform control strategies, knowledge based task level control including path planning, navigation, permission based control, and real-time dynamic planning/re-planning. The Handheld robotics and armament controller will be a portable, wireless, networked device that can compute and display map data, maneuver graphics representations, and tactical information on a handheld lightweight device to improve situational awareness of the dismounted soldier in GPS and GPS denied areas. Control approaches should address issues related to multi-platform autonomous control, handoff, hierarchical planning, and deconfliction. The mission planner portion should factor in input from user to develop optimized plans for the use of the systems. 

PHASE I: Conduct research to develop the design methodology, computation approaches and architecture concepts to support the design and implementation of a prototype multi-platform manned/unmanned system mission controller. Define system concept and hardware/software architecture and functional specification. 

PHASE II: Based on Phase I research results develop a proof of concept robotic armament controller prototype and demonstrate its operation with platforms in a networked, manned/unmanned teaming scenario. Optimize algorithms and design approach based on experimental results and provide complete documentation of algorithms, architecture and component software. 

PHASE III: There are many dual use applications of the underlying multi-platform mission planning and control architecture and information processing infrastructure which be readily adaptable to support homeland security application, law enforcement, border patrol and search and rescue applications. The technology will provide leaders on the ground with the ability to plan, manage, control and coordinate actions of both manned and unmanned assets in real time and optimize achievement of team goals in distributed, network environment. 

REFERENCES: 

1: B. Larochelle, G. M. Kruijff, N. Smets, T. Mioch, and P. Groenewegen, "Establishing Human Situation Awareness Using a Multi-Modal Operator Control Unit In An Urban Search & Rescue Human-Robot Team", IEEE Intern. Symp. On Robot and Human Interactive Comm., July 31 – August 3, Atlanta, GA (2011).

2:  N. Checka, S. Schaffert, D. Demirdjian, J. Falkowski, and D. H Grollman, "Handheld Operator Control Unit", 7th ACM/IEEE Intern. Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, pp. 137138, March 5-8, Boston, MA (2012).

3:  J. Crossman, R. Marinier and E. B. Olson, "A Hands-Off, Multi-Robot Display for Communicating Situation Awareness to Operators", Intern. Conference on Collaboration Technologies and Systems (CTS), pp. 109-116, May 21-25 (2012).

4:  B. Larochelle, G. M. Kruijff, N. Smets, T. Mioch P. Groenewegen, "Establishing Human Situation Awareness Using a Multi-Modal Operator Control Unit In An Urban Search & Rescue Human-Robot Team", IEEE RO-MAN: The 21st IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, September 9-13, Paris, France. (2012).

KEYWORDS: Artificial Intelligence, Software Agents, Robotics, Decentralized Control, Autonomy, Sensor-shooter Links, Mission Planner, Autonomous Control, Distributed Robotics, Intelligent Control 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative approaches to, and demonstrate the production of, an alternative gamma spectrometry material that simultaneously improves technical performance and lowers procurement costs. 

DESCRIPTION: Research, development, innovation, and demonstration of methods and processes are sought to reduce the costs of radioisotope identification detectors (RIIDs) materials while enhancing, or at a minimum, maintaining current commercial detection and identification performance. RIIDs need to be expeditious, reliable, and affordable while minimally impacting the Warfighter’s performance in concurrent missions. Other agencies such as DOE/NNSA and DTRA/J9 (R&D) develop new materials or new combinations of materials using methods such as co-doping or alternate dopants to get resolution down to 0.5%. While identification performance is enhanced, the associated increased costs are prohibitive in Acquisition. The type of instrument most commonly used for this mission is a hand-held gamma spectrometer referred to as a radiological isotope identification device (RIID) [1]. Their performance is determined by parameters such as the material system it uses for radiation detection, the electronics and software packages it uses for analysis, and its form factor. The material systems found in commercially-available RIIDs are either scintillators or semiconductors. The most prevalent material in DoD RIIDs is sodium iodide (NaI), a scintillator. It is prevalent because it is technologically mature – which enables the reliable production of high-quality crystals at reasonable cost and performance. The drawback of NaI is its energy resolution (~7%) which presents challenges when making identifications in complex environments. Cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr3:Ce) is a scintillator with better energy resolution (~4%) than NaI, but it costs twice as much[2]. The 'gold standard' for gamma spectrometry is high-purity germanium (HPGe), a semiconductor, due to its excellent energy resolution (<0.05%). But the benefit of improved technical performance is offset by much higher lifecycle costs for a system – the material is inherently expensive to produce at high quality and the small band gap of HPGe requires it to be kept at cryogenic temperatures (-180° C) during operation[3]. To provide the best combination of capability and cost, the Defense community has developed materials which fall somewhere in the middle – with technical performance approaching semiconductors (HPGe) at a price closer to scintillators (NaI, LaBr, CsI). The paragon of these efforts cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) – a semiconductor with energy resolution better than 3% (some results are approaching 1%) which is operable at room temperature. Continuous efforts to improve the quality of CZT have succeeded, but the cost to produce the material has remained sufficiently high that it has not been broadly incorporated into high-performing RIIDs at a cost comparable to scintillators. At the same time, the body of knowledge surrounding several other materials, for example [4, 5], is sufficient to acknowledge that they offer advantages to the Warfighter over current commercially-available materials. The maturity of the methods necessary to produce spectroscopic-grade specimens of these other materials and incorporate them into gamma spectroscopy systems at costs and scales advantageous to the Defense community remains low. Demonstrations of new and/or improved methods for producing these advanced non-CZT materials in large volumes, at consistently high quality, and acceptable growth rates are sought. If producibility hurdles can be overcome for new or emerging materials, they should yield radioisotope identification detectors (RIIDs) that affordably improve the performance of the warfighter. 

PHASE I: Identify and examine innovative approaches for producing a single specimen of a material suitable for gamma spectrometry in a hand-held sensor format. The approach/process should be able to produce material in sufficient volume and quality to yield a detector crystal whose utilization presents no inherent environmental, health, or safety hazard to the operator, a physical envelope comparable to commercially-available radiation detection materials, relative efficiency[6] that is at least 33%, energy resolution is below 3%, and production cost is comparable to commercially-available NaI. Responsive proposals should clearly describe the proposed approach to producing RIIDs material(s), describe and compare the advantages of the proposed approach and resultant material(s) including cost/benefit, address how the proposed material is superior to those currently used in commercially-available gamma spectrometers, include discussion of prior efforts producing the material(s), problems encountered in producing and integrating material into a gamma spectrometry system, and how the proposed approach could reliably overcome the difficulties, and a path to commercialization. Develop and demonstrate a process flow concept, produce a sample of the material that can be tested, produce supporting documentation with preliminary test data that establishes cost and performance baselines that will mitigate risk for a potential Phase II effort. 

PHASE II: Develop and validate the production process from Phase I to demonstrate yield of sufficient detector material at costs and sizes relevant to the Defense community such that the material could be incorporated into systems which are deployed in the field. Integrate the produced material into four (4) prototype RIID detectors for delivery to the Government. 

PHASE III: If Phase II were successful, the technology developed under this topic would be ready to enable the Warfighter to better accomplish their relevant missions. It would simultaneously allow the radiation detection needs for other groups beyond DoD, both public and private, to be met more affordably without requiring a decrease in performance. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Dual-use markets are anticipated from Department of Homeland Defense, First Responders, Civil Support Teams, Customs and Border Patrol, and Industrial HAZMAT teams. 

REFERENCES: 

1: (Ref. 1 was removed by TPOC on 9/22/17.)

2:  Brian D Milbrath, Bethany J Choate, Jim E Fast, Walter K Hensley, Richard T Kouzes, and John E Schweppe. 2007. "Comparison of LaBr3:Ce and NaI(Tl) Scintillators for Radio-Isotope Identification Devices." Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 572(2):774-784 572 (2). United States. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2006.12.003. http://www.pnl.gov/main/publications/external/technical_reports/PNNL-15831.pdf

3:  Sean Stave, Germanium Detectors in Homeland Security at PNNL. Journal of Physics: Conference Series 606 (2015) http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/606/1/012018/pdf

4:  Henry Chen; Joo-Soo Kim; Proyanthi Amarasinghe; Withold Palosz;Feng Jin, et al. "Novel semiconductor radiation detector based on mercurous halides," Proc. SPIE 9593, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XVII, 95930G (August 26, 2015);doi:10.1117/12.2188448;  http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.2188448.

5:  Utpal N. Roy, Aleksey E. Bolotnikov, Giuseppe S. Camarda, Yonggang Cui, Rubi Gul, Anwar Hossain, Ryan Tappero, Ge Yang, Ralph B. James, "Nuclear Weapons and Material Security (WMS) Team Program Review WMS2013 CdTeSe Crystals for Gamma-Ray Detectors."

6:  Hastings A. Smith Jr. and Marcia Lucas, "Chapter 3 - Gamma-Ray Detectors", NUREG/CR-5550 Passive Nondestructive Assay of Nuclear Materials, 1991.

KEYWORDS: Gamma, Spectrometry, Spectroscopy, Gamma Spec, Radiation Detection, Radiological Isotope Identification Device (RIID), Identification, Manufacturing Materials 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a capability to enable emerging mobile robotic platforms to function as a team to locate, assess, and extract a casualty back to a safe location for medical treatment and further evacuation from difficult terrain and hazardous environments. 

DESCRIPTION: The Army and Marine Corps are developing concepts and strategies for future ground combat operations in the 2025-2040 timeframe that require highly capable and dispersed units to leverage Manned-Unmanned Teaming capabilities to penetrate high risk-areas while conducting Distributed Operations missions [1]. The “Joint Concept for Robotics and Autonomous Systems” further speaks to the increased role of Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) in the future battlefield, predicting that greater levels of autonomy will allow RAS to “evolve from tools for basic tasks into team members capable of coordinating and collaborating across domains and Services” [2]. Future RAS are likely to provide multi-mission functionality, and could be leveraged for medical missions including casualty extraction in man-denied environments, reducing the risk of injury to medics and other personnel during casualty extraction attempts in high-threat areas. RAS systems capable of casualty extraction would also provide standoff protection for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE) threats and to aid in mortuary affairs operations (i.e. extraction of deceased personnel) in hazardous environments. An individual common-use mobile robotic platform is unlikely to be able to perform all the required tasks for a semi-autonomous casualty extraction mission. However, a team of small mobile robots could team up to collaboratively perform the required tasks of locating, assessing, and extracting a casualty, with a human in the loop for supervision and high-level commands. DARPA has been working on developing robot swarming capabilities for both ground and air unmanned systems (UMS) where a large number of UMS come together upon command, or as result of semi-autonomous or autonomous mission analysis, to achieve a common objective. The goal of this topic is to develop the capability for a swarm of future common-use mobile unmanned platforms (ground and/or air), perhaps equipped with common-use end-effector manipulators or grippers, and/or so-called soft robotics technologies, to team-up and synchronize their movements to perform a casualty extraction mission. This may involve self-assembly by a swarm of small robots into a larger UMS capable of executing a casualty extraction mission. Methods for real-time communication and processing need to be developed to enable synchronization between RAS elements. The development a unique robotic platform or unique end effector(s) for casualty extraction is not the intent of this effort, but rather, the intent is to develop the software to enable a secondary use for existing or emerging small multi-purpose Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs), and/or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to self-assemble to perform the cognitive and physical tasks required to extract a wounded casualty to a safe location where a combat medic can perform stabilizing care and initiate further evacuation. The Advanced Explosive Ordinance Disposal Robotics System (AEODRS) [3], the Man-Transportable Robotics System (MTRS), Inc. 2 [4], and the Common Robotic System – Individual (CRS-I) [5], are examples of future mobile robotic platforms that could be leveraged for this capability. Innovative solutions which utilize other types of common mobile robotic platforms not mentioned above are also encouraged. The desired outcome of this research effort is to demonstrate the capability of two or more mobile robotic platforms to effectively communicate and coordinate to collaboratively conduct a casualty extraction mission under the control of a single human operator; this will require significant autonomy of the RAS to be able to perform these tasks in timely manner. The ability to easily integrate with future mobile robotics platforms is an important element of this capability, therefore, use of open architectures and compliance with existing interoperability standards is required. To further promote cross-platform interoperability, at least one robotic platform that was not developed in-house must be used as part of the proposed system. Proposers should use the Army UGV Interoperability Profiles (UGV IOP) for guidance to facilitate integration with future Army RAS platforms. 

PHASE I: Design a concept for a swarm of multiple mobile robotic platforms to collaboratively conduct a casualty extraction mission. The scope of the casualty extraction mission should include 1) identifying/locating the casualty, 2) navigating to the casualty location, 3) self-assembling as required in order to execute casualty extraction, 4) securing the casualty for transport (e.g. using a standard litter) and 5) collaboratively transporting to a safe location defined by the human operator. Identify concepts and methods that will allow for synchronization of movements and information sharing between and among the RAS elements. The proposer shall identify concepts and methods that will allow the robotic elements to operate semi-autonomously such that a single human operator can provide high-level tasking of the RAS team to allow the mission to be executed in a timely manner. Develop an initial concept design and model key elements to conceptually demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. Based on Phase I research, develop a Phase II proposal and refine the commercialization plan contained in the Phase I proposal. RESEARCH INVOLVING ANIMAL OR HUMAN SUBJECTS: The SBIR Program discourages offerors from proposing to conduct Human or Animal Subject Research during Phase 1 due to the significant lead time required to prepare the documentation and obtain approval, which will delay the Phase 1 award. All research involving human subjects (to include use of human biological specimens and human data) and animals, shall comply with the applicable federal and state laws and agency policy/guidelines for human subject and animal protection. Research involving the use of human subjects may not begin until the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command's Office of Research Protections, Human Research Protections Office (HRPO) approves the protocol. Written approval to begin research or subcontract for the use of human subjects under the applicable protocol proposed for an award will be issued from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, HRPO, under separate letter to the Contractor. Non-compliance with any provision may result in withholding of funds and or the termination of the award. 

PHASE II: Conceptually demonstrate the capability of a single human operator to orchestrate a casualty extraction mission using a swarm of ground and/or air RAS platforms by developing a prototype system based on the Phase I initial concept design. Test, evaluate, and demonstrate the Phase II prototype in an operationally-relevant environment. The RAS system should be prototyped, in both hardware and software, as a modular system consisting of several (but at least two) mobile robots. The prototype should demonstrate the capability of the RAS elements to synchronize movements in real-time through short-range communications, demonstrating the ability of the RAS team to move together without long-range communications to a remote operator. The proposer will identify concepts and methods that will allow the robotic elements to operate semi-autonomously such that a single human operator can provide high-level tasking of the RAS team in order to execute the mission in a timely manner. Based on Phase II research, refine the commercialization plan contained in the Phase II proposal. The use of existing mobile robotic platforms, manipulators, and sensor payloads is encouraged for the prototype system to the degree that is possible. The proposer will be responsible for acquiring and/or developing the components of the prototype system; no GFE will be provided. The RAS extraction system should demonstrate robustness to different types of terrain, varying casualty poses, and variation in Soldier height and body-type. Interoperability of the systems shall be addressed by detailed documentation of the required software and hardware interfaces and by developing a future integration plan with emerging multi-use mobile robotic systems. 

PHASE III: Incorporate system improvements informed by the Phase II evaluation results and further develop the RAS swarm/teaming capabilities to mature the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) of the system, with a target of TRL 6. Demonstrate the application of this RAS teaming capability to provide standoff casualty extraction in varying terrain and operational environments. Execute system evaluation in a suitable operational environment (e.g. Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD), Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD), Marine Corps Limited Objective Experiment (LOE), Army Network Integration Exercise (NIE), etc.). Present the prototype project, as a candidate for fielding, to applicable Army, Navy/Marine Corps, Air Force, Cost Guard, Department of Defense, Program Managers. Examples of emerging Army robotic ground mobility platforms that could leverage this technology include the Advanced Explosive Ordinance Disposal Robotics System (AEODRS), the Man-Transportable Robotics System (MTRS), and the Common Robotic System – Individual (CRS-I), however cross-domain and Joint applications should also be considered. Once validated conceptually and technically, the dual use applications of this technology are likely to be significant in both civilian emergency services and other military operations, and thus enable commercialization according to the plan outlined in the Phase II proposal. The technology is especially suited for applications in which standoff interaction with soldiers or civilians is of paramount importance, e.g. environments with CBRNE exposure threats. While the primary intended use for this system is for stand-off casualty extraction on the battlefield, an alternate use could be for humanitarian disaster relief missions involving robot-assisted search and rescue in hazardous environments, for example, during disease outbreaks or nuclear disasters. The technology and methods developed to allow small mobile robots to effectively coordinate as teammates extends the capability of existing RAS platforms allowing them to accomplish tasks through teaming that they would otherwise not be capable of individually. This has general applicability to other mission areas, e.g. explosive ordinance disposal, logistics, etc., in which RAS platforms are likely to be increasingly utilized to protect and extend the reach of the Warfighter. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "United States Army-Marine Corps White Paper, Multi-Domain Battle: Combined Arms for the 21st Century", 18 January 2017.

2:  "Joint Concept for Robotic and Autonomous Systems", Joint Chiefs of Staff, 24 October 2016

3:  "Navy Presses On With Long-Delayed Bomb Disposal Robot Program" http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2016/March/Pages/NavyPressesOnWithLongDelayedBombDisposalRobotProgram.aspx. Accessed 6 Feb. 2017.

4:  "Man Transportable Robot System (MTRS) Increment 2". USAASC. http://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/cs-css-man-transportable-robot-system-mtrs-increment-2/ Accessed 6 Feb. 2017.

5:  "Common Robotic System – Individual (CRS(I))". USAASC. http://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/cs-css-common-robotic-system-individual-crsi/.Accessed 6 Feb. 2017.

KEYWORDS: Robotics And Autonomous Systems, Autonomy, Medical Robotics, Manned-Unmanned Teaming, Swarming, Casualty Extraction, Casualty Evacuation, Unmanned Systems, UAS, UGV, CASEVAC 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: Develop improved fieldable capabilities for the collection and preservation of blood samples for biomonitoring occupational and/or environmental exposures. 

DESCRIPTION: At least since the Viet Nam conflict, it has been recognized that exposures to environmental and industrial chemicals during military operations can result in long term adverse health effects for Service members. Exposures to high levels of natural dust, smoke, and industrial pollution during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have re-emphasized the need for a comprehensive effort to capture exposure data for individuals. Capturing exposure data and understanding the impact of exposures on the individual is integral to the practice of personalized medicine and essential for improving public health risk assessments by eliminating exposure misclassification. A longitudinal set of blood samples collected on a regular basis and as needed on an incident-driven basis extending over a Service member’s career, could function as a biological medical record, documenting exposures and health effects through the Service life cycle and into the veteran’s post-separation life. The most direct method for assessing exposure and health is by using a biosample to analyze biomarkers of exposure and/or effect. Where the health effect of exposure is delayed and/or where the biological half-life of the exposure marker is short, timely collection is imperative. However, collecting and transporting biosamples under operational conditions can be challenging, and analysis in the field may be impossible. Blood is a rich and well-understood source of xenobiotic and biological molecules that can serve as biomarkers of exposure and effect, and the sensitivity of methods for measuring a broad range of such molecules in blood has dramatically increased. Blood spots collected and dried on filter paper cards have been used for many years in drug development, newborn screening, therapeutic drug monitoring, and research. Analytes ranging from metal ions to complex biomolecules (proteins, RNA, DNA) are stable during storage and have been successfully recovered from dried blood spots (DBS). The cards are durable and have a low logistical footprint. However, sample collection using blood spot cards, particularly under field conditions, requires care to avoid sample contamination and possible infection. The spot must be well dried to stabilize the sample, which can be difficult in wet or humid environments. DBS use requires several components, the card itself, media for cleaning the collection site, a needle or lancet for puncturing the skin, and some means of protecting the card for transport and storage. Proposals will address the following aspects: 1) improved materials or methods or platforms for collecting, preserving, and transporting blood specimens and 2) enhanced recovery of analytes. The specific collection platform, material, or approach should aim to simplify collection, reduce logistical burden, and improve analyte recovery in comparison with existing blood spot cards. Note that this topic, especially the Phase I investigations, does not require the use of patient-identified or disease-specific samples. Research may be performed using existing/exempt/synthetic samples, as appropriate for the proposed research and the performing institution. If an offeror plans for the platform or method to be used medical diagnostics, the offeror shall initiate contact with the FDA representatives and provide a clear plan on how FDA clearance will be obtained. 

PHASE I: Provide an initial characterization of key aspects of the platform, method or material. Demonstrate potential for enhanced sample preservation, collection simplification, and recovery of critical analytes from preserved blood samples. Demonstrate quantitative results using conventional laboratory technology. The approach must provide advantages in convenience and logistics over collecting samples on conventional blood spot media. The method must provide more rapid drying than conventional blood cards or not require air-drying for analyte stabilization. The method must show reduced potential for contamination and cross-contamination of blood specimens during and after collection. The method must be amenable to simplified collection procedures in comparison with conventional blood spot media. Proposers are encouraged to demonstrate analyte recovery sufficient for analysis using partial preserved specimen samples. The approach should demonstrate enhanced analyte stability/recovery, and/or more facile processing of the dried or preserved sample. Initial analysis may be performed using existing/exempt/synthetic samples. Spike-in analyses are acceptable for Phase I demonstrations using xenobiotics (e.g., pesticides and dioxins), high quality RNA, and moderate abundance serum proteins. RESEARCH INVOLVING ANIMAL OR HUMAN SUBJECTS: The SBIR Program discourages offerors from proposing to conduct Human or Animal Subject Research during Phase I due to the significant lead time required to prepare the documentation and obtain approval, which will delay the Phase I award. All research involving human subjects (to include use of human biological specimens and human data) and animals, shall comply with the applicable federal and state laws and agency policy/guidelines for human subject and animal protection. Research involving the use of human subjects may not begin until the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command's Office of Research Protections, Human Research Protections Office (HRPO) approves the protocol. Written approval to begin research or subcontract for the use of human subjects under the applicable protocol proposed for an award will be issued from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, HRPO, under separate letter to the Contractor. Non-compliance with any provision may result in withholding of funds and or the termination of the award. 

PHASE II: 1) Demonstrate incorporation of the new approach/material into dried or preserved sample absorptive platforms. Demonstrate significant improvement in platform performance in comparison with conventional blood spot cards, including drying time/stabilization time, ease of use, stability, and resistance to contamination and cross-contamination. Evaluate shelf-life. Six month stability testing of preserved blood specimen samples on the new materials and blank preservation material itself should be initiated within the two-year performance period, and testing plans must be developed. 2) Validate feasibility of the sample recovery method developed in Phase I with a practical protocol. Provide a detailed plan for integrating the proposed method for processing and sample analysis post-collection. Demonstrate quantitative recovery of analytes that are currently challenging to assay due to low concentration in the blood (e.g., aM-pM) or high degradation rates in comparison with conventional blood spot cards. Spike in analysis is acceptable for demonstrating limits of detection. Analyses should employ human blood, but it need not be linked to patient identifiers. Show quantitative analyte recovery using standard detection methods for a range of analytes including but not limited to toxic metals, small molecule metabolites, xenobiotic toxicants, and biological macromolecules. The platform should provide reliable measures of high quality low to moderate abundance serum proteins, and mRNAs. Demonstration xenobiotics should be selected from the CDC National Report on Human Environmental Chemicals or from the Biomonitoring California database (http://www.biomonitoring.ca.gov/). To ensure maximum usefulness of the product, proposers are encouraged to consider but are not restricted to methods and technologies compatible with Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA)-waived analysis, good laboratory practices (GLP), and good manufacturing practice (GMP) procedures 

PHASE III: During military operations, Service members operate under conditions where it may be impossible to foresee the type or extent of inadvertent or deliberate hazardous exposures. At present, it is generally not feasible to collect and archive specimens for exposure biomonitoring on an incident-driven basis during operations. Ready commercial availability of materiel for collecting and preserving blood samples would permit improved long-term health risk assessment based on both incident-driven and scheduled sample collection when linked to the Service member’s electronic health and exposure record. Such biosamples would also enhance epidemiological exposure reconstruction and permit the compensation of Service members and veterans based on validated exposure data rather than on presumption. An additional potential market is first responders (fire fighters, hazmat, police, and emergency medical personnel) who can face similar mission-driven challenges. Firefighters in particular are known to be at risk for pulmonary and systemic disorders resulting from toxic exposures. Moreover, it is now recognized that an individual’s life-time health risks are based, in significant measure, on the aggregate exposures he/she has experienced (the individual “exposome”). Actionable responses to the realized and potential effects of exposure require an inexpensive, stable, simple method for capturing and archiving key exposure and health data throughout life. Hence there is an increasing interest in capturing overall exposure data for both individual medical purposes and for evaluating health risk for the general population, currently for research purposes (e.g., CDC’s NHANES program), but also for medical and public health practice in the future. Improved biomonitoring has the potential to provide increased understanding of the consequences of exposure and the opportunity to prevent or control the adverse health consequences of exposure for both military personnel and civilians. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Christophe P. Stove, Ann-Sofie M.E. Ingels, Pieter M.M. De Kesel and Willy E. Lambert, Dried blood spots in toxicology: From the cradle to the grave? 2012 Critical Reviews in Toxicology 42:230-243 (available in manuscript from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/221845739_Dried_blood_spots_in_toxicology_From_the_cradle_to_the_grave)

2:  The Use of Dried Blood Spot Sampling in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project 2009 Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 64B (Suppl 1) i131-i136.

3:  Stuart A. Batterman, Sergey Chernyak andFeng-ChiaoSu, Measurement And Comparison Of Organic Compound Concentrations In Plasma, Whole Blood, And Dried Blood Spot Samples 2016 Frontiers in Genetics, 7:64.

4:  Kristine K. Dennis, Elizabeth Marder, David M. Balshaw, Yuxia Cui, Michael A. Lynes, Gary J. Patti, Stephen M. Rappaport, Daniel T. Shaughnessy, Martine Vrijheid, and Dana Boyd Barr, Biomonitoring in the Era of the Exposome 2016 Environmental Health Perspectives, epublished ahead of print July 6, 2016.

5:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, https://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/index.html

KEYWORDS: Biomonitoring, Exposure, Dried Blood Spots, Biomeasures, Diagnostics, Plasma 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a material and structural solution designed to be integrated onto the M1A2 Abrams tank and isolate the Abrams Gunner Primary Sight (GPS) system from the turret. The isolator shall reduce MIL-STD-810G ballistic shock inputs in all 3 axes, to levels which allow various optical vision systems to continue functioning. This problem can be solved by leveraging structural and material solutions to dampen the shock input to the sights system by the turret. It’s critical that the proposed isolator shall take into account secondary effects on that of boresight alignment/retention, and stabilization both prior to and after a ballistic shock. The successful isolator design concept shall not introduce resonances that would amplify input shock and vibration levels. It should be noted that while the isolator may grow the GPS in the vertical direction, there should be no structural modifications to the current turret, with the present GPS mounting bolt pattern being utilized. 

