DoD 2018.1 SBIR Solicitation

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Develop air platform occupant safety improvements to prevent injury or fatality within the constraints associated with legacy air vehicles. The focus is to prevent the vehicle occupants from striking interior hard points, such as the control stick or aircraft structure, during a crash or hard landing. 

DESCRIPTION: Current Military Helicopters and Fixed Wing Aircraft use occupant safety systems based on older technologies. These older systems may not always adequately address occupant extreme movement during crash or hard landings. Innovations are sought to reduce the negative effects of occupant shoulder and head pitchout during a crash. This pitchout can allow the occupants head or upper torso to strike hard interior areas that cannot be padded or protected. The intense contact forces can result in crippling injury or fatality. The need operate with legacy aircraft systems present a number of challenges. The ideal system must assimilate into the vehicle without the need for a form, fit, or function modification to any other part of the aircraft. The system must operate without any need for aircraft power or other interactions. Added weight is a concern. The system should not add more than one pound of aircraft weight per occupant. The innovation should be unobtrusive, easy to operate, and be comfortable for the user. The innovation should reduce the negative outcome of occupant head and shoulder pitch out away from the seatback, when compared to the aircraft legacy system, during a crash event. This reduction in negative consequence should be verified in a dynamic crash testing. The innovation should accommodate all flight crew anthropomorphic sizes and weights. The innovation should be unobtrusive for crew use and not require any additional human interaction from the crew or other personnel, to use. The innovation should not complicate maintenance or servicing of the aircraft. 

PHASE I: Perform a design study to support of the development of a system that will integrate seamlessly with existing crash worthy aircraft systems on rotary wing and fixed wing military aircraft. Conduct an assessment of appropriate technologies which may be utilized to build, integrate, and test a system to meet the challenges listed above. Perform a trade-off analysis to determine the best approach for a system. Fully develop a preliminary engineering design. 

PHASE II: Develop an initial prototype for evaluation and comment by aircrews and safety experts. Enhance the initial prototype into a high fidelity advanced system that will allow fit check, testing, qualification, and retrofit into selected aircraft crashworthy seat systems. Demonstrate the capability of the advanced system to perform better than legacy components. The capability demonstration will be by testing in crash environment similar to those in MIL-R- 58095A or SAE 8049. Verify aircraft suitability by testing to MIL-STD-810 or FAA TSO 8043 requirements for safe to fly status on selected aircraft. 

PHASE III: The innovation developed under this topic can be offered as a tested and qualified solution to improve crash safety across military and FAA aircraft. The expectation is that government and civilian aircraft program office, design centers, and manufactures would procure this innovation to support their production systems. 

REFERENCES: 

1: MIL-R-58095A, Seat System: Crash-Resistant, Non-Ejection, Aircrew, General Specification For

2:  Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 208, Occupant Crash protection

3:  Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 209, Seat Belt Assemblies

4:  Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 210, Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages

5:  Federal Aviation Administration Technical Standard Order (FAA TSO)-C22g, Safety Belts

6:  Federal Aviation Administration Technical Standard Order (FAA TSO)-C114, Torso Restraint Systems

7:  Federal Aviation Administration Technical Standard Order (FAA TSO)-C127, Rotorcraft, Transport Airplane, and Small Airplane Seating Systems

8:  Federal Aviation Administration Technical Standard Order (FAA TSO)-C39, Aircraft Seats and Berths

9:  Society of Automotive Engineers Aerospace Standard (SAE AS) 8043, Torso Restraint Systems

10:  Society of Automotive Engineers Aerospace Standard (SAE AS) 8049, Performance Standard for Seats in Civil Rotorcraft and Transport Airplanes

KEYWORDS: Safety, Crashworthy, Occupant Protection 

CONTACT(S): 

Linda Taylor Taylor 

(256) 876-2883 

linda.k.taylor38.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an image processing system capable of applying exploitation algorithms using high-rate (generally low resolution) raw sensor data to improve sensor performance for improved aircrew situational awareness. 

DESCRIPTION: There is an existing need for greater Situational Awareness (SA) for the aircrew of today’s Army rotorcraft fleet. In 2009 a study on Rotorcraft Survivability Summary Report was requested by Congress. The report focused on losses occurring during the Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) timeframe to help understand the high loss rate per 100,000 flight hours during 2001-2008 time frame and help provide solutions relevant to current and future DoD vertical lift aircraft. The loss of SA and other human factors accounted for 75 percent, which accounts for 245 rotary wing losses out of 327. Controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) including object/wire strike, and degraded visual environment (DVE) were the leading non-materiel causes of loss of airframe. CFIT including weather awareness and object/wire strike was the leading non-materiel causes of fatalities. Military rotorcraft missions routinely fly in close proximity to stationary and mobile hazards and at times the aircrew has to fly in a DVE environment. The aircrew has to maintain a continuous awareness of both static and dynamic elements around the aircraft and along its flight path. At present no systems have been fielded to provide look-down and look-behind capabilities to the pilots and aircrew, even though these sectors of the aircraft are ‘blind spots’. Additionally, future vertical lift platforms will be required to provide 360º spherical awareness around the aircraft. Currently, if coverage is to be provided in these traditional blind spots the installation of additional sensors would be required. This comes at the cost of weight associated with the additional sensors, as well as the monetary costs associated with the equipment, installation, and qualification of the additional hardware. It is envisioned that future platforms will require the integration of multiple functionalities into fewer sensors, as opposed to the current federated model where each sensor has a single, specific function. A number of the sensors that each aircraft is equipped with are a part of the Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) package. Many of these sensors are lower resolution imagers sensitive in different spectra, and are sampling at higher rates than traditional video sensors (400-1000Hz). Since these sensors are typically lower resolution in order to achieve the high frame rates, the application of exploitation algorithms to these video streams could provide additional views around the aircraft at a greater effective resolution than the sensor inherently provides. The ASE sensors are oriented and installed to provide maximum coverage around the aircraft, and providing views from these sensors would help to eliminate existing blind spots. It is anticipated that future systems would utilize more modern imagers capable of high frame rate acquisition at greater resolutions. The intent of this program is to provide the capability to tap the raw data stream from a high-speed video sensor, provide the video to advanced image processing tasks at rates specified by the tasks, and apply exploitation algorithms techniques to enhance the visual acuity of the imaging sensors for aircrew Situational Awareness. Supper Resolution is an example of an exploitation algorithm that has been a proven technic on static images to increase image resolution. This approach has not been applied to video data stream in Near Real-Time. The exploitation algorithm(s) developed should be capable of being hosted on small, lightweight, and standalone system capable of processing the data using contractor selected equipment to help increase the effective resolution. Exploitation algorithms video output should provide a refresh rate of 30 Hz minimum with 40ms of latency from time of frame capture. Minimum output specification should be NTSC compatible, with provisions for High-Definition 720p and 1080p outputs. In the near term we are seeking a standalone processor that can provide the describe capability. Initial proof of concept can utilize an imager of the contractors choosing so long as it samples at a rate of 1000Hz and a resolution greater than or equal to 640x480. The future system should be capable of being hosted on generic processing systems, this would drive the solution towards advanced algorithms that utilize contractor selected hardware and architectures, and should be capable of performing so long as there is adequate processor capacity for the task. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate exploitation algorithms, select methodology for providing required output, preliminary design of architecture and select representative hardware. Perform proof of concept for algorithms utilizing contractor selected hardware (such as PCs) and surrogate sample video. 

PHASE II: TRL5 – Provide a standalone system capable of processing the data from a contractor-selected FPA acquiring a field size of 640x480 pixels or greater and is sampling at 1000 Hz. The contractor should demonstrate an increase in effective resolution for the sensor and quantify the processing times and latency values inherent to the system. 

PHASE III: Work to integrate system with existing Ground Fire Indication, Hostile Fire Indication, or other Aircraft Survivability Equipment to create additional video streams available to the aircrew for expanded Situational Awareness and survivability. Transition to future 6.3 efforts for example Holistic Situational Awareness - Decision Making (HSA-DM), transition to current and future ARMY fleet. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Study On Rotorcraft Survivability Summary Report, September 2009, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics) Washington DC, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superresolution , Amr Hussein Yousef

2:  Jiang Li and Mohammad Karim

3:  "On the visual quality enhancement of super-resolution images", Proc. SPIE 8135, Applications of Digital Image Processing XXXIV, 81350Z (September 23, 2011)

4:  doi:10.1117/12.889291

5: 

6:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.889291

7:  http://pages.swcp.com/~spsvs/resume/ESVS_DSS2008_2008-02-11.pdf

KEYWORDS: Super Resolution (SR), Situational Awareness (SA), Rotorcraft Survivability, Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), Degraded Visual Environment (DVE), 360 Spherical Awareness, Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE), Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS), And Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) 

CONTACT(S): 

Linda Taylor 

(256) 876-2883 

linda.k.taylor38.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this program is to design and develop the key network components of a fiber optics based open systems architecture based network for military rotorcraft that will support the integration and qualification of current and future high bandwidth real-time (and near real time) mission systems. 

DESCRIPTION: Optical based interconnects have been used effectively for years in the telecommunications industry and commercial aircraft and are beginning to be applied to some fixed-wing military aircraft. Currently the commercial aviation systems uses fiber optics for non flight or critical components. On large aircraft (Boeing and Airbus airliners), fiber optics and photonics are implemented but do not have the size, weight, power, and cooling constraints that exist on smaller rotorcraft. In addition these aircraft do not have the environmental and safety qualifications requirements for mission systems on military rotorcraft. The environment encountered (especially vibration) on military rotorcraft is more severe than that found in these other applications which limits the applicability of certain of the technologies. Conditions where maintenance is performed is potentially much more austere than where fixed-wing operations occur which thereby demands a more robust approach to repair and diagnosis of faulty equipment as well. Cost is also more of a factor when considering application to Army helicopters than it is to high performance fixed wing aircraft. The DoD rotorcraft community has been investigating solutions to many of these issues through development of more durable technologies and repair techniques, but as yet has not been able to field photonics due to the risks involved. Offerors should consider numerous characteristics of the network and components (transceiver and I/O cards). The network should be scalable and secure and be able to handle multiple levels of secure information as the aircraft will need to interface with Joint and Coalition Forces as well as civil entities. The network should have simplified management functions to ease in the upgradability of the system. The backbone network should offer a SWAP (Size Weight and Power) improvement over current copper based architectures. The fiber optics network should be a fault tolerant architecture and should offer redundancy and reliability improvements over current systems. The network can use Wavelength Division Multiplexing or other network methodologies. The solution should use commercially supported standards. Current components are to large and do not meet the full suite of required shock and vibration testing as described in MIL-STD-810F. The components developed under the Phase 1 or Phase 11 of this proposal will not need to pass full MIL-STD-461E and MIL-STD-810F testing environments, however, they will need to be able to address the shock and vibration profiles that may be encountered on Army Aviation platforms. The components should be developed with a plan to eventually address Army Aviation airworthiness concerns. 

PHASE I: The contractor will conduct a feasibility study and identify and/or design the key components (transceiver, I/O cards for current and future LRU's). The focus of this effort should be for high-bandwidth real-time (or near real-time) sensor data to include: potential LIDAR data, HD sensors, off-board streaming video, compressed and un-compressed video feeds, Radio Frequency (RF) Sensors, EO/IR sensor balls, Distributed Aperture Sensors, data links (SATCOM, TCDL, etc.), Millimeter Wave Radars, helmet mounted displays, 3-D visualization technologies, advanced displays, and other not yet realized capabilities. Each of these sources of data can start as low as 1-2 Mbps and reach data rates up to 8 Gbps. The network components will need to be able to handle data rates between 10-20 Gbps. Since many systems are used for real time situational awareness. Latency of less then 0.1ms would be ideal (with a goal to reach <5 microseconds. The contractor will ensure that it meets the performance and SWAP requirements for the chosen systems and the intended platform. The offeror should identify key components of the desired infrastructure. The proposed architecture implementation should be scalable. Required deliverables will include a conceptual network design and recommendations for future technology investment. The contractor may propose a proof of concept demo of any single component. 

PHASE II: The contractor will perform a detailed design of the components and integration into an aviation mission processing architecture. The contractor will draft test plans and procedures, fabricate prototype components, and test the prototype system and procedures in a relevant operating environment. All components within this network should be on a development path to meet the qualification standards required by the Army. The components will NOT need to meet a full airworthiness qualification package. The contractor will also verify the scalability of the system by demonstrating a scenario whereby there are a minimal number of connections and the network grows to a number which represents a considerable implementation of a back-bone architecture. The ability to perform Built in Test and/or fault detection is a desirement of the final solution. The offeror will validate the design and implementation approach. 

PHASE III: The contractor will demonstrate potential application of the component(s) developed as part of a notional backbone network to other DoD aviation and ground weapon systems and to commercial aviation. Potential customers of this system will be both rotorcraft and fixed wing aviation for both military and commercial applications. The commercial aviation industry (helicopters and fixed wing will be key users of the technology). In addition there are many ground based platforms within the US Army and Marines that require high-bandwidth, real time information exchange that could utilize the technologies. The US Navy could utilize the technologies developed on ships and boats and this could transition to the commercial maritime market as well. 

REFERENCES: 

1: FACE (www.opengroup.com/face)

2:  Hardware Open Systems Technology (HOST) Tier 1 and Tier 2 standards. (this is an ongoing development effort within NAVAIR and contracted with GTRI. Information is available and approved for public release also see VITA website)

3:  MIL-STD-461E

4:  MIL-STD-810F

5:  MIL-STD-1678 (Fiber optic cabling requirements)

6:  MIL-PRF-49291/1B (Fiber requirements)

7:  The DARPA Network Enabled Wavelength Division Multiplexing - Highly Integrated Photonics (NEW-HIP) program.

8:  Ongoing Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) initiative.

9:  Joint Fiber Optic Working Group (JFOWG) (http://www.navair.navy.mil/jswag/default.htm)

KEYWORDS: Optical Backbone, Network, Open Systems 

CONTACT(S): 

Linda Ta 

(256) 876-2883 

linda.k.taylor38.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop advanced statistical techniques and processes to correlate multiple pieces of evidence regarding failure occurrence, root cause analysis, and corrective action implementation in aviation sustainment. The refined data should improve the utility of sustainment tools, algorithms, and models by limiting the introduction of noise from source data. 

DESCRIPTION: Currently, the Army uses several engineering and logistic algorithms and models that are comprised of multiple sourced data sets, including 13-1 (logbook data), Maintenance Allocation Charts (MAC Charts), 1352 (readiness reporting), and 2410 (part tracking). These data sets come from the field and contain both scattered and erroneous data. The HUMS, Prognostics, and Readiness algorithms and models have not fully produced the expected benefits for useful data for application. In an attempt to provide actionable analytics, the algorithm and model developers have increased the amount of source data with an expectation that there will be an increased algorithm and model utility. Instead of refining the data, there is an assumption that feeding an algorithm or model an increased amount of data will result in a stronger analytical tool. However, as developers absorb additional data into the data set, more noise is introduced into the algorithm. Innovations are sought to develop and apply new methodologies and statistical techniques to refine source data prior to the integration into algorithms and models. The Army has several logistic and maintenance data sources that can be used for analysis; however, these data sources point in different directions, yielding various results. The need to provide analytics using multiple sources present a number of challenges. The innovation should include ways to optimize data generated from multiple resources. Many applications within the Army have a limited sample size, and data may not be large enough to provide complexity to certain algorithms. The innovation should provide solutions that address limited sample size, and how to maximize analytics of a small sample size. The Army continues to upgrade and modernize different components to better suit the warfighter. The innovation should be customizable; for example, in Army aviation, altering dates, aircraft, or units for analysis can be used to understand the impact of modifications. The innovation should reduce the noise that is introduced with data; therefore providing clean, relevant, and useful data sets that will increase both timeliness and effectiveness of analytical tools, algorithms, and models. Noisy data can be caused from a range of errors, as large as unconfirmed hardware failures to minute discrepancies including abbreviation errors. By reducing the noise, the signal-to-noise ratio is increased; therefore, improving confidence in actionable impact decisions. The innovation should apply methods that will refine data without disturbing the integrity of the data. 

PHASE I: Perform a design study to support the development of a data refinery. Conduct an assessment of appropriate methodologies and statistical techniques and processes which may be used to apply, build, and integrate a system to meet the challenges listed above. The offeror should produce techniques and processes for evaluation by technical experts. This Phase will demonstrate the feasibility of producing techniques for a data refinery, and will outline verification demonstration criteria. 

PHASE II: The offeror will demonstrate the capability of developed techniques and processes that will integrate into existing Army analytics, conceptualize the methodology from Phase I, and apply capability of concepts to support the development of refining data. The produced methodologies and applications must be verified, and specifications for implementation with the government should be articulated. 

PHASE III: The innovation developed under this topic will then be taken from the theoretical science developed and be applied to practical applications involving Army and industry data. Proof of concept application will be used with multiple data sources from the Army, or similar industry. For Army applications, the offeror must have a full understanding of the Army Data & Data Rights (D&DR) Guide. The data refinery would provide data used for prognostics/diagnostics, smart line replaceable units, and other tools. The expectation is that the government would use this innovation to support Army data analytics and future advanced sustainment programs. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Silver, N. (2012). "The signal and the noise: Why most predictions fail but some don’t". New York, N.Y: The Penguin Press.

2:  "Data Reduction", https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_reduction, Accessed 29 June 2017, webpage.

3:  "Army Data & Data Rights (D&DR) Guide: A reference for planning and performing", http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/cpic/cp/docs/Army_Data_and_Data_Rights_Guide_1st_Edition_4_Aug_2015.pdf

KEYWORDS: Analytics, Noisy Data, Signal-to-noise, Data Refinery, Data Reduction, Log Data, Sustainment, Process Improvement 

CONTACT(S): 

Linda Taylor 

(256) 876-2883 

linda.k.taylor38.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a method and supporting tools for dynamic correction and application of radar near field effects on target models and associated radar signatures within existing scene generation capabilities. 

DESCRIPTION: Radar sensors, seekers, and algorithms are tested and evaluated by the U.S. Army through the use of a wide array of environments and scene generators to include all-digital, signal injection, and hardware-in-the-loop simulations. These simulations and associated scene generators run in open or closed-loop as well as real-time and near-real-time and include the Army’s Common Scene Generator (CSG) simulation as well as RF3, MSS-1, and MSS-2 HWIL facilities at the Army Missile Research Development Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Advanced Simulation Center (ASC). High fidelity scene generators utilize radar target models for signal generation over the entire flight profile of a weapon system; consequently, the slant range condition and increasing near-field engagement changes with every sensor dwell or time-step as the simulation progresses to the endgame state. Near-field engagement of a target can produce significantly different radar signatures, as compared to far-field signatures, that influence radar system and algorithm performance. As such, the Army has a need to develop methods and tools for the dynamic correction and application of radar near field effects on target models and radar signatures in scene generation frameworks to ensure high fidelity target model characterizations throughout the entire flight scenario. Endgame scenarios result in shorter and shorter slant ranges between the target and weapon system resulting in significant and changing wave front curvature from the illuminating radar. This curvature produces range dependent changes in location and amplitude of radar scattering from target bodies. However, radar signatures and associated target models are generally derived from a set of empirical or predictive radar data with a single, discrete slant range condition. In the case of turntable measurement data typically used in full scale ground or aerial targets, this discrete slant range may be near-field condition on the order of several hundred meters for a fixed tower and pedestal geometry or an effective far-field condition given illumination by a collimating reflector. Likewise, many predictive data solutions for target modeling applications assume a far-field collimated wave front in synthetic data production. For each elevation or roll angle of target data, a full 360 degree azimuth cut of data is obtained for a specific slant range to target. As such, radar data is measured or predicted with a singular distance to the target that is governed by a specific slant range relative to a measurement setup or predictive data scenario. Consequently, the signature effects of this single slant range condition, near or far-field, are generally embedded in resultant radar target models that support scene generator signal generation. As scene generation capability and weapon system algorithm requirements advance for aimpoint refinement, hit to kill, fuzing, and smart munition requirements, near-field effects on target radar signatures must be considered in high fidelity simulation environments. The scene generator must accurately present these effects to ensure signature fidelity and appropriate scattering phenomena for performance assessments of weapon systems throughout the endgame scenario. In addition, target modeling methodologies must support the dynamic change and update of the near field condition. Not only do underlying range effects in target data and associated targets models need to be accounted and corrected for in base models, the continuous sampling of the target model throughout the simulation scenario results in continuum of range or distance dependent models that are not feasibly satisfied by discrete instantiations of a target model. As such, this task will investigate and identify innovative methodologies and techniques to provide dynamic target models that present and modify target scatterers and output signatures as a function of the near field condition. Metrics should be identified and tested at the Radar Cross Section (RCS) and Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) image levels to measure performance of the near field transform implementation to quantify accuracy. In addition, methodologies should utilize and consider data available from standard DoD measurement ranges and predictive data sources as well existing target model databases currently utilized in scene generation and simulation environments. Given a dynamic near-field modeling approach, near-field enabled target models should integrate with existing scene generation capabilities in all-digital and HWIL environments. 

PHASE I: Identify an approach and demonstrate the feasibility of selected methodology for a creation of a dynamic, near-field target model for use with empirical and predictive data sources as well as existing Ka-band target model databases. Define requirements for integration with government owned scene generator systems. Derive metrics at the RCS and ISAR image level. Test and/or progress metrics to measure, test transforms and quantify performance. Recommend a method to validate proposed algorithms and methodologies. 

PHASE II: Develop corresponding algorithms and processes for creation and integration of dynamic, near-field target model solutions. Demonstrate near-field, Ka-band target model creation for both ground and aerial target samples with dynamic model comparison to measured and predictive data. Use derived metrics from Phase I to evaluate implementation. 

PHASE III: Integrate the application into existing scene generation software applications used by the Army for all-digital and HWIL simulation environments. Conduct a thorough demonstration of dynamic near-field modeling capabilities within scene generation framework. Conduct validation of near-field target model and scene generation approach. 

REFERENCES: 

1: D. L. Mensa, High Resolution Radar Imaging. Norwood, MA: Artech House, 1982.

2:  N. C. Curie, Radar Reflectivity Measurement. Norwood, MA: Artech House, 1989.

3:  D. G. Falconer, "Extrapolation of Near-Field RCS Measurement to the Far Zone", IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 36, pp. 822-829, June 1988.

4:  A. Broquetas, J. Palau, L. Jofre, A. Cardama, "Spherical Wave Near-Field Imaging and Radar Cross-Section Measurement," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 46, pp. 730-735, May 1998.

5:  J. Fortuny, "An Efficient 3-D Near-Field ISAR Algorithm," IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, vol. 34, pp 1261-1270, October 1998.

KEYWORDS: Scene Generation, Radar, Near-field Wave Far-field Wave, Scattering Models, Ka-band, HWIL 

CONTACT(S): 

Lawrence Smith 

(256) 842-3272 

usarmy.redstone.rdecom-amrdec.mbx.sbir@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a system that can be integrated and deployed in a class 1 or class 2 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to automatically Detect, Recognize, Classify, Identify (DRCI) and target personnel and ground platforms or other targets of interest. The system should implement learning algorithms that provide operational flexibility by allowing the target set and DRCI taxonomy to be quickly adjusted and to operate in different environments. 

DESCRIPTION: The use of UASs in military applications is an area of increasing interest and growth. This coupled with the ongoing resurgence in the research, development, and implementation of different types of learning algorithms such as Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) provide the potential to develop small, rugged, low cost, and flexible systems capable of Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) and other DRCI capabilities that can be integrated in class 1 or class 2 UASs. Implementation of a solution is expected to potentially require independent development in the areas of sensors, communication systems, and algorithms for DRCI and data integration. Additional development in the areas of payload integration and Human-Machine Interface (HMI) may be required to develop a complete system solution. One of the desired characteristics of the system is to use the flexibility afforded by the learning algorithms to allow for the quick adjustment of the target set or the taxonomy of the target set DRCI categories or classes. This could allow for the expansion of the system into a Homeland Security environment. 

PHASE I: Conduct an assessment of the key components of a complete objective payload system constrained by the Size Weight and Power (SWAP) payload restrictions of a class 1 or class 2 UAS. Systems Engineering concepts and methodologies may be incorporated in this assessment. It is anticipated that this will require, at a minimum, an assessment of the sensor suite, learning algorithms, and communications system. The assessment should define requirements for the complete system and flow down those requirements to the sub-component level. Conduct a laboratory demonstration of the learning algorithms for the DRCI of the target set and the ability to quickly adjust to target set changes or to operator-selected DRCI taxonomy. 

PHASE II: Demonstrate a complete payload system at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or higher operating in real time. On-flight operation can be simulated. Complete a feasibility assessment addressing all engineering and integration issues related to the development of the objective system fully integrated in a UAS capable of detecting, recognizing, classifying, identifying and providing targeting data to lethality systems. Conduct a sensitivity analysis of the system capabilities against the payload SWAP restrictions to inform decisions on matching payloads to specific UAS platforms and missions. 

PHASE III: Develop, integrate and demonstrate a payload operating in real time while on-flight in a number of different environmental conditions and providing functionality at tactically relevant ranges to a TRL 7. Demonstrate the ability to quickly adjust the target set and DRCI taxonomy as selected by the operator. Demonstrate a single operator interface to command-and-control the payload. Demonstrate the potential to use in military and homeland defense missions and environments. 

REFERENCES: 

1: John P. Abizaid and Rosa Brooks, Recommendations and Report of the Task Force on US Drone Policy (Washington, DC: The Stimson Center, 2014).

2:  Y. Bengio, "Springtime for AI: the rise of deep learning," Scientific American, June 2016.

3:  Department of Defense, Joint Operational Access Concept ( JOAC), Department of Defense website, 17 January 2012.

4:  M. T. Hagan, H. B. Demuth, M. Hudson Beale and O. De Jesus, Neural Networks Design, 2nd ed., Lexington, KY, published by Martin Hagan, 2016.

5:  J. Heaton, Artificial Intelligence for Humans, Volume 3: Deep Learning and Neural Networks, St. Louis, MO, Heaton Research, Inc, 2015.

6:  S. Samarasinghe, Neural Networks for Applied Sciences and Engineering: From Fundamentals to Complex Pattern Recognition," Boca Raton, FL, Auerbach Publications, 2007.

7:  Yasmin Tadjdeh, "Small UAV Demand by U.S. Army Ebbs as Overseas Market Surging," National Defense Magazine website, September 2013.

8:  D. S. Touretzky and D. A. Pomerlau, "What’s hidden in the hidden layers?" BYTE Magazine, pp. 227-233, August 1989.

9:  Robert O. Work and Shawn Brimley, 20YY: Preparing for War in the Robotic Age (Washington DC: Center for a New American Security, January 2014), 7.

10:  Tedesco, Matthew T. "Countering the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Threat", Military Review, November-December 2015, http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/MilitaryReview/Archives/English/MilitaryReview_20151231_art012.pdf

KEYWORDS: Learning Algorithms, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), Automatic Target Recognition (ATR), Target Detection, Target Classification, Target Identification, Unmanned Air System (UAS), Targeting 

CONTACT(S): 

Ramon Llanos 

(973) 724-5866 

ramon.r.llanos.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to develop a novel energy system that can meet munition power requirements for a period of 30 days and that could provide high-pulsed power on demand over this period. Candidate systems must be highly miniaturized, must integrate energy management functions to minimize energy consumption during the required 30 days power budget, must be fully compatible with currently available manufacturing processes and must be gun hardened. 

DESCRIPTION: This effort seeks proposals for the development of novel energy management systems that can provide relatively low electrical power of the order of 10mW to munitions for a period of 30 days while being capable of provide a number of pulses for no longer than 1 sec each and no more than 500ma. The power system may use appropriate electrochemistry that can provide energy at the required levels for a period of 30 days. The energy system must be capable of being gun hardened and have a minimum shelf life of 20 years. The primary application is emplaced munitions which may have to satisfy the shock survivability requirement, such as gun launch and must be capable of withstanding launch accelerations of 100,000 Gs and preferably higher during launch. The energy management system must be capable of monitoring, regulating, informing the onboard information system within the munition of the energy expanded and the energy available for the mission and the number of pulses available in the system energy management system, at any point within the 30 day mission. The Novel Energy Management System must meet all military operational and storage temperature requirements of -65 deg. F to 165 degF and safety are of great importance. The proposed energy management system concepts are expected to take full advantage of the highly developed battery and other power source technologies to develop a novel energy management system that can satisfy a wide range of military munitions, including gun-fired and emplaced munitions. The proposed energy management system must be capable of being miniaturized while the total system weight should also be considered. The system must also be highly reliable and safe for use in munitions. It is also highly desirable that in all applications the proposed energy management system concepts provide a high level of conformability to the available munitions space and its geometry. Manufacturability and the potential use of mass production processes developed for commercial applications to achieve low cost and high reliability is also of great importance. 

PHASE I: Conduct a systematic feasibility study of the proposed energy management system concepts by computer modeling and simulation as well as basic laboratory testing to determine if they have the potential of meeting the desired power and energy requirements, high shock survivability, military shelf life, military operational and storage temperature requirements. Manufacturability of the proposed concepts and compatibility with mass production technologies used in similar commercial applications to achieve low cost and highly reliable gun hardened energy management systems must also be addressed. The Phase I effort must also address shelf life and safety issues and provide a detailed plan for the development of the energy management system concepts, along with their prototyping and testing during the project Phase II period. A successful phase I needs to include a trade study on 20 year shelf life cost drivers and recommend trade-offs that may reduce shelf life but significantly reduces life cycle cost. 

PHASE II: Design and fabricate full-scale gun hardened energy management system prototypes of the selected concepts and test such prototypes in the laboratory and in relevant environments, including in shock loading machines and in air guns. Demonstrate that such prototypes can survive in operational environments while providing the designed power and voltages under simulated load conditions within the entire indicated operational temperature range. Prototypes must be subjected to laboratory tests and must include full operating cycles under simulated load conditions. The Phase II period must also include the fabrication and delivery of final prototypes of each selected design for the selected munitions applications. 

PHASE III: The proposed gun hardened energy management system concepts would apply to gun fired munitions, weapon based platforms and emplaced munitions applications. Commercial uses for such technology could include application to the electric vehicle industry and also for energy recapture in industrial settings where renewable energy sources from machinery could provide huge cost savings. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Encyclopedia of Electrochemical Power Sources, C.K. Dyer et al, Elsevier Science (2010).

2:  Handbook of Batteries - Linden, McGraw-Hill, "Technology Roadmap for Power Sources: Requirements Assessment for Primary, Secondary and Reserve Batteries", dated 1 December 2007, DoD Power Sources Working Group.

3:  Macmahan, W., "RDECOM Power & Energy IPT Thermal Battery Workshop – Overview, Findings, and Recommendations," Redstone Arsenal, U.S. Army, Huntsville, AL, April 30 (2004).

4:  Linden, D., "Handbook of Batteries," 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, NY (1998).

5:  Guidotti, R. A., Reinhardt, F. W., Reisner, J. D., and Reisner, D. E., "Preparation and Characterization of Nanostructured FeS2 and CoS2 for High-Temperature Batteries," to be published in proceedings of MRS meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 1-4, 2002.

6:  Warner, J., "The Handbook of Lithium-Ion Battery Pack Design - Chemistry, Components, Types and Terminology", Elsevier Science (2017).

KEYWORDS: Energy Management System, Electrical Power System, Electrical Power Sources, Mechanical Shock And Vibration, Low Temperature Performance 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Carlos Pereira 

(973) 724-1542 

carlos.m.pereira1.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate innovative methods for determining vulnerability of munitions components and integrated munitions to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and pulse (EMP) and innovative and feasible packaging concepts for significantly reducing these vulnerabilities. 

DESCRIPTION: Exposure of munitions and its components to high levels of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is one of the threats that can result in catastrophic consequences. The increasingly pervasive use of electronics of all forms represents the greatest source of vulnerability to EMI and EMP. Shielding of electrical and electronic devices and systems from catastrophic effects of high levels of EMI and EMP radiation presents an ongoing challenge. This problem is exacerbated by the wide range of EMP devices ranging from hand-held, operating from battery packs to much larger systems capable of rendering havoc over many city blocks. Additionally, the broad emission frequency spectrum makes a single technology solution unattainable. Currently used EMI and EMP shields are effective for the protection of electrical components under small levels of such electromagnetic illumination. In theory, ferro-magnetic cages can provide adequate protection but are mostly impractical for most munitions applications due to the volume constraints and the need for sensory and other device exposure to outside world. We are seeking innovative solutions, which represent revolutionary departure from current thinking of the day. Today, shield technologies are concerned with minimizing the electromagnetic radiation coupling through access ports or wires connecting to the outside. Under certain simplifications, closed form theoretical solutions are aiding in understanding the effectiveness of these structures. Realistic solutions are tractable using finite integration techniques (FIT), method of moments (MoM) and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD). Such solutions may also be extensible to wearable EMI and EMP shields for protection of military personnel and weapon platforms. Responsive proposals will describe novel approaches to minimizing damage to strong EMI and EMP exposure. Some of these techniques will include the use of meta-materials, composite material with nano-structures that minimize transmission through a combination of scattering, guiding and absorption. A clear path to validation, which does not require a strong EMI and EMP sources, is expected. Additionally, the efficacy of the structures needs verification through numerical solvers, based on physical models for EM propagation and interaction. Use of anechoic chambers for experimental characterization is encouraged. The developed technologies must add minimal volume to existing component. Proposers should approach the problem of vulnerability to EMI and EMP from a perspective of levels of protection of assets. Such assets could be on a system level or on a component level. As we can expect even the best metallic enclosure may not necessarily protect the internal electronic contents of a system, and the idea of a faraday cage needs to be looked at carefully. Generally one can look at the problem of EMP testing on a local area network and the coupling of electromagnetic energy on 200 feet of Ethernet line. During actual testing on a 25-foot of Ethernet line, the transient currents indicate that the electronics could be expected to see roughly 100 amperes to 700 amperes of current transients on typical Ethernet cables. Proposals must address levels of protection from various conventional sources. A very good literature search of reviewed literature is needed. As the program advanced to phase II and phase III, information about levels of protection and methodologies that result from the phase I effort will likely become sensitive information. 

PHASE I: Develop innovative packaging concepts to protects electrical and electronic components as well as other sensitive components of munitions from high electromagnetic interference (EMI) and pulse (EMP) radiation. Develop innovative methods for determining vulnerability of munitions components and systems to high electromagnetic interference (EMI) and pulse (EMP) using computer modeling and simulation methods, to be followed by validation testing in laboratory environment. 

PHASE II: Using the developed novel modeling and simulation capabilities and methods to validate the results in laboratory tests, design and fabricate prototypes of selected critical components used in munitions, particularly those with input and/or output wiring, with each of the selected packaging concepts. Demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed concepts in laboratory tests in anechoic chamber and provide prototypes for tests subjecting them to high levels of EMI and EMP. 

PHASE III: The development of methods and low cost and low volume means of significantly reducing vulnerability of electrical and electronic and other sensitive devices and equipment to high levels of electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the form of high level EMI and EMP is one of the challenges of today’s computer controlled and highly automated society. Such vulnerabilities can have catastrophic consequences in many critical civilian as well as military related areas. As such, the development of novel methods to model and simulate such component and system vulnerabilities to be followed by reliable validation via scaled down laboratory testing will therefore have a wide range of civilian as well as military applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: High Power Microwaves, J. Benford, J. Swegle, E. Schamiloglu, Taylor & Francis, New York, 2007.

2:  Microwave Engineering, 3rd Ed., M. Pozar, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New Jersey, 2005.

3:  R. Pouladian-Kari, A. J. Shapland, T. M. Benson, "Development of ferrite line pulse sharpeners for repetitive high power applications," Microwaves, Antennas and Propagation, IEE Proceedings H, 1991, Vol. 138, pp. 504–512.

4:  Characterization of a Synchronous Wave Nonlinear Transmission Line, P. Coleman, et al., Proc. Pulsed Power Conf., pp. 173-177, 2011.

KEYWORDS: Electromagnetic Interference; Electromagnetic Pulse; EMI; EMP; High Power Radio Frequency; High Power Microwave; Directed Energy 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Carlos Pereira 

(973) 724-1542 

carlos.m.pereira1.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is the design and development of highly efficient, multiple integrated data converters on a single integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit chip/die shall be capable of withstanding harsh environments including but not limited to shock, vibe and extreme operating and storage temperatures. 

DESCRIPTION: Proximity Sensor Fuzing technologies have been around for a number of years now. The technology has been widely used and exported by the United States in various places around the globe. Proximity Fuze technology has the added capability of enhanced lethality over standard point detonating devices. Although current legacy technology is sufficient in most current systems, there is a desire to upgrade and digitize the signal processing chain of future systems. Digital systems tend to have a higher operational costs in terms of current draw, operating voltages and physical footprint that prohibit direct replacement of currently fielded systems without major re-designs or upgrades to power sources. This multi-phase effort will explore the ability of incorporating digital to analog and analog to digital data converters components onto one integrated circuit to essentially create a sensor on a chip. Specifically, the effort will include the design and development of efficient data converter devices along with associated required tooling, integration with FPGAs and fabrication/evaluation/delivery of prototype devices. The final resulting packaging shall be an improvement in size over using multiple individual data converter integrated circuits. A successful proposal will address how to optimize the size and power requirements of standard low power data converters while still packaging the die to survive high stress environments like shock, vibe and temperature extremes. 

PHASE I: Investigate serial data converters with the following minimum specifications: single supply operation of 3.3V, power consumption of less than 80mW at 8MSPS and 12 bits of resolution. From the market research, steps should be taken to develop initial performance requirements. Finally, develop the preliminary design architectures necessary to incorporate a single ADC block, with a dual DAC configuration that is capable of a serial interface to manipulate certain parameters to meet performance specs. 

PHASE II: Develop optimized configurations of the data converter blocks selected in the Phase I design activity. Design and fabricate prototype hardware that incorporate all the building blocks for a single integrated circuit chip. Conduct laboratory performance validation testing of the prototype design, showing the minimum capabilities and performance specifications determined in Phase I. Preliminary qualification and production test plans should developed to prove how the final deliverable would be tested to validate specifications were met in a production environment. 

PHASE III: The contractor shall develop tooling for the units and provide low quantities of demonstration prototypes to evaluate within laboratory environments. These prototypes would be used in relevant hardware designs to verify and validate the build of the integrated circuit. Projects where the chip can be implemented to verify design includes the Next Generation Proximity Sensor program. 

REFERENCES: 

1: J. S. Fisher, E. J. Murphy, S. B. Bibyk, "Design methods for system-on-a-chip control codecs to enhance performance and reuse", Proc. IEEE Nat. Aerosp. Electron. Conf., pp. 666-673, 2000.

2:  D. A. Johns, K. Martin, Analog Integrated Circuit Design, New York:John Wiley & Sons, Inc., pp. 531, 1997.

3:  R. van de Plassche, J Huijsing, Analog Circuit Design, New York:Springer Science+Business Media, LLC., 2000.

KEYWORDS: Fuze, Data Converters, RF Proximity Sensor, 

CONTACT(S): 

Patrick Deluca 

(973) 724-9453 

patrick.deluca.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop new, innovative sensors and systems architecture to sense enemy drones at distance and neutralize drone threats before they reach their intended target. 

DESCRIPTION: The asymmetric threat of IEDs and other hazards must be addressed by a new generation of innovative technology including robotics, drones and novel sensors for situation awareness. Further work is needed to advance air and ground teaming capabilities that allow drones and robots to work together to find hazards and map out large areas. One of the most worrisome threats is the use of drones as weapons by insurgents. The threat of drone strikes is on the rise throughout the world. Stephen Townsend, the commander of Operation Inherent Resolve, prioritizes drone weaponization as the number one threat facing soldiers in the effort to combat ISIS. Insurgents can purchase a drone for anywhere from $200 to $20,000 dollars and then use that device to cause devastating damage by attaching explosives and using multiple drones in simultaneous, coordinated attacks. To address this threat, there is a pressing need to develop new, innovative sensors to sense drones at distance and neutralize drone threats before they reach their intended target. Numerous sensors may be considered, but must meet the following specifications: 1) low cost; 2) capable of being made rugged for use on drones and robots; 3) small size and weight to support deployment on small drones; 4) ability to see out at least 200 meters; 5) ability to see through obscurants such as dust, rain, fog, snow and vegetation. For example, Ultra Wide Band (UWB) digital radar sensors can be used to provide a unique means to track UAS threats at large distances. UWB radar transmits high bandwidth (narrow) Gaussian pulses that can be very low power. When the transmitted pulses that enable the monostatic operation of one radar are received as pulse responses by a second radar a bi-static radar link is established; when the pulse responses are received by several radios a multi-static radar is formed. A network of low cost UWB radars can be used to form a C-UAS perimeter around an area in order to prevent swarming enemy UAS platforms from penetrating and operating in the airspace above the protected area. Another mode of operation under consideration is the use of UWB radar on drones and robots as a means to track and intercept drones in real-time. 

PHASE I: The proposed work during PHASE I is expected to include development of a system architecture for using some combination of sensors, drones, ground vehicles and unattended ground sensors to create C-UAS capabilities. During PHASE I proposers may consider demonstration of the core sensor capabilities necessary to sense and track UAS systems and possible simulation of the proposed functional system. 

PHASE II: Phase II will involve prototyping of the system and may include demonstration of the sensors on drones and ground vehicles. 

PHASE III: Phase III will involve collaboration with PM Counter-Explosive Hazards in order to develop a fieldable C-UAS solution to the threat of airborne explosive threats. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Training for the Enemy UAV threat - http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2013/May-June/pdfs/Phillips.pdf

2:  Countering the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Threat - http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/MilitaryReview/Archives/English/MilitaryReview_20151231_art012.pdf

KEYWORDS: Drone, C-UAS, UAS, UWB, Threats, Neutralize, Platforms, Hazards, Map 

CONTACT(S): 

Robert Wade 

(973) 724-4204 

robert.l.wade70.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this proposal is to investigate the use of covalent organic frameworks based nanoporous structures for detection, sequestration, and remediation of common military grade and homemade explosives. 

DESCRIPTION: Nanoporous materials as a class of nanostructured materials have attracted wide attention owing to their great ability to adsorb and interact with atoms, ions, and molecules on their large interior surfaces and in the nanometer size pore space. Recently has emerged covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as a new type of nanoporous materials involving crystalline porous polymers wherein extended predesigned structures are facilitated by the linking of molecular building blocks by strong covalent bonds. COFs can serve as building blocks for making predesigned, robust materials in an unprecedented way that could be exploited for various applications, including ion exchange, catalysis, sensor applications, biological molecular isolation and purification, gas storage and separation. This topic will investigate the use of COFs for detection, sequestration, and remediation of common military grade and homemade explosives. 

PHASE I: Investigate novel approaches for designing building blocks of COFs with embedded catalysts for the three-fold function of detection, sequestration, and remediation (DSR) of common military grade explosives such as TNT, RDX, and PETN and homemade explosives such as AN. Phase I will identify material considerations, the design methodologies and modeling and simulation tools for constructing the COFs based nanoporous structures. Initially, the DSR functions may be demonstrated sequentially. From the get-go the design philosophy should be driven by easily implementable and scalable solutions. At the end of phase I areas for further detailed investigation in Phase II will be identified. 

PHASE II: Detailed fundamental chemical models will be developed for understanding the formation of linkages to give the extended COFs and their properties for the intended application. Improved understanding of the thermodynamics of the crystallization process will lead to consistent preparation of high quality nanoporous structures with stability of geometry. Sensing elements and catalysts necessary for the DSR should preferably incorporated in the COFs such that a single nanoporous structure performs the concentration and remediation of the explosives in a continuous and scalable process. The anticipated deliverables will include design, fabrication and demonstration of suitable nanoporous structures of COFs for detection, sequestration, and remediation (DSR) of common military grade explosives such as TNT, RDX, and PETN and homemade explosives such as AN. 

PHASE III: Phase III will entail further research and refinement of the designs of Phase II along with modeling and simulation towards advancing the COF building blocks by considering other strong covalent bonds such as C8722O, C8722;C for improving the efficacy of the remediation process. 

REFERENCES: 

1: P.J. Waller et al., "Chemistry of Covalent Organic Frameworks," Acc. Chem. Res. 48, 30538722

2: 3063, 2015.

3:  A. Alsbaiee et al., "Rapid removal of organic micropollutants from water by a porous946

4: -cyclodextrin polymer," Nature, vol. 529, 14 January 2016.

5:  D. Gopalakrishnan and W. R. Dichtel, "Direct Detection of RDX Vapor Using a Conjugated Polymer Network," | J. Am. Chem. Soc., 135, 8357&8722

6: 8362, 2013.

7:  D. Gopalakrishnan and W. R. Dichtel, "Real-Time, Ultrasensitive Detection of RDX Vapors Using Conjugated Network Polymer Thin Films," Chem. Mater., 27, 3813&8722

8: 3816, 2015.

KEYWORDS: Covalent Organic Frameworks, Explosive Remediation, Catalysis 

CONTACT(S): 

Venkataraman Swaminathan 

(973) 724-7455 

venkataraman.swaminathan.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this proposal is to investigate approaches of designing and developing adaptable and multifunctional bioinspired hierarchical materials that can be manufactured and implemented for hardening munitions against multiple vulnerabilities including thermal (e.g., heat transfer and thermal management), mechanical (e.g., weight, erosion), chemical/environmental (e.g., corrosion and harsh environments) and high energy radiations (e.g., directed energy weapons) during service and/or storage. 

DESCRIPTION: With the rapid technology proliferation and the ensuing capabilities in the hands of the adversaries could seriously undermine the U.S. Army’s superiority in the future warfare. Further, as the global security environment is becoming increasingly complex and fragile, the agility to operate in dynamic and disparate military/urban environments is of paramount importance. It is imperative that the U.S. Army should be prepared for instantaneous conflict resolution with swift actions and with ready capabilities [1, 2]. In this regard, the current advances in materials need to be leveraged for developing resilient and precision strikes using armaments which have low vulnerability and that are least susceptible to countermeasures. There exists in nature complex hierarchical structures [3-6] exhibiting a myriad of extraordinary properties. This has created an interesting discipline of designing new bioinspired hierarchical materials leveraging the principles of biomimicry. Using the bioinspired hierarchical materials as the basis, a new armaments focused materials genome initiative could be envisioned that would serve to create armaments which have unprecedented high damage tolerance to thermal, mechanical, chemical, high energy radiations and other environmental threat factors. This topic endeavors to develop the fundamentals of such an armaments focused materials genome. 

PHASE I: Investigate novel approaches for designing and developing adaptable and multifunctional bioinspired hierarchical materials that can be manufactured and implemented for hardening munitions against multiple vulnerabilities including thermal, mechanical, chemical/environmental and high energy radiations during service and/or storage. The hierarchical materials space could include nanostructured inorganic, organic, and/or hybrid inorganic/organic composites including low dimensional materials (e.g. graphene). The individual layers in the stack may be patterned to produce pixelated surfaces consisting of meta-atoms with specific properties (e.g. thermal tunability) that can be controlled by external stimuli. In this manner, a heterogeneous pixelated layers in the stack can be achieved for true adaptability with multifunctional characteristics. From the get-go the design philosophy should be driven by easily implementable and manufacturable solutions. Phase I will identify material considerations, the design methodologies and modeling and simulation tools for constructing the hierarchical structures. In addition, prototype structures that demonstrate mitigation of vulnerabilities in one or more areas will be made. At the end of phase I, while designs and approaches are not optimized for true multifunctional operation, areas for further improvements and methods for practical implementation will be identified. 

PHASE II: Detailed physics based models will be developed for understanding the meta-atoms interactions with the external stimuli that drive the structure-property relations and the adaptable multifunctionality. Functionally graded materials, nano-porous compositions, self-similar structures etc., will be considered as part of the design space. Methods will be explored for adaptive and agile multifunctionality by application of external stimuli to the hierarchical materials. Phase II will culminate with deliverables that include modeling and simulation methodologies for the design of adaptive, multifunctional bioinspired hierarchical materials for applications towards hardening munitions against thermal, mechanical, chemical and high energy radiation and prototype demonstrations of a design (s) with multifunctionality, adaptability and improved sustainability against several of the vulnerabilities. It is imperative that the prototype demonstrations shall demonstrate multifunctionality in synergy and not in isolation. 

PHASE III: Phase III will entail further research and refinement of the designs of Phase II along with modeling and simulation towards advancing the building blocks of the armaments focused materials genome. The effort through all the phases will be coordinated with the stakeholders in all the three services which will facilitate definition of the requirements and transition of the technology. Strategic partnerships will be developed to further the commercialization potential of the technology. 

REFERENCES: 

1: THE ARMY VISION - Strategic Advantage in a Complex World. https://www.army.mil/e2/rv5_downloads/info/references/the_army_vision.pdf

2:  Force 2025 and Beyond - The U.S. Army’s Holistic Modernization Strategy, Jan 2015. https://www.ausa.org/publications/force-2025-and-beyond-us-army%E2%80%99s-holistic-modernization-strategy

3:  L. Mishnaevsky and M. Tsapatsis, "Hierarchical materials: Background and perspectives," Materials Research Society Bulletin, vol. 41, issue 9, September 2016.

4:  H. Gao, "Learning from Nature about Principles of Hierarchical Materials," 3rd International Nanoelectronics Conference, 3-8 Jan. 2010.

5:  Galo J. de A. A. Soler-Illia et al., "Chemical Strategies To Design Textured Materials: from Microporous and Mesoporous Oxides to Nanonetworks and Hierarchical Structures," Chem. Rev. 102, 4093-4138, 2002. 6. A.R. Parker, "515 million years of structural color," J. Opt. A: Pure Appl. Opt. 2, R15–R28, 2000.

KEYWORDS: Hierarchical Materials, Bioinspired/biomimicry, Multifunctionality, Adaptive Designs, Nano-porous Materials, Inorganic, Organic, Hybrid Inorganic/organic Nanostructures, Self-similar Structures, Meta-atoms, Armaments Focused Material Genome 

CONTACT(S): 

Venkataraman Swaminathan 

(973) 724-7455 

venkataraman.swaminathan.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and test lightweight combustible case materials and designs for small arms ammunition to reduce weight without sacrificing ballistic performance and long-term reliability. 

DESCRIPTION: Weapon system advances have resulted in the infantry soldiers carrying additional gear to enhance their combat effectiveness, but at the cost of increased logistics burden. To ensure that America’s soldiers maintain their overwhelming combat edge into 21st century, decreasing soldier loads has become a top priority for the Army. In this regard, one of the heaviest burdens for soldiers is their ammunition. However, the high cost of lightweight metal materials and the associated manufacturing costs represent a significant part of the affordability challenge to reduce weight. Attempts in the past 50+ years to use lightweight polymers to replace brass can only reduce the weight by about 25% and has not yet proven successful to achieve the ballistic performance and long-term reliability. Combustible cartridge case technology is successfully used in large caliber ammunition systems to eliminate the logistical burden of disposing of unconsumed packaging after firing. Combustible cartridge cases bring additional advantages in comparison to metal cases such as reduction in barrel wear, enhanced firing energy, increased firing rate and reduction in charge costs. At the same time combustible case materials offer protection of the propellant in the handling, storage, and loading phases, making it a good candidate to replace metallic cases. Recently, there has been significant interest in pursuing existing felted fiber combustible cartridge case technology in small caliber weapon systems to achieve the lightweight ammunition goal. However, it is challenging to apply felted fiber technology to small arms ammunition to replace the conventional brass case. The technical hurdles include the combustible resin inherently lacking mechanical strength, high porosity, vulnerability to penetration of water and water vapor, and problems related to materials used for fabrication, and complete combustion. Therefore, despite numerous advantages of felted fiber cartridge cases to metal cases, there are still barriers to incorporation of the technology in small caliber ammunition. This SBIR project shall include a multidisciplinary research and development effort focusing on mechanics, materials science, physics, chemistry, design and numerical modeling and simulations, in order to identify and characterize novel combustible polymeric materials, optimize small caliber cartridge case designs, and determine production feasibility. First, this effort shall develop or identify combustible polymeric materials for small arms cartridge case applications. Included in this development is the study of the material residue after burning of the selected combustible polymeric materials. Analysis of mechanical and physical properties of the combustible materials at various temperature, humidity and treatments shall be performed. Secondly development efforts for small arms cartridge case design using combustible polymeric materials shall be carried out. Dynamic finite element analysis simulations shall be conducted to validate the internal and exterior ballistic performance of the proposed cartridge case designs. Lastly, an investigation shall be completed on the impact of the ammunition environment on the mechanical and physical properties of the selected combustible cartridge case materials. The production capability and feasibility of the proposed lightweight combustible cartridge cased small arms ammunition shall also be assessed. The success of this novel combustible case material and design will enable a technology transition to PEO Ammunition, delivering lightweight small caliber ammunition to the U.S. Army. By reducing the ammunition weight, soldiers will be able to carry stronger armor protection and additional gear without compromising their mobility, thus achieving tactical objectives with improved soldier survivability. The novelty of this topic is that it addresses a long term need in small caliber munitions through new and novel material technologies. While felted fiber and even celluloid based combustible cartridge cases have been implemented for large caliber propulsion systems, there has been little work done to transition to small caliber munitions, due to the issues described above. This SBIR project provides a unique opportunity to study both novel combustible case materials for small caliber ammunition but also the design of the ammunition, in order to provide the soldier with a lightweight next generation system solution. Parameters/Metrics which these cartridges must meet: * The cartridges should be completely consumed. No residue should be left behind after combustion. * The cartridges should be completely hydrophobic. * The material used to fabricate the charges should be relatively easily formed into the desired shapes. * The cartridges must be made of a material 25% mechanically stronger than currently used in combustible cartridge cases in large caliber munitions. * The ballistic performance of the new cartridges should be equal or better than existing ammunition. * The weight should be 50% of that of legacy cartridges. * There material should be non-toxic. * The cartridges should be able to withstand standard operating conditions. * Aging should not have significant effects on the performance or safety of the cartridge cases. 

PHASE I: Develop novel small arms cartridge case design concepts using novel combustible polymeric materials. Conduct dynamic finite element analysis simulations to validate the interior ballistic performance of the proposed combustible cartridge case designs. Identify, develop and test combustible polymeric materials for small arms polymer cartridge case applications. Study the material residue after burning of the selected combustible polymeric materials. Perform analysis of mechanical and physical properties of the combustible materials at various temperature, humidity and treatments. 

PHASE II: Review the results from the Phase I feasibility study. Optimize the combustible material selections and refine the cartridge case designs. Investigate environmental effects on the mechanical and physical properties of the selected combustible polymer materials. Develop proper tooling, molds and build actual prototype cases on proposed combustible small arms cartridge case designs. Conduct advanced 3-D finite element analysis modeling and simulation to validate the ballistic performance of the proposed cartridge case with combustible material at extreme low temperature or cook-off temperature in hot weapon chamber. Conduct ballistic testing to measure chamber pressure and muzzle velocity and inspect the residue material. Assess production capabilities and feasibilities of the proposed lightweight combustible cased small arms ammunitions. 

PHASE III: If this program is demonstrated to be successful, this combustible polymeric casing technology can be applied to military and civilian applications. Military application includes lightweight cartridge cases for small arms (5.56mm, 7.62mm and 0.50 calibers), medium caliber (20mm, 25mm, 30mm and 40mm) as well as large caliber (60mm, 81mm, 105mm and 120mm) ammunitions. The likely transition partner is the Program Executive Officer for Ammunition. Civilian applications include hunting, sport shooting, and law enforcement. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Chesonis, Kestusis G.

2:  Smith, Pauline M.

3:  Lum, William S., "Investigation of Residue and Coating Stoichiometry on 120-mm Combustible Cartridge Cases", US Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005, ARL-TR-2337, 2000,

4:  Fedoroff, B. T. and Sheffield, O. E., "Encyclopedia of Explosives and Related Items", Picatinny Arsenal, Dover, NJ, Rept. No. PATR-2700, Vol. III, p. C611-C621, 1966, CPIA Abstract No. 68-0238, AD 653 029.

5:  Hannum,, J. A. E., Editor, "Hazards of Chemical Rockets and Propellants", Volume 2, Solid Propellants and Ingredients, Chemical Propulsion Information Agency, Laurel, MD, CPIA Pub. No. 394, Vol. II, Jun 1985, p. 11-3, CPIA Abstract No. 86-0027, AD A160 812

KEYWORDS: Structural, Energetics, Lightweight, Small Arms Ammunition, Combustible Cartridge Case 

CONTACT(S): 

Viral Panchal 

(973) 724-2122 

viral.h.panchal.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an innovative local position and orientation coordinate referencing system for establishing a referencing system for target designation, for use by fixed and mobile weapon platforms, for guidance and control of smart and guided projectiles, and for other applications in which GPS is currently being used. 

DESCRIPTION: For many reasons, including the loss of the signal, the signal not being available along the full path of the flight, jamming and the like, it is highly desirable to develop an alternative local coordinate referencing system to GPS that could cover the battlefield. Such a GPS-independent local coordinate referencing system can then be used by fixed and mobile platforms as well as soldier handheld devices, for guidance and control of smart and guided projectiles, for target designation, and for other applications in which GPS is currently used. Such local coordinate referencing systems are highly desirable to use methods and devices that allow them to be networked with adjacent local coordinate referencing systems as well as being adaptive to accommodate input from multiple sources and those provided on UAVs, UGVs, forward observer, and other land and air platforms. It is also highly desirable that the local coordinate referencing system provide full orientation as well as full position information onboard a moving or fixed object. The establishment of such a full position and orientation referencing system is highly advantageous since it can enable smart munitions, weapon platforms, vehicles and warfighter to have a common accurate, reliable and secure position as well as orientation referencing system, and since static or dynamic target position and heading is also indicated in the same referencing system, the target intercept error is also minimized. The proposed local coordinate referencing system must be robust, relatively small and low power, rugged, and capable of being deployed very quickly and automatically network all the provided referencing sources. Each proposed system must be capable of providing a local coordinate referencing system over a 30 km and preferably 50 km range with the capability of being networked with adjacent systems to extend the range. The system must be capable of providing full position (which includes elevation) accuracy of better than 2 m and sub-degree full orientation accuracy. The proposals must address issues related to reducing the probability of detection and jamming of the system referencing sources. 

PHASE I: Design an innovative non-GPS local position and orientation coordinate referencing system for establishing a referencing system for target designation, for use by fixed and mobile weapon platforms, for guidance and control of smart and guided projectiles, and for other applications requiring position and/or orientation referencing. Using realistic modeling and simulation, determine the potential performance of the system, including its position and orientation measurement accuracy, range, power requirement, and line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight performance. 

PHASE II: Develop the local position and orientation coordinate referencing system with the system requirements to be formulated based on the results of the Phase I feasibility studies. Develop detailed and realistic computer models to simulate the performance of the system and for the purpose of optimal selection of its parameters. Design and fabricate a prototype of the developed non-GPS local position and orientation coordinate referencing system for laboratory and range testing. Demonstrate the performance of the developed non-GPS local position and orientation coordinate referencing system in controlled field tests. 

PHASE III: The development of a non-GPS local full position and orientation coordinate referencing system has a wide range of military, homeland security and commercial applications. In the military related areas, the developed position and orientation referencing system enable smart munitions, weapon platforms, vehicles, forward observer and warfighter to have a common accurate, reliable and secure position as well as orientation referencing system. The referencing system can then be used for guidance and control of all smart munitions, missiles and guided bombs as well ground and airborne weapon platforms with minimal error due to the use of a single position and orientation referencing system. The developed position and orientation referencing system also has homeland security and commercial applications for guidance and control systems of various, robotic systems, particularly those used for remote operation in hazardous environments, which may be encountered in homeland defense, and for almost all mobile robotic applications used in the industry for materials handling and other similar applications. Commercial applications also include material handling equipment such as cranes; loading equipment, particularly in the sea; and industrial equipment used in assembly, welding, inspection, and other similar operations. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Sensory Systems and Communication for the Detection of Rotational and Translational Position of Objects in Flight, Carlos M. Pereira, TACOM-ARDEC publication.

2:  Intelligent Sensing and Wireless Communications in Harsh Environments, Carlos M. Pereira, Michael Mattice, Robert C. Testa, Presented at the Smart Materials and MEMS Symposium, Newport Beach, California, March 2000.

3:  Chatfield, A. B., 1997, Fundamentals of High Accuracy Inertial Navigation, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

4:  Grewal, M. S., Weill, L. R., and Andrews, A. P., 2000, Global Positioning Systems, Inertial Navigation, and Integration, John Wiley & Sons.

5:  Lawrence, A., 1998, Modern Inertial Technology: Navigation, Guidance, and Control, Mechanical Engineering Series, 2nd edition, Springer Verlag.

6:  Balanis, C. A., 1989, Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

7:  Wehner, D. R., and Barnes, B., 1994, High-Resolution Radar, Artech House.

KEYWORDS: Coordinate Referencing Systems; Position And Orientation Referencing Systems; Position And Orientation Sensors; Guided Munitions; Smart Munitions; Guidance And Control Systems 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Carlos Pereira 

(973) 724-1542 

carlos.m.pereira1.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: To design, analyze, and implement new algorithms and a software system for streaming and processing 3D reconnaissance data for enabling large-scale Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) operations in the low altitude urban-suburban airspace. 

DESCRIPTION: Current Army, DoD, and civilian capabilities for site exploration missions in urban-suburban areas, especially reconnaissance and rescue operations, are inaccurate,heavy, expensive, dangerous, and time consuming. Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)could potentially provide real-time military reconnaissance, fire and rescue, law enforcement, and other first-responders with important new ways to enhance mission effectiveness and reduce operational costs. While the small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles needed for such missions are now available at reasonable cost, the navigational and control systems and associated software required to conduct such coordinated, precision autonomous operations in low altitude urban and suburban airspaces are not yet available. This is because current state-of-the-art systems rely heavily on the U.S. NAVSTAR global positioning system (GPS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS). However, in low altitude urban and suburban airspaces the high density of obstacles and the presence of people necessitate a degree of navigational precision and reliability that cannot be met by GPS, which can have limited precision near buildings, or existing “sense and avoid” technologies. Software tools and algorithmic techniques not dependent on GPS are necessary for UAS navigation in the urban-suburban airspace. One such technique is three dimensional (3D) map-matching. 3D map-matching is a navigational basis that is orthogonal to radio navigation and consequently does not suffer from the same limitations and vulnerabilities of GPS. Early 2.5D map matching systems such as TERCOM (Terrain Contour Matching), were effectively employed in cruise missile navigation prior to GPS. The ability to pre-acquire detailed 3D geospatial data has increased exponentially since the time of TERCOM. Moreover, commodity sensors are now available which generate real-time point-clouds that could potentially be matched to the pre-acquired 3D geospatial data to provide rapid, precise localization in many GPS denied environments. However, two problems have slowed the evolution of efficient 3D map-match solutions. First, because the 3D geospatial data sets are so large, it can be difficult to transmit and maintain them over bandwidth and latency constrained networks using conventional data delivery approaches. Second, processing of these massive 3D datasets by 3D map-matching algorithms can be very inefficient because the matching algorithm is typically forced to process a large amount of occluded data that is irrelevant to the immediate 3D map-match localization solution. This is especially true in densely occluded natural terrains or within the urban canyon. The ultimate goal is the design of algorithmic techniques resulting in a software system that can overcome the delivery and processing problems of 3D map-matching and efficiently stream 3D reconnaissance data over constrained networks and use this data to perform precise localization for UAS to navigate in suburban and urban terrains. This software system should be able to encode these massive 3D data sets or some subset sufficiently necessary for navigation purposes, including geometric visibility, of previously obtained 3D maps of the urban terrain and efficiently transmit this data to the UAS navigational system in real time. Then the system should be able to match the current sensor-derived ground truth obtained by the UAS sensors to the streamed 3D representation, also in real time, to enable instant, on-demand access to timely and detailed 3D data for analysis, mission planning, mission rehearsal, and battle damage assessment. Besides enhancing military operations, such a system would have a wide variety of civilian uses such as fire and rescue, law enforcement, and other first-responder situations making it highly viable as a commercial product. Such software could easily be licensed for both military and civilian purposes or marketed as a single software package. 

PHASE I: This portion of the effort will consist of identifying robust and mathematically consistent computational approaches to stream 3D reconnaissance data and perform precise localization for UAS navigation. This can be accomplished by (1) investigating and recommending or developing efficient techniques to stream massive 3D data sets of previously obtained 3D maps of the urban terrain to the UAS navigational system in real time and (2) investigating and recommending or developing appropriate techniques to match sensor-derived ground truth to the streamed 3D representation, also in real time. Then conduct a proof-of-concept simulation of each of the above. 

PHASE II: Using the results from Phase I, the effort will be to build a robust, scalable software system for streaming 3D reconnaissance data and perform precise localization for UAS navigation. This can be accomplished by (1) implementing the technique from Phase I to stream massive 3D data sets of previously obtained 3D maps of the urban terrain to the UAS navigational system in real time, (2) implementing the technique from Phase I to match sensor-derived ground truth to the streamed 3D representation, also in real time, and (3) incorporating the above into a single software system. In addition, a comprehensive set of software documentation will be prepared and made available for users and a long-term program for maintenance and subsequent improvement of the software will be created. 

PHASE III: The outcome of this effort would be the development of a software system for transforming and streaming 3D reconnaissance data and performing precise localization for UAS navigation that contains significantly more information than video, but which requires less bandwidth. By combining sensor-based, data driven navigation and efficient continuous remapping, this effort could realize a scalable, sustainable, and deliverable representation of any environment and enable important new capabilities in autonomous navigation and intelligent tactical maneuvering. Consequently, this effort could increase the speed and reduce the cost of processing, exploiting, and disseminating 3D geospatial data for both military and civilian operations in urban and suburban settings such as reconnaissance, fire and rescue, law enforcement, and other first-responder activities. The firm will follow-up on appropriate marketing and licensing opportunities from collaborations and contacts developed during earlier phases. The company will set up a support service for both existing and new users capable of addressing installation issues and correcting bugs. This will include creating a web site with the latest news, FAQs, user' forum, etc. 

REFERENCES: 

1: P. Agarwal and R. Sharathkumar, "Streaming algorithms for extent problems in high dimensions," Proc. 21st Annual ACM-SIAM Symposium on Discrete Algorithms, 2010.

2:  C. Poullis and S. You, "3D Reconstruction of Urban Areas," Proc. of IEEE 3D Imaging, Modeling, Processing, Visualization, and Transmission (3DPVT), May 2011

3:  J. Huang and S. You, "Point Cloud Matching based on 3D Self-Similarity," Proc. of IEEE CVPR Workshop on Point Cloud Processing, June 16, 2012

4:  Stump, Ethan, et al. "Visibility-Based Deployment of Robot Formations for Communication Maintenance" ICRA, IEEE Intel. Conference, 2011

5:  Ji Zhang and Sanjiv Singh, "LOAM: Lidar Odometry and Mapping in Real-time," Robotics: Science and Systems Conference, July, 2014.

KEYWORDS: 3D Map-matching, 3D Reconnaissance Data, Streaming, Unmanned Aerial Systems Navigation, Low Altitude Urban Airspace, GPS Denied Environment 

CONTACT(S): 

Joseph Coyle 

(919) 549-4256 

joseph.michael.coyle@us.army.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: To develop innovative materials and process for biomass upgrade prototype by foraging indigenous lignocellulosic biomass. 

DESCRIPTION: Range and endurance are major concerns on today’s robotic & autonomous systems (RAS) for both civilian and military applications. The mission duration of current RAS is limited by how much fuel or batteries they can carry. There is no built-in fuel generation in current design; consequently, the typical operation duration for a single mission is limited to about 20 to 30 minutes. As noted in the position paper from Maneuver Center of Excellence [1], the Army needs new technology to improve the sustainment of future combat vehicle. To address this challenge we need new compact energy harvesting fuel generators that generate high energy density fuel-like chemicals from indigenous biomass such as lignocellulosic biomass. The main technical challenges are that this new compact generator needs to be transportable and be able to convert various feedstock composition with different moisture content at a fast reaction rate. To address these challenges, Army seeks innovative approach to upgrade indigenous biomass to energy-dense chemical. Typical energy density of indigenous biomass is less than 20 MJ/kg, which is much less than that of military jet fuel (42 MJ/kg). There are several approaches that are previously investigated, including pyrolysis, deoxygenation, and hydrodecarboxylation [2]. These prior approaches were relevant for industrial scale. But the Army needs new materials and processes that would be relevant for RAS that do not create an additional logistics tail problem of high purity hydrogen and other consumables. The small business, in their proposal, will describe approaches of their own choosing to solve the problems. The project shall lead to a fabrication of a biomass upgrade prototype unit with less than volume of 30 L and dry weight of 30 kg. And the unit shall convert at least 1 kg biomass per hour to produce energy-dense chemical product with specific energy density between 30 and 40 MJ/kg. The energy efficiency of biomass upgrade shall be demonstrated to be between 15-20%. The energy efficiency of biomass upgrade is defined as (energy of chemical product) /(energy of biomass feed). The small business first shall conduct feasibility of their selected biomass upgrade approach in Phase I. Then the small business design, fabricate and verify biomass upgrade prototype unit in Phase II. Finally, the small business shall transition the biomass upgrade technology for commercialization to industry and possible Army applications in Phase III. Such technology shall be able both to generate energy-dense chemical product by doubling the energy density of the biomass raw materials (<20 MJ/kg) and to generate even electrical power. Civilian commercialization of the biomass upgrade technology could potentially impact recycling industry of yard waste, as well as outdoor tools and equipment industry through fuel oil generation from yard waste such as leaves and grass. 

PHASE I: Perform a feasibility study, explore biomass upgrade concept designs and perform a systematic study on materials and process toward greater knowledge in biomass upgrade technology to meet the requirement of point of need generation of energy-dense chemical (30-40kJ/g) with energy efficiency between 15-20%. Phase I final report shall provide a technology path that would enable Phase II design of a biomass upgrade prototype unit with volume of 30 L and dry weight of 30 kg. And the unit shall convert at least 1 kg biomass per hour. 

PHASE II: Design and fabricate a prototype biomass upgrade prototype unit based on the findings in Phase 1. Verification of design targets of improvement in energy density of indigenous biomass to energy-dense chemical. Such biomass upgrade prototype unit shall be less than volume of 30 L and dry weight of 30 kg. And the unit shall convert at least 1 kg biomass per hour to produce energy-dense chemical product with specific energy density between 30 and 40 kJ/g. The energy efficiency of biomass upgrade shall be demonstrated to be between 15-20%. At the end of Phase 2, the company shall deliver one prototype unit to Army Research Laboratory for evaluation. 

PHASE III: Demonstrate electrical power generation with biomass feedstock by integrating the biomass upgrade prototype unit from Phase II with a commercial power generation technology such as, but not limited to, a solid oxide fuel cell or a small engine. Deliver one integrated system to Army Research Laboratory for potential transition to other Army stakeholders for evaluation. Commercial fuel cell or small engine technologies, as a result of this particular SBIR project, could potentially inserted into defense systems. The small business shall also transition the technology to industry such as, but not limited to, waste recycling and outdoor tools for potential commercialization. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Position Paper: Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) position on combat vehicle power and energy, Approved by MG Eric Wesley (19 January 2017)

2:  H. Ben, A.J. Ragauskas, Influence of Si/Al Ratio of ZSM-5 Zeolite on the Properties of Lignin Pyrolysis Products, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 1 (2013) 316-324.

KEYWORDS: Fuel, Lignocellulosic Biomass, Biomass Upgrade, Energy, Power 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Ivan Lee 

(301) 394-0292 

ivan.c.lee2.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: US Army RF systems, such as communication networks and radar, encounter an increasingly congested and contested electromagnetic spectrum. Increasing the spectral efficiency by utilizing Same Frequency Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (SF-STAR) Radios will greatly enhance Military and Commercial communications and radar systems. 

DESCRIPTION: The United States Army and Joint Services utilize tactical communication systems that are adversely affected by the recent Advanced Wireless Service spectrum auction. These systems will be required to operate in more restricted frequency bands and therefore stand to lose capacity and throughput if technology is not developed to maintain and improve spectral efficiency (defined as bits per second per Hertz, or bits/s/Hz). Current tactical communication systems are unable to simultaneously transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) at the same radio frequency (RF), placing an inherent limitation on spectrum usage imposed by conventional duplexing and networking techniques. The purpose of this solicitation is to close this technology gap to enable more efficient use of available spectrum for affected systems in 1 – 6 GHz bands (or higher frequency bands up to and including mm-wave bands) by developing innovative prototype designs leading to mature, operationally-relevant tactical communication systems capable of same frequency full duplex functionality. Commercial systems (including WiFi, and fifth generation, 5G, systems) will benefit greatly from the development of SF-STAR radios given that spectrum is a scare resource. Developing a SF-STAR radio for commercial applications is an active research topic with no products currently available. Unlike commercial systems, Army systems operate in congested and contested hostile environments. For Army applications, SF-STAR radios require greater suppression of self-interference and external hostile uncooperative interference from jammers as well as greater bandwidth (above 80 MHz). This necessitates higher levels of linearity and dynamic range than commercial SF-STAR systems. Typically, interference suppression may be carried out in the digital domain using digital signal processing (DSP) or the analog domain. The focus of this solicitation are the analog domain techniques which can be realized using innovative multi-feed antennas, and novel RF frontend circuitry (including correlators, and non-magnetic circulators). The goal is to achieve greater than 70 dB of isolation between transmit and receive, as well as 20 dB suppression of uncooperative interferers in nearby (10% above the center frequency) bands, under practical operating conditions. DSP techniques (which are outside the scope of this solicitation) can be employed to enhance the isolation further. The SF-STAR operation should be achieved over a minimum of 100 MHz instantaneous bandwidth with a minimum transmitted output power of 23 dBm, a minimum receiver input IP3 of 10 dBm, a minimum Tx/Rx isolation of 70 dB, and a minimum jammer suppression of 20 dB in nearby bands. Higher the levels of integration are desired to reduce size weight and power (SWAP). 

PHASE I: Investigate design space and define specifications; evaluate architecture choices and trade-offs for various approaches leading to SF-STAR. Simulate chosen solution and assess operating margins. Determine minimum and maximum attainable Tx/Rx isolation, transmitted output power, receiver sensitivity, linearity, and spurious-free dynamic range, signal bandwidth, frequency of operation, and potential for implementation (including sensitivity to component tolerances, and impedance mismatch). The SF-STAR design should achieve 100 MHz bandwidth or greater, 23 dBm output power or greater, a receiver input IP3 of 10 dBm or greater, a Tx/Rx isolation of 70 dB or greater, and a jammer suppression of 20 dB or greater in nearby bands. It should tolerate process and/or component tolerances, impedance mismatch, and noise leakage from the transmitter to the receiver chain. 

PHASE II: Design, and prototype a SF-STAR radio using analog techniques based on phase I analysis, achieving 100 MHz bandwidth or greater, 23 dBm output power or greater, a receiver input IP3 of 10 dBm or greater, a Tx/Rx isolation of 70 dB or greater, and a jammer suppression of 20 dB or greater in nearby bands. The prototype should tolerate process and/or component tolerances, impedance mismatch, and noise leakage from the transmitter to the receiver chain. The prototype should be delivered to the Army at the end of phase II. 

PHASE III: Design and build a radio demonstrating SF-STAR for a specific military or commercial system that satisfies the specifications of the specific application selected; transition technology to defense and commercial applications. Identify benefits and drawbacks of the SF-STAR radio over existing systems. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Harish Krishnaswamy and Gil Zussman, "1 Chip 2x Bandwidth," IEEE Spectrum, July 2016.

2:  B Debaillie et. al., "Analog/RF Solutions Enabling Compact Full-Duplex Radios," IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, Volume 32, Issue 9, Sept. 2014.

3:  A Sabharwal et. al., "In-Band Full-Duplex Wireless: Challenges and Opportunities," IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, Volume 32, Issue 9, Sept. 2014.

KEYWORDS: Simultaneous Transmit And Receive, Full Duplex, And Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits 

CONTACT(S): 

Ali Darwish 

(301) 394-2532 

ali.m.darwish.civ@mail.mil 

Edward Viveiros 

(301) 394-0930 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Current readout integrated circuits (ROICs) consume significant power and are custom-designed for a specific focal plane array (FPA) detector material (e.g. InGaAs). The goal is to reduce the cost of ROICs by designing and developing a general-purpose energy-efficient ROIC that works with a wide variety of FPAs, and provides wide dynamic range. 

DESCRIPTION: The purpose of the foreseen read out integrated circuit (ROIC) is to cover a wide range of DoD applications and offer an on-demand component replacement for standard ROICs in multiple defense platforms. Traditionally, ROIC designs are optimized for specific Focal Plane Array (FPA) detector materials such as, InGaAs, InSb, or HgCdTe; varying the detector material enables coverage of a wide range of wavelengths and sensitivities. A fully flexible ROIC design will offer a combination of digital programmable features, interchangeable fabrication mask-subsets, and different reticle exposure options to accommodate various photo detector materials in a scalable FPA. A variant of a mask-subset can be used to accommodate different pixel types or architectures enabling alternative set of pixel features. This is a new area of research. The ROIC’s ability to interconnect with different FPA materials will require circuit operation over a wide range of temperatures including the cryogenic range. This adaptable ROIC should introduce resolution, frame rate, and power consumption trade-offs to enable optimization for use in multiple defense application platforms. The ROIC design will permit operation over a wide input dynamic range but be configurable to focus the circuit’s dynamic range within a region of interest in the input signal. Power efficiency is critical for high throughput applications where resolution (1-2 Mpix - 16 Mpix) and frame rate per second (10 - 100 fps) are increased. The foreseen ROIC will include options to allow for the power consumption to be adjusted programmatically as determined by the specific application or imaging mode. Additionally, the ROIC should consider incorporation of front-end signal processing such as compressive sensing to enable manipulation of the data bandwidth in both the analog and digital domains to further enhance power efficiency. A competitive design will achieve the highest dynamic range at the lowest power consumption and read-noise levels. State-of-the-art CMOS COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) image sensors can achieve 3-5 nJ/pixel and 3 electrons RMS read-noise while standalone ROICs are currently consuming 50-100 nJ/pixel at 30-50 electrons RMS read-noise. The target ROIC design should ultimately close the gap between monolithic and hybridized sensors by operating at both low power consumption and read-noise levels (5-10 nJ/pixel and 10 electrons RMS), and allow variable frame rates (10 – 100 fps), and resolutions. 

PHASE I: Investigate design scope and define specifications; evaluate architecture choices and trade-off matrix for hardwired and programmable features; define pixel design options for different pixel pitches, for example: 10 um x 10 um versus 15 um x 15 um. Determine minimum and maximum attainable FPA resolution in a given process fabrication technology. Propose a practical solution that meets supports 2 – 16 Mpix, variable frame rate 10 – 100 fps, and exhibits low noise levels (< 20 nJ/pixel). 

PHASE II: Design, fabricate, and test a ROIC sub-array prototype containing critical blocks such as pixels, column readout, ADCs, and IO variants for validation; evaluate the performance of each architectural choice against a trade-off matrix; determine the architecture for a full ROIC design. A competitive design will achieve the highest dynamic range at the lowest power consumption and read-noise levels. State-of-the-art CMOS COTS (Commercial-Off-The-Shelf) image sensors can achieve 3-5 nJ/pixel and 3 electrons RMS read-noise while standalone ROICs are currently consuming 50-100 nJ/pixel at 30-50 electrons RMS read-noise. The target ROIC design should ultimately close the gap between monolithic and hybridized sensors by operating at both low power consumption and read-noise levels (5-10 nJ/pixel and 10 electrons RMS), and allow variable framerates (10 – 100 fps), and resolutions. The prototype should be delivered to the government at the end of the program. 

PHASE III: Fabricate a full ROIC design; construct a camera test bench and characterize and evaluate the full ROIC. Provide a clear technology transition path commercial as well as DoD applications. Demonstrate sufficient technology readiness level (TRL) for the newly designed ROIC. Commercial and military applications should be addressed and targeted. The commercialization pathway would be collaborating with government or commercial end users to develop and fabricate a full ROIC design; construct a camera test bench and characterize and evaluate the full system. Use of the developed innovative ROIC should be made in conjunction with focal plane array detector. Potential commercial applications include various high-speed focal plane read-out, and high performance signal processing. Military Applications include integrated C4ISR optical systems, and image signal processing. 

REFERENCES: 

1: S. Kavusi, and A. El Gamal, "A quantitative study of high dynamic range image sensor architectures," Proceedings of the SPIE Electronic Imaging, Vol. 5301, Jan. 2004.

2:  P. Martin, A.S. Royet, and F. Guellec, G. Ghibaudo, "MOSFET modeling for design of ultra-high performance infrared CMOS imagers working at cryogenic temperatures: Case of an analog/digital 0.18 lm CMOS process", Solid State Electronics Journal, Vol. 62, Issue 1, pp. 115–122, Aug. 2011.

3:  E. Candes and M Wakin, "An Introduction to Compressive Sensing," IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, vol. 25, no. 2, 2008, pp. 21–30.

KEYWORDS: ROIC Readout Integrated Circuit FPA Focal Plane Array 

CONTACT(S): 

Ali Darwish 

(301) 394-2532 

ali.m.darwish.civ@mail.mil 

Dr. Alfred Hung 

(301) 394-2997 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate a turbocharger for an aviation compression-ignition engine with a maximum power of 180 hp at sea level which provides reliable boost up to 30,000-ft altitude. 

DESCRIPTION: Throughout the Department of Defense, there is a critical need for small, reliable, high-efficiency engines for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Such vehicles provide invaluable intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance directly to the warfighter. In alignment with Tactical Unit Energy Independence, the engines are multi-fuel capable to exploit local resources, and can provide extreme performance. However, there are very few propulsion system options in the 160-200 hp class available for aircraft application. Compression-ignition (CI) engines, also known as diesel engines, offer the high efficiency and low fuel consumption that the Army requires, but the existing engines were developed for automotive applications. Such engines exhibit a number of problems when operated at environmental conditions typical for the Army. The most serious problem resides in the boost system that the engine uses to force air into the cylinders, which is required to make sufficient power for the vehicle to maneuver in the low-density air found at altitude. Existing boost technology, such as turbochargers and superchargers, come directly from the automotive industry. At altitude, these automotive boost systems must run a shaft speeds outside of their design criteria, and they may dwell there for periods of time much longer than automotive applications. This can lead to unsafe operation because of resonant modes in the shaft and blades of the turbocharger. Because of this, the Army seeks to develop a new turbocharger system designed and optimized for aviation diesel engines. The primary goal is that the boost system be highly robust and reliable over the Army’s entire operating range. This includes altitudes from sea level to 30,000 feet, and temperatures from -60°F to 130°F. Significant resonances in the shafting of the system as well as compressor surge, which can reduce life or induce failure, must be avoided. The performance goal of the boost system should be to allow the engine, while operating at 30,000 feet, to provide 60% of the maximum power it provides at sea level. Through this SBIR process, it is expected that the boost technology that is developed could be commercialized. Besides the many applications in the Department of Defense, the technology will be of great value to the general aviation industry, and the rapidly expanding commercial ‘drone’ industry. 

PHASE I: Provide turbocharger concepts that can deliver air quantities for a 180-hp CI engine at sea level and 60% power (i.e. 108 hp) at 30,000 ft. These concepts should avoid shaft and compressor/turbine blade resonances as well as compressor surge. Provide analysis results of the concepts including shaft vibration and compressor/turbine blade deflection. Provide CAD models to the Army to determine interface compatibility with the existing Army engines. The manufacturability of the proposed technology should be assessed, and methods and equipment capable of production should be identified. The success of Phase I will be judged based on the metrics of air flowrates, shaft vibration, and compressor/turbine blade deflections from sea level to altitude up to 30,000 ft. Other metrics include the theoretical hardware life of target 2,000 hours, mass of less than 15 lbs, and interface compatibility with the existing Army system. 

PHASE II: Following the conceptual evaluation and analysis, the technology and manufacturing methods for a prototype should be developed and demonstrated. The prototype turbocharger should be assessed at critical operating points up to 30,000 ft altitude. The metrics will include required air flowrates to attain target engine power, shaft speed, shaft vibration, compressor/turbine blade deflections, surge, and interface compatibility with the existing Army engine. The prototype turbocharger should meet the reliability requirement of 100-hr endurance test. The turbocharger should also be affordable with a target cost less than $20K. Deliverables include a demonstration of prototype operation, formal test report, and comprehensive test and analysis results. 

PHASE III: Commercialization of the technology to the US Army and Air Force, as well as the civilian sector to solve turbocharger reliability issues at altitude for UAV applications. If the metrics assessed in Phase II exceeds the requirements of the Government for a specific application, the hardware could be incorporated into the Program of Record (POR) for future Unmanned Aircraft. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Szedlmayer, Michael, and Chol-Bum M. Kweon. Effect of Altitude Conditions on Combustion and Performance of a Multi-Cylinder Turbocharged Direct-Injection Diesel Engine. No. 2016-01-0742. SAE Technical Paper, 2016.

2:  Kim, Kenneth, Szedlmayer Michael, and Kweon Chol-Bum M. "Altitude and Fuel Property Effect on Aviation Diesel Engine Combustion: A First Look." Turbine Engine Technology Symposium, 2016.

3:  Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, "Report to Congress on Strategy to Protect United States National Security Interests in the Arctic Region." OUSD Policy A-CE2489B, December 2016.

4:  Tanya J., Gibson, "ARL opens unique combustion research lab, studies in JP-8 fuel could lead to "super engine" development." U.S. Army Research Laboratory (http://www.arl.army.mil/www/default.cfm?page=1217), October 9, 2012.

5:  Kech J., R. Hegner, and Mannle T. "Turbocharging: Key technology for high-performance engines." MTU online, January, 2014.

6:  Schweizer, Bernhard, and Mario Sievert. "Nonlinear oscillations of automotive turbocharger turbines." Journal of Sound and Vibration 321.3 (2009): 955-975.

7:  Kirk, R. G., A. A. Alsaeed, and E. J. Gunter. "Stability analysis of a high-speed automotive turbocharger." Tribology Transactions 50.3 (2007): 427-434.

8:  Holmes, R., M. J. Brennan, and B. Gottrand. "Vibration of an automotive turbocharger–a case study." Proceedings 8th International Conference on Vibrations in Rotating Machinery. 2004.

9:  Gunter, Edgar J., and Wen Jeng Chen. "Dynamic analysis of a turbocharger in floating bushing bearings." ISCORMA-3, Cleveland, Ohio (2005): 19-23.

10:  Wang, Zheng, et al. "Time-dependent vibration frequency reliability analysis of blade vibration of compressor wheel of turbocharger for vehicle application." Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering 27.1 (2014): 205-210.

KEYWORDS: Unmanned Aerial System, Compression Ignition, Turbocharger, Supercharger, Altitude, Aviation, Boost, Performance, Reliability, Heavy Fuel, Unmanned Ground System, Efficiency 

CONTACT(S): 

Michael Szedlmayer 

(410) 278-9020 

michael.t.szedlmayer.civ@mail.mil 

Frederick Schauer 

(937) 503-9903 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to develop a multi-material additive manufacturing (AM) capability for fabrication, characterization, and printing of polymer/ceramic composite electromagnetic (EM) and conductive materials for antennas and other radio frequency (RF) devices. AM is a disruptive technology expanding the design space for RF engineers. The result is the ability to design and easily fabricate antennas and other RF devices not realizable via traditional manufacturing methods. 

DESCRIPTION: As the Army moves towards multi-mission platforms, functionality of disparate radio frequency (RF) systems must be integrated into a single system. This requires planar and vertical integration of apertures, substrates, and feed networks to enable multiple modes of operation. Several different antennas and their feed networks consisting of transmission lines, amplifiers, filters, and switches will be incorporated into a single front end across wide bandwidths. The 3D and multi-material approaches needed to achieve these designs makes additive manufacturing (AM) critical to the future of Army RF systems. While strides in AM demonstrate production of robust mechanical parts, less attention is paid to developing and characterizing RF properties of printed materials. Research is also needed in the area of conductive inks for AM. Current processes yield metal layers with low conductivity compared to bulk metal. Increased conductivity of printable inks enhances the power efficiency of RF components. AM allows engineers to re-think the RF design space. Dielectric constants of commercial materials limits current antenna designs. AM facilitates complex designs that required properties not achievable by current manufacturing methods. One example is the Luneberg lens [1] which relies on a graded dielectric constant. AM achieves this previously unrealizable property producing a high gain antenna with a steerable beam and eliminates the large aperture and complicated feed network associated with electrically scanned arrays [2]. Increased versatility of AM in the RF design space requires high dielectric substrates. AM filaments with dielectric constants greater than 4 are not commercially available. However, techniques exist to extrude AM filaments [3] from polymer/ceramic composites with high dielectric constants [4-6]. The process disperses high dielectric ceramic particles into a polymer substrate where the volume fraction of ceramic particles to polymer matrix determines the dielectric constant of the filament [5,7]. These filaments are generally not characterized below X-band frequencies, and the dielectric constant of the printed substrate can deviate from that of the filament. Characterization of complex permittivity of printed dielectric substrates is paramount to this SBIR effort. AM of RF and multi-material structures have hurdles to overcome. One area will be controlling interfaces and bonding between printed layers [8,9]. Another issue is the anisotropic nature due to the orientation of the printed material deposited in each layer which can lead to changes in mechanical properties [10]. Other concerns of AM technologies relate to surface roughness, repetitiveness, and porosity [11-13]. These concerns are being addressed by many research activities [14-17] and should not derail the progression of research in printing multi-material RF structures. A final need for AM of RF components is research into the areas of conductive inks. Conductive inks can achieve conductivity of five to ten times less than bulk copper, but require sintering at temperatures above 175 degrees Celsius [18]. AM substrates printed from polymer based filaments will melt at these temperatures making these methods not viable for AM antennas or other RF components. Alternative methods such as localized laser sintering or flash annealing should be researched to achieve high conductivity in the presence of 3D printed dielectric substrates. 

PHASE I: Phase I shall explore processes for the loading polymers with high dielectric constant particles and the extrusion process for producing high dielectric constant additive manufacturing (AM) filaments that are compatible with an nScrypt 3D printer. Prototype filaments of differing dielectric constants should be produced and a maximum relative permittivity of 15 should be demonstrated. The loss tangent of these filaments should be less than 0.002. Filament diameter should be either 1.75mm (+/- 0.05mm) or 2.85mm (+/- 0.05mm). At the end of Phase I, 3D printed substrates of 8”x8”x0.25” using these filaments will be fabricated and complex permittivity will be measured from 1 GHz to 20 GHz. Differences between the measured permittivity and filaments should be quantified and explained. Furthermore, research into methods for increasing the conductivity of conductive inks printed on composite polymer substrates to 10X less than bulk copper (i.e. 5.8x10^6 S/m) should identify a technique to be demonstrated in Phase II. 

PHASE II: Phase II will demonstrate measured conductivity of sintered conductive ink printed on a polymer substrate reaching 5.8x10^6 S/m or better. Any major deviations identified in Phase I between the complex permittivity of the filament and that of the printed substrate should be accounted for. At the end of Phase II a fully fabricated additively manufactured (AM) antenna structure should be realized (including ground plane, connectors, feed, multiple dielectric substrates, and aperture) in a fully automated process and in a single print utilizing the same machine. Laboratory antenna measurements such as return loss, radiation pattern, and antenna efficiency will be made. A comparison of the AM antenna to the same antenna manufactured by traditional means will be made as well as a comparison to an antenna model utilizing electromagnetic (EM) modeling software such as HFSS or CST. The radiation efficiency of the AM antenna should be within 10% of the same antenna produced by traditional fabrication techniques. The center of the resonance frequency of the AM antenna should vary less than 5% compared to the same antenna produced by traditional fabrication techniques. The AM antenna should also vary less than 5% in resonance frequency and less than 1.0 dB in realized gain across the operational bandwidth of the antenna model. 

PHASE III: Phase III will focus on the commercialization of additive manufacturing (AM) technology for antennas and RF devices. The final AM process should demonstrate the repetitiveness of AM for both military and commercial applications. Commercialization would be of great interest to the radar and wireless sensing community while also providing an innovative technology solution to assist the military reduce logistical burdens for the storing and transporting of antennas and radio frequency (RF) components in the field. Similarly, lightweight AM antennas would be of great interest to the space and satellite communications industry. 

REFERENCES: 

1: R. K. Luneburg & M. Herzberger. Mathematical Theory of Optics. Providence, Rhode Island: Brown University, pp. 189–213, 1944.

2:  D. Roper, B. Good, S. Yarlagadda, & M. Mirotznik, "Fabrication of a Flat Luneburg Lens using Functional Additive Manufacturing", USNC-URSI Radio Science Meeting (Joint AP-S Symposium), 2014.

3:  A. Moulart, C. Marrett & J. Colton, "Polymeric composites for use in electronic and microwave devices", Polymer Engineerung and Science, vol. 44, pgs. 588–597, 2004.

4:  Agarwala M. K. et al., "Structural ceramics by fused deposition of ceramics", Proceedings of Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium, pgs. 1–8, 1995.

5:  B. Duncan, et al., "3D Printing of Millimeter Wave RF Devices", Workshop on Additive Manufacturing of Antennas and Electromagnetic Structures, MITRE, 2017.

6:  F. Castles, et al., "Microwave Dielectric Characterization of 3D-printed BaTiO3/ABS Polymer Composities", US National Library of Medicine, PMC4778131, 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4778131/#b20

7:  Y. Rao, et al., "Novel polymer-ceramic nanocomposite based on high dielectric constant epoxy formula for embedded capacitor application", Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2001.

8:  C. Bellehumeur, et al., "Modeling of bond formation between polymer filaments in the fused deposition modeling process", Journal of Manufacturing Processes, vol. 6, iss. 2, pgs. 170-178, 2004.

9:  M. Odell, et al., "Material characterization of fused deposition modeling (FDM) process", Proceedings, Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing Conference, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Cincinnati, OH, 2001.

10:  S-H. Ahn, et al., "Anisotropic material properties of fused deposition modeling ABS", Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 8, iss 4, pgs. 248-257, 2002.

11:  D. Ahn, et al., "Representation of surface roughness in fused deposition modeling", Journal of Materials Processing Technology, vol. 209, iss. 15-16, pgs. 5593-5600, 2009.

12:  A Sood, et al., "Improved dimensional accuracy of fused deposition modeling processed part using grey Taguchi method", Journal of Material and Design, vol. 30, iss. 10, pgs. 4243-4252, 2009.

13:  K. Ang, et al., "Investigation of the mechanical properties and porosity relationships in fused deposition modeling-fabricated porous structures", Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 12, iss. 2, pgs. 100-105, 2006.

14:  K. Thrimurthula, et al., "Optimum part deposition orientation in fused deposition modeling", International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacturing, vol. 66, iss. 6, pgs. 585-594, 2003.

15:  M. Hossain, et al., "Improved mechanical properties of fused deposition modeling-manufactured parts through build parameter modifications", Journal of Manufacturing Science, vol. 136, iss. 6, 2014.

16:  A. Boschetto, L. Bottini, "Accuracy prediction in fused deposition modeling", International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, vol. 73, iss. 5, pgs. 913-928, 2014.

17:  K. Tong, et al., "Error compensation for fused deposition modeling (FDM) machine by correcting slice files", Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 14, iss. 1, 2008.

18:  [D. Roberson, R. Wicker, E. MacDonald, "Ohmic curing of printed silver conductive traces", Journal of Electronic Materials, vol. 41, iss. 9, pgs. 2553-2566, 2012.

KEYWORDS: Additive Manufacturing, Electromagnetic Materials, Material Characterization, Antennas, RF Devices, Manufacturing Materials, Manufacturing Processes 

CONTACT(S): 

Gregory Mitchell 

(301) 394-2322 

gregory.a.mitchell1.civ@mail.mil 

Dr. Larry Holmes 

(410) 306-4951 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate lightweight hybrid or electric-enhanced drive system technologies for novel vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) tactical aircraft with powerplant output in the range of 50-250 kW class. 

DESCRIPTION: Aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing are a critical enabler for many US Army operations. A large fleet of several thousand crewed helicopters provide much of this capability today, while future Army operations will increasingly employ uninhabited aerial systems. The smallest uninhabited VTOL aerial systems rely on fully electric propulsion and batteries, while large crewed rotorcraft are primarily powered by liquid-fueled turbine engines coupled to mechanical drive systems. In the intermediate Group III unmanned aerial systems (max. gross takeoff weight <1320 lbs), with equivalents up to crewed light helicopters and small personal aerial vehicles, the design range from “light” hybridization or electrical assistance through to full electric propulsion may enable new military-relevant vehicles for expeditionary maneuver and sustainment of theater operations. Recent rapid improvements in the specific power of aviation electric motors and electrical energy storage are enabling revolutionary VTOL aircraft configurations in this intermediate size class. However, conversion of energy stored in readily available and transportable liquid fuels remains an important capability for the Army for aerial maneuver where electrical infrastructure is inadequate for all-electric aircraft. This, coupled with a desire for long range and versatility, is likely to differentiate propulsion architectures from those envisioned for domestic logistics markets and urban aerial transportation. This topic seeks development of high power density drivetrain technologies needed for efficient and flexible distribution and transfer of propulsive energy in lightweight aerial vehicles capable of vertical takeoff and landing. These technologies will reduce mechanical interfaces and components through hybridization or electrification of VTOL conventional mechanical drive systems. While it is desirable that chosen technologies be relevant to more than a single vehicle architecture, proposers are encouraged to choose a general vehicle configuration such as lightweight helicopter, ducted fan personal vehicle, tiltwing/tiltrotor, etc. to allow engineering analysis and trade studies to quantify the impacts of the technology. The focus of the proposal should remain on the drivetrain technology offered; the overall vehicle configuration need not be treated in depth provided reasonable engineering assumptions are made. Aviation electric machines with high specific power (>5 kW/kg) and low inertia feature prominently in many current designs in this type of vehicle. Technologies specifically related to the propulsive devices (rotors, fans, propellers, etc.) are considered outside the scope and not sought within this topic. Powerplants such as heat engines and energy storage devices such as batteries are also not sought within this topic, but reasonable assumptions about technology improvements or advancements in those areas may be made by offerors if required to support the proposed power distribution technology. Any assumed technology improvements or advancements should be likely within 5-10 years with little additional investment given current technology trends and the state-of-the-art. Proposals should address any increases in weight relative to traditional technologies such as mechanical drive systems, and these weight penalties must be reasonable and offset by other improvements in performance, endurance, durability, flexibility or mission capability afforded by the new configuration. 

PHASE I: Establish feasibility of the proposed energy distribution/transfer technology. Develop a specific detailed design for this technology within the 50-250 kW class, and a concept of the propulsion distribution system in sufficient detail to support feasibility assessment. Clearly identify the vehicle configuration and flight profiles for which the propulsion system will be analyzed and provide a comparison to a conventional mechanical drivetrain in terms of propulsion system mass, propulsive efficiency, specific power, range and endurance. A minimum endurance of sixty minutes should be achievable by the proposed architecture/technology. Conduct simulation and/or breadboard evaluation of the technology for demonstration. Provide a detailed technical and commercialization plan demonstrating a credible path toward a commercial product. Identify technical risks in further development as well as requirements and assumptions about companion technologies needed to achieve system level performance. 

PHASE II: Further develop the technology concept including performing a detailed design and construction of an engineering prototype to validate performance through some form of physical test. This phase may also include screening tests required in advance of the prototype design, modeling and simulation efforts, or other supporting tasks required to demonstrate the proposed concept. Establish scale tolerance of the design, minimally across the 50-250 kW range described by this topic. Evaluate performance across the designed envelope of static conditions as well as transient and dynamic flight conditions. Refine estimates of propulsion system mass, propulsive efficiency, specific power, vehicle range and endurance. Specific power of individual electric machines should exceed a minimum of 5 kW/kg and overall propulsion system dry weight should be minimized. 

PHASE III: Transition the Phase II effort into commercial use. Proposals to this topic must articulate a feasible strategy to transition the successful Phase II effort into commercialization. This strategy should address whether technology will be patented and licensed, produced internally or through partnering, etc. Barriers to adoption in an aviation application should be identified and mitigations offered. Initial markets in the transition effort may be civil or military, and may be non-aviation, provided the offeror demonstrates a feasible path to a future Army-relevant aircraft. Technology developed herein has considerable potential to be integrated in a broad range of both military and civilian aircraft or personal vehicles where flexible adaptable and distributed propulsion may be employed. Military logistics represents a large and obvious future market to which this topic is targeted. An emerging market of civil personal and logistical air vehicles is also developing rapidly, enabled by advancements in vehicle autonomy. 

REFERENCES: 

1: https://vtol.org/what-we-do/transformative-vtol-initiative/the-electric-vtol-news/the-electric-vtol-news

2:  Proceedings of the 3rd Joint Workshop on Enabling New Flight Concepts Through Novel Propulsion and Energy Architectures, https://vtol.org/what-we-do/transformative-vtol-initiative/transformative-proceedings/3rd-transformative-workshop-briefings

3:  Siemens, "Siemens develops world-record electric motor for aircraft," Press Release. March 24, 2015

4:  Fredericks, W. J., Moore, M. D., & Busan, R. C. (2013). Benefits of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion to Achieve 4x Cruise Efficiency for a VTOL UAV. In 2013 International Powered Lift Conference (p. 4324).

5:  Warwick, G. (2014). Electrifying Aviation: Light aircraft are early targets for the efficiency and safety benefits touted for electric propulsion. Aviation Week & Space Technology, 176(23).

6:  Brown, G. V., Kascak, A. F., Ebihara, B., Johnson, D., Choi, B., Siebert, M., & Buccieri, C. (2005). NASA Glenn Research Center program in high power density motors for aeropropulsion. NASA/TM-2005-213800

KEYWORDS: VTOL Aircraft, Drive System, Motors, Power Transmission, Propulsion 

CONTACT(S): 

Brian Dykas 

(410) 278-9545 

brian.d.dykas.civ@mail.mil 

Mark Valco 

(216) 433-5742 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop extremely efficient, capable small form-factor autonomous, UAS lift and maneuver technologies in support of relocatable unattended ground sensors. 