DESCRIPTION: As currently designed the Abrams GPS is hard mounted to the turret so as to minimize spatial movement and maintain the GPS’ angular relationship with the turret and other hardware mounted within the turret. This mounting strategy is intended to provide improved capability as it relates to locating and hitting targets. However, this strategy also allows shock impulses to be transmitted to hardware within the GPS with little attenuation. As a result of advancements in technology and materials it’s the intent of the Abrams office to determine an alternative means of mounting the GPS so as to maintain current capabilities while improving the survivability of the sight system (GPS) when subjected to a ballistic shock event. In order to reduce the number of modifications to other turret systems/hardware as a result of integrating the isolator, there is a maximum height constraint of 4 inches (T), with a design objective for the isolator to add 0 inches of height (O) to the Abrams turret. The described Threshold and Objective height constraints are measured from the current mounting location for the GPS on the turret roof. The Threshold defined maximum height of 4 inches allocated to the shock isolator will not have an effect on transportability given the height of other components mounted to the Abrams turret. Currently the secondary sight on the tank, CITV, has an isolator which provides this ballistic protection capability to the Commanders sight. While technology challenging, this integrated design has proven that fielded solutions exist. The challenge moving forward is the two sights are structurally different and therefore a common solution is not possible. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility of an isolator concept by means of modeling and simulation tools. For this analysis, the Government will provide a GPS model with appropriate mass and material properties. In addition to a reduction in ballistic shock, any analysis should also include the effect the isolator would have on the operation of the GPS due to vibration in the tanks operational environment. Success in Phase I would be to show a reduction in shock loading to the GPS as a result of the Abrams turret (to include shock isolator) being subjected to the Government defined MIL-STD-810G ballistic shock (an SRS plot can be provided if needed). Shock reduction to the GPS as a result of the isolator should be less than or equal to the shock profile defined as 200G 0.5ms half sine (an SRS plot can be provided if needed). An assessment for how easily the proposed isolator can be manufactured shall be delivered in this phase. 

PHASE II: Design and build the prototype isolator for integration onto an Abrams M1A2 SEPv2 or M1A2 SEP V3. This should include a Bill of Materials that identifies if the parts are “off the shelf “custom made and so on. The delivered prototype must be suitable for testing at an Army facility by technical personnel. As noted in Phase I, success is achieved when the Abrams turret (with isolator and GPS installed) is subjected to a live fire test event and the isolator is able to reduce the shock input on the GPS to a value less than or equal to 200G 0.5ms sine wave. If required, clear installation and operational manuals shall be submitted but no specific military format. During this phase, the Army expects to work closely to clarify mission integration requirements appropriate for the initial prototype maturity. 

PHASE III: Final solution is an isolator designed for the Abrams GPS which maintains current capabilities of the sight system while also improving survivability of the sight systems after a ballistic shock. The Army can integrate the technology solution developed under this SBIR into the family of Abrams vehicles, Army and Marines, given the commonality of the GPS structure to all variants. 

REFERENCES: 

1: MIL-STD-810G, Department of Defense Test Method Standard for Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests" (PDF). United States Department of Defense. 31 Oct 2008.

2:  Walton, W. Scott, "Ballistic Shock Simulation Techniques for Testing Armored Vehicle Components," Proceedings of the 64th, Shock and Vibration Symposium, Volume I, October 1993, pp. 237-246. Shock & Vibration Information Analysis Center (SAVIAC), Three Chopt Rd. (Suite 110), Richmond, VA 23229.

3:  Walton, W. Scott and Joseph Bucci, "The Rationale for Shock Specification and Shock Testing of Armored Ground Combat Vehicles," Proceedings of the 65th Shock and Vibration Symposium, Volume I, October 1994, pp. 285-293. Shock & Vibration Information Analysis Center (SAVIAC), Three Chopt Rd. (Suite 110), Richmond, VA 23229.

4:  Egbert, Herbert W. "The History and Rationale of MIL-STD-810," February 2005 ; Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology, Arlington Place One, 2340 S. Arlington Heights Road, Suite 100, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4516.

5:  The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b(7) of the solicitation.

KEYWORDS: Abrams, Gunner Primary Sight, GPS, Shock, Ballistic, Isolation, Isolator, Sights, Boresight, Survivability 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors, Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop Optical Character Recognition (OCR) automated document pre-processing software that can be integrated into the US Army Machine Foreign Language Translation System (MFLTS) Software Architecture. Pre-processing software should provide automated document cleaning and correction for seamless OCR processing and machine translation (MT). 

DESCRIPTION: Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is an identified key system attribute (KSA) for the Army Machine Foreign Language Translation System (MFLTS) Program. As stated in the MFLTS Requirements Definition Package (APR 2015): "The first step in text language translation of hard copy documents is to have an accurate rendition of the original text for translation. Degraded or noisy documents of the type encountered in the operational environment where MFLTS will be used make character recognition difficult for OCR software. Degraded or noisy documents slow down the OCR process. Therefore, MFLTS must remove noise and improve the appearance of documents for high OCR accuracy, which will speed up the document translation process and provide more precise translations." OCR supports the following primary Army Phase 3 task: Exploitation of hard copy documents as collected at checkpoints, entry control points, base security operations, detainee and internment operations, and site exploitation. PD MFLTS partnered with CERDEC-I2WD to commission a performance study of commercial and GOTS OCR for Arabic script. This study was performed by Progeny Systems, and determined that none of the available products performed at the accuracy level required by PD MFLTS. This was particularly true for operationally-encountered documents that were not considered to be "clean," even though the products all incorporate limited image pre-processing. We anticipate that an advanced image pre-processing tool can sufficiently "clean-up" such documents to a degree that will allow the OCR products to transcribe the images at a higher level of accuracy. Also, an image pre-processing tool will apply to scripts other than Arabic, which will benefit PD MFLTS as it adds additional languages to its portfolio. Therefore, OCR automated document pre-processing must remove noise and improve the appearance of documents for high OCR and MT accuracy. OCR automated document pre-processing software must provide the removal of flaws such as speckle, watermarks, paper creases, stains, small holes, rough edges, lines on the paper, and copier noise and streaks. OCR automated document pre-processing software must not change or degrade document formatting (e.g., font sizes and font formatting elements such as underline, italic, and bold). 

PHASE I: Develop prototype software for an initial two writing systems. Initial writing systems are English and Arabic. Demonstrate prototype software on a variety of degraded writing samples. Note: If document noise removal is tied to specific languages, proposers must clearly identify these ties. All Phase I awards are required to identify a path forward for achieving compatibility / interoperability with MFLTS software architecture. Phase I development will provide prototype software that could be used to externally pre-process document images sent to MFLTS to yield improved OCR accuracy. 

PHASE II: Phase II development would result in a component that would be integrated into the MFLTS architecture to automatically or on-demand pre-process any document images ingested into MFLTS, improving the effectiveness of analysts using MFLTS to exploit captured foreign language documents. 

PHASE III: Software becomes a fully licensed, supported, fielded component of the MFLTS program. Potential to expand language sets beyond initial set. Phase III applications would include all commercial or military settings where there is a need to apply OCR to documents in less than pristine condition. (E.g., scans of documents post fire / flood, historical documents / scrolls) 

REFERENCES: 

1: Parker, Jon, Ophir Frieder, and Gideon Frieder. "Automatic Enhancement and Binarization of Degraded Document Images." In Document Analysis and Recognition (ICDAR), 2013 International Conference on, IEEE, (2013).

2:  Parker, Jon, Ophir Frieder, and Gideon Frieder. " Robust Binarization of Degraded Document Images Using Heuristics." In Proceedings of Document Recognition and Retrieval XXI, (2014).

3:  Yasser Alginahi (2010). Preprocessing Techniques in Character Recognition, Character Recognition, Minoru Mori (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-307-105-3, InTech, Available from: Caution-http://www.intechopen.com/books/characterrecognition/preprocessing-techniques-in-character-recognition

KEYWORDS: Optical Character Recognition, Automated Pre-processing, Image Recognition 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors, Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Design and develop the algorithms needed to perform onboard Automated Feature Extraction (AFE) and/or aided target recognition (AiTR) on Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data. 

DESCRIPTION: The U.S. Army has an interest in automated exploitation algorithms for airborne LIDAR systems. These algorithms would take as input, airborne LIDAR data of a specified geographic area. The input data would contain a high-density point cloud created from numerous passes over the specified area. The area may be partially or completely concealed by foliage typical of northern deciduous summer forest environments. As output, the algorithms would produce compressed data products capable of being transmitted via a 2 Mbps data link. The products can take many forms, examples of such products are: Line-of-Communication delineation, void detection, evidence of man-made features, target detection, or 3D scene generation. Ideally, these algorithms would be equally applicable to data generated by any class of LIDAR system (e.g., linear-mode or Geiger-mode). 

PHASE I: The Phase I goal is to demonstrate techniques and concepts that could be used to perform AFE or AiTR on LIDAR data. To support development of these algorithms the contractor must provide, or simulate, their own data. The Phase I proposal must describe the data to be used during this phase and give justification as to why this data is valid. The concepts and techniques to be leveraged in Phase II will be demonstrated to government Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). The demonstration of fully autonomous algorithms and real-time hardware is not required during this phase. However, the concepts to be developed in Phase II must be proven. 

PHASE II: The Phase II goal is to develop autonomous algorithms for feature extraction and AiTR. Autonomous algorithms refer to the autonomous nature in which the sensor data is ingested and a data product created with no intervention and aiding by a user. The results of these algorithms can/will still require a user to validate the detected target or feature. The algorithms developed in this phase will be based off the approaches demonstrated in Phase I; however, they will be matured to the point of not needing manual interaction. During this phase, the algorithms shall be compared against data sets from a number of scenes and backgrounds to demonstrate performance and robustness to varying scenes and environments. Phase II will conclude with a report describing a detailed description of the algorithms developed, algorithm performance and robustness as well as recommendations for future improvements to the algorithm(s). 

PHASE III: The Phase III goal is to take the algorithms from a TRL 5 to a mature state such that they can be transitioned. This includes the system and algorithm improvements described in the Phase II report. These algorithms could then be transitioned to a number of ISR programs. The potential for commercial applications is considerable with such mission areas as search/rescue, mapping, and first responders for situational awareness. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Peter Cho et al., "Real-Time 3D Ladar Imaging," Lincoln Laboratory Journal, vol. 16, no. 1, 2006, pp. 147–164.

2:  Alexandru N. Vasile et al., " Pose-Independent Automatic Target Detection and Recognition Using 3D Laser Radar Imagery," Lincoln Laboratory Journal, vol. 15, no. 1, 2005, pp. 61-78.

KEYWORDS: LIDAR, LADAR, Automated Feature Extraction (AFE), Aided Target Recognition (AiTR), Algorithm Development, Pattern Recognition, ATR, ISR, Event Detection, Onboard Processing 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform, Sensors 

OBJECTIVE: Propose and develop next generation hardware and waveform for the Encrypted Aircraft Wireless Intercom System (EAWIS) capable of supporting both voice and data while meeting a new mission time requirement of eleven hours. 

DESCRIPTION: The Medevac community has expressed interest in a wireless data bridge through the Blue Force Tracking (BFT) satellite network capable of sending live video of a patient to a doctor from an HH-60M Blackhawk helicopter. The existing EAWIS in the field can be linked to the BFT system but does not currently support a waveform capable of handling wireless data fast enough to support video. There are two existing manufacturers of encrypted wireless intercom systems certified for Type I communication. Neither company’s existing product can support data at a rate needed to broadcast live video. The new waveform must be resistant to Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) requirements per MIL-STD-461E, Radiated Susceptibility test RS-103, and Table 1A of MIL-STD-464 for deck operation on ships for rotary wing aircraft. The proposed system must support an operational time of 11 hours continuous audio transmittal assuming data packets of 1 TX, 7 RX, and 16 idle (~ 33%). The proposed system must perform one hour of continuous video (output only from user to BFT network) at a video resolution of 720p, 30 frames per second, with an output screen resolution of 1280x720 pixels within the eleven hours of continuous operation. The proposed system must support a USB input capable of providing the video resolution being broadcast by the medic. The system must allow a plug in module or a software upgrade to enable Type I encryption. 

PHASE I: This effort shall generate a feasibility study which defines whether an existing or new waveform can be built to the data and voice requirement in the 2.4 Ghz bandwidth of supporting duplex voice and data transmittal in the EMI environment defined above. The deliverable for Phase I shall be a report of the findings, a prototype waveform in a simulation environment demonstrating waveform capability, projected size, weight and power consumption, and a recommendation for a path forward. Size and weight projection must demonstrate a successor system for the handheld and aircraft mounted components that are equal or less than current component size and weight with battery life supporting eleven hours of operation. A new performance specification shall be delivered which identifies all of the new capabilities of the EAWIS. 

PHASE II: This effort shall build and produce a quantity of not more than four prototype hardware systems consisting of two handhelds and one base station per system capable of sending unencrypted voice and data through a proposed waveform compliant with the EMI environment requirements and prove out this capability in a lab. The hardware shall demonstrate the capability of inserting a Type I encryption capability. The hardware shall demonstrate simultaneous video and audio transmittal with a simulated encryption software to replicate processor load for one hour and continuous audio for ten hours for a total of eleven hours of operation. A new item specification for the EAWIS shall be delivered. A study shall be delivered outlining a program cost and schedule to introduce a Type I encryption module, certify the system for NSA Type I application, and bench test of the system for all performance requirements in the new item specification. All hardware developed under Phase II shall become the property of the US Government as a deliverable. Without the encryption module inserted, the system could easily be offered as a commercial product offering data and ICS capability to airline maintenance, fueling, or flight attendant duties. 

PHASE III: A Type I encryption module which enables Over The Air key fill of the handheld radio will be introduced as a plug in capability to the design created and tested in the Phase II program. The new system will enter the certification process for Type I encryption at the National Security Agency (NSA), test to the requirements of the item specification, and be integrated on the H-47 and H-60 series helicopters for development and operational testing. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Performance Specification for the Encryption Capable Aircraft Wireless Intercom System, document 780-LE68-PS02, revision G. (Uploaded in SITIS on 8/28/17)

KEYWORDS: Wireless Intercom, Waveform, Encryption, Audio, Video, Over The Air Key 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Human Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a Human Type Target (HTT) that increases realism (realistic portrayal of threat, threat escalation, and threat reduction), durability, and usability in the Urban Operations (UO) and Live Fire Training environment. An HTT is a stationary, physical, three dimensional, full body target designed to realistically portray a human being in the training domain. 

DESCRIPTION: The primary use case of the HTT would be used in an urban training environment (Shoot Houses, Combined Arms Tactical Training Facilities (CACTFs), etc.). The HTTs however could be deployed in any of the live fire training ranges as defined within Training Circular 25-8. The current human type target system needs to be reset (manually by a person) into the standing position between each engagement. This is a labor and time intensive process given the number of targets utilized in the training environments. The current Stationary Infantry Targets (SITs) require too much area space in the training area to use effectively and safely. Finally, most 3 dimension human-type targets are one piece construction and fall straight down, in an unrealistically manner, when they are engaged. The objectives of the research and development for the HTT are to: • Provide the means to reset to an initial condition from the engaged/dead position when commanded from the control system • Provide accurate hit detection in the lethal, non-lethal, and incapacitating zones • Provide the means to add or redefine the hit detection zones • Provide a system that can withstand the engagement of up to 5000 live fire rounds before needing major component replacement • Provide the means to define and begin from either a standing or sitting/crouching position, to change positions, and the provide a realistic body collapse from the position when engaged • Provide a means to replicate (provide visual cues of) an engagement in a non-lethal area The target must incorporate programmable hits to kill, hit detection capabilities, and hit zone definition. The HTT must be capable of integrating into a control systems. The HTT will be used in a live fire environment and must detect and be durable enough to sustain hits from 5.56mm Ball, Special Effects Small Arms Marking System (SESAM), and Short Range Training Ammunition (SRTA). The HTT must be capable of surviving live fire environments and be constructed from non-ricocheting, non-fragmenting and repairable materials. The HTT should be designed to support a product line ideology, where multiple configurations would be available, depending on the use-case. In addition, the HTT should be capable of the following: • Ability to be scenario driven • Provide two-way audio communication • Ability to add and implement Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) hit sensing (not subject to live fire events) • Ability to add and implement aim-able MILES shoot back (not subject to live fire events) • Execute actions/reactions based on scenario controls (O) • Incorporate the Non-Contact Hit Sensor (NCHS) technology (O) • Support evacuation of mannequin from area (O) • Support basic Combat Life Saver (CLS) actions (O) Requirements with an (O) indicate reach objectives and capabilities desired to be integrated into the system research and development. These additional objective capabilities should help steer the design and technology to support future evolution and future research initiatives. 

PHASE I: Study, research, and develop an architectural framework solution. Synchronization of work being completed by RDECOM, PM ITTS, PEO STRI and academia will be required. Determine feasibility of and conduct trade-off study (realism versus durability versus survivability) for material of target mannequin as well as falling and stand-up solutions. 

PHASE II: Perform initial capability for hit detection capability by dividing mannequin into lethal and non-lethal zones. Integrate audio communication, MILES hit sensing and shoot back, data connection capabilities, threat awareness, reaction, and scenario capabilities. Continue hit detection capability by making shot detection accurate within one centimeter and enabling the ability to specify number of hits to kill. 

PHASE III: Military application: Transition technology to the Army Program called Future Army System of Integrated Targets (FASIT). Commercial applications include game play applications and law enforcement applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: CEHNC 1110-1-23 - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Design Guide for the Sustainable Range Program

2:  Field Manual (FM) 3-06, Urban Operations

3:  PRF-PT-00468 Performance Specification for the Future Army System of Integrated Targets (FASIT

4:  Training Circular (TC) 25-8, Training Ranges

KEYWORDS: Human Type Target; Live Fire Training, Non-contact Hit Sensor; FASIT 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a novel new combat vehicle torsion bar system that can vary vehicle pitch, attitude, provide ride height management and wheel lockout capability for ground combat vehicles. This will allow combat vehicles to improve and/or regain lost mobility, provide additional tractive effort, increase ride quality and augment towing and recovery. 

DESCRIPTION: Current U.S. tracked combat vehicles use a torsion bar based suspension system. These systems are proven and provide the needed vehicle spring force at a reasonable cost to the platform. However, torsion bar technology offers very little adjustment to compensate for increased vehicle weights and does not offer newer features such as height management found on more complex suspension systems such as External Suspension Units (ESU’s). There have been limited advances in torsion bar technology over the years. This SBIR will develop new possibilities to increase the capabilities of torsion bars such as (but not limited to) adjustable anchors and dual rate torsion bars, for use in combat vehicle applications. The ability of these new torsion bar technologies would increase off-road mobility over a larger range in platform weights. For example, adjustable torsion bar anchor points can control vehicle ride height and pitch to increase transportability options or adjust for terrain conditions during operational maneuvers. Likewise, either this adjustable anchor or dual rate torsion bar could also provide a partial or full wheel lockout. Such technologies have previously existed only on ESU suspensions which offer these capabilities at increased cost and complexity. This SBIR will evaluate if novel, new torsion bar systems can be designed for ground combat vehicles which encapsulate the advantages of ESU’s characteristics, wheel lockout capability, as well as increased capability for ride height control. These new technologies would be specific only to the torsion bar system and would be independent of struts and damper modifications (i.e. out of scope) or damper type (traditional shock or rotary dampers). The addition of these features could be applied to the existing hull structures without major modifications as usually required by ESU technology. 

PHASE I: Develop a preliminary design of an on the move in vehicle adjustable torsion bar. The range of adjustment should be enough to allow ride height adjustment utilizing the full range of suspension travel. The feasibility, methodology, package size, power requirement, and amount of adjustability would be developed under this first phase. When Phase I is complete, a low risk preliminary design using packaging constraints, vehicle characteristics/weight from a current heavy combat platform (i.e. Abrams, or M88) will be complete. A cost and performance benefit report with comparisons to the stock vehicle suspension and an ESU style suspension will also be completed, along with an assessment of the capability increase this system potentially offers. 

PHASE II: Refine, fabricate and integrate the Phase I design onto a heavy combat platform. Perform a test and evaluation to determine the performance benefits these systems offer over the current torsion bar system. 

PHASE III: Make any required modifications that was discovered in phase II and prepare for commercialization. This design will be vehicle specific and have a design and integration approach that has been approved by the specific vehicle PM. 

REFERENCES: 

1: http://www.google.com/patents/US6779806

2:  Value stream 1 of the 30 year strategy (references ESU's but are usually to expensive) https://www.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/451990.pdf

3:  http://www.freeasestudyguides.com/torsion-bar-adjustment.html

4:  http://www.sleeoffroad.com/installation/torsionbar_adjustment.pdf

KEYWORDS: Keywords: Torsion Bar, Anchor, Ride Height Control, Improved Towing, Lift And Carry, M88, Abrams, Bradley 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: An autonomous system to assess inputs from sensors and allocate energy to functions in a facility to optimize usage for assets present, and to sense, report and respond to an event, track personnel, and sustain personnel and sensitive equipment. 

DESCRIPTION: Occupancy sensing technology has burgeoned for a decade, outpacing methods to apply sensed data to improve efficiency of energy usage. Technology is sought that autonomously gathers and processes information from various sensors to assess occupancy (personnel and materiel) of a facility, maintain inventory and tracking of these assets, and adjust environmental conditions to support them while minimizing energy usage. During an event, technology will reallocate power to respond to the emergency and minimize impact of that reallocation to assets present. Relevant state-of-the-art sensing technology ranges from complex IR systems (often cost-prohibitive for large scale networked implementation) to various simple motion detectors (low cost, but can present reliability limitations). All of these approaches require the deployment of new hardware, and vary in accuracy; motion detectors are qualitative, rather than quantitative, and exit/entry monitoring requires readers to be placed at all entrances. As a result, a variety of approaches have been evaluated but with scattered, inconsistent results. Occupancy assessment, however, does not necessarily require a designated suite of installed sensors, but can instead be assessed by analysis of knowledge-based inputs; i.e. computer usage, lighting levels, door key-card entry, telephone usage etc. Many of these metrics are monitored, but not integrated to a system that combines the inputs to generate occupancy profiles. Using contractor-selected sources of information, software solutions are sought that provide universal compatibility with sensors and affected assets and a useable management tool. A successful solution will have immediate applications in "smart" buildings that adjust to environmental conditions (lighting and temperature) to suit occupancy energy load demand. In addition to energy efficiency for fixed military installation applications there are significant opportunities to apply solutions to facility security and inventory management and control. The technology transition may extend from human occupancy for environmental conditioning, for example, to "machine" occupancy for remote inventory of equipment, security, and monitoring. The technology solution must be versatile enough to integrate information inputs in a rapid, real-time, and cost-effective marketable product. The focus of this effort is not an occupancy sensor, but a technical solution that derives situational awareness information (e.g., lighting and power drain (equipment on/off)) that can be used to detect and act upon occupancy/energy use/energy need/mission needs. 

PHASE I: Use small-scale testing and evaluation with selected sensors in four or more categories to demonstrate efficiency and to evaluate reliability of a program using sensor outputs to manage energy use by a set of military-relevant tasks and to sense and report faults in sensors and interacting utility service/components in functional structure to be selected IAW AFCEC guidance. 

PHASE II: Assemble a prototype system for field demonstration in a multifunctional facility operating in a relevant operating environment selected with AFCEC input. After the demo deliver the system to the Government for end-user evaluation. The prototype must control an HVAC system, allow user access to evaluate user-specific scenarios under adjustable assumptions, sense and report "errors," e.g., loss of electrical service, open breakers, smoke/fire, and respond as needed (e.g., failsafe door locks). 

PHASE III: Final product has market in energy-intensive industries, convention centers, office buildings, R&D labs. T/RH/IAQ control & depot inventory are routine; goal is one system to match energy use to changing environmental and materiel needs, monitor & report on infrastructure, secure site in blackout. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Virtual occupancy sensors for real-time occupancy information in buildings. Building and Environment, 93 (2), 2015, 9-20

2:  (Removed on 9/28/17.)

3:  Occupancy measurement in commercial office buildings for demand-driven control applications-A survey and detection system evaluation. Energy and Buildings, 93, 2015, 303-314

4:  Smart occupancy sensors to reduce energy consumption. Energy and Buildings, 32 (1), 2000, 81-87 (added on 9/28/17.)

KEYWORDS: Energy Management, Integrated, Software, Interior Environment, Sensor Integration, Sensors, Emergency Response 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors 

OBJECTIVE: Endpoint/host protection based on automated, signature-less (i.e. artificial intelligence based), malware detection algorithms run locally on hosts. 

DESCRIPTION: A solution is desired to autonomously detect and prevent zero-day and other exploits of Air Force hosts in real time with a passive, self-learning system from different sources (mail servers, boundary devices and other hosts). It should also be able to contain any found exploitation with the capability to remove and quarantine malicious code. The solutions should be based on self-learning, artificial intelligence algorithms, and not primarily on signatures. It must be capable of analyzing all static non-executables or interpreted documents and scripts in a minimum of Microsoft Office products, PDFs, bash scripts, powershell scripts, etc. The solution must be able to interact and report findings to existing SIEM (ArcSight) systems within 45 minutes. When malicious activity is detected, the solution must notify any existing SIEM systems and host-based agents of the attempted activity. The solution must be able to integrate with current AF enterprise Host Intrusion Protection Systems/Host Based Security Systems. The solution should be capable of running in an autonomous fashion if connectivity to a server is interrupted. It should have a high degree of fault tolerance and reliability during abnormal host events and/or disconnection, and if failure occurs it fails into a known safe state. The solution should be able to perform a Static Analysis of malware executables while minimizing the degradation of the host performance. The solution should provide the capability to inject customized instruction checks and perform Behavior Analysis on web requests and network traffic. The solution shall notify all other host-based agents of newly discovered malware threats. The solution must have the capability to detect malicious activity that have not been previously detected regardless of network connectivity. The solution must be able to protect itself if there is unauthorized manipulation/control of the host. Capability must support an out-of-band connection, with support that includes, but is not limited to bi-directional authentication, authorization and accounting that is secured via an encrypted command, control and data channel, and virtual LANs. Capability must be interoperable with virtualized environments. 

PHASE I: Provide a design for a laboratory scale version to demonstrate its proof of concept. Determine a method for verifying the capabilities of the design to detect and block malicious activity and demonstrate the results. 

PHASE II: Continuation of Phase I. Adapt the laboratory version to a full version which can be installed and run on actual or simulated hardware. Verify that this can be trained to detect and potentially block malicious activity with the goal of a false alarm rate less than 10%. This solution may only interface with a subset of existing AF SIEM products. 

PHASE III: Create a final version which can run autonomously on actual AF hardware and will detect and block malicious activity with the goal of a false alarm rate less than 2%. This must interface with any existing AF SIEM products. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Tamar Shafler. "Protecting the Endpoint Against Advanced Malware and Zero-Day Threats" IBM. March 10, 2015. https://securityintelligence.com/protecting-the-endpoint-against-advanced-malware-and-zero-day-threats/

2:  George Tubin. "Blocking zero-day application exploits: A new approach for APT prevention" HelpNetSecurity. April 3, 2013. https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2013/04/03/blocking-zero-day-application-exploits-a-new-approach-for-apt-prevention/

KEYWORDS: Zero Day, Endpoint, Malware, Detection, Malicious 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop cost-effective smart modules and/or smart antennas that can be bolt-on or added to TCDL transceivers on multiple platforms to enable simultaneous TCDL links at the same band. 

DESCRIPTION: Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL) supports omni-directional antennas. Omni directional antennas are lightweight and provide connectivity in all bearings. However, employing multiple frequency-separated omni-directional TCDL links in a congested and contested area results in waste of vital spectrum. Furthermore, those airborne assets carrying TCDL have an undesired vulnerability to unintended and intended interference. Due to advances in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radio [1], airborne line of sight MIMO [2], blind MIMO channel estimation [3,4], and blind interference mitigation [5], it is anticipated that a smart low-cost bolt-on module or a smart add-on antenna could increase spectral efficiency and reduce vulnerability to interference. A system that supports multiple TCDL links on the same frequency will need to have a simple applique on the TCDL transmit terminal and have a simple receive array to support spatial multiplexing. The TCDL links will need to maintain performance in when multiplex, thus, tight constraint should be imposed on the TCDL smart modules/antennas performance (e.g. 0.5 dB RF loss). Combining commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) mixed signal devices, analog and digital signal processing techniques, and advanced antennas can provide attractive cost (<$10K) per module/antenna while enhancing operational spectral efficiency and interference resistance levels. 