DESCRIPTION: The mobility of imaging ground sensors on the battlefield is a major challenge for the next generation of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors. Ground sensors restricted to operation from a fixed position do not support the mobile, expeditionary nature of Army combat operations. In addition, relocatable sensors need to be packaged into remote delivery systems that transport the sensor to staging positions tens of kilometers (km) forward of controlled spaces [1]. Key functional characteristics, of the relocatable sensor include autonomous launch and landing in denied spaces, autonomous recharging, navigation, obstacle avoidance, small size, and attitude control for ISR operations. To realize future Army capabilities, suggested mission parameters for such a platform includes 1) flight hovering durations of at least 20 minutes; 2) flight distances up to 8 km between charging; 3) an autonomy capable of launch and landing in denied spaces, navigation, obstacle avoidance, small size, and attitude control to support imaging operations without human intervention; 4) an ISR sensor payload consisting of a stabilized, multi-axis gimbal with multi-spectral imaging (e.g., visible 1080p and IR) and processing capable of onboard, real-time processing of the imagery; and, 5) multiband communications capable of supporting HD video. The autonomy, sensing and communications payloads should not exceed 500 grams. When packaged in a delivery system, the body of the proposed solution should be capable of fitting within a 100mm x 100mm cylindrical container with a total wingspan, when unpackaged, of 200mm or less so that it may be integrated with a future Army air delivery-transport system. The system must be able to operate without human intervention for more than 10 flight-return-recharge cycles. State-of-the-art commercial and experimental micro UAS platforms are not able to meet our objective requirements [2, 4, 5]. While many of these component technologies have been commercially developed or demonstrated in research endeavors, developing a fully integrated, autonomous system capable of all of the behaviors indicted while maintaining sufficient engine power for lift and overcoming ground effects with a 500 gram payload; integrated battery and aerodynamic design capable of flying 8 km, hovering for 20 minutes without recharging while performing obstacle avoidance while performing visual scene processing. Major research challenges in this topic are not the component technologies (lift and flight, flight control and navigation, imagers, computer vision algorithms etc.) but rather 1) the integration of the behaviors, components and systems and implementation of those technologies into the prepackaged/collapsible, small form-factor identified above, and 2) the ability of the system to work autonomously without human intervention. The research conducted in this SBIR should enable a UAS with a 500 gram, 50 cubic centimeter payload which can be packaged in a 100 x 100 mm cylindrical container to fly at least 8 kilometers at an altitude greater than 300 meters, hover for 20 minutes at 150 meters while using no more than 80% of its power source (the balance is assumed to the payload). 

PHASE I: The research effort shall explore autonomous unmanned platform technologies for mobility of micro UAS for sensor relocation. Investigate and determine the design characteristics of the solution that meets the requirements. Research for this phase will focus on developing an integrated system design including engineering designs necessary to meet the system requirements including lift systems, materials, power sources, and packaging strategies; the research will develop integrated flight control and navigation hardware, software and algorithms capable of meeting the system requirements; and, specifying an onboard intelligence package to include sensor systems and algorithms to meet the system requirements. Using modeling and simulation software, demonstrate a solution that meets the performance requirements: With a 500 gram, 50 cubic centimeter payload, 1) lift off the ground on its own power; 2) hover for at least 20 minutes, fly at least 8 kilometers, and land in a position/orientation suitable for another launch without human intervention. In addition, the research must substantiate through detailed aerodynamic, materials, power, and environmental analysis, a design capable of meeting the objective performance and form-factor requirements. Develop documentation for a proposal for the solution for phase 2 consideration. Additionally, research should identify lightweight materials, miniaturization and dual use of critical component technologies, high-energy power sources, multifunctional hardware, and high efficiency aerodynamics that are critical enabling technology. The research to adapt these critical enabling technologies can be the focus off the Phase I option period. 

PHASE II: Based on the simulation results from Phase I, perform the research to design, develop, and integrate a hardware platform with performance capable of meeting the required capabilities within a 125x 125 mm cylindrical container with a 250 mm maximum wingspan form-factor. Deliver 1 system to ARL for testing to validate that the system is capable of meeting the specified performance. The system must be able to meet all system performance specifications, except those specified in Phase III deliverables. Additionally, Phase II research should identify lightweight materials, miniaturization and dual use of critical component technologies, high-energy power sources, multifunctional hardware, and high efficiency aerodynamics that are critical enabling technology to achieve the 100mm by 100mm form factor. The research to adapt these critical enabling technologies can be the focus off the Phase II option period. 

PHASE III: Vision: The final product should be able to rapidly deploy itself and then autonomously identify and move to an optimum location, where it performs ISR tasks, and then redeploys and recharges. The End State of the program, building on the results from Phase II, and the simulation and modeling from Phase I, will meet or exceed the required capabilities within a 100 x 100 mm cylindrical container with a 200 mm maximum wingspan form-factor. Deliver 2 systems to ARL for testing to validate that the system is capable of meeting the specified performance. Potential Transition and Military Transition Path and Application: Eventual military applications could include Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) for a maneuver group or fixed location with a dynamic surrounding landscape. Expeditionary forces responding to a humanitarian disaster would use these rapidly deployable, mobile agents to establish a perimeter and provide ISR for locating people, infrastructure and safety concerns. The CLARK Kit as well as PM Soldier's Soldier Borne Sensor, PM Ammo and PM UAS would have a need for this class of technology. Potential Commercial Applications: A number of commercial companies (e.g., Amazon and Chipotle) have expressed a need for mobile agents for delivery of small packages. Additionally, these systems could be used to establish mobile networking infrastructure, which is a active research area for many companies (i.e., Google and Comcast). 

REFERENCES: 

1: Position Paper: Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap FY2013-2038, Approved by Admiral James A. Winnefld, Jr., Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Frank Kendall, Under Secretary of Defense (AT&L) (2013).

2:  R. Hansman, "Design and Development of a High-Altitude In-Flight-Deployable Micro-UAV", MIT International Center for Air Transportation (ICAT), ICAT-2012-05, June 2012.

3:  V.V. Vantsevich, M.CV. Blundell, "Advanced Autonomous Vehicle Design for Severe Environments", published by IOS Press, Oct 20, 2015.

4:  http://www.dji.com/mavic

5:  accessed 06/01/2017

6:  http://www.dji.com/spark

7:  accessed 06/01/2017

KEYWORDS: Autonomous Unmanned Sensor Platform, Mobile Sensor, Relocatable Sensors, Remotely Delivered Sensors, Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS), Sensor Deployment And Relocation, Imaging Sensor 

CONTACT(S): 

Kelly Bennett 

(301) 394-2449 

kelly.w.bennett.civ@mail.mil 

Jacob Tyo 

(301) 394-1266 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: To develop and demonstrate a controlled low temperature plasma reactor capable of large scale, high volume production of extended solid materials with precisely engineered chemical and physical properties. 

DESCRIPTION: Extended solids are polymorphs/phases of otherwise simple molecules (e.g., CO2, H2, N2, N(H)x, CN) that are typically formed under ultrahigh pressure conditions (e.g., >10 GPa) where strong intermolecular bonding and tight crystal packing can be induced, which results in dramatic changes in physical, mechanical, and functional properties. Examples include superior structural (high strength, high thermal conductivity), energetic (propellant) and functional (e.g. ferroelectric, magnetic, optical) properties. The high pressures currently required to produce these materials is the major hurdle for large quantity productions and limit the per-reaction-yield to, at most, the microgram scale. However, the Army is currently developing new fabrication methods using advanced plasma techniques that permit access to these ultrahigh pressure polymorphs/phases without the experimental conditions which are currently required. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactors, which deposit the new material directly onto a substrate from the gas phase, have demonstrated viability [1]. The resulting material can manually be removed from the substrate after completion of the experiment and collected for follow-on testing and evaluation. However, existing laboratory-scale systems are disadvantageous in that the resultant product varies from batch to batch and, in general, such designs have low deposition rates. These limitations lead to low overall yields as a result of both the limited reactor dimensions and high degrees of user involvement in processing (reactor setup and taking down, deposit removal, and ex-situ characterizations) [2-4]. Moreover, the ability to fabricate the vast array of potential extended solid materials is predicated on precision control of the plasma parameters, such that they mimic the complex processes otherwise occurring in the high-pressure multistep synthesis and stabilization strategies. In order to acquire large-scale quantities of promising materials with high purity, the new plasma reactors must demonstrate significant advancements in the deposition rate, understanding of kinetics, and overall yield with satisfactory reproducibility, precision, with minimal human interference. Several technical barriers must also be overcome for large scale production including, but not limited to, variations in the gas flow kinetics, substrate material, and control of other environmental conditions. Current plasma deposition research efforts have primarily centered on the discovery of novel materials and plasma chemistries. In contrast, relatively little effort is devoted to bridging the scales from small-area deposition to large quantity production of materials with homogenous properties. It is not clear that techniques for plasma coatings can successfully translate to material production, which is the focus of this effort. The key issue (problem) has been the lack of knowledge on the significantly more complicated engineering formulations and process design necessary for scale-up, rather than the fundamental scientific understanding beyond the lab scale. The development and demonstration of a controlled low temperature plasma reactor capable of large scale, high volume production of extended solid materials (10s of grams to kilograms per day) with precisely engineered chemical and physical properties could widely advance Army systems. The commercialization of the plasma reactor for the manufacture of extended solids would be pervasive. 

PHASE I: Develop a conceptual design for a system that maximizes the deposition rate. This should be accomplished through control of the temperature and plasma power during the deposition process. Tunability of the system is also required and while this is dependent on electrode design and gas pressure, parameters should be on the 3-5 kV/mm range or sufficient to reach breakdown voltages in gases similar to nitrogen and air. The electrode and deposition temperatures must remain between 0 and 30°C, while deposition rates should be a minimum of 400 mg per 8 hours, with larger amounts preferred. The conceptual design will address the issues of reproducibility and user support while providing an avenue for further scalability. The focus in this phase is to identify the hurdles that prevent large scale production and address them with appropriate solutions. 

PHASE II: Application of conceptual design to generate larger scale quantities. Specifically, the concepts explored in Phase I should be practically implemented with a prototype reactor and demonstrate the uniformity and quantity of the produced material. The reactor should be capable of production ranging from a minimum of 20 grams to hundreds of grams of material in a period of 8 hours while maintaining the controls in the material properties that are identified in Phase I. In-situ diagnostics should be included in the design to monitor the deposition conditions and plasma phase chemistry should allow for increased automation tuning of deposited material, releasing the operator from constant monitoring of plasma conditions. 

PHASE III: Technology will be transferred to the Army. Commercialization of the design should be pursued. Potential commercial avenues include carbon sequestration and novel chemical synthesis. Successful production of large amounts of material provides avenues to plasma assisted chemical synthesis not currently available. 

REFERENCES: 

1: U. Kogelschatz. Dielectric-barrier Discharges: Their History, Discharge Physics, and Industrial Applications, Plasma Chem. and Plasma Process. 23 (2003) 1 (46 pp).

2:  R. Geiger and D. Staack. Analysis of solid products formed in atmospheric non-thermal carbon monoxide plasma, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 44 (2011) 274005 (13 pp).

3:  I. Belov, S. Paulussen, A. Bogaerts. Appearance of a conductive carbonaceous coating in a CO2 dielectric barrier discharge and its influence on the electrical properties and the conversion efficiency, Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 25 (2016) 015023 (13 pp).

4:  I. Belov, J. Vanneste, M. Aghaee, S. Paulussen, A. Bogaerts. Synthesis of micro- and nanomaterials in CO2 and CO dielectric barrier discharge, Plasma Process. Polym. 2016, DOI: 10.1002/ppap.201600065

KEYWORDS: Plasma, Energetic Material, High Voltage, Scale-Up, Dielectric Barrier Discharge, Glow Plasma Discharge, Manufacturing Process, Manufacturing Materials, Manufacturing Efficiency 

CONTACT(S): 

Timothy Jenkins 

(410) 306-1902 

timothy.a.jenkins51.civ@mail.mil 

Chi-Chin Wu 

(410) 306-1905 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Human Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative methods and software tools that simulate a Cyber OPFOR within the architectures used by the Army’s current LVC&G Simulation Systems. The OPFOR should be able to both offensively attack and defensively counter Blue Force (BLUFOR) attacks. 

DESCRIPTION: As the Army continually develops a force capable of meeting the challenges of 2025 and beyond, the domain of Cyberspace is exponentially important. The U.S. Army Operating Concept states, “Enemies and adversaries collaborate as contests in space and cyberspace extend to and affect tactical operations.” The realization that Cyberspace is a warfighting domain has simulation and training program managers struggling to identify the best solution to implement cyber warfare effects into the training domain. Current training simulations among the LVC&G domains lack a cyber implementation. Some prototypes that provide basic cyber effects in LVC&G simulations exist, but they lack the ability to represent an OPFOR that can both attack and defend in the cyber environment. The Combat Training Centers leverage Army Cyber expertise to execute cyber training pilots that integrate cyber effects into the operational environment, largely for and/or against Brigade Combat Teams. These exercises use actual cyber or electronic warfare systems to demonstrate potential BLUFOR Mission Command System (MCS) compromise or provide the BLUFOR with offensive and defensive cyber capabilities. These scenarios are groundbreaking in that they force trainees to recognize system compromise while simultaneously planning defensive and offensive operations of their own. However, Army LVC&G systems lack a simulated training environment of this nature at all echelons. This includes the ability of an intelligent OPFOR that can both attack and defend providing a robust training event. A common mantra in our research is a desire for a BLUFOR trainee who is the subject of a cyberattack to have the ability to react, make decisions to affect the effects of the attack, and, in certain scenarios, conduct a counter attack to affect the OPFOR. The focus of this SBIR topic is to research innovative approaches to implement OPFOR cyber effects (both offensive and defensive) in training simulations with the goal of being part of an overall architecture and strategy that the Army’s various LVC&G training simulations could follow. An initial starting point could be current work that is taking place on operational system cyber testing and how these approaches could become more flexible and scalable to accommodate new training missions within the existing training system architectures. The potential scope of this research includes tactical OPFOR cyber effects on MCS, kinetic effects of Computer Network Attacks , Electronic Warfare Attacks, and cellular/satellite networks. Currently, none of the Army’s major Constructive and Virtual simulations have an approach or strategy to implement a Cyber OPFOR across their systems. Another great challenge of the cyber simulation area is that the training requirements of different training audiences are either not defined or sketchy at best. This makes it impossible for the major LVC&G programs to move forward in adding the Cyber environment. It is probable that the cyber learning requirements/goals will vary by user; leaders in Constructive simulations may want training to identify the basic effect of attacks and delegate orders to develop contingencies whereas Live operators may want to directly train on range equipment. The system should allow the detection, response, and recovery processes to cyberattacks to be effectively practiced/rehearsed by the trainees. The goal of this SBIR’s prototype is to provide a Cyber Operations (CyberOps) training capability to the Army training community that shows them the potential methods to incorporate the injection of CyberOps effects via an intelligent Cyber OPFOR into their training solutions so that the trainees can recognize cyber-attacks and make recovery decisions accordingly. Cyber range events often compromise Information Assurance (IA) requirements. However, the proposed system must maintain the IA compliance requirements necessary for training systems. 

PHASE I: Conduct an analysis of current Army LVC&G simulations and architectures and determine innovative solutions to create a simulated OPFOR that can conduct offensive and defensive CyberOps against the BLUFOR. Identify the training audience in the simulation and mission related events. This design will allow the trainees to make proper decisions to maximize the scenario’s outcome. Select an LVC&G system to be the focus of your prototypes. Determine how cyber events can be effectively trained on the selected LVC&G systems you have selected to focus on. Look at current Red Team strategies in the systems development and develop a concept to replicate them in your prototype. Develop a system design that includes requirements, specifications, operational training concept, interface designs, and graphical interfaces. Provide a report on design approach and overall system design. 

PHASE II: Develop a prototype of the OPFOR cyber simulation design. Test and verify its usability to add cyber training effects to the selected LVC&G simulation. Metrics include the system’s ability to conduct OPFOR cyber operations and simulate a training audience’s wide variety of possible cyberattacks (e.g. malware attack, EW jamming, hacking, social engineering, insider threat, kinetic attack etc.) providing realistic effects to a training audience so they can determine the nature of the attack and react/counterattack as appropriate. The OPFOR should react in a intelligent manner. Show how the prototype design could have the ability to be a training architecture that would allow for simulated OPFOR cyber effects across the LVC&G training domains. 

PHASE III: This research has enormous dual use potential. Commercial organizations could potentially use many of the cyber simulations to training their cyber and management teams to protect from cyberattacks. They all need a red teaming strategy that provides trainees with a robust training environment. Presently, there is a large market need for training commercial sector systems operators in cyber-related activities. Depending on the approaches taken, the models and simulations generated by this effort have the potential to meet the needs of this market. 

REFERENCES: 

1: TC 7-100.2 Opposing Force Tactics, December 2011, Headquarters Department of the Army, Chapter 7 Informational Warfare.

2:  Shakarian, P et al, "Introduction to Cyber-Warfare" A Multidisciplinary Approach", Syngress/Elsevier, 2013

3:  Marshall, H et.al. "Development of a Cyber Warfare Training Prototype for Current Simulations" Simulation Interoperability Workshop, Fall 2014

4:  PEO STRI Public website http://www.peostri.army.mil/

KEYWORDS: Cyber, Cyber Warfare, Cyber Offense, Cyber Battlefield Operating Systems (BOS), Cyber Defense, Computer Network Attack (CAN, Training, Mission Command Systems (MCS), Live–Virtual-Constructive (LVC) 

CONTACT(S): 

Henry Marshall 

(407) 384-3820 

henry.a.marshall.civ@mail.mil 

Nathan Vey 

(407) 208-3392 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Exploit the variable RF path loss near 60 GHz to develop and demonstrate an adaptive, covert, high bandwidth, full duplex, jam resistant communications / datalink. 

DESCRIPTION: The radio frequency (RF) transmission near the 60 GHz (V-Band) oxygen absorption line provides a high capacity RF path in which the path loss can be varied approximately 10 dB / km (see ref. 1) by changing the carrier frequency over a relatively small spectral range. This presents the opportunity to develop high bandwidth RF datalinks and/or networks designed to work only within a limited geographical sector as the frequency, transmission power, and antenna pattern are adaptively controlled to insure connectivity and achieve covertness. The 60 GHz path loss due to the absorption by oxygen in the atmosphere has an exponential behavior and provides an additional degree of freedom to control transmission range. This behavior enables the structuring of an operational sector, which exhibits high transfer rates and robust digital connectivity. At ranges beyond, the RF signal level decreases exponentially below minimum detection levels over a relatively short distance to provide covertness. By automatically tuning the transmission frequency in real time using a feedback mechanism, the physical volume of the operational sector can be adjusted to counteract changes in path loss due to movement of communications platforms or atmospheric conditions. By automating a process for selecting appropriate transmission frequency, transmission power, and antenna pattern, one can optimize in real time the datalink conditions necessary to balance the tradeoff between robust connectivity and covertness in the link or network. Such a dynamic datalink based on 60 GHz technology provides a solution to Army and military needs to increase bandwidth availability for short range communications while minimizing its potential exposure to cyber threats by hostile surveillance or jamming. There are a number of research efforts which have focused on short-range, high data rate communications at 60 GHz, relying on the exponentially varying path loss for covertness. However the frequency adaptive path loss has not been exploited for adaptive geographical coverage in the 60 GHz region. Furthermore, the telecommunication industry has invested in the development of electronically steered 60 GHz antenna arrays for indoor datalink application. A successful link will require a highly innovative electronics architecture to use continuous link feedback to control the size and range of the operational sector in real time while minimizing size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C). The challenges include the frequency, power, and antenna array control circuitry and the determination of trade-offs between path loss, power, and antenna circuit complexity. Due to the small wavelength associated with the 60 GHz region, small antenna elements can provide high gains on a small physical array footprint. The control problem is further complicated by the inhomogeneous frequency dependence of the path loss as the carrier frequency is adjusted up and down the oxygen absorption line. As an initial demonstration of these concepts, this SBIR topic addresses the development and demonstration of a full duplex communications / control link between two transceivers. This link will exploit the oxygen path loss at 60 GHz for a wireless real time adaptively covert link to replace the control wire of a wire controlled anti-tank missile or for a ground control / communications link to a UAV. Additionally, dynamically controlled RF power, antenna gain, and beam steering solutions shall be addressed for one of the transceivers, while the other transceiver may be limited to frequency agility only (fixed spectral output power and bore-sight fixed antenna pattern). The same technology will have applications as a basis for commercial or military wireless networks (see for example refs. 2-6). The emerging concepts for 5G wireless networks consider a millimeter wave local area network to distribute digital information in localized areas. The military concern with covertness and jam resistance translate to commercial concern for channel interference. The adaptive nature of this link will accommodate changes due to weather and atmospheric conditions. The link envisioned will have potential usage for fixed or mobile networks or for inter-vehicle communications within a swarm of autonomous UAV’s. With the extensive commercial attention (see ref. 6) and with advances in DoD research programs, the component technology needed for the hardware is available and will advance to higher performance and lower cost as industry plans for 5G networks progress. 

PHASE I: Design a two way RF link described above with its general goal to replace the control wire of a wire guided anti-tank missile (see for example refs. 7-8). The line of sight datalink should operate near the 60 GHz atmospheric absorption line for oxygen and with the capability of tuning over the line sufficiently fast to accommodate the changing geometry of the line of sight missile path, with the missile traveling at up to 250 m/s. The link capacity should accommodate at least 5 Gbps. The path length should be variable between 0 - 5 km using frequency, power, and beam pattern agility. It is expected that higher antenna gains (beamwidth of a few degrees) are necessary for longer transmit distances, while low gain patterns (+/-45 degrees) should be achievable at short transmit distances. A bit error rate of 10E-6 should be guaranteed within the operational sector and increase rapidly outside the operational range. The transceiver exhibiting output power and antenna pattern agility in addition to frequency agility shall be located at the missile launcher, while the less expensive transceiver exhibiting frequency agility only is located at the rear end of the missile pointing towards the launcher transceiver. The transceiver unit on the missile should have a form factor of roughly 8 cm X 8 cm X 4 cm. This form factor is a rough goal, not an absolute requirement. Analyze the tradeoffs between transmit power, frequency, and antenna directivity and their adjustability in maintaining an optimum operational sector over the full flight path in various atmospheric conditions (rain or dust). Analyze the effect of required bandwidth of the signal when operating along the asymmetric oxygen absorption line. Develop the software required to support the link. Design a suitable digital modulation technique for such a datalink. 

PHASE II: Develop, demonstrate, and deliver the hardware and circuitry required for the datalink, with the metrics described above and proposed at the end of Phase I. Demonstrate the adaptive operational sector over the flight path by static measurements at different path distances coupled with analysis or simulation that the circuit will support the geometry changes at flight speed of 250 m/s. Demonstrate by simulation the adaptive operational sector under different atmospheric conditions. Analyze the jamming resistance of the link by calculating for different positions along the flight path, the maximum distance for effective jamming from outside the “bubble”. 

PHASE III: Explore additional developmental funding from the OSD RIF program, other DoD programs, or industrial funding from DoD prime contractors to integrate the missile transceiver onto an operational missile and demonstrate under field conditions. Explore the application for an adaptive secure networks for autonomous UAV swarms or for tactical headquarters on the move. Explore modifying the link for applications to commercial 5G wireless systems. Approach commercial wireless companies for development funding and potential partnering. Transition the technology to commercialization for commercial and/or military applications such as secure links for anti-tank missile or UAV control, secure communications in a tactical headquarters or mobile network, low interference communications in a commercial 5G network, or secure military or commercial mobile communications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: http://www.ece.ucdavis.edu/dmrc/files/2014/09/Bruce_wallace_darpa_web.pdf

2:  E. Parhia, C. Cordiero, M. Park, and L. Yang, "IEEE 802.11ad: Defining the Next Generation Multi-Gbps Wi-Fi," IEEE CCNC Proc. 2010. Doi:10.1109/CCNC.2010.5421713.

3:  R. Daniels, J. Murdock, TS Rappaport, and R. Heath, "60 GHz Up Close and Personal," IEEE Microw. Mag. 11, 44 (2010)

4:  JS Vaughan-Nichols, "Gigabit Wi-Fi Is on Its Way," IEEE Computer 43, 11 (2010).

5:  T. Baykas, C.-S. Sum, Z. Lan, J. Wang, MA Rahman, H. Harada, and S. Kato, "IEEE 802.15.3c: The First IEEE Wireless Standard for Data Rates over 1 Gb/s," IEEE Comms. Mag. 114 (July 2011).

6:  TS Rappaport, J. Murdock, and F. Gutierrez, "State of the Art in 60-GHz Integrated Circuits and Systems for Wireless Communications," Proc. IEEE 99, 1390 (2011).

7:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BGM-71_TOW

8:  http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-71.html

KEYWORDS: 60 GHz, Covert Wireless Link, Wireless Missile Guidance, Adaptive Covert Wireless Link, 60 GHz LAN 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. James Harvey 

(703) 696-2533 

james.f.harvey.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Martin Heimbeck 

(256) 842-2502 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: To develop and demonstrate a highly robust and reliable speed sensor for an aviation diesel engine turbocharger with speeds as high as 250,000 rpm. 

DESCRIPTION: Both the US Army and US Airforce have a critical need for a turbocharger speed sensor for the UAV engines that can provide accurate shaft speed sensing. The highest priorities are that the sensor be robust, reliable, easy to install, and suited for rigorous operation in a military environment. At shaft speeds coinciding with resonant frequencies in the turbocharger, the blades on the compressor or turbine wheel may fail, destroying the turbocharger, and likely leading to loss of aircraft. Accordingly, the shaft speed parameter is critical to the safe operation of the turbocharger, and the air vehicle as a whole. To use with currently deployed hardware, the sensor must be able to measure speeds as high as two hundred and fifty thousand (250,000) rpm, with as many as 20 blades on the compressor wheel. The compressor blades are made of titanium, a metal which can be problematic for eddy current sensors. Because this is an aircraft application, weight is critical. Therefore, the sensor itself, and any required signal conditioners, or accessory hardware must weigh three pounds or less. The measurement system should be powered by 28 VDC power. The system should provide a voltage output that is linearly proportional to the shaft speed which can be read by the engine control unit. The system must be able to perform in the extreme environments found at altitude, where the pressure may be as low as 30 kPa (absolute), and the temperature as low as -40 °C, while compressor outlet temperature may reach as high as 200 °C. Vibration levels may reach as high as 100 g. The system should be able to perform with high reliability for no less than 500-hr under such conditions. With these requirements met, a turbocharger speed sensor could be incorporated into the operating logic of the engine control unit, thereby reducing the risk that the engine faces due to resonant modes. With the risk abated, the Army UAV engines will perform more reliably and provide the warfighter with continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. The sensor technology developed through the SBIR process could be widely implemented in the general aviation industry, commercial ‘drone’ industry, and in defense applications. 

PHASE I: Develop a speed sensor concept that can meet the Army requirements of turbocharger shaft speed of up to 250,000 rpm with an accuracy of +/- 2% , temperature range of -40°C to 200 °C, power supply of 28 VDC, up to 100 g acceleration, and at least 500-hr endurance test. Any required operating conditions will be provided by the Army once the contract award is made. Provide the analysis results of the concept speed sensors compared with the existing off-the-shelf ones. CAD models should be supplied to the Army to determine interface compatibility with the existing Army engines. The manufacturability of the proposed technology should be assessed, and methods and equipment capable of production should be identified. 

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate the technology and manufacturing methods. Assess and quantify the measurement capabilities of the turbocharger speed sensor in realistic operating conditions in terms of temperatures and flowrates. Parameters for assessment include the Army requirements including turbocharger shaft speed of up to 250,000 rpm with an accuracy of +/- 2% , temperature range of -40°C to 200 °C, power supply of 28 VDC, up to 100 g acceleration, at least 500-hr endurance test, and electronic noise level. In addition, system complexity and ease of installation will be assessed. Manufacturing assessment will evaluate the method, repeatability, and tolerance-holding capability. Deliverables include a demonstration of the prototype sensor, a formal report, and comprehensive test and analysis results. 

PHASE III: Commercialize the technology for use by the department of defense, and private commercial sector. It is expected that the technology would be widely applicable in the general aviation industry, as well as the commercial ‘drone’ industry. Success of the project would lead to more advanced and reliable propulsion systems for future DoD UAV systems. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Szedlmayer, Michael, and Chol-Bum M. Kweon. Effect of Altitude Conditions on Combustion and Performance of a Multi-Cylinder Turbocharged Direct-Injection Diesel Engine. No. 2016-01-0742. SAE Technical Paper, 2016.

2:  Kim, Kenneth, Szedlmayer Michael, and Kweon Chol-Bum M. "Altitude and Fuel Property Effect on Aviation Diesel Engine Combustion: A First Look." Turbine Engine Technology Symposium, 2016.

3:  Kech J., R. Hegner, and Mannle T. "Turbocharging: Key technology for high-performance engines." MTU online, January, 2014.

4:  Schweizer, Bernhard, and Mario Sievert. "Nonlinear oscillations of automotive turbocharger turbines." Journal of Sound and Vibration 321.3 (2009): 955-975.

5:  Kirk, R. G., A. A. Alsaeed, and E. J. Gunter. "Stability analysis of a high-speed automotive turbocharger." Tribology Transactions 50.3 (2007): 427-434.

6:  Holmes, R., M. J. Brennan, and B. Gottrand. "Vibration of an automotive turbocharger–a case study." Proceedings 8th International Conference on Vibrations in Rotating Machinery. 2004.

7:  Gunter, Edgar J., and Wen Jeng Chen. "Dynamic analysis of a turbocharger in floating bushing bearings." ISCORMA-3, Cleveland, Ohio (2005): 19-23.

8:  Wang, Zheng, et al. "Time-dependent vibration frequency reliability analysis of blade vibration of compressor wheel of turbocharger for vehicle application." Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering 27.1 (2014): 205-210.

KEYWORDS: Speed Sensor, Eddy Current Sensor, Turbocharger, Supercharger, Proximity Sensor, Unmanned Aerial System, Compression Ignition, Altitude, Aviation, Boost, Performance, Reliability 

CONTACT(S): 

Jacob Temme 

(410) 278-9455 

jacob.e.temme.civ@mail.mil 

Frederick Schauer 

(937) 503-9903 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to investigate the liquid ammonia system in a reserve battery format as a viable power source for current and future electronic fuzing applications, in particular those developed for medium-caliber (30- and 40-mm) projectiles. 

DESCRIPTION: For the past decade, ARDEC fuze developers have been working to add radar proximity fuzing capability to several medium-caliber projectiles, for both lethal and non-lethal applications. These programs include Airburst Non-Lethal Munition (ANLM), Lightweight 30 (LW30), and Increased Range Anti-Personnel (IRAP) grenade. To meet the typical 20-year shelf-life requirement, efforts were launched to develop very small (0.23-0.63 cm3) reserve batteries to power the fuze electronics. Because these are direct-fire weapons, flight times are short (10-20 seconds) and the batteries must activate and reach full power in a very short amount of time (100-200 ms) even at the cold temperature operating extreme (typically -45 degrees F). To date, battery development efforts have achieved very limited success, with the primary hurdle being meeting the cold temperature activation time requirement. Over the past two decades, the lithium/oxyhalide electrochemistry has become the dominate, and essentially only, system used in fuze batteries because of its high working voltage (nominally 3 volts), high energy density, and generally good low-temperature performance. However, this battery system has not shown itself to be capable of reliably meeting the requirements of the noted fuze programs. It is believed that, at low operating temperatures, the increased viscosity of the electrolyte inhibits wetting of the cathode during activation, and the decreased conductivity of the electrolyte reduces discharge rate capability. In combination, these effects slow activation time unacceptably. To address the needs of the fuze developers, this topic seeks to reopen investigation into an alternative battery chemistry, the liquid ammonia system, which had been used in several Army mine applications but was eventually out-competed by the lithium systems. The liquid ammonia system was recognized for its ability to activate very quickly at temperatures as low as -65 degrees F due to the high conductivity, low viscosity, and high vapor pressure of its electrolyte. However, at its present state of development, the nominal voltage of the liquid ammonia system is around 2.2 volts, which is below the 3 volts required by the targeted fuze applications. (As electronic fuze design and componentry have advanced over the years, the voltage levels required have steadily decreased. At present, because of the ubiquity of the lithium/oxyhalide system, the effort has been made to develop the key electronic components so they can run reliably at voltages as low as the 3-volt level typically provided by that system. Lower supplied voltage may require additional components in an already-crowded space for munitions of this scale, or further engineering advancements in key custom components.) Therefore, one of the primary areas for investigation under this topic is the identification of an electrode pair that can achieve a working voltage of at least 3 volts over the entire operating temperature range (-45 to +145 degrees F) of the applications. In the intervening years since the commercialization of the lithium systems led to the demise of the liquid ammonia battery, a tremendous amount of cathode work has been done to further the advance of the lithium systems. It is believed that some of this work could be applied to the ammonia system, to push voltage levels to 3 volts and possibly beyond. Additional investigative efforts might include optimizing the processing of the identified electrode materials, and designing an appropriate mechanical package for the resultant battery system. 

PHASE I: Investigate appropriate candidate anode and cathode materials to meet the desired performance targets and for storage stability. In particular, explore electrode pairings that may increase the working cell voltage to 3 volts or higher, at a current density of 40 mA/cm2, for a discharge time of 15 seconds, at -45 degrees F. Demonstrate the performance of the selected materials in laboratory cells. 

PHASE II: Develop optimized compositions and fabrication processes for the electrode materials that were selected as the result of Phase I activities. Design and fabricate prototype battery hardware appropriate to the IRAP fuze application. The IRAP application requires a reserve-type battery that is 0.350” in diameter and 0.400” in length. The battery must be able to provide 40 mA of current at a minimum of 3 volts within 100 milliseconds of being activated, at temperatures down to -45 degrees F. Discharge life must equal or exceed 20 seconds. The battery must survive and function properly while experiencing setback forces up to 20,000 G and continuous rotation at 3600 revolutions per minute. Produce prototype IRAP batteries and conduct laboratory performance validation testing of the prototype design. 

PHASE III: Successful completion of the preceding efforts will make the developed technology applicable to the three medium-caliber Army fuze programs mentioned previously (ANLM, LW30, and IRAP). In addition, the liquid ammonia system may also be applicable to large-caliber fuzing applications, as it can sustain significantly higher discharge rates than the lithium/oxyhalide system with the benefit of improved safety. As such, it might be inserted into an application such as the Navy’s Multi-Function Fuze (MFF) which also had activation time requirements that the lithium system was greatly challenged to meet. Therefore, the developer shall pursue resources to commercialize this technology internally, or offer it to a qualified manufacturer, such as a member of the existing fuze battery industrial base, as the required material processing and device fabrication and testing would likely be not too dissimilar from what is currently being done with the existing fuze battery systems. Unfortunately, it has historically been very challenging to identify commercial (consumer) applications for fuze-type batteries, where design trade-offs are made to enhance their use as single-use, moderate-to-high power, short-lived devices, capable of operating in extreme physical environments, characteristics which are quite different from those sought by the consumer market. Typically, cost alone would make these types of batteries unappealing for non-military uses. 

REFERENCES: 

1: J. C. Daley, "FC-2 Liquid Ammonia Reserve Battery, Status of Prototype Study," Naval Ordnance Laboratory Corona Report 655, 1 November 1966.

2:  Printz, "Pursuit Deterrent Munition Reserve-Cell Ammonia Battery Redesign Analysis," U.S. Army Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, Technical Report ARFSD-TR-91009, April 1991.

3:  D. Linden, "Reserve Batteries," Chapter 16, Handbook of Batteries, Third Edition, 2002.

KEYWORDS: Liquid Ammonia, Fuze, Projectile, Reserve Battery 

CONTACT(S): 

Jeffrey Swank 

(301) 394-3116 

jeffrey.a.swank4.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate control mechanism technology for munitions to improve performance along the axes of maneuverability, gun launch survivability loading scales, and/or size-weight-power of components. 

DESCRIPTION: Gun-launched guided munitions are of tremendous interest to the U.S. Army. These technologies offer more accuracy, extended range through glide, more favorable terminal approach for lethality, and the ability to engage advanced threats like partially hidden (defilade) and moving ground and air targets. The M982 (Excalibur), fielded in the mid-2000s, is a guided artillery projectile which delivers the warhead to within about 10m of the target compared with traditional unguided artillery which have a delivery accuracy of about 200m. The M1156 (Precision Guidance Kit) was introduced in the mid-2010s and is a low cost fuze-replacement guidance kit for stock-piled artillery munitions which delivers the warhead approximately 50m from the target. Research conducted 10+ years ago was pivotal in providing these capabilities to the U.S. Army. As an example, the concept of the spin-stabilized artillery fuze kit that M1156 performance relies on was initially published in the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets in 19751. Current gun-launched guided munition technologies are limited to indirect fire against stationary targets on the ground. Enhanced control mechanism technologies (e.g., actuator speed, torque) could increase the maneuverability of aerodynamically controlled vehicles and ultimately result in advanced weapons system capabilities such as: extreme range extension, enhanced maneuver authority which enables intercepting moving ground and air targets, and increased trajectory shaping that could be used to change the mid-course path of the projectile or control the terminal approach angle to maximize lethality. Several operational constraints have limited the effectiveness of actuation technology that is conventionally used in guided missiles to their gun-launched counterparts. The gun launch event imposes severely high structural loadings as the projectile is accelerated from stationary to muzzle velocities exceeding 4 times the speed of sound. On-board components such as actuators must survive these loads during launch. There are some actuation technologies which have been demonstrated to survive the indirect fire launch environment (peak loads ~20,000 Gs) but very little research conducted to meet requirements for any other launch environments (e.g., direct fire) where loads can exceed 60,000 Gs. Additionally, actuation technologies have primarily been form factored into large caliber munitions but a much wider range of applications (e.g., small-medium caliber direct fire, grenades, shoulder-launched munitions, small mortars) could be guided if small, robust actuation technologies existed. Finally, achieving sufficient torque and speed with conventional motors has typically been achieved with complex and precise custom gearing which increases the cost of the system. Thus, advancements of actuation technologies in speed, torque, size, and survivability with reduced cost would benefit the guided weapons community. Small business specializing in areas such as precision motion solutions may offer unique actuation technologies which could provide enhanced characteristics to enable these future gun-launched guided munitions capabilities. Innovative solutions in electro-mechanical design, power conditioning, feedback sensing, embedded processing, and control algorithms are encouraged, for example, to enhance the actuator speed (>1200deg/s), torque (>1N-m aerodynamic loads), backlash (<1% nonlinearity), size (<20cm3) and power (<100mA-hr at 12V) specifications over existing motor and servomechanism technologies for short duration (<5min) operation in this environment subject to extreme structural loadings (>40,000 Gs) at launch. Commercialization of this technology will result in licensing and sales to the military for guided weapons programs. Other applications that may benefit from commercialization of small, fast, high torque, linear, low cost flight actuators include the drone community. 

PHASE I: Conceptualize control actuation technologies for enhancing maneuverability of high-G survivable, small munitions. Apply physics-based modeling of the dynamics to design and characterize the performance of the software (e.g., control algorithm) and hardware component technologies. Ensure that extreme environment constraints (e.g., loading at gun launch) are considered appropriately. Perform simulations and provide models and results to assess technical feasibility along performance metrics of speed, torque, backlash, power budget, and survivability. Conduct limited experiments (e.g., breadboard components in lab, component response on shock table) to validate some aspects of modeling and simulation. 

PHASE II: Employ advanced laboratory experimental characterization to perform system identification and develop a full-spectrum performance model of the technology (for example to use in modeling and simulation). Conduct dynamic wind tunnel experiments to assess performance in a well-controlled, realistic environment. Air-gun, and gun-launched firings of the technology to determine the survivability of actuation components as well as open- and closed-loop controlled (i.e., maneuvering) flights for demonstration in a ballistic environment. These activities validate the estimates of speed, torque, backlash, power budget, and survivability to confirm that the technology meets the performance requirements. Provide results to the technical and user (in this case the Fires and Maneuver Centers of Excellence would be the most relevant organizations) communities for consideration in generating requirements for future gun-launched guided munitions. 

PHASE III: Improve market competition and act as a component technology provider to industry weapons systems integrators (e.g., Raytheon Missile Systems, Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orbital ATK) for these novel control mechanism technologies in future weapons systems (e.g., High Explosive Guided Mortar). 

REFERENCES: 

1: Regan, F.J. and Smith. J., "Aeroballistics of a Terminally Corrected Spinning Projectile" Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 12, No. 12 (1975), pp. 733-738.

KEYWORDS: Guided Weapons, Maneuver Technologies, Control Actuation, Gun Launched Munitions 

CONTACT(S): 

Frank Fresconi 

(410) 306-0794 

frank.e.fresconi.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a direct wideband (WB) analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) capability for all types of radar systems to improve performance capability and reduce costs. 

DESCRIPTION: The U.S. Army is seeking research and development in Wideband (WB) direct sampled digital downconversion technologies that can be implemented for use with all types of radar systems - past, present, and future. Many radar systems currently utilize two or three analog frequency downconversions and other signal processing operations prior to the conversion to digital inphase signal (I) and quadrature phase signal (Q) data. With multiple mixers, filters, and local oscillators (LO), these systems have variable performance over time requiring manual adjustments to maintain adequate performance. As these systems age, they require technical refreshing (tech refresh). There exists the opportunity to simplify the system and reduce the cost of the tech refresh. Operational availability for these systems can be below military benchmarks, while maintenance costs are increasing due to parts obsolescence. Digital technology has matured rapidly over the past two decades with the state of the art now defined by, among other applications, software defined radio. However, radar requirements present unique challenges in the art of signal design, signal transmission, reception, and signal processing. As far as the radar receiver is concerned, the development of an advanced, robust, truly direct WB ADC could replace the entire radar receiver subsystem. It could reduce the receive to a simple filter, low noise amplifier, and the direct WB ADC, with no stages of mixing. "Bandpass sampling can be a powerful tool that allows a relatively high frequency signal to be sampled by a relatively low-performance digitizer, which can result in considerable cost savings” (Ref. 1). If the bandpass sampling downconversion process is successfully demonstrated, then significant cost and SWAP savings could be realized by a large reduction in required parts. New radar systems will also be able to make use of direct WB ADC. Future trends will call for pluralities of smaller networked radar systems that are inexpensive yet achieve desired performance. The direct WB ADC will enable this by providing much of the radar receiver processing, requiring no mixers or associated LOs, with an corresponding reduction in analog hardware. The cost and performance is a major factor of a direct WB sampling approach that can be achieved by developing a direct WB ADC for the L band and beyond. It is anticipated that the new system will have fewer parts therefore reducing maintenance costs and more cost-effective tech refreshes. This effort requires an assessment of the feasibility of a receiver that can take in radio frequency (RF) radar return signals and output baseband I and Q in real-time with a relatively low noise figure. High Frequency and high dynamic range WB ADCs are inhibited by analog circuitry (principally down-conversion stages) in the receive chain. For example, mixers in down-conversion stages can introduce harmonics and nonlinearities. Conversion from the radio frequency (RF) domain directly to the digital domain eliminates most of these problems. Fortunately, advances in high-speed ADCs make this possible. Consequently, high-speed direct ADC presents an attractive means for high frequency and high bandwidth receivers. The WB ADC should improve on the performance of currently available ADCs. Cost, performance, and reliability are the major factors driving development of the direct digital sampler. Evidence of design optimization of these parameters, as well as a comparison between model predictions and measured performance are expected. The direct Wideband (WB) Analog-to Digital Converter (ADC) should include filtering, as required, to eliminate spurious noise. Proposed technologies should highlight innovation in the areas of frequency bandwidth, downconversion methods, SWaP, cost, reliability, and sustainability. A successful implementation of Wideband ADC for radar should reduce the cost and complexity of radar systems. 

PHASE I: The company will define and develop a concept for a Direct Wideband Analog/Digital Converter (ADC) Digital Down converter that meets the requirements as stated in the topic description. The company will demonstrate the feasibility of the concept in meeting Army needs and will establish that the concept can be developed into a useful product. Material testing and analytical modeling will establish feasibility. The concept development effort should assess the importance of several factors, such as instantaneous bandwidth, dynamic range, and sampling rates. Evidence of design optimization of these parameters, as well as a comparison between model predictions and measured performance are required. Plans for implementing the Direct WB ADC will be included as an output of Phase I, along with estimated performance. The Direct WB ADC will initially be designed to operate at L band frequencies, but demonstration at higher bands will also be desired. Bandwidths on the order of 500 MHz or greater will also be demonstrated. Dynamic Range of the ADC should also be greater than 16 bit. 

PHASE II: Based on the results of Phase I, the company will develop a prototype L-band Direct WB ADC, with a bandwidth of at least 500 MHz, for evaluation. The prototype will be evaluated to determine the capability in meeting performance goals and Army requirements. System performance will be demonstrated through prototype evaluation and modeling or analytical methods over the required range of parameters. Evaluation results will be used to refine the prototype into a design that will meet Army requirements. The system should include filtering as required to reduce potential alias input. Documentation should include analysis comparing sampling rates, bandwidths, analog downconversion, noise figure, calculation of data throughput and recommendations for data handling/reduction. The company will prepare a Phase III development plan to transition the technology to Army field use. 

PHASE III: The company will support the Army in transitioning the technology for Army field use. The company will develop a Direct WB ADC/Digital Downconverter system according to the Phase III development plan for evaluation to determine its effectiveness in an operationally relevant environment. The company will support the Army for test and validation to certify and qualify the system for Army use and transition the Direct WB ADC to its intended platform. PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Direct digital downconversion has application to the commercial radar market, as well as additional military applications. The proliferation of small solid-state radars for remote sensing and navigation benefits from cost-saving digital technologies that drive affordability and consequently expand the market even further. The commercial market is typically quick to adopt technology that enhances performance while controlling cost. The technology developed under this effort will facilitate a shift from expensive RF analog receiver circuitry to receivers based on commercial microprocessor technology. Even complex commercial radars such as weather radar can benefit from this technology, as digital processing is inherently scalable, allowing radars of various size and complexity to achieve improved performance at reduced cost. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Skolnik, M. RADAR Handbook. New York: McGraw-Hill 2008.

2:  Tseng, Ching-Hsiang, Chou, Sun-Chung. "Direct Downconversion of Multiple RF signals Using Bandpass Sampling". IEEE Paper, 0-7803-7802, April, 2003.

KEYWORDS: Direct Digital To Analog, Radar 

CONTACT(S): 

David Ligon 

(301) 394-1799 

david.a.ligon.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Human Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a service-oriented architecture that permits the use of measures from unobtrusive COTS sensors, training data, and other measures of health and wellbeing to understand, manage, and optimize the wellbeing and performance of Army enlistees in an initial entry training environment. 

DESCRIPTION: The proliferation of low cost fitness sensors provides opportunities for individuals to experiment with diet, exercise, and lifestyle to optimize key indicators of health. These devices typically link to a smartphone and allow individuals to log their own data and, at least in theory, track improvements in fitness over time. By tracking exercise, diet and fluid intake, sleep cycles, and other behaviors, users can create fitness plans and receive automatic notifications and incentives to follow that plan. Over time, it is expected that better and more diverse COTS sensors will be available and will potentially have utility for Army training environments. Current commercial fitness devices provide feedback, goal monitoring, and a range of other services to the individual consumer (Sullivan & Lachman, 2016). While some devices have open standard protocols, others are closed proprietary systems (Gay & Leijdekker, 2015; Nijeweme-d'Hollosy, van Velsen, Huygens, & Hermens, 2015). Research into strategies to change fitness behavior has shown that factors such as goal setting, feedback and rewards, coaching, and social factors are all potential avenues for effecting change. Commercial fitness trackers typically employ several of these strategies to facilitate increases healthy behavior; however, research into the benefit of fitness devices is still very new and the evidence supporting their effectiveness is somewhat mixed (Sullivan & Lachman, 2016). Perhaps in part because privacy concerns, there is not currently a market for services that aggregate fitness data across individuals with the goal of managing health and fitness at a group level. While the individual fitness market may not support this need, a training organization like the Army could potentially reap a huge benefit from this capability. Managing the physical fitness of service members has always been a core Army mission that is integral to unit readiness. The management of fitness, health, wellness, and training performance is no more important than in the basic training environment, one that is unique in a Soldier’s career. During basic training, enlistees eat, sleep, train, and live under the close supervision of their leaders on an Army post. Trainee data from fitness sensors, training events, and other behavioral and psychological measures are critical for instructors and leaders overseeing this key period of training. What is needed is an architecture to easily collect and aggregate that data across groups, to analyze, visualize, and understand it, and to effectively use it to manage outcomes by providing tailored feedback to each individual (TRADOC PAM 525-8-2). For example, suppose data revealed that consumption of high-fat foods, poor sleep patterns, and long heart rate recovery times following physical activity predict a higher likelihood of a failing Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) score. Once this relationship is discovered, a number of interventions would be possible to behaviorally alter some of the predictors using proven methods such as reward, coaching, and goal-setting. Over time, machine learning techniques could be applied to identify which strategies are most effective at attenuating this risk. Proposals should describe your approach for designing and developing an open-standard, service oriented architecture for aggregating data from COTS sensors, training events, and other measures of health and wellbeing, and providing access to those data by tools to mine the data to discover associations among measures, and tools for designing, delivering and evaluating interventions to attempt to accentuate positive outcomes and attenuate negative outcomes. The system should provide a plug and play capability both for input devices and for analytical and intervention tools. Finally, the system should provide protocols to facilitate things like data entry, quality control and security. 

PHASE I: Determine the feasibility/approach for developing an open standard architecture for aggregating data across individuals from COTS sensors, training events, etc., so that they can be used by trainees, instructors, and leaders for understanding the relationships among measures and for designing and evaluating interventions such as personalized get-well plans. Work in this phase should include a user needs analysis to become familiar with the basic training environment and the instructors, leaders, and course managers who are involved in delivering the training. The government will insure access to the necessary user groups for this analysis. This analysis will also help the vendor to improve strategies for reducing technical risk. The phase 1 deliverable will be a design to establish the technical merit, feasibility, and commercial potential of the proposed R&D effort. The design and associated feasibility analysis should demonstrate support for the following capabilities: 1. Open standard service oriented architecture: The core architecture should enable the collection and storage of sensor and other data into a non-proprietary, open-standard format such as the experience application programming interface (xAPI) standard in use by the DoD. Additionally, the core architecture should enable third-party developers to create a variety of tools for data collection, analysis, and visualization as well as tools for developing, creating, and evaluating interventions for unit members. 2. Data collection tools and processes: An important goal of the research in the SBIR is to identify a set of potential measures and to analyze the feasibility of collecting those measures using available COTS devices. Measures may include those typically found on fitness devices as well as psychometric measures and other verbal report measures that might be collected on a mobile device. Finally a means of incorporating key training performance metrics will need to be evaluated. 3. Data mining tools and processes: Users will not have a background in data analysis and so tools need to be developed that automatically analyze and present data using visualizations that are intuitive and that address the questions that those users are most likely to have. The user needs analysis will be critical in determining the user requirements/use cases for the proposed data mining tool(s). 4. Intervention tools and processes: When relationships are found that predict good or poor outcomes (e.g., improved/worsening PT scores), intervention tools will be needed to implement behavioral modification programs to improve the likelihood of desired outcomes. Interventions should be based on proven methods of behavioral change and should also automatically assess their effectiveness. For this proposal the vendor should focus on the following outcomes: PT scores and Record Fire scores. Desirable outcomes would be improvements in performance. 5. Data integrity: Processes, technologies, and tools are needed to insure data integrity. Data integrity may be compromised by a range of issues including faulty sensors and human error. Detection and correction of data errors is an essential capability and the feasibility analysis should address how to best mitigate errors in data sets. 6. Ability to function in a training environment: The basic training environment includes everything from classroom training to field training. Training sites may have limited or no access to cellular networks and/or power supplies (for re-charging batteries). Trainees crawl, walk, and run through various types of terrain in all manner of weather at daytime and night. The analysis and design solution should address any consequences or limitations created by the training environment. 7. Intuitive user interface: As already mentioned, the user needs analysis should feed the design of the user interface. The technology solution will succeed or fail based on the design of the user interface. A system that adds to instructor workload will not be accepted by users. The user interface must insure that the benefit of the system far outweighs the cost from the user point of view. 

PHASE II: This phase will consist of the development, demonstration, and delivery of a working prototype. It is expected that an iterative design and development of components of the system will be needed. To insure good acceptance by the user community, the government will insure that the necessary users are available for evaluation of prototype interfaces etc. The Army’s IRB will need to approve any human subjects research. To facilitate approval, no PII needs to be collected for the demonstration. Determining the potential for this system to be commercially viable requires that the system’s ability to deliver the seven capabilities described above (see phase 1) be adequately demonstrated. In this phase the vendor will have to provide a plan for demonstrating each of these capabilities along with criteria for success or failure for approval by the government. Given the time frame, it will probably not be possible to demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions. The “operational” environment in this case is the basic training environment. Participants will be available as needed for this demonstration. Phase II deliverables include full system design and specifications to include executable and source code. It is expected that the final deliverable will be at a technology readiness level (TRL) 6 (System/ subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment). As this prototype is a software architecture utilizing COTS hardware, achieving TRL 6 demonstration should be feasible. 

PHASE III: Follow on activities are expected to be aggressively pursued by the offeror to seek opportunities to integrate the hardware, software, and protocols into Army personnel and training management systems. Commercial benefits include applications of the same capability in private businesses that have wellness programs for their employees as well as to expand and apply these capabilities outside of the basic training environment in the Army. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Gay, V., & Leijdekker, P. (2015, Nov). Bringing health and fitness data together for connected health care: Mobile apps as enablers of interoperability. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(11). Doi 10.2196/jmir.5094. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4704968/

2:  Nijeweme-d'Hollosy, W.O. van Velsen, L., Huygens, M., & Hermens, H. (2015). Requirements for and barriers towards interoperable eHealth technology in primary care. IEEE Internet Computing

3: 19(4),10–19. doi: 10.1109/MIC.2015.53.

4:  Sullivan, A.N., & Lachman, M.E. (2016). Behavior change with fitness technology in sedentary adults: A review of the evidence for increasing physical activity. Frontiers in Pulblic Health, 4, 1-16. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00289. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5225122/pdf/fpubh-04-00289.pdf

5:  U.S. Army (2017). The U.S. Army Learning Concept for Training and Education: 2020-2040. TRADOC Pamphlet 525-8-2. Retrieved from: http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/pams/tp525-8-2.pdf

KEYWORDS: Data Analytics, Data Visualization, Data Mining, Machine Learning, Basic Combat Training, Fitness Tracking, Comprehensive Soldier Fitness 

CONTACT(S): 

Gregory Goodwin 

(407) 384-3987 

gregory.a.goodwin6.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Development of low cost casting methodology (or significant improvement of existing casting methods) for the production of magnesium alloys with significantly improved microstructural and mechanical properties/performance 

DESCRIPTION: Due to their low density and high specific properties, magnesium (Mg) alloys are often considered for applications in which weight savings are an important selection factor. Typically, the alloys used in these situations are in the wrought condition, as they display significantly higher strengths relative to cast alloys. However, there are numerous components on US Army platforms that would benefit from improved performance and weight savings of higher strength cast Mg alloys (transmission casings, structural members, non load bearing part, etc.). Despite these potential opportunities, the use of as-cast magnesium alloys is still hampered by their lower strengths in the as processed condition despite the advent of alloys that contain an appreciable amount of precipitates (such as the LPSO containing Mg-Y-Zn and Mg-Al-Gd alloys and/or rare-earth containing alloys, e.g., Mg-Gd-X-Y). Oftentimes, the precipitates in these alloys suffer from a lack of homogeneous and uniform distribution in the matrix. In addition, in some cases, the precipitates can actually reduce strength properties as they serve to nucleate cracks during loading (e.g., Mn-rich precipitates). Thus, in order for Mg castings to become more widely accepted/used in the as-cast state, it is imperative that the strength and ductility of these materials be significantly improved over current high strength cast alloys (e.g., WE43, Mg-Gd(Y)-Zn, etc.). (An approximate 20% or more improvement in tensile performance over average values for high strength Mg alloy castings of ~375 MPa and 5-7% elongation is desired.) In an attempt to overcome the above limitation, the US Army is interested in the development of a low cost, highly robust (e.g., consistent) casting method that will produce magnesium alloys with significant property improvements over current methods. In addition to defense related applications, the development of higher strength Mg alloys would readily find applications in automotive, aerospace, and other industries currently faced with increasing demand for higher strength, lighter weight materials solutions. It is desired that this method will use readily available elemental additions (e.g., four 9s purity or better) – and the method may or may not utilize the application of electromagnetic fields. The alloy should contain a significantly refined grain structure with uniform distribution of precipitates which could be coherent, semi-coherent, or incoherent with the matrix. The precipitates may either form through in-situ reactions during the casting process or may be added (for example, nano-oxides) during the melting/stirring/casting process. Furthermore, it is desired that the precipitates should be present over a relatively broad size range (from nanosized oxide particles to 10-20 micron precipitates) in order to maximize strengthening effects. Modifications of existing Mg alloy compositions (such as well known AZ or ZK series) as well as novel ones developed specifically for this topic may be used. For further insight on potential reinforcements, the reader is referred to the series of papers by JF Nie (Monash University) on the desired combination of precipitate size, shape and distribution in Mg alloys. Those interested in the use of oxide nanoparticles are referred to the work by M Gupta (National University of Singapore). 

PHASE I: Select a standard (baseline) commercially available alloy chemistry and develop an improved fabrication methodology for successful ingot melting and casting. In addition to delivering sample materials which demonstrate the fidelity of the methodology, quantify the alloy material according the following requirements: - Deliver one (1) ingot casting with dimensions of 7 inches x 7 inches x 4 inch. - Provide a detailed composition evaluation: Full chemical assay and analysis for both all metallic and non-metallic constituents Impurities, especially, the low atomic number interstitials - Microstructural characterization: Identify macro- and micro-scale morphology Phase identification, precipitate chemistry Size, and distribution, and texture of the alloy matrix Verification to be performed using optical, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and X-ray diffraction analyses to verify the grain morphology, constituent phases, precipitate types, and texture present. - Demonstrate compositional homogeneity and uniformity within the delivered ingot material, subject to the constraints: No more than 1.5 atomic percent variation Tested at four (4) random locations - Mechanical tensile properties at quasi-static strain rates (in three orthogonal directions) of the as-cast ingot: Desired: UTS – 450 MPa, Elongation – 15%; Minimum acceptable: UTS – 325 MPa, Elongation – 15% Degree of anisotropy: primary UTS value should drop no more than 10% -Downselect a second Mg-based alloy composition, provide the reasoning for its selection (e.g., ease of fabrication, cost of raw materials, strengthening mechanisms, etc.) and identify the relevant processing protocols for the successful fabrication. 

PHASE II: Demonstrate feasibility of scaling the fabrication methodology, identified and developed in Phase I for both the baseline and second alloy compositions. Furthermore, demonstrate repeatability of the process and construct an up-scaled pilot-scale facility that is suitable for batch, semi-continuous or continuous production of alloy material. In addition to delivering sample materials which demonstrate the fidelity of the methodology, quantify larger-scale alloy materials according the following requirements: - Construct a pilot-scale melting and casting system, capable of producing batch-mode and semi-continuous castings, and develop a manufacturing operations and commercialization plan - Three (3) ingot castings with dimensions of (minimum) 15 inches x 15 inches x 6 inch - As was performed in Phase I, demonstrate compositional homogeneity and uniformity within each of the castings. - Mechanical tensile properties at quasi-static strain rates (in three orthogonal directions) of the as-cast ingots: Desired: UTS – 450 MPa, Elongation – 15%; Minimum acceptable: UTS – 325 MPa, Elongation – 15% Degree of anisotropy: primary UTS value should drop no more than 10% - Evaluate high strain rate properties (at a strain rate of 10^3 /sec or higher): Tested in three orthogonal directions, High strain rate properties to be consistent with quasi-static strain rate properties and the strain rate sensitivity of Mg alloys - Develop a commercialization strategy and identify potential partnering and transition opportunities in the automotive or other relevant industrial sector. Provide cost benefit analysis of the use of as-cast Mg based alloy versus currently used material. 

PHASE III: Establish up-scaled fabrication facility based on key factors identified during Phases I and II. Within a manufacturing environment, demonstrate viability of the process that can be operated in continuous production mode. Since higher strength as-cast Mg components could most certainly find numerous insertion points in automotive and/or aerospace components in both commercial and military vehicles (e.g., engine blocks/housings, transmission housings in helicopters, framing, etc.), identify a tangible and practical application for the demonstration of the new or improved technology. With the commercial partner, develop the required implementation plan to transition the technology and show the benefits of the higher fidelity Mg-based alloy in the specific application selected. 

REFERENCES: 

1: P. Fu, L. Peng, H. Jiang, W. Ding, and C. Zhai, "Tensile properties of high strength cast Mg alloys at room temperature: A review," China Foundry 11 (2014) 277-286.

2:  M. Gupta and W.L.E. Wong, "Magnesium based nanocomposites: Lightweight materials of the future," Materials Characterization 105 (2015) 30-46.

3:  V. Hammond, "Magnesium Nanocomposites: Current status and prospects for Army applications," US Army Laboratory Tech Report, ARL-TR-5728, September 2011.

4:  A. Khandelwal, K. Mani, N. Srivastava, R. Gupta, and G.P. Chaudhari, "Mechanical behavior of AZ31/Al2O3 magnesium alloy nanocomposites prepared using ultrasound assisted stir casting," Composites B123 (2017) 64-73.

5:  A. Luo, "Magnesium casting technology for structural applications," Journal of Magnesium and Alloys 1 (2013) 2-22.

6:  A. Luo, "Recent magnesium alloy development for elevated temperature applications," International Materials Review 49 (2004) 13-30.

7:  J.F. Nie, "Effects of precipitate strength and orientation on dispersion strengthening in magnesium alloys," Scripta Materialia 48 (2003) 1009-1015.

8:  J.F. Nie, "Precipitation and hardening in magnesium alloys," Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A43 (2012) 3891-39

KEYWORDS: Magnesium, Casting, Texture, Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, High Strain Rates 

CONTACT(S): 

Vincent Hammond 

(410) 278-2752 

vincent.h.hammond.civ@mail.mil 

Dr. Laszlo Kecskes 

(410) 306-0811 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop visual analytics tool to support collaborative decision making with high-dimensional variables using 2D, 2 1/2D, and 3D visualization with interaction for demonstration. 

DESCRIPTION: Dynamic Collaborative Visualization Ecosystem (DynaCoVE) is a new visualization tool that will support a data-centric, user-centric, visualization algorithm and systems agnostic visualization. It is a visualization software that will allow the user to generate visualization from the data and display it on any of the display systems available in the visualization ecosystem for knowledge discovery and exploration. The display system selected will also support interactive interaction of the visualization created. DynaCoVE will be configured with different visualization systems capable of 2D, 2 1/2D, and 3D display supporting fully-immersive, semi-immersive, and non-immersive visualization. Auditory output, together with touch, 2D, and 3D interaction for the appropriate display system will also be needed to support interactive visual analytics process [1]. The Army needs to analyze and correlate heterogeneous data from multiple sources has created a visual analytics challenges that cannot be addressed by a single type of visualization system. The Army Testing and Evaluation community together with various Army groups working on physics based simulation are getting overwhelmed with heterogeneous big data problems. A hybrid visualization system capable of combining the benefits of both immersive and non-immersive visualization to create a seamless 2D and 3D environment that supports information-rich analysis would overcome some of the challenges [2][3][4]. DynaCoVE will be a visual analytics tool used to develop situational understanding by managing complex visualization ecosystem that will develop and sustain a high degree of situational understanding while operating in complex environments against determined, adaptive enemy organizations. DynaCoVE will also be a visual analytics tool used to set the theater, sustain operations, and maintain freedom of movement. DynaCoVE novel visual analytics tool will provide strategic agility to the joint force, and maintain freedom of movement and action during sustained and high tempo operations at the end of extended lines of communication in austere environments. We seek novel development in a visualization ecology capable of visualizing heterogeneous data with full interaction on the appropriate visualization system. In a typical use case, the user will upload simulation data or sensor data and create a visualization using one of the available visualization techniques. Once created, the user will have the option to push the visualization to one of the display systems that is appropriate for the type of visualization created. For example, if the user selected a fully-immersive display system to visualize a 3D simulation data, the user will be able to walk over to the fully-immersive display system and be fully immersed in the simulation data. Using 3D interaction techniques, the user will then be able to interact with the data in 3D to study and gain new understanding from the process. The user can also create a 2D cut plane of the 3D simulation data and push the data to a touch enabled 2D display to visualize and interact with the data using the touch interface. DynaCoVE will be the realization of an interactive ecosystem of devices, humans, and software that will provide a framework for which a renewed study of the meaning of interaction and computation can be achieved and redefine visual analytics. The applicability of such a system will provides new understanding to data science. Challenges in this topic include complex melding of various visualization systems, visualization techniques, and interaction techniques needed to create a seamless and dynamic visualization environment from multiple spatially aware displays that can evolve over time. Creating interaction mechanisms by using crowd-aware, and context-aware technologies to facilitate communication within the community of devices, and individuals that form the visualization ecosystem can also be equally challenging. 

PHASE I: Develop feasible concepts and provide a proven methodology within a software design framework to demonstrate a DynaCoVE system to support visual analytics. The deliverables should include a conceptual design for the complete DynaCoVE and a working proof of the design that clearly reflects novel instantiations of the supporting visual analytics approach. Phase II plans should also be provided, to include key component milestones and plans for testing and validation. 

PHASE II: Develop, demonstrate, and validate a working prototype system for a limited set of display systems (but from different display categories) based on the preliminary design from Phase I. All appropriate usability and engineering testing will be performed to finalize the design. Human factor (usability) study will need to be rigorously performed to demonstrate the usability of the prototype system designed. Phase II deliverables will include a working prototype of the system, specification for its development, and a demonstration of the visual analytics tool. 

PHASE III: Follow-on activities are expected to be aggressively pursued by the offeror, namely in seeking opportunities to integrate the visualization hardware, visualization techniques, data analytics algorithms, and protocols of the developed plug-and-play approach into DynaCoVE visual analytics platforms. Commercial benefits for DynaCoVE are enormous as many existing visual analytics tools capable of supporting heterogeneous visual analysis using heterogeneous display ecosystem are none existence with many big players from the academia and commercial sector working towards prototyping a similar tool. Similar to existing visual analytics tools, getting customer data into the tool will generate unlimited potential for consulting opportunity with the adaptation of the tool. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Endert, A., Hossain, M., Ramakrishnan, N., North, C., Fiaux, P., Andrews, C., "The human is the loop: new directions for visual analytics.", Journal of Intelligent Information Systems, pp. 1-25, 2014

2:  Su, S., Chaudhary, A., O'Leary, P., Geveci, B., Sherman, W., Neito, H., Francisco-Revilla, L., Virtual reality enabled scientific visualization workflow, 2015 IEEE 1st workshop on Everyday Virtual Reality (WEVR), 23 March 2015.

3:  Febretti, A., Nishimoto, A., Thigpen, T., Talandis, J., Long, L., Pirtle, JD, Peterka, T., Verlo, A., Brown, M., Plepys, D., Sandin, D., Renambot, L., Johnson, A., Leigh, J., CAVE2: A Hybrid Reality Environment for Immersive Simulation and Information Analysis, Proceedings of IS&T / SPIE Electronic Imaging, The Engineering Reality of Virtual Reality 2013, San Francisco, CA, February 4, 2013

4:  Kobayashi, D., Su, S., Bravo, L., Leigh, J., Shires, D., ParaSAGE: Scalable Web-based Scientific Visualization for Ultra Resolution Display Environment, IEEE Visualization 2016, Poster, 23-28 October 2016, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

KEYWORDS: Visual Analytics, Immersive Visualization, Non-immersive Visualization, Semi-immersive Visualization, Visualization Ecology 

CONTACT(S): 

Simon Su 

(410) 278-1421 

simon.m.su.civ@mail.mil 

Luis Bravo 

(410) 278-9719 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop methods to integrate multiple precursor chemistries and engineered nanoparticles into a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) system which can operate at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. 

DESCRIPTION: Recent advancements in the field of atmospheric pressure plasma systems, including both afterglow and direct barrier discharge plasmas, have enabled the investigation of thin coatings via plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), in which electromagnetic fields are used to induce and control gas phase chemical reactions.[1] These systems have demonstrated the ability to treat material surfaces at room temperatures and across several square feet of area, cleaning them or depositing conformal coatings via PECVD with very little thermal damage to even delicate materials or surface microstructures [2-3]. Most of these systems, however, utilize only a single-stream, large area treatment head (typically a slot or showerhead), achieving good lateral uniformity but restricting the ability to controllably mix chemical precursors in the reaction, to pattern deposition on the substrate, or to integrate engineered nanoparticles into the growing films. Significant research efforts in the past two decades within the Department of Defense (DOD), industry, and academia have also resulted in the ability to design and synthesize a broad suite of nanoparticles with tailored optical, chemical, and magnetic properties. Applications include the investigation of biological processes, the targeting of cancer therapies, selective absorption of light in solar cells and sensors, and the control of chemical and mechanical processes in nanoscale composite materials [4]. Significant challenges have arisen, however, in the controlled delivery and integration of these particles into useful coatings on realistic size scales. The Army needs the capability to integrate these two emerging technologies – selective non-equilibrium plasma deposition and engineered nanoparticles – to develop multifunctional, responsive, and adaptable thin film coating systems to enhance soldier and vehicle protection. The ability to independently and selectively react multiple gas-phase precursors would create a new capability for Army materials research – a rapid prototyping foundry – to develop multicomponent/multifunctional coatings with engineered environmental interactions, selective and reconfigurable optical properties, tailored energy-absorbing adhesive surfaces, or conformal coatings to enhance the bioresistance or fire retardancy of fabrics. Independent control of the plasma energy applied to each precursor would allow researchers to selectively produce particular gas phase radicals and then combine them at the substrate, enhancing control over film composition, morphology, and resulting functionality. If in addition the individual flows were laterally constrained, one could create a patterned surface, with control over the composition of each surface feature, integrating polymers, biomaterials, organosiloxanes, or engineered nanoparticles in a multitude of synergistic ways. 

PHASE I: Design concept for delivery of multiple precursor flows to enable the co-deposition of at least 3 separate components (two gas phase plasma reactors, one nanoparticle delivery stream) at atmospheric conditions. The plasma reactors should have independent flow rate control for each individual constituent, and should be able to utilize helium or argon as a primary gas, with the addition of a secondary reactive gas like oxygen at adjustable ratios. If possible, the use of air as a primary gas should also be considered. The concept should include the ability to deliver a flow of dry or wet nanoparticles such as Au to the growing surface during deposition. Demonstrate, build and deliver bench-scale prototype of three-stream system capable of simultaneously depositing 1 micrometer thick organosiloxane coatings and metallic nanoparticles uniformly over an area at least 1” X 1”. 

PHASE II: Build fully-functional prototype system capable of being integrated into an autonomous robotic system and demonstrate continuous, uniform deposition across substrates of varying sizes and shapes, up to 24” X 24”. Include capability to laterally constrain precursor/nanoparticle arrival to areas <5mm in diameter at the point of deposition on the substrate, and demonstrate the ability to deposit small spots, continuous lines, or patterned surfaces with independent incorporation of two PECVD precursors and metallic nanoparticles. Develop integrated process controls for the plasma head and power supplies with a programmable plug and play system that can be operated by both research and industry personnel, or modified by Army personnel to develop custom recipes for particular application areas. 

PHASE III: Follow-on activities are expected to be aggressively pursued by the offeror, namely in seeking opportunities to integrate the hardware, software, and protocols of the developed prototype into commercial systems for the microelectronics and medical communities, as well as defense applications. Such systems would be actively sought by researchers in academia and industry as a means to investigate the functionality of multicomponent thin film systems. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Pappas, D., "Status and Potential of Atmospheric Plasma Processing of Materials", J. Vac. Sci. and Tech. A, 2011, 29, 020801.

2:  Zhang, H. et al., "Deposition of Silicon Oxide by Atmospheric Plasma Jet for Oxygen Diffusion Barrier Applications", Thin Solid Films, 2016, 615, 63-68.

3:  Cavallin, T. et al., "Metal PVD Honey-Combs Coated with TiO2 and Al2O3 via PECVD Suitable for Sensoring Applications", Surf. Coat. And Tech., 2013, 230, 66-72.

4:  Jiang, C. et al., "A Review on the Application of Inorganic Nanoparticles in Chemical Surface Coatings on Metallic Substrates", Royal Soc. Of Chem. ADV, 2017, 7, 7531-7539.Hilt, F. et al, "Efficient Flame Retardant Thin Films Synthesized by Atmospheric Pressure PECVD Through the High Co-deposition Rate if Hexamethyldisiloxane and Triethylphosphate on Polycarbonate and Polyamide-6 Substrates", ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2016, 8, 12422-12433.

KEYWORDS: Atmospheric Plasma, Hybrid Coatings, Additive Manufacturing, Nanoparticles, Thin-Film Deposition, Soldier Protection, Manufacturing Process, Manufacturing Coatings, Manufacturing Equipment 

CONTACT(S): 

Andres Bujanda 

(410) 306-0680 

andres.a.bujanda.civ@mail.mil 

Derek Demaree 

(410) 306-0840 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Machine Learning system utilizing real-time analysis of Health and Usage Management Systems data for predicting allowable control parameters enabling mission completion under degraded system performance. 

DESCRIPTION: The Army is seeking novel approaches implemented in a “Black Box”, to receive and analyze heterogeneous real-time sensor data (e.g. unsynchronized data from different types of sensor signals) to enable situational response to maximize in-situ operational performance and to complete mission requirements. The “Black Box” is a device that ingests mission parameters, sensor outputs and/or Health and Usage Management Systems (HUMS) data from a defined system of interest. The output of the “Black Box” are the system executable set of control parameters to meet preset mission requirements. Under normal operation with full system capability the control parameters may be generated for maximum overall performance however upon recognizing a subsystem failure or reduced performance, the “Black Box” will provide modified control parameters minimizing the impact of the affected subsystem. The system monitored by the “Black Box” can be as complex as an unmanned autonomous system or a subcomponent within the system (e.g. transmission, gear box, engine, structure, electronic power). Research and approaches to achieve the objective should include Implementation of new or existing Machine Learning algorithms into an Integrated programmable software-hardware “Black Box”. Technology for this capability may include state-of-the-art data-networking and high performance neural enabled hardware. The proof-of-concept will initially be directed toward monitoring input data from structural or power transfer components (e.g. transmissions or gear sets for rotorcrafts and ground vehicles) and subsequent modification of control when an anomaly is detected. For example, the “Black Box” will operate in a learning capacity during normal state of operation, however upon detection of a failure or precursor to failure the “Black Box” will provide user options to limit the available power applied to a failing gear set to maintain mission effectiveness or safe return. The size, weight, and power requirement of the “Black Box” should not exceed that of a state-of-the-art HUMS for the selected demonstration. The “Black Box” concept is intended to be saleable from a simple to a complex system of Army interest and easily be transitioned to commercial applications in the automotive or aerospace industry. 

PHASE I: Define innovative approaches for enabling near-real-time assessment and prediction of remaining serviceable life of a simple system (e.g. structural, mechanical systems or subsystems relevant to one or more categories of ground, air, and autonomous vehicles). These approaches will utilize Machine Learning hardware and software to evaluate real-time sensor data in conjunction with surrogate (proposed) or historical time-data benchmarks to provide modified control parameters (e.g. for structural or mechanical systems). Hardware, software, and combined approaches should be considered. (e.g. high-throughput CPU’s (central processing units) designed for neural engines, implementations of machine learning algorithms based on novel hardware, etc.) 

PHASE II: Establish and expand the Phase I proof-of-concept through the development, testing, and demonstration of a “Black Box” system that will capture and process near-real time data for a proposed Army system component (e.g. structural, mechanical and propulsion systems on an unmanned air vehicle or a ground combat vehicle). The system will provide modified operational control parameters to adjust the flight or driving patterns to extend usable system life and meet mission objectives. The form factor for the “Black Box” shall not exceed that of a state-of-the-art HUMS on the proposed system component demonstrator. 

PHASE III: Provide an adaptive and saleable “Black Box” capable of real-time monitoring and situational response applicable to air, ground, and autonomous systems and subsystems, (e.g. structural components, mechanical, power transfer, and drive systems relevant to both Army and commercial systems). For example, this technology could be applied as an oil pressure monitoring system in military or commercial vehicles. If a significant drop in pressure is sensed, it will provide the usual driver warning, but will also allow the vehicle to continue operation by recommending or automatically implementing measures determined previously through ML, such as limiting top speed, or redirecting cooling capability to the failing area that are most effective in educed performance from prior machine learning data to reach intended mission without further subsystem failures. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Wade, Daniel R., et al., "Machine Learning Algorithms for HUMS Improvement on Rotorcraft Components", Paper presented at the AHS 71st Annual Forum, Virginia Beach, VA May 5-7, 2015 (Distribution Unlimited per AMRDEC PAO (PR 1608).

KEYWORDS: Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Real-Time Control, Health And Usage Monitoring (HUMS), Sensors, Neural, Central Processing Unit (CPU) 

CONTACT(S): 

Eric Mark 

(410) 278-6457 

eric.r.mark.civ@mail.mil 

Dr. Asha Hall 

(410) 278-2384 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to develop an innovative time difference of arrival (TDOA) approach to detect and locate GPS spoofing signal emitters in high accuracy and precision. 

DESCRIPTION: GPS spoofing signal emitters have become an increasing threat to GPS receivers. Due to the low signal power required to operate these devices, they are also difficult to detect. Various approaches have been proposed to defeat such measures, but most of these approaches are not able to localize the emitter. The distance from an emitter source can be accurately measured using a time difference of arrival (TDOA) ranging technique. With accurate measurements of the distances between three or more synchronized receivers, the location of an emitter can be estimated by multilateration. A system consisting of networked receivers will be designed and developed using a TDOA technique capable of: 1) Detecting the presence of a corrupted GPS solution due to a spoofing emitter, 2) Determining the location of the spoofing emitter, and 3) Extending the solution to multiple emitters. The system should detect the presence of GPS spoofing with a high confidence against any spoofing geometry or strategy while the receivers are on the move. Although this topic calls for the implementation of these techniques using the military GPS codes, the GPS C/A code would also provide an acceptable Phase II demonstration. 

PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study that identifies and addresses the problems that must be overcome in order to successfully demonstrate the proposed concept. Analyze the accuracy supported by modelling and simulation results. Deliver a final report that covers the outcome of this study, performance specifications, and prototype design and fabrication plan details. 

PHASE II: Fabricate receiver prototype to test, demonstrate and validate the feasibility of the concept under simulated laboratory conditions. Demonstrate GPS-independent synchronization of networked receivers and pinpoint the locations of multiple emitters. Deliver the final report, TRL 5 networked receiver prototypes (four units), its description and operation guide, and laboratory test reports. 

PHASE III: Implement the demonstrated algorithm in GPS P(Y) and M codes. Develop a small size, weight, and power (SWAP) system applicable to mounted or dismounted platforms. Other military applications could include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and other robotic platforms. This technology is transitioned to the Army Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Program. 

REFERENCES: 

1: M. L. Psiaki and T. E. Humphreys, "Protecting GPS from spoofers is critical to the future of navigation," IEEE Spectrum, Vol. 53-8, pp. 26-53, August 2016.

2:  K. C. Ho and Y. T. Chan, "Solution and performance analysis of geolocation by TODA," IEEE Tr. Aerospace and Electronics Systems, Vol. 29, No. 4, pp.1311-1322, 1993.

KEYWORDS: GPS Anti-spoofing, Detection And Localization Of Signal Emitters, Time Difference Of Arrival 

CONTACT(S): 

Yoonkee Kim 

(443) 395-1678 

yoonkee.kim.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Paul Olson 

(443) 395-0064 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to develop advanced silicon anode cells with increased capacity retention, coulombic efficiency, and electronic conductivity. 

DESCRIPTION: The U.S. Army TRADOC has identified a need for reliable, high-energy power sources to support soldier, squad, and platoon operational requirements, especially in austere environments where power source availability is limited. The integration of silicon anodes, with their high theoretical specific capacity (4.2 Ah/g), into cells and subsequent battery packs will assist in extending mission endurance in support of dominating the electromagnetic spectrum, commanding the operation, and more directly enabling decisive effects. The introduction of silicon as an anode in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries can greatly increase their energy density, especially in comparison to carbon. However, silicon is plagued by poor capacity retention as a result of the volume expansion that occurs during lithiation and delithiation while cycling. This volume expansion results in particle fractures across the anode. Anode fracturing will then have a detrimental effect on the cell’s capacity, capacity retention, coulombic efficiency, and performance at high rates. This topic desires to mitigate or eliminate some of these detrimental effects in order to improve capacity retention and coulombic efficiency. Target cell-level requirements include a high specific capacity of 750 mAh/g with at least 25 wt% silicon content, capacity retention of 224 cycles to 80% original capacity at a rate of 1 mA/cm2. Cells must be able to operate from -30 °C to 55 °C. Developmental cells must also demonstrate the ability to handle high rate loads effectively, with minimal impact to capacity. Prototype cells must deliver at least 400 Wh/kg at the cell level, targeting 300-600 Wh/kg at the battery level. The final battery shall weigh less than or equal to 2.6 lbs. 

PHASE I: Explore and define cell materials or half cells demonstrating improvements that mitigate or eliminate detrimental effects of Si anodes in order to improve electrochemical performance. Demonstrate pathway for reaching target requirements outlined in this topic. 

PHASE II: Refine and optimize materials chosen in Phase I and develop prototype pouch cells to meet target performance requirements in the specified temperature range outlined in this topic. 

PHASE III: Transition technology to the U.S. Army. Integrate this technology into portable consumer or military devices that require high energy density power sources. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Chief of Staff of the Army Priority #1

2:  Army Warfighter Challenge #16

3:  Xiuxia Zuo, Jin Zhu, Peter Müller-Buschbaum, Ya-Jun Cheng. "Silicon based lithium-ion battery anodes: A chronicle perspective review." Nano Energy, Volume 31, January 2017, Pages 113-143.

4:  François Ozanam, Michel Rosso. "Silicon as anode material for Li-ion batteries." Materials Science and Engineering: B, Volume 213, November 2016, Pages 2-11

5:  Choa Kim, Deepak Verma, Dong Ho Nam, Wonyoung Chang, Jaehoon Kim. "Conformal carbon layer coating on well-dispersed Si nanoparticles on graphene oxide and the enhanced electrochemical performance." Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Volume 52, August 2017, Pages 260-269.

KEYWORDS: Silicon Anode, Rechargeable, Lithium Batteries, Capacity Retention, Coulombic Efficiency, Dismounted Soldier Power 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Ashley Ruth 

(443) 395-4386 

ashley.l.ruth2.civ@mail.mil 

Paula LaTorre 

(443) 395-4676 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Perform research into Machine Learning and its applicability to Mission Command in tactical environments. Improve Mission Command which includes tools, processes, and personnel across echelons involved in all phases of operations. Develop a study that considers operational environments, soldier needs and tasks, existing systems, availability of data, and the feasibility to apply Machine Learning in the Mission Command domain. 

DESCRIPTION: Human reaction time is just too slow during critical Military operations and decision making. An autonomous learned system (i.e. Machine Learning) can understand large amounts of data, manage the results, and react faster to cyber defense, electronic warfare, and large raid attacks. The Army wants to assess the potential costs, benefits, and risks of applying Machine Learning to Mission Command, the operations process, and decision making. Machine Learning relies on models that consume real-time operational data to provide predictions, alerts, and recommendations. The ultimate goal of this SBIR is to develop strategic insights into the incorporation of Machine Learning techniques to enhance human performance in the processing of information management and knowledge management in the exercise of Mission Command. Ultimately, an analysis of the cost, benefits, and risks in applying specific Machine Learning techniques to specific tasks across the planning and operations phases is required. The domain of the research is the tactical environment, specifically at the Brigade and lower levels. Machine Learning techniques applicable to Mission Command and soldiers in specific echelons should be studied, with a consideration of the tasks and data that can drive Machine Learning models. The study should also assess aspects of Machine Learning and its associated models that may be appropriate for Mission Command cross-echelon collaboration and problem solving. Fundamental to this study are (1) a deep understanding of Machine Learning techniques, (2) an understanding of peculiar Mission Command tasks in the tactical environment, and (3) a consideration of data availability. Specific data types and sources to drive the Machine Learning techniques should be delineated. 

PHASE I: This Phase will develop a methodology to assess the applicability of specific Machine Learning techniques to various Mission Command planning and operational tasks in specific echelons and environments. This should include insights into the costs and benefits of specific Mission Command task / Machine Learning combinations, and begin to highlight opportunities for possible development, as well as gaps for future research. Machine Learning Techniques - Review of Techniques, Priorities, and Justification: The contractor shall analyze Machine Learning techniques and tools by assessing their applicability to data environments and solider needs such as those found at the Brigade and lower echelons. The contractor is expected to bring a deep and broad body of Machine Learning knowledge to the research tasks. While this is not intended to be comprehensive, the contractor should build confidence in his ability to consider enterprise-level Machine Learning techniques for the less data-rich environment. Mission Command Tasks - Review of Tasks, Priorities, and Justification: The contractor shall explore the differences in Mission Command tasks by warfighting function, both within and across echelons. An assessment of the data and information that could drive Machine Learning in notional Mission Command tasks is desired. Identifying the right types of Machine Learning tasks for the various data environments across the lower echelons is key. Methodology to Predict Cost, Benefits, and Risk for Each Machine Learning Technique vs. Mission Command Task: The contractor shall develop a methodology for assessing the applicability of individual Machine Learning Techniques vs. individual Mission Command tasks / goals. Reasonable ways to assess or measure potential costs and benefits for a combination should be presented, and a way to assess risks for a specific combination should also be explored. Methodology for Validation of Cost, Benefits, and Risk Predictions for Each Machine Learning Technique vs. Mission Command Task: The contractor shall develop a detailed approach to validate the methodology for measuring costs/benefits/risks in the preceding paragraph. There may be different techniques for doing this ranging from Subject Matter Expert Review to development and use of a data-driven Machine Learning model by a prototypical user. The contractor should build confidence that the analytical approach for task and technique is sound. 

PHASE II: This Phase will develop a cross-walk of Mission Learning techniques and key Mission Command tasks in specific echelons based upon the approach and conclusions from Phase I. Using insights gained from Phase I, as well as government oversight, the contractor is expected to highlight promising Mission Command task / Machine Learning technique combinations. The Government may exercise a subset of the task/technique combinations identified in Phase I with representative data sets to develop models appropriate to specific task support. The contractor will work with the Government to validate the approach and conclusions using the methodologies from Phase I. These methodologies will be refined and matured as part of the validation. The end goal of Phase II to integrate Machine Learning into the Army tactical environment. The contractor will develop a concept demonstrator based on a set of recommendations and technical guidance to validate the integration. 

PHASE III: During Phase III of the SBIR, the contractor will mature and develop concept demonstrator(s) for integration into the Command Post and Mounted Computing Environment systems of record. Additionally, the contractor must identify potential commercial applications for the Machine Learning techniques. 

REFERENCES: 

1: ADP 6-0, Mission Command, May 2012

2:  ADP 5-0 The Operations Process, May 2012

3:  ADRP 3-0 Unified Land Operations, May 2012

4:  ADRP 6-0 Mission Command, May 2012

5:  Twenty-First Century Information Warfare and the third offset Strategy (page 16 of the Joint Force Quarterly issue 82 3rd Quarter 2016

KEYWORDS: Machine Learning, Mission Command, Autonomous, Learned, Decision Making, Models, Information Management, Human Performance, Knowledge Management, Planning, Operational, Tasks 

CONTACT(S): 

Todd Urness 

(443) 395-0376 

todd.j.urness.civ@mail.mil 

Donovan Sweet 

(443) 395-0398 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an emulation system capable of deploying a full Long Term Evolution (LTE) Fifth Generation (5G) architecture, including all subcomponents, utilizing open source software, into self-contained commodity personal computer hardware. Utilize open source shared code components to construct LTE software and standardized interfaces with an emulated physical layer in Extendable Mobile Ad-hoc Network Emulator (EMANE) to provide a low cost capability to rapidly conduct research and experimentation on utilizing LTE for tactical comms and the performance of tactical sensors and other mission command systems under varying scenario configurations and conditions. 

DESCRIPTION: As various U.S. Army units and program offices consider utilizing cellular Long Term Evolution (LTE) capabilities on the battlefield, there is a need to research and study the possible use cases and potential performance in order to feed the planning of the proposed LTE solution. A lab based, open source LTE emulation will provide the ability to deploy and full LTE ecosystem including but not limited to base station eNodeB, Enhanced Packet Core (EPC) and User Equipment (UE) within a cost effective set of commodity PC hardware. The LTE emulation, when integrated with other tactical network emulations, will allow analysis of the performance of various mission command applications and intelligence sensors and software while utilizing a tactical LTE solution. Additionally, the system will allow study of techniques for integrating LTE infrastructure into the existing tactical comms network architecture including interoperability with other tactical radios and electronic warfare systems. 

PHASE I: Study the full ecosystem of Long Term Evolution (LTE) including eNodeB, Enhanced Packet Core (EPC) and User Equipment (UE) and provide a whitepaper detailing the design of an open source full LTE deployment “in-a-box” including physical layer emulation and upper layer software. The preliminary design must include interfacing UE upper layer software with an emulated physical layer provided by Extendable Mobile Ad-hoc Network Emulator (EMANE) including user and control signaling and data. The design must also include non-proprietary implementations of all the infrastructure components and features of the latest LTE release and the ability to successfully communicate inter and intra-cell. The system must accurately represent all LTE components as defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specification. Considerations for scaling up to multiple eNodeB base stations with hundreds of UEs per base station must be included. 

PHASE II: Implement the design provided in PHASE I by developing a prototype open source Long Term Evolution (LTE) emulation which can be integrated into a larger system of systems emulation. System must allow for instantiating all open source software and tools required to provide a LTE capability on commodity hardware. Implementation must include at least a single Enhanced Packet Core (EPC)/EnodeB and 100 User Equipment (UE) devices. 

PHASE III: Scale production of Long Term Evolution (LTE) emulation to multiple EnodeB/Enhanced Packet Core (EPC) base stations as well and hundreds of User Equipment (UE) devices. 

REFERENCES: 

1: R. Chertov, J. Kim, J. Chen, "LTE Emulation over Wired Ethernet," Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering book series (LNICST, volume 44)

2:  R. Wang, Y. Peng, H. Qu, W. Li, H. Zhao, B. Wu, "OpenAirInterface-an effective emulation platform for LTE and LTE-Advanced," 2014 Sixth International Conference on Ubiquitous and Future Networks (ICUFN)

3:  T. Molloy, Z. Yuan, G. Muntean, "Real time emulation of an LTE network using NS-3," Irish Signals & Systems Conference 2014 and 2014 China-Ireland International Conference on Information and Communications Technologies (ISSC 2014/CIICT 2014). 25th IET

4:  L. Veytser, B. Cheng, R. Charland, "Integrating radio-to-router protocols into EMANE," 10.1109/MILCOM.2012.6415571

5:  K. Jain, A. Roy-Chowdhry, K. K. Somasundaram, B. Wang, J. Baras, "Studying real-time traffic in multi-hop networks using the EMANE emulator: capabilities and limitations," SIMUTools '11 Proceedings of the 4th International ICST Conference on Simulation Tools and Techniques, pp. 93-95, Barcelona, Spain, March 21 - 25, 2011

KEYWORDS: 3rd Generation Partnership Project, Long-Term Evolution, Evolved NodeB, User Equipment, Extendable Mobile Ad-hoc Network Emulator, Emulation, Modeling & Simulation, Model 

CONTACT(S): 

Noah Weston 

(443) 395-0477 

noah.d.weston.civ@mail.mil 

Joshua Fischer 

(410) 395-7367 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Improve the performance of and yield of III-V antimonide-based dual band infrared detector focal plane arrays through the development of a high aspect ratio mesa delineation enabling improved optical fill factor, modulation transfer function (MTF), and uniformity. 

DESCRIPTION: III-V antimonide (Sb) - based compound semiconductors and superlattices are of great interest for high performance detectors in the entire infrared spectrum. They have tunable bandgaps, offer significant cost benefits, and can be made into very large formats. Additionally, they have flexible band structures. Using bandgap engineering, the potential for a wide range of applications exists including decreased Auger and tunneling rates, as well as suppressed generation-recombination and surface currents. However technical challenges still need to be addressed in order to fully realize the potential benefits of III-V antimonide based infrared detector materials. Dual-band focal plane arrays (FPAs) built with antimonide based Strained Layer Superlattice (SLS) materials are typically produced using partial delineation of the detector elements. Partial delineation has advantages in that the material is exposed to the high energy plasma for a shorter period of time affording a lower risk of plasma induced damage, and less material is removed leading to a higher overall optical fill factor. However, testing has shown that partial reticulation of SLS material has a negative impact on the MTF (a metric of detector performance) because of lateral diffusion of charge carriers. Full delineation of the detector mesas will prevent lateral diffusion improving the detector MTF, but is likely to reduce the optical fill factor and lower the quantum efficiency. A low temperature high aspect ratio delineation process compatible with standard photoresist mask formulation will be required to keep a high optical fill factor, prevent damage during delineation, and maintain high process yield. Achieving full delineation while maintaining high optical fill factor will likely require the investigation of high density plasma techniques such as inductively coupled plasma (ICP) for mesa delineation.1 Consideration of the impact of trench shape/profile on the optical fill factor will be a critical aspect in the development of a delineation process. A trench with a “v” shaped groove is desirable to incorporate total internal reflection and further increase the optical fill factor. The surface composition and morphology following the mesa delineation is another critical aspect. The etched surfaces must be smooth to avoid light scattering and loss of quantum efficiency. Many plasma based delineation techniques require a wet chemical clean up following the plasma etch due to deleterious deposits formed by the plasma. The ideal plasma delineation process would leave a clean smooth surface and not require a wet chemical clean.2,3 

PHASE I: Identify low temperature mesa delineation processes with high etch selectivity between the lithography mask and III-V semiconductor material capable of producing narrow high aspect ratio trenches between detector mesas. Demonstrate deep, > 10 m, delineation process on bulk semiconductor materials such as GaSb, InAs, and InSb or on dual band superlattice detector structures with top trench widths no greater than 4 m across. Partnering with a commercial FPA manufacturer is strongly encouraged to support the potential commercialization of the developed process. 

PHASE II: A detailed experimental study of delineation process parameters including surface morphology, composition, and profile. Apply the developed delineation process and demonstrate the performance on a dualband superlattice FPA with a U.S. Army relevant format of 512 x 512 or greater and pixel pitch between 8 and 15 m. 

PHASE III: The contractor shall pursue commercialization of the various technologies and EO/IR components developed in Phase II for potential commercial uses in such diverse fields as law enforcement, rescue and recovery operations, maritime and aviation collision avoidance sensors, medical uses, homeland defense, and other infrared detection and imaging applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: J. Nguyen, A. Soibel, D. Z.-Y. Ting, C. J. Hill, M. C. Lee, S. D. Gunapala, Appl. Phys. Lett. 97, 051108, (2010).

2:  M. Razeghi, A. Haddadi, A. M. Hoang, R. Chevallier, S. Adhikary, A. Dehzangi, Proc. SPIE 9819, Infrared Technology and Applications XLII, 981909 (May 20, 2016)

3:  E. A. Plis, T. Schuler-Sandy, D. A. Ramirez, S. Myers, S. Krishna, Electron. Lett., 51, 2009-2010 (2015)

KEYWORDS: Strain Layer Superlattice (SLS), Infrared Detector, Dual Band, Mesa Delineation, Focal Plane Arrays, Antimonide Based Materials, Plasma Etch 

CONTACT(S): 

Neil Baril 

(703) 704-4900 

neil.f.baril.civ@mail.mil 

Sumith Bandara 

(703) 704-1737 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a compact, lightweight, low power, and low cost imager, capable of sensing through heavily degraded environments, that will augment long wave infrared (LWIR) imagery. The proposed system is only required to provide a rough outline of targets which, when fused with LWIR imagery, will provide enough context for maneuvering ground vehicles at 16 km/h in heavy dust. 

DESCRIPTION: Degraded Visual Environments represent a significant challenge for the Army. They limit Soldier effectiveness by slowing down ground vehicle movement and increasing the chances for collision and injury. LWIR imagers have been used extensively by the military as they can operate day and night and under some degraded environments (e.g., light dust clouds). However, they show poor performance under heavy dust, fog, or smoke. Other sensing modalities show better penetration, but normally come with some caveats that prevent their practical implementation. Examples of these modalities are automotive radars and millimeter-wave imagers, which are virtually unaffected by airborne obscurants, but their resolution is poor. An enhanced imaging system consisting of a LWIR camera, coupled with a low-resolution imager that possesses better penetration, will provide enough cues to the driver to avoid obstacles and other hazards on the road. The objective is to be able to detect, but not necessarily identify those targets. This effort would develop a proof-of-concept test bed that will demonstrate that a low cost imager is capable of sensing through heavy dust, fog, and smoke. This imager is intended to complement a high-resolution LWIR camera for the detection of common obstacles and targets found while driving ground vehicles. Minimum requirements are the ability to detect an obstacle as small as 56 cm in diameter at a distance of 25 m (50 m objective), refresh rate of 15 Hz (30 Hz objective), horizontal field of view (HFOV) 20° (60° objective) and vertical field of view (VFOV) of at least 6° (15° objective). The range to and the velocity of targets is also desirable. The proposed solution should be scalable, enabling development of either higher or lower resolution imagers based on the concept proposed. Due to the low-cost requirement, preference will be given to designs that include commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. Passive approaches are preferred, but active methods will also be considered. Previous research suggests that RF and millimeter-wave based solutions are likely candidates, but other methods will be considered. 

PHASE I: Design imager and validate, using analytical models, that system can fulfill the requirements. Build a simple prototype to validate design and assumptions. Provide a cost estimate to prototype designed system. 

PHASE II: Based on the results and analysis of Phase I, build a fully functional testbed that can be mounted on a ground vehicle and tested in a relevant environment. Demonstrate imagery fused with LWIR video and quantify performance. Government will provide test vehicle and LWIR sensor. 

PHASE III: Integrate low-cost imager with LWIR sensor into a single enclosure and achieve a Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6). 

REFERENCES: 

1: T. E. Dillon, C. A. Schuetz, R. D. Martin, D. G. Mackrides, S. Shi, P. Yao, K. Shreve, et al., "Passive, real-time millimeter wave imaging for degraded visual environment mitigation," in Proc. of SPIE 9471, Degraded Visual Environments: Enhanced, Synthetic, and External Vision Solutions, Baltimore, MD, 2015, pp. 947103-947103-9.

2:  C. A. Schuetz, R. D. Martin, C. Harrity, and D. W. Prather, "Progress towards a "FLASH" imaging RADAR using RF photonics," 2016 IEEE Avionics and Vehicle Fiber-Optics and Photonics Conference (AVFOP), 2016, pp. 187-188.

3:  C. A. Martin, J. A. Lovberg, and V. G. Kolinko, "Expanding the spectrum: 20 years of advances in MMW imagery," Proc. of SPIE 10189, Passive and Active Millimeter-Wave Imaging XX, Anaheim, CA, 2017, pp. 1018903-1018903-7.

KEYWORDS: DVE, Degraded Visual Environments, RF, MMW, Millimeter-Wave, Imaging Radar, LWIR, Multi-spectral Imaging, Sensors, Acoustics, Seismic, Non-traditional Sensing Modalities 

CONTACT(S): 

Wilson Caba 

(703) 704-2159 

wilson.a.caba.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop spatiotemporal processing and exploitation for full motion Electro-Optic Infrared (EO/IR) sensor for on-the-move real-time detection of in-road and road-side explosive hazard and threat indicators for route clearance application. 

DESCRIPTION: Traditionally, EO/IR sensor processing and exploitation of full-motion video has approached the automated target detection problem as a cascade of image processing tasks to detect location/region of interest (ROIs) followed by tracking of these ROIs over a sequence of images to build confidence before a decision. While such an approach is reasonable for sensors operating at low-frame rates (such as hyperspectral sensors), there is an opportunity and need for more integrated spatial and temporal exploitation of data for EO/IR sensors that readily provide full-motion video at 30 frames per second and higher. There is rich target specific (structural and spectral) information in the temporal evolution of the signature in full motion video captured over multiple frames by gradually changing perspective. Traditional approach centered on spatial image exploitation and temporal tracking of detections is not able to fully exploit this spatio-temporal characteristics of the threat signature. Image processing and machine vision approaches such as super-resolution imaging and structure from motion have sought to exploit this temporal content in full motion video to tease out additional information to improve quality/content of the image frame. However, such pre-processing steps are generally computationally expensive and still require traditional image based detection methods for automated exploitation. Highly varying imaging conditions, ever changing clutter environment and uncertain threat scenarios further limit the suitability of such approaches for challenging on-the-move real-time detection of in-road and road-side explosive hazard and threat indicators for route clearance application in both rural and urban scenarios on improved or unimproved roads. On-the-move real-time detection will require tools, techniques and video processing architecture to identify and efficiently capture robust spatiotemporal features and feature-flow characteristics that may facilitate reliable detection of threats and threat signatures. Further, these threat signatures may occur at different (and often a-priori unknown) spatial and temporal scales. While physics based features and feature-flow characteristics are particularly interesting to gain insight and evaluation of the technique, they are often hard to come by for unstructured tasks. More recent advances in learning algorithms, flux-tensor processing and deep-learning networks may provide an opportunity to investigate viability and suitability of such spatiotemporal detection and exploitation for route clearance application. While on-time-move detection of in-road and road-side threats from ground based and low-flying airborne EO/IR sensors is of primary interest, where applicable person, object and vehicle detection and tracking and human activity detection and characterization will also be on interest from the perspective of threat indicators. 

PHASE I: The Phase I goal under this effort is to evaluate current state of the art, identify processing tools/algorithms, develop a design of exploitation architecture/pipeline and scope processing hardware that will allow real-time on-the-move integrated spatiotemporal processing of full-motion video data from EO/IR sensors for detection of in-road and road-side explosive hazard and threat indicators for route clearance application. Representative set of ground truthed data for in-road and road-side threats from ground based EO/IR sensors will be provided to evaluate feasibility of critical technologies/algorithms. The Phase I final report must summarize the current state of the art in spatiotemporal processing of full-motion video, provide details of the technical approach/algorithms, conceptual processing architecture/pipeline, rationale for the selected processing/exploitation architecture, system level capabilities and limitations, and critical technology/performance risks for the proposed processing and exploitation approach. 

PHASE II: The Phase II goal under this effort is to implement and evaluate viability, utility and expected performance of spatiotemporal features, processing and exploitation techniques for real-time on-the-move detection of in-road and road-side explosive hazard and threat indicators for route clearance application. The proposed algorithms is expected to be operated and demonstrated in real-time (at specified frame rate that the provider may identify based on processing/computation needs), on-the-move (at suitable useful rate of advance) running on the processing hardware that will be installed and integrated on a ground vehicle for a representative mission scenario in test environment. The Phase II final report will include detailed system (software and hardware) design, hardware-software interfaces, system capability and limitation, detailed summary of testing and results, lessons learned and critical technology/performance risks. 