PHASE I: Phase I will study candidate designs for smart modules/antennas and their performance and anticipated SWAP-C for different con-ops. Phase I results should quantify the benefits of different approaches for varying link distances, interference levels, and scintillation environments using analysis and/or simulations, accounting for practical implementation constraints. Work with the government to identify the requirements for a Phase II demonstration. 

PHASE II: Implement the selected technology in hardware and demonstrate the gains at an AFRL test range. Present a path toward optimizing SWAP-C. Show compatibility among demonstrator systems and legacy (in-use systems) radios. 

PHASE III: Develop and deliver flight-qualified units with a complete RF system for transition to appropriate platforms. The product could be used in a variety of homeland security areas, such as border patrol and the Coast Guard. 

REFERENCES: 

1: M. J. Gans, "Aircraft free-space MIMO communications," in Proc. 43rd Asilomar Conf. on Signals, Systems and Computers, pp.663-666, Pacific Grove, CA, Nov. 1-4, 2009.

2:  W. Su, J. D. Matyjas, M. J. Gans and S. Batalama, "Maximum Achievable Capacity in Airborne MIMO Communications with Arbitrary Alignments of Linear Transceiver Antenna Arrays," in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, vol. 12, no. 11, pp. 5584-5593, November 2013. (Updated on 8/28/17)

3:  E. Serpedin, A. Chevreuil, G. B. Giannakis and P. Loubaton, "Blind channel and carrier frequency offset estimation using periodic modulation precoders," in IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, vol. 48, no. 8, pp. 2389-2405, Aug 2000. (Updated on 8/28/17)

4:  A. K. Jagannatham and B. D. Rao, "Whitening-rotation-based semi-blind MIMO channel estimation," in IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 861-869, March 2006. (Updated on 8/28/17)

5:  G. Okamoto and C. W. Chen, "Minimal complexity blind interference mitigation via Non-Eigen Decomposition beamforming," MILCOM 2008 - 2008 IEEE Military Communications Conference, San Diego, CA, 2008, pp. 1-7. (Updated on 8/28/17)

KEYWORDS: MIMO, Blind Channel Estimation, Spectral Efficiency 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Develop non-intrusive technologies for gas turbine exhaust temperature measurement that will enable future high performance engines. 

DESCRIPTION: The control and health management of modern turbine engines depends on sensing a wide variety of quantities throughout the engine, including temperatures, pressures, and vibration with different redundancy, reliability, and accuracy requirements. Exhaust gas temperature (EGT) is a critical parameter for gas turbine engine control and health management. EGT and other turbine temperature sensors are susceptible to degradation due to high temperature oxidation, erosion and contaminant intrusion into probes and wiring harnesses. Thermocouples acting as sensing elements provide microvolt signals that are easily affected by noise or other environmental factors. Military/commercial field experience indicates that gas path thermocouple removals affect aircraft availability and add maintenance time. Also, the adaptive engine of the future is driving the control system to outperform legacy design, and driving higher temperatures. “Best” entitlement for accuracy at higher than experience range 15-20F (20 deg temp margin ~1% thrust margin) allotment in redline stack is required. Additionally, calculated EGT entitlement is insufficient for future engine needs. Multicolor Pyrometers are not mature, complex, emissivity dependent, and expensive. With alternate technologies that use fiber optic technology to measure exhaust gas effects, measurement of significantly higher temperature should be possible. High temperature measurement requires innovation to survive the harsh environment while maintaining reliability, accuracy, ruggedness, and minimum size/weight/power. EGT sensors for military /commercial engines are located downstream from the highest temperature sections of the engine and can be used to infer the state/condition of the turbine blades/disks. As aircraft turbine engines continue to push the envelope on material capabilities, it is important to be able to sense how close to the material limits the system is operating. The new technology should be able to survive for the expected life of the engine between overhauls and measure temperatures in excess of 1600 degrees C (Life: 2000 EFH (immersive), 4000 Engine Flight Hours (EFH) ) (non-immersive). It is desired for the accuracy of the sensing systems to be 0.5% of full scale and stable over the life of the engine. Air temperature measurements in the exhaust gases must be taken outside of the wall boundary layer. Existing approaches for measuring EGT typically implement high temperature capability with thermocouples but extension to even higher temperatures is questionable. Other technologies that have been investigated include thin film thermocouples, pyrometers, spectroscopy, and radioactive isotope-based sensors. They are not mature, accurate or cost/effective for engine implementation. It is important that new technologies be ruggedized for installation in production aircraft. The high temperature measurement technology within the scope of this program should initially be developed for test cell demonstration and application. After successful technology demonstration and application in the test cell environment, other opportunities for Prognostics, Health management and controls may be considered. It is appropriate to design and fabricate a prototype EGT probe and interconnect system that is capable of passive testing in a turbine test rig on the ground. Bench testing the EGT probe in an environment that simulates engine operation should be accomplished. Demonstration of flight weight components and ruggedness of the system in Phase III will be critical for transition to insertion in a future program of record. It is recommended that that an engine or controls OEM be involved in the program to ensure future technology transition is facilitated. 

PHASE I: Work with at least one engine OEM to establish requirements for exhaust gas temperature measurement. Develop a new concept or adapt existing concepts for measuring exhaust gas temperature that meets the objectives of the system. Prove the feasibility of the concept through analysis and laboratory testing of representative devices. 

PHASE II: Based on the Phase I results, build and test a complete laboratory based EGT system that subjects the EGT sensors to realistic environments. Characterize the sensors with respect to accuracy and long term stability. 

PHASE III: Based on the Phase II & III (results & SOW), work with a sensor OEM to design and fabricate a prototype EGT probe (ground testing) in a turbine test rig. Bench test the EGT probe in an engine environment. Demonstration of flight weight components. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Alexander Von Moll, Alireza R. Behbahani, Gustave C. Fralick, John D. Wrbanek, and Gary W. Hunter. "A Review of Exhaust Gas Temperature Sensing Techniques for Modern Turbine Engine Controls", 50th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum, (AIAA 2014-3977) https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2014-3977.

2:  "Durable, Fiber-Optic Sensor for Gas Temperature Measurement in the Hot Section of Turbine Engines," Tregay, G., Calabrese, P., Finney, M., Stukey, K. Proc. SPIE 2295, Fly-by-Light, 156 (October 4, 1994).

3:  "Design of Fiber Optical High Temperature Sensors for Gas Turbine Monitoring," M. Willsch, T. Bosselmann, P. Flohr, R. Kull, A.G. Siemens, W. Ecke, I. Latka, and D. Fischer, and T. Thiel. Proc. SPIE 7503, 20th International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors, 75037R (Oct 5, 2009); doi: 10.1117/12.835875.

4:  "High-Density Fiber Optical Sensor and Instrumentation for Gas Turbine Operation Condition Monitoring," Hua Xia, Doug Byrd, Sachin Dekate, and Boon Lee. Journal of Sensors, Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 206738, 10 pages. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/206738

5:  "Sapphire Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor made using Femosecond Laser Radiation for Ultrahigh Temperature Applications," D. Grobnic, S. J. Mihailov, C.W. Smelser, and H. Ding. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, Vol 16, No. 11, pp. 2505-2507, 2004.

6:  "Self-Calibrated Interferometric-Intensity-Based Optical Fiber Sensors," A.Wang, H. Xiao, J. Wang, Z. Wang, W. Zhao, R. G. May. Journal of Lightwave Technology, Vol 19, No. 10, pp. 1495-1501, 2001.

7:  "Fiber-Optic Temperature Sensor Based on Internally Generated Thermal Radiation," M. Gottlieb and G. B. Brandt. Applied Optics, No. 19, Vol. 20, pp. 3408-3414, 1981.

KEYWORDS: EGT, Fiber Optics Sensing, Turbine Engine Control, PHM, Exhaust Gas Temperature 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Nuclear 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an ionic liquid or solid based electrolyte for lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries that is nonflammable, has a high ionic conductivity over a wide temperature range, and is electrochemically stable to ensure long battery lifetimes. 

DESCRIPTION: Rechargeable Lithium and Li-ion batteries can fail violently when subjected to an internal electrical short, are overheated, crushed, or when they are overcharged/overdischarged. Recent events such as the grounding of a commercial aircraft due to Li-ion battery fires demonstrate that the safety of Li-ion batteries is of major concern. Of particular interest are improvements in safety for Lithium and Li-ion batteries with the use of electrolytes based on nonflammable, room temperature ionic liquids or solids. These new batteries will demonstrate improved safety under various abuse/extreme conditions while also increasing the battery performance at military relevant operating temperatures (-40 to +75 degrees C), storage temperatures (-55 to +85 degrees C), and at high charge/discharge rates (capable of charging/discharging at greater than a 20C rate). These innovative solutions should also place an emphasis on reducing the acquisition costs of these alternative batteries to levels that will make them cost competitive with existing Li-ion, lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, and Lithium Thermal military batteries in terms of acquisition and life cycle. During Phase II, the offeror will produce a prototype battery for a chosen Air Force (AF)/ICBM application that involves on-demand power using the advanced electrolytes. The offeror will also compare the performance to the baseline battery system. The Phase II prototype should be delivered to the AF for additional testing and evaluation. At the end of the contract, the offeror should also demonstrate the prototype to outbrief technology advancements. 

PHASE I: Propose an innovative nonflammable electrolyte based on room temp ionic liquids or solids for rechargeable Lithium or Li-ion batteries. Lithium or Li-ion batteries will have equivalent or better energy & power density capability in relation to current high-rate Li-ion technology. Present experimental & other data to demonstrate feasibility of innovative solution. Prepare initial transition plan. 

PHASE II: Produce an alternative safer Li-ion battery using the developed nonflammable electrolytes for use in an Air Force/ICBM on-demand power application (TBD during Phase I). The prototype battery or module size will also be determined during Phase I. Provide cost projection data to substantiate the design, performance, operational range, acquisition, and life cycle costs. Refine transition plan and business case analysis. 

PHASE III: The military applications include aircraft emergency and pulse power, electric tracked vehicles, unmanned systems, hybrid military vehicles, and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Commercial applications include hybrid and electric vehicles, portable electric drills, etc. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Matsui, Y., Kawaguchi, S., Sugimoto, T., Kikuta, M., Higashizaki, T., Kono, M., Yamagata, M., and Ishikawa, M., "Charge-Discharge Characteristics of a LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 Cathode in FSI-based Ionic Liquids," Electrochemistry, Vol. 80 (2012) pp. 808-811.

2:  Balducci, A., et al., "Development of safe, green and high performance ionic liquids-based batteries (ILLIBATT project)," J. Power Sources, Vol. 196 (2011) pp. 9719-9730.

3:  Damen, L., Lazzari, M., and Mastragostino, M., "Safe lithium-ion battery with ionic liquid-based electrolyte for hybrid electric vehicles," J. Power Sources, Vol. 196 (2011) pp. 8692-8695.

KEYWORDS: Lithium, Lithium-ion, Batteries, Non-flammable, Ionic Liquid, Electrolyte, Safety 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate a 30kW refrigerant-air condenser design with 50 percent improvement in volumetric heat transfer capacity and no more than 10 percent increase in pressure drop per kW of heat exchanged compared to state-of-the- art compact condensers. 

DESCRIPTION: Advances in manufacturing techniques and heat transfer enhancement schemes have enabled realization of heat exchanger designs with high thermal load capacity in small volumetric footprints. Emerging heat exchanger technologies such as advanced channel geometries, surface modifications (e.g., split dimples [1]), active flow manipulation (e.g., synthetic jets [2] or oscillating surfaces [3]) and conformal structurally integrated core architectures [4, 5] can be combined to obtain significant improvements in heat exchanger energy density. When combined with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and heat transfer tools, novel heat transfer enhancement approaches, channel configurations, and packaging can be customized to suit specific applications, constraints, and operating conditions. The possibility also exists to incorporate heat exchangers in irregular and/or confined spaces, thereby providing maximum utilization of volume real estate. Additionally, passive flow manipulation geometries and channel designs can be optimized for heat transfer and pressure losses, which can reduce or even eliminate the efficiency and capacity penalties associated with flow devices contained in highly confined volume envelopes. The incorporation of game-changing, high capacity vapor cycle systems (VCS) onboard both future and current aircraft hinges on the ability to occupy the smallest volume possible, and acquire, transport, and reject waste heat from electronics, crew, and weapon systems. However, increasing air vehicle loads require evaporators and condensers (especially if air-cooled) that occupy prohibitively large volumes, which decreases the available space for mission systems, fuel, and weapons. This represents a serious capability shortfall in which the thermal management system (TMS) is unable to scale to meet new, more severe mission demands. The intent of this program is to both improve capacity and reduce integration risks associated with VCS in future or current aircraft by significantly reducing the volume footprint of two-phase heat exchangers. There are two approaches that can be combined to attain this objective: 1. Enhanced energy density (compared to conventional plate-fin designs); this could be achieved by leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques and flow regime-tailored heat transfer intensification schemes 2. Conformal geometry permitting the UCHX to be designed around available space in the equipment bay; this will likely require advanced manufacturing techniques - such as additive manufacturing - to realize irregular, non-rectilinear shapes. The viability of this technology will be demonstrated by development of a subscale, air-cooled condenser prototype with 30 kW capacity, and having an enhanced volumetric energy density of no less than 50 percent, and increased pressure drop (per kW capacity) of no greater than 10 percent, as compared to currently employed state-of-the-art aerospace air condenser designs (typically plate-fin cross-flow) at a variety of representative operating conditions. Because utilizing air as a sink requires considerable volume, the technical concepts, fabrication methodologies and design practices developed in this program will open multiple transition paths to high-capacity TMS onboard future air vehicle architectures without requiring additional volume real estate. This technology could also be applied to improve the energy density of other HX types, including evaporators, cold plates, air-air HXs, and air-liquid HXs. Coordination and/or partnership with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), first tier subsystem company and/or weapons system company (WSC) in order to gain insight into realistic operational requirements is highly encouraged. 

PHASE I: Design viable UCHX design solutions for a notional aerospace air-R134a condenser. The deliverables are: 1. Fabrication protocol for HX; demonstrate manufacturing capability to produce heat exchanger channels and integrated heat transfer enhancement structures 2. Candidate UCHX design to be compared against baseline air-R134a condenser. 

PHASE II: Produce full-scale prototype of selected UCHX design to compare to current baseline. Prototype testing will demonstrate satisfaction of heat exchanger performance targets and compliance with the volume and integration restrictions in a representative HX equipment bay environment. Deliverables include final report, technical documentation for UCHX prototype, prototype testing results, and fabricated UCHX prototype. 

PHASE III: This is an enabling technology for upgrading heat sink capacity, while reducing cost and schedule risks associated with insertion of new equipment in the airframe due to reduced volume requirements. These same benefits extend to most weapon systems where heat exchangers are critical to operation. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Elyyan, M.A., Tafti, D.K., "A novel split-dimple interrupted fin configuration for heat transfer augmentation," Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 52 (2009) 1561-1572.

2:  Yu, Y., Simon, T.W., Zhang, M., Yeom, T., North, M.T., and Cui, T., "Enhanced heat transfer in air-cooled heat sinks using piezoelectrically-driven agitators and synthetic jets," Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 68 (2014) 184-193.

3:  Leal, L., Miscevic, M., Lavieille, P., Amokrane, M., Pigache, F., Topin, F., Nogarede, B., and Tadrist, L., "An overview of heat transfer enhancement methods and new perspectives: focus on active methods using electroactive materials," Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 61 (2013) 505-524.

4:  Thompson, S.M., Aspin, Z.S., Shamsaei, N., Elwany, A., and Bian, L., "Additive manufacturing of heat exchangers: a case study on a multi-layered Ti-6Al-4V oscillating heat pipe," Additive Manufacturing 8 (2015) 163-174.

5:  Norfolk, M., and Johnson, H., "Solid-state additive manufacturing for heat exchangers," J. Manufacturing 67 (2015) 655-659.

6:  AF173-006 SITIS Q&A with accompanying tables. (Uploaded in SITIS on 9/15/16)

KEYWORDS: Heat Exchangers, Air-air, Thermal Management 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Take recent mathematical advances in use by the movie animation industry for creating subdivision surfaces and extend to three dimensions for use in CFD and CSM solvers to enable high-fidelity hypersonic vehicle design. 

DESCRIPTION: The current state of hypersonic computational fluid dynamic solvers being used by the Air Force, other DOD members, and NASA require structured order numerical methods to accurately predict aerodynamic performance and heat transfer for flight and reentry greater than Mach 6. This results in the requirement for generating structured meshes for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and computational structure mechanics (CSM) solvers to capture the sharp gradients found in their solution. These types of grids allow for the required C1 (continuous in the first spatial derivatives) and C2 (continuous in the second spatial derivatives) continuity required by hypersonic CFD solvers. Tetrahedral mesh geometries although easy to create automatically have great difficulty in ensuring the C1 and C2 continuity throughout the entire solution domain. Making this one of the major causes of tetrahedral grid generation not working well for current industry CFD solvers used for hypersonic flow calculations. Current state of the art technology for structured mesh generation requires significant man hours that now take longer than the time CFD solvers use to compute hypersonic flows with the full Navier-Stokes equations. This significantly limits the capability of the high-fidelity analysis tools to impact the design cycle of hypersonic systems. Automation of the process to allow for seamless adaption to changes in the CAD (Computer Aided Design) definition of the hypersonic system are a requirement to close this gap. The animation industry has closed this gap in regards to model generation of movie characters and the actors controlling the motions of said characters. One example is the Pixar Opensubdiv library that automatically creates subdivision surfaces as the structured discretization domain for image rendering based off of parameterized character models. This surface rendering technology along with recent mathematical advances in creating a union between Non-Uniform Rational Basis Splines (NURBS) and sub-division geometry can finally allow for fully coupled definition between CAD software definitions and discretized definitions required by CFD solvers. The work to be conducted in this SBIR would be to fold these technologies into a grid generation software tool that is completely driven by parametric representation such as found in modern CAD software that will allow for easy exchange between the CAD and CFD/CSM environment. The tool should employ a smoothing strategy that guarantees C1 and C2 even for multi-point mesh singularities. The mesh should then be defined as parametric system. In addition, an external library with open source licensing is to be developed to allow automated creation of discretized domains for current CFD and CSM solvers from this parametric definition. This library must also create the grid in a partitioned distributed memory format compatible with CFD solvers that are utilized on large scale cluster systems. The CFD solver must then be allowed to communicate back discretization requirements that then the library will use to refine the solution domain and send it back to the CFD solver. This should also allow for user defined perturbations (control surface deflections or optimization corrections) to the underling parametric definition and automatically discretize the domain to this new requirement. 

PHASE I: Develop strategy for implementation of automated discretization process and survey CFD/CSM solvers to identify types of data memory formats required by CFD solvers to ensure compatibility. Outline initial math for representation of parametric volumes, surfaces and curves. Demonstrate discretization and smoothing methodology on curve and surface geometries. 

PHASE II: Extend methodologies developed in Phase I to volume geometries. Take government reference hypersonic vehicle CAD geometries defined by NURBS, generate parametric grid volume definition, and create distributed structured discretized domain holding C1 and C2 continuity. Demonstrate capability for grid refinement and perturbations to parametric definition of underlying CAD definition of hypersonic geometry. Develop external library for coupling to Navier-Stokes CFD solver. Demonstrate automated grid creation and execution of CFD solver. 

PHASE III: Commercialization of software and release of open source library for beta testing to small working group demonstrating capability on multiple hypersonic geometries. 

REFERENCES: 

1: http://graphics.pixar.com/opensubdiv/docs/intro.html.

2:  McDonnell, K.T., et al. "Subdivision Volume Splatting," Eurographics/IEEE-VGTC Symposium on Visualization, 2007.

3:  Cashman T.J., "NURBS-compatible subdivision surfaces," University of Cambridge, Technical Report UCAM-CL-TR-733 (2010).

4:  Bajaj, C., et al. " A subdivision scheme for hexahedral meshes," The Visual Computer, 18, 343-356 (2002).

KEYWORDS: Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Computational Fluid Mechanics (CFM), Hypersonic, Vehicle Design, Computational Grids 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms 

OBJECTIVE: Develop affordable, high-temperature Carbon / Carbon composite materials that will reduce the manufacturing cost of critical launch vehicle components. 

DESCRIPTION: Two high-payoff areas for space launch applications in terms of performance are lowering the design weight and improving the high-temperature capabilities of advanced materials. Composites have become the material of choice for many applications because of their significant weight savings compared to conventional metallic structures. Improving the high temperature capability of composites while maintaining affordability has been more difficult to achieve and still remains a key objective. In solid rocket motors, structural components for which affordable, lighter-weight, high-temperature composites would provide the greatest payoff are cases, nozzles, and insulation. In liquid rocket motors, improved high-temperature capability offers the greatest payoff for thrust chambers, nozzles, and nozzle extensions. Carbon fiber /Carbon matrix composite materials are already in use on launch vehicles (e.g., RL10 nozzle extensions); however, the material and/or components are mostly procured from foreign suppliers. Initiatives are underway to develop high temperature Carbon / Carbon materials in the U.S. that can compete with foreign suppliers; however key technical and affordability challenges need to be overcome. One of these challenges is oxidation protection. Carbon / Carbon materials are vulnerable to oxidation at high temperatures and the current state-of-the-art SiC conversion coating process is a significant cost driver. This solicitation seeks to develop an enhanced SiC matrix that does not require high temperature furnaces or specialized coating retort tooling to make Carbon / Carbon materials oxidation resistant. If successful, this technology could enable affordable domestic production of Carbon / Carbon solid and liquid rocket engine components. Technology Need Date: 2023 (EELV Phase III) 

PHASE I: IA. Identify current / future launch vehicle components that could benefit from enhanced SiC matrix technology together with projected savings in lifecycle cost. IB. Develop manufacturing process plan, beginning with raw material procurement to end item production, including intermediate steps for material property validation, inspection, and quality control. 

PHASE II: IIA. Demonstrate manufacturing process for selected prototype structure, evaluate process scalability, and refine production cost estimates. IIB. Qualify process using building block approach, including generation of material allowables per CMH-17 for critical failure modes and analysis/testing to validate capability under flight environments (e.g., oxidation resistance). 

PHASE III: IIIA. Conduct full-scale,hot-fire test of prototype structure on representative rocket engine or motor. IIIB. Assess scalability for other aerospace or commercial applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Composites Materials Handbook-17 (CMH-17) Revision G.

2:  Thompson, J., "High Melt Carbon-Carbon Coating for Nozzle Extensions," NASA NTRS Technical Report 20160005370, 1 August 2015.

3:  3. "Mechanical Properties and Performance of Engineering Ceramics and Composites: A Collection of Papers Presented at the 29th International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites, Jan 23-28, 2005, Cocoa Beach, FL, Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings, Vol 26, Issue 2.

4:  Wachtman Jr., John B., et al., "Chapter 30. Oxidation Kinetics of Enhanced SiC/SiC," Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference on Composites, Advanced Ceramics, Materials, and Structures – B: Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings, Vol 16, Issue 5, 26 Mar 2008.

KEYWORDS: Launch Vehicle, Liquid Rocket Engine, Solid Rocket Motor, Nozzle, Skirt, Carbon-carbon, Silicon-carbide, Composites, Coatings, High Temperature Environments, Thermal Protection, Durability, Materials Selection 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an analytical capability to overcome challenges inherent in predicting potential influencing factors, performance, and mission effectiveness within complex, multi-domain challenges that the future USAF will face. 

DESCRIPTION: Development Planning efforts across the Air Force include gap analysis, emerging technology assessments, war-gaming, experimentation, performance analysis, operational analysis, requirement development, acquisition strategies, and investment strategies. In general, these efforts aim to inform investment decisions by estimating the cost and mission capability of potential alternatives. Despite these efforts, the Air Force has had mixed results in identifying multi-domain problem elements which have the largest impacts on mission success. One reason for the mixed results is that the Air Force needs to evaluate a vast number of cross-domain solutions and strategies in order to have confidence in its understanding of the trade-space. During Development Planning, the vast number of potential solutions are often difficult, if not impossible, to evaluate using sophisticate methods, like simulations, due to resource and computation limitation. An alternative to more sophisticate methods could include Bayesian networks. Bayesian networks have long been utilized to understand the probabilistic relationship between a set of variables and the relationship that may or may not exist between them. They can be a powerful tool for identifying the key interactions in complex systems and for evaluating alternative approaches to achieving an end goal. An important, poorly understood, limitation of current applications of Bayesian networks is the implied assumption that the conditional probabilities embedded in the network all have approximately similar uncertainty. Efforts here will seek to develop a toolset across the materiel and non-materiel spectrum that will extend approaches like the Bayesian networks to include the uncertainty in the conditional probabilities enabling a more precise understanding of those larger system elements that have the greatest overall influence on success or failure. For example, current Analysis of Alternatives tools do not include selected technology readiness level impacts on the solution. Further work will develop a toolset that provides straightforward inclusion of confidence/uncertainty levels into the Bayesian network analysis approach to predicting performance of complex systems. This would have a wide range of applications to include areas as diverse as: Improved health diagnostic tools, Analysis of Alternatives tools, performance analysis of complex systems, and multi-domain mission effectiveness analysis. 

PHASE I: Develop and demonstrate a methodology to extend Bayesian networks (or another innovative approach) by including uncertainty in conditional probabilities. Provide general descriptions of how such a methodology could be applied to the Air Force’s development planning process and an example of how it could be used to estimate the effectiveness of alternatives. 

PHASE II: Implement a Bayesian network (or another innovative approach) into a delivered tool to evaluate, understand, and predict key influential technology areas within a multi-domain, Air Force centric, future challenge. Demonstrate and validate the utility of such a tool to predict emerging concepts along the materiel and non-materiel spectrum that are most influential to the successful of a campaign and thus deserving of further investigation and/or maturation. Ideally this tool should run on a high-performance windows operating system laptop or desktop; however, a LINUX based operating system is also acceptable. 

PHASE III: The technology developed in Phase I and demonstrated in Phase II will have application throughout government and industry. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Glenny, V., "A Framework for the Statistical Analysis of Probability of Mission Success Based on Bayesian Theory." (2014). Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) report number ADA610732. http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA610732

2:  Uusitalo, L., "Advantages and Challenges of Bayesian Networks in Environmental Modelling." Ecological Modelling, 203(3), 312-318. (2007).

3:  Chan, H., and Darwiche, A., "When do numbers really matter?" Proceedings of the Seventeenth Conference on Uncertainty in Artificial Intelligence (pps. 65-74), Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc. (August 2001).

KEYWORDS: Measures Of Effectiveness, System(s)-of-systems, Bayesian Nets, Probabilistic-based Methods 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop methodologies for modeling the lifecycle cost of different Digital Engineering ecosystem configuration options, including IT/network infrastructure, software tools, data warehousing, data management, user interfaces, and associated CONOPS. 

DESCRIPTION: Digital Engineering (DE), Digital Systems Model (DSM), Digital Thread (DT), and Digital Twin (DTw) are emerging concepts within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to improve the acquisition, management, and engineering of defense systems throughout their lifecycles. These four concepts are interrelated and involve an emphasis on the use of digital data and models. Bringing these concepts to fruition requires an ecosystem linking analysis tools, data, and personnel through the use of IT/network infrastructure; document, data, and model management; and digital workflows. Many different USAF organizations will be involved in providing elements of the ecosystem and exercising elements of DE. Furthermore, there are many options for building the ecosystem and providing DE capability. While specific stakeholders have the ability to estimate costs for certain pieces of the ecosystem, there is no capability to assess costs at an enterprise level or to assess costs for different ecosystem configuration and CONOPS options. Therefore, the goal of this project is to create a capability to estimate costs of specific ecosystem configurations and CONOPS on a stakeholder-by-stakeholder basis and to compare and contrast options for strategic cross-organization discussions. One example of an element of the DE ecosystem is Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) capability for managing product lifecycle information. There are a number of options for providing PLM capability to a given System Program Office (SPO), and each SPO will have different requirements for PLM based on lifecycle strategy, current lifecycle stage, and availability of PLM data. A methodology to identify the options for meeting each SPO's requirement and comparing the cost and capability implications of each option for the SPO and enterprise stakeholders is desired. The solution developed will result in tangible delivery of a computer-based tool to develop estimates of lifecycle cost for each of the stakeholders involved in providing Digital Engineering capability to the USAF based upon presumed configurations/CONOPS. The tool may consist of any of several types of computer-based tools, including an executable windows-based software package, a web-browser-based tool, or a plug-in or module that runs inside a widely available commercial software package. 

PHASE I: Identify existing DoD IT capabilities which may contribute to the desired DE capability; identify associated stakeholders/cost centers. Identify capability gaps and options to deliver desired capability tailored by SPO. Define specific use cases to appropriately scope the effort in Phase I and demonstrate the ability to integrate disparate DE ecosystem elements into a tailored cost model. 

PHASE II: Develop, prototype, validate and demonstrate the proposed DE ecosystem lifecycle cost modeling tool. Demonstrate the system using a predetermined list of DE capability gaps and SPOs from Phase I. 

PHASE III: As Digital Engineering becomes more widespread, the technology developed in Phase I and demonstrated in Phase II will be used by government and industry to determine their respective cost effective Digital Engineering ecosystems. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "An Element of Digital Engineering Practice in Systems Acquisition," Robert A. Gold, 19th Annual NDIA Systems Engineering Conference, Springfield, VA, Oct 26, 2016.

2:  http://www.acq.osd.mil/se/initiatives/init_de.html - Digital Engineering Initiative Homepage, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Engineering (accessed on Feb 13, 2017).

3:  "Digital Thread and Twin for Systems Engineering: Requirements to Design." Zweber, J. V., Kolonay, R. M., Kobryn, P., and Tuegel, E. J., 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting (p. 0875) (2017).

4:  "Digital Thread and Twin for Systems Engineering: Design to Retirement." Tuegel, E. J., Kobryn, P., Zweber, J. V., and Kolonay, R. M., 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting (p. 0876) (2017).

KEYWORDS: Digital Engineering, Digital Thread, Lifecycle Cost, Product Lifecycle Information 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: To develop multi-source navigation algorithms to ensure weapons grade navigation capability for weapons systems in Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2AD) environments. This will address the need for Global Positioning System (GPS)-denied, A2AD over-land and/or over-water cooperative navigation capability applicable to low cost munitions. 

DESCRIPTION: When access to GPS is denied, weapons can share relevant measurements and make inter-weapon measurements to provide improved mid-course navigation accuracy compared to single weapon inertial navigation system (INS) performance. Recent hardware advancements allow for accurate inter-agent range measurements; there is also potential for range rate, bearing, and bearing rate measurements. We seek a general decentralized navigation software framework capable of leveraging these and other measurements. The proposed solution should provide both an accurate local frame navigation solution (i.e. each agents’ position relative to its peers) and a reduction in global position uncertainty for the cooperating agents when compared to the single agent case. The cooperative navigation algorithm shall be implemented in a decentralized manner in the sense that it should not be expected that all sensor measurements are available to all agents at all times or even at a single centralized processor. If GPS or other georeferenced sources become available to any agents, the navigation algorithm should incorporate this information without requiring these sources to maintain a functional navigation solution. Preference will be given to proposals that are theoretically sound and approaches that are applicable to a wide range of vehicle and sensor types and performance characteristics. Approaches with more limited application will be considered but these limitations must be clearly defined. However, approaches that support heterogeneous groups of weapons are encouraged. Flexible estimation systems, ones that could be leveraged on a number of different platforms (with minimal modification), will be viewed favorably. Additionally, the estimation framework should also support graceful degradation of the cooperative INS solution to the single INS case. This effort should focus on navigation algorithm software development instead of hardware development. For proof-of-concept development and testing, inter-agent measurements that are computed from GPS and telemetry data may be used in place of actual measurements. However, any inter-agent measurements should be justified as feasible with additional hardware development. Communication data rates, robustness to intermittent or permanent loss of communication to one or more agents, and specific network connectivity requirements will also be taken into account. Proposals shall provide a representative concept of operations (CONOPS) appropriate for their proposed method along with the underlying system assumptions including sensors to be used and associated sensor qualities, frequency of any geo-registered data (i.e. GPS or registration of known features), number and trajectory of vehicles, and communication bandwidth required. The CONOPS and proposed technical work detailed in the proposal should be commensurate and the proposal shall provide anticipated navigation accuracy in both the global frame and relative frame (i.e. position of vehicles with respect to each other) for the associated CONOPS. For systems anticipating geo-referenced measurement inputs, the anticipated root-mean squared (RMS) global position error and 95th percentile error is appropriate (alternatively, the one and three sigma positioning uncertainty values). For systems with no geo-referenced feedback, or long time periods between geo-referenced feedback, the proposal should provide anticipated RMS (or one and three sigma) for positioning error as a function of time, or distance traveled, since last geo-update. Additionally, the anticipated RMS position error and 95th percentile error (or one and three sigma) for relative frame accuracy should also be included. The anticipated accuracies should be framed in terms of goal accuracies (what the program would aim to achieve) and required accuracies (accuracies which need to be met in order to claim program success) for the proposed CONOPS. It is understood that there are many trades within this research space, the proposal should be viewed as an opportunity to explain at least one CONOPS where the proposed solution is relevant and the expected performance this program would provide within that relevant environment. Finally, if the proposed development has anticipated non-military use cases, these should also be stated in the proposal. 

PHASE I: Phase I should focus on navigation algorithm development with implementation in simulation. Software in-the-loop (SIL)/ hardware in-the-loop (HIL) or proof-of-concept hardware results are encouraged, but not required. The effort should clearly identify the effectiveness of the system, minimum sensor quality requirements (e.g. noise, resolution, etc.), communication requirements, and system limitations. No Gov’t materials, equipment data, or facilities will be used. 

PHASE II: Phase II should focus on improvements to the navigation algorithm and real-time proof-of-concept hardware demonstrations and SIL/HIL testing as necessary. Plans for future partnering or internal development of inter-agent measurement hardware/software should be addressed, supporting transition potential for Phase III (planning done in Phase II). 

PHASE III: The technology developed for this effort shall be demonstrated on weapons systems or appropriate surrogate systems (TRL 6/7) using sensor hardware capable of making the required inter-agent measurements or partner with a company that has an existing solution toward transitioning the technology to appropriate cooperative munition program(s). 

REFERENCES: 

1: Rajnikant Sharma and Clark Taylor. "Vision Based Distributed Cooperative Navigation for MAVs in GPS denied areas", AIAAInfotech@Aerospace Conference,Infotech@Aerospace Conferences, 2009. doi:10.2514/6.2009-1932.

2:  V. Indelman, P. Gurfil, E. Rivlin and H. Rotstein, "Graph-based cooperative navigation using three-view constraints: Method validation," Position Location and Navigation Symposium (PLANS), 2012 IEEE/ION, Myrtle Beach, SC, 2012, pp. 769-776. doi: 10.1109/P

3:  B. Kim et al., "Multiple relative pose graphs for robust cooperative mapping," Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2010 IEEE International Conference on, Anchorage, AK, 2010, pp. 3185-3192. doi: 10.1109/ROBOT.2010.5509154.

4:  J. Pentzer and E. Wolbrecht, "Improving autonomous underwater vehicle navigation using inter-vehicle ranging," Oceans, 2012, Hampton Roads, VA, 2012, pp. 1-8. doi: 10.1109/OCEANS.2012.6404994.

KEYWORDS: Multi-source Navigation Algorithms 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Develop energetic formulations that can function as a propellant and an explosive yet satisfy insensitive munition requirements. 

DESCRIPTION: Next generation munitions addressing technology gaps, particularly for Air Superiority, are anticipated to generate higher lethality from smaller systems likely requiring advanced technology and potentially alternative approaches. One approach would be to develop an energetic formulation that is capable of serving as a common energy source which can be exploited as a fuel for propulsion to get the system to the target with the remainder used to provide the target defeat mechanism. This approach has the potential to alter the paradigm of missile/munition design since it increases system flexibility by allowing additional thrust control in the terminal encounter and/or utilizing the larger surface area of a case to mimic a larger warhead for either blast or fragment distribution near a target. While the energetic crystals within propellants and explosives are often similar indicating dual-mode potential, the formulations are different and optimized for their respective application. [1,2,3] Propellants are optimized to have certain burn rates and mechanical properties over a broad range of temperatures [-65°F to 165°F] in order to produce desired thrust in a controlled manner. For example, propellant formulations seek to avoid cracking that may occur with thermal-cyclic loading because a crack will result in a catastrophic failure since the propellant burn-rate will accelerate out of control and potentially detonate prematurely. The focus of this effort is on developing formulations that are capable of producing the desired thrust over a broad range of temperatures and yet can be easily detonated upon command when needed. The formulations will also need to consider requirements for passing insensitive munition requirements. [4] 

PHASE I: Identify potential formulations that are capable of functioning as both a propellant and an explosive. Ideally, formulations will have a controlled burn rate, sensitive to pressure or some other throttling mechanism, yet can be detonated with the minimal initiation train. Initial characterization of the burn-rate and mechanical properties. 

PHASE II: Detailed validation and systematic parametric sensitivity of formulations through mechanical property and burn-rate characterization over a broad range of temperatures and pressures. Assess the feasibility of passing IM requirements. Demonstration of dual-mode energetic material within a representative configuration. Demonstration would consist of burning the material with a motor, extinguishing burn, and detonating residual energetic material. 

PHASE III: Within a Phase III effort it is anticipated that the small business would partner with a prime contractor to form a team that includes pertinent government representatives for guidance. Multiple near-term munition concepts may benefit from a dual-mode energetic and the team would tailor the energetic to the promising concepts. This process would involve assessments of how current designs (geometry, initiation, etc.) could be modified to exploit the dual-mode material as well as envision new designs based on performance. Additionally, the material would be evaluated to determine the feasibility of the energetic material to boost efficiency of secondary reactions within cases. Advanced demonstrations conducted by prime or sub-prime contractors in partnership with the small business and in coordination with the government would reveal advantages of the dual-mode energetic and create a commercialization path. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Goedert, Z., Sieg, G., Scale-up Of Cl-20 Propellant Formulations. Desensitization Of Cl-20, Accession Number: CPIAC-2009-0031CD, April 2009

2:  Mason, M., et. al., Performance and Fragment Impact Testing of PBXC-135, an Insensitive CL-20 Based Plastic-Bonded Explosive, Accession Number: ADB403398, August 2014

3:  Mason, M., et. al., Pbxc-135: A Reduced-sensitivity, High-performance, Plastic-bonded Explosive Based On Cl-20, Accession Number: CPIAC-2008-0006AH, May 2008

4:  MIL-STD-2105D Hazard Assessment Tests for Non-nuclear Munitions

KEYWORDS: Dual-mode Energetics, Multi-mode Energetics, Multi-purpose Energetics, Dual-purpose Energetics, CL-20, HMX, RDX, Dual-mode Munitions, Multi-use Explosives, Advanced Propellants 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: To improve sensor survivability and operations by developing blocking technologies that protect detectors from damaging/blinding spikes in signal intensity. 

DESCRIPTION: Many insects have very wide field-of-view (FOV) compound eyes that can see almost everywhere at once enabling them to maintain situational awareness, disambiguate optical flow, etc. This feature has a potential drawback, however, since the sun (or moon) is often going to be in their FOV, which can damage photosensitive cells and/or significantly reduce sensitivity in that region of their vision. As is common, however, such animals have evolved a clever mechanism for dealing with this problem: they have blocking pigments that move in response to bright sources, optically reducing or blocking the bright signal in the affected region of their FOV while maintaining sensitive vision in unaffected regions. New multi-aperture optical systems are leading to novel weapon seeker concepts that have very wide FOVs and therefore may have to deal with bright sources such as the sun that can damage focal plane arrays and cause significant undesirable effects such as blooming. This topic solicits innovative approaches to addressing this issue for wide FOV multi-aperture optical systems. The system must be able to quickly respond to bright sources by blocking or reducing the energy in that region of the FOV while maintaining sensitive imaging capability elsewhere. Such a system may also present the opportunity to establish an optical communication channel with another object in the FOV, which is of interest. Current state of the art for the visible band implements an approximate 1010 reduction in intensity in a ±3º exclusion zone within a ±45º field of view. The Air Force will prioritize novel concepts that at least double this field of view while maintaining similar optical performance. Response time for switching the optical exclusion zone of < 100µs is desired. The Air Force anticipates that no government furnished property will be required for the effort and that all development will take place at the contractor facilities. 

PHASE I: Develop the concept and preliminary design. Build a breadboard system to test and demonstrate the concept. The preliminary design should be consistent with an optical sensor for a small unmanned vehicle with total volume < 70 in3 excluding any needed power source. 

PHASE II: Further develop the Phase I system and create a prototype design. Build the prototype system and test. Demonstrate the capability and deliver the prototype. 

PHASE III: Partner with industry partner to develop the Phase II prototype into a commercial product and market it. Commercial applications may include automotive and non-military aerospace sectors. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Stavenga, Doekele G. "Pigments in compound eyes." Facets of vision. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 1989. 152-172.

2:  Ribi, Willi A. "Ultrastructure and migration of screening pigments in the retina of Pieris rapae L.(Lepidoptera, Pieridae)." Cell and tissue research 191.1 (1978): 57-73.

KEYWORDS: Sensor Survivability, Optical Communication Channel 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms 

OBJECTIVE: Develop materials with greater strength and resilience for spacecraft structures and mechanisms. 

DESCRIPTION: Metallic Glass is a relatively new class of materials that can have the rare combination of strength, resilience and toughness. It is a metal alloy that formed by a particular schedule of rapid heating and cooling that results in a disorganized, partially crystalized structure verses the organized crystalline structure of typical metals and alloys. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency funded research in this area with a grant to a collaboration of USC, Cal Tech and the Jacobs School of Engineering (grant HDTRA1-11-1-0067). They showed that certain formulations have an elastic limit that exceeds stainless steel by a factor of nearly 100 and silicon carbide by a factor of two. Such a material may have additional space application in booster, adapter, and engine structures where high elastic limit is critical, and satellites for impact shielding as well as certain structural purposes. This topic would survey, characterize, and devise applications for metallic glass. Assess the effects of space environment on the materials and determine properties over long periods of space flight and assess the thermal properties of the material. Determine the cost-benefit of replacing classic metal alloys and/or composites in space applications where a high elastic limit is key. 

PHASE I: Survey recent advancements in metallic glass. Characterize properties for applications to structures and mechanisms for spacecraft. Assess best options for product development and insertion into spacecraft design. Provide plan to make the first metal glass component(s). Indicate cost-benefit of using metallic glass. Raise TRL to 2+. 

PHASE II: Using output of Phase I, produce a space component of the chosen metallic glass. Test component response to relevant spacecraft environment: Vacuum, radiation, thermal response. Test component functionality and compare to existing technology. Raise TRL to 3+. 

PHASE III: Devise transition plans, strategy to disperse product to larger market: commercialize spacecraft solar arrays, bulkheads, actuators, reaction wheels, aircraft, manned/unmanned, wing roots, flaps, slats, speed brakes, helicopter rotors and blades, shielding and body armor. Identify ancillary markets and applications where metallic glass can replace existing materials. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Khanolkar, Gauri R., Rauls, Michael B., Kelly, James P., Graeve, Olivia A., Hodge, Andrea M., Eliasson, Veronica. Shock Wave Response of Iron-based In Situ Metallic Glass Matrix Composites. Scientific Reports, 2016/03/02/http://www.nature.com/articles/srep22568#auth-6

2:  Chen, Q.J., Shen, J., Zhang, D. L., Fan, H. B. & Sun, J. F. Mechanical Performance and fracture behavior of Fe41Co7Cr15Mo14Y2C15B6 bulk metallic glass. J Mater Res 22, 358-363 (2007).

3:  Lu, Z. P., Liu, C. T., Thompson, J. R. & Porter, W. D. Structural amorphous steels. Phys Rev Let 92, 245503 (2004).

4:  Shamimi Nouri, A., Liu, Y. & Lewandowski, J. J. Effects of thermal exposure and test temperature on structure evolution and hardness/viscosity of an iron-based metallic glass. Metall Mater Trans A 40, 1314-1323 (2009).

KEYWORDS: Metallic Glass, Crystalline Structure, Space Environment, Spacecraft Design 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate ability to discover, aggregate and analyze disparate data types and formats to enhance the decision making process during weapon system design and development. 

DESCRIPTION: In performing design trades, Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), statistical inference, and requirements development the engineer must be able to utilize an aggregation of Model based Systems Engineering (MBSE) data and models to mature the design into a system which has sound systems engineering qualities. As every process requires a starting point, MBSE would be tremendously enhanced by seeding the process with existing weapon system data. The starting point of a new design should include not only the warfighter requirements found in the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), Capabilities-Based Assessments (CBA) and Initial and Capability Development Documents (ICD/CDD), but any available historical data for the given class of weapon system or subsystem at hand. Lessons learned (good and bad) from all previous endeavors should be taken into account in a new design. Therefore, the goal of this project is to create a capability to employ traditional techniques from “Big Data” research to seed design, capability development, and system integration with substantial prior knowledge from the vast collection of technical development documentation provided to the Government through years of system acquisition and sustainment. This new capability would be developed in the form of a software toolchain which provides a design environment to reason over historical information such as material, subsystem, or system performance, production experience, test results, and sustaining engineering analyses. This environment would provide substantial acceleration of solution development resulting in reduced time to deliver critical technology to the warfighter. The ability to capture multiple types of historical engineering reports and technical documents into a digitized shared reasoning environment which allows engineers to link desired design artifacts together will provide systems engineers with the opportunity to make cross-domain trades. Also, this capability will offer engineers the capability to use available existing weapon system and subsystem data in the design of new innovative weapon systems and subsystems that by nature are resilient and possess greater OSS&E qualities based on years of lessons learned. 

PHASE I: Define solution to store data, import common engineering documents, link design artifacts to represent correlation, and conduct cross-domain trades. Solution must specify data storage and computational requirements. Solution will identify existing DoD capabilities which may contribute to the desired end-state capability, identify capability gaps and establish a methodology to deliver needed capability. 

PHASE II: Develop, prototype, validate and demonstrate the proposed data analytic capability leveraging as much existing DoD infrastructure as possible. Demonstrate the system using a predetermined list of databases and MBSE tools from Phase I. 

PHASE III: The technology developed in Phase I and demonstrated in Phase II will have application throughout government and industry. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Zweber, J. V., Kolonay, R. M., Kobryn, P., & Tuegel, E. J. (2017). Digital Thread and Twin for Systems Engineering: Requirements to Design. In 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting (p. 0875).

2:  Tuegel, E. J., Kobryn, P., Zweber, J. V., & Kolonay, R. M. (2017). Digital Thread and Twin for Systems Engineering: Design to Retirement. In 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting (p. 0876).

3:  Wang, Gang, et al. "Big data analytics in logistics and supply chain management: Certain investigations for research and applications." International Journal of Production Economics 176 (2016): 98-110.

KEYWORDS: Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Analysis Of Alternatives (AoA), Statistical Inference, Requirements Development, Joint Capabilities Integration And Development System (JCIDS), Capabilities-Based Assessments (CBA), Initial Development Documents, Ca 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a self-contained device that can be deployed from a host satellite in proximity to an orbiting defunct rocket body, attach to or capture the rocket body, and cause sufficient increase in drag, using no power after deployment, to remove the rocket body from orbit. 

DESCRIPTION: Rocket bodies from decades of launch of satellites into Earth orbit are the largest component of space debris by mass, and they may pose a significant present and future threat to operation of space systems in certain orbits. Most of these objects will remain in place for several more decades before they re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and eventually burn up. Recognizing the broader challenges of space debris, multiple organizations have created concepts for mitigating that debris and de-orbiting space junk. The concepts include attaching propulsion modules, electrodynamic tethers, and drag enhancement devices including sails and balloons. The Air Force is interested in long term reduction in the number of large rocket bodies in low earth orbits, especially near-polar and sun synchronous orbits to help preserve and extend the effective use of space. A specific interest in this solicitation is in clearing critical orbits and accelerated de-orbiting through drag augmentation, and methods to attach such augmentation devices to resident space objects. A useful system would cause a rocket body to de-orbit at least ten times faster than the body would de-orbit without drag augmentation. As other space infrastructure matures, including rideshare launches, small satellites and space vehicle propulsion systems, the feasibility and affordability of such an approach to debris mitigation has increased. This research will focus on the final engagement with rocket bodies, and the attachment and deployment of drag-enhancing devices. The research can assume the existence of a satellite host vehicle, with sufficient propulsion and attitude control capability to enter and maintain a co-orbital trajectory with the target debris and an orientation that enables a precise release of the debris mitigation payload in the proximity of the target debris. The payload is assumed to passively rendezvous with the target debris, for example a rocket body, which may be tumbling. The payload must attach to or capture the rocket body and deploy a device of sufficient area and stiffness to enhance the drag of the coupled system, increasing the decay rate to accelerate re-entry of the system. The system must not create more debris, and must consider the potential fragility of target debris that have been exposed to the space environment for decades. A broader service may contain multiple copies of the debris mitigation payload carried by a delivery vehicle, and the design and concept of operation of this payload should allow several engagements with different rocket bodies as the maneuverable satellite host delivers a separate device to each of the bodies in turn. 

PHASE I: Identify representative rocket bodies and determine their orbits, mass, volume, shape and rotation rates. Develop a satellite payload with low size, weight, and power that separates from a co-orbital satellite host at close proximity to the body, then attaches to or captures the body with low risk to the host and low probability of creating additional debris. Increase drag of the rocket body to alter its trajectory, causing it to de-orbit at >10X natural rates. The device must maintain structural integrity and minimize the creation of additional debris during the expected duration of the de-orbit. 

PHASE II: Based on the Phase I effort, design and build a debris mitigation payload that can be integrated in a satellite host. Perform simulations to demonstrate the engagement with and capture of the candidate rocket body, deployment or engagement of the drag enhancement device, and the subsequent decrease in orbital lifetime of the rocket body. Perform a ground based hardware demonstration that supports feasibility of the design concept. 

PHASE III: A number of commercial space ventures are exploring the use of massive (100s or 1000s of satellite) constellations in LEO to provide imaging and communications services. The availability of unpopulated orbits, with reduced probability of collision with resident rocket bodies and other debris, could make commercial debris mitigation services viable. Furthermore, these existing rocket bodies pose a potential for creating more debris in these orbits, which could make them unusable for government or commercial purposes, and the government may step in to help mitigate this danger with public-private partnership funding to clean up specific orbits. The device developed under this effort could be the key element of such a debris mitigation system, either commercial or government operated. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Liou, J.-C., Active Debris Removal – A Grand Engineering Challenge For The Twenty-First Century, AAS 11-254 Preprint, https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20110011986.pdf

2:  Sorge, M.E, and G. Peterson, How to Clean Space: Disposal and Active Debris Removal, Aerospace Crosslink Magazine, Fall 2015

3:  Kaplan, M H., Survey of Space Debris Reduction Methods, AIAA Proceedings, AIAA Space 2009 Conference & Exposition, Pasadena, California, 14-17 Sep 2009.

4:  Forshaw, Jason L.; Massimiani, Chiara;Richter, Martin;Viquerat, Andrew; Simons, Ed, Surrey space centre: A survey of debris removal research activities, Proceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, Vol 4, 2015-01-01

KEYWORDS: Space Debris, Debris Mitigation, Grapple Mechanism, Attachment Mechanism, Passive De-orbit, Orbital Drag 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: The Air Force Declassification Office (AFDO) seeks to document and analyze business processes for classified document review and define industry best practices and new technologies to increase efficiencies and promote cost savings. This project would assist AFDO in order to adhere to the presidential mandate Executive Order 13526, “Classified National Security Information,” Promotion of New Technologies to Support Declassification that was issued on 29 December 2009. It outlines how classified information should be handled and established the principle that no records may remain classified indefinitely. It also provides enforceable deadlines for declassifying documents, generally between 10 to 25 years from the time of classification. 

DESCRIPTION: Currently, AFDO has 12000+ Boxes of physical records to review, ahead of a large number of incoming digitally born records. In order to adhere to the Executive Order 13526, a process must be in place to speed up the rate of review using a machine-assisted tool. This will not be possible with physical records, as only digital records can be ingested into a review tool. Physical records must be scanned, digitized and processed using an OCR tool. In addition, digitizing records will remove the responsibility and cost of storing physical records at the Washington National Records Center (WNRC) in Suitland and the logistics of transferring records from WNRC to AFDO, and then from AFDO to NARA. AFDO is saddled with extensive logistics work and the process is very labor intensive. AFDO Reviewers currently reserve vehicles, coordinate with Suitland and NARA, and physically move the boxes onto the trucks. This costs AFDO $101,003 per year and takes reviewers away from their core activities, preventing 207,301 pages from being reviewed per year. In addition, the process that AFDO reviewers use in reviewing these documents is human-centered 

PHASE I: Phase I of this project will: (1) conduct user analysis that leverages Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) interview and observation methods to capture the AFDO process to include knowledge elicitation, process analysis, and process representation; (2) investigate potential digitization tools, scanning, and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) applications, and (3) process automation tools to support intelligent decision support in the AFDO process. 

PHASE II: Phase II of the project will design and develop a system including human-machine teaming to optimize the AFDO mission process. This will include: (1) exploring the proof of concepts developed in Phase I, (2) building/integrating protoypes for demonstration, and (3) detailing a production level system for implementation into the AFDO. 

PHASE III: AF/A6 has planned funding (Phase III) for the effort assuming that any process with digitization/automation tools selected will be approved for Certification and Accreditation and that NARA will accept digital files in place of originals. Enough of the physical documents will result in OCR accuracy suitable for a review tool, which will gain AFDO time and cost efficiencies. There will be an insignificant volume of documents that cannot be batch scanned or will result in poor OCR quality. These documents will still require manual review. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Executive Order 13526 - Classified National Security Information

2:  National Archives and Records Administration 2004 guidelines

3:  3. US Environmental Protection Agency Information Standards - CIO2155-S-01.0

4:  AFDO Governing Directives and Standards

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: The topic is focused on the development and demonstration of a synthetic task environment for en route care patient preparation and care in Contested Degraded Operations (CDO) environments. This includes the capacity for creating/editing scenarios, recording performance and simulation data, and interoperating with external simulations. 