PHASE III: The Phase III goal is to develop an end-to-end demonstration prototype (including suitable sensor, processing hardware, detection software and user interface) for on-the-move real-time detection of in-road and road-side explosive hazard and threat indicators for route clearance application. The sensor system may be mounted on a ground vehicle or an airborne platform and operated and demonstrated in relevant variable environment (including the mission relevant variability such as terrain, time of day or climate condition). The sensor system technology developed under this effort will have high potential for other commercial applications for law enforcement, border security and surveillance, autonomous robotics and self-driving cars. 

REFERENCES: 

1: K. K. Green, C. Geyer, C. Burnette, S. Agarwal, B. Swett, C. Phan and D. Deterline, "Near real-time, on-the-move software PED using VPEF," in SPIE DSS, Baltimore, MD, 2015.

2:  Burnette, C., Schneider, M., Agarwal, S., Deterline, D., Geyer, C., Phan, C., Lydic, R.M., Green, K., Swett, B. "Near real-time, on-the-move multi-sensor integration and computing framework," in SPIE DSS, Baltimore, MD, 2015.

3:  B. Ling, S. Agarwal, S. Olivera, Z. Vasilkoski, C. Phan, C. Geyer, "Real-Time Buried Threat Detection and Cueing Capability in VPEF Environment," in SPIE DSS, Baltimore, MD, 2015.

KEYWORDS: Spatiotemporal Processing, Full-motion Video Exploitation, Automated Target Detection, Deep-learning Networks, Feature-flow, Route Clearance, Improvised Explosive Devices 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Sanjeev Agarwal 

(703) 704-1556 

sanjeev.agarwal.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and deliver an uncooled microbolometer based small and medium arms hostile fire detection (HFD) sensor to be mounted on a helmet or small semi-autonomous or autonomous ground system. Appropriate algorithms to provide, at a minimum, angular direction to the origin of hostile fire events are required. 

DESCRIPTION: Especially when first engaged, it is often difficult for a soldier or autonomous system to quickly ascertain from where hostile fire has originated. This confusion prevents a quick and effective response to counter and eliminate the threat. This topic seeks to provide the soldier and autonomous system with a means to eliminate this confusion and allow well-informed and timely actions to be taken in response to hostile fire. Acoustic systems have been developed, but system performance is severely degraded in environments which are prone to multi-path acoustic reflections such as urban or forest environments [1]. Because the system is meant to be mounted on a helmet or small platform, it must be extremely light weight, low power, and possess an appropriate form factor: this is of primary importance in gaining user acceptance. Additionally, it should be compatible and not interfere with other commonly helmet-mounted systems such as night vision goggles. The final production system must also be cheap enough to justify equipping ground troops and small robotic platforms and run >12 hours minimum on batteries, ideally >24 hours. The sensor need not be imaging, but must provide at least angular direction to the origin of the hostile fire event. In order to provide the user with the best chance of quickly identifying and engaging the threat, the system should minimally be capable of identifying the angle to the threat with <30° resolution and <±15° error, but ideally <5° resolution with <±2.5° error. But, this must be balanced against SWAP-C; horizontal angular (azimuth) resolution is more important than vertical (zenith). The time lag between the shot and display to the user should be minimal, ideally <50 ms. Of course, probability of detection at tactically relevant ranges for small arms (500–600 m), such as common assault rifles and carbines, and medium arms (1–1.5 km), such as large rifles and machine guns, should be maximized (>90% minimum, ideally >95%) and false alarms close to zero. Other features, such weapon type identification, the ability to squelch alerts generated from friendly fire, and range to target, are desirable. The system must minimally operate at a brisk walking speed, >6.5 kph, and ideally at a sprint, = 25 kph. 

PHASE I: The proposer shall provide a complete helmet-mounted sensor design using only components which are COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) or those that could reasonably be designed and fabricated within the time and budget constraints. The sensor design need not be optimized for SWAP-C at this stage, but it must show extensibility to a usable and wearable system. A complete and thorough understanding of the algorithms necessary to make the sensor successful shall be demonstrated. Rigorous modeling shall be performed to estimate system performance, including at least probability of detection verses range, angular resolution and error, time to detect, and any other features. Sources of false alarms and potential mediation should be well thought-out and incorporated into the design. 

PHASE II: Using the results of Phase I, fabricate and deliver a prototype helmet-mounted HFD system. Prototype should meet requirements for TRL 4: component and/or breadboard validation in laboratory environment. All required sensors must be mounted to the helmet, but processing and power may be external at this stage so long as a detailed design path is provided to show that it can all be integrated onto the helmet (full integration is preferred). Probability of detection, angular resolution and error, and time to detect shall be measured through live-fire laboratory testing at close to moderate distance, at least 50–100 m. False alarm mitigation techniques should also be laboratory or field tested when possible. 

PHASE III: Transition applicable techniques and processes to a production environment with the support of an industry partner. Finalize a sensor design with appropriate SWAP-C and form factor based on human factors testing. Determine the best integration path as a capability upgrade to existing or future systems, including firmware and interfaces required to meet sensor interoperability protocols for integration into candidate systems as identified by the Army. 

REFERENCES: 

1: G Tidhar, "Hostile fire detection using dual-band optics," SPIE Newsroom (2013).

2:  AMRDEC Public Affairs, "Serenity payload detects hostile fire," https://www.army.mil/article/140459/Serenity_payload_detects_hostile_fire/ (2014).

3:  "Uncooled Multi-Spectral (UMiS) Hostile Fire Detection and Discrimination System for Airborne Platforms," https://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/824645 (2015).

4:  E Madden, "Small Arms Fire Location for the Dismounted Marine," Navy SBIR 2015.3, http://www.navysbir.com/n15_3/N153-125.htm (2015)

5:  L Zhang, F Pantuso, G Jin, A Mazurenko, M Erdtmann, S Radhakrishnan, J Salerno, "High-speed uncooled MWIR hostile fire indication sensor," Proc. SPIE, Vol 8012 (2011)

6:  S Nadav, G Brodetzki, M Danino, M Zahler, "Uncooled infrared sensor technology for hostile fire indication systems," Opt. Eng., Vol 50, No 6 (2011)

7:  M Pauli, W Seisler, J Price, A Williams, C Maraviglia, R Evans, S Moroz, M Ertem, E Heidhausen, D Burchick, "Infrared Detection and Geolocation of Gunfire and Ordnance Events from Ground and Air Platforms," www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA460225 (2004)

KEYWORDS: Hostile Fire, HFD, HFI, Uncooled, Bolometer, Helmet 

CONTACT(S): 

Dennis Waldron 

(703) 704-1488 

dennis.l.waldron2.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: To develop and demonstrate techniques for labeling frames of infrared video in real time and using those labels and other information to identify obstacles and threats. 

DESCRIPTION: Great progress has been made in automated identification of targets (objects of interest) in single frame infrared imagery. However, less success has been achieved in multi-class characterization of entire images (scene labeling)--with difficulties presented both in the correct classification of many categories of objects and in the computational time needed to process an entire image. Real time capability is essential for obstacle avoidance, threat detection, and navigation in moving vehicles. What is needed a set of algorithms which exploit spatial and temporal context for the computationally efficient scene labeling of video sequences--which will enable the military operator to respond to avoid obstacles and threats in real-time. The problem of threat detection and obstacle avoidance in full motion passive infrared (IR) video is of critical interest to the Army. Vehicle drivers and sensor operators are inundated with many terabytes of video. Human operators are subject to fatigue, boredom, and information overload. To maintain necessary situational awareness, it is vital to automate the video understanding process as much as possible. The problem presents immense computational complexity and is unsolved. Novel deep learning methods have been developed that promise a qualitative breakthrough in machine learning and aided target recognition (AITR) for object detection and classification in video. The approach in this effort should expand these successes to include full motion video understanding and threat detection. 

PHASE I: Show proof of concept for scene labelling algorithms for obstacle avoidance, navigation, and threat detection in full motion IR video. Show proof of concept for algorithms to greatly increase threat classification effectiveness (high probability of correct classification with minimal false alarms). Integrate algorithms into comprehensive algorithm suite. Test algorithms on existing data. Demonstrate feasibility of technique in infrared (IR) video sequences. Distribute demonstration code to Government for independent verification. Successful testing at the end of Phase 1 must show a level of algorithmic achievement such that potential Phase 2 development demands few fundamental breakthroughs but would be a natural continuation and development of Phase 1 activity. 

PHASE II: Complete primary algorithmic development. Complete implementation of algorithms. Test completed algorithms on government controlled data. System must achieve 90% classification rate with less than 5% false alarms. Principle deliverables are the algorithms. Documented algorithms will be fully deliverable to government in order to demonstrate and further test system capability. Successful testing at end of Phase 2 must show level of algorithmic achievement such that potential Phase 3 algorithmic development demands no major breakthroughs but would be a natural continuation and development of Phase 2 activity. 

PHASE III: Complete final algorithmic development. Complete final software system implementation of algorithms. Test completed algorithms on government controlled data. System must achieve 90% classification rate with less than 5% false alarms. Documented algorithms (along with system software) will be fully deliverable to government in order to demonstrate and further test system capability. Applications of the system will be in NVESD Multi-Function Display Program and vehicle navigation packages. Civilian applications will be in crowd monitoring, navigation aids, and self-driving cars 

REFERENCES: 

1: Farabet, C., Couprie, C., Najman, L., and LeCun, Y., "Learning Hierarchical Features for Scene Labeling", IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, Volume 35 Issue 8, August 2013, pp. 1915-1929

2:  Albalooshi, F. and Asari, V.K., "A Self-Organizing Lattice Boltzmann Active Contour (SOLBAC) Approach For Fast And Robust Object Region Segmentation," Proceedings IEEE International Conference on Image Processing - ICIP 2015, pp. 1329-1333, Quebec City, Canada, 27-30 September 2015.

3:  I-Hong Jhuo

4:  Lee, D.T., "Video Event Detection via Multi-modality Deep Learning," Pattern Recognition (ICPR), 2014 22nd International Conference on, pp.666,671, 24-28 Aug. 2014

KEYWORDS: Aided Target Recognition, Deep Learning, Neural Networks, Scene Labeling, Threat Detection 

CONTACT(S): 

Mr. James Bonick 

(703) 704-1829 

james.bonick@us.army.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to develop resource efficient methods and techniques that generate and annotate metadata based on information that has been retrieved from Army tactical networks that deploy artificial autonomous agents. The goal is to improve the accuracy of information queries, with this accuracy determined by quantitative criteria that reflect the risk in misidentifying what information is relevant for the Army mission at hand. 

DESCRIPTION: The Army vision of artificial autonomous agents collaborating with mounted and dismounted forces in order to perform a wide range of mission operations will require scalable and robust networking solutions. Artificial agents of different types and complexity will consequently form a heterogeneous network that has variable resources and capabilities, and will need to coordinate and interact with each other to allow the completion of the required mission tasks while respecting the limited resources available in a tactical network. Due to the limitations of communication bandwidth, storage and processing capabilities of tactical edge networks, it is impossible to disseminate all the generated information (e.g. images and videos) to the agents that need it. For example, autonomous aerial drones with mounted cameras can generate images to aid in mission planning by uploading all the images/videos they record to a server, and the server will then utilize content-based techniques to resolve user queries over the images and videos. However this approach can utilize an appreciable amount of network bandwidth, and the storing and processing of images and videos can utilize a significant amount of disk space and processing power on the server. But realistically only a small percentage of the uploaded images or videos may actually be useful to any participating agent in the network. Therefore the resources utilized to upload, store, and process the remaining images and videos will be wasted. These considerations call for the design of an information access methodology on the network that will be aware of network, computational, and relevance constraints. Such a methodology will significantly enhance the network’s ability to transfer relevant information, and will therefore increase the likelihood of mission effectiveness. To this end, this methodology should follow some of the current techniques in information science, in particular the current paradigm of neural networks and deep learning in order to generate metadata from the data acquired by the agents in the network. The goal will be to develop techniques that will: (i) Generate/annotate metadata based on embedded sensors of the autonomous agents (both artificial and human) that will optimize the network resource utilization and processing power of the agents using algorithms that will scale appropriately. (ii) Assist human users in annotating metadata in order to increase query accuracy; (iii) Select and retrieve images and videos based on the available network resources and what is called the Value of Information (VoI), a concept that captures quantitatively the relevance of the information to mission tasks and completion. The research should address what strategies for generating and annotating metadata will increase the accuracy of matched queries and tasks for the given mission. This includes auto-generated data from artificial autonomous agents as well as data annotated by the human user. The research should also address information retrieval techniques that incorporate strategies to select advantageous combinations of modalities (e.g. video, text, images) that can significantly increase the query accuracy, the VoI, while still being aware of network availability and utilization. The network that deploys this methodology is expected to operate in contested and congested environments with intermittent communication links, and therefore the agents will need to take advantage of all short-lived, high-rate communication opportunities if and when they arise. 

PHASE I: Explore and design strategies and algorithms that annotate, organize and select metadata and information content queries while being aware of the network conditions and the value of information requirements. Define a framework for intelligent capture of the interactions between human and artificial autonomous agents. Use this framework to share information over wireless heterogeneous network. Demonstrate viability of solution through modeling and simulation. 

PHASE II: Develop specification and software implementation of the proposed algorithms and techniques from Phase I. Demonstration of the scalability properties of the proposed solution using a combination of artificial autonomous agents and human agents in wireless mobile network in combination with emulated network. Demonstrate the capabilities using a network of wireless mobile nodes under a relevant outdoor scenario. 

PHASE III: This research can enhance network capability for supporting intelligence gathering of information in different coalition networks. Users (artificial and human) in these network settings are likely to generate large volumes of content consisting of images/videos. With the metadata based information access, we can significantly enhance the information carrying ability of the tactical network, and then lead to better success in missions. In addition to military applications, manned and unmanned teaming efforts within First Responders and Homeland Security are expected to grow and benefit from the metadata based information access. Envisioned improvements to be provided by this topic in terms of network efficiency and scalability can also be inserted in these applications and thus enable broader use of their capabilities. 

REFERENCES: 

1: T. Dao, A. Roy-Chowdhury, H. Madhyastha, S. Krishnamurthy, T. La Porta, "Managing redundant content in bandwidth constrained wireless networks," In ACM International Conference on emerging Networking Experiments and Technologies, 2014.

2:  Richard E. Mayer., Cognitive theory of multimedia learning. In the Cambridge Handbook of Multimedia Learning, pp. 43-71. Ed. Richard E. Mayer. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2014

3:  Richard E. Mayer. The promise of multimedia learning: using the same instructional design methods across different media. Learning and Instruction 13(2):125-139. 2003.

4:  Rebecca J. Passonneau, Emily Chen, Weiwei Guo, Dolores Perin. Automated Pyramid Scoring of Summaries using Distributional Semantics. Proceedings of the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics. 2013.

5:  Qian Yang, Rebecca J. Passonneau, Gerard deMelo. PEAK: Pyramid Evaluation via Automated Knowledge Extraction. Proceedings of the Thirtieth AAAI Conference on Artificial Intelligence, 2016

6:  M. Uddin, H. Wang, F. Saremi, G. Qi, T. Abdelzaher, and T. Huang, "PhotoNet: A similarity-aware picture delivery service for situation awareness," in IEEE Real-Time System Symposium, 2011.

7:  Yi Wang, Wenjie Hu, Yibo Wu, and Guohong Cao, "SmartPhoto: A Resource- Aware Crowdsourcing Approach for Image Sensing with Smartphones," ACM Mobihoc, 2014

8:  Y. Wu, Y. Wang, W. Hu, X. Zhang, and G. Cao, "Resource-Aware Photo Crowdsourcing Through Disruption Tolerant Networks," IEEE International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems (ICDCS), 2016.

KEYWORDS: MUM-T, Metadata, Artificial Agents, Information Network, Communication Network, Routing, Wireless Network, Drone, SUAV 

CONTACT(S): 

Mitesh Patel 

(443) 395-7630 

mitesh.p.patel.civ@mail.mil 

Bart Panettieri 

(443) 395-7371 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a set of modular machine learning algorithms, possibly based on deep learning, which effectively avoid or mitigate interference (Red/Blue/Self) and congestion, in order to schedule reliable communications for Army tactical networks 

DESCRIPTION: Military communications waveforms of today are typically Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)-based. TDMA is a well-understood network access method that enables a group of tactical nodes to communicate amongst each other. Current TDMA scheduling algorithms quickly become ineffective when the communications spectrum is congested and contested. This is because these algorithms are policy driven and have no ability to learn about potential impediments to reliable communications within the operational spectrum. Cognitive techniques are required to reason about the communications spectrum in order to determine when interference and congestion is occurring. These techniques are also required to classify that interference and/or congestion in near real-time. The classification results are fed into the scheduling algorithm so that, as needed, either communications reschedule reliably in a timely fashion to avoid interference, or address the interference/congestion with a robust mitigation technique. 

PHASE I: Develop the feasibility and basic requirements of machine learning techniques that can sweep a segment of communications spectrum while learning and recognizing interference and congestion. Develop the initial training set that minimizes signal feature extraction errors, while enhancing communications by recognizing interference, all classes of jammers, and congestion impairments. 

PHASE II: Design a TDMA scheduling algorithm that takes cues/inputs from a machine-learning algorithm. The machine-learning algorithm exchanges information in a distributed fashion, learning about interference, congestion, and jamming across the nodes of a tactical network. Develop seamless integration of the machine-learning algorithm and the scheduling algorithm in various M&S scenarios and demonstrate the capability. 

PHASE III: Develop and prototype the capability of an integrated scheduling algorithm and machine-learning algorithm on a commercial-of-the-shelf (COTS) Software Defined Radio (SDR) and provide a realistic demonstration of the capability. The demonstration shows near real-time avoidance of interference (EW, self-Interference, co-site, and others) and/or congestion, while reliably scheduling communications amongst networked nodes. This capability can be used in emerging on-the-move tactical (OTM) networks with manned-unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capabilities for the military, and can be used in emerging commercial self driving vehicle networks. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Hinton, S Osindero, and Y Teh. "A fast learning algorithm for deep belief nets." Neural Comput., 18:1527{1554, 2006.

2:  A Krizhevsky, I Sutskever, and G Hinton. "ImageNet classication with deep convolutional neural networks". In NIPS, 2012.

3:  David Eigen, Jason Rolfe, Rob Fergus and Yann LeCun: "Understanding Deep Architectures using a Recursive Convolutional Network", International Conference on Learning Representations April 2012

4:  Tzi-Dar Chiueh & Pei-Yun Tsai "OFDM Baseband Receiver Design for Wireless Communications", Wiley, Asia 2007

5:  Dong Yu & Li Deng "Deep Learning and its Applications to Signal and Information Processing", IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, Exploratory DSP, January 2011

6:  CG Constable, "Parameter Estimation in Non-Gaussian Noise" Geophysical Journal, 1988

7:  Yao Liu and Peng Ning, "BitTrickle" Defending against Broadband and High-Power Reactive Jamming Attacks", Infocom 12, 2012

8:  "Jamming and Anti-Jamming Techniques in Wireless Networks: A Survey" International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing 2012

9:  University of Saskatchewan "Signal Constellations, Optimum Receivers and Error Probabilities"

KEYWORDS: Deep Learning, Multi-Layer Neural Network, Time Division Multiple Access, Jamming, Interference, Congestion, Scheduling Algorithms, Communications Spectrum, Tactical Networks, Software Defined Radios 

CONTACT(S): 

Gilbert Green 

(443) 395-7629 

gilbert.s.green2.civ@mail.mil 

Mitesh Patel 

(443) 395-7630 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: To mitigate the impact of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) -denied navigation and improve airborne platform inertial (attitude) estimates, develop navigation techniques based on the correlation of high resolution radar imagery to previously-collected radar imagery, optical imagery and/or digital terrain elevation databases. 

DESCRIPTION: Terrain reference has been employed for precision navigation for centuries, using visual aids such as significant topographical features and landmarks to establish one’s current location. In a more recent form, e.g. Terrain Contour Matching (TERCOM, [1]), a technique pre-dating GNSS, compares optical features or a sequence of terrain height measurements to databases to determine a platform’s current position. For the latter approach, the system relies on terrain height databases such as Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) as fiduciaries. TERCOM systems are known to perform poorly in areas where there is little / no terrain relief and/or salient optical features depending on the specifics of the implementation. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and real-beam imaging can deliver nearly optical quality, all-weather, day-night imagery in two dimensions [2]. Combined with elevation degrees of freedom, these systems can produce interferograms, which can then be used to yield terrain relief estimates as well [3]. By correlating radar imagery to existing optical or, in the case of three-dimensional, DTED databases, imaging radar can assist in all-weather / day-night navigation. 

PHASE I: Identify both radar and reference data to be used to support image-based navigation studies. Develop navigation error models with the appropriate degrees of freedom. Establish quantitative relationships between the quality of reference imagery, the resulting registration (e.g. misalignment), and associated navigation errors. Through analysis and empirical studies using existing radar imagery, establish under what conditions image based navigation works effectively and when it fails. Summarize the performance of the technique under conditions in which the model(s) was (were) tested. Develop plans for a Phase 2 demonstration on operationally relevant imagery. 

PHASE II: To demonstrate the efficacy of the capability in previously-untested environments, develop, in C/C++, MATLAB or similar prototyping software, a near-real-time image-based navigation implementation(s). Identify a radar system capable of producing the necessary radar imagery. Informed by results and lessons-learned in Phase 1, develop and execute test plans utilizing the radar to collect data. Demonstrate the algorithms’ efficacy on data collected by the system in near-real time. 

PHASE III: Implement and integrate an RF image-based navigation algorithm for real-time use on an operationally relevant real-beam or for SAR-based imaging system. Develop and execute test plans demonstrating the efficacy of the algorithm in an operationally relevant environments. Develop and implement plans to effect the transition of the real-time capability to the operational system. Transition path is through Degraded Visual Environment-Mitigation (DVE-M) Science and Technology Objective (STO). 

REFERENCES: 

1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TERCOM

2:  G. Titi, D. Goshi, and G. Subramanian, "The Multi-Function RF (MFRF) Dataset: A W-Band Database for Degraded Visual Environment Studies", SPIE D&C, April 2016.

3:  Rosen, P. A.

4:  Hensley, S.

5:  Joughin, I. R.

6:  Li, F. K.

7:  Madsen, S. N.

8:  Rodriquez, E. & Goldstein, R. M. Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry Proc. IEEE, 2000, 88, 333-382

KEYWORDS: GPS-Denied Navigation, Terrain Contour Matching, Radar Image-Based Navigation 

CONTACT(S): 

Ariel Ibrahim 

(443) 861-0053 

ariel.r.ibrahim.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Kenneth Gilliard 

(443) 861-0529 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: The task of reviewing programs for possible vulnerabilities is often complicated by lack of availability of the program’s source code. Although it is possible to decompile or convert binary executable code back to source code for some languages, for most languages the process remains either unreliable or not possible with current technology. There are tools that can detect vulnerabilities within binary machine code and it can be changed into assembly language, but it is difficult to verify these findings without being knowledgeable of machine code and assembly language, or without being able to translate the machine code back to source code. It is proposed that a tool or set of tools be developed to expand the ability to revert binary machine code back to source code or to a higher level language beyond assembly language. 

DESCRIPTION: There are a number of reasons why source code may be unavailable for systems in use within DoD systems. The reasons include limitations on contract data rights, the use of legacy code for which the vendor is no longer available, and the inclusion of other third party libraries. In these cases, it is still necessary to assess the applications in order to identify potential vulnerabilities and determine their security posture. With current technology, source code assessment can be achieved through numerous tools which parse the code and identify potential defects. Some tools are also available which can parse binary code and identify defects, but these tools do generate some false positives, and further human analysis is required to eliminate those false positives and identify the true security posture. In the case of software without source code, this analysis can be extremely time consuming, and requires specialized skill sets to understand the assembly language generated based on the binary code. 

PHASE I: Develop a white paper/prototype which documents a process for developing a robust Automated Tools set that shall recreate a high level source code based on binary software. The tool shall able to reverse engineer multiple programming languages and regenerate code in its original language as developed before compilation. The proposed solution shall regenerate a higher level language code allowing analysts the flexibility to effectively determine the overall security posture of the systems and accurately review the results of findings from binary analysis tools. The solution shall allow assessment of software defects without the need to manually review any lower level languages such as binary or machine code. All assessment will be performed in higher level languages, for 100% of source code regardless of input language. 

PHASE II: Develop a working prototype, based on the selected Phase I design which demonstrates capabilities of a tool or set of tools to expand the ability to revert machine code back to source code or to a higher level language beyond Assembly language. The solution shall find potential vulnerabilities throughout the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), and recreate high level source code based on binary software where a potential security defect has been identified rather than through problem reports after systems are fielded, sustainment costs can be drastically reduced, and system readiness drastically enhanced. The solution shall identify vulnerabilities in source code which are associated with the Common Weaknesses and Exposures (CWE) list. Upon identifying these defects, source code shall be generated in a higher level language for 100% of the defects. The generated source code shall coincide with the full function or module in which the defect was identified, and shall be generated regardless of the original language that the code was developed in. 

PHASE III: In conjunction with Army, optimize the prototype created in Phase II. Implement a Robust Tool for which can recreate high level source code for test and evaluation, using commercially available technologies. The implementation should ensure that the system is interoperable with existing system of systems. Perform steps required to commercialize the system. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Klocwork, "Developing Software in a Multicore and Multiprocessor World," Ottawa, ON, 2010.

2:  G. McGraw, Software Security: Building Security In, Addision-Wesley Professional, 2006.

3:  "Comparative Study of Risk Management in Centralized and Distributed Software Development Environment," Scientific International (Lahore), vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 1523-1528, 2014.

4:  G. Vasiliadis, M. Polychronakis and S. Ioannidis, "GPU-Assisted Malware," International Journal of Information Security, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 289-297, 2015.

5:  M. Atighetchi, V. Ishakian, J. Loyall, P. Pal, A. Sinclair and R. Grant, "Metronome: Operating System Level Performance Management via Self-Adaptive Computing," in Proceedings of the 49th Annual Design Automation Conference, 2012.

KEYWORDS: Cyber Security, Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS), Malicious, Vulnerabilities, Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC ), Binary Analysis, Source Code, False Positives, High Level Language Code 

CONTACT(S): 

Huy Pham 

(443) 861-3218 

huy.x.pham.civ@mail.mil 

David Arty 

(732) 532-3338 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: To develop alternative Global Positioning System (GPS) anti-Jam technologies to improve performance on the degrees of freedom (exceed N-1 limit) and provide reduced size, weight and power, and cost (SWaP-C). 

DESCRIPTION: The current state-of-the-art in GPS anti-jam technology relies heavily on antennas that consist of multi-element arrays and a processing unit that performs a phase-destructive sum of any intentional and unintentional interference signals in the GPS band. The protection that these technologies provide is limited to the number of individual elements contained in the antenna array. That is, if an antenna array contains N elements, then it is limited to attenuate interference sources coming from N-1 distinct directions of arrival. If this limitation is exceeded, the GPS signal will rapidly degrade and become buried in the noise. In order to overcome these limitations, GPS anti-jam technologies that don't rely on multi-element antennas is desired. Alternative technologies may include, but are not limited to, various hardware and software solutions such as antenna masking, power limiters, and advanced signal processing techniques. 

PHASE I: The purpose of this topic is to have companies provide CP&I PNT innovative, non-traditional means of achieving anti-jam GPS technology. Explore alternative anti-jam technologies that demonstrate improvements on performance on the degrees of freedom (exceed N-1 limit), which limits the current anti-jam technology using multi-elements array. The proposed alternative solution should also address reduction in SWaP and especially cost of anti-jam technologies (today’s anti-jam antennas are very expensive). The final product for Phase I will be a specification for the Phase II prototype and a technical report providing details for the tradeoff studies that were performed. 

PHASE II: Refine and optimize anti-jam technology from Phase I and develop, build, and demonstrate the prototype anti-jam device based on a non-traditional approach. A test report detailing the results of the Phase II prototype demonstrations will be delivered. 

PHASE III: Transition technology to the U.S. Army. Integrate this technology into Army mounted and/or dismounted platforms as well as commercial applications that require anti-jam capabilities. 

REFERENCES: 

1: I. Gupta, I. Weiss, and A. Morrison "Desired Features of Adaptive Antenna Arrays for GNSS Receivers", Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 104, Issue 6, June 2016.

2:  J. Adam, and S. Stitzer, "MSW Frequency Selective Limiters at UHF", IEEE Transactions of Magnetics, Vol. 40, No. 4, July 2004.

3:  B. Qiu, W. Liu, and R. Wu, "Blind Interference Suppression For Satellite Navigation Signals Based On Antenna Arrays", IEEE China Summit & International Conference on Signal and Information Processing (ChinaSIP), July 2013.

KEYWORDS: Anti-jam, GPS, Advanced Signal Processing Techniques, Filters, Interference Suppression 

CONTACT(S): 

Caroline Waiyaki 

(443) 395-0092 

caroline.w.waiyaki.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Paul Olson 

(443) 395-0064 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Human Systems 

OBJECTIVE: To provide Tactical Commanders with an improved method of automatically visualized data tailored to human cognition for prompt and efficient decision making. A focus on reliability, as opposed to complexity, would provide a more approachable user experience for Tactical Commanders expecting concise results in rapid assessments. 

DESCRIPTION: Tactical Commanders require improved, tailorable and automated data visualization approaches in the Command and Control, Communications and Intelligence (C3I) domain to help them grasp and take advantage of key information in both rich and sparse data environments. For data to be useful and actionable, investments must be made in analyzing that information and communicating it in a way that is easy to use and practical. This requires analysis and development of mechanisms that enable non-data specialists to understand and use data. Data visualization approaches should consider human cognition and current context, and should adapt to fit the commander’s thought process and decision-making horizons. An effort is needed to study, define, and categorize a reasonable set of military decisions that can be improved with new data visualization approaches. The paper A Showcase of Visualization Approaches For Military Decision Makers proposes a conceptual model to capture and implement advanced data visualization. This model, with some of the detail shown below, is meant only as an example (other models can be proposed) of how new data visualizations can be described and prototyped. • The Domain Context is a model that defines the focus for the application of visualization approaches - i.e. where visualization approaches will be applied, who will be supported, and why those approaches are needed. 1 • Descriptive Aspects (DA) define what needs to be described for particular domain contexts. For example, DAs could be defined in terms of the various elements (or things) that are of importance, the relationships between those elements, and particular attributes that describe the elements and relationships. • The Visualization Approach dimension defines how the required information can be provided through computer-based visualization. Approaches are characterized in terms of the visual representations used (e.g., graphs, charts, maps) and related visual enhancements (e.g., use of overlays, distortion, animation). 

PHASE I: Using available literature resources, investigate and analyze key aspects of data visualization approaches. Assessments of task complexity, dynamic context elements, the cognitive cycle of perception / comprehension / projection, differences in individuals’ training and background, the transformation of raw data into information, and data streams that are typical and/or representative of the tactical environment are a partial list of the factors that should be considered. A methodology for combining those factors into a representation that could drive visualizations is desired. 

PHASE II: The methodology and framework should be refined during the first portion of phase 2. An assessment of how to validate specific approaches should be presented. The contractor will then develop a prototype that uses actual and/or representative data inputs, the various factors driving the visualization, and a Common Operational Picture that would be used by commander and staff to develop situational awareness and understanding in an optimal way. SME feedback into prototype visualizations is desired. Measurements of how well specific visualizations fit the objective are expected, as the usefulness and appropriateness of the visualization techniques are expected to be matured over the life of the SBIR. The contractor will work with the government to develop an initial plan for how the techniques could be integrated into systems of record. This would include proposed mechanisms for collecting user and situation data in real-time to update visualizations. 

PHASE III: During Phase 3 the prototype will be matured, and the contractor will work with the government to demonstrate the software to user juries in operational settings. Quick incorporation of feedback into the software baseline is expected. A real-world implementation/ deployment analysis should also be performed; the contractor will work with the government to establish a process for integrating the data collection and visualization approaches into one or more typical systems of record, such as the Command Post Computing Environment (CPCE). The contractor will work with the government to identify other potential adopters of the technology, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Gouin, Evdokiou, Vernik, A Showcase of Visualization Approaches For Military Decision Makers, 2004

KEYWORDS: Data, Visualization, Decisions, Informed, Cognitive, Aid, Technical, Evaluation 

CONTACT(S): 

Nicholas Grayson 

(443) 395-0885 

nicholas.k.grayson.civ@mail.mil 

Gabriel Brandao 

(443) 395-0885 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Utilize machine learning techniques to make inferences on the training set of another machine learning classifier, in order to manipulate inputs to generate desired outputs to harden network security applications. 

DESCRIPTION: Recent research has demonstrated an ability to utilize machine learning techniques in a manner to cause other models to leak information about the individual data sets they were trained on. It is proposed to extend this technique to Cyber defensive cases, in order to better understand and harden machine learning based network security solutions, such as Intrusion Prevention/Detection Systems (IPS/IDS). Utilizing a machine learning algorithm in an adversarial manner against a system already trained with a specific data set, it is possible to glean information on the original training set by manipulating inputs provided to the system and observing its reported outputs. It is the intention of this SBIR to evaluate the feasibility and commercial viability of techniques that could be easily adapted to test and evaluate the robustness of an already trained model, particularly one in which the internal classifier parameters are unknown. 

PHASE I: Evaluation of various machine learning networking security solutions and their implementations. An example is the open source project, Stratosphere. Evaluation of machine learning concepts, methods, and existing research applicable to this attack surface will aid in the eventual goal of an implementation of machine learning system concept(s) against a given IPS/IDS system to demonstrate manipulation of data inputs to generate specific responses from the classification system. 

PHASE II: Verification and validation of machine learning technique against additional IPS/IDS systems and surrogates. Enhancements to technique for real-time traffic manipulation to allow for dynamic triggers against an IPS/IDS in a specific manner. Demonstration of technique effectiveness from both inside and outside of a protected network. 

PHASE III: Extension of technique beyond network security. Potential commercialization options include, but are not limited to: - Use technique to validate robustness of machine learning algorithms to inference attacks - Technique applicability to keyword manipulation to guard against advanced tracking mechanisms to enhance security and privacy - Masking “honeypot” networks by manipulating traffic to appear already compromised - Utilizing technique to validate effectiveness of other classifiers’ ability to handle malicious or targeted junk data Military transition paths for network security applications of this concept include Product Manager elements and product lines within PEO IEW&S, PM EW&C. Elements of this SBIR would directly feed into established, planned, and already transitioned I2WD mission funded efforts relating to Cyber security, awareness, and understanding. Aspects of Phase III deliverables will support situational understanding and modeling of Cyber assets and defensive techniques. It is expected that, if successful, this SBIR will transition directly to elements within PM EW&C, as part of long-term and ongoing product line support. Commercially, a successful implementation of this SBIR in Phase III would aid in heightened Cyber defensive and penetration testing techniques, providing Internet Service Providers (ISPs), cloud-based architecture providers, and other Cyber security research organizations a robust validation method. Specific transition partners, operational use cases, and military applications are classified. Generic descriptions and high-level transition paths are provided to provide unclassified clarification as much as possible. 

REFERENCES: 

1: R. Shokri, et al. "Membership Inference Attacks Against Machine Learning Models". 38th IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. 2017.

2:  N. Carlini, D. Wagner. "Towards Evaluating the Robustness of Neural Networks". 38th IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. 2017.

3:  Stratosphere IPS Project. Accessed June 7, 2017. [Online] https://stratosphereips.org/

4:  H. Yang, et al. "How to Learn Klingon Without Dictionary: Detection and Measurement of Black Keywords Used by Underground Economy". 38th IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy. 2017.

5:  R. Sommer, V. Paxson. "Outside the Closed World: On Using Machine Learning for Network Intrusion Detection". 2010 IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy.

6:  S. Mukkamala, et al. "Intrusion detection using neural networks and support vector machines". Proceedings of the 2002 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks. 2002.

7:  W. Lee, S. Stolfo. "Data Mining Approaches for Intrusion Detection". 7th USENIX Security Symposium. 1998.

8:  C. Tsai, et al. "Intrusion detection by machine learning: A review". Expert Systems with Applications. Vol. 36, Iss. 10. pp. 11994-12000. December 2009.

9:  D. Tsai, et al. "A hybrid intelligent intrusion detection system to recognize novel attacks". IEEE 37th Annual 2003 International Carnahan Conference on Security Technology. 2003.

KEYWORDS: Machine Learning, Cyber, Network Security, Intrusion Prevention System, IPS, Intrusion Detection System, IDS, Neural Networks, Behavioral Modeling 

CONTACT(S): 

Mr. Stephen Raio 

(443) 861-0571 

stephen.raio.civ@mail.mil 

Metin Ahiskali 

(443) 861-0549 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to develop network resource-aware methodologies for coordination and cooperation that will optimize the information flow for Army ad-hoc tactical networks operating in congested and contested environments. 

DESCRIPTION: The Army has a definite need to understand the degree to which ad-hoc wireless communications can still occur in congested and contested environments where power sources are short-lived, the spectrum is limited and where jamming (both friendly and adversarial) can occur spontaneously and without warning. The achieving of wireless communications may entail that the agents/nodes on the network cooperate and coordinate to an extent that will enable them to pass needed information to each other despite being embedded in a congested and contested environments. The degree of cooperation and coordination between these agents can be obtained by viewing the interactions between agents as an optimization problem, the solution of which will indicate what kinds of activities and just how much data exchange between the agents are necessary for passing needed information. The methodology to be developed will address the problem as one that will utilize coordination and cooperation in obtaining the solution. This is to be contrasted with one where the agents alone and in isolation decide the optimal course of action for operating effectively in a congested and contested environment. The methodology should make use of any of the techniques coming from the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence but should not make use of techniques from game theory. This analysis should be done assuming a base frequency ranging from 400 MHz to 2.4 GHz. Free space communications is assumed. It will be assumed that there are N (friendly) network nodes enclosed in bounded region R of space in the environment and distributed uniformly in this region. Two other (adversarial) nodes will be assumed to be outside of R but transmitting a periodic signal of period T and power P at the same frequency as the friendly nodes. These two nodes will represent adversarial jamming nodes. Two of the friendly nodes are assumed to transmit at ten (10) different frequencies (to be chosen by the investigator) between 400 MHz and 2.4 GHz but at twice the power of the other friendly nodes. The duration and starting times of these signals will be chosen according to a deterministic pattern. These two nodes represent friendly jammers. It will be assumed also that all nodes have finite power sources that could be replenished either with batteries or with RF energy harvesting. The goal will be to develop a practical computable methodology that will: (i) Show explicitly how cooperation and coordination among agents can optimize network resources (spectrum, bandwidth, energy), and the processing power of the agents using algorithms that will scale with the number of agents. The exact notion of cooperation and coordination should be innovative and must not utilize those from the game theory literature. (ii) Using computational geometry or similar techniques, segment the environment to indicate which geographical regions can optimally support wireless communications. Each of these regions is to be ranked as to its effectiveness in supporting wireless communications using a quantitative risk measure. For each agent this risk measure must reflect the many reasons why the agent won’t be able to obtain useful information from other agents, such as congestion, unavailability of slots or routes, or signal interference. (iii) Indicate explicitly which network factors/covariates and their measurements are needed for cooperation and coordination and to what degree these factors contribute to optimal wireless communications in contested and congested environments. (iv) Estimate the amount of needed information that can be exchanged in a tactical network using coordination and cooperation. 

PHASE I: Explore and define a mathematical framework to capture the interactions between agents in a tactical network embedded in a contested and congested environment. Use this framework to show how cooperation and coordination between agents is to occur and show explicitly what network data is needed to accomplish this. Identify the geographical segmentation algorithm to be used and the risk measure(s) to be assigned to each geographical segment. 

PHASE II: Create simulation and/or analytical models to illustrate the optimality of the cooperation and coordination framework. Give examples of the models over real Army tactical networks. Develop software that can be implemented in a tactical network that will realize what was shown in these models. This software is to be written in a language that is implementable on an Army tactical communications platform. 

PHASE III: Demonstrate a radio system that is field-ready utilizing the software developed in Phase II, and demonstrate interoperability with other transceivers in a tactical network environment that would be used in all Army echelons. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Additive consistency of risk measures and its application to risk-averse routing in networks, R. Cominetti and A. Turrico, arXiv: 1312.4193v1 [math.OC] 15 Dec 2013.

2:  Cooperative learning in multi-agent systems from intermittent measurements, N. Leonard, A. Olshevsky, arXiv: 1209.2194v2 Sept 2013.

3:  Learning of coordination: exploiting sparse interactions in multiagent systems, F. S. Melo and M. Veloso, Procs of 8th Int. Conf on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, 2009.

4:  Learning of coordination: exploiting sparse interactions in multiagent systems, F. S. Melo and M. Veloso, Procs of 8th Int. Conf on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, 2009.

5:  Collective decision-making in ideal networks: the speed-accuracy tradeoff, V. Srivastave, N. E Leonard, arXiv 1402.3634v1 Feb 2014.

6:  The topology of wireless communication, E. Kantor, Z. Lotker, M. Parter, D. Peleg, arXiv 1103.4566v2 Mar 2011.

7:  A review of properties and variations of Voronoi diagrams, A. Dorbin.

8:  Risk Measures for the 21st Century, Giorgio Szego (Editor), Wiley

9:  1 edition 2004.

KEYWORDS: Cooperation, Coordination, Wireless, Ad-hoc, Optimization, Risk, Tactical, Network 

CONTACT(S): 

Bart Panettieri 

(443) 395-7371 

bart.f.panettieri.civ@mail.mil 

Gilbert Green 

(443) 395-7629 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: To develop and demonstrate technologies that are capable of detecting the lasers associated with Laser Beam Rider (LBR) Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) with high angular accuracy. 

DESCRIPTION: The ATGMs pose a significant threat to Army combat vehicles. With advanced sensors and countermeasures, ATGMs can be detected from significant distances, and countered prior to impacting their intended targets. The LBR ATGM launchers project an infrared laser field by which the missile is guided to the target. This laser energy can be detected to help warn vehicle crews, or aid other systems in locating the inbound missile. Unlike laser rangefinders and designators which use relatively higher powered lasers, LBR laser energy is much lower since it only requires a one-way guidance link from the launcher to the back of the missile in flight. The laser energy that impacts the ground vehicle is very low, making it both difficult to detect and find its origin. Current state-of-the-art, commercially available laser warning systems are capable of detecting LBR ATGMs and locating them within a quadrant, but do not provide the angular accuracy required to enable improved countermeasure solutions, evasive maneuvers, or line-of-bearing for counter fire. Fielded laser warning systems also typically have beam-rider sensitivity on the order of 5-10uW/cm^2, or are not optimally designed to detect beam-riders. Instead, they are designed optimally for rangefinder or laser designator detection, with a reduced capability to detect beam-riders. The goal of this Small Business Innovation Research is to develop and demonstrate sensor technologies capable of accurately detecting this laser energy at the maximum effective ranges of LBR ATGMs. The requested system shall detect lasers in wavelengths from 800-1100nm, with an objective accuracy of +/- 1 degree, and have a nominal sensitivity of 1uW/cm^2. The system should also be capable of disregarding light sources that are not lasers. Power, interface, and costs targets will be discussed during Phase 1. 

PHASE I: The goal of Phase 1 is to produce a conceptual design and breadboard suitable to demonstrate the component technology in a laboratory environment. Surrogate lasers may be used to emulate the laser of the actual missile systems in order to demonstrate the concept. 

PHASE II: The goal of Phase 2 is to produce a prototype component that could potentially be integrated with other military sensors for Army ground vehicles. This prototype will be demonstrated both in the laboratory and controlled field environments in order to show the laser detection capability at long ranges. The prototype may be tested against actual ATGM guidance lasers depending on their availability and security considerations. Required Phase 2 deliverables will include two major design reviews, technical documentation of the prototype, operator’s manual, the prototype hardware, and a final demonstration. 

PHASE III: The Phase III developed component will be a Technical Readiness Level 6, and is intended to transition to the Army Vehicle Protection Suite Program of Record. The product could be a stand-alone component integrated on to Army ground vehicles, but will more likely be integrated and packaged with other laser warning and threat warning sensors. Potential commercial applications for this sensor technology include laser surveying, ranging, and optical communications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Title : Laser Warning Receiver, Corporate Author : NATIONAL AIR INTELLIGENCE CENTER WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH Personal Author(s) : Mei, Jin Full Text : http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA315183

2:  Patents/Research Patent: Laser beam rider guidance system Publication Number: US 4111385 A

3:  Patent: Panoramic laser warning receiver for determining angle of arrival of laser light based on intensity Publication number: US 9448107 B2

4:  Market Potential: http://www.satprnews.com/2017/07/05/laser-warning-system-market-to-witness-comprehensive-growth-by-2025/

KEYWORDS: Ground Combat Vehicle, Laser, Anti-Tank Guided Missile, ATGM, Laser Beam Rider, Electronic Warfare, Infrared, Sensor, Detector, Laser Warning Receiver 

CONTACT(S): 

Andrew Hill 

(443) 861-0590 

andrew.j.hill104.civ@mail.mil 

Scott Hayward 

(443) 861-0633 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to design and develop a joint MAC and routing protocol that supports tactical radios operating in full-duplex (FD) UHF/VHF band, and simultaneous electronic warfare (EW) and communications capability. The development of full-duplex radios is emerging for the unlicensed band and the current research has focused on development of the physical layer to provide point to point links and increase capacity. Taking advantage of the physical layer breakthroughs in full-duplex, which cancels self-interference, will entail the re-design of some of the upper layer protocols, such as scheduling and routing. 

DESCRIPTION: The development of full-duplex radios has a benefit for the Army in that it allows an increase in MANET network capacity and also simultaneous electronic warfare (EW) and communications. However, to get the maximum gain out of the unique characteristics of a full-duplex capability for future MANET wireless communication, it is important to design intelligent full-duplex scheduling and routing protocols. Current tactical radios cannot simultaneously transmit and receive on the same channel since the self- interference generated when transmitting is orders of magnitude stronger than the received signal. In addition, the scheduling and routing protocols are designed for half-duplex radios. Current breakthroughs at the physical layer such as circulators, analog circuitry, digital signal processing (DSP) techniques and the antenna technologies promise to provide 40-80db in self-interference cancellation. Its feasibility has been shown with off-the-shelf components [1, 2, 3]. However current scheduling designs for full duplex have been so far centralized in nature and geared towards hub and spoke network configurations. Some research has been done on cellular networks with the goal of implementing a full-duplex MAC protocol that builds on IEEE 802.11 [4] and in wireless networks where a novel MAC algorithm is developed that exploits self-interference cancellation and increases spatial re-use [5]. As this research indicates, some of the key challenges for full-duplex MAC development are to coordinate multiple simultaneous transmissions that respects the selection of FD transmission modes and nodes, the fairness among nodes, the hidden node problem, and the contention in asynchronous FD mode. Also, this research indicates that the full-duplex transmission in wireless MANET networks needs a direct coupling between the routing layer and the MAC layer in order to alleviate the cross-interference relationship between the links in the network. This cross-interference can make it very difficult to fully exploit the potential of efficient FD transmission. To this end, innovative research is required to develop a cross-layer framework that encapsulates both routing and a distributed MAC with power control that is implementable on FD wireless ad-hoc networks. The routing coupled with the MAC should have the capability that all links in any routing path can be activated simultaneously, effectively forming a cut-through route [8], wherein each node along the route can simultaneously receive a new packet from the upstream node and forward a previously received packet to its downstream node. In addition to this requirement, the approach should allow a collection of nodes from the network to have the capability of engaging in jamming and communications simultaneously. The resulting framework should take the form of a decision engine that allows this collection of nodes to be intelligently selected in order to optimize jamming and communications capability. All of these features should be scalable and show performance gains in throughput, latency, and packet loss. 

PHASE I: Explore and design routing and scheduling algorithms as to their applicability in an FD wireless tactical networks. The MAC protocols TDMA, CSMA, and CDMA should be assessed as to their applicability in satisfying the requirements as described above. Formulate the capabilities of the routing and MAC scheduling in the context of a decision engine that allows simultaneous EW and communication functions on a single radio platform. This decision engine primarily will select the nodes in the wireless network that are to function as jammers. The performance and scalability properties of the chosen approach and the algorithms should be substantiated by means of modeling and quantitative analysis. 

PHASE II: Refine the design of the decision engine and the algorithms and develop specification of the networking protocols which make use of the algorithms from phase I. Provide software implementation of the proposed protocols and algorithms, and devise demonstration of capabilities using a network of wireless mobile nodes under a military relevant scenario. Demonstrate the simultaneous EW and communication functions based on the proposed solution using a combination of wireless mobile nodes and network simulation/emulation tools. 

PHASE III: The proposed research can be used to improve the network capacity and EW capabilities of Army tactical networks, as well as improving situational awareness. The proposed solution can be incorporated in future tactical radios so that the EW coordination issue is resolved more effectively. In addition to military applications, full-duplex could be used extensively in First Responder and Homeland Security communication systems. Commercial cellular service providers are expected to introduce full-duplex capabilities to handheld devices and relay devices in the near future. Envisioned improvements resulting from this research can also be inserted in these commercial applications and thus enable broader use of their capabilities. 

REFERENCES: 

1: J. I. Choi, M. Jain, K. Srinivasan, P. Levis, and S. Katti. Achieving Single Channel, Full Duplex Wireless Communication. In Proceedings of the 16th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking, MobiCom’10. ACM, 2010

2:  S. S. Hong, J. Mehlman, and S. Katti. Picasso: flexible rf and spectrum slicing. In Proceedings of the ACM SIGCOMM 2012 conference on Applications, technologies, architectures, and protocols for computer communication, pages 37–48. ACM, 2012.

3:  M. Jain, J. Choi, T. Kim, D. Bharadia, S. Seth, K. Srinivasan, P. Levis, S. Katti, and P. Sinha. Practical, Real-time, Full duplex Wireless. In Proceedings of the 17th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking, MobiCom’11, pages 301–312. ACM, 2011.

4:  A. Sahai, G. Patel, and A. Sabharwal. Pushing the Limits of Full-duplex: Design and Real-time Implementation. arXiv: 1107.0607, 2011.

5:  N. Singh, D. Gunawardena, A. Proutiere, B. Radunovic, H. Balan, and P. Key. Efficient and Fair MAC for Wireless Networks with Self-interference Cancellation. In Modeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad Hoc and Wireless Networks (WiOpt), 2011 International Symposium on, pages 94–101. IEEE, 2011.

6:  K. M. Thilina, H. Tabassum, E. Hossain, D. I. Kim. Medium access control design for full duplex wireless systems: challenges and approaches, IEEE Communications Magazine Year: 2015

7:  X. Fang, D. Yang, G. 2673512Xue. Distributed Algorithms for Multipath Routing in Full-Duplex Wireless Networks, 2011 Eighth IEEE International Conference on Mobile Ad-Hoc and Sensor Systems

8:  Y. Yang and N.B. Shroff. Scheduling in Wireless Networks with Full Duplex Cut-through Transmission, Computer Communications (INFOCOM) 2015.

KEYWORDS: Full-Duplex, MAC, Wireless, Ad-hoc, Cross-layer, Tactical Wireless Network 

CONTACT(S): 

Siamak Samoohi 

(443) 395-7766 

siamak.samoohi.civ@mail.mil 

Mitesh Patel 

(443) 395-7630 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Extract and compare unique human authorship identifiers from a broad array of digital data sets. A software system will be developed implementing artificial general intelligence to perform an automated analysis that will associate these unique identifiers to single individuals, small groups, organizations or virtual personas from digital data sets that can source from written text (e.g. – social/dark web media, emails, SMS text, manuscripts, articles, music compositions, software programs, hand written letters/notes) and artwork (e.g. – pictures, graffiti and tattoos).  