DESCRIPTION: Currently, patients are transported out of theaters of operation after they have been stabilized. Additionally, medical treatment and holding facilities manage patients until they are placed on aeromedical aircraft for transport to definitive care. It is anticipated that future theaters of war will take place in Contested Degraded Operations (CDO) environments, whereby enemy actions may prevent military forces from establishing ground facilities for patient care. Additionally, CDO environments may prevent or delay transport into and out of combat/disaster areas. Thus, medical management as we know it today will be completely disrupted in a game changing way (Krepinevich, Watts, & Work, 2003). We are seeking to develop a disruptive innovation to familiarize en route care personnel (people who work in environments spanning from point of injury through transport to definitive care (i.e., first responder medics on the front lines, forward operations locations, theater hospitals, and en route patient staging facilities)) with patient stabilization, patient placement and mission management in a simulated CDO environment, as little to no existing training at this time exposes or immerses medical personnel to these vastly different operational contexts. Trauma assessment and patient management from point of injury through transport are essential skills for medical professionals in the Department of Defense. The most critical aspect of trauma care is primary and secondary assessment of patients at first encounter and throughout the treatment process. Based on the initial assessment, implementation of stabilization measures and monitoring capabilities, proper placement on transport aircraft, and mission management during flight are paramount to patient survival. Providing opportunities to rehearse and hone these skills in a simulated, virtual CDO environment will expose personnel to operating in a completely new operational context, help them acquire and routinize underlying competencies they would not otherwise have an opportunity to rehearse, and ultimately improve outcomes for warfighters on the battlefield. Importantly, it has been shown that medical professionals who are experts in trauma care do perform this initial assessment more quickly and accurately than novices, and training leads to better performance (Holcomb, et al., 2002). Moreover, training opportunities are limited for many of the injuries sustained on the battlefield, creating a need that can be partially addressed with simulation (Bruce, Bridges, & Holcomb, 2003). Additionally, providing stabilizing care in volatile environments is lacking in standardized training platforms. High-fidelity medical mannequins provide a valuable opportunity, but lower-fidelity training options may provide value in some instances. The Air Force Research Laboratory is interested in virtual environments that can present medical professionals with trauma and mission management scenarios where the critical steps of patient stabilization, patient placement, and mission management can be rehearsed. To be of value in assessing the development and maintenance of skills, a virtual environment must also support the collection and recording of critical simulation and performance data and events. It must also have the capacity to interoperate with external software to allow bi-directional communication of data. That is, the simulation must be able to both communicate state/event information to external components and be able to accept inputs (e.g., actions) as well. Finally, it should support authoring through an interface that can be used by medical subject matter experts to create and modify scenarios. 

PHASE I: The Phase I deliverable will be a proof-of-concept outline demonstrating the feasibility for a virtual environment to support patient stabilization, patient placement, and mission management. It should include a plan for practical development and deployment, and demonstrate appropriate data capture and interoperability. 

PHASE II: The Phase II deliverable will build upon the Phase I outline to develop a functional prototype demonstrating and validating a synthetic task environment (STE) that supports rehearsal of patient stabilization, patient placement, and mission management. The STE must include: 1. The capacity for creating and editing scenarios, meaning that subject matter experts (SMEs) should be able to access the system to clearly define the scope of scenarios to be practiced as a function of expertise and level of skill of a specific trainee. 2. SMEs should be able to access the system to clearly define the scope of scenarios to be practiced as a function of the specific targeted skills being trained. 3. SMEs must have the ability to modify the scoring system under the hood of the system to deliver appropriate outcome-related measures to the skills being trained. 4. Feedback/Reports must be delivered to trainers and trainees based on SME defined scoring system for specific scenarios. 5. System must support interoperability with external software. 6. The system should run on standard desktop computing software. 

PHASE III: The SBIR can be leveraged for training interventions for patient stabilization, patient placement, and mission management that can prepare medical professionals for the unique situations and challenges associated with casualties in operational contexts. Target government customers include Enroute Care (Air Mobility Command), the United States School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM), and the Air Education Training Command (AETC). Medical training and preparedness is just as critical in civilian contexts as in military contexts. Simulations that help to prepare medical professionals for rare, but most severe, cases they will see have the potential to greatly improve patient outcomes and strongly impact the field of medical training. As such, we anticipate the development of this capability being commercializable to the civilian sector as well. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Bruce, S., Bridges, E. J., & Holcomb, J. B. (2003). Preparing to respond: Joint Trauma Training Center and USAF Nursing Warskills Simulation Laboratory. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 15, 149-162.

2:  Holcomb, J. B., Dumire, R. D., Crommett, J. W., Stamateris, C. E., Fagert, M. A., Cleveland, J. A., Dorlac, G. R., Dorlac, W. C., Bonar, J. P., Hira, K., Aoki, N., & Mattox, K. L. (2002, June). Evaluation of trauma team performance using an advanced human patient simulator for resuscitation training. The Journal of TRAUMA Injury, Infection, and Critical Care, 1078-1086.

3:  Krepinevich, A. F., Watts, B. D., & Work, R. O. (2003). Meeting the Anti-Access and Area Denial Challenge. Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

KEYWORDS: Synthetic Task Environment (STE); Simulation; Virtual Environment; Trauma Care; Mission Management, Patient Stabilization 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate a simulation-based system to provide psychomotor skills training for medical practitioners for the task of identifying and treating shoulder, elbow, and finger joint dislocations. 

DESCRIPTION: Joint dislocation, sometimes referred to as luxation, occurs when there is an abnormal separation in the joint, where two or more bones meet. Joint dislocations occur when a sudden, great force is applied to the joint, such as a hard fall during parachuting or heavy blow during a vehicular crash. The highest incidence of dislocations occurs in the shoulder, elbow, knee, and finger joints. Currently, the military experiences a significantly higher rate of joint dislocations than the general public. With each dislocation, the ligaments keeping the bones fixed in the correct position can be damaged or loosened, making it easier for the joint to be dislocated in the future. This results in a large number of patients with repeated dislocation injuries. Fortunately, joint dislocations have readily apparent indications and a straightforward treatment path. Physicians perform a joint reduction, whereby the dislocation is restored to correct alignment through a manual manipulation. Unfortunately, there are no simulation devices currently available which simulate joint dislocations or train the psychomotor skills needed for a joint reduction. This means the first time a practitioner performs a joint reduction, it is on an actual patient. Military medical training locations, including the Defense Medical Training Research Institute and Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, conduct courses for a variety of medical providers and are required to teach skills associated with joint reduction, but must do so without a suitable training simulator. Additionally, joint reduction has been identified as a core competency for orthopedic surgeons deploying as part of a trauma team. To alleviate this gap in training capability, this announcement seeks a simulator capable of simulating joint dislocation and treatment, thereby allowing risk-free, repeatable practice of the procedure. The proposed training device should: - Support established training objectives - Support practice of both cognitive and psychomotor skills - Include palpable anatomical landmarks to determine proper joint alignment - Demonstrate the signs and symptoms of joint dislocation - Replicate appropriate range of motion for dislocated and properly reduced joints - Be capable of simulating the most common upper extremity joint dislocations, including: anterior shoulder dislocation (primary interest), interphalangeal (IP) joint dislocation, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint dislocation, and elbow dislocation - Allow for fast reset - Ability to train multiple providers 

PHASE I: Design/develop an innovative concept for a simulation-based training system to perform a joint reduction procedure. The effort should clearly analyze the scientific, technical, and commercial merit, as well as feasibility of using a low-cost medical simulator for training advanced medical providers of all levels in Military Medical Training Programs. Proposed work should include research into feasibility of developing the capability and describing the overall concept. The effort should seek innovative and novel ideas to provide a hands-on, low-cost, and realistic simulation solution. The offeror shall identify innovative technologies being considered; technical risks of the approach selected; and costs, benefits, and schedule associated with development and demonstration of the prototype. 

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a prototype system from the recommended solution in Phase I that provides realistic and meaningful interaction for hands-on treatment. At the culmination of Phase II, the offeror shall demonstrate a prototype training device with all capabilities fully implemented. The offeror shall perform mechanical testing to determine that joint motion characteristics, such as range of motion or the amount of force required to perform a reduction, are consistent with the live human joint characteristics. The offeror shall consider projection of costs to manufacture, maintain and resupply, as well as the equipment lifecycle. The evaluation of the proposed system by the user community at a military installation is required. The offeror shall conduct usability evaluations to assess the system in terms of: benefit to training, ease of use, anatomical accuracy, physiological accuracy, realism, and motivation to use. Data from these studies shall be provided, analyzed, and presented in a final report. 

PHASE III: Follow-on activities are expected to be pursued by the offeror to demonstrate the application of this system to civilian hospitals, residency training programs, and other military medical facilities. Various medical providers, such as orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants, perform joint reduction. The associated training facilities for these providers, including military training hospitals, civilian universities, etc., would all be potential end users. The offeror shall focus on transitioning the technology from research to operational capability and shall demonstrate that this system could be used in a broad range of military and civilian medical training environments. The offeror shall pursue transition of the device as a standalone training unit and as a component of a mannequin system. As such, the offeror shall pursue transitioning of the capability into larger mannequin platforms, including currently commercially available medical mannequins and emerging research platforms, such as the modular mannequin program. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Belmont Jr, P. J., Goodman, G. P., Waterman, B., DeZee, K., Burks, R., & Owens, B. D. (2010). Disease and nonbattle injuries sustained by a US Army brigade combat team during Operation Iraqi Freedom. WILLIAM BEAUMONT ARMY MEDICAL CENTER EL PASO TX.

2:  Hsiao, Mark, et al. "Incidence of acute traumatic patellar dislocation among active-duty United States military service members." The American journal of sports medicine 38.10 (2010): 1997-2004.

KEYWORDS: Medical Simulation; Orthopedic Simulation; Joint; Reduction; Dislocation; Simulator; Training Device 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: On the battlefield, combat clinicians provide emergency medical care under the most challenging conditions. Remote locations, poor lighting, fire and explosions, poor road conditions, and the presence of mass casualties can lead to excessive delays in obtaining vascular access. Ultrasound guidance is the recommended technique for central venous cannulation (CVC); however, reports do exist of complications during insertion of the needle. To overcome these obstacles, there is a need to develop a vascular cannulation device that is handheld, battery-powered, and uses scanning or Doppler technology to automate all steps to gain access to central veins and arteries. This device would allow emergency medical providers without vascular training to rapidly and accurately obtain arterial or central venous access under emergency conditions without the use of external ultrasound or other imaging equipment. 

DESCRIPTION: The use of invasive monitoring and hemodynamic resuscitation technology is increasing rapidly. Therefore, the ability to gain rapid and accurate vascular access is an essential skill for critical care and emergency physicians. Vascular access procedures usually involve the insertion of a flexible and sterile thin plastic tube, or catheter, into a blood vessel to provide an effective method of delivering fluids and medications, or the placement of catheter-based monitoring devices such as arterial lines, and most recently for the placement of interventional devices to control hemorrhage in trauma patients. CVCs can be inserted through the jugular, subclavian, or femoral veins or via the upper arm peripheral veins (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC line)). Arterial access devices are often placed via the common femoral artery, the brachial artery, and the radial artery. The type of catheter and site chosen are often determined by individual clinical need and patient characteristics. Most central venous and arterial catheters are inserted using a technique of passing a guide wire through a needle (modified Seldinger technique). Vascular access requires appropriate training and education and there are several challenges and limitations with this strategy, which can impact outcomes. The first problem is the lack of experienced providers (vascular or trauma surgeon, critical care physician, or interventional radiologist, etc.) in the field to accurately perform vascular cannulation. In an emergency setting, the femoral pulse may be absent due to hypotension (as in the case of severe hemorrhage) which further complicates accurate localization for cannulation. The second problem is the unavailability of portable instruments in the field setting such as fluoroscopy, ultrasound, and x-ray machines. Third, the current procedure required for successful femoral artery sheath placement or central venous catheter placement (i.e., Seldinger Technique) requires numerous steps, instruments, and device exchanges. Lastly, in a battlefield setting, the chaotic nature of the military environment (e.g. noise, vibration, low levels of light, lack of sterility, enemy fire) makes these procedures more difficult to perform. To address these problems, there is a need to develop a vascular access device. The device should have the following characteristics: (1) able to rapidly gain access to central veins and arteries, (2) reliable for vascular cannulation, (3) self-contained, handheld, and ruggedized to withstand field use and transport, and (4) integrated scanner, Doppler, ultrasound, or other technology as a sensing mechanism. If successful, the proposed device will be used in deployed and non-deployed environments, in pre-hospital, en route, and hospital settings, in training programs, and other settings relevant to both military and civilian use. 

PHASE I: The offeror should design, develop, and deliver an innovative concept for a sensing mechanism to identify vascular access location using an integrated scanner, Doppler, ultrasound, or other technology in a self-contained, handheld device. The effort should clearly analyze the scientific, technical, and commercial merit, as well as feasibility and testing in simulated environment. The offeror should include research into feasibility of developing the capability and describing the overall concept. There is No Human Use during Phase I; therefore, the use of modeling and simulation (M&S) is strongly encouraged. However, Animal Use Protocol planning and documentation should be initiated, as required. The offeror is expected to develop and demonstrate as much of the prototype design functionality as possible using M&S components. Finally, a draft commercialization plan should be developed. 

PHASE II: Based on the Phase I design and development feasibility report, the offeror shall produce a prototype demonstrating potential medical utility in accordance with the success criteria developed in Phase I. The offeror will refine the vascular access device design and incorporate and refine the integrated sensing and insertion device, including software, hardware, and user interface elements. The offeror should prepare a particular study plan and should propose a protocol, with a rational for the chosen approach. The offeror should complete and test the device using simulators, cadavers, and/or animal models as appropriate, according to the regulatory plan. Evaluations of the system will encompass: data quality, real-time operation, performance measures, robustness, and consistency. The offeror will then deliver the prototype for DoD evaluation. The offeror shall deliver a report describing the design and operation of the prototype. The intent of this phase is for the developer to deliver a well-defined prototype (i.e. a technology or product) meeting the requirements of the original solicitation topic and which can be made commercially viable. The offeror shall define and document the regulatory strategy and provide a clear plan on how U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance will be obtained. 

PHASE III: The offeror should provide validation and verification (V&V) of the device according to medical device regulations as described in FDA Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, 820.3. Follow-on activities shall include a demonstration of the application of this device to the United States Army Medical Materiel Agency (USAMMA) or other Department of Defense Advanced Development agencies, for use in deployed and non-deployed environments, in pre-hospital, en route, and hospital settings, in training programs, and other settings relevant to both military and civilian use. The offeror shall focus on transitioning the device technology from research to operational capability and shall demonstrate that this system can be used in both military and civilian settings by a broad range of medical care providers (paramedics, registered nurses, emergency medical technicians, physicians) in prehospital and austere medical environments. The offeror shall describe the specific approaches planned for regulatory submission and provide a clear plan on how FDA clearance will be obtained and the device will be commercialized. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Bowdle A: Vascular Complications of Central Venous Catheter Placement: Evidence-Based Methods for Prevention and Treatment. J. of Cardiothoracic and Vas. Anes, 28(2): 358–368, 2014

2:  T. R. Cousins and J. M. O’Donnell, "Arterial cannulation: A critical review," AANA J.72 (4); 267–271, 2004.

3:  J. J. Morrison, T. J. Percival, N. P. Markov, C. Villamaria, D. J. Scott, K. A. Saches, J. R. Spencer, and T. E. Rasmussen, "Aortic balloon occlusion is effective in controlling pelvic hemorrhage," J. Surg. Res., 177 (2): 341–347, 2012.

KEYWORDS: Cannulation, Femoral Artery, Vein, REBOA 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Identify the root cause of mold development in the Rations Supply chain and analyze the results to develop a business case for eradication of the mold concerns. 

DESCRIPTION: The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) transports food from cold storage facilities to customers located around the world. Some of the pallets on which food is transported have been found to develop mold. This is a concern in terms of worker health and may lead to food contamination and spoilage. The root cause of mold development is unknown. Preliminary studies indicate certain warehouse and transportation conditions may be conducive to the growth of mold. DLA is seeking a comprehensive assessment of the problem, and to have a better understanding of its root causes. This will lead to solutions which minimize molding in the supply chain. 

PHASE I: The research and development goals of Phase I are to provide eligible small business research and development firms the opportunity to provide an in-depth study of the problem stated in the requirement. In this phase, firms will identify the subject supply chain, and demonstrate a proof of concept as part of the technical volume in the proposal. The Deliverables for this project will include a final report including a business case analysis with ranked courses of action. 

PHASE II: Based on the results achieved in Phase I, DLA Logistics Operations will decide whether to continue the effort based on the technical progress on the award. The research and development goals of Phase II are to implement one or more of the Course of Actions identified in the Phase I final report. The principals identified should extend to other commodity supply chains and distribution routes within the Subsistence Supply Chain. 

PHASE III: At this point, no specific funding is associated with Phase III. Progress made in PHASE I and PHASE II should result in the manufacturer’s qualification as an approved source of supply enabling participation in DLA procurements. COMMERCIALIZATION: The manufacturer will pursue dual commercialization of the various technologies and processes developed in prior phases as well as potential commercial sales of manufactured mechanical parts or other items. 

REFERENCES: 

1: DoD Military Standards 3006C, "Sanitation Requirements for Food Establishments," June 1, 2008

2:  DoD Directive 6400.04E, "DoD Veterinary Public and Animal Health Services," June 27, 2013, as amended

3:  DoD 1338.10-M, "Manual for the Department of Defense Food Service Program," December 2, 2014, Incorporating Change 1, September 28, 2016, as amended

KEYWORDS: Mold Development, Mold In The Subsistence Supply Chain, Mold Abatement 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Improve product availability and increase competition through the performance of Reverse Engineering in the development of a technical data package to be submitted as a Source Approval Request (SAR). The normal expected result of reverse engineering is the creation of a technical data package suitable for manufacture of an item by new sources. Manufacturers interested in Reverse Engineering P/N: BL5D-7.9A, NSN 6130-01-132-6975 (POWER SUPPLY) to qualify as an Approved Source in future DLA procurements are required to demonstrate that they can competently manufacture the item. 

DESCRIPTION: The P/N: BL5D-7.9A, NSN 6130-01-132-6975 (POWER SUPPLY) is a power supply used in Keyboard Lighting Control Unit in Naval Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) vehicles. The Input range of the power supply is 24-30 VDC, with an Output of 7.9 VDC, and 6.32 Amps. The Fuse input is set at 5 Amps Max. The LCAC is a class of air-cushion vehicle (hovercraft) used as landing craft by the United States Navy's Assault Craft Units. They transport weapons systems, equipment, cargo and personnel of the assault elements of the Marine Air/Ground Task Force both from ship to shore and across the beach. 

PHASE I: In this phase, the selected firm will borrow the part from the Engineering Support Activity (ESA). In addition, the firm should demonstrate measurable progress towards the submission of a technical data package (TDP) in accordance with the checklist included in the SAR guidance and submit for evaluation and acceptance. In some cases, the firm may assess where their existing manufacturing capability can be adapted to successfully produce P/N: BL5D-7.9A, NSN 6130-01-132-6975 (POWER SUPPLY) and provide that data and a business case for upgrading their processes in their final report. 

PHASE II: Based on the results achieved in Phase I, DLA Logistics Operations will decide whether to continue the effort based on the technical progress, potential for authorization to participate as an Approved Source, and feasibility of the manufacturer's business case. The research and development goal of Phase II is to achieve authorization to participate as an Approved Source for the specific NSN in future procurements. 

PHASE III: At this point, no specific funding is associated with Phase III. Progress made in PHASE I and PHASE II should result in the manufacturer’s qualification as an approved source of supply enabling participation in DLA procurements. COMMERCIALIZATION: The manufacturer will pursue dual commercialization of the various technologies and processes developed in prior phases as well as potential commercial sales of manufactured mechanical parts or other items. 

REFERENCES: 

1: http://www.dla.mil/LandandMaritime/Offers/Services/TechnicalSupport/ValueMgtDiv.aspx Source Approval Information

KEYWORDS: P/N: BL5D-79A, NSN 6130-01-132-6975, POWER SUPPLY, Naval Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea 

OBJECTIVE: Identify advanced braking concept(s) for heavy tactical vehicles (and trailers) that would meet or exceed current performance specifications relating to mobility, fuel economy, and safety, but with a smaller physical footprint (size/weight), and revolutionary advantages in maintenance and logistics support that will have a dramatic effect across the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). 

DESCRIPTION: The Logistic Vehicle System Replacement (LVSR) is a family of vehicles, based on a common five-axle 10-wheel drive 10x10 chassis, that vary in individual configuration by mission requirements for the Marine Corps. LVSR is a purpose-designed military vehicle and there are currently three variants in service; a cargo, a wrecker and a tractor truck. The Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) is a series of medium tactical cargo vehicles, based on a common chassis that vary by payload and mission requirements. The MTVR is a purpose-designed military vehicle, with nine variants (plus a sub-variant) as deliveries and development continues for the Marine Corps. Both the LVSR and MTVR have technical issues related to mobility, fuel economy and safety. Specifically, they are experiencing brake system problems across the fleet. There is significant corrosion of the drum and brake actuation mechanism from water and debris accumulating in the inner brake drum surface. This problem impacts safety, performance, operational availability, maintenance time, logistics delay time and money. Furthermore, drum brakes are heavy. They are made of mild to medium strength grey iron and the entire assembly (drum, pads, hardware, chambers) can weigh on order of 400lbs each. Under brake application, the brake pads expand out from the axle towards the drum surface longitudinally, inducing mechanical fade under severe heat. Their actuators as well as the entire assembly make drum brakes susceptible in tactical vehicle applications. The LVSR and MTVR have a 2mpg and 3.8mpg fuel consumption rate respectively with the fully burdened cost of fuel. Even a moderate increase in fuel efficiency can potentially save lives and millions of dollars. New brake technology on the current horizon appears promising. Innovative designs allow very high torque and are significantly lighter, smaller, and reliable while producing more brake force. These have significant performance advantages towards safety as well. New brake technology offers tactical advantages in that they can be inspected and maintained in the field, possibly without wheel removal and replacement. Such a feature would provide unprecedented mobility and agility to keep the Marines On-The-Move and not At-The-Halt. The technology provides game changing performance attributes that the Marine Corps may leverage for the LVSR and MTVR fleets and tactical brake applications that ultimately reduce total cost of ownership. This topic seeks to explore innovative, alternative, advanced brake designs to replace current brake systems used on the LVSR and MTVR. Of particular interest are concepts that: • reduce physical size and weight, • require less actuation force, • significantly lessen susceptibility to corrosion of the brake surface, friction linings and actuators, • can be both inspected and serviced in the field - preferably without wheel removal, and • can be a retrofit onto currently fielded MTVR and LVSR in an operational theater as well as in depot. Proposers are encouraged to address the benefits of tailorable design solutions that the brakes could potentially scale to work with specific vehicle axle configurations. The LVSR and MTVR are expected to operate in a variety of environments and terrains and the vehicles performance requirements are as follows: • The brakes need to be able to operate in the temperature range of -50°F to 125°F. • Proposed concepts should be mindful of the added technical challenges to maintaining a “mean miles between mission” hardware failure metric of no less than 2700 miles. • The brake will also need to be in conformance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) 121, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1404, SAE J294, SAE J1587, SAE J1939, and SAE J1708. 

PHASE I: Develop concepts for an alternate brake system by exploring the application of advanced design and engineering while meeting the required size and strength requirements for an LVSR and MTVR as discussed above. Demonstrate the feasibility of the concepts in meeting the Marine Corps needs and establish that the concept can be developed into a useful product for the Marine Corps. Feasibility will be established by design testing and analytical modeling, as appropriate, to facilitate the comparison of different concepts to include projected performance, reliability, and maintainability. Estimate hardware, installation, and maintenance costs. Provide a Phase II plan that identifies performance goals and key technical milestones, and addresses technical risks. 

PHASE II: Based on the results of Phase I effort and the Phase II plan, develop a full-sized prototype with a scaled level of performance (initial testing will evaluate on-road performance only). The prototype brake will be evaluated to determine its capability in meeting reduced scale performance goals defined in the Phase II plan and the Marine Corps requirements for the LVSR and MTVR. System performance will be demonstrated through on-vehicle prototype evaluation and modeling or analytical methods as a means of validating the performance, reliability, and maintainability of the prototypes. Evaluation results will be used to refine the prototype into an initial design that will meet LVSR and MTVR requirements. Prepare a Phase III plan to transition the technology to LVSR and MTVR use. 

PHASE III: Upon successful completion of Phase II, provide support to the Marine Corps in transitioning the technology for Marine Corps use. Develop a brake for evaluation and determine its effectiveness in an operationally relevant environment. Support the Marine Corps for test and validation to certify and quality the system for the Marine Corps use. The developed technology would also be directly applicable to the commercial trucking industry. Improvements in performance and reduction of maintenance costs would be very attractive to large commercial fleet operators. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations." U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Safety Administration – Safety Assurance; Standard No. 121. https://icsw.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/FMVSS/

2:  "Test Operations Procedure (TOP) 2-2-608 Braking, Wheeled Vehicles." US Army Developmental Test Command Test Operations Procedure, US Army Aberdeen Test Center, May 20th, 2008. http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a489156.pdf

3:  "Service Brake Structural Integrity Requirements – Truck and Bus." Society of Automotive Engineers International, Standard J1404, Nov 2014 http://standards.sae.org/j1404_200705/

4:  "Service Brake Structural Integrity Test Procedure – Vehicles over 4500kg (10,000 lbs) GVWR." Society of Automotive Engineers International, Standard J294, June 2016. http://standards.sae.org/j294_201506/

5:  "Electronic Data Interchange Between Microcomputer Systems in Heavy-Duty Vehicle Applications." Society of Automotive Engineers International, Standard J1587, January 2013. http://standards.sae.org/j1587_201301/

6:  "Serial Control and Communications Heavy Duty Vehicle Network – Top Level Document." Society of Automotive Engineers International, Standard J1939, August 2013. http://standards.sae.org/j1939_201308/

7:  "Serial Data Communications between Microcomputer Systems in Heavy-Duty Vehicle Applications." Society of Automotive Engineers International, Standard J1708, September 2016. http://standards.sae.org/j1708_201609/

8:  "Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation." Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), Sections 393.40-393.52. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&ty=HTML&h=L&mc=true&=PART&n=pt49.5.393

KEYWORDS: Tactical Truck; Weight Reduction; Braking; Improved Maintenance; MTVR; LVSR 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a prototype Transponded Satellite Communications Ad-hoc Networking (T-SCAN) algorithm for non-networking capable Wideband Anti-jam Modern Systems (WAMS) waveforms to be hosted on WAMS to form and manage multiple simultaneous point-to-multipoint sessions over a transponded satellite. 

DESCRIPTION: The WAMS is the Navy's next generation software defined wideband modem for both transponded and processed satellites with an Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of FY22. WAMS will include a full networking capable Protected Tactical Waveform (PTW) mode; however, the balance of waveforms is only operable in non-networked point-to-point sessions. The inability to form networks requires setting aside dedicated satellite resources to sessions that may not be active at all times; thus, reducing effective satellite resource utilization and mission effectiveness. The objective of this topic is to develop a prototype T-SCAN algorithm to be hosted on WAMS to form and manage multiple simultaneous point-to-multipoint sessions over a transponded satellite for non-networking capable WAMS waveforms. To reduce integration and certification risks, the prototype T-SCAN algorithm is expected to be hosted on the General Purpose Processor (GPP) based subsystem of the WAMS modems and operate at a classification no higher than Unclassified/For Official Use Only (FOUO). The prototype T-SCAN algorithm is expected to establish and manage at least one simplex transmission to as many as 256 end points and allow the WAMS modem to receive one or more active simplex transmissions. The known challenge of establishing simplex links is the inability to provide any in-band signaling to form ad-hoc networks; the receiving terminal has no knowledge as to whether there is (are) any simplex link(s) that can be joined without some means of conveying this information to receiving terminal. Innovation, therefore, is required to develop the means to identify and manage the available simplex links as well as to establish the simplex links on demand for a select Communities of Interest (COI) via access control mechanisms. 

PHASE I: Formulate and develop the concepts for a T-SCAN algorithm that can be directly integrated into the WAMS modem to yield transponded satellite communications based ad-hoc networking capabilities for non-networking capable WAMS waveforms. Establish whether the entire T-SCAN algorithm implementation can be limited to just the WAMS modem's GPP components and assess the integration risks. For each risk, develop the mitigation strategy and steps. Develop concepts for the management components that can manage at least one simplex transmission to unlimited end points and allow the WAMS modem to receive one or more active simplex transmissions. Additionally, develop concepts for the management components that can manage at least one simplex transmission to as many as 256 end points and/or allows the WAMS modem to receive more than one active simplex transmissions. Formulate an innovative approach to identify and manage the available simplex links as well as to establish the simplex links on demand with a select COI via access control mechanisms. Determine whether the simplex transmissions can be actively cataloged with little to no interactions from the transmitting station; these include waveforms with little to no features that include low probability of interception and detection. Develop Phase II plan to include detailed schedule in Gantt format, spend plan, performance objectives, and initial transition plan/target program of record identification. 