DESCRIPTION: Develop the analytical and pattern recognition capability to automatically detect and decipher unique identifying signatures within the style of the written script to identify characterization attributes such as the first language of the author education level, personality type, self-esteem, mental state, and gender. Analysis should also reveal certain biographical traits such as nationality, place of origin, and current location; reveal political, religious, or extremist orientation; and intent. Categorize the author or group by training the machine learning model to recognize different languages and anticipate future written style changes (due to maturity, potential mental and emotional state, and physical handicap) via adaptive learning. Machine learning will aid in identifying key attributes of authorship on targeted networks or social media sites and search for particular identifiers to discern particular authors of interest. This capability should also have the ability to persistently monitor targeted networks and search for additional attributable artifacts that can be associated to the author of interest. This capability will derive relevant information from various types of multi-domain information to identify, locate, and associate person(s) of interest or organization to inform intelligence and support cyberspace operations. 

PHASE I: Research and draft a white paper that lists the types of development approaches, algorithms, software, risks, schedule, and costs to automatically decipher a particular identifier through multiple data sets. Utilizing machine and adaptive learning techniques identify authorship via typed and written language on documents, artwork, and social media. The research shall be able to determine the traits of a person or group native origin, intent, and behavior. 

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate capabilities/functions via software prototype on non-government PC or PC laptop connected to a non-attributed IP address to test against a controlled data on a nongovernmental network.  

PHASE III: The technology shall be transitioned to PEO IEW&S Program of Records by ensuring that the software or algorithms meet DoD Information Assurance practices. The Contractor shall assist PEO IEW&S to test, troubleshoot, and assess the integration of developed capability into a designated Program of Record. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Nurfadhina Mohd Sharef, and Shahrul Azman Mohd Noah, "Linguistic Patterns-Based Translation for Natural Language Interface" 2014 International Conference on Information Science and Applications (ICISA), 6-9 May 2014 INSPEC Accession Number: 14431762, IEEE Xplore: 8 July 2014 DOI 10.1109/ICISA2014.6847424

2:  Ahmen M. Mohsen, Nagwa N. El-Makky and Nagia Ghanem, "Author Identification Using Deep Learning" 2016 15th IEEE International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (ICMLA), Number: 16651340, IEEE Xplore: 18-20 Dec 2016 DOI 10.1109/ICMLA.2016.0161

3:  Jun Yu, Yong Rui, Yuan Yan Tang, and Dacheng Tao, "High-Order Distance-Based Multiview Stochastic Learning in Image Classification" 2014 IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, Number 14759317, IEEE: 17 Mar 2014 DOI 10.1109/TCYB.2014.2307862

4:  Powell, John E, David Brannan, and Anders Strindberg "Creating a Learning Organization for State, Local, and Tribal Law Enforcement to Combat Violent Extremism", NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA MONTEREY United States, Defense Technical Information Center site Accession Number AD1029903, 01 Sep 2016

KEYWORDS: Author(ship), Artificial Intelligence, Belief, Comparative Analysis, Composition, Computer Vision, Data-set Small-scale, De-noising Auto-encoder, Deterministic, Discriminative Training, Document Processing, Feature Extraction, Identification, Identity, Language, Nationality, Machine Learning, Media, Neural Nets, Pattern Recognition, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Written Scripts 

CONTACT(S): 

Michael Semenoro 

(443) 861-0690 

michael.semenoro.civ@mail.mil 

Ray McGowan 

(443) 861-0687 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: To develop safe, non-toxic flame inhibiting materials or retardants and associated application processes that will significantly reduce the flame size and flame temperature of red phosphorus obscurants while not reducing burn rates, obscurant cloud yield, screening performance, or contributing to phosphine production. 

DESCRIPTION: The defense industry frequently leverages commercially-available materials for use in military applications. These materials as-packaged or prepared for the commercial or industrial sectors may not be in the best configuration for use in military-unique items. Some of these dual-use materials, such as those frequently used in high-performance visible and infrared obscurants, may produce large flames or high heat when burned to generate obscurant clouds. Military end items utilizing Red Phosphorus (RP) for obscuration, such as the KM03 manufactured by Diehl BGT Defence GmbH (Uberlingen, Germany), can produce flames during function that exceed one-foot in height.1 Large flames and high flame temperatures generated by burning RP create incendiary effects that may ignite dry vegetation, buildings or other materials in densely populated areas with unintended consequences. Traditional flame inhibitors have primarily focused on using halide salts or halogenated gases to modulate ion and free radical formation in the gas phase, materials to promote char layer creation when applied to polymers, or transition metal complexes to promote inhibition.2-6 The National Institute of Standards and Technology maintains an extensive online library of publications detailing traditional and other approaches to flame chemistry and inhibition.7 A novel approach is sought to reduce flaming since traditional approaches, such as formation of a char layer, may interfere with the burn rate or not offer a direct solution. The proposed approach may include novel coatings, additives, and the associated application processes to reduce flame size and resulting incendiary effects of burning RP. The rapid oxidation of hot, vaporized phosphorus in air is the primary flame component, this combustion mechanism may reduce the applicability of some traditional flame-suppressing materials. Slowing this vapor-phase reaction may lower flame size and temperature while not affecting burn rates or performance characteristics. Candidate materials and application processes must eliminate flaming and high flame temperatures generated in both the bulk material and pyrotechnic formulations, while maintaining the same compatibility and performance characteristics, e.g. oxidizer compatibility, burn rates, obscurant cloud yield, and mass extinction coefficients for visible (>=2.9 m2/g), near IR (>=1.4 m2/g), mid IR (>=0.27 m2/g) and far IR (>=0.32 m2/g), when compared to untreated red phosphorus. 

PHASE I: Develop materials and application techniques to reduce flaming and high flame temperatures created by burning RP. Candidate material coatings shall not affect RP burn rates, reduce the yield, optical (e.g. visible or infrared) screening performance or adversely affect mechanical properties when pressed into pellets.8 Care must be taken to select chemicals and formulations that are compatible with RP and oxidizers, such as NaNO3, CsNO3, SrNO3, and KNO3. 9-11 Candidate materials and application processes shall not create additional hazards such as degrading RP or increasing the formation of phosphine gas while in storage, and both the materiel solution and combustion byproducts shall not increase the toxicity of RP.11 The materials and process developed under Phase I shall result in two pounds of bulk, treated RP. Materials developed under Phase I shall be delivered to the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center for material testing and further study. An extensive review of candidate materials and application technologies shall be presented along with an analysis of alternatives for the top three candidate materials. The analysis of alternatives shall address issues such as: technological barriers and factors affecting application, material and process costs, material performance, durability, feasibility to scale up and cost. The decision path to select the top alternative material and process solution shall be presented. Highly-rated proposals are anticipated to provide the necessary details and mechanism of operation for evaluators to fully understand the proposed approach, including any literature references and similar or preliminary work that would demonstrate a successful application. The materials and processes developed under Phase I shall result in two pounds of bulk, treated RP. 

PHASE II: Scale up the process to produce batches of one-hundred pound increments or greater within a 24-hour period, or as a continuous process producing one-hundred pounds within a 24-hour period, while maintaining the same or better performances and efficiencies developed and demonstrated in Phase I. A successful Phase II will demonstrate scale-up to production of the processes and materials that were proven in Phase I. This phase shall produce as a deliverable a minimum of one-hundred pounds of treated, bulk RP. This production process must be representative of the final industrial process. 

PHASE III: The techniques developed in this program can be integrated into current and future military obscurant applications. Inhibitors to reduce flame and incendiary effects of RP munitions will improve safe deployment, reduce potential personnel hazards and increase the locations where RP obscurants may be used. RP flame inhibitors will further reduce hazards related to handling, transportation and manufacture of this necessary obscurant. This technology could have application in other DoD interest areas including high explosives, fuel/air explosives and decontamination. Industrial applications are immediately realizable to improve the safety of bulk RP used in the manufacture of flame retardant plastics, chemical processes, flame inhibitors for electronics, and others. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Anthony, J. Steven, et al. No. ECBC-TR-511. Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground MD, (2006).

2:  Hastie, J. W. Molecular basis of flame inhibition. Journal of Research

3:  77, (1973), 733-754.

4:  Brown, N. J. Halogen kinetics pertinent to flame inhibition: A Review. ACS Symposium Series

5:  16, (1975), 341-75.

6:  Babushok, V. I., Deglmann, P., Krämer, R., & Linteris, G. T. Influence of Antimony-Halogen Additives on Flame Propagation. Combustion Science and Technology, (2016).

7:  Morgan AB. A review of transition metal-based flame retardants: transition metal oxide/salts, and complexes. ACS Symposium

8:  1013, (2009), 312–28.

9:  Weaver, David P., and T. Singh. Kinetic Mechanisms for Ionization and Afterburning Suppression. Ft. Belvoir: Defense Technical Information Center

10:  (1987). http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA189219.

11:  National Institute of Science and Technology, publications library: https://www.nist.gov/publications

12:  Bohren, C.F.

13:  Huffman, D.R.

14:  Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles

15:  Wiley-Interscience, New York, (1983).

16:  Ramsey, R. S.

17:  Moneyhun, J. H.

18:  Holmberg, R. W.

19:  Chemical and physical characterization of XM819 red phosphorus formulation and the aerosol produced by its combustion. ORNL/TM-9941

20:  (1985), Order No. 86007079.

21:  Zheng, Fu-xing

22:  Wang, Xuan-yu

23:  Song, Li

24:  Wang, Xiao-yang

25:  Effects of oxidants of RP smoke to anti-10.6 µm laser. Hanneng Cailiao

26:  15(2), (2007), 155-157.

27:  Gautam, G. K.

28:  Joshi, A. D.

29:  Joshi, S. A.

30:  Arya, P. R.

31:  Somayajulu, M. R.

32:  Radiometric screening of red phosphorus smoke for its obscuration characteristics. Defence Science Journal

33:  56(3), (2006), 377-381.

34:  Marrs, T.C.

35:  Colgrave, H.F.

36:  Edginton, J.A.G.

37:  Rice, P.

38:  Cross, N.L.

39:  The toxicity of a red phosphorus smoke after repeated inhalation

40:  Journal of Hazardous Materials

41:  22 (3), (1989), 269-82.

KEYWORDS: Visible And Infrared Obscuration, Safety, Phosphorus, Obscurants, Flame Inhibition, Flame Retardation, Incendiary 

CONTACT(S): 

Zachary Zander 

(410) 436-3509 

zachary.b.zander.civ@mail.mil 

Shaun Debow 

(410) 652-0812 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: To develop a low-cost manufacturing process for the production of metal composite flakes/discs for use as visible and infrared obscurants. The composite flakes/discs shall incorporate a two-dimensional (2D) material that: 1) enhances/retains the conductivity of the metal flake/disc, 2) provides a degree of attenuation in the visible region, and 3) provides a means of enhancing deagglomeration, dispersion, and aerosolization. Potential 2D material candidates may include but are not limited to graphene, Xenes (phosphorene, silicene, borophene, germanene, stanene), MXenes (Ti2C, Ti3C2, Ti4C3, and others), MAX phases (conducting carbides and nitrides), and transition metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, MoSe2, WSe2, and MoTe2). These composite flake/disc materials shall have an electrical conductivity on the order of iron, although a conductivity on the order of copper is preferred. 2D materials have been extensively researched in the last decade due their excellent electronic properties. These properties are attributed to the electrons having confined movement in the lateral 2D plane, while movement in the z-direction is restricted. The inherent conductivity provided by the 2D material shall serve to enhance the infrared obscuring capabilities of the flake/disc. Additionally, the 2D material should be appropriately chosen so as to provide attenuation in the visible region of the spectrum, i.e. via absorption. Finally, the 2D material should provide a means of mitigating particle agglomeration, so that aerosolization is maximized during the dissemination process. Dissemination approaches for the newly developed material shall include pneumatic (e.g. smoke generator) or explosive (e.g. grenade) techniques. In terms of the flake/disc design, the 2D material shall be an integrated component with the metal flake/disc. There are two essential dimensional requirements for the flakes produced. First, the length requirement is vital for achieving the desired electromagnetic properties. The distribution must be relatively narrow with a major lateral dimension of about 3 µm (D50, with a D10 of 2 µm and D90 of 4 µm) in order to produce a strong resonance within the FIR atmospheric transmission window (8 to 12 µm). Second, flake thicknesses should be as thin as possible within the constraints of flake production. This may prove to be in the vicinity of 20-50 nm, although an ideal thickness of 1-2 nm is desired. 

DESCRIPTION: Smoke and obscurants play a crucial role in protecting the Warfighter by decreasing the electromagnetic signature that is detectable by various sensors, seekers, trackers, optical enhancement devices and the human eye. Recent advances in materials science now enable the production of precisely engineered obscurants with nanometer level control over particle size and shape. Numerical modeling and many measured results on metal flakes affirm that more than order of magnitude increases over current performance levels are possible if high aspect-ratio conductive flakes/discs can be effectively disseminated as an un-agglomerated aerosol cloud. CURRENT STATUS: In spite of numerous publications, no one has yet demonstrated the IR optical attenuation efficiencies that would result from high conductivity coatings that are continuous along any metallic flake substrate having an appropriate narrow length distribution. Currently, the best obscurants for IR attenuation are comprised of brass flakes, which have an extinction cross-section/unit mass of 1.4 m2/g. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate with samples an ability to produce metal composite flakes with major dimensions of 3 µm (D50, with a D10 of 2 µm and D90 of 4 µm) in length, thicknesses of 20-50 nm (though 1-2 nm would be ideal), and conductivity of iron or better (>10^5 mho/cm). Demonstrate that considerations have been made to effectively disseminated as an un-agglomerated aerosol cloud. No less than (5) 1-gm samples shall be provided to ECBC for evaluation. 

PHASE II: Demonstrate that the process is scalable by providing 5 single manufacturing batches of 1-kg samples with no loss in performance, no increase in agglomeration, and no increase in dispersion capability from that achieved with the Phase I samples. Explore additional 2D materials that may enhance performance capabilities, using lessons learned from Phase I research. In Phase II, a design of manufacturing process to commercialize the concept should be developed. Cost considerations should be addressed to ensure that materials are competitive with or less expensive than existing Eckhart Richgold 4000 flakes. 

PHASE III: The techniques developed in this program can be integrated into current and future military obscurant applications. Improved grenades and other munitions are needed to reduce the current logistics burden of countermeasures to protect the soldier and associated equipment. This technology could have application in other Department of Defense interest areas including high explosives, fuel/air explosives and decontamination. Improved separation techniques can be beneficial for all powdered materials in the metallurgy, ceramic, pharmaceutical and fuel industries. Industrial applications could include electronics, fuel cells/batteries, furnaces and others. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Bohren, C.F.

2:  Huffman, D.R.

3:  Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles

4:  Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1983.

5:  Huang, Wenjuan, Lin Gan, Huiqiao Li, Ying Ma, and Tianyou Zhai. "2D layered group IIIA metal chalcogenides: synthesis, properties and applications in electronics and optoelectronics." CrystEngComm 18, no. 22 (2016): 3968-3984.

6:  Embury, Janon

7:  Maximizing Infrared Extinction Coefficients for Metal Discs, Rods, and Spheres, ECBC-TR-226, Feb 2002, ADA400404, 77 Page(s)

8:  Obscurant Applications, S. Johnson, ISN Review, MIT, June 2012.

9:  Carvalho, A., Wang, M., Zhu, X., Rodin, A.S., Su, H. Neto, "Phosphorene: from theory to applications", Nature Reviews Materials 1, 16061, 2016.

10:  Chen, Y., Zhang, X., Liu, E., He, C., Shi, C., Li, J., Nash, P., Zhao, N., "Fabrication of in-situ grown graphene reinforced Cu matrix composites", Scientific Reports 6, 19363, 2016.

KEYWORDS: Graphene, Phosphorene, Dichalcogenides, Composites, Infrared Obscuration 

CONTACT(S): 

Zachary Zander 

(410) 436-3509 

zachary.b.zander.civ@mail.mil 

Brendan DeLacy 

(410) 436-5282 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: To develop an ultraviolet (UV) Raman standoff spectroscopic system with an excitation wavelength below 250 nm, and recommended > 230nm. The system shall utilize solid-state laser technology for the excitation source and shall be capable of detecting trace explosive particulates on surfaces at standoff distances of greater than 1 meter with a time-to-detect of a few seconds. 

DESCRIPTION: Fielded CBRNE detection capabilities rely on direct contact with or entrapment of the solid sample or the associated trace explosives above the contaminated surface with the sensor. An ideal detector is Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV)-compatible with the ability to rapidly scan over surfaces from a few meters away and precisely identify a combination of chemical, biological, and explosives threats, thereby warning personnel who can remain at a safe distance. Such a sensor does not currently exist. Raman spectroscopy is an attractive detection technique because it requires no sample preparation, and gives a high degree of chemical specificity. The use of ultraviolet (UV) excitation provides improved sensitivity over visible or near IR excitation because of the larger cross-sections, along with possible enhancement of the signal intensity if the excitation wavelength is near that of an electronic transition (resonance or pre-resonance Raman). In addition, for excitation wavelengths shorter than 250 nm the fluorescence emission is separated spectrally from the Raman scattered light [1,2]. UV Raman systems have been built to detect and identify bulk, and in some cases, trace level explosive contamination on surfaces at ranges of 10 to over 100 meters sensitivities decreasing with increasing range to the target [3,4]. While showing promise for standoff explosives detection, these systems tend to be large and require high UV laser power. While excimer lasers can provide the requisite power, they require cylinders of toxic gas mixtures, tend to be large and heavy, and do not have the reliability associated with diode-pumped solid-state lasers. The goal of this effort is to design, fabricate and test a UV Raman sensor for the detection and identification of trace explosive residue at ranges of at least 1 meter, based on a solid-state laser excitation source, and compatible with point-scanning from a UGV platform. The system requirements are: Excitation Wavelength: 230 to 250 nm; Laser Source: Solid State diode-pumped laser; Spectral Resolution and Coverage: An average of 15 - 25 cm-1 between 300 – 2200 cm-1; Sensitivity: Detection and identification of explosives residues at an areal density of 1 µg/cm2 and particles between 5 and 10 micron in size; Standoff Distance: at least 1 m; Total Sensor Size (including any necessary thermal management capability for operation between -25 and 120 degrees F): < 4 cu. ft; Total Sensor Weight: < 90 lbs; Time To Detect < 5 sec. 

PHASE I: Phase I shall develop a conceptual design for the sensor and demonstrate the technical feasibility of the proposed design. Technical feasibility shall be demonstrated through modeling confirmed by UV Raman measurements made with the objective laser with the required excitation wavelength and required power. Modeling results shall include the maximum achievable scan rates (interrogation area/integration time) enabling detection and identification for the specified surface density. Demonstration of technical feasibility in Phase I is required for a Phase II contract. 

PHASE II: Construct, test, and deliver a UV Raman sensor meeting the provided specifications. 

PHASE III: In addition to use for the Department of Defense (DoD) explosive detection, the system has commercialization activity for Chemical or Biological detection and civilian uses for first responders and law enforcement. DoD uses could include sensitive site exploitation, explosives detection, treaty verification and technology upgrades to the Chemical Surface Detector Program. Civilian uses could include identification of illicit drugs, inspection of food and/or hazardous waste containers. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Erik D. Emmons, Ashish Tripathi, Jason A. Guicheteau, Augustus W. Fountain, III, and Steven D. Christesen, "Ultraviolet Resonance Raman Spectroscopy of Explosives in Solution and the Solid State," J. Phys. Chem. A 117, 4158-4166 (2013).

2:  Steven D. Christesen, Jay Pendell Jones, Joseph M. Lochner, and Aaron M. Hyre, "Ultraviolet Raman Spectra and Cross-Sections of G-series Nerve Agents," Appl. Spectrosc. 62(10) 1078-1083 (2008).

3:  L.C. Pacheco-Londono, W. Ortiz-Rivera, O.M. Primera-Pedrozo, S.P. Hernandez-Rivera. ‘‘Vibrational Spectroscopy Standoff Detection of Explosives’’. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 395(2), 323-335 (2009)

4:  Augustus W. Fountain III, Steven D. Christesen, Raphael P. Moon, Jason A. Guicheteau, and Erik, D. Emmons, "Recent Advances and Remaining Challenges for the Spectroscopic Detection of Explosive Threats," Appl. Spectrosc. 68(8) 795-811 (2014).

KEYWORDS: Raman, Solid State UV Lasers, Explosives, Detection 

CONTACT(S): 

Raphael Moon 

(410) 436-6624 

raphael.p.moon.civ@mail.mil 

John Strawbridge 

(410) 417-3518 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Design and build new instrumentation (hardware and software components) for the comprehensive assessment of self-cleaning coatings and construction materials. Instrumentation shall have the capability to simultaneously assess self-cleaning, antimicrobial, and photocatalytic properties of emerging materials and coatings under environmentally relevant conditions. The overarching goal is to develop new analytical methods which will produce a composite merit score which reflects the intrinsic “value” of emerging materials, which may be used as a point of comparison among different suppliers, composite materials and coatings. This system will be useful in identifying new materials and coatings capable of increasing force protection through the retrofitting of existing structures or in the design of new portable or permanent infrastructure. 

DESCRIPTION: This system is needed in support of Department of Defense’s (DoD) force projection and protection strategic focus areas, where the identification and qualification of advanced materials will lead to improved warfighter protection. A key advancement in the field of sustainable construction has been the implementation of photocatalytic products, due to their ability to abate organic and inorganic surface contaminants, as well as keep surfaces clean. Consequently, a variety of paint, mortar, and concrete infrastructure materials are now available with photocatalytic additives. In a brief description of the photocatalytic process, light of the appropriate wavelength activates the photocatalyst surface, thereby generating reactive oxygen species which degrade adsorbed contaminants (photocatalytic) and promotes the reorganization of surface hydrogen bonding groups creating a highly water-wetting surface (self-cleaning). Published studies probing these individual phenomena are typically limited in focus and therefore, inadequate to use in developing a comprehensive assessment tool[3-6]. New instrumentation must be capable of simultaneously evaluating surface photocatalytic activity, changes in water wetting characteristics, and antibacterial activity, and allow for dynamic “real-world” conditions where varying aerodynamic shear stresses, spectral distribution and intensity of solar radiation exists. Self-cleaning and photocatalytic coatings and construction materials continue to surge in their global applications, e.g. the Cowboys Stadium, in Dallas TX; Belgian Road Research Center; “Dives in Misericordia”, Rome and the Milan Marunouchi building, Japan. Remarkable self-cleaning structures have been prepared from high performance concrete containing a TiO2 photocatalyst, where mechanical strength was also enhanced [2]. Emergence of new infrastructure construction materials and coatings has occurred without the synergistic development of assessment tools to evaluate them. Currently we lack a comprehensive understanding and the ability to experimentally and computationally describe competing processes that occur at the surface of photocatalytic construction materials under environmentally relevant (real-world) conditions. New instrumentation and a well-designed set of “real-world” experiments may enable the creation of a comprehensive model where a holistic assessment and performance prediction for globally emerging photocatalytic construction materials becomes possible. Standard laboratory-based analysis of photochemical materials is conducted through a series of seemingly unrelated and isolated experiments. For example, ISO 22197.1-5 provides procedures to qualify airborne removal of nitric oxide, acetaldehyde, toluene, formaldehyde, and methyl mercaptan. Each of these tests is conducted under a set of precise conditions and discloses that each “method is not suitable for the determination of other performance attributes.” Consequently, to determine a materials activity, efficiency, and cycle-life for several parameters is prohibitively time and labor intensive. A secondary goal lies in leveraging computational algorithms to short-cut the time to a successful predictive tool by filling the free-space within a limited experimental data set to visualize the multi-dimensional terrain of the reaction profile, under dynamic “real-world” environmental conditions. This capability is not currently available and will contribute to the growing needs of security and threat resiliency. 

PHASE I: The initial phase will consist of identifying innovative technology, conducting a feasibility investigation, and preparing a preliminary hardware/software design solution. A thorough literature review of the current state of photocatalytic/self-cleaning material characterization tools, as they apply to infrastructure, is required along with a detailed rationale supporting the proposed solution. New instrumentation (hardware and software) must be capable of simultaneously evaluating surface photocatalytic activity, changes in water wetting characteristics, and antibacterial activity, while under dynamic “real-world” conditions where varying aerodynamic shear stresses, spectral distribution and intensity of solar radiation exists. Common organic compounds, bacteria or spores, for which there is literature precedence, may be used to develop and validate the instrumentation and methods. 

PHASE II: Phase II involves the construction of an environmental test chamber, which is suitable for simultaneously performing the tests selected for the data matrix: self-cleaning, antimicrobial, and photocatalytic. The evaluation of at least three commercially available photocatalytic construction materials incorporating a photocatalyst and described as self-cleaning is desired. Additional characterization of the materials according to physical characteristics (surface roughness, porosity) and chemical composition (type and concentration of photocatalytic additive) may be required. Delivery of a prototype and demonstration of capabilities is expected at the close of Phase II. The proposer may leverage the literature available on the photocatalytic degradation of common pollutants and screen a model organic and biologic, while simultaneously monitoring the self-cleaning properties of the material surface using water-contact angle. Typical laboratory studies are performed under sanitized environments, and a fundamental question has evolved among these performance criteria, i.e. what are the environmental correlations among photocatalysis, antimicrobial, and self-cleaning properties. For example, perhaps surface A’s self-cleaning property is not proportional to its photocatalytic activity under increasing relative humidity or contaminant concentration. Any appropriate method, such as Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic models may be used to determine initial degradation rates and equilibrium constants in data collection. The matrix of environmental conditions (RH, spectral intensity from a solar simulator, air flow) should be used to determine if a theoretical model can be derived to predict the outcomes of experimental validation experiments, which were not part of the initial data set. 

PHASE III: A final prototype version of the measurement system will be fabricated based upon extensive testing and evaluation (T&E) by the ERDC-CMB. All software, including source code, will be delivered to ERDC-CMB for potential integration with existing DoD infrastructure. It is anticipated that the new technology will provide the DoD with a greatly enhanced measurement tool capable of rapidly and reliably assessing the performance of photocatalytic materials producing a composite merit score which reflects the intrinsic “value” of emerging materials, specifically concerning their photocatalytic, self-cleaning, and antimicrobial attributes. This new merit score may be used as a point of comparison among different suppliers, composite materials and coatings for the identification of materials and coatings capable of increasing force protection through the retrofitting of existing structures or in the design of new portable or permanent infrastructure. The photocatalytic research community and commercial suppliers are positioned to immediately benefit from the successful implementation and fielding of this equipment. There are often large variations in photocatalytic activity observed in those materials described as self-cleaning. Based upon the obvious broader use and potential for commercial quality assessment, a strong commercial potential is anticipated. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Maury-Ramirez, A., K. Demeestere, and N. De Belie, Photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide nanoparticle coatings applied on autoclaved aerated concrete: Effect of weathering on coating physical characteristics and gaseous toluene removal. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2012. 211–212: p. 218-225. 2. Cassar, L

2:  Cassar, L., et al., White cement for architectural concrete, possessing photocatalytic properties. 11th Int. Congr. on the Chemistry of Cement, Durban, South Africa, 2003: p. 2012-2021.

3:  Jo, W.-K. and C.-H. Yang, Visible-light-induced photocatalysis of low-level methyl-tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and trichloroethylene (TCE) using element-doped titanium dioxide. Building and Environment, 2010. 45(4): p. 819-824.

4:  Liang, W., J. Li, and Y. Jin, Photo-catalytic degradation of gaseous formaldehyde by TiO2/UV, Ag/TiO2/UV and Ce/TiO2/UV. Building and Environment, 2012. 51: p. 345-350.

5:  O'Keeffe, C., et al., Air purification by heterogeneous photocatalytic oxidation with multi-doped thin film titanium dioxide. Thin Solid Films, 2013. 537: p. 131-136.

6:  Sarantopoulos, C., A.N. Gleizes, and F. Maury, Chemical vapor deposition and characterization of nitrogen doped TiO2 thin films on glass substrates. Thin Solid Films, 2009. 518(4): p. 1299-1303.

KEYWORDS: Self-cleaning, Coatings, Infrastructure, Materials, Concrete 

CONTACT(S): 

Janice Buchanan 

(601) 467-8683 

janice.p.buchanan2.civ@mail.mil 

Dr. Charles Weiss 

(601) 634-3928 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to solicit the development of a value of information (VoI) software tool to prioritize data collection in the face of uncertain environmental and situational conditions. In addition to supporting Department of Defense (DoD) knowledge acquisition, the objective for this tool is to aid the Warfighter in identifying the sources of uncertainty (both environmental and otherwise) that pose the greatest threat to mission success. 

DESCRIPTION: The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Warfighter are constantly operating in an environment of uncertainty. Uncertainty can manifest in environmental conditions, adversary characteristics, operational scenarios, etc. Decisions are made to reduce that environmental and situational uncertainty through data collection and analysis. Data collection and analysis are expensive and time-consuming, and can delay mission objectives. Moreover, it is infeasible to perform all data collection and analysis required to completely eliminate the uncertainty in any operation or mission situation. For that reason, prioritization of information gathering is critically important, and occurs at many levels of DoD operations and by the Soldier Warfighter. However, current methods for the prioritization of data collection lack scientifically defensible reasoning, and the most cost-effective courses of action are not always implemented (Keisler et al., 2014). Therefore, there is a need for a general, effective, and user-friendly software tool for identifying the environmental and situational information acquisition strategy that is most cost-effective at reducing uncertainty and increasing the probability of mission success. Value of information (VoI) analysis is a part of the broader methodology known as decision analysis (Yokota and Thompson, 2004). Current decision analysis software can be used to calculate VoI for single decisions. The solicited product will instead focus VoI as the key output, enabling development of mission-level data acquisition strategies involving a large number of potential data and information sources. This can provide a basis for prioritizing such acquisition efforts to support mission objectives (Bates et al., 2015), while taking into account current information availability and the potential for additional collection and creation of information, in the context of the mission’s decision requirements. In particular, the purpose of VoI analysis in the context of reducing environmental and situational uncertainty is to provide the greatest risk reduction benefit to the mission with respect to the cost of data acquisition (Linkov et al., 2011). To meet the needs of DoD, the offeror will develop a VoI software tool to be used for prioritizing data acquisition strategies in situations of uncertainty. This tool should be adaptable to accommodate a varied range of data and challenges. Example applications include reducing uncertainty in environmental quality at installations, understanding relationships between communities and installations, and gathering information about foreign areas of operation for environmental or operational purposes 

PHASE I: (Feasibility Study) The offeror will design and develop a general and configurable value of information (VoI) analysis framework that can be applied to many operational and management scenarios with the greatest ease-of-implementation. A hypothetical case study should be developed that illustrates data acquisition strategies that provide the most cost-effective benefit to mission objectives. The offeror will produce an alpha version of the VoI methodology with a typical desktop computing system with Windows operating system to implement the case study. Phase I should result in the data input and results structure needed to develop prototype software, to be refined and extended in Phase II. 

PHASE II: (Prototype Delivery) Phase II shall produce a working VoI software beta version fully capable of incorporating the range of data collection alternatives and mission objectives necessary to meet DoD needs. The beta version software program should have an intuitive user interface with flexible application to the range of problems typical for operations and execution of military missions. The success of the Phase II effort should be measured by the ability of the prototype software to effectively execute a relative DoD case study. Moreover, the VoI tool should be applicable to civilian objectives and data collection needs in order to maximize the utility of the project. 

PHASE III: Short description indicating possible commercialization (will include both military and civilian applications). 

REFERENCES: 

1: Bates, M.E., Keisler, J.M., Zussblatt, N.P., Plourde, K.J., Wender, B.A., Linkov, I., 2015. Balancing research and funding using value of information and portfolio tools for nanomaterial risk classification. Nature Nanotechnology 11, 198–203. doi:10.1038/nnano.2015.249

2:  Keisler, J.M., Collier, Z.A., Chu, E., Sinatra, N., Linkov, I., 2014. Value of information analysis: the state of application. Environment Systems and Decisions 34, 3–23.

3:  Linkov, I., Bates, M.E., Canis, L.J., Seager, T.P., Keisler, J.M., 2011. A decision-directed approach for prioritizing research into the impact of nanomaterials on the environment and human health. Nature Nanotechnology 6, 784–787. doi:10.1038/nnano.2011.163

4:  Yokota, F., Thompson, K.M., 2004. Value of information analysis in environmental health risk management decisions: past, present, and future. Risk analysis 24, 635–650.

KEYWORDS: Data Collection, Value Of Information, Decision Analysis, Situational Awareness, Mission Effectiveness, Environmental, Optimization 

CONTACT(S): 

Matthew Wood 

(978) 318-8793 

matthew.d.wood54.civ@mail.mil 

Drew Loney 

(601) 634-3490 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: Army Medicine, MRMC, and the Military Health System requires a persistent, durable non-paper patient transportable tactical combat casualty care documentation capability for transport and transfer of medical care information into the currently fielded Department of Defense electronic health record in the absence of a reliable communications link. This technology would enable the facilitation of medical information exchange, thereby improving clinical outcomes. 

DESCRIPTION: The current capabilities for documentation of patient care in the pre-hospital environment by the combat medic (Emergency Medical Technician) is to utilize a paper Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) Card. While paper-based cards offer ease of use and rapid deployability, they also have significant limitations as a form of medical documentation. These limitations include vulnerability to the elements, ease of marring or destruction, and may be lost during patient transfer (Killeen) or rendered illegible by blood or fluids (Garner). Studies show that the loss of medical information in the pre-hospital environment is significant and trauma patients’ outcomes are directly impacted by failures in communications. Dr. Frank Butler, Chairman, DoD Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care highlighted in the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Update 2009 that less than 10% of the 30,000 casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan had any form of documentation in their records. He also further states that only 1% of the patients have sufficient pre-hospital documentation. This low rate of pre-hospital documentation is alarming when considering studies that highlight that 67% of sentinel events for Trauma patients can be attributed to result of errors in communication (Stahl). This high rate of sentinel events occurred within a single Trauma I Facility which is in direct contrast to the geographically dispersed tactical pre-hospital environment with patient multiple hand-offs. Casualties in the military operational environment will be transferred between care providers at multiple hand-offs as they are evacuated to a military hospital. These hand-offs offer additional opportunity for loss of record of care for the patient. According to Dr. Emily Patterson, Editorial Advisory Board member for The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, “the impacts of less-than-ideal hand-offs likely include adverse events, delays in medical diagnosis and treatment, redundant communications, redundant [medical] activities.” This study focused on credential providers within a medical facility and did not delve into the issues of the lack of pre-hospital documentation. However, the salient point is that failures in medical information exchange impacts patient care and therefore impacts patient outcomes. The future potential capabilities are highly reliant upon network connectivity and cloud computing to facilitate the exchange of information as a patient is being evacuated to a military hospital. However, these advanced capabilities have not yet been realized in the pre-hospital environment for the medic treating casualties. In a networked environment that is degraded through enemy denial of service attacks, the exchange of medical information through communication networks may not be feasible. This desired capability will allow for the transfer of patient information through a persistent and durable mechanism that can be easily maintained with the patient through multiple patient hand-offs as the patient transitions through the continuum of care from the Point of Injury (Role I) to a Combat Support Hospital (Role III). This mechanism will feature a minimal risk of loss of the information or the medium on which it is conveyed. This capability would need to be compatible with Nett Warrior End User Devices (EUDs) that utilizes Samsung Galaxy S5 phones loaded with securely configured Android 5.0 operating system. The capability will need to interface with the currently deployed Electronic Health Record. Information must be transferrable between Nett Warrior EUDS through an interface, as well as DoD’s currently deployed Electronic Health Record. Capability concepts with smaller footprints and lower consumption of supplies are preferred. Capability concepts that do not require modification of the Nett Warrior End User Device hardware will also be given preference. 

PHASE I: Design and develop an innovative concept for a capability that allows for the medical information exchange of pre-hospital care in military operational environment that persists throughout multiple patient exchanges and the continuum of care to a deployed military hospital in theater. The capability should be compatible with mobile Nett Warrior Android-based EUDs and be able to interface with the currently deployed Electronic Health Record. Produce a conceptual design and breadboard of the patient transportable tactical combat casualty care documentation capability to identify measures and predicted performance in Phase II. Explore commercialization potential with civilian emergency medical service systems development and manufacturing companies. Seek partnerships within government and private industry for transition and commercialization of the production version of the product. 

PHASE II: Finalize the design from Phase I. Complete component design, fabrication and laboratory characterization experiments. Develop, demonstrate, and validate a ruggedized prototype and evaluate end to-end functionality without a transmission over an Internet Protocol-based military tactical radio/cellular network. At the end of Phase II, demonstrate a field testable prototype the in a government sponsored military exercise and without requirement for connection to a military tactical network. The prototype system will be evaluated by operational medics and clinicians in a relevant operational field environment; such as at a USA Army TRADOC Battle Lab. Flesh out commercialization plans contained in the Phase II proposal for elaboration or modification in Phase III. Firm up collaborative relationships and establish agreements with military and civilian end users to conduct proof-of-concept evaluations in Phase III. 

PHASE III: Continue development and refinement of the prototype in Phase II to develop a production variant of the application. The production variant may be evaluated in an operational field environment such as Marine Corps Limited Objective Experiment (LOE), Army Network Integration Exercise (NIE), etc. depending on operational commitments. Present the prototype project, as a candidate for fielding, to applicable Army, Navy/Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Department of Defense, Program Managers for Combat Casualty Care systems along with government and civilian program managers for emergency, remote, and wilderness medicine within state and civilian health care organizations, and the Departments of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Execute further commercialization and manufacturing through collaborative relationships with partners identified in Phase II. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Butler, Frank K. "Tactical combat casualty care: update 2009." Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery 69.1 (2010): S10-S13.

2:  Garner, Alan. "Documentation and tagging of casualties in multiple casualty incidents." Emergency Medicine 15.5-6 (2003): 475-479.

3:  Killeen, James P., et al. "A wireless first responder handheld device for rapid triage, patient assessment and documentation during mass casualty incidents." AMIA annual symposium proceedings. Vol. 2006. American Medical Informatics Association, 2006.

4:  Patterson, Emily S., and Robert L. Wears. "Patient handoffs: standardized and reliable measurement tools remain elusive." The joint commission journal on quality and patient safety 36.2 (2010): 52-61.

5:  Stahl, Kenneth, et al. "Enhancing patient safety in the trauma/surgical intensive care unit." Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery 67.3 (2009): 430-435.

KEYWORDS: Pre-Hospital Care, Documentation, Role I, Tactical Combat Casualty Care Capability, Medical Information Exchange, Electronic Health Record 

CONTACT(S): 

James Beach 

(301) 619-8912 

james.w.beach2.civ@mail.mil 

Ronald Yeaw 

(301) 619-2079 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to research, develop and demonstrate a capability to harvest energy from human motion and/or body heat to power into an integrated small disposable wireless adhesive medical sensor placed on a casualty. 

DESCRIPTION: Current and future small patient medical devices and sensors placed on a casualty during field care near the point of injury or while en-route during extraction and evacuation are battery powered with a limited life span. As the DoD moves toward “prolonged field care” were a medic or corpsman may have to hold onto a casualty longer, up to 72 hours, current battery life on these medical devices and sensors is not sufficient. Future small disposable wireless adhesive medical sensors will be required to measure SPO2, HR, ECG, temperature, and other human factors in addition to wirelessly transmitting this medical data to an End User Device (EUD), i.e. an Android smartphone, to be displayed on a GUI, something similar to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed Observation Kit (BATDOK). An integrated capability for medical sensors to harvest energy from human motion and/or body heat would allow medical sensors to operate for 72+ hours without requiring either a large battery or connection to an external power source. This integrated capability on the medical sensor can either replace the existing battery or provide an additional alternative source of energy to augment the existing battery. The human body has the ability to produce enough equivalent energy to power a 100 watt light bulb, ref #5. A capability that can harvest this energy would be significant and enhance a medic’s ability to monitor casualty vital signs for a greater length of time. Harvesting energy from the body to power medical sensors has the potential to reduce a medic’s or soldier’s load. Medics and Soldiers currently have to carry extra batteries to extend the life of their devices, which add additional weight and space in their field pack. If devices can be powered by harvested energy, then the medic and soldiers can eliminate the need to carry extra batteries. 

PHASE I: Design and develop an innovative approach to power a small disposable wireless adhesive medical sensor by integrating a capability of harvesting energy from the human. Conduct a feasibility study of the proposed approach to inform the development of a conceptual design of the integrated sensor package. Using software and/or hardware prototypes develop a breadboard/proof of concept demonstrator capable of capturing and storing energy to power portable devices that can be further developed into a test bed product that can be field tested during the Phase II research period. This Phase will demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach through successful demonstration of harvested energy from the human body, and will inform success criteria and performance metrics for the Phase II system design. 

PHASE II: From the results of the Phase I feasibility study and concept demonstration, continue preliminary design of the integrated energy harvesting medical sensor system. This capability needs to provide enough energy to power a small disposable wireless adhesive medical sensor that is collecting vital signs data (Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Respirations), ECG, and skin temperature on a patient/casualty continuously for 24 hours a day during prolonged field care and during en-route care. This capability also needs to provide enough energy to power a wireless (Ultra-Wideband, Tunable Narrowband, or an acceptable DoD wireless capability in an operational environment) radio within the medical sensor that will transmit the medical data collected continuously from the medical sensor to an End User Device (EUD), Android smartphone, to be displayed on the EUD GUI. Integrate the energy harvesting capability with current or future disposable wireless adhesive medical sensor, and develop prototype integrated devices that can be evaluated and tested in simulated combat casualty care missions in an operationally-relevant field environment. During Phase II; develop a ruggedized prototype that can possibly be taken to the field for initial evaluation testing with medics around the 1 year mark. If a field evaluation test is possible, the medics provide their guidance and recommendations on the continued development of the device. Consider developing a ruggedization plan for Phase III and Advance development Develop a commercialization plan. If IRB is required during Phase II, submit an IRB package to US Army MRMC HRPO. 

PHASE III: Continue development and refinement of the prototype Human powered wireless medical sensor to a capability that is ruggedized, complies with space, weight, and power specifications informed by the Phase II medic field evaluations, is disposable, and moves the prototype capability towards advanced development/acquisition. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Popular Science – Harvesting Energy from Humans. http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2009-01/harvesting-energy-humans

2:  Utility Drive – 5 Ways you can use the human body to generate electricity. http://www.utilitydive.com/news/5-ways-you-can-use-the-human-body-to-generate-electricity/280709/

3:  Business Insider – Scientists have found a way to Generate Electricity from the Human Body. http://www.businessinsider.com/scientists-have-found-a-way-to-generate-electricity-from-the-human-body-2012-11

4:  ARS Technica – Your body, the battery: Powering gadgets from human "biofuel". https://arstechnica.com/science/2015/07/your-body-the-battery-powering-gadgets-from-human-biofuel/

5:  Extreme Tech – Will your body be the battery of the future? https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/135481-will-your-body-be-the-battery-of-the-future

KEYWORDS: Human Generated, Alternative Energy, Harvesting, Human Power, Human Biofuel, Human Battery, Matrix 

CONTACT(S): 

Mr. Carl Manemeit 

(301) 619-1102 

carl.h.manemeit.civ@mail.mil 

James Beach 

(301) 619-8912 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to develop and demonstrate novel intravenous therapies and technologies for pre-hospital management of combat-associated non-compressible traumatic hemorrhage and resuscitation at point-of-injury and en route care. 

DESCRIPTION: In far forward combat scenarios, trauma-associated uncontrolled non-compressible hemorrhage (proximal extremity or truncal) remains the leading cause of fatality for the military, and many of these deaths could be potentially survivable with effective point-of-injury and en route treatment [1-2]. In such hemorrhage scenarios in austere battlefield conditions, transfusion of whole blood and blood components (RBCs, plasma, platelets and coagulation factors), as per Damage Control Resuscitation (DCR) guidelines, can significantly reduce trauma-associated morbidity and mortality [3]. Overwhelming evidence from military based resuscitation studies has indicated the benefits of such blood product transfusion to treat hemorrhagic shock, but the limited availability and portability, special storage requirements and potential contamination risks of these blood products (e.g. platelet concentrates) present severe logistical challenges for their efficient application in combat casualty care in pre-hospital scenarios [4-5]. In this solicitation, we are requesting proposals focused on intravenous transfusable treatments and technologies that address the pre-hospital point-of-injury and en route management of combat-associated traumatic non-compressible hemorrhage and resuscitation. Specifically, this solicitation is seeking intravenously administered molecules, drugs or therapeutic technologies (e.g. nanoparticles) for use at point-of-injury or during en route care to control bleeding and prevent or mitigate hypothermia, acidosis and coagulopathy. The proposal shall address not only preliminary data to support the treatment claims, but it should also provide a plan for effective, logistically supportable deployment during remote Damage Control Resuscitation (rDCR) and prolonged field care (PFC) by medics/corpsmen. In other words, the product should be portable in small volume in a medic or corpsman bag without special storage requirements, shelf-stable for long periods under variety of environmental conditions (cold or heat, ranging from 0-40°C, high altitudes) and easily intravenously administrable. 

PHASE I: Phase I should be aimed at developing a promising and innovative therapy or technology, and evaluating the technical feasibility of said therapy to control hemorrhage through in vitro/ex vivo analysis. Research and development should take into account the challenges of employing the therapy in a far-forward operational environment (e.g. portability, stability, ease of administration) and provide a plan for practical deployment of the proposed solution. The effort should be far enough along that the submitter should not pursue animal studies during this phase. 

PHASE II: Building on the Phase I effort, Phase II prototype development should demonstrate the systemic safety and therapeutic potential of the treatment/technology upon intravenous administration in appropriate models of traumatic hemorrhage in vivo. The focus of these studies would be to establish systemic safety, pharmacology/toxicology parameters and reduction in blood loss, prevention or alleviation of hypothermia, amelioration of acidosis and overall enhancement in survival. Phase II should also provide a detailed plan for practical implementation of the therapies at Point of Injury or en route care including dosage parameters (dosing limits, therapeutic window, etc). The submitter should assess and verify the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the proposed therapy at the conclusion of Phase II. The offeror will provide a clear regulatory plan on how they propose to achieve FDA clearance. Follow-on activities shall include the necessary studies requested by the FDA to gain clearance of the technology and/or drug for use in treatment of traumatic non-compressible hemorrhage. The offeror shall focus on working towards getting the therapy FDA-approved for the indication to treat traumatic bleeding 

PHASE III: The submitter should demonstrate the work they would be ready to perform should they be further funded. The submitter shall produce a protocol (dosage and timing of intervention) demonstrating potential medical utility in accordance with the success criteria developed in Phase II, and further develop these capabilities to TRL-5 or -6. The submitter must describe one or more specific Phase III military applications and/or supported S&T or acquisition program as well as most likely path for transition of the SBIR from research to operational capacity. The offeror will provide a clear plan on how FDA clearance will be obtained and to include a detailed commercialization plan and milestones chart. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Eastridge, et al. "Death on the battlefield (2001-2011): Implications for the Future of Combat Casualty Care." J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012

2: 73(6 Suppl 5):S431-7. Accession Number: ADA609264

3:  McManus, et al. "Hemorrhage control research on today’s battlefield: Lessons applied." J Trauma. 2007

4: 62(6 Suppl):S14. Accession Number: ADA627857

5:  Butler, et al. "Fluid resuscitation for hemorrhagic shock in tactical combat casualty care: TCCC Guidelines Change 14-01 – 2 June 2014." J Spec Oper Med. 2014

6: 14(3):13-38. Accession Number: ADA614492

7:  Cap, et al. "Blood Far Forward: Time to Get Moving!" J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2015

8: 78(6 Suppl 1):S2-6. Accession Number: ADA621564

9:  Spinella, et al. "Constant Challenges and Evolution of US Military Transfusion Medicine and Blood Operations in Combat." Transfusion. 2012

10: 52(5):1146-53. Accession Number: ADA615634

KEYWORDS: Combat Casualty Care, Trauma, Hemorrhage, Hemostasis, Transfusion, Damage Control Resuscitation 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Crystal Hill-Pryor 

(301) 619-9702 

crystal.d.hill-pryor.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Wilbur Malloy 

(301) 619-8136 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to research, develop, and demonstrate intelligent DIAGNOSTIC algorithms intended for use during pre-hospital enroute care and Prolonged Field Care (PFC). These intelligent DIAGNOSTIC algorithms are required to enable assisted or automated DIAGNOSTICS, a key component and enabler of future medical systems that could provide remote critical care to combat casualties. Ultimately, the intelligent algorithms developed for automated DIAGNOSTICS will be a component of a ruggedized and light–weight autonomous casualty care system carried by a single dismounted combatant that is capable of facilitating the medical stabilization and treatment of patients in a pre-hospital environment. 

DESCRIPTION: Future combat will likely involve greater dispersion and near isolation over great distances necessitating units to be more self-sufficient and less dependent on logistical and other support from supporting units. Use of unmanned air, ground and maritime systems is likely to greatly increase as autonomous capabilities of those systems develops. It would be difficult to increase the availability of manned evacuation platforms to adequately support dispersed warfare in multiple domain battlefields; indeed many combat environments will not be accessible by manned platforms due to distances, lack of air superiority, employment of weapons of mass destruction, and/or heightened intensity of conflict with peer/near-peer adversaries. The potential lack of availability of medical evacuation assets, e.g. due to anti-access and area denial challenges, pose a difficult dilemma for combat commanders with wounded, sick or otherwise incapacitated personnel. Ultimately they will resort to evacuation of those personnel on nonmedical vehicles of opportunity (the Army definition of CASEVAC) or face degradation of medical resources and encumbered combat mobility. As defined by the Army, CASEVAC without medical attendance or oversight poses problems with lack of sufficient enroute care, and even may be considered patient abandonment. As many attempts to develop such a capability in the past have shown (Ref 1-5); it can only be approached by attempting to develop small chunks of the ultimate capability, a few at a time. In that case, a feasible approach is to begin with onboard attendant or tele-operated capabilities from remote locations gradually being replaced by autonomous capabilities. Some of the high level subsystem capabilities needed are: 1) comprehensive patient monitoring, 2) DIAGNOSTIC medical imaging, 3) DIAGNOSTIC laboratory analysis, 4) Differential diagnosis formulation 5) enroute care treatment plan formulation, and 6) intervention. Addressing all of these capabilities is far beyond the scope of a single SBIR topic but prototyping enabling technologies for these capabilities are well within that scope. This SBIR topic is intended to address just the intelligent algorithms needed to dynamically and continuously analyze input from soldier worn or medic placed monitors, diagnostic imaging, and DIAGNOSTIC laboratory analysis devices (not part of this SBIR topic) and formulate combat trauma diagnoses. Proposals must address a step-wise approach to prototyping algorithms for each capability to include initial manned capability prototypes, followed by tele-operated prototypes, followed by initial autonomous capabilities. Creative and inventive approaches are sought. Each proposal must include a complete system design concept for a complete autonomous combat casualty care patient monitoring and support system that is well thought out and documented in the Phase I proposal. While this SBIR topic will only address the combat trauma DIAGNOSIS component of the system, the proposal must clearly illustrate how all the component technologies will be integrated into the complete system design concept using a “system of systems” approach to achieve a complete casualty care capability. Potential for future integration within a system of systems from diverse sources from government, industry, and academia requires adherence to open standards architecture, consistent data standards and an integrating reference architecture capability to be designed into components at the start. Proposals to this system of system research effort, should incorporate within the systems design, the medical HL7 data standards (Ref 6,7) and the DOD Unmanned Systems Control Segment (UCS) (Ref 8-10) Architecture interoperability specifications. Likewise, while this SBIR topic is focusing on enabling algorithms (software) only, emerging integrated soft and hardware technologies such as so-called “soft robotics” (Ref 11-14) should be considered for all proposed components of the ultimate system of systems in order to achieve levels of capability needed within the size, weight and ruggedization constraints of devices which must be carried, set up and attached to a patient by a single dismounted combatant. Proposed component capability solutions will not be considered that may, on their own, meet such criteria but do not take into consideration and specifically address in the proposal the overall weight and cube that would be required once all component capability prototypes are integrated into a complete enroute care system of systems. 

PHASE I: Research solutions to prototype, integrate and demonstrate intelligent DIAGNOSTIC algorithms as components of a ruggedized light-weight autonomous combat casualty care for supporting combat trauma patients during Prolonged Field Care (PFC) and in non-MEDEVAC ground and air casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) vehicles. Analysis of inputs from multiple types of monitors should be addressed to include: 1) soldier worn or medic placed monitors, 2) DIAGNOSTIC imaging, and 3) DIAGNOSTIC laboratory analysis. Conduct conceptual and preliminary design of the proposed component capability or capabilities to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed component-level technology. Further develop the conceptual design of the larger system of systems for a complete enroute care capability and demonstrate how the proposed component-level technology fits into the complete system concept. 

PHASE II: From Phase I work, develop and demonstrate intelligent combat trauma DIAGNOSTIC algorithms as components of the conceptual overall system. Demonstrate an operational prototype component capability in field exercise with medics/corpsmen as coordinated by US Army TATRC. Provide proof of concept demonstration of intelligent combat trauma DIAGNOSTIC algorithms with ultimate objective system of systems using integration and data standards discussed above. Consider requirements for FDA certification in Phase III and plan for Phase III integration of the prototype capabilities with a larger system of systems, if necessary, before demonstrating with patients during Phase II prototype user feed-back evaluations in a field environment. Further develop commercialization plans that were developed in the Phase II proposal for execution during Phase III, which may include exploring commercialization potential with civilian emergency medical service systems development and manufacturing companies. Seek partnerships within government and private industry for transition and commercialization of the production version of the product. While the focus of Phase II research effort is not the physical hardware implementation of the intelligent DIAGNOSTIC algorithms, the Phase II prototype capabilities must demonstrate the feasibility to satisfy certain system requirements driven by the forward operating environment when integrated into a complete system concept. One of the important set of system requirements for the complete system concept is for the system to be ruggedized for shock, dust, sand, and water resistance to enable reliable, uninterrupted operation in combat environments to include operation and storage at extreme temperatures. Other important considerations for the system concept include: 1) If a separate battery is used, it should be easy and quick to replace the battery in the capability. 2) No new or proprietary display devices should be proposed; if a display is needed for the initial human-in-the loop attended or tele-operated prototyping phases, any required display should be designed to use a standard military issued Android End User Device (EUD) such as the Army Nett Warrior or SOCOM Android Tactical Assault Kit. 3) If intra-device communications are involved in proposed prototype capability, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) communications technology (Ref 15-17) is the desired communications protocol for connecting component technologies together and/or to tactical radios for remote teleoperations since UWB is being actively pursued as a secure wireless technology with minimal electronic signature for Open Body Area Networks (OBAN) in combat environments. Other innovative solutions for providing secure short-range wireless communications in a tactical environment will also be considered for system designs that require wireless intra-device communications. 

PHASE III: Refine and execute the commercialization plan included in the Phase II Proposal. The Phase III plan shall incorporate military service specifications from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps as they evolve in order to meet their requirements for fielding. Specifications will be provided in Phase II as they become available. The prototype system component may be integrated into a system of systems design and evaluated in an operational field environment such as Marine Corps Limited Objective Experiment (LOE), Army Network Integration Exercise (NIE), etc. depending on operational commitments. Present the product ready capability as a candidate for spiral development fielding (even without completion of the entire system of systems objective), to applicable Department of Defense. Army, Navy/Marine Corps, Air Force, Program Managers for Combat Casualty Care systems along with government and civilian program managers for emergency, remote, and wilderness Medicine within state and civilian health care organizations. Execute further commercialization and manufacturing through collaborative relationships with partners identified in Phase II. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Trauma Pod Robot to Save Soldiers' Lives on the Battlefield. 2005. PHYS ORG. https://phys.org/news/2005-03-trauma-pod-robot-soldiers-battlefield.html

2:  Trauma Pod: A Semi-Automated Robotic Surgery System. 2009. International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery · Impact Factor: 1.53. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255219448_Trauma_Pod_A_Semi-Automated_Robotic_Surgery_System

3:  Tomorrow’s Tech: The Automated Critical Care System. 2014. Naval Science and Technology Future Force Staff. http://futureforce.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/09/tomorrows-tech-the-automated-critical-care-system-web-exclusive/

4:  Autonomous Patient Care Fact Sheet. 2017. Office of Naval Research. https://www.onr.navy.mil/en/Media-Center/Fact-Sheets/Autonomous-Patient-Care.aspx

5:  Salinas, Jose. 2015. A phased approach to development of closed loop and autonomous critical care systems. US Army Institute of Surgical Research. Power point briefing. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/UCM467496.pdf

6:  Medical Data Integration with SNOMED-CT and HL7. 2015. Longheu A., Carchiolo V., Malgeri M. (2015) Medical Data Integration with SNOMED-CT and HL7. 2015. In: Rocha A., Correia A., Costanzo S., Reis L. (eds) New Contributions in Information Systems and Technologies. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 353. Springer, Cham http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-16486-1_115

7:  Health Information Technology Standards. 2017. Public Health Data Standards Consortium. http://www.phdsc.org/standards/health-information/D_Standards.asp

8:  Parag Batavia, R. Ernst, K. Fisherkeller, D. Gregory, R. Hoffman, A Jenning, G. Romanski, B. Schechter & G. Hunt. 2016. The UAS Control Segment Architecture. http://www.raytheon.com/news/rtnwcm/groups/public/documents/content/rtn11_auvsi_uas_whitepaper.pdf

9:  Unmanned Systems (UxS) Control Segment (UCS) Architecture: Architecture Description - SAE AS9131. 2016. SAE International. https://global.ihs.com/doc_detail.cfm?&item_s_key=00699100&item_key_date=830031&input_doc_number=SAE%20AS9131&input_doc_title=

10:  Unmanned Systems (UxS) Control Segment (UCS) Architecture: Conformance Specification. 2017. SAE International –SAE AS 6513. SAE International. http://standards.sae.org/wip/as6513/

11:  Soft Robotics. 2017. IEEE Robotics & Automation Society. http://www.ieee-ras.org/soft-robotics

12:  Greenemeir, Larry. 2013. Soft Touch: Squishy Robots Could Lead to Cheaper, Safer Medical Devices. Scientific American. 24 Sep 2013. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/soft-robotics-biomedical-surgery/

13:  Gent, Ed. 2016. The Octobot is Just the Beginning of Soft Robotics. Singularity Hub. 14 Dec 2016. https://singularityhub.com/2016/12/14/the-octobot-is-just-the-beginning-for-soft-robotics/

14:  Soft Robotics Journal. 2017. Mary Anne Liebert Publications. 4:1 March 2017. http://online.liebertpub.com/loi/SORO

15:  Ultra-Wideband Technology for Short- or Medium-Range Wireless Communications, by: Jeff Forster, Evan Green, Srinivasa Somayazulu, and David Leeper. http://ecee.colorado.edu/~ecen4242/marko/UWB/UWB/art_4.pdf

16:  Pushing the Ultrawideband Envelope, by Henry S. Kenyon. http://www.afcea.org/content/?q=pushing-ultrawideband-envelope

17:  Medical Applications of Ultra-Wideband (UWB), by Jianli Pan. http://www1.cse.wustl.edu/~jain/cse574-08/ftp/uwb/index.html

18:  Nett Warrior (NW), US Army Acquisition Support Center. http://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/soldier-nw/

19:  Android Tactical Assault Kit, ATAKmap.com https://atakmap.com/

KEYWORDS: Autonomous Enroute Care, Trauma Pod, Autonomous Critical Care System, Unmanned Systems, CASEVAC, HL7, UCS, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Communications, Combat Casualty Care 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Gary Gilbert 

(301) 619-4043 

gary.r.gilbert.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Nathan Fisher 

(301) 619-7920 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to prototype intelligent trauma INTERVENTION algorithms to be used to facilitate the medical stabilization of combat casualties in a pre-hospital setting through autonomous therapeutic INTERVENTION and closed-loop patient management systems. This topic seeks to research, develop, and demonstrate intelligent INTERVENTION algorithms that would enable autonomous medical capabilities during Prolonged Field Care (PFC) and in non-MEDEVAC ground and air casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) vehicles. The intended implementation of these capabilities would be as part of an integrated autonomous combat casualty care system that is sufficiently light-weight and ruggedized to be carried by a dismounted combatant along with their other combat equipment. 

DESCRIPTION: Future combat will likely involve greater dispersion and near isolation over great distances necessitating units to be more self-sufficient and less dependent on logistical and other support from supporting units. Use of unmanned air, ground and maritime systems is likely to greatly increase as autonomous capabilities of those systems develops. It would be difficult to increase the availability of manned evacuation platforms to adequately support dispersed warfare in multiple domain battlefields; indeed many combat environments will not be accessible by manned platforms due to distances, lack of air superiority, employment of weapons of mass destruction, and/or heightened intensity of conflict with peer/near-peer adversaries. The potential lack of availability of medical evacuation assets, e.g. due to anti-access and area denial challenges, pose a difficult dilemma for combat commanders with wounded, sick or otherwise incapacitated personnel. Ultimately they will resort to evacuation of those personnel on nonmedical vehicles of opportunity (the Army definition of CASEVAC) or face degradation of medical resources and encumbered combat mobility. As defined by the Army, CASEVAC without medical attendance or oversight poses problems with lack of sufficient enroute care, and even may be considered patient abandonment. As many attempts to develop such a capability in the past have shown (Ref 1-5); it can only be approached by attempting to develop small chunks of the ultimate capability, a few at a time. In that case, a feasible approach is to begin with onboard attendant or tele-operated capabilities from remote locations gradually being replaced by autonomous capabilities. Some of the high level subsystem capabilities needed are: 1) comprehensive patient monitoring, 2) diagnostic medical imaging, 3) diagnostic laboratory analysis, 4) Differential diagnosis formulation 5) enroute care treatment plan formulation, and 6) INTERVENTION. Addressing all of these capabilities is far beyond the scope of a single SBIR topic but prototyping enabling technologies for these capabilities are well within that scope. This SBIR topic is intended to address just the intelligent algorithms needed to dynamically and continuously analyze input from separately generated autonomous diagnostic algorithms (not part of this SBIR topic) used to formulate combat trauma diagnoses in order to select and implement appropriate INTERVENTIONS. These INTERVENTIONS will likely involve robotic manipulators. Proposers may use any robotic manipulators as long as the algorithms developed are generalizable to any robotic system. Proposals must address a step-wise approach to prototyping algorithms for each capability to include initial manned capability prototypes, followed by tele-operated prototypes, followed by initial autonomous capabilities. Creative and inventive approaches are sought. Each proposal must include a complete system design concept for a complete autonomous combat casualty care patient monitoring and support system that is well thought out and documented in the Phase I proposal. While this SBIR topic will only address the combat trauma INTERVENTION component of the system, the proposal must clearly illustrate how all the component technologies will be integrated into the complete system design concept using a “system of systems” approach to achieve a complete casualty care capability. Potential for future integration within a system of systems from diverse sources from government, industry, and academia requires adherence to open standards architecture, consistent data standards and an integrating reference architecture capability to be designed into components at the start. Proposals to this system of system research effort, should incorporate within the systems design, the medical HL7 data standards (Ref 6,7) and the DOD Unmanned Systems Control Segment (UCS) (Ref 8-10) Architecture interoperability specifications. Likewise, while this SBIR topic is focusing on enabling algorithms (software) only, emerging integrated soft and hardware technologies such as so-called “soft robotics” (Ref 11-14) should be considered for all proposed components of the ultimate system of systems in order to achieve levels of capability needed within the size, weight and ruggedization constraints of devices which must be carried, set up and attached to a patient by a single dismounted combatant. Proposed component capability solutions will not be considered that may, on their own, meet such criteria but do not take into consideration and specifically address in the proposal the overall weight and cube that would be required once all component capability prototypes are integrated into a complete enroute care system of systems. 

PHASE I: Research solutions to prototype, integrate and demonstrate intelligent combat trauma INTERVENTION algorithms as components of a ruggedized light-weight autonomous combat casualty care for supporting combat trauma patients during Prolonged Field Care (PFC) and in non-MEDEVAC ground and air casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) vehicles. Analysis of inputs from separate combat trauma algorithms and multiple types of monitors should be addressed. Conduct conceptual and preliminary design of the proposed component capability or capabilities to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed component-level technology. Further develop the conceptual design of the larger system of systems for a complete enroute care capability and demonstrate how the proposed component-level technology fits into the complete system concept. 

PHASE II: From Phase I work, develop and demonstrate intelligent combat trauma INTERVENTION algorithms as components of the conceptual overall system. Demonstrate an operational prototype component capability in field exercise with medics/corpsmen as coordinated by US Army TATRC. Provide proof of concept demonstration of proposed intelligent combat trauma INTERVENTION algorithms with ultimate objective system of systems using integration and data standards discussed above. Consider requirements for FDA certification in Phase III and plan for Phase III integration of the prototype capabilities with a larger system of systems, if necessary, before demonstrating with patients during Phase II prototype user feed-back evaluations in a field environment. Further develop commercialization plans that were developed in the Phase II proposal for execution during Phase III, which may include exploring commercialization potential with civilian emergency medical service systems development and manufacturing companies. Seek partnerships within government and private industry for transition and commercialization of the production version of the product. While the focus of Phase II research effort is not the physical hardware implementation of the intelligent diagnostic algorithms, the Phase II prototype capabilities must demonstrate the feasibility to satisfy certain system requirements driven by the forward operating environment when integrated into a complete system concept. One of the important set of system requirements for the complete system concept is for the system to be ruggedized for shock, dust, sand, and water resistance to enable reliable, uninterrupted operation in combat environments to include operation and storage at extreme temperatures. Other important considerations for the system concept include: 1) If a separate battery is used, it should be easy and quick to replace the battery in the capability. 2) No new or proprietary display devices should be proposed; if a display is needed for the initial human-in-the loop attended or tele-operated prototyping phases, any required display should be designed to use a standard military issued Android End User Device (EUD) such as the Army Nett Warrior or SOCOM Android Tactical Assault Kit. 3) If intra-device communications are involved in proposed prototype capability, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) communications technology (Ref 15-17) is the desired communications protocol for connecting component technologies together and/or to tactical radios for remote teleoperations since UWB is being actively pursued as a secure wireless technology with minimal electronic signature for Open Body Area Networks (OBAN) in combat environments. Other innovative solutions for providing secure short-range wireless communications in a tactical environment will also be considered for system designs that require wireless intra-device communications. 

PHASE III: Refine and execute the commercialization plan included in the Phase II Proposal. The Phase III plan shall incorporate military service specifications from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps as they evolve in order to meet their requirements for fielding. Specifications will be provided in Phase II as they become available. The prototype system component may be integrated into a system of systems design and evaluated in an operational field environment such as Marine Corps Limited Objective Experiment (LOE), Army Network Integration Exercise (NIE), etc. depending on operational commitments. Present the product ready capability as a candidate for spiral development fielding (even without completion of the entire system of systems objective), to applicable Department of Defense. Army, Navy/Marine Corps, Air Force, Program Managers for Combat Casualty Care systems along with government and civilian program managers for emergency, remote, and wilderness Medicine within state and civilian health care organizations. Execute further commercialization and manufacturing through collaborative relationships with partners identified in Phase II. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Trauma Pod Robot to Save Soldiers' Lives on the Battlefield. 2005. PHYS ORG. https://phys.org/news/2005-03-trauma-pod-robot-soldiers-battlefield.html

2:  Trauma Pod: A Semi-Automated Robotic Surgery System. 2009. International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery · Impact Factor: 1.53. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255219448_Trauma_Pod_A_Semi-Automated_Robotic_Surgery_System

3:  Tomorrow’s Tech: The Automated Critical Care System. 2014. Naval Science and Technology Future Force Staff. http://futureforce.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/09/tomorrows-tech-the-automated-critical-care-system-web-exclusive/

4:  Autonomous Patient Care Fact Sheet. 2017. Office of Naval Research. https://www.onr.navy.mil/en/Media-Center/Fact-Sheets/Autonomous-Patient-Care.aspx

5:  Salinas, Jose. 2015. A phased approach to development of closed loop and autonomous critical care systems. US Army Institute of Surgical Research. Power point briefing. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/UCM467496.pdf

6:  Medical Data Integration with SNOMED-CT and HL7. 2015. Longheu A., Carchiolo V., Malgeri M. (2015) Medical Data Integration with SNOMED-CT and HL7. 2015. In: Rocha A., Correia A., Costanzo S., Reis L. (eds) New Contributions in Information Systems and Technologies. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 353. Springer, Cham http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-16486-1_115

7:  Health Information Technology Standards. 2017. Public Health Data Standards Consortium. http://www.phdsc.org/standards/health-information/D_Standards.asp

8:  Parag Batavia, R. Ernst, K. Fisherkeller, D. Gregory, R. Hoffman, A Jenning, G. Romanski, B. Schechter & G. Hunt. 2016. The UAS Control Segment Architecture. http://www.raytheon.com/news/rtnwcm/groups/public/documents/content/rtn11_auvsi_uas_whitepaper.pdf

9:  Unmanned Systems (UxS) Control Segment (UCS) Architecture: Architecture Description - SAE AS9131. 2016. SAE International. https://global.ihs.com/doc_detail.cfm?&item_s_key=00699100&item_key_date=830031&input_doc_number=SAE%20AS9131&input_doc_title=

10:  Unmanned Systems (UxS) Control Segment (UCS) Architecture: Conformance Specification. 2017. SAE International –SAE AS 6513. SAE International. http://standards.sae.org/wip/as6513/

11:  Soft Robotics. 2017. IEEE Robotics & Automation Society. http://www.ieee-ras.org/soft-robotics

12:  Greenemeir, Larry. 2013. Soft Touch: Squishy Robots Could Lead to Cheaper, Safer Medical Devices. Scientific American. 24 Sep 2013. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/soft-robotics-biomedical-surgery/

13:  Gent, Ed. 2016. The Octobot is Just the Beginning of Soft Robotics. Singularity Hub. 14 Dec 2016. https://singularityhub.com/2016/12/14/the-octobot-is-just-the-beginning-for-soft-robotics/

14:  Soft Robotics Journal. 2017. Mary Anne Liebert Publications. 4:1 March 2017. http://online.liebertpub.com/loi/SORO

15:  Ultra-Wideband Technology for Short- or Medium-Range Wireless Communications, by: Jeff Forster, Evan Green, Srinivasa Somayazulu, and David Leeper. http://ecee.colorado.edu/~ecen4242/marko/UWB/UWB/art_4.pdf

16:  Pushing the Ultrawideband Envelope, by Henry S. Kenyon. http://www.afcea.org/content/?q=pushing-ultrawideband-envelope

17:  Medical Applications of Ultra-Wideband (UWB), by Jianli Pan. http://www1.cse.wustl.edu/~jain/cse574-08/ftp/uwb/index.html

18:  Nett Warrior (NW), US Army Acquisition Support Center. http://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/soldier-nw/

19:  Android Tactical Assault Kit, ATAKmap.com https://atakmap.com/

KEYWORDS: Autonomous Enroute Care, Trauma Pod, Autonomous Critical Care System, Unmanned Systems, CASEVAC, HL7, UCS, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Communications, Combat Casualty Care 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Gary Gilbert 

(301) 619-4043 

gary.r.gilbert.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Nathan Fisher 

(301) 619-7920 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this topic is to prototype smart patient MONITORING algorithms as a subsystem for integration into a ruggedized light-weight autonomous combat casualty care capability that can be carried by a single dismounted combatant along with other combat equipment and quickly set up and attached to a combat casualty at point of care and/or within a hasty casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) platform. The intent of this topic is to research, develop and demonstrate smart patient MONITORING methods and algorithms to provide a comprehensive patient MONITORING capability that would support future systems capable of remote diagnostics and therapeutic interventions. 

DESCRIPTION: Future combat will likely involve greater dispersion and near isolation over great distances necessitating units to be more self-sufficient and less dependent on logistical and other support from supporting units. Use of unmanned air, ground and maritime systems is likely to greatly increase as autonomous capabilities of those systems develops. It would be difficult to increase the availability of manned evacuation platforms to adequately support dispersed warfare in multiple domain battlefields; indeed many combat environments will not be accessible by manned platforms due to distances, lack of air superiority, employment of weapons of mass destruction, and/or heightened intensity of conflict with peer/near-peer adversaries. The potential lack of availability of medical evacuation assets, e.g. due to anti-access and area denial challenges, pose a difficult dilemma for combat commanders with wounded, sick or otherwise incapacitated personnel. Ultimately they will resort to evacuation of those personnel on nonmedical vehicles of opportunity (the Army definition of CASEVAC) or face degradation of medical resources and encumbered combat mobility. As defined by the Army, CASEVAC without medical attendance or oversight poses problems with lack of sufficient enroute care, and even may be considered patient abandonment. As many attempts to develop such a capability in the past have shown (Ref 1-5); it can only be approached by attempting to develop small chunks of the ultimate capability, a few at a time. In that case, a feasible approach is to begin with onboard attendant or tele-operated capabilities from remote locations gradually being replaced by autonomous capabilities. Some of the high level subsystem capabilities needed are: 1) comprehensive patient MONITORING, 2) diagnostic medical imaging, 3) diagnostic laboratory analysis, 4) Differential diagnosis formulation 5) enroute care treatment plan formulation, and 6) intervention. Addressing all of these capabilities is far beyond the scope of a single SBIR topic but prototyping enabling technologies for these capabilities are well within that scope. This SBIR topic is intended to address just the intelligent algorithms needed to autonomously acquire and integrate input from lightweight ruggedized acquire and integrate input from lightweight ruggedized 1) soldier worn or medic placed monitors, 2) diagnostic imaging, and 3) diagnostic laboratory analysis. Proposals must address a step-wise approach to prototyping algorithms for each capability to include initial manned capability prototypes, followed by tele-operated prototypes, followed by initial autonomous capabilities. Creative and inventive approaches are sought. Each proposal must include a complete system design concept for a complete autonomous combat casualty care patient MONITORING and support system that is well thought out and documented in the Phase I proposal. While this SBIR topic will only address MONITORING components of the system, the proposal must clearly illustrate how these component technologies will be integrated into the complete system design concept using a “system of systems” approach to achieve a complete casualty care capability. Potential for future integration within a system of systems from diverse sources from government, industry, and academia requires adherence to open standards architecture, consistent data standards and an integrating reference architecture capability to be designed into components at the start. Proposals to this system of system research effort, should incorporate within the systems design, the medical HL7 data standards (Ref 6,7) and the DOD Unmanned Systems Control Segment (UCS) (Ref 8-10) Architecture interoperability specifications. Likewise, while this SBIR topic is focusing on enabling algorithms (software) only, emerging integrated soft and hardware technologies such as so-called “soft robotics” (Ref 11-14) should be considered for all proposed components of the ultimate system of systems in order to achieve levels of capability needed within the size, weight and ruggedization constraints of devices which must be carried, set up and attached to a patient by a single dismounted combatant. Proposed component capability solutions will not be considered that may, on their own, meet such criteria but do not take into consideration and specifically address in the proposal the overall weight and cube that would be required once all component capability prototypes are integrated into a complete enroute care system of systems. 

PHASE I: Research solutions to prototype, integrate and demonstrate the autonomous patient MONITORING capability component of a conceptual ruggedized light-weight autonomous combat casualty care capability for supporting combat trauma patients during Prolonged Field Care (PFC) and in non-MEDEVAC ground and air casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) vehicles. Integration of all three sources of MONITORING should be addressed: 1) soldier worn or medic placed monitors, 2) diagnostic imaging, and 3) diagnostic laboratory analysis. Conduct conceptual and preliminary design of the proposed component capability or capabilities to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed component-level technology. Further develop the conceptual design of the larger system of systems for a complete enroute care capability and demonstrate how the proposed component-level technology fits into the complete system concept. 

PHASE II: From Phase I work, develop and demonstrate an operational ruggedized prototype or prototypes of autonomous patient MONITORING component of the conceptual overall system. Demonstrate an operational prototype component capability in field exercise with medics/corpsmen as coordinated by US Army TATRC. Provide proof of concept demonstration of proposed integration of selected 1) soldier worn or medic placed monitors, 2) diagnostic imaging, and 3) diagnostic laboratory analysis component subsystems with ultimate objective system of systems using integration and data standards discussed above. Consider requirements for FDA certification in Phase III and plan for Phase III integration of the prototype capabilities with a larger system of systems, if necessary, before demonstrating with patients during Phase II prototype user feed-back evaluations in a field environment. Further develop commercialization plans that were developed in the Phase II proposal for execution during Phase III, which may include exploring commercialization potential with civilian emergency medical service systems development and manufacturing companies. Seek partnerships within government and private industry for transition and commercialization of the production version of the product. While the focus of Phase II research effort is not the physical hardware implementation of the intelligent diagnostic algorithms, the Phase II prototype capabilities must demonstrate the feasibility to satisfy certain system requirements driven by the forward operating environment when integrated into a complete system concept. One of the important set of system requirements for the complete system concept is for the system to be ruggedized for shock, dust, sand, and water resistance to enable reliable, uninterrupted operation in combat environments to include operation and storage at extreme temperatures. Other important considerations for the system concept include: 1) If a separate battery is used, it should be easy and quick to replace the battery in the capability. 2) No new or proprietary display devices should be proposed; if a display is needed for the initial human-in-the loop attended or tele-operated prototyping phases, any required display should be designed to use a standard military issued Android End User Device (EUD) such as the Army Nett Warrior or SOCOM Android Tactical Assault Kit. 3) If intra-device communications are involved in proposed prototype capability, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) communications technology (Ref 15-17) is the desired communications protocol for connecting component technologies together and/or to tactical radios for remote teleoperations since UWB is being actively pursued as a secure wireless technology with minimal electronic signature for Open Body Area Networks (OBAN) in combat environments. Other innovative solutions for providing secure short-range wireless communications in a tactical environment will also be considered for system designs that require wireless intra-device communications 

PHASE III: Refine and execute the commercialization plan included in the Phase II Proposal. The Phase III plan shall incorporate military service specifications from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps as they evolve in order to meet their requirements for fielding. Specifications will be provided in Phase II as they become available. The prototype system component may be integrated into a system of systems design and evaluated in an operational field environment such as Marine Corps Limited Objective Experiment (LOE), Army Network Integration Exercise (NIE), etc. depending on operational commitments. Present the product ready capability as a candidate for spiral development fielding (even without completion of the entire system of systems objective), to applicable Department of Defense. Army, Navy/Marine Corps, Air Force, Program Managers for Combat Casualty Care systems along with government and civilian program managers for emergency, remote, and wilderness Medicine within state and civilian health care organizations. Execute further commercialization and manufacturing through collaborative relationships with partners identified in Phase II. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Trauma Pod Robot to Save Soldiers' Lives on the Battlefield. 2005. PHYS ORG. https://phys.org/news/2005-03-trauma-pod-robot-soldiers-battlefield.html

2:  Trauma Pod: A Semi-Automated Robotic Surgery System. 2009. International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery · Impact Factor: 1.53. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255219448_Trauma_Pod_A_Semi-Automated_Robotic_Surgery_System

3:  Tomorrow’s Tech: The Automated Critical Care System. 2014. Naval Science and Technology Future Force Staff. http://futureforce.navylive.dodlive.mil/2014/09/tomorrows-tech-the-automated-critical-care-system-web-exclusive/

4:  Autonomous Patient Care Fact Sheet. 2017. Office of Naval Research. https://www.onr.navy.mil/en/Media-Center/Fact-Sheets/Autonomous-Patient-Care.aspx

5:  Salinas, Jose. 2015. A phased approach to development of closed loop and autonomous critical care systems. US Army Institute of Surgical Research. Power point briefing. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/UCM467496.pdf

6:  Medical Data Integration with SNOMED-CT and HL7. 2015. Longheu A., Carchiolo V., Malgeri M. (2015) Medical Data Integration with SNOMED-CT and HL7. 2015. In: Rocha A., Correia A., Costanzo S., Reis L. (eds) New Contributions in Information Systems and Technologies. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 353. Springer, Cham http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-16486-1_115

7:  Health Information Technology Standards. 2017. Public Health Data Standards Consortium. http://www.phdsc.org/standards/health-information/D_Standards.asp

8:  Parag Batavia, R. Ernst, K. Fisherkeller, D. Gregory, R. Hoffman, A Jenning, G. Romanski, B. Schechter & G. Hunt. 2016. The UAS Control Segment Architecture. http://www.raytheon.com/news/rtnwcm/groups/public/documents/content/rtn11_auvsi_uas_whitepaper.pdf

9:  Unmanned Systems (UxS) Control Segment (UCS) Architecture: Architecture Description - SAE AS9131. 2016. SAE International. https://global.ihs.com/doc_detail.cfm?&item_s_key=00699100&item_key_date=830031&input_doc_number=SAE%20AS9131&input_doc_title=

10:  Unmanned Systems (UxS) Control Segment (UCS) Architecture: Conformance Specification. 2017. SAE International –SAE AS 6513. SAE International. http://standards.sae.org/wip/as6513/

11:  Soft Robotics. 2017. IEEE Robotics & Automation Society. http://www.ieee-ras.org/soft-robotics

12:  Greenemeir, Larry. 2013. Soft Touch: Squishy Robots Could Lead to Cheaper, Safer Medical Devices. Scientific American. 24 Sep 2013. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/soft-robotics-biomedical-surgery/

13:  Gent, Ed. 2016. The Octobot is Just the Beginning of Soft Robotics. Singularity Hub. 14 Dec 2016. https://singularityhub.com/2016/12/14/the-octobot-is-just-the-beginning-for-soft-robotics/

14:  Soft Robotics Journal. 2017. Mary Anne Liebert Publications. 4:1 March 2017. http://online.liebertpub.com/loi/SORO

15:  Ultra-Wideband Technology for Short- or Medium-Range Wireless Communications, by: Jeff Forster, Evan Green, Srinivasa Somayazulu, and David Leeper. http://ecee.colorado.edu/~ecen4242/marko/UWB/UWB/art_4.pdf

16:  Pushing the Ultrawideband Envelope, by Henry S. Kenyon.

17:  Medical Applications of Ultra-Wideband (UWB), by Jianli Pan. http://www1.cse.wustl.edu/~jain/cse574-08/ftp/uwb/index.html

18:  Nett Warrior (NW), US Army Acquisition Support Center. http://asc.army.mil/web/portfolio-item/soldier-nw/

19:  Android Tactical Assault Kit, ATAKmap.com https://atakmap.com/

KEYWORDS: Autonomous Enroute Care, Trauma Pod, Autonomous Critical Care System, Unmanned Systems, CASEVAC, HL7, UCS, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Communications, Combat Casualty Care 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Gary Gilbert 

(301) 619-4043 

gary.r.gilbert.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Nathan Fisher 

(301) 619-7920 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: This effort seeks to develop / advance the state of the art in ultra-flexible high efficiency photovoltaic (PV) technology such that it can be adapted for use in both Soldier portable and large format (e.g. shelter) applications. Prior efforts in integration of PV with textiles have focused on amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film commercial off the shelf (COTS) technology due to the inherent lightweight, low cost, and flexibility. While these efforts were successful in improving the manufacturability of that technology, and producing multiple demonstration prototypes ranging in size from man-portable to shelter based items, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the a-Si technology at the production module level remains in the mid-single digits. Feedback from military program managers on this technology capability have indicated that PCE is too low, and a higher energy conversion capability is desired. To meet this request, this proposal seeks to evaluate PV technologies that can provide a power conversion efficiency (PCE) that is >10% – threshold (T), >15% – objective (O) during both static, and flexed states. Further, since the military has been traditionally focused on textile based platforms for both expeditionary shelters systems, as well as Soldier borne alternative energy platforms – of special interest are proposed technologies that offer “textile-like” characteristics that such demonstration of flexibility would allow for: - Compound curvature (i.e. simultaneous bending in two axis) without impact to the physical or operational ability of the technology - Single axis 25mm bend radius (T), 10mm bend radius (O) Since any alternative based energy source – in this case ultra-flexible PV – has to directly compete against legacy fossil fuel fired energy sources (e.g. electric generators) for transition to a military program of record where procurement happens, it is imperative that several attributes of the alternative energy source are maximized. These include (but are not limited to), wattage, Power Conversion efficiency (PCE), weight, deployed footprint, stowed footprint, and, of course – cost. Additionally, while manufacturing methodology is not a specific focus area of this topic, PV technologies that leverage an existing commercial manufacturing base as a way to provide both immediate manufacturing capability, while concurrently providing immediate economies of scale to reduce cost – are also of special interest. As a result applicant technologies should be able to demonstrate ability to leverage an existing commercial manufacturing base with minimal (T) or no (O) additional process or material development required. While not specifically requested, PV technologies that allow power production earlier in the day, later in the evening, and is also able to produce power in wavelengths outside the visible spectrum are of special interest due to their ability to provide power over a longer period of time for every diurnal cycle. 

DESCRIPTION: Currently fielded flexible PV technologies are not able to meet a bend radius which approaches the natural drape and inherent flexibility of textiles. This has limited attempts to do direct PV module integration with textiles, and those applications where some level of success has been realized, have resorted to “paneling” or “tiling” to achieve stowage without directly folding or creasing the PV modules themselves. The realization of ultra-flexible high efficiency PV technology would benefit both Soldier portable and Expeditionary Maneuver (e.g. soft shelters) areas of interest by providing an avenue to harvest energy in-situ allowing for extended operational capability without resupply, and do so with a technology that offers more conformal capabilities for deployment and stowage than currently available. As an example, currently fielded Soldier portable PV technologies exhibit the ability to provide: - 120 watt item - 4.5 pounds total weight - 32.74 square foot area when deployed - 392 cubic inches when stowed - Maximum dimension of 14 inches in any one axis when stowed. - See: http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/about/news/?powerfilm_awarded_military_foldable_solar_panel_contract&show=news&newsID=21743 Proposed candidate technologies under this SBIR call should show a clear pathway to meeting the following specifications for a Soldier portable item under a standard solar insolation of 1000w/m2: - Minimum 100 Watt item (more is acceptable provided all other attributes are met) - 24VDC nominal operating voltage - < 3 pounds total weight - Covering no more than a 14.5 square foot area when fully deployed flat - Maximum dimension of 15 inches in any one axis when stowed - Less than or equal to 500 cubic inches of volume when stowed - Intent is for stowage in a rucksack or other areas where available cubic volume is at a premium. As such, packing solutions with no inherent voids are highly preferred. - Very low, or no gloss / glint characteristic - No gloss / glint is strongly preferred. - Inherent multiple color camouflage without the use of a power reducing mask or overlay - This attribute is not required, but is strongly preferred. - Operational with no permanent degradation in ambient temperatures and associated relative humidity for categories ranging in temperature from “Basic Cold” (-25 degrees F) to “Hot-Dry” (120 degrees F). - Temperature and relative humidity per specified categories in Army Regulation (AR) 70-38. Link to document is found in “References” section. - Able to withstand temperature and relative humidity for Storage & Transit categories ranging in temperature from “Severe Cold” (-60 degrees F) to “Hot” (160 degrees F) with no permanent degradation to operational capability upon return to ambient temperatures and relative humidity’s specified in operational bullet above. - Temperature and relative humidity per specified categories in Army Regulation (AR) 70-38. Link to document is found in “References” section 

PHASE I: Investigate processes that will lead to development of a robust working photovoltaic (PV) architecture that could be mass produced and would require minimal (T) or no (O) additional capital equipment expenditures - preferably by leveraging an existing commercial manufacturing base capability. 

PHASE II: Building on successful Phase I efforts, down select and refine the identified processes to produce working prototypes that leverages one or more of the commercial manufacturing bases identified in Phase I. Use of a spiral development model that provides interim working prototypes, and allows for incorporation of feedback from the military user community into the next prototype, is highly preferred. Effort should perform small scale environmental (e.g. thermal, UV, moisture, etc.) and wind induced flutter testing to determine durability of proposed PV technology in large scale format applications (e.g. military shelters, solar shades, etc.). Detailed report(s) on testing with pathways to resolving any identified failure modes are expected. Ability of proposed technology to achieve, or demonstrate a clear pathway to achieving, multiple different colors & patterns within the PV module to achieve inherent camouflage without a significant drop in PCE is highly desirable in Phase II. A cost projection for production quantities of final working PV prototypes (see attributes listed on same below for guidance), is requested as a Phase II deliverable. A "data package" to include production and assembly drawings, a bill of materials, and any source code required for re-creating the final deliverable prototype (see attributes listed on same below for guidance) via a third party is requested as a Phase II deliverable. Prototypes: Working prototypes should ultimately have the following characteristics described in the Phase I detailed technical plan: - Interim prototypes having the following attributes under a standard solar insolation of 1000w/m2: • Minimum 60 Watts output at 24VDC nominal • PCE of >10% (T), >15% (O) • < 4.5 pounds total weight • Less than or equal to 15 square foot area when deployed • Less than or equal to 500 cubic inches of volume when stowed • Maximum dimension of 15 inches in any one axis when stowed • The ability to repeatedly achieve the following with no degradation to electrical performance: • Compound curvature (i.e. simultaneous bending in two axis) without negative impact to the physical or operational capability of the technology • Single axis 12mm bend radius (T), 7mm bend radius (O) - Final working PV prototypes having the following attributes under a standard solar insolation of 1000w/m2: • Minimum 100 Watts output at 24VDC nominal • PCE of >10% (T), >15% (O) • < 3 pounds total weight • Less than or equal to 14.5 square foot area when deployed • Less than or equal to 500 cubic inches of volume when stowed • Maximum dimension of 15 inches in any one axis when stowed • The ability to repeatedly achieve the following with no degradation to electrical performance: • Compound curvature (i.e. simultaneous bending in two axis) without negative impact to the physical or operational capability of the technology • Single axis 12mm bend radius (T), 7mm bend radius (O) • Minimal (T) or no (O) glint / glare when viewed from any angle • Single color (T) or multiple colors & patterns (O) 

PHASE III: As eluded to earlier, expected evaluation / use of the developed ultra-flexible PV will be in both the Soldier borne power, and military shelters area. It is expected that commercial equivalent areas such as recreational outdoors market will be early adopters of successful technology development, Some examples of these potential dual use areas may include large scale commercial awnings for use in austere areas (e.g. national park pavilions), or – if camouflage attributes are achieved - power generation for long endurance concealed field sensor applications such as hunting trail cameras. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Prior NSRDEC call for PV textiles to support austere basecamp energy requirements: http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/u-s-army-seeks-energy-producing-tent-fabrics/

2:  Soldier centric wearable energy harvesting efforts: http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/magazine/issues/2014/Oct-Mar/pdfs/Sisto.pdf

3:  Power and Energy Strategy White Paper: http://www.arcic.army.mil/app_Documents/ARCIC_WhitePaper_Power-and-Energy-Strategy_01APR2010.pdf

4:  Army Regulation (AR) 70-38, RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND EVALUATION OF MATERIEL FOR EXTREME CLIMATIC CONDITIONS: http://www.apd.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/pdf/web/r70_38.pdf

5:  PowerFilm Solar, "PowerFilm Awarded Military Foldable Solar Panel", dtd April 4th 2016. As mentioned in Description http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/about/news/?powerfilm_awarded_military_foldable_solar_panel_contract&show=news&newsID=21743

CONTACT(S): 

Steven Tucker 

(508) 233-6962 

steven.r.tucker10.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop robust multi-channel co-functioning Classified and Non-Classified voice/data/video network using visible or infrared light transmission for use in tactical shelters to decrease installation time, while increasing data security and transmission capacity. 

DESCRIPTION: Current tactical shelters utilize a digital data networking system which requires that each workstation of the shelter be wired individually in order to be connected to the network. This method is very time consuming and runs counter to the Army Chief of Staff directive to reduce the set-up and strike timeframe to the absolute minimum for network connectivity of all workstations. The networking timeframe issue is currently being addressed via common wiring harnesses and secure Wi-Fi networking systems. The former approach will still take more time than desired to install/strike, while the latter may come up against future bandwidth limitations and security issues despite the best countermeasures since the WiFi signal can travel through the structure gaps to the surrounding environment. In 2011, a concept was developed whereby digital information could be transferred to workstation receivers and linked to a network though the modulation of light transmitted by a slightly modified LED lighting system. Think of this as a fiber optics system without the fiber cable. A portion of the LED light wavelength produced by the bulb is modulated at frequencies beyond human perception and the workstation receiver picks up the signal and transfers it to the user’s computer system. A system of this type is projected to deliver far higher data volume than current Wi-Fi and be totally secure since the light signal cannot pass through structure boundaries such as tent fabric or composite walls. The characteristic of the technology only being useful in confined spaces makes it ideal for our proposed application. It has the added capability of reducing power consumption and since it’s installed with the shelter lighting system will save precious set-up and strike times. Other downstream candidates for this technology would be any self-contained computerized multiuser workstation network which would have a signal uplink to the outside world, such as remote outposts, ships and ultimately new construction office/manufacturing networks. The desired outcome of this project is the construction of a Local Area Network capable of handling 50 workstations in a combined area of 2,500 ft2 while exceeding IEEE 802.11ac and 802.11n theoretical maximum data transfer rates. System must sustain an operationally concurrent minimum throughput of 40% maximum rated network transfer speed. Classified and Un-Classified data transmission within a user workstation lateral span of 3 feet or less is required for fielding purposes. The system objective is to function on the framework of current 120 VAC 60 Hz power supply and shelter LED lighting harnesses using adapted LED circuitry. 

PHASE I: Awardee shall design a viable and robust LED driven multi-channel, multi-user voice/data/video network configuration to integrate with US military network with the Phase 1 objective of demonstrating the technology. The desired outcomes of this phase are: 1.) At the conclusion of the six (6) month period, the awardee shall deliver a system design capable of supporting a minimum of 18 workstations with 12 workstations using Classified channels and 6 workstations using an Un-Classified common channel. The system is to have a multi-channel capability while providing two distinct communication systems (Classified and Un-Classified requirements) within the same physical structure, without any cross-over data bleed or interference. The system shall exhibit a sustained data throughput of 1Gbps. 2.) At the end of the Option period, the Awardee shall deliver a bench scale functional demonstration of the design for proof of concept. Additionally, the awardee shall deliver the following: • Within first two reports, present market research of all existing and future market opportunities outside of DoD applications. • Projected cost per unit of system capable of meeting Phase II performance objectives. • Interfacing plan, e.g. ensuring interoperability with existing military functions… • Network schematics • A list of maintenance items, frequency of replacing such items, and specific training required. • A cost analysis of the systems life cycle, including the cost of maintenance items and consumables, as well as the initial capital cost of procuring the system – over 5 years. This Phase I SBIR is not projected to perform work of a DoD Classified nature. All work performed during Phase I is for technology proof of concept and performance evaluations. 

PHASE II: Phase II shall result in a delivery of physical hardware capable of demonstrating the concept in a field environment. In this project, the delivered product shall be installed for testing in a Base Camp Integration Lab modeled on current US Army standard for a Combat Outpost. The awardee shall refine the Phase I concept to withstand military environmental conditions and expeditionary power generation constraints where power supply is provided by Tactical Quiet Generators. The awardee shall also configure the technology to be easily harnessed into existing military grade LED lighting fixtures (Techshot Batlite NSN 6210-01-644-1007) such that the technology becomes integrated into the common lighting harness system. The awardee shall optimize signal stability in multi-user workstation download and upload operational conditions. Produce a functional system prototype for testing to include integration with current military qualified digital information modem transmission devices. The objective of the Phase II effort is to provide a Li-Fi based Local Area Network Capability to a 50 workstation shelter complex with a combined area of 2,500 ft2, with an objective of 40 Gbps and a threshold of 25 Gbps sustainable data transfer rates. System shall be operational in interior shelters temperatures than can range from 400F – 1200F. System shall have the ability to sustain concurrent Classified and Un-Classified voice, data and video transfer systems without crossover and at workstation lateral spacing of 3 ft. System shall also be operational during night light discipline operations. System is required to be stable enough to withstand human traffic daylight penetration into the test shelter which shall be configured with a vestibule and tent flap. Each complete Li-Fi unit shall have a total system weight of less than 120 lbs, including packaging, in a man-transportable configuration. One prototype system shall be delivered at the end of Year One (12 months) with a subsequent one (1) month testing period. After this period, design changes shall be communicated to the contractor for development a 2nd generation prototype for a one (1) month evaluation at the end of month 23. System shall be fully functional to allow for performance validation and testing. Testing is projected to be performed at CERDEC facility in Aberdeen, MD. • Technical Data Package to include source code and hardware architecture for Limited Government Use. • Interfacing plan, e.g. ensuring interoperability with existing military functions. • Conceptual drawings. • A list of maintenance items, frequency of replacing such items, and specific training required. • A cost analysis of the systems life cycle, including the cost of maintenance items and consumables, as well as the initial capital cost of procuring the system – over 5 years. During Phase II SBIR, it is possible that there will be some degree of exposure to existing Classified data communications network infrastructure. As such, candidates must be prepared to conform to and execute the standards enumerated by the DoD Defense Security Service. (See http://www.dss.mil/is/niss.html for more information.) 

PHASE III: The focus of Phase I and Phase II of this program is to develop the technology to replace existing military hardwired and WiFi data networking systems and to provide multi-user network information capability in two distinct and secure data flows in a military expeditionary environment which can then integrate with standard military data transmission devices. This system shall be able to provide data communications and interior lighting system without the need for additional wiring systems, thus reducing transport weight, cube, system set-up and strike times while reducing energy consumption of the lighting and information transfer systems. Commercialization of this technology is projected to be of use in new build office, factory, shipboard, airline and other dimensionally bounded environments. Other applications are anticipated to be found in disaster relief communications networks as well as underground communication networks where traditional wireless networks do not function. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Science Alert - "Li-Fi Has Just Been Tested in The Real World, And It’s 100 Times Faster Than Wi-Fi" 24 Nov 2015

2:  Futurism – "Researchers Just Unveiled a New Li-Fi System That’s 100 Times Faster Than Wi-Fi" 21 Mar 2017

3:  "What is Li-Fi?" http://purelifi.com/

4:  "Voice and Data Communication Using Li-Fi" Kikshop and Sowyma, International Journal of Advanced Computational Engineering and Networking, Oct 2016, http://www.iraj.in/journal/journal_file/journal_pdf/3-303-147850370944-48.pdf

5:  "Evolution of Gi-Fi and Li-Fi in Wireless Networks" Nikhal, Sowbhagya and Krishna, International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering, May 2016, http://www.ijcseonline.org/spl_pub_paper/31-N048-IJCSE.pdf

CONTACT(S): 

Frank Murphy 

(508) 233-4444 

frank.j.murphy2.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: This effort intended to enhance protection of SUAS, allowing users to fly systems in enclosed spaces and near obstacles while minimizing risk of damage. Improving system protection during SUAS operations will minimize replacement cost of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets and downtime caused by loss of assets, and will maximize user confidence in unknown terrain and mission completion. 

DESCRIPTION: With the introduction of SUAS operational concepts, Soldiers are now able to remotely maintain eyes on target and remain out of harm’s way. This capability is very valuable and effective in large open areas, but is significantly less effective in enclosed spaces due to risk of collision. There are ongoing efforts to develop collision avoidance capability of stationary objects through the introduction of additional software and sensors. This approach requires that the SUAS be capable of supporting the weight of additional sensors, or the additional power that software requires to function properly. In addition to the collision avoidance approach, there are also commercially available devices that can be attached to an SUAS that will allow collision events to occur without damage. Unfortunately, these physical protection devices tend to be designed for specific SUAS models, have bulky form factors which are difficult to store in a rucksack, and/or present too large of a weight for certain SUAS to carry. • Increased fielding of SUAS, increased need for that ISR capability indoors and in enclosed spaces, and the new focus on urban and megacity warfare dictate the need for a rapidly deployable SUAS protection system. Considerations that require exploration are the ability to provide protection to an unprotected SUAS rapidly, without additional tools and/or significant time and energy costs. A Soldier requiring an SUAS indoors will most likely need to unpack and connect to the SUAS quickly in the field, and in turn would need to rapidly stow the device in a rucksack or pocket quickly in order to keep hands free and react to contact. In the field, additional tools will not be available and various types of SUAS may be in use. • Therefore, the primary focus of this effort should be on the design and development of a system to rapidly provide protection to SUAS while adhering to the requirements as specified below. • The technology should have the following performance requirements: o System Protection: System must prevent damage to SUAS in collisions up to speeds of at least 5 knots (Threshold) and up to 10 knots (Objective). o Interface Compatibility: System must be compatible with all military fielded SUAS. o Installation Time: A trained user must be able to install the system on a given SUAS within 30 seconds (Threshold) (15 seconds Objective) o System Weight: 30 grams (Threshold). 15 grams (Objective). System weight includes power source (if powered) and all ancillary equipment. o Power Requirements (If Powered) • Interface: System must accept power from standard military batteries. • Duration: Operational Runtime must be at least 4 hours (Threshold) and up to 8 hours (Objective). 

PHASE I: Research, develop and propose a design concept with the potential of realizing the goals in the description above. Describe and quantify how the proposed solution offers enhancement(s) over current technology approaches and/or how it augments other strategies/technologies. Conduct necessary investigation and breadboarding on the design and performance of the components to demonstrate the feasibility and practicality of the proposed system design, minimizing user input. Deliver monthly progress reports and a final report documenting the research and development efforts, identifying any technical challenges that may cause a performance parameter(s) not to be met, results of any modeling, safety issues, and estimated production costs. 

PHASE II: Develop the technology identified in Phase I. Fabricate and demonstrate one prototype to be demonstrated with government furnished SUAS. The prototype must be capable of demonstrating the performance goals stated in the description above in the relevant environments. Unit cost target for final product must not exceed $1000. Deliverables include any prototypes, detail drawings and source code developed throughout effort. Deliver monthly progress reports and a final report documenting the design specifications, performance characterization and any recommendations for future development. 

PHASE III: A device meeting the performance requirements outlined in this effort would be applicable to military, industrial, and recreational user groups. Those who operate multiple in enclosed spaces, or in close proximity to obstacles would benefit from the significant reduction of risk of damage to the SUAS. Infrastructure Maintenance Personnel and Forestry Surveyors would be able to remotely inspect tunnels and trees respectively at very close ranges without fear of causing damage to expensive equipment. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Brigham Young University

2:  BYU Scolars Archive

3:  2012-08-07

4:  Development of Sense and Avoid System for Small Unmanned Aerial System http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4760&context=etd NOTE: Information included in Chapters 3 and 4 are of most use for collision avoidance development.