PHASE II: Develop a set of performance specifications for T-SCAN. Perform initial integration activities and identification/development of any necessary Pre-Planned Product Improvement (P3I) requirements on the candidate WAMS modem. Program Office will identify and introduce a candidate WAMS modem contractor and coordinate follow-on collaboration. Follow up, thereafter, with the development of prototype T-SCAN algorithm based on Phase I work for demonstration and validation in the candidate WAMS modem or equivalent development environment. Develop the life cycle support strategies and concepts for T-SCAN. 

PHASE III: Refine, fully develop, and integrate the Phase II prototype T-SCAN algorithm into the final target WAMS modem. Perform Formal Qualification Tests (FQT) on the WAMS modem with the final T-SCAN algorithms against the performance specification for T-SCAN. Support the fielding and support of T-SCAN algorithms by implementing the life cycle support strategies and concepts with the WAMS modem contractor. Potential commercial application(s) for T-SCAN for satellite modems such as Commercial Broadband Satellite Program (CBSP). 

REFERENCES: 

1: Decentralized and infrastructure less wireless ad hoc network: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_ad_hoc_network

2:  Simplex (one direction only) communication: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simplex_communication

3:  3. Navy Multiband Terminal: http://www.public.navy.mil/spawar/technology/Pages/NavyMultibandTerminalNMT.aspx and AFCEA Signal Magazine articles, https://www.afcea.org/content/?q=taxonomy/term/1246. (Revised 9/13/17.)

4:  Communications and GPS Navigation Program Office (PMW/A 170), October 28, 2015, 21 pages (uploaded in SITIS 9/12/17).

KEYWORDS: Wideband SATCOM; Ad-hoc Networking; WAMS; NMT; Point-to-multipoint; T-SCAN; LPI; LPD 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems, Battlespace 

OBJECTIVE: The Distributed Common Ground Station-Navy Increment 2 (DCGS-N Inc 2) program seeks to employ novel machine learning techniques to optimize data ingest of multiple heterogeneous data types into anticipated Navy program data repositories (e.g., Accumulo). Automated data ingest must aid the DCGS-N Inc 2 system in facilitating real-time analytical processing, post-event analytics, nodal analysis, and support a host of other Navy Intelligence mission functions; e.g., Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPOE). 

DESCRIPTION: To maintain maritime supremacy, the U.S. Navy must collect and understand ever increasing volumes and varieties of sensor and intelligence information to ensure proper force application across greater distances under ever compressing time constraints. DCGS-N Inc 2 is the intelligence system principally responsible for providing Navy commanders that understanding. To this end, DCSG-N Inc 2 must quickly aggregate, correlate, and fuse ‘All Source Intelligence’ to produce current and predictive, operational to tactical, battlespace awareness information required to make better decisions faster. With an expected exponential increase in data sources available to the DCGS-N Inc 2 Analyst, the intention of this topic is to provide an automated ingest engine to optimize information aggregation, fusion, and exploitation of unstructured, heterogeneous data streams to aid the DCGS-N Inc 2 Analyst. Additionally, it is common for known data producers to make minor changes and present updated data protocols to ingest interfaces that have not received new data format protocols, causing data loss due to rigid/brittle ingest protocols. Current ingest methodologies fail to pace the volume, variety, variability, velocity, and veracity required of the DCGS-N Inc 2 system, this SBIR topic seeks to advance current state-of-the-art data ingest methodologies to mitigate these problems. Optimally, the developed ingest engine will leverage Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) and Government-off-the-Shelf (GOTS) tools and services, including large data storage and analytics processes employed in DCGS-N Inc 2. Ingest interfaces will enable the automated combining of high volumes of data from differing intelligence communities, National Technical Means (NTM) systems, and network feeds to aid DCGS-N Inc 2 in building a more coherent view of the battlespace. The ingestion process must be able to handle multiple data sources arriving simultaneously to differing nodes (ashore and afloat) and accommodate varying volumes, velocities, and varieties, to include data bursts/blooms. Critical to this effort will be the capacity for the ingest engine to ‘self-learn’ in order to ingest new, previously ‘unseen’ data and adapt to new data sources and formats. It will be able to process data for storage and use by DCGS-N Inc 2 analytics or other key system functions. Data tagging and normalization must be accomplished through the ingest process in accordance with eXtensible Markup Language (XML) Data Encoding Specification for Intelligence Community (IC)- Enterprise Data Header (EDH) V4 6 Sep 13. This ingest process must send a copy of the original message plus the EDH to be persisted and indexed. The volume and velocity of data coming into the system varies widely; the system must dynamically adjust to the changes. The goal is for ingest and preprocess not to exceed 60 seconds from the start of ingest to consumer availability. For estimation purposes, traffic will be measured in ‘messages’ at 10KB per message at DCGS-N Inc 2 specified ingest rates. It is also critical the data ingest indexing mechanism enable rapid retrieval (within 2 seconds) of stored data to meet the demands of operators in a tactical environment. This ingest engine needs to be flexible in handling a combination of streaming, bulk and standing order data with an importance on the expedience of data availability from data acquisition to consumer availability, without system degradation. The process also needs to have the ability to cleanse, de-duplicate, and re-ingest in the event of data ingestion errors. This system should also be scale-able in a virtualized/cloud environment, capable of ingesting multiple data sets in parallel, handling inconsistent loads, and have the ability to synchronize, replicate, and federate. 

PHASE I: Working in conjunction with the DCGS-N Inc 2 Government team, generate a novel design/design approach for a machine learning methodology to address feasibility of automated ingest for the DCGS-N Inc 2 system. Proposed design must be capable of ingesting varying types and formats of data in varying volumes, velocities, variability, and veracity. Examples of data include Navy Message traffic, electronic intelligence (ELINT), communications intelligence (COMINT), acoustical intelligence (ACINT), etc. Proposed design must also be able to adjust (self-learn) to process new data types, and handle changes in formats/fields of existing data types/feeds. 

PHASE II: The selected company must develop a cloud-enabled ingest virtual machine learning capability based on the Phase I proposal. Phase II should produce machine learning algorithms employed for the DCGS-N Inc 2 Program of Record (PoR). Phase II work should include the development of additional data types/feeds. Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. Owned and Operated with no Foreign Influence as defined by DOD 5220.22-M, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been be implemented and approved by the Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances, in order to perform on advanced phases of this contract as set forth by DSS and SPAWAR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material IAW DoD 5220.22-M during the advance phases of this contract. 

PHASE III: Continue Phase II research and development (complete necessary engineering, system integration, packaging, and testing) to field the capability into the DCGS-N Inc 2 computing infrastructure. Commercialize the capability for technology transition to the wider defense and intelligence communities and the broader commercial Business Intelligence (BI) market place. The self-learning, data ingest optimization engine described in this topic could have significant commercial potential for any BI/Enterprise Content Management/Cloud Data Services enterprise regardless of business concern. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Balanzinska, M., A. Deshpande, M. Franklin, P. Gibbons, J. Gray, S Nath, M. Hansen, M. Liehold, A. Szalay, and V. Tao. "Data management in the Worldwide Sensor Web," www.Computer.org/pervasive (ISSN: 1536-1268, 2007). https://www.computer.org/csdl/mags/pc/2007/02/b2030.html

2:  Paprotny, A., and M. Thess. "Realtime Data Mining: Self-Learning Techniques for Recommendation Engines, Applied and Numerical Harmonic Analysis," Springer International Publishing (2013). http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319013206

3:  Minelli, M., M. Chambers, and A Dhiraj. "Big Data, Big Analytics: Emerging Business Intelligence and Analytic Trends for Today’s Businesses," John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (2013). https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Michael_Minelli_Big_Data_Big_Analytics?id=Mg3WvT8uHV4C

4:  eXtensible Markup Language (XML) Data Encoding Specification for Intelligence Community (IC)- Enterprise Data Header (EDH) V4 6 Sep 13.

KEYWORDS: Data Ingest, Cloud Data Services, Data / Machine / Deep Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials, Sensors, Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop Electro-Optic (EO) phase modulators with flat frequency response, low switching voltage-length product, and multi-decade environmental lifetime for use in strategic-grade high-precision inertial sensors such as interferometric fiber-optic gyroscopes and accelerometers. 

DESCRIPTION: The performance requirements for strategic-grade inertial sensors based on optical interferometry continue to become more stringent, necessitating continued innovation for optical component technologies. For example, the interferometric fiber-optic gyroscopes (IFOGs) used in inertial navigation systems for fleet ballistic missile (FBM) submarine applications require unprecedented precision, characterized in terms of long-term bias stability, scale factor linearity, angle random walk performance, etc. [1]. Another example is the Zero Force Accelerometer (ZFA) developed by Draper Laboratory which relies on a solid-state optical displacement sensor and is projected to exceed strategic-grade performance requirements. A key component in these types of sensors is the integrated optical circuit (IOC), typically comprised of EO phase modulators based on waveguides and electrodes formed on the surface of an electro-optic crystal such as lithium niobate (LiNbO3) [2]. The non-ideal behavior of these phase modulators, particularly their frequency-dependent response and the long-term environmental degradation thereof, is well known, and the precision of the parent inertial sensors is limited by this non-ideal behavior. Various technical approaches have been developed in attempts to both improve the flatness of frequency response at beginning of life as well as the long-term environmental stability of the phase modulators [3-5]. These approaches have ranged from implementation of various different waveguide materials and processing to inclusion of dielectric buffer layers, and often give rise to trade-offs with complexity and other device performance parameters such as switching voltage-length product (Vpi-L), insertion loss, etc. Nevertheless the need remains for new technical approaches to improve EO phase modulator performance for interferometric inertial sensor applications. The objective of this topic relates to advanced EO phase modulators designed for high-precision interferometric inertial sensors. In particular, Y-branch dual phase modulator LiNbO3 IOCs are required with 1550 nanometer operating wavelength, low optical insertion loss, high chip polarization extinction ratio (PER), low Vpi*-L, flat frequency response down to sub-Hertz frequencies, and at least 20-year environmental lifetime. 

PHASE I: Perform a design and materials study aimed at a LiNbO3 phase modulator that achieves improved performance for interferometric inertial sensor applications as compared to the current state of the art via novel designs, materials, and fabrication processes. The study must assess device performance parameters, including beginning-of-life frequency response; of fabricated test structures; consider all aspects of device fabrication (e.g., substrate, waveguides, electrodes, additional features as warranted such as buffer layers, and packaging); include a preliminary assessment of long-term environmental stability based on a materials physics analysis; and justify the feasibility/practicality of the approach. A specific device design must be proposed for fabrication in Phase II of the project based upon this analysis. Also, a plan for Phase II will be developed. 

PHASE II: Based on the Phase I results, design, fabricate and characterize a small lot of prototype Y-branch dual phase modulator IOCs, complete with fiber-optic pigtails and electrical connectorization suitable for incorporation into test beds for interferometric inertial sensors. Characterization must comprise electrical measurements including half-wave voltage (Vpi), frequency response and residual intensity modulation (RIM), and optical measurements including optical insertion loss, split ratio, chip PER, optical return loss (ORL) or coherent backscatter, and wavelength dependent loss (WDL). An accelerated aging study involving IOCs at elevated temperatures under vacuum must be performed to develop a predictive model of long-term environmental stability. A proof-of-concept study of one or more prototype IOCs in a suitable IFOG test bed must be performed. The prototypes should be delivered by the end of Phase II. 

PHASE III: Based on the prototypes developed in Phase II, continuing development must lead to productization of Y-branch dual phase modulator IOCs suitable for interferometric inertial sensors. While this technology is aimed at military/strategic applications, phase modulators are heavily used in many optical circuit applications, including in telecom industry hardware. A phase modulator that can maintain frequency response over a very wide range of environmental conditions is likely to bring value to many existing commercial applications. Also, technology meeting the needs of this topic could be leveraged to bring IFOG technology toward a price point that could make it more attractive to the commercial markets. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Adams, G. and M. Gokhale. "Fiber optic gyro based precision navigation for submarines," Proceedings of the AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference, Denver, CO, USA, vol. 1417 (2000).

2:  Wooten, E.L. et al. "A review of lithium niobate modulators for fiber-optic communications systems," IEEE Journal of selected topics in Quantum Electronics, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 69-82 (2000).

3:  Kissa, K. and J. J. Xu. "Y-branch dual optical phase modulator," U.S. Patent Application No. 13/338,929 (2011). http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=%2213%2F338,929%22&OS=%2213/338,929%22&RS=%2213/338,929%22

4:  Feth, J. "Stitched waveguide for use in a fiber-optic gyroscope," U.S. Patent No. 8,373,863 (2013). http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F8373863

5:  Kissa, K. "Optical phase modulator," U.S. Patent No. 8,463,081 (2013). http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F8373863

KEYWORDS: Electro-optic Modulator; Phase Modulator; Lithium Niobate; Waveguides; Inertial Sensor; Fiber-optic Gyroscope 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Reduce or change the sound signature, in terms of magnitude, frequency, and/or duration, of a small caliber projectile as it travels downrange through the use of Active Noise Reduction, Active Noise Control, or similar methods. Overall control of weapon signature at the muzzle is a secondary objective. 

DESCRIPTION: Active Noise Control (ANC), or Active Noise Reduction (ANR), is a method for reducing unwanted sound by introducing additional sound waves which are specifically tuned to cancel out the first. The added waves combine to form a new wave, in a process called destructive interference. The Army is seeking innovative approaches that apply these super position techniques to small caliber systems without degrading the performance of current weapon platforms at all ranges of military interest. Performance in this context refers to accuracy and the spread of impact momentum values for selected projectiles. Firearm sound is generated by a number of sources. The sudden release of hot, high pressure, high velocity gas from a gun barrel bore is an example. The sound of the bullet as it pushes through the air in flight is another. Bullets traveling near or greater than the speed of sound generate a ballistic crack or sonic boom. This is the sound which is generated outside of the weapon and cannot be addressed by a simple weapon suppressor. The ballistic crack of a projectile or “sonic boom” is the result of air flow traveling at or over the local speed of sound (approximately 1,126 ft/s, or 768 mph depending upon conditions). Current 5.56x45mm NATO rifle rounds are launched at speeds between 2,970 ft/s and 3,100 ft/s depending upon the specifics of the weapon/munition design, and 7.62x51mm rifle rounds have muzzle velocities that are between 2,580 ft/s and 2,733 ft/s. This is obviously faster than the local speed of sound. Subsonic projectiles and pistol bullets in general are not currently of interest. The non-suppressed sound of a 5.56mm or 7.62mm supersonic rifle bullet when measured 1 meter to the left or right of the weapon is often around 164 dB. This has a direct impact on training, effectiveness, and survivability. Projectile sound is a consideration in tactical effectiveness, as it identifies type, range, and intensity of oncoming fire. Traveling projectiles undergo the Doppler effect. This changes the frequency (or pitch) of the sound depending upon whether the projectile is getting closer or receding. The magnitude (or loudness) of the sound diminishes by the inverse-square law as the receiver (of the sound) moves away from the source. Each doubling of distance reduces the volume by a significant amount. For example, for a 164 dB source, a doubling of distance might reduce the sound level by 6 dB. The science behind this rudimentary discussion of wave behavior has been well understood for centuries. What has changed is the ability to measure, process, and use the information collected by sensors in practical time increments. What has changed is the ability to mitigate these waves, at least to a degree, and at least under certain conditions. The question for this SBIR topic is are we at a point where this technology can have a meaningful impact on marksmanship training (safety), small unit command and control (issuing/receiving orders in high noise environments), weapon/projectile launch (enabling high velocity solutions which would have previously been prohibited for sound reasons), survivability (how far does the sound of fire travel), cover fire effectiveness (how close does the round sound), fire control (does the sound generated by the projectile enable a better fire solution once the sound has been processed), and other applications. The Government is not currently interested in technology solutions which are not part of the weapon or the munition; ear muffs and similar safety gear are outside of this topic. Technical challenges: • Determination of the performance tradespace which is associated with reasonable application of this technology for the field of small arms. • Ability to induce a meaningful noise-canceling/shift in the sound as the projectile is fired. • Ability to induce a meaningful noise-canceling/shift in the sound signature as the projectile flies. • Ability to put robust electronics on projectiles which will withstand the high g-forces and other stresses which are associated with launch. • Powering of electronics on ammunition/weapon hardware. • Determination of the suitability of this approach for a man-portable small arm, crew served weapon, or remote weapon system platform employing small arms such as CROWS. • Determination of the impact of this in practical situations of military interest. • Ability to do all of the above without overtly affecting the usefulness of the system. 

PHASE I: The offeror will explore and determine the feasibility/approach for the development and application of ANC/ANR technology to mask or shift the noise of a rifle in a way in which the source and direction of fire will be difficult to determine. The tasks will include a technology analysis to guide the application and trade-off of key components, approaches, and subsystems; research conducted to ensure that ballistic performance and impact characteristics required to produce lethal effects are maintained. The phase will result in a study and report on the current state of the art of ANC/ANR technology with discussion of that technology for small arm development. The report will also cover performance metrics/goals, an experiment test design for use in a modeling and simulation environment, any notable spin off applications of the technology that can be applied to the commercial sector, and a detailed research plan to develop and demonstrate a Phase II proof-of-concept/prototype. 

PHASE II: The offeror will develop, demonstrate, and validate the rifle findings developed during Phase I to produce a prototype of the ANC/ANR technology for use in a small caliber system. The offeror will conduct a statistically relevant set of experiments using the design and performance metrics developed in Phase I to evaluate source location/direction phase shift and below Mach 1 sound masking. The Phase II final report shall include: (1) full system design and specifications detailing the electronics and proof-of-concept components to be integrated; (2) expected performance specifications of the proposed components; (3) expected improvements which are achievable through continued refinement of the design; and (4) data and analysis of the experiments and modelling and simulation work which was done. 

PHASE III: The offeror will work with available funding sources to transition capability into practical use within Army/DoD programs of record and production lines, while considering options for dual-use applications in broader domains including state/local governments, and commercial. Potential opportunities may exist to produce technologies which will reduce hearing loss in high intensity sound environments. 

REFERENCES: 

1: MIL-STD-1474E: Department of Defense Design Criteria Standard: Noise Limits, 15 Apr 2015.

2:  Maher, Robert C., "Acoustical Characterization of Gunshots," 44th Annual SAFE Symposium, Washington DC, April 2007.

3:  Dater, Philip H. "Firearm Sound Suppression: Nature and Measuring of Firearm Sounds." 2014.

4:  Kuo, S. M. and Morgan, D. M., "Active Noise Control: A Tutorial Review," Proc. of IEEE Signal Processing Society, Vol. 87, No. 6, June 1999.

KEYWORDS: Active Noise Control, Active Noise Reduction, Adaptive Noise Cancellation, Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Applications, Weapon Signature, Muzzle Pressure, Suppressor, Hearing Protection 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors, Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate an automatic target classifier for integration into small caliber/close-combat weapon systems that are organic to an infantry squad. The goal is to detect, classify, recognize, and identify all potential targets within the engagement range of small caliber weapon systems in a variety of environmental conditions. 

DESCRIPTION: The automation of fire control technology has drastically improved probability of hit (P(h)) and reduced target engagement times for almost all weapon systems over the past century. Small caliber weapon systems have lagged behind large caliber weapon systems with such improvements due to limitations in size, weight, power, and onboard computing/processing. Modern combat-proven electro-optics have allowed major strides toward closing this gap; however, significant soldier-to-weapon interaction continues to generate considerable delivery error. Given that numerous fire control solution efforts are currently being conducted, classification, recognition, and identification of objects and targets is the next engagement sequence technology to be addressed. The process of knowing the characteristics of a target is called classification. Classification is what enables an Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) system to distinguish targets between non-targets, including identification from background noise, clutter, and cover. The latest developments in optical sensors provide the technical capability to automatically identify and track potential targets. Coupled with advancements in software-based computing, it is feasible to automatically acquire, track, and identify moving and stationary targets with a sensor subsystem that is integrated with a small caliber weapon system. The primary value added to a weapon system that utilizes ATR is engagement timeline reduction for target(s) acquisition. 

PHASE I: The offeror will investigate various target classifier techniques and their applicability to be used on small caliber/close combat weapon systems that are organic to the infantry squad. As noted in the description section of this topic area: "Small caliber weapon systems have lagged behind large caliber weapon systems with such improvements due to limitations in size, weight, power, and onboard computing/processing capabilities." The target classifiers evaluated shall take into account the target sets most encountered (notably human and vehicle targets), environmental factors such as cold, rain, fog, day/night, etc., and engagement scenarios in urban, jungle canopy, and open terrain environments. The ability to further classify human targets with regards to the combatant employing body armor would be an additional desired performance requirement. The architecture developed will detail hardware trade-offs based on computing processing requirements in terms of size, weight, and power of required sensor suite(s), and performance trade-offs based on operational use. For example, target classifiers will only provide a confidence level of a certain percentage when used in rain/fog scenarios with this type of sensor. The Phase I report will encompass the architecture stated above, an experiment test design for use in a modeling and simulation environment, any notable spin off applications of the technology that can be applied to the commercial sector, and a detailed research plan to develop and demonstrate a Phase II proof-of-concept/prototype ATR algorithm for small arms systems. 

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate the approach developed during Phase I, integrate such approach into a small caliber weapon system and test in both virtual and operationally relevant environments. The Phase II demonstrations should operate in all environments during both day and night. The Phase II final delivery should include: • Functional and software performance specifications for ATR small arms systems; • Demonstrated ATR algorithm design that details classifiers design (executable and source code); • Identification of key technical challenges (e.g., interface requirements for cameras applying Snell test, frame rates for target tracking, etc.) affecting system performance potentials. 

PHASE III: The offeror will work with available funding sources to transition capability into practical use within Army/DoD open architecture interfaces, while consider options for dual use applications in broader domains that include the Department of Homeland Security agencies and state/local law enforcement agencies. Identify and generalize open architecture interface requirements that includes other compatible sensor platforms. Perform trade study for other tactical applications such as perimeter control, base defense, maritime target sets, etc. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Ratches, James A. (2011). Review of Current Aided/Automatic Target Acquisition Technology for Military Target Acquisition Tasks. Optical Engineering, 50(7).

KEYWORDS: Automatic Target Recognition (ATR), Automatic Target Classifiers, Clutter, Target Classification 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Develop test techniques, methodologies and fixture(s) for design, development and demonstration of caseless small caliber ammunition technology. 

DESCRIPTION: The DoD is interested in developing propellants suitable for small caliber caseless ammunition to reduce ammunition weight, reduce sensitivity, and increase lethality. Developments include new propellant formulations, propellant ignition methods, and ammunition cartridge design/layout. Recent research into lower sensitivity propellants, which are much more difficult to ignite compared to conventional nitrate ester propellants, has revealed the need for greater understanding of the ignition process. Caseless ammunition replaces the metallic cartridge case and granular propellant used in conventional ammunition with a solid propellant body. The caseless propellant body makes up the structure of the ammunition cartridge and contains the projectile and igniter. The entire propellant body is consumed upon firing the cartridge. The gas generated during the ignition process pressurizes the gun chamber, eventually causing the projectile to move once the shot start force is overcome. As the projectile moves, the amount of volume in the gun chamber increases. Because the propellant gas generation rate is dependent on chamber pressure, which in turn, is dependent on chamber volume, it is crucial that the propellant ignition and flamespreading process keeps up with projectile motion. Otherwise, the propellant may not completely burn and the desired ballistic performance will not be obtained. When designing new propellant formulations and ammunition concepts, it is desirable to obtain diagnostic data about the ignition and propellant combustion processes. Data such as chamber pressure and projectile motion as functions of time are desired for validation of computer models and evaluation of the ignition process. Determination of flame propagation through the propellant charge is also of interest. 

PHASE I: The offeror will develop test and measurement techniques to accelerate the development of advanced small caliber caseless ammunition. Test data of interest include chamber pressure, projectile position, and propellant combustion progress. Design a test fixture that will enable the collection of these data. 

PHASE II: The offeror will construct prototype test fixtures to demonstrate the measurement techniques developed in Phase I. Perform diagnostic tests using Government specified propellants. 

PHASE III: Extend the test and measurement techniques developed in this SBIR to support development additional ammunition configurations and calibers. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Wikipedia, "Caseless Ammunition" Website modified 26 March 2017, Accessed 6 April 2017 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caseless_ammunition

2:  Spiegel, Kori and Shipley, Paul, "Lightweight Small Arms Technologies" http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a481434.pdf

3:  AMCP 706-150 Engineering Design Handbook Interior Ballistics of Guns

KEYWORDS: Caseless Ammunition, Interior Ballistics, Ballistic Testing, Ammunition Development, Ignition Diagnostics 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: To develop propellant material additives for electric ignition applications. 

DESCRIPTION: DoD has a need for a propellant material that can be ignited with an electrical impulse (arc/spark) and which can be used in electric ignition systems. Such materials are highly desired for multiple reasons such as: removing primary energetics, reducing sensitivity, eliminating mechanical/impact initiation and to increase initiation rate. The ideal electric impulse would have a small time and voltage profile. Electric ignition offers the potential for a more uniform ignition of a monolithic, cast-cured, propellant body relative to what is possible with percussion style primers that are optimized for igniting the loose packed ball and flake propellant found in conventional small arms ammunition. The primary benefit of more uniform ignition is a reduction in both interior ballistics and projectile muzzle variabilities, which ultimately translates into reduced projectile dispersion. For example, one of the applications is use of electrical ignition in caseless rounds where electrical ignition reduces the occurrence of unconsumed propellant which poses a serious threat to weapon reliability as it can accelerate barrel fouling and/or cause subsequent rounds to jam while being chambered. The key phenomena of electric ignition is well described by Lee who probed the response of electric discharge through solid propellants.(1,2) Lee observed that electric discharge into solid propellants results in the formation of arc channels where the dielectric binder breakdowns and plasma generation occurs along the path of discharge. Such plasma generation results in rapid combustion occurring throughout the propellant at equivalent times. Electrical conductivity is one of the important energetic material properties that can be used to tailor the electric ignition process and is an active research area.(3,4) The small business would develop additives that would reduce the dielectric strength of the propellant material, such that an arc discharge through the material can be made at reduced power requirements and shorter time. Such materials additives could include combustible conductive materials or materials that have unique electrical properties under discharge (e.g. semiconductors). 

PHASE I: The offeror will survey a list of initial additive candidates which can be used as dopant to the propellant energetic materials (i.e. B/KNO3 Black Powder, Benite) for electrical ignition applications. The dopant amount would be restricted to less than 2% (1% preferred) by weight of the propellant material. The offeror will characterize and demonstrate reduction in the dielectric strength of the propellant material in a pelletized form factor. 

PHASE II: On successful demonstration in Phase I, the offeror will use the derived formulations to prepare larger form factor samples and demonstrate successful initiation by an electrical impulse in ambient conditions. The offeror will design and fabricate the characterization technique which captures the mechanism affecting the propellant material properties, for example measuring the voltage, current and time profiles of the electrical impulse. The open-air characterization can also be performed in collaboration with NSWC IHEODTD. 

PHASE III: The offeror will work with available funding sources to transition capability into practical use within Army/DoD simulation systems, while consider options for dual use applications in broader domains including state/local governments and commercial. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Lee, R. J., Tasker, D. G., Forbes, J. W. and Beard, B. C. (1991). Ignition of PBXW-115 due to electrostatic discharge. Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Report No. NSWC-TR-89-212.

2:  Lee, R. J. (1996). Ignition in solid energetic materials due to electrical discharge. Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division Report No. NSWC-IHTR-1925.

3:  Beloni, E., Santhanam, P. R., & Dreizin, E. L. (2012). Electrical conductivity of a metal powder struck by a spark. Journal of Electrostatics, 70(1), 157-165.

4:  Weir, C., Pantoya, M. L., Ramachandran, G., Dallas, T., Prentice, D., & Daniels, M. (2013). Electrostatic discharge sensitivity and electrical conductivity of composite energetic materials. Journal of Electrostatics, 71(1), 77-83.

KEYWORDS: Electrical Ignition, Propellant, Powder Electrical Conductivity, Powder Additives, Semi-conductors, Propellant Electrical Properties, Temperature, Electrostatic Discharge, Propellant Binder, ESD Ignition, Arc Channel, Energetic Material 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical, Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Design and fabricate a wearable and conformable ultrasound transducer system for high resolution imaging of tissues/organs as well as delivering acoustic energy for modulating the function of those organs or tissues. 

DESCRIPTION: There is a critical DoD need to develop a system(s) or platform solution to address the capability gap in the medical ultrasound community, with broad applicability to wearable diagnostics and modulation. Current, field portable ultrasound transducer and imaging systems are readily available yet have a number of drawbacks that restrict their use. First, a highly trained technician is required to control the angle and positioning of the ultrasound wand and to decipher the images produced by these systems. Second, the relative size, weight, and power (SWaP) of current systems are restrictive for wide adoption. Third, current systems include only imaging capabilities and do not include the ability to deliver focused acoustic energy with the aim of modulating organ/tissue function (see references 1, 2). Developing ultrasound transducer systems that overcome these challenges is the focus of this topic. A wearable and conformable ultrasound system that could be placed on the body in a static location could eliminate the need for highly trained technician for wand positioning, and enable image processing software systems to read and provide diagnostic measures of the ultrasound images. Likewise, a conformable array of ultrasound transducers could conceivably reduce the SWaP of existing systems to enable broad adoption in home or field scenarios. Furthermore, there is growing interest in therapeutic applications of ultrasound, with new research demonstrating that acoustic energy delivered to tissues and organs can regulate their function. Wearable ultrasound systems may thus offer diagnostic, monitoring, and therapeutic capabilities in a single, lightweight device. The ultrasound transducer need not include a built-in display for imaging. Instead, the device should interface with one or more commercially available handheld displays, such as tablets or smartphones. 

PHASE I: Develop preliminary design concept and basic prototype to determine technological feasibility of a low-power, scalable, flexible ultrasound transducer array for pre-clinical animal use. The component must support capabilities for simultaneous imaging and delivery of acoustic energy to targeted regions. The anticipated specifications for the device are left for the proposer companies to decide based on their intended application space. The device should have broad frequency and power capabilities that would be highly flexible and with rapid reconfigurability all within FDA safety limits. The Phase I deliverable is a basic prototype and final report that must include: (1) modeling and simulations of expected imaging and acoustic energy delivery capabilities including power, pressure, frequency, spatial and temporal resolution specifications; (2) testing of modeled capabilities by the prototype in a phantom system; (3) prototype performance metrics, and identification and plan to address deficiencies to be optimized in Phase II; and (4) competitive assessment of the market. Optimizing usability with multiple imaging interfaces will be considered an additional attractive feature. Plans for Phase II should include optimization design goals and key technological milestones to enable pre-clinical testing and evaluation. Phase I should account for time to submit and process all required animal use protocols as appropriate for moving to Phase II. For this topic, DARPA will accept proposals for work and cost up to $225,000 for Phase I. The preferred structure is a $175,000 base period, up to 12 months period of performance, and a $50,000, 3-month option period. Alternative structures may be accepted if sufficient rationale is provided. 

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a wearable and conformable ultrasound system based on the basic prototype from Phase I. A critical design review will be performed to finalize the design. Particular emphasis will be placed upon prototype size, weight, power, cost, functionality, scalability, flexibility, and the ability to reliably image and deliver focused ultrasound simultaneously. Phase II deliverable will include: (1) a working prototype of the system, including expected life-cycle capabilities; (2) test data on its performance collected in one or more pre-clinical animal models; (3) test data to ensure compliance with relevant regulations from FDA, FCC, IEC, or other organizations for use in animals and/or humans; and (4) projections for manufacturing yield and costs. Phase II should account for time to submit and process all required animal and/or human subjects use protocols as appropriate. Proposers are highly encouraged to clearly segregate research tasks from human and/or animal testing tasks to allow for partial funding while approvals are being obtained. For this topic, DARPA will accept Phase II proposals for work and cost up to $3,000,000 for a period of up to 36 months. This amount and duration will be inclusive of an Option period. Proposers will be expected to propose the appropriate duration and cost needed to accomplish the work. Phase II awards and options are subject to the availability of funds. 

PHASE III: Advanced device for at home/field use by civilians/soldiers in clinically relevant applications. Advanced bio-electronic medicine applications for civilians/soldiers to diagnose and/or treat local or systemic inflammation, traumatic brain injury, organ dysfunction, or other clinically relevant applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Tyler, WJ., et al., Remote Excitation of Neuronal Circuits Using Low-Intensity, Low-Frequency Ultrasound. PLoS One. 2008

2:  3(10):e3511.

3:  Juan, EJ., et al., Vagus Nerve Modulation Using Focused Pulsed Ultrasound: Potential Applications and Preliminary Observations in a Rat. Int J Imaging Syst Technol. 2014 Mar 1

4:  24(1): 67–71.

KEYWORDS: Ultrasound, Acoustic Energy, Advanced Electronics, Wearable Electronics, Flexible Electronics, Computer Aided Engineering, Design For Manufacture, Design For Test, Fabrication, Integrated Product And Process Design, ASIC 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop functional photonic devices and circuits which exploit non-linear morphological and nanostructure compositions that are complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) compatible. 

DESCRIPTION: There is a critical DoD need to consider miniaturization and CMOS compatibility of on-chip tunable and non-linear photonic components and devices. Traditionally, the diffraction limit of light has limited the miniaturization and high-density integration of photonic circuits and devices. One solution has been to exploit surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), which are bound waves at the interface between a metal and a dielectric. SPPs supporting structures include metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguides, insulator-metal-insulator (IMI) waveguides and dielectric loaded surface plasmon polaritons waveguides have been suggested and demonstrated [1]. Because the energy mostly propagates in the low loss dielectric layer, the latter have much longer propagation lengths than MIM waveguides. However, to broaden nanoscale photonic functionality, MIM structures can confine light to deep subwavelength scales (e.g. < 0.05 of a wavelength) enhancing non-linear effects. In addition, recent developments in subwavelength antennas and meta-atoms, suggests that the dynamics and coupling between two or more subwavelength shaped structures can provide further functionality. The propagation length of MIM structures varies from several micrometers to several tens of micrometers, which is adequate for many for nano-photonic applications. Passive photonic circuits elements such directional couplers (DC) and Mach–Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) based on MIM structures have been proposed and demonstrated. These devices can provide components for signal processing, but an all-optical circuit requires active devices. SPP’s in reduced sized structures containing non-linear optical materials can provide modulating capabilities [2]. Control over the plasmon characteristics relies on the design of the nanostructures’ composition and morphology. Prior research includes optical bistability and variable transmission responses under different incident intensities [3], demonstrating all-optical approaches to control light with light. The wavelength of electromagnetic radiation used in photonic components, devices and circuits, and hence photonic device size, is approximately one hundred times larger than typical electronic components. The use of high index dielectrics will only shrink the optical wavelength in proportion to the refractive index of refraction. Plasmonics, i.e. a collective oscillation of electrons at the surface of a conducting material, oscillate at optical frequencies and propagate along and are tightly confined to the surface with dimensions comparable to electronic circuits. Transverse decay lengths are on the order of the skin depth, 10 nm. Plasmonic structures and devices are lossy but only need to carry information a few centimeters across a chip or a few microns within a device to be effective in fusing electronics with photonics. Light at optical frequencies can be focused to a spot size of only 5 nm through the use of surface plasmons. This tight confinement of electromagnetic waves provides device opportunities and high intensities facilitate non-linear effects that may have low switching threshold energies and fast response times. Non-linear effects can be exploited for frequency conversion, parametric effects as well as simple harmonic generation. These properties are governed by the subwavelength features in plasmonic components and devices, and provide a means to control light with light [4]. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of non-linear, plasmonic-based devices which provide some specific functionality like frequency conversion at high data rates. Ideally they should have low loss, support small (e.g. less than 1 µm2) footprints and be compatible with CMOS electronic devices at the chip level for control and tunability. Suggested devices include, but are not limited to, all-optical switch, modulators, optical limiter, frequency up-conversion, frequency down-conversion, self focusing, self phase modulation, and Raman scattering. To support scalability requirements of next generation signal processing architectures, the modulators should occupy a small footprint (target is ≤ 2 µm2) have low insertion loss characteristics (<5dB), while providing efficient performance. Phase I deliverables will include a final report, which includes a detailed analysis of the compatibility of the proposed devices, and predicted performance for Phase II. For this topic, DARPA will accept proposals for work and cost up to $225,000 for Phase I. The preferred structure is a $175,000, 12-month base period, and a $50,000, 4-month option period. Alternative structures may be accepted if sufficient rationale is provided. 

PHASE II: Finalize the device and material parameters from Phase I. Conduct basic experimental observation of the expected performance of the plasmonic device and its application. Design and fabricate a prototype, ultra-compact plasmonic device. Phase II deliverables will include a final report, which includes designs, fabrication process, and experiment results. 

PHASE III: Possible applications for this technology span both the military and commercial arenas. The rapid increase in the clock speed of computers has slowed in recent years due to the interconnect bottlenecks on the chip itself. A plasmonic architecture is expected to alleviate the problems associated with the large size of present day optical components. In the near term, for applications not requiring an entire plasmonic ensemble of active and passive circuitry with sources, detectors, and devices, we recognize that individual advances in plasmonic devices will help to couple photonics to the broader field of nanotechnology. 

REFERENCES: 

1: R. Zia et al, "Plasmonics: the next chip-scale technology," Materials Today, Vol.9, Issue 7-8 (2006)

2:  C. Min et al, "All-Optical Switching in Subwavelength metallic grating structure containing non-linear optical materials," Opt. Letters, Vol. 33, No.8 (2008)

3:  H. Ming et al, "Optical bistability in subwavelength metallic grating coated by non-linear material," Opt Express, Vol 15, No. 19 (2007)

4:  M. Kauranen et al, "Non-linear plasmonics," Nature Photonics, No. 6 (2012)

KEYWORDS: Plasmonics, Non-linear Devices, Parametric Processes, Plasmonic Devices 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems, Battlespace 

OBJECTIVE: Design and implement a framework for application data sandboxing of data-rich applications such as web browsers, document editors and web servers hosting dynamic content. 

DESCRIPTION: There is a critical DoD need to develop efficient methods for identifying and enforcing appropriate controls to security-relevant data residing within the address-space of an application. Applications are increasingly data-rich, yet the security protections available for the most popular platforms do not provide any data controls within the context of a single application. While some applications do employ proprietary ad hoc sandboxing, such technology only enforces separation of the application from the operating system, instead of separation of the data used within the application. This topic seeks ways to add data controls with generic operating system or application-embedded security extensions. The root cause of a large class of application attacks stems from memory corruption vulnerabilities. These memory errors may, for example, be caused by an application using uninitialized memory, pointers to objects that have been previously freed, or accessing a buffer of data beyond the allocated size of the data. Traditionally, these vulnerabilities have been used in attacks that seize control of an application by altering control-flow, for example, by injecting new code into the application or by leveraging existing code. Contemporary defenses seek to reduce the number of memory corruption vulnerabilities, and the widespread deployment of practical implementations of data-execution prevention (DEP) and control-flow integrity (CFI) [1] have made code injection and code reuse attacks more difficult to pull off than they once were. Nevertheless, applications are routinely shown to be vulnerable to the loss of data security [2], both in terms of confidentiality and integrity, especially in light of non-control data attacks [3,7,8]. Hence, the DoD seeks a framework for application data sandboxing (or isolation, partitioning, etc.) of data-rich applications that provide data security, both in terms of confidentiality and integrity [4], thereby preventing or significantly limiting both the modification and disclosure of security-relevant data used by an application. The data security model should go beyond Bell-LaPadula and Biba Integrity models, which only separate higher-privileged data from lower-privileged data. This requirement stems from the fact that data-oriented attacks typically involve accessing data of the same privilege-level (e.g., passwords, keys, browser cookies), but across different contexts (e.g., domains, users, processes) [5,6]. The framework should be transparent to the user, not interfere with normal application functionality, not require extensive manual software re-architecting, and should operate with minimal negative performance impact under normal usage of the application. The approaches taken should, for example, identify security-relevant data, partition the data into appropriately sized groupings of data and the code that may access those data groupings, then enforce the partitioning at runtime. Frameworks that correctly and efficiently operate on COTS binaries are favored. 

PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study to determine innovative cyber techniques and mechanisms that can be used within a methodology for application data sandboxing of data-rich applications. Design the resulting concept framework capable of sandboxing data in COTS applications. The framework should prevent or significantly limit the modification and disclosure of security-relevant data used by an application (e.g., cryptographic keys, passwords, personal and banking information, configuration settings) in the presence of a memory disclosure (or modification) attack. The framework should operate with negligible performance overhead. An initial prototype may make use of program source code and have a negative impact on program performance, so long as a clear path is provided to eliminate those issues in Phase II. As part of Phase I, a test case with success criteria for data security in data-rich applications should be defined. Phase I deliverables will include a final report that details initial prototype design and concept framework, and any preliminary results for the test case. For this topic, DARPA will accept proposals for work and cost up to $150,000 for Phase I. The preferred structure is a $100,000, 6-month base period, and a $50,000, 4-month option period. 

PHASE II: Fully develop the Phase I concept framework. The resulting prototype will be demonstrated in accordance with the success criteria developed in Phase I. Phase II deliverables will include a working prototype and final report that details demonstration results. 

PHASE III: This dual-use technology applies to both military and commercial environments affected by cyber adversaries. Commercial benefits include increased cyber warfare protection of infiltration of a company’s data, preventing or significantly limiting both the modification and disclosure of security-relevant data used by an application, and thus, increased protection of critical infrastructure environments (e.g., health, electrical, transportation, etc.). The DoD and the commercial world have similar challenges with respect to maintaining the integrity of their cyber computing and communications infrastructure. The DoD is concerned with being able to effectively keep the cyber intruder from penetrating operational systems that support the warfighter. The resulting framework, capable of sandboxing data in COTS applications and adding data controls with generic operating system or application-embedded security extensions, is directly transitionable to the DoD for use by the services (e.g., Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SSC), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)). 

REFERENCES: 

1: CARLINI, N., BARRESI, A., PAYER, M., WAGNER, D., AND GROSS, T. R. Control-flow bending: On the effectiveness of control-flow integrity. In USENIX Security Symposium, 2015.

2:  Z. Durumeric, J. Kasten, D. Adrian, J. Halderman, M. Bailey, F. Li, N. Weaver, J. Amann, J. Beekman, M. Payer, and V. Paxson. The Matter of Heartbleed. In Internet Measurement Conference, 2014.

3:  S. Chen, J. Xu, E. C. Sezer, P. Gauriar, and R. K. Iyer. Non-control-data attacks are realistic threats. In USENIX Security Symposium, 2005.

4:  M. Castro, M. Costa, T. Harris, "Securing software by enforcing data-flow integrity," Symposium on Operating Systems Design and Implementation (OSDI), 2006.

5:  Y. Jia, Z. Chua, H. Hu, S. Chen, P. Saxena, and Z. Liang. 2016. "The Web/Local" Boundary Is Fuzzy: A Security Study of Chrome's Process-based Sandboxing. In ACM SIGSAC Conference on Computer and Communications Security, 2016.

6:  R. Rogowski, M. Morton, F. Li, K. Z. Snow, F. Monrose, and M. Polychronakis. Revisiting Browser Security in the Modern Era: New Data-only Attacks and Defenses. In IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy, 2017.

7:  H. Hu, Z. L. Chua, S. Adrian, P. Saxena, and Z. Liang. Automatic generation of data-oriented exploits. In USENIX Security Symposium, 2015.

8:  Blog.ropchain.com. Disarming EMET 5.52: Controlling it all with a single write action, April, 2017.

KEYWORDS: Cyber Defense; Memory Error Vulnerability; Data-oriented Attack; Data-flow Integrity; Application Exploit 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Define new hardware security techniques for integrated circuits (ICs) and develop electronic design automation (EDA) tools enabling the detection and neutralization of malicious logic modifications. 

DESCRIPTION: The commercial advanced IC market is increasingly a globalized, high-volume, and highly competitive enterprise, driving leading-edge wafer foundries out of the United States. Conversely, the DoD has historically required domestic, low-volume, and trusted fabrication sources in order to safeguard classified IP contained in circuit designs. As commercial market practices continue to diverge from DoD policy, new technologies are required to ensure that the military retains access to the most advanced fabrication nodes for its high-performance hardware needs [1]. The past decade has seen intense academic interest in hardware security techniques [2, 3] intended to prevent the reverse engineering and subsequent modification of sensitive IP by unauthorized third parties. Application specific ICs (ASICs) fabricated in foreign, untrusted foundries are particularly vulnerable to these threats since the full design is easily available through imaging and side-channel analysis. Once an adversary extracts the design, they may resynthesize the netlist and layout to include malicious modifications, sometimes referred to as hardware Trojan horses (HTHs). HTHs may modify the circuit’s functionality, leak sensitive information, or degrade performance. Obfuscation of ASIC functionality [4, 5] is sometimes employed to protect a design from reverse engineering, thereby increasing the difficulty of inserting an effective HTH. However, such measures do not provide complete security. Indeed, the additional circuitry needed to obfuscate a design incurs penalties to performance, power, and chip area, ultimately limiting the practically attainable degree of security. In the event that trusted practices and obfuscation do not provide sufficient security over an ASIC development flow, other security measures that expose signatures of logic modifications post-manufacture are the last line of defense against HTHs. Such authentication tests can be performed either during integration acceptance testing at a trusted packaging facility or during operation in real time. In the former, test vectors are applied to the IC in order to either trigger a HTH response or observe HTH side effects on the power and/or timing characteristics of ICs [6]. Unfortunately, well-designed HTHs are stealthy, rarely triggered, and have signatures that are difficult to distinguish from similar effects caused by manufacturing variability. DARPA seeks to promote the practice of HTH testing by advancing design-for-test (DFT) principles into industry standard EDA tools. These measures should sensitize IC designs to HTH insertions or provide additional functionality to improve the probability of detection, and should be of integrated within commercial EDA development flows such that performance and overhead impacts will be less severe than ad-hoc approaches. Other authentication measures can monitor the information flow on an ASIC during operation [7,8]. DARPA seeks to develop new methods that detect faulty logic with high probability, prevent the triggering of HTHs, or reconfigure logic in real time to mitigate the impacts of HTHs that happen to pass through acceptance testing or other defensive measures. 

PHASE I: Develop a methodology for an innovative design for test, runtime monitoring, HTH trigger defense, or other hardware security technique that mitigates the risk of HTH insertion. Identify and develop a security metric for evaluation and optimization of the method under study in a design tool, and perform simulations or small-scale benchmark demonstrations of the method. The Phase 1 deliverable will be a final report that will include a detailed implementation concept for the security technique and performance specifications for the tool to be developed and tested in Phase II. For this topic, DARPA will accept proposals for work and cost up to $150,000 for Phase I. The preferred structure is a $100,000, 6-month base period, and a $50,000, 4-month option period. 

PHASE II: Develop an EDA tool implementing the security technique that is compatible with standard commercial EDA tools and flow. The tool shall accept a large-scale, open-source benchmark design specified by the government, and output a modified version of the design on which the technique has been implemented. The EDA tool, modified design, and report on the performance of the tool shall be delivered to the government for evaluation. 

PHASE III: Hardware security is a significant concern both to the military and commercial domains for maintaining sensitive systems. As part of Phase III, the developed tool should be transitioned into enterprise-level software that can be integrated into existing ASIC development flows. Applications include, but are not limited to, global positioning system (GPS), radar and communication transceivers, audio/video processors, and microcontrollers. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Defense Science Board Washington DC, "Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on High Performance Microchip Supply," ADA435563 http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA435563 (2005).

2:  K. Xiao, D. Forte, Y. Jin, R. Karri, S. Bhunia, and M. Tehranipoor, "Hardware Trojans: Lessons Learned after One Decade of Research," ACM Trans. Des. Autom. Elec. Syst. 22, 6 (2016). DOI: 10.1145/2906147

3:  M. Rostami, F. Koushanfar, and R. Karri, "A Primer on Hardware Security: Models, Methods, and Metrics," Proc. IEEE 102, 1283 (2014). DOI: 10.1109/JPROC.2014.2335155

4:  R. P. Cocchi, J. B. Baukus, L. Wai Chow, and B. J. Wang, "Circuit Camouflage Integration for Hardware IP Protection," Des. Autom. Conf. (2014). DOI: 10.1145/2593069.2602554

5:  R. S. Chakraborty and S. Bhunia, "HARPOON: An Obfuscation-Based SoC Design Methodology for Hardware Protection," IEEE Trans. CAD Int. Circ. Syst. 28, 1493 (2009). DOI: 10.1109/TCAD.2009.2028166

6:  H. Salmani, M. Tehranipoor, and J. Plusquellic, "A Novel Technique for Improving Hardware Trojan Detection and Reducing Trojan Activation Time," IEEE Tran. VLSI Syst. 20, 112 (2012). DOI: 10.1109/TVLSI.2010.2093547

7:  J. Dubeuf, D. Hely, and R.Karri, "Run-time detection of hardware Trojans: The processor protection unit," IEEE Eur. Test Symp. (2013). DOI: 10.1109/ETS.2013.6569378

8:  T. F. Wu, K. Ganesan, Y. A. Hu, H.-S. P. Wong, S. Wong, S. Mitra, "TPAD: Hardware Trojan Prevention and Detection for Trusted Integrated Circuits," IEEE Trans. Comp. Aid. Des. Int. Circ. Syst. 35, 521 (2016). DOI: 10.1109/TCAD.2015.2474373

KEYWORDS: Microelectronics, Security, Globalization 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Design a low-risk flying missile rail to launch an AIM-120 missile and associated manufacturing approach that could surge to large volumes on short notice. 

DESCRIPTION: There is a critical DoD need to explore potential new approaches of on-demand manufacturing through the concept of a flying missile rail (FMR). A new advanced monolithic aircraft typically requires 10-25 years to design, develop, and build. New technology concepts are subject to requirements and other processes which can render them programmatically unrealizable before the technology becomes obsolete. An innovative approach is needed to ‘build on demand’ and to incrementally enhance existing capability. There are two main pieces to this effort: the ability to rapidly build a FMR on demand at a rate of 500 units per month and the FMR itself designed to be produced at a rate of 500 units per month. An FMR is a device that can optionally remain on the wing of a host F-16 or F-18 aircraft and release an AIM-120 missile, or alternately, fly away from the host aircraft acting as a booster and extending the range of an AIM-120, Small Diameter Bomb, or special payload pod. Once the FMR reaches the target area, the FMR vehicle would be capable of loitering until the weapon is released. The flight performance and flying characteristics of the FMR will be a fallout of the successful performer’s design, and is constrained by the wing hardpoint capacity (to be estimated by the proposer based on public data). Design parameters of the FMR may include configuration, payload capacity (1 or 2 AIM-120s, other payloads), aerodynamic design, engine selection, flight performance, minimal payload slot for a radio with a power connector, the radio itself, and an antenna for the radio. The design and analysis of FMR technology can leverage an appropriate a suite of engineering analysis and modeling and simulation tools in the execution of this task. Additionally, this vision calls for an ability to rapidly manufacture the design in the future. An objective vision would foresee the ability to surge and construct up to 500 FMRs (goal) in a 1 month period. Technical and procedural approaches to this surge manufacturing capacity are desired. It is anticipated that this manufacturing objective may drive aspects of the FMR design itself. It is anticipated that this broad topic would benefit from small business innovation both in aircraft design and manufacturing technology. Successful proposals will address both aspects, and suggest a path to future risk reduction (Phase II and beyond), that may include prototype manufacturing, testing, or other activity. Rapid manufacturing and aircraft design are two specialties which often do not reside in the same company. Teaming is highly encouraged for all proposals in all phases to bring the best experts into one design. Phase II may award FMR and rapid manufacturing as two separate Phase II efforts to increase overall program effectiveness though two separate efforts would be considered the same team. The proposers are expected to choose all elements and components of the design which enable rapid manufacturing and that no equipment will be specified by the government. The FMR must be built for rapid manufacture and be compatible with the F-16 and F-18. Communication equipment (Link-16, weapons data link, etc) can be suggested or provisioned for under the auspices of rapid manufacture of the FMR. Any available low SWAP-C military data links may be considered, assuming that low SWAP-C radios enables rapid manufacture. Any necessary flight computers, bus wiring, mechanical equipment, engines, software, and required electronics are the responsibility of the proposers. Detailed designs and models using actual hardware and software are highly desired over intentions to integrate existing capability. Capability creep must not impact the sole mission of the FMR: The mission of the FMR is to be a reusable if not launched from the host platform or fly to a point, loiter, and launch its payload. Alternate uses for the FMR will be asked WITHOUT a desire to change the design. The FMR does not need to maintain controlled flight after it’s last munition is expended (if designed for multiple munitions) but will have an operational utility if it controlled flight can be maintained. Again, rapid manufacture of the FMR is a priority and any capability beyond flight after launch is a bonus if the rate of 500 per month is not impacted. The AIM-120 is the primary munition to be considered. Any additional munition capability is an added bonus but the AIM-120 is the point of the FMR. 

PHASE I: Develop a conceptual design for a flying missile rail and estimate performance. Develop low-risk approaches that are suited for massive surge manufacturing, e.g. capable of rapidly manufacturing up to 500 flying missile rails (goal) in one month. The rail should be capable of acting as a conventional AIM-120 missile rail on F-16 and F-18 aircraft, or optionally acting as an independent robotic range booster for the AIM-120. Phase I deliverables will include: 1. Conceptual flying missile rail design • The flying missile rail must be compatible with existing F-16 and F-18 loaders. Proposers should source public information to estimate F-16 or F-18 hardpoint capacity. Additional information may be provided during a Phase I. 2. Prediction of flight capability and characteristics, suitable for evaluation by a third party. • Flight time and flight characteristics of the flying FMR with AIM-120 loadout. • Altitude and airspeed profile of the FMR post AIM-120 launch to end-of-flight. • Any of the above characteristics by carrying other munitions after the AIM-120 loadout is fully analyzed. 3. Conceptual design of a flying missile rail production approach that produces up to 500 flying missile rails (goal) in one month. • There is no requirement to manufacture the flying missile rail in austere locations. The objective is on-demand rate and location is part of the analysis. • Analysis should include transportation of a manufactured device from the manufactured location to and on a C-17 compatible pallet. • Clearly identified assumptions on rates or pre-requisites 4. The Phase II proposal will be due 3 months after Phase I award to promote rapid progress to a Phase II award. For this topic, DARPA will accept proposals for work and cost up to $225,000 for Phase I. The preferred structure is a $175,000, 6-month base period, and a $50,000, 4-month option period. Alternative structures may be accepted if sufficient rationale is provided. 

PHASE II: Perform risk reduction on the flying missile rail design and manufacturing approach developed in Phase I. Risk reduction may include: • Prototype manufacture • Prototype testing • Manufacturing approach development or demonstration. The exact content of the Phase II risk reduction approach shall be up to the proposer. It is expected that the choice will be made weighing the greatest technical risks the concept of a flying missile rail and associated manufacturing approach. High impact demonstrations are highly desirable. Approaches and risk reduction activity which lend themselves to follow-on activity (fit testing, captive carry, test flights, manufacturing pilots) are desirable. For a performer choosing to prioritize flying missile rail design risk reduction, notional Phase II deliverables might include any of the following: 1. One or more safe separation mass models representative of the final design. 2. Detailed design of the manufacturing approach including cost assumptions required for long term storage. 3. Detailed design of a flying missile rail. 4. Physical installation of a flying missile rail. Ideally this is suited for captive carry on F-16 or F-18, but DARPA recognizes this level of maturity may not be realizable within scope of Phase II. 5. Detailed predictions of flight characteristics and performance. 6. Risk reduction demonstration of rapid manufacturing approach. 7. Safe separation analysis for the release of: • The flying missile rail with AIM-120 from an F-16 (stations 3 and 7 with 300 gallon fuel tanks on station 4 and 6) and F-18. • An AIM-120 from a flying missile rail where the flying missile rail stays attached to the F-16 and F-18. • An AIM-120 from a flying missile rail (the flying missile rail is flying and the AIM-120 is successfully launched from the flying missile rail). A performer choosing to prioritize manufacturing approach risk reduction could identify alternative deliverables in their Phase II proposal. Teaming is highly encouraged for all proposals in all phases to bring the best experts into one design. Phase II may award FMR and rapid manufacturing as two separate Phase II efforts to increase overall program effectiveness though two separate efforts would be considered the same team. 

PHASE III: The commercial application resulting from this effort will demonstrate to other qualified contractors how to develop rapid and short lifetime systems to the DoD without the traditional long-term programmatic timeline. Learning how to break into the Defense Sector is an extremely powerful and valuable commodity to the commercial sector. The Military application resulting from this effort will be twofold: an actual on-call mass-manufactured weapon system and a process that can be applied to other systems. This example system, the Flying Missile Rail, is a system which will be utilized immediately but is too low on the DoD priority to procure. The traditional DoD timelines, operation and maintenance, and life-limit on short term point solutions prevent their procurement. The benefit of an SBIR-enabled “build-on-demand” system demonstrates how to maneuver within the Federal Acquisition Regulations using a different model to achieve rapid capability. This change will address one of DARPA’s challenges. This program is an application of an existing DoD program such as the Air Force Research Lab’s Loyal Wingman Program (see references). 

REFERENCES: 

1: http://www.c4isrnet.com/articles/loyal-wingman-program-seeks-to-realize-benefits-of-advancements-in-autonomy

2:  https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pentagon-touts-loyal-wingman-for-combat-jets-423682/

3:  https://researchfunding.duke.edu/rfi-autonomy-loyal-wingman-testbed

4:  https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=fa87323841777b53ba42c2fcc51b5458&tab=core&_cview=0

5:  http://www.darpa.mil/program/gremlins

KEYWORDS: Flying Missile Rail, Manned-unmanned Teaming, Loyal Wingman, Weapon Truck 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform, Space Platforms 

OBJECTIVE: Leverage emerging commercial technology and investments to deliver an operationally responsive, low-cost expendable launch vehicle (ELV) with individual stages that could be re-purposed as an expendable upper stage on a reusable first-stage booster. Develop the vehicle design and manufacture and test the ELV stack and/or the candidate expendable upper stage. 

DESCRIPTION: There is a compelling Defense Department (DoD) need to leverage emerging commercial and defense technologies to enable fielding of responsive and low-cost liquid rocket ELVs and expendable stages suitable for use on future commercial and military reusable first stages (e.g., DARPA’s Experimental Spaceplane). Many established aerospace and emerging entrepreneurial companies are developing new ELV/stage technologies that strive to dramatically reduce the cost of access to space. The goal of this topic is to leverage these investments to enable operability-driven, low-cost launch vehicles capable of deploying payloads of militarily relevant mass and volume to orbit. Technological trends facilitating such ELVs include an ongoing computer/software revolution enabling affordable design; sophisticated software in lieu of mechanical complexity, integration, and test; micro-miniaturization of electronics and mechanical actuators; high strength-to-weight composites and nano-engineered materials; lightweight structural concepts and thermal protection; advanced manufacturing methods that enable high- thrust/weight rocket engines and turbo-machinery; and liquid propellants that are safe, affordable, and promote ease of handling. The proposer must demonstrate a clear understanding of the system applications of the launch vehicle, and a high level of technical and engineering maturity with respect to all critical technologies for this expendable vehicle or upper stage. Key design elements include non-toxic propellants, functional mechanisms and accommodations for insertion of operational satellites, and balancing gross mass with adequate velocity change, payload, and manufacturing cost. Low-cost stages with efficient structural arrangements to accommodate the structural interface and load paths to the reusable booster, while maintaining sufficient functionality and performance, are of interest. ELV designs that can be re-purposed for tactical missile applications and future boost glide air-transport systems are also of interest. A clear understanding of the technology applications to any proposed military or commercial system is essential. Critical technologies may include lightweight structures and propulsion, low-cost additively manufactured engines and components, high-impulse-density propellants, miniaturized avionics, modular components, altitude compensation and complementary aerodynamic/propulsion integration, and stability, guidance and control subsystems—all integrated into the stage while keeping the system simple and affordable. Proposers are encouraged to leverage their commercial investments and may seek to design, fabricate and test an entire ELV or a single stage. 

PHASE I: Develop the design, manufacturing and test approach to fabricate extremely low-cost, responsive ELVs and/or upper stages for space access. Critical component or analytical risk reduction is encouraged. Identify potential system-level and technology applications of the proposed innovation. Proposers must delineate how the proposed program would lead to a responsive, low-cost ELV suitable for launching small DoD payloads while also delivering a responsive low-cost stage suitable for use as an upper stage on reusable commercial or Experimental Spaceplane first stages. Specific goals for an upper stage include: 1) an ideal velocity change of 19,000 fps; 2) a payload of at least 1,200 lbs with a goal of 3,000+ lbs; 3) a reasonable payload density for operational satellites; 4) a total gross mass, including payload and fairing, less than or equal to 40,000 lbs; and 5) a unit fly-away cost of less than $1M per stage. It is anticipated that after award, these values would be refined after technical coordination with the reusable first stage provider and the government. Using the above goals or alternatives based on the proposer’s analysis, develop a specific ELV and/or upper stage system design and identify the performance goals, technical feasibility, and innovative enabling technologies and alternatives. The design should include a detailed Phase II development plan for the technology addressing cost, schedule, performance and risk reduction. Technology and hardware risk reduction demonstrations at the component and/or system level should be identified, along with manufacturing and testing required to carry the program into Phases II and III. Hardware risk reduction during Phase I is encouraged although not required. As a minimum, the Phase I deliverables will include briefing charts reviewing system-level applications, a Phase II development plan, a Phase III military transition and commercialization strategy, and a detailed system design including weight statements, margins, and an inventory of all subsystems. The design, fabrication and test of any proposed hardware or software demonstrations in Phase I, if any, should also be documented. The Phase II proposal will be due three months after Phase I award to promote rapid progress to a Phase II award. For this topic, DARPA will accept proposals for work and cost up to $150,000 for Phase I. The preferred structure is a $100,000, 6-month base period, and a $50,000, 4-month option period. 

PHASE II: For this topic, DARPA will accept Phase II proposals for work and cost up to $3,000,000 for a period of up to 18 months. The period of performance for this effort is expected to consist of a nine-month base period and a nine-month option period through Critical Design Review, manufacture and test with a funding level of up to $1,500,000 each. Alternative structures that do not exceed 18 months and $3,000,000 may be proposed with sufficient rationale. Phase II awards and options are subject to the availability of funds. Base effort ($1,500,000): Proposers are encouraged to leverage their private entrepreneurial investments to accelerate the Phase I design through Critical Design Review, then develop, demonstrate and validate the system design, critical hardware components and/or enabling technologies. The goal is to design, construct, and demonstrate the ELV or upper-stage prototype hardware designed in Phase I. The Phase II demonstration should advance the state of the art to between Technology Readiness Levels 4 and 5 and Manufacturing Readiness Levels 3 and 4. Required deliverables will include a final report including design data such as computer-aided design (CAD), finite element model (FEM), architectural and schematic documentation for the avionics and software suite, explanations of all key mechanisms, detailed mass properties, manufacturing and test plan, costing data, test data, updated future applications and Phase III military transition and commercialization strategy. Alternative deliverables will be considered provided they demonstrate an equivalent level of progress. Option ($1,500,000): Proposers are encouraged to continue leveraging any private entrepreneurial investment to accelerate fabrication and demonstration of the ELV and/or expendable upper-stage design, then ground test the assembled stage(s). The demonstration should advance the state of the art to between Technology Readiness Levels 5 and 6 and Manufacturing Readiness Levels 4 and 5. Required deliverables will include the ELV and/or expendable upper stage prototype design, software, cost and test data in a final report. The proposer shall also update future applications of the ELV and/or expendable upper stage and the Phase III military transition and commercialization strategy. 

PHASE III: Commercial Application – The proposer will identify commercial applications of the proposed technology(s) including use as a responsive, low-cost ELV and/or expendable upper stage on commercial reusable boosters including the commercially transitioned DARPA Experimental Spaceplane. Leveraging of commercial and defense investments in stage technology tailored to support specific upper-stage needs is encouraged. Technology transition opportunities shall be identified along with the most likely path for transition from SBIR research to an operational capability. The transition path may include use on commercial launch vehicles or alternative system and technology applications of interest to commercial customers. DoD/Military Application – The proposer will identify military applications of the proposed technology(s) including use as a responsive, low-cost ELV and/or expendable upper stage on the DARPA Experimental Spaceplane or alternative commercial reusable boosters. The proposer shall identify the military advantages of operationally responsive ELVs and/or reusable spaceplanes with expendable stages to support launch on demand, rapid reconstitution and routine space access capabilities critical to the defense of the United States. Leveraging of commercial and defense investments in ELV/stage technology tailored to support specific upper-stage needs is encouraged. Technology transition opportunities shall be identified along with the most likely path for transition from SBIR research to an operational capability. The transition path may include use on commercial launch vehicles or alternative system and technology applications of interest to military users, including the U.S. Air Force’s 30-year vision of Global Vigilance, Global Reach and Global Power. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Modern Engineering For Design of Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines, Dieter Huzel, David Huang, Harry Arbit, 1992. (Density Impulse defined, pg 19).

2:  Sutton, G. and Biblarz, O. Rocket Propulsion Elements, 8th ed., Liquid rocket propulsion options and propellants.

3:  Listing of robust commercial spaceflight industry members: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_private_spaceflight_companies

4:  Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) Program proposer’s day information: https://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/DARPA/CMO/DARPA-BAA-14-01/listing.html

5:  America’s Air Force: A Call to the Future, July 2014. http://airman.dodlive.mil/files/2014/07/AF_30_Year_Strategy_2.pdf

6:  USAF Strategic Master Plan, May 2015: http://www.af.mil/Portals/1/documents/Force%20Management/Strategic_Master_Plan.pdf

7:  Definitions of Manufacturing Readiness Levels: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manufacturing_Readiness_Level

8:  Definitions of Technology Readiness Levels: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_readiness_level

KEYWORDS: Expendable Launch Vehicle (ELV), Upper Stage, Commercial Launch, Experimental Spaceplane XS-1, Point To Point, Point To Point Transport, Suborbital Flight, Rocket, Space, Airlift, Boost Glide And Rocket Propulsion 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors, Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to develop an innovative means of marking targets during the day. The reason to mark targets in the day is to direct fire from both ground and air assets. 

DESCRIPTION: Currently there is difficulty in marking targets during the day in a fashion that is reverse compatible with existing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance elements – armed and unarmed. This difficulty includes the ability to work for a Joint Terminal Attack Controller or Reconnaissance and Surveillance team at beyond audible range of air assets or beyond visual detection range for ground assets that would engage or observe the intended target. In addition, there is a need for the system to work in conjunction with both US forces and Coalition forces. 

PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study to assess what is in the art of the possible that satisfies the requirements specified in the above paragraph entitled “Description.” As a part of this feasibility study, the proposers shall address all viable overall system design options with respective specifications on the key system attributes of ability to mark in the band of 3.0 to 4.2 microns, 4.4 to 5.4 microns, and 1.064 microns during all-weather day and night. The innovative research should be geared towards a man portable, hand held, multi-band daytime marker that also operates at night. The technology should be reverse compatible with existing equipment for both US and Coalition forces with the ability to select which bands are turned on or delivered to whom. In addition, this technology should be able to work in all weather and all environments from snow to highly cluttered desert floors equatorial summer or on vegetation that may have moisture. The objective of this USSOCOM Phase I SBIR effort is to conduct and document the results of a thorough feasibility study to investigate what is in the art of the possible within the given trade space that will satisfy a needed technology. The feasibility study should investigate all known options that meet or exceed the minimum performance parameters specified in this write up. It should also address the risks and potential payoffs of the innovative technology options that are investigated and recommend the option that best achieves the objective of this technology pursuit. The funds obligated on the resulting Phase I SBIR contracts are to be used for the sole purpose of conducting a thorough feasibility study using scientific experiments and laboratory studies as necessary. Operational prototypes will not be developed with USSOCOM SBIR funds during Phase I feasibility studies. Operational prototypes developed with other than SBIR funds that are provided at the end of Phase I feasibility studies will not be considered in deciding what firm(s) will be selected for Phase II. 

PHASE II: Develop, install, and demonstrate a prototype system determined to be the most feasible solution during the Phase I feasibility study on a daytime marker. 

PHASE III: This system could be used in a broad range of military applications. Additional applications include U.S. law enforcement, U.S. border patrol, search and rescue of persons by U.S. first responders in local / state / or federal capacity. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Joint Fire Support - Joint Publications 3-09", 12 December 2014;  http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp3_09.pdf

2:  "Close Air Support Podcast", 8 July 2009;  http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/docnet/podcasts/JP_3-09.3/podcast_JP_3-09.3.htm

3:  "Aviation Support of Ground Operations" (Army Field Manual 3-21.31), 3 March 2001;  http://www.globalsecurity.org/military//library/policy/army/fm/3-21-31/appf.htm

KEYWORDS: Daytime Marker, Joint Terminal Attack Controller, JTAC, Reconnaissance And Surveillance, R&S, Fires, Lasers, Pointers 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems, Sensors, Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to develop an innovative and computationally efficient method for processing high resolution, still-frame images and/or Full Motion Video (FMV) from handheld devices into a photo-realistic, textured, high resolution, 3D model of a building’s interior. The automated workflow should take input from the imagery/video files, generate a 3D scene model, and save it in an open standard data format capable of being rendered and explored in OpenFlight software. 

DESCRIPTION: This topic seeks innovative proposals for a computationally efficient method for processing high resolution, still-frame images and/or Full Motion Video (FMV) from handheld devices into a photo-realistic, textured, high resolution, 3D model of a building’s interior. This topic does not seek to develop new cameras, LiDARs, or other sensors, rather, emphasis is placed on the hardware and software ecosystem needed and on improving existing algorithms or developing new algorithms to create the models. Models should be able to be updated and refined if more data becomes available. Systems must support Special Operations Forces (SOF) missions including, but not limited to Operational Planning and Rehearsal and Hostage Rescue. Proposals will be expected to address the positive influences the proposed solution will exert on: force-employment concepts and the SOF mission set. 

PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study and initial system design to assess what is in the art of the possible that satisfies the requirements specified in the above paragraph entitled “Description.” As a part of this feasibility study, proposers shall address all viable overall system design options that meet or exceed the following objective (O) and threshold (T) performance parameter specifications: 1. Maximum overlap of still images or FMV frame necessary: O=T=60%. 2. Level-of-Detail (LOD) (greatest detail around center of field of view or “objective area”): O=Continuous, T=6. 3. Model Resolution (at greatest level of detail): O=T=Photo Realistic. 4. Objective Area (as a percentage of field of view): O=T=50%h x 50%w The objective of this USSOCOM Phase I SBIR effort is to conduct and document the results of a thorough feasibility study to investigate what is in the art of the possible within the given trade space. The feasibility study should investigate all known options that meet or exceed the minimum performance parameters specified in this topic. It should also address the risks and potential payoffs of the innovative technology options that are investigated, recommend the option that best achieves the objective of this technology pursuit, and provide an initial, system-level design. The funds obligated on the resulting Phase I SBIR contracts are to be used for the sole purpose of conducting this study using scientific experiments and laboratory studies as necessary. Operational prototypes will not be developed with USSOCOM SBIR funds during Phase I feasibility studies. An operational prototype delivered at the end of a Phase I feasibility study, even if developed with non-SBIR funds, will not be considered in deciding if a firm will be selected for Phase II. 

PHASE II: Develop, build, and demonstrate a prototype system determined, during the Phase I feasibility study, to be the most feasible solution to meet the stated Government requirements. Phase II may include additional requirements specifying the ability to use the presented model to perform analytics such as mensuration, line of sight analysis, augmentation with data from others, and others. 

PHASE III: This system could be used in a broad range of military and non-military applications where it is desirable to construct 3D models from sparse data sets of still-frame images or short video clips. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Level of Detail", 26 June 2017, at 11:18; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_of_detail

2:  "Texture Mapping", 30 June 2017, at 22:52; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_mapping

3:  "AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma", 25 April 2017, at 00:30;  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AeroVironment_RQ-20_Puma

4:  "United States Special Operations Command", 30 June 2017, at 22:20;  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Special_Operations_Command

5:  "Joint Publication 3-05 Special Operations", 16 July 2014;  http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp3_05.pdf

6:  "Special Forces, Primary Missions", 21 March 2016;http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions.html

KEYWORDS: Building Interior Model, BIM, 3D, Image Processing, Video Processing, Special Operations 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform, Info System, +f60s, Sensors, Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to develop an innovative method for real-time or near-real-time processing of high resolution, Red-Green-Blue (RGB), still-frame images and/or streamed Full Motion Video (FMV) being received from an in-flight tactical Group 1 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The automated workflow should take input from the imagery/video stream, generate a 3D scene model, annotate and integrate the model with platform telemetry or data from other airborne sensors (tagging, tracking and locating (TTL); signals intelligence (SIGINT); electronic warfare (EW), etc.) for presentation to the sensor and/or UAS operator. 

DESCRIPTION: This topic seeks innovative proposals for a near-real-time method for downloading and processing multiple, high resolution, RGB still-frame images (or segments of streaming video) from an in-flight Puma Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), automatically generating and annotating an accurate, textured 3D scene model from the data, fusing the scene with real-time, sensor data, and presenting the results to the sensor and/or UAS operator. This topic does not seek to develop a new airborne intelligence, surveillance, or reconnaissance sensor, rather, emphasis is placed on leveraging the air vehicle’s existing imaging system, mobility and on-board sensors along with state-of-the-art imagery processing capabilities to produce a near-real-time, augmented-reality, 3D model of an objective area. Proposed solutions may assume that the UAV is in orbit around the objective area. Models should be continuously updated and refined as more data becomes available. Models should be saved in Ground Control Station non-volatile storage for post-mission, forensic analysis. Models already in storage should be accessible to the system for reloading, reuse, and refinement. Systems must support Special Operations Forces (SOF) missions including but not limited to Operational Preparation of the Environment; Advance Force Operations; Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Operations; and Force Protection & Over-watch. Proposals will be expected to address the positive influences the proposed solution will exert on: ISR UAS and sensor-employment concepts of operations and the SOF mission set. 

PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study and initial system design to assess what is in the art of the possible that satisfies the requirements specified in the above paragraph entitled “Description.” As a part of this feasibility study, proposers shall address all viable overall system design options and meet or exceed the following objective (O) and threshold (T) performance parameter specifications: 1. Minimum number of still images necessary: O=60, T=120. 2. Minimum length of FMV frame sequence necessary: O=4 min, T=8 min. 3. Level-of-Detail (LOD) (greatest detail around center of field-of-view or “objective area”): O=4 (or continuous), T=2. 4. Model Resolution (at greatest level of detail): O<=0.50m, T=0.75m. 5. Objective Area: O=200m x 200m, T=100m x 100m 6. Computational Latency (time from first image or video frame until initial, specification compliant model availability): O=8 min, T=16 min 7. Weight (Total net increase of UAS transport weight): O < 2kg, T < 3kg 8. Set-up Time, Net Increase (The amount of time added to the UAS GCS initial set-up.): O=T<=3 minutes. The objective of this USSOCOM Phase I SBIR effort is to conduct and document the results of a thorough feasibility study to investigate what is in the art of the possible within the given trade space. The feasibility study should investigate all known options that meet or exceed the minimum performance parameters specified in this topic. It should also address the risks and potential payoffs of the innovative technology options that are investigated, recommend the option that best achieves the objective of this technology pursuit, and provide an initial, system-level design. The funds obligated on the resulting Phase I SBIR contracts are to be used for the sole purpose of conducting this study using scientific experiments and laboratory studies as necessary. Operational prototypes will not be developed with USSOCOM SBIR funds during Phase I feasibility studies. An operational prototype delivered at the end of a Phase I feasibility study, even if developed with non-SBIR funds, will not be considered in deciding if a firm will be selected for Phase II. 

PHASE II: Develop, install, and demonstrate a prototype system determined, during the Phase I feasibility study, to be the most feasible solution to meet the stated Government requirements. Phase II will include additional requirements specifying the ability to use the presented model to perform analytics such as mensuration, line of sight analysis, integration with data from specific third-party sensors, and others. 

PHASE III: This system could be used in a broad range of military and non-military applications where it is desirable to construct 3D models from sparse data sets of still-frame images or short video clips. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Level of Detail", 26 June 2017, at 11:18;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_of_detail

2:  "Texture Mapping", 30 June 2017, at 22:52;https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_mapping

3:  "AeroVironment RQ-20 Puma", 25 April 2017, at 00:30;  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AeroVironment_RQ-20_Puma

4:  "United States Special Operations Command", 30 June 2017, at 22:20;  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Special_Operations_Command

5:  "Joint Publication 3-05 Special Operations", 16 July 2014;  http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/new_pubs/jp3_05.pdf

6:  "Special Forces, Primary Missions", 21 March 2016;http://www.goarmy.com/special-forces/primary-missions.html

KEYWORDS: UAS, UAV, Puma, 3D, Image Processing, Video Processing, Special Operations 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors, Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to develop and demonstrate innovative technologies to quickly detect, locate, and discriminate hidden chambers within an average-sized room (168 square feet) which may contain suspicious contents with a handheld, easy to operate sensor at a range of 2 meters. 

DESCRIPTION: U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) requires the tactical capability to quickly detect, locate, and discriminate hidden chambers to support Identity Intelligence Operations (I2O). USSOCOM I2O) has the requirement for handheld, automated hidden chamber sensor system to detect, locate, and discriminate hidden compartments within an average-sized room (168 square feet) at a range of 2 meters. The hidden compartment may contain various article, including electronics, weapons, chemicals, documents, money, people, etc. The automated sensor system must be able to distinguish between a normal space, for example the space between wall studs and a suspicious space, to enable the SOF operator to quickly focus their SSE operations. The system needs to operate with various common building materials, including, brick, cinder block, concrete, wood, sheet rock, etc. The system needs to be automated, easy to operate, and not require specialized technical training to interpret. Current systems/technologies are designed for other mission areas, for example people detection or whole building sensor systems which are too large and complicated to operate. Modern Radio Frequency (RF) Transmit/Receive (T/R) modules, advanced computer vision algorithms, modern computer processor technologies, or other innovative sensor technologies/modalities may offer potential innovative technology solutions. As a part of this feasibility study, the proposers shall address all viable overall system design options to meet the above requirements. 

PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study to assess what is in the art of the possible that satisfies the requirements specified in the above paragraph entitled “Description.” The objective of this USSOCOM Phase I SBIR effort is to conduct and document the results of a thorough feasibility study to investigate what is in the art of the possible within the given trade space that will satisfy a needed technology. The feasibility study should investigate all known options that meet or exceed the minimum performance parameters specified in this write up. It should also address the risks and potential payoffs of the innovative technology options that are investigated and recommend the option that best achieves the objective of this technology pursuit. The funds obligated on the resulting Phase I SBIR contracts are to be used for the sole purpose of conducting a thorough feasibility study using scientific experiments and laboratory studies as necessary. Operational prototypes will not be developed with USSOCOM SBIR funds during Phase I feasibility studies. Operational prototypes developed with other than SBIR funds that are provided at the end of Phase I feasibility studies will not be considered in deciding what firm(s) will be selected for Phase II. 

PHASE II: Develop, install, and demonstrate a prototype system determined to be the most feasible solution during the Phase I feasibility study. 

PHASE III: This system could be used in various applications beyond the DoD, including law enforcement, security, and construction. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Underground Utility Location", Ground Hound Detection Services, Incorporated: http://www.groundhound.com/?_vsrefdom=adwords&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%2A%2ALP%20Ground%20Hound%20-%20A&utm_term=ground%20penetrating%20radar&utm_content=%2AGround%20Penetrating%20Radar

2:  "Ground Penetrating Radar:, Wikipedia, 1 June 2017: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ground-penetrating_radar

KEYWORDS: Through The Wall Radar, Hidden Chamber Detection 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea, Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to develop an innovative system or weapon prototype that will acknowledge, detect, identify, locate, track, and disable or destroy an enemy or non-friendly Group 1 or 2 Small Unmanned Aerial System (SUAS). 

DESCRIPTION: The Counter UAS (C-UAS) weapon should be able to detect, identify, locate, track, and either disable and/or destroy a SUAS from a distance that will allow SOF personnel to make appropriate preparations and safely position themselves in a manner that is either offensive or defensive in nature. This weapon system should incorporate a Fire Control Augmentation System or “cueing data” / (slew-to-cue) that will integrate with current SOF weapon systems (MK 19, MK 44, and MK 47) and facilitate the firing of a projectile, or group of projectiles with air burst ability, to incapacitate the detected, identified, and tracked, unfriendly SUAS. As a part of this feasibility study, the proposers shall address all viable overall system design options with respective specifications on the key system attributes. 

PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study to assess what is in the art of the possible that satisfies the requirements specified in the above paragraph entitled “Description.” The objective of this USSOCOM Phase I SBIR effort is to conduct and document the results of a thorough feasibility study to investigate what is in the art of the possible within the given trade space that will satisfy a needed technology. The feasibility study should investigate all known options that meet or exceed the minimum performance parameters specified in this write up. It should also address the risks and potential payoffs of the innovative technology options that are investigated and recommend the option that best achieves the objective of this technology pursuit. The funds obligated on the resulting Phase I SBIR contracts are to be used for the sole purpose of conducting a thorough feasibility study using scientific experiments and laboratory studies as necessary. Operational prototypes will not be developed with USSOCOM SBIR funds during Phase I feasibility studies. Operational prototypes developed with other than SBIR funds that are provided at the end of Phase I feasibility studies will not be considered in deciding what firm(s) will be selected for Phase II. 

PHASE II: Develop, install, and demonstrate a prototype system determined to be the most feasible solution during the Phase I feasibility study on a Counter UAS Weapon. 

PHASE III: This system could be used in a broad range of military applications as well as the need for and use in commercial applications and public safety. They could perform difficult and dangerous tasks such as border crossing prevention (US CBP), law enforcement, counter narcotic and drug enforcement, DHS counter-terrorism, Secret Service (White House/POTUS protection) in restricted airspace, and other tasks such as detection and prevention of UASs at or near large outdoor public venues. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "MK 19 40mm Machine Gun, MOD 3", Military Analysis Network; https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/mk19.htm

2:  "MK 47 Mod 0 40mm Advanced Grenade Launcher", General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems;http://www.gd-ots.com/armament_systems/ics_mk47.html

3:  "Standard M134D" (MK44 is SOF version), DillanAero;http://dillonaero.com/product/standard-m134d/

KEYWORDS: Counter UAS, Anti-UAS, Counter Drone, Anti-Drone, Drone/UAS Detection, Drone Killer