5:  Army Short-Range SUAS Salient System Requirements http://www3.natick.army.mil/docs/SUAS/Attachment6_Short_Salient.pdf - To be used to define current Army requirements for SUAS. Selection of fielded SUAS will occur in early FY18

6:  AeroVironment Snipe. To be used as order-of-magnitude sizing http://www.avinc.com/uas/view/snipe

KEYWORDS: SUAS, Rapidly Deployable, Protection, Lightweight 

CONTACT(S): 

Joshua Nason 

(508) 233-4265 

joshua.l.nason.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: This effort intends to enhance the ability for small units to recover, charge, and relaunch SUAS with minimal significant user input. Improving these aspects of SUAS operations will minimize time and effort spent preparing and recovering the SUAS, and allow the soldier to maximize focus on the surrounding area 

DESCRIPTION: With the introduction of SUAS operational concepts, Soldiers are now able to remotely maintain eyes on target and remain out of harm’s way. Due to a finite power supply, however, SUAS are limited to short flight times before they must be returned to the user, recovered by the user, recharged at a charging station, and relaunched. Additionally, current SUAS that are used by soldiers are not paired with launchers, and require the soldier to manually launch the SUAS when flown. These tasks prevent continuous monitoring of the target, and require additional effort that are a significant distraction from the mission. As a way to provide continuous target coverage, it is possible to use multiple SUAS with overlapped flight times that will allow time for each UAS to charge and return to the target. While this solution addresses the issue of constant coverage, it increases the burden on the user to recover and prepare each SUAS to relaunch. In addition, there is increased interest in SUAS “swarming” capabilities, which allow several SUAS to work together simultaneously to complete tasks that are beyond the capabilities of each individual system. As this capability develops, the management of large numbers of SUAS “swarms” will likely not be feasible with current equipment. With increased fielding of SUAS, and increased number of scenarios that require the use of multiple systems, there is an increased need for a technology that is capable of reducing the physical and cognitive burden of recovery, recharge, and relaunch activities from the Soldier. Therefore, the primary focus of this effort should be on the design and development of a system to reduce the burden of these actions while adhering to the power, size, and weight requirements as specified below. Concept of Operations Description: The CONOPS intended for this system surround a small unit of dismounted soldiers that are tasked with maintaining eyes on target with at least two SUAS units, designated SUAS-A and SUAS-B. The system is intended to launch SUAS-A, while maintaining charge on SUAS-B. As SUAS-A reaches low power state, the system should launch SUAS-B as SUAS-A automatically returns to base and lands on or near the recovery system. The system should then be able to recover, charge and relaunch SUAS-A by the time SUAS-B reaches its low power state. Charging duration of SUAS must be less than the flight time of the SUAS, which differs between each fielded SUAS. CONOP can be scaled to the number of SUAS units carried by the dismounted unit, and developed system must be able to function similarly with a minimum of four (4) SUAS in any given mission. The technology should have the following performance requirements: o System Weight: 10lbs (Threshold). 5lbs (Objective). System weight includes power source and all ancillary equipment. System weight does not include weight of SUAS o System Volume: 3ft3 (Threshold); 1ft3 (Objective). System volume includes power source and all ancillary equipment. System volume does not include volume of SUAS o Power Requirements Interface: System must accept power from standard military batteries. Duration: Operational Runtime must be at least 4 hours (Threshold) and up to 8 hours (Objective). o Interface Compatibility: System must be compatible with military fielded SUAS. This could include direct compatibility with SUAS and its charging interfaces, or just compatibility with the charging units included with each fielded SUAS. o Recovery Range: System must be capable of recovering SUAS within a range of 20 feet of launch point. SUAS recovery is defined as collecting the SUAS from its landing location and connecting it to the charging dock for charging. 

PHASE I: Research, develop and propose a design concept with the potential of realizing the goals in the description above. Describe and quantify how the proposed solution offers enhancement(s) over current technology approaches and/or how it augments other strategies/technologies. Conduct necessary investigation and breadboarding on the design and performance of the components to demonstrate the feasibility and practicality of the proposed system design, minimizing user input. Deliver monthly progress reports and a final report documenting the research and development efforts, identifying any technical challenges that may cause a performance parameter(s) not to be met, results of any modeling, safety issues, and estimated production costs. All drawing and code developed during this effort are to be included in the final report. 

PHASE II: Develop the technology identified in Phase I. Fabricate, demonstrate and deliver one prototype (including SUAS recovery and relaunch device and any ancillary devices, with the exception of standard military batteries). The prototype must be capable of demonstrating the performance goals stated in the description above in the relevant environments, in addition to weather hardening and increased portability of system. For the proposal, bidders can prepare their estimates based on the Army providing two of the selected systems for test and demonstration purposes. Selection process for Army fielded SUAS is scheduled for early FY18. Additionally, the unit cost after development must not exceed $15,000. Deliver monthly progress reports and a final report documenting the design specifications, performance characterization and any recommendations for future development. 

PHASE III: A device meeting the performance requirements outlined in this effort would be applicable to military, industrial, and recreational user groups. Those who operate multiple SUAS simultaneously would realize significant reduction of effort and increased time on task benefits. Detection and Response Personnel would be able to increase coverage of a protected area while maintaining focus on operation of SUAS. 

REFERENCES: 

1: AV Snipe Description http://www.avinc.com/uas/view/snipe

2:  Department of Defense

3:  Release No. NR-008-17

4:  Department of Defense Announces Successful Micro-Drone Demonstrations

5:  9 Jan 2017. Swarming Demonstration https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1044811/department-of-defense-announces-successful-micro-drone-demonstration/

6:  Army Short-Range SUAS Salient System Requirements http://www3.natick.army.mil/docs/SUAS/Attachment6_Short_Salient.pdf

CONTACT(S): 

Joshua nason 

(508) 233-4265 

Joshua.l.nason.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an innovative technology and/or process that will provide legible and robust marking on various hand grenade bodies (shapes and materials), with initial focus on XM111 

DESCRIPTION: The body of the XM111 Offensive Hand Grenade has a unique shape and designated material (Noryl N190X), which makes the body challenging to mark with legible and robust marking. Currently, the XM111 is in development and the current developmental marking method is through manual pad printing application which is a slow, inconsistent method requiring post process steps to clean overspray and smudges. Pad printing also does not result in a durable and robust solution for lifecycle use. Market research on currently available methods has not identified any existing method that would meet all requirements of the XM111. Therefore, a new and innovative process/product is needed that will meet legibility and durability requirements of the XM111; and reduce or eliminate the preparation required prior to marking the bodies (e.g. necessary pretreatment and cleaning), post processing, and inconsistent legibility of text. Additionally, the new technology/process shall not require complex automation or equipment so as to keep capital investment and follow-on production costs low, and shall be compatible with marking explosively loaded items (i.e. shall not require high heat). Markings are expected to remain legible for at least 20 years while experiencing a storage temperature range of -65 deg F to 165 deg F. Assuming success, the technology/process may also be applied to other grenade munitions to include the M82 and L96/97. 

PHASE I: Study various printing/marking technologies and processes that will meet product requirements, resulting in a recommendation of final technology/process(es). Representative samples of the grenade body (inert) will be subject to the new technology/process and tested per standard evaluation techniques, to include acetone and spackle knife tests. A final report will document results of the testing as well as process parameters such as pre and post processing requirements, equipment and supplies/materials required, expected throughput, and overall cost. Phase I option will include delivery of the initial System Requirement Specification (SRS) which will annotate technical requirements and verification methods. The SRS shall be approved by the government. 

PHASE II: Mature the technology and/or process to scale-up to meet the up to 50,000 units per month throughput rate. Demonstrate a pilot production line that meets required production rates (using inert samples). Test samples from the production line to ensure products meet performance requirements. Submit a final report documenting the production process and parameters, including equipment/supplies required, test results, and recommendations for further process refinement. The final Phase II pilot production line shall be delivered to the Government to a site TBD. 

PHASE III: The objective goal of this SBIR project is to integrate the resulting technology/process in a government load-assembly-pack (LAP) facility, therefore it is important that the capital costs associated with implementing the results be kept at a minimum. This technology has widespread commercial applicability with any product with complex shapes requiring robust yet affordable marking techniques. 

REFERENCES: 

1: A Basic Overview of the Pad Printing Process, Peter Kiddell http://www.epsvt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/1.Articles_A%20basic%20overview%20of%20the%20pad%20printing%20process.pdf

2:  NORYL N190X material property datasheet, Matweb, http://www.matweb.com/ and enter "SABIC NORYL N190X" in the search box

3:  PEO Ammunition Systems Portfolio Book, 2012-2013, pages 97-109, http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA567897

4:  MIL-STD-810G

5:  https://www.atec.army.mil/publications/Mil-Std-810G/Mil-Std-810G.pdf

CONTACT(S): 

Vincent matrisciano 

(973) 724-2765 

Vincent.r.matrisciano.civ@mail.mil 

Matthew Hall 

(973) 724-8516 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an advanced gauge that will measure blast overpressure at the mortar or artillery weapon and provide that data to the fire control computer or other computerized systems for analysis and use in decision making. 

DESCRIPTION: Assessing the soldier's blast exposure is important to prevent traumatic brain injuries and hearing loss, and assisting the trauma team in guiding triage with blast exposure data. Currently Blast Over Pressure (BOP) for artillery and mortars is tracked using the weapon’s digital fire control system (DFCS). If the DFCS malfunctions, the crew reverts to a manual BOP exposure tracking method. This conservative technique assumes the worst case exposure which limits the amount of rounds to be fired. The advanced blast gauge system would accurately measure the actual individual exposure to safely optimize the allowable number of rounds to be fired. This system would allow for accurate tracking of exposure in unusual scenarios not captured in training and/or the operational manual (e.g. unusual terrains and firing proximity). Ideally, the blast gauge would be integrated with the weapon’s digital fire control and automatically provide data to the crew chief and platoon/battery leadership to support informed decisions during live fire training and combat missions. 

PHASE I: Study various options for measuring BOP and include modeling and simulations and laboratory testing to validate that the proposed solutions would meet system requirements. At the conclusion of Phase I efforts, submit a report on the engineering analysis of the proposed options and results of modeling, simulations and/or testing. Propose the solution(s) that should be continued in Phase II with adequate justification. Phase I option will include delivery of the initial System Requirement Specification (SRS) which will annotate technical requirements and verification methods. The SRS shall be approved by the government. 

PHASE II: Build prototype systems and demonstrate that prototypes can perform in operational environments while providing the required information to the fire control computer. Demonstration at a government facility may be required to demonstrate the operational environment. A surrogate fire control computer (i.e. ruggedized laptop with simulated fire control software) can be used to support the demonstration in lieu of integrating with the actual fire control system. Produce final prototypes that meet system requirements per the SRS. Submit a final report that describes the testing performed on the items, and contains technical data on the gauge, simulated fire control software, and any other product deliverable. 

PHASE III: Phase II will consist of integrating the new BOP gauges into the fire control systems of mortar and artillery systems and deploying as appropriate. This technology has commercial application for any occupation subject to loud noises caused by sonic events (such as well drilling, rock blasting, building demolition, etc.), as well as certain sporting events such as football. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Brain Vulnerability to Repeated Blast Overpressure and Polytrauma

2:  Long, Joseph B

3:  May 2012

4:  Standardization of Muzzle Blast Overpressure Measurements

5:  Patterson, James

6:  Coulter, George A.

7:  Kalb, Joel

8:  Garinther, George

9:  Mozo, Benjamin

10:  APR 1980

11:  An Introduction to Detonation and Blast for the Non-Specialist

12:  Wilkinson, C. R. & Anderson, J. G.

13:  NOV 2003

14:  Use of Blast Test Device (BTD) During Auditory Blast Overpressure Measurement. Test Operations Procedure (TOP) 4-2-831

15:  DIRECTORATE FOR TEST MANAGEMENT ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND MD TEST BUSINESS MANAGEMENT DIV

16:  12 AUG 2008

KEYWORDS: Blast Over Pressure, Traumatic Brain Injury, Hearing Loss, Pressure Gauge, Blast Attenuation, Artillery, Mortar 

CONTACT(S): 

Vincent Matrisciano 

(973) 724-2765 

vincent.r.matrisciano.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: investigate and develop innovative reserve battery technologies that provide the required pulse power, exceed the 20 year shelf life, survive severe gun launch shock and heat environments, and are affordable and readily available within the commercial marketplace. 

DESCRIPTION: Current reserve batteries used in munitions meet operational requirements, however suffer performance loss at extreme temperatures and are only able to be used once (not conducive for emplaced munitions). Additionally, there is no significant commercial market for the reserve batteries used in munitions, so the cost is higher than it should be and availability is lower. The proposed project aims at developing new reserve power systems with energy management architectures and initiation methods that make the power system programmable to fit various application missions. Prior to activation, the energy storage system remains in a quiescent state with negligible self-discharge, power drain or leakage. Activation may occur via remote control or various triggering mechanisms and once activated the power system must be capable of providing a relatively low amount of electrical power over periods that may be as long as one month while being capable of providing short duration high power pulses on demand. Shelf life of the proposed power system concept is expected to exceed 20 years and the temperature performance of the energy storage system must meet full military required operational and storage temperature range of -65 deg. F to 165 deg. F. Additionally, the power system must be capable of being deployed by low and high spins rounds and withstand high launch accelerations and flight vibration. The power systems being sought by this topic must be scalable, miniaturizable and must be safe to operate across the harsh environments produced by military applications. The power system must be capable of providing a relatively low amount of electrical power over periods that may be as long as one month while being capable of providing short duration high power pulses on demand. As an example, the power system must provide 180 mW of power at 9 Volts over 30 days, while being capable of providing at least five pulses of 2-4 seconds duration of power at 5 and 9 Volts with 0.5 and 1 A current, respectively. It is highly desirable that the power system provide relatively fast initiation (200 mS), but power for the indicated pulses be available in 20-30 msec upon demand. The new power systems are desired to occupy relatively small volumes, 16 cubic cm threshold and less than 1 cubic cm objective. 

PHASE I: Study various novel reserve battery chemistries and designs that can provide the required nominal low and high pulse power over a 30 days period following activation. The feasibility study is expected to include and modeling and simulations and laboratory testing of the critical components of the candidate power system concepts, and development of a strategy for achieving the best possible power system architecture for minimal volume, initiation mechanisms, and all other system components, to meet power and application objective of topic. At the conclusion of Phase I efforts, a selected design meeting the power requirements of a host application would have to be proven feasible, in order to be ready to advance to the project Phase II. Phase I option will include delivery of the initial System Requirement Specification (SRS) which will annotate technical requirements and verification methods. The SRS shall be approved by the government. 

PHASE II: Build full-scale reserve power system prototypes and test in relevant environments, including simulated launch events. Demonstrate that prototypes can survive in operational environments while providing voltages and power requirements under simulated load conditions. Produce final prototypes of each design that meets power requirements mentioned in the description, conduct survivability and performance tests. Develop a manufacturing plan for transitioning from prototypes to low rate initial production. 

PHASE III: The objective goals of this SBIR project is the insertion of this novel reserve power system into a number of military applications with small and medium power requirements over long periods of times, which might be days, weeks or over a month, which may include short periods of high power requirements (pulses). Such power systems may be used to power devices in gun-fired munitions or mortars or devices that are deployed by air or hand placed. Possibility for application not limited to the area of munitions and could include power sources for remote sensor network devices, emergency memory back up for computer systems, and power sources for anti-tampering electronics. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Handbook of Batteries - Linden, McGraw-Hill, "Technology Roadmap for Power Sources: Requirements Assessment for Primary, Secondary and Reserve Batteries", dated 1 December 2007, DoD Power Sources Working Group.

2:  Macmahan, W., "RDECOM Power & Energy IPT Thermal Battery Workshop – Overview, Findings, and Recommendations," Redstone Arsenal, U.S. Army, Huntsville, AL, April 30 (2004).

3:  Linden, D., "Handbook of Batteries," 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, NY (1998).

4:  R. A. Guidotti, F. W. Reinhardt, J. D., and D. E. Reisner, "Preparation and Characterization of Nanostructured FeS2 and CoS2 for High-Temperature Batteries," to be published in proceedings of MRS meeting, San Francisco, CA, April 1-4, 2002.

5:  Delnick, F.M., Butler, P.C., "Thermal Battery Architecture," Joint DOD/DOE Munitions Technology Program, Project Plan, Sandia Internal Document, April 30, 2004.

CONTACT(S): 

Vincent Matrisciano 

(973) 724-2765 

Vincent.r.matrisciano.civ@mail.mil 

Dr. Carlos Pereira 

(973) 724-1542 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Develop data models, architectural concepts, and components for use in developing a common avionics to engine interface, including data modeling for general Full Authority Digital Engine Controller (FADEC) interfaces to the avionics suite. The intent is to have common reusable software for engine controllers that are Future Airborne Capabilities Environment (FACE) Units of Portability (UoPs) and that also meet airworthiness or security requirements unique to the US Army. This would ensure that as engines are updated that integration with respect to the avionics suites in use by the Army is simplified and streamlined and also that the data model for common engine information is complete. 

DESCRIPTION: The US Army is developing an Improved Turbine Engine that will upgrade the current engines on Black Hawk and Apache platforms and pave the way for Future Vertical Lift (FVL) engine programs. Modern engines utilize FADEC technology, which is complex and highly specialized, thus it is highly unlikely that in competitive engine procurement a common FADEC will be procured for future engines. It is likely that FADEC technology will be used and upgraded as an ongoing improvement for the Army both in modernization and in new program development. While it may not be possible to fully isolate change for integrating future FADEC technology (e.g. reuse a common FADEC on any engine), the information from the engine is brought forward into the avionics suite for use by various software applications and for display to the crew. This data represents a subset of the total complex data that a FADEC or other engine controller requires for that unique function. The common data required by the typical avionics suite to interface with FADEC may benefit from a common data model and one or more software components that abstract the complexities of a specific engine and specific FADEC. Ideally, a common abstraction layer for engine interface could be built including common FACE Conformant Units of Portability (UoP)s that will ease the integration burden on platforms with disparate avionics suites receiving upgraded engines. Appropriate data rights to the key interfaces, including the data models and architectural artifacts for integration, will be desired and discussed post award to ensure reuse of the key interface definitions is enabled for non-proprietary information and data. It is not the intent of the Government to possess rights to prior innovations that may be leveraged or any proprietary products or developments. Classified proposals are not accepted under the DoD SBIR Program. In the event DoD Components identify topics that will involve classified work in Phase II, companies submitting a proposal must have or be able to obtain the proper facility and personnel clearances in order to perform Phase II work. 

PHASE I: Design and demonstrate innovations related to common engine interface technology, including abstraction of FADEC or engine controllers that would reduce the integration cost and complexity for modifications or replacement independently of the avionics or engine. Common actions such as weight and balance, fuel calculations, master caution and warnings, engine performance display to the crew, and vehicle health monitoring depend upon common information from the engine. The Phase I approach should fully identify key data elements and the architectural approach to a common engine software interface, including the specification of one or more FACE UoPs that will be constructed in Phase II. 

PHASE II: Develop a fully functional prototype working with at least two commercial FADEC implementations and two avionics suites to demonstrate cross-platform implementation of the same data model. An acceptable demonstration may be in a lab environment with representative FADEC emulators, thus avoiding cost associated with vehicle integration or flight testing; however, the demonstration must include partnership with multiple actual FADEC vendors to ensure that the solution is not unique to a single specific vendor. 

PHASE III: The small business is expected to demonstrate a clear marketing plan for dual-use in civil aviation. FADEC components are common in the civil aviation market, thus the problem set represented by this SBIR has significant commercial potential. The developer should demonstrate a plan to obtain funding from non-SBIR government and private sector sources to transition the technology into viable commercial products 

REFERENCES: 

1: Future Airborne Capabilities Environment (FACE), Hardware Open Systems Technology (HOST), DO-178, DO-254, ARINC 429, ARINC 664, Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX), ARINC 653, ARINC 661, Risk Management Framework (RMF), DoDI 8500.01, DoDI 8510.01, MIL-STD-882E, SAE ARP 4754, SAE ARP 4761

KEYWORDS: FADEC, ITE, Improved Turbine Engine, Engine Controller, FACE, IMA, AFDX, Cybersecurity, Information Assurance, OFP, RMF, Risk Management Framework, HOST, MBSE, Integrated Modular Avionics, Software Airworthiness, Software Assurance, Design Assurance, Model Based Systems Engineering, Avionics Software Development, Intrusion Detection, Security Monitoring, Auditing, RTOS, Safety-Critical 

CONTACT(S): 

Mr. Matthew Sipe 

(256) 313-0440 

matthew.sipe.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this SBIR is to develop parts made with alternative manufacturing technologies to be integrated into bridges or other high strength structures. 

DESCRIPTION: Typically, connections are the most difficult part to design, manufacture, and test in bridges and other structures. From a design perspective, military bridge connections are typically unique to the system due to each system having different loading requirements. As military vehicles become heavier, bridge capacities must also increase. Nearly every increase in bridge capacity requires an extensive effort to design and test a connection to support the increased vehicle weight. Typically, the connections are then designed to be the most robust and heaviest part of the system and end up with a large amount of wasted material that is not highly stressed. Traditionally, connections in military bridging are made from high strength materials and involve time-consuming manufacturing processes. For example, a bridge connection may be forged, rough machined, heat treated, final machined, assembled, line-bored, and post-processed. Each process then requires a unique fixture and typically will only work for that specific bridging system. Military bridging systems are often manufactured in relatively low volume with a large production run not exceeding 1,000 parts. These time consuming manufacturing processes are taken so that the final product is lightweight, strong, durable, and easily assembled in the field, usually by a pin/clevis type joint. This results in the connections being the most expensive part of the bridging system to manufacture. In addition, conventional manufacturing methods for these extreme conditions have been proven to fail before the threshold requirements are met. This SBIR seeks to understand the impact of using alternative manufacturing technologies on cost, strength, durability, weight, structural efficiency, and manufacturability of the bridge connection. We are looking for designs that optimize material layout within a given design space, for a given set of loads, boundary conditions and constraints with the goal of maximizing the performance of the integrated system. Technologies such as additive manufacturing allow for great flexibility in design, and complex geometry does not generally impact cost of the part. This SBIR seeks an innovative solution to develop a connection that is easily scalable to different loading requirements, is structurally efficient, and is easy to manufacture. In order to support various vehicles on a range of bridging systems, there are different load capacity requirements. On the low end, a connection should maintain a 15,000 lbs sustained tensile load representative of a dead load plus a maximum live load of 200,000 lbs. On the high end, the connection should maintain a 200,000 lbs sustained tensile load representative of a dead load plus a maximum live load of 500,000 lbs. The connection should not weigh more than 75 lbs and 250 lbs at low and high end respectively, and be no larger than 400 cubic inches for the low end and 2000 cubic inches for the high end. The connection should be able to support a minimum of 10,000 fatigue cycles, with 30,000 to 50,000 as the objective. 

PHASE I: The Phase I effort will assess the feasibility and performance characteristics for using alternative manufacturing technologies in bridging and other structural applications, specifically at the connections. These studies should include discussions with TARDEC to identify specific requirements for connections manufactured using this technology, such as strength, durability and weight of the connection. The goal would be to develop a concept for a connector design that is producible using alternative manufacturing technology, scalable to meet the different loading requirements at the high and low end of the loading spectrum, and can take advantage of the increasing geometric complexity that these technologies can accommodate. Analysis of the design concept should include plans for integration into a larger structure, to be determined as part of initial discussions with TARDEC, that could be made of various materials and the determination of techniques to reduce the amount of material wasted during manufacturing. Small scale component testing, which may include but is not limited to Fatigue, Overload, Corrosion, Finite Element Analysis, Modeling & Simulation, Tensile, Micro Structure Analysis, and Fracture Toughness may also be performed to obtain an initial assessment of the manufacturing process viability and connection design performance. Phase I should begin to analyze the effectiveness of different materials in their ability to meet the requirements and be used to manufacture connections using alternative manufacturing techniques. 

PHASE II: Phase II should further develop the concept from Phase I for a scalable connector design, to include material selection, manufacturing process selection, and geometry optimization. As part of the effort, 1 or more full scale prototype connection(s) should be manufactured and tested in overload, fatigue and environmental to verify the analysis performed in Phase I. The effort should also include information on how to integrate the new design into the larger structure identified in Phase I. Phase II shall result in a full scale prototype that meets or exceeds current connector designs, manufactured using alternative manufacturing processes, which will be delivered to TARDEC for further evaluation. 

PHASE III: Phase III work will further demonstrate the capability of the technology to be utilized for a variety of large structures. The technology will initially be used for rapid development, prototyping, and manufacturing of connections in military bridging structures. Other commercial opportunities include development and prototyping of civil structures through alternative manufacturing technologies. These connections would provide cost effective solutions that maintain high strength and durability. Due to the flexibility in alternative manufacturing techniques, the connections could be quickly optimized for different loadings and applied to different industries as applicable. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Additive consistency of risk measures and its application to risk-averse routing in networks, R. Cominetti and A. Turrico, arXiv: 1312.4193v1 [math.OC] 15 Dec 2013.

2:  Cooperative learning in multi-agent systems from intermittent measurements, N. Leonard, A. Olshevsky, arXiv: 1209.2194v2 Sept 2013.

3:  Learning of coordination: exploiting sparse interactions in multiagent systems, F. S. Melo and M. Veloso, Procs of 8th Int. Conf on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems, 2009.

4:  Collaborative multiagent reinforcement learning by payoff propagation, J. R. Kok and N. Vlassis, Journal of Machine Learning Research 7, 2006.

5:  Collective decision-making in ideal networks: the speed-accuracy tradeoff, V. Srivastave, N. E Leonard, arXiv 1402.3634v1 Feb 2014.

6:  The topology of wireless communication, E. Kantor, Z. Lotker, M. Parter, D. Peleg, arXiv 1103.4566v2 Mar 2011.

7:  A review of properties and variations of Voronoi diagrams, A. Dorbin.

8:  Risk Measures for the 21st Century, Giorgio Szego (Editor), Wiley

9:  1 edition 2004.

KEYWORDS: Alternative Manufacturing, Bridging, Structures, Bridge Connections, Structural Connections, High Strength Connections 

CONTACT(S): 

Adam Henry 

(586) 282-6319 

adam.j.henry14.civ@mail.mil 

Bernard Sia 

(586) 282-6101 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop fully automated test equipment with an instrument controller and software that accurately divides AC voltage to lower outputs with minimal signal noise using an inductive voltage technique that does not contain a decade resistor design. 

DESCRIPTION: Inductive voltage divider (IVD) test equipment supports multiple military signal operations for communications and electronic intelligence gathering. Additionally, military support teams and centers with test measurement and diagnostic equipment (TMDE) within the transfer, reference, and primary level utilize IVD test equipment. Current decade resistive style IVD test equipment inventory, with an accuracy of +/- 0.5 uV/V, is obsolete and no longer supportable. This aged decade resistive style IVD technology cannot be adapted to run with current Army automated test, measurement, and diagnostic equipment calibration processes. Replacement inventory development delay increases risk of declining readiness and mission availability, as current calibration capability declines due to system failures without available replacement or repair parts available. Commercial-off-the-shelf solutions (COTS) are manually operated and do not support an automated test equipment solution at the accuracy required. Automated IVD devices do not exist. Therefore, no reference COTS products can be directly compared. The IVD automated test equipment (ATE) shall be capable of both manual and remote operation by commands sent from an instrument controller compatible with the latest Army-approved computer operating systems, control software, and drivers over an IEEE-488 bus. Inputs and outputs shall be computer controlled via software that generates all of the measurement, outputs, and input settings to minimize operator interaction. The IVD ATE shall capture and store measurement results in a format compatible with spreadsheet software in a comma or tab-delimited file format. The IVD ATE shall output known variable ratio AC voltage levels; an IVD ATE whose capability includes only fixed ratios as in a decade resistive IVD, is not acceptable. The nominal resolution of the tunable divider network shall be increments of 0.01 up to 100,000:1. The IVD equipment shall be capable of providing tunable inductive voltage division for an input voltage range of 100mVac to 350Vac over the frequency range of 10 Hz to 20 kHz. In addition to known variable ratios, the IVD ATE shall provide preset ratios of 0.1:1, 1:1, 10:1, 100:1, 1000:1, 10,000:1, 100,000:1 with resolution of ±0.01 ppm for each ratio. These ratios are considered to be cardinal points of the IVD ATE's design, and shall be part of the provided capability. An automated IVD using non-switch or contact inductive method will introduce currently unknown signal noise; however, the known signal source quantity will remain the same. The nominal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) across the voltage and frequency range shall be 1000:1 (40 dB). The SNR shall be 10,000:1 (80 dB) when measured at 1V and 1 kHz. The signal distortion of the IVD ATE shall be quantified through testing of the prototype over its operating range. All certificates and reports for calibration of the IVD ATE shall meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 for traceability to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).  

PHASE I: Develop, evaluate, and validate innovative materials and techniques as a preliminary design for a selected approach. The Phase I deliverable shall include a report describing the design approaches considered and the feasibility of each approach in fulfilling a completed final product. Hardware and software requirements shall be defined for the proposed method. Modeling and simulation data for the proposed method’s design concept(s) shall be included. Analysis and overall evaluation of the proposed method shall be included in the report. 

PHASE II: The Phase I design shall be utilized to create a functional prototype. Phase II deliverables shall include the delivery of a prototype system and a final report. The prototype system shall demonstrate all of the requirements in Phase I have been met. The final report shall include the prototype design, implemented approaches, test procedures, and results. Prototype design shall include all hardware and software necessary to meet the aforementioned characteristics within the overall IVD test equipment. Any design changes after Phase I need to be documented in the final report with an explanation of why changes were deemed necessary. 

PHASE III: The prototype system shall be matured and finalized. A technology transition plan shall be developed for consideration by pertinent program managers. Commercialization applications include other DoD agencies operating unsupportable IVD test equipment. Additionally, labs and private industry throughout the world market will have applications for automated IVD test equipment with this level of high precision. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Avramov-Zamurovic, S., Waltrip, B., Koffman, A., & Piper, G. (n.d.). A Lecture on Accurate Inductive Voltage Dividers. Lecture. Retrieved from http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA574991

2:  Avramov, S., Oldham, N., Jarrett, D., & Waltrip, B. (1993). Automatic inductive voltage divider bridge for operation from 10 Hz to 100 kHz. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 42(2), 131-135. doi:10.1109/19.278535

3:  Avramov-Zamurovic, S., Stenbakken, G., Koffman, A., Oldham, N., & Gammon, R. (1995). Binary versus decade inductive voltage divider comparison and error decomposition. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 44(4), 904-908. doi:10.1109/19.392879

4:  Homan, D. N., & Zapf, T. L. (1970). Two Stage, Guarded Inductive Voltage Divider for Use at 100 kHz. ISA Transactions, 9. Retrieved from https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/documents/calibrations/isa-9-3.pdf.

KEYWORDS: Inductive, Voltage, Divider, Microelectronics, Alternating Current, Test Equipment, Signal Noise 

CONTACT(S): 

Louis Fairman 

(586) 282-8136 

louis.b.fairman.civ@mail.mil 

Scott Faust 

(586) 282-4608 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea 

OBJECTIVE: Design and build optimal track pins for tracked vehicles which reduce cost and weight while improving system. Manufacturing techniques and materials will be investigated and/or developed which enable variation in wall thickness and outer diameter of the track pins. Approaches will be established to determine as well as optimal pin geometries will be built which improve the system (rubber) fatigue performance without reducing the track pin fatigue life. 

DESCRIPTION: Previously due to constraints, track pin designs have been carried over from previous platforms and integrated into new vehicles. The design and manufacturing of track pins have essentially had only minor evolutions since the 1960s, and consequentially manufacturing concepts developed in the intervening years have not been applied. 

PHASE I: PHASE I: This Phase shall consist of the following: a) Demonstrate the feasibility of producing a demonstration of a low-cost, lightweight track pin and shoe system by focusing on new manufacturing methods that have been developed over the last 30 years to achieve the lower cost and weight targets which allows for the design envelope to be opened to new geometry (ID and OD) as well as new materials which previously would not be considered due to lost material from machining. b) This system shall be interchangeable with the current system and meet the same performance criteria. c) Identify, with Governmental concurrence, the most technical feasible solution from above M&S predictions. d) Develop initial concept design of equipment and components required to perform the best solution identified above. If commercially available solution that is relevant to military application this step does not need to be performed. e) Provide a plan for practical deployment of the proposed solution identified above. f) Determine the commercial merit of the proposed solution to include estimated equipment, component and operation costs.  

PHASE II: The purpose of this effort is to design and develop a lightweight, cost informed prototype lightweight track pin and track components for a military combat vehicle. The track pin geometry Is highly constrained based on the sprocket / end connector, road wheel / center guide, and track shoe body / rubber bushing. Where it is unconstrained is the area that will be focused on. a) Based on Phase I solution, design a prototype system to develop a complete M&S prediction model for the proposed solution b) Produce prototype hardware based on Phase I solution identified c) Fabricate multiple samples for characterization and testing d) Demonstrate the prototype in accordance with the demo success criteria developed in Phase I. 

PHASE III: Commercialize the design that has been developed and tested for use on Abrams, AMPV, Bradley or PIM. Use of new or emerging manufacturing technologies will enable growth in knowledge of those technologies for ground vehicle systems (transition from aerospace and/or automotive). 

REFERENCES: 

1: Lightweight MBT Track Pin Development - ADA394449 Corporate Author: DWA COMPOSITE SPECIALTIES INC CHATSWORTH CA Personal Author(s): Nowitzky, Albin M. Full Text : http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA394449

2:  Analysis of Armoured Vehicle Track Loads and Stresses, with Considerations on Alternative Track Materials - ADA219397 Corporate Author: MATERIALS RESEARCH LABS ASCOT VALE (AUSTRALIA) Personal Author(s): Keays, R. H. Full Text : http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA219397

3:  Lightweight Combat Vehicle S and T Campaign - AD1010791 Corporate Author: U.S. Army TARDEC/Ground System Survivability Warren United States Personal Author(s): Polsen,Erik

4:  Krogsrud,Lynne

5:  Carter,Robert

6:  Oberle,William

7:  Haines,Christopher

8:  Littlefield,Andrew Full Text : http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=AD1010791

KEYWORDS: Lightweight, Track Pin, Variable Wall Thickness, Variable Diameter, Fatigue Optimization, Manufacturing Processes, Rubber Fatigue, Metal Fatigue 

CONTACT(S): 

Andrew Kruz 

(586) 282-4322 

andrew.t.kruz.civ@mail.mil 

David Ostberg 

(586) 282-6980 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: To development a material for military vehicle interiors which exhibit spall and head/neck impact properties. The material will provide protection to the warfighter from fragments and blast, crash, and rollover events. 

DESCRIPTION: During underbody blast, crash, and rollover events, the vehicle occupant, even when properly restrained experiences high velocity motion in multiple directions. Mounted soldiers experience underbody blast (UBB) events when an IED (improvised explosive device) is concealed below the ground and detonated as their vehicle is positioned over the device. The resulting blast wave produces a rapid and violent displacement of the underside of the vehicle. During a blast event the vehicle is pushed in an upward motion, and is also susceptible to rollover side to side or end to end depending on the location of the blast initiator relative to the vehicle location. The application of spall suppression liner to minimize secondary fragmentation from ricocheting inside crew compartment and cause additional crew casualties. Fragments produced behind the armor by: residual penetrator pieces, the armor plug, and, the spall ring, when an armor hulled vehicle is impacted by kinetic energy, chemical energy, or explosively formed penetrator munitions. Fragments released behind the armor can kill or maim crew members, damage/destroy vehicle components, or cause inflammables to ignite. Damage caused by fragments can result in: mobility, firepower, or catastrophic system kills. In many cases, debris causes most of the lethality. The intent is to develop one material that has energy absorption and spall material properties to absorb kinetic energy in a controllable and predictable manner, in such a way as to reduce the level of energy experienced by the vehicle and its occupants. Currently there is not a material that can be used as an interior trim energy absorption and spall liner material used in the interior of military vehicles. Additionally, any materials which are used for military applications need to be validated for acoustical, thermal, and flame, smoke, and toxicity requirements. There is a variety of commercially available energy absorbing material or spall liner with both recoverable and non-recoverable characteristics; however the commercially available materials are not designed to comply with both requirements and with a high level of resistance to flame, smoke and toxicity, acoustical, and thermal. The challenge to the military vehicle designer is to provide a material solution that can encompass one material solution for multiple purposes. The characteristics of the material are unique to military vehicle interior applications due to the vehicle’s exposure to blast events typically from IEDs. Unlike a commercial automobile, military vehicles are designed with heavy armor, heavy transparent armor and are significantly more enclosed. Upon the and underbody blast event, for which the armor is penetrated and the vehicle interior is exposed to high heat and/or flame, the materials inside the vehicle shall resist FST, to the extent the occupant has sufficient time to evacuate the vehicle. 

PHASE I: Phase I of this effort shall consist of a feasibility study and concept development of one or more spall resistant energy absorption (EA) material(s). The feasibility study shall describe through an analytical approach the means for which the proposed material will be developed to achieve a pass performance to MIL-STD-662 and FMVSS 201U. The vehicle shall use a spall liner to reduce the lethality of behind-armor debris (BAD) to the occupants in normal fighting position from overmatching threats with performance requirements established in IAW ITOP 2-2-716 using both shaped-charge jet (SCJ) and explosively-formed penetrator (EFP) threats (specific threats to be defined by the Government at the start-of-work meeting). The energy absorption head impact criterion of HIC(d) < 1000 threshold and HIC(d) < 700 objective are the level of protection required. The concept development shall provide the expected performance of the proposed material’s protection capability and how this performance shall be achieved. The material concept may include multiple layers of materials. Design constraints shall be clearly defined. The material concept(s) shall provide confidence in support of performance to the following specifications, supported by sound engineering principles: 1. FMVSS 201U 2. MIL-STD-1472 3. MIL-DTL-62474F, Type 2, Class B 4. MIL-STD-810 5. ASTM E162 6. ASTM E1354 7. ASTM E662 8. Material shall not ignite when exposed to ballistic engagements. 9. Material shall be self-extinguishing once a fire source is removed from the materials. 10. Material shall not exhibit any form of melting or dripping when fully engaged in a fire event. 11. Material density threshold of 8 kg/m3. 12. Material cost threshold of $100/sq ft. Analytical tools such as Finite Element Analysis and modeling and simulation where appropriate, shall be used for this purpose. The outcome of Phase I shall include the scientific and technical feasibility as well as the commercial merit for the material concept solution provided. The concept(s) developed shall be supported by engineering principles. Supporting data along with material safety data sheets and material specifications shall also be included if available. The projected development and material cost and timing shall be included in the study. Phase I shall cover no more than a 6-month effort. 

PHASE II: Phase II of this effort shall demonstrate the material concept(s) successfully perform to the criteria developed in Phase I. The contractor shall also perform head impact testing on the material sample(s).The designed system (after being validated to the above criteria), shall be presented to TARDEC for validation testing. Ten (10) component level material samples sized 12”x12” samples shall be shipped to SANG for pre-verification of energy absorption head impact performance of less than 1000 HIC(d) 15ms at 15mph. The contractor shall demonstrate through testing that the EA spall material reduces lethality of behind-armor debris (BAD). The contractor shall perform testing IAW ITOP 2-2-716 using both shaped-charge jet (SCJ) and explosively-formed penetrator (EFP) threats (specific threats to be defined by the Government at the start-of-work meeting). Three (3) tests shall be conducted with each threat against 24”L x 24”W x 0.5”Thk Rolled-Homogeneous Armor (RHA) per MIL-DTL-12560K, Class 1, in contact with both the EA spall material as well as MIL-STD-62474, Type 2, Class B material of equivalent areal density to the proposed EA spall material. The proposed EA spall material shall demonstrate an average reduction in the total number of fragmentation holes in the first plate, as well as average reductions in the 95th percentile cone half-angle in both the first and second plates. The contractor shall demonstrate through testing that the EA spall liner does not ignite readily when exposed to a ballistic engagement, and shall not exhibit any form of melting or dripping when fully engaged in a fire event, and shall be self-extinguishing once a fire source is removed from the material. The contractor shall conduct testing of the EA spall liner material IAW ASTM E162 and demonstrate a flame spread index less than twenty-five (25). The contractor shall conduct testing of the EA spall liner material IAW ASTM E1354 (cone calorimetry) and demonstrate a 50kW/m2 flux with an average peak heat release rate less than eighty five (85). The contractor shall conduct testing of the EA spall liner material IAW ASTM E662 and demonstrate a smoke obscuration index less than two-hundred (200). Once approved six samples of the system shall be provided for integration onto a vehicle for the purposes of blast, crash, roll over testing. The Contractor shall assist TARDEC in the installation of the parts to ensure proper fit and finish is achieved. The size of the sample shall be defined by the vehicle structure which will be made available by TARDEC to the contractor at the beginning of Phase II. In addition Phase II shall focus upon the validation and correlation of the modeling and simulation effort mentioned in Phase I, along with the fabrication and validation of the proposed material(s). Additionally the study in Phase II shall provide test data, reports and all modeling and simulation models used to develop the system for concept validation. Any required modifications and retesting shall be conducted during phase II. Note: the material shall also be durable and resist FST with minimal impact on the energy absorption performance of the material. The material shall demonstrate the ability to absorb energy and not fragment. The system shall also provide visual indication that it is damaged and not intended for additional impacts, example being crazing, evident deformation, color change or color with a distinct odor. 

PHASE III: In the final Phase of the project the contractor shall prove out the effectiveness of the system on an Army Vehicle (or vehicle that is representative of a vehicle in the Army fleet) in both blast and crash scenarios. The contractor shall provide a material prototype for the roof and foot wells of the military vehicle (e.g. Bradley, MATV, Stryker, HMMWV, NGCV). If the material solution is also capable of being utilized for small component protection such as grab handles, then the contractor shall also provide a prototype component as such. The prototype material shall be validated by the contractor. This system has the potential to be utilized in any Military and Civilian truck and automotive applications, as well as potential naval applications, further study for naval applications may be required however. Additionally, the material will be applicable to commercial automotive industry. 

REFERENCES: 

1: FMVSS 201/201U, MIL-STD-2031 Fire and Toxicity Test, MIL-STD-1623 Fire Performance, ISO 12219-3 Interior Air of Road Vehicles, MIL-STD-810 Environment, MIL-STD-1472 Human Factors, MIL-HDBK-310 Global Climatic Data, ASTM G-21, ASTM E162 Surface Flammability of Materials, ASTM E1354 Heat and Smoke, ASTM E662 Smoke Occurrence, ASTM D6264/D6264M-12 Damage Resistance for Fiber reinforced Polymer Matrix Composite, ASTM D1242 Resistance to Abrasion, UL-94 Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials

2:  Pizhong Qiao,1 Mijia Yang,2 and Florin Bobaru, Impact Mechanics and High-Energy Absorbing Materials: Review, Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 21:4 (October 1, 2008), pp. 235-248

3:  doi 10.1061.

4:  Mertz, Harold, J, Irwin, Annette L., Prasad, Priya, Biomechanical and Scaling Bases for Frontal and Side Impact Injury Assessment Reference Values, Stapp Car Crash Journal, vol 43, (October 2003), pp. 155-188.

5:  Qiao, Pizhong, Yan, Mijia, Bobaru, Florin, Impact Mechanics and High-Energy Absorbing Materials: Review, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Digital Commons@University of Nebraska-Lincoln, (1October2008).

6:  LaRue, Laura, Basily B., Elsayed, E.A., Cushioning Systems for Impact Energy Absorption, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Rutgers University, elsayed@rci.rutgers.edu.

KEYWORDS: Spall Liner, Thermal, HIC (Head Injury Criterion), Occupant Protection, Energy Absorption, Material, Flame, Smoke And Toxicity Resistant, Head Injury, Occupant Centric, Interior Trim, Acoustical, Fragment 

CONTACT(S): 

Julie Klima 

(586) 282-0645 

julie.k.klima.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors 

OBJECTIVE: Develop affordable Electric Unmanned Ground Vehicle Force Protection Sensor System that provides a multi-modal sensors to improve Army Force Protection capabilities. 

DESCRIPTION: Army Force Protection requirements need to extend beyond perimeter sensor ranges. Previous Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) Force Protection systems have been expensive and provided marginal unmanned sensor capabilities. Sophisticated yet inexpensive commercial sensors and driver-less automobile technology offer the opportunity to make significant advances in extending and lengthening base defense. Developing an affordable and effective Electric Unmanned Ground Vehicle Force Protection Sensor System that provides multi-modal sensors to improve Army Force Protection capabilities is achievable with today’s technology. Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) shall be 100% electric driven, capable of operating (sensors on) for 2 hours (Threshold) or 6 hours (Objective) on smooth surfaces (roads and fields) with a range of 10 Km (Threshold) or 30Km (Objective), be able to maneuver safely around obstacles and people based on either a pre-programmed route or directed by the Force Protection Command and Control (C2) system. The UGV shall provide steerable flood light and audio (transmit and receive). The UGV shall not cost more than $25,000 (Threshold) or $15,000 (Objective) and no replaceable component may be more than $5,000. Network connectivity (i.e. radios) will be provided by the Army and not part of these requirements. Force Protection Sensor System shall consist of Electro Optics camera, Infrared (EO/IR) camera, Radar and/or LIDAR sensor(s), and Acoustic Sensors. Electro Optics camera shall provide High Definition (Threshold) or 4K Definition (Objective). Radar and/or LIDAR sensor(s) shall be capable of providing sensor data that can detection and track objects greater than 100 meters (Threshold) or 500 meters (Objective). Acoustic array sensors shall be capable of providing line of bearing within 5% (threshold) or 0.5% (Objective). All sensor data will be processed by the Force Protection C2 (i.e. minimal processing on-board). The Sensor suite shall not cost more than $25,000 (Threshold) or $15,000 (Objective) and with the exception of EO/IR sensors no replaceable component may be more than $5,000. 

PHASE I: Carry out a feasibility study for an affordable Electric Unmanned Ground Vehicle Force Protection Sensor System capability. This assessment will validate Electric UGV Force Protection Sensor System with a limited UGV and sensor demonstration. Phase I will define factors for a Phase II electric UGV Force Protection Sensor System prototype demonstration. 

PHASE II: Develop an affordable electric UGV Force Protection Sensor System prototype. Demonstrate electric UGV Force Protection Sensor System at an Army’s Research and Development location. 

PHASE III: Develop prototypes and transition proven technology to appropriate potential DoD customers/transition partners. End state vision is a demonstrated capability to acquire a high capability unmanned ground vehicle equipped with a force protection / intelligence sensor package that meets affordability and performance criteria identified in Phase 1. Army uses to include: extending the range of force protection and incident investigation around a Fixed Operating Base via UGV patrol; enabling remote intelligence collection via cheap UGV asset. Transition is targeted towards Product Director Force Protection Systems as proof of concept for new capability demonstrating extended range operations for possible future acquisition. Commercial applications could include facility security, civil law enforcement applications, homeland security and search & rescue applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: LOW-COST PLATFORM FOR AUTONOMOUS GROUND VEHICLE RESEARCH AUTHORS: Nikhil Ollukaren, Dr. Kevin McFall, Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta, Georgia, United States of America DATE: 1 November 2014 JOURNAL: Proceedings of the Fourteenth Annual Early Career Technical Conference The University of Alabama, Birmingham ECTC 2014 URL:http://scholar.google.com/scholar?start=70&q=affordable+unmanned+ground+vehicle+pdf&hl=en&as_sdt=0,47&as_vis=1

2:  The University of Pennsylvania MAGIC 2010 multi-robot unmanned vehicle system AUTHORS: J. Butzke, K. Daniilidis, A. Kushleyev, D.D. Lee, M. Likhachev, C. Phillips, M. Phillips, University of Pennsylvania DATE: 31 July 2012 JOURNAL: Journal of Field Robotics URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/rob.21437/full

3:  Improving the Control Behavior of Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) using Virtual Windows AUTHORS: Dr. Rosidah Sam, Ammar Hattab, Electrical Engineering Department, University Teknologi MARA DATE: 2014 JOURNAL: Research Paper URL: http://ammarhattab.com/resources%5Cpapers%5CUGV_researchPaper.pdf

4:  Real-Time Obstacle Avoidance and Waypoint Navigation of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle AUTHORS: Hzkki Erhan Sevil, Pranav, Desai, Atilla Dogan, Brian Huff, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX DATE: 2012 JOURNAL: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME 2012 5th Annual Dynamic Systems and Control Conference joint with the JSME 2012 11th Motion and Vibration Conference URL: http://proceedings.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=1739118

5:  Designing and control of autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle AUTHORS: SI Hassan, M Alam, NA Siddiqui DATE: 5 April 2017 JOURNAL: 2017 International Conference on Innovations in Electrical Engineering and Computational Technologies (ICIEECT) URL: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/mostRecentIssue.jsp?punumber=7910138

6:  Low-Cost Sensors for UGVs AUTHORS: Fenner Milton, Fene Klager, Thomas Bowan, CERDEC NVESD DATE: 10 July 2000 JOURNAL: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers SPIE URL: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/4024/1/Low-cost-sensors-for-UGVs/10.1117/12.391628.short

CONTACT(S): 

Peter Janker 

(703) 850-0986 

peter.s.janker.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: New analog radio-frequency (RF) signal processing and enhanced electromagnetic (EM) interference mitigation capabilities afforded by devices based on high-quality magnetic materials are desired for existing and future military communications, signal intelligence (SIGINT), electronic warfare (EW), and radar systems. This topic seeks the development of an industrial domestic manufacturing capability for high quality Yttrium Iron Garnet Films (YIG) films to use in the production of Frequency Selective Limiters (FSLs) that are tunable to different frequency ranges. Of particular interest is the Seed substrate on which the epitaxial magnetic film is grown. 

DESCRIPTION: The number of systems relying on the use of the EM spectrum is increasing rapidly, in both military and commercial sectors. The rising spectral congestion is placing increasingly challenging requirements on the performance of components and modules that comprise the RF front-ends of communications, radar, and electronic warfare (EW) systems. Magnetic components, such as filters, phase shifters, delay lines, baluns, circulators, and isolators, among others, offer low insertion loss, high power handling capability, and low power consumption needed to improve the performance and reduce size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) of these systems. In recent years, the use of single-crystal quality magnetic materials has resulted in significant performance improvements, as well as enabled new analog RF signal processing functionality, such as frequency-selective limiting (FSL) and signal-to-noise enhancement (SNE) devices. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate the synthesis of single-crystal quality magnetic substrates in 2 inch diameter or 1.5 by 1.5 inch square form factor. The thickness of the magnetic layer has to be at least 10 micrometers. Demonstrate ferrimagnetic resonance linewidth, delta-H, of <1 Oersted and spinwave linewidth, delta-Hk, of <0.2 Oersted. The thickness of the magnetic layer has to be uniform to within 3% over the entire area of the substrate. The density of dislocations has to be below 1 per square centimeter over an area covering at least 80% of the surface. 

PHASE II: Extend the single-crystal quality magnetic substrates synthesis technique to other magnetic material compositions to enable analog signal processing device applications 0.3 to 30 GHz. Demonstrate the synthesis of single-crystal quality magnetic substrates in 4 inch diameter or 3 by 3 inch square form factor. Demonstrate capability to produce magnetic layer thicknesses from 10 nm to 100 micrometers. Make a lot of 10 substrates available for verification testing to demonstrate quality, consistency and reproducibility. 

PHASE III: Develop and characterize an industrial grade synthesis process with >90% yield and production rate of no more than 4 hours per substrate per process line. Develop a manufacturing plan and production cost reduction plan. Produce at least 100 substrates and gather and analyze statistics on defects, uniformity, and repeatability. Make a lot of 10 substrates and 10 devices available for verification testing to demonstrate quality, consistency and reproducibility. 

REFERENCES: 

1: J. D. Adam, "Mitigate the Interference: Nonlinear Frequency Selective Ferrite Devices," in IEEE Microwave Magazine, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 45-56, Sept.-Oct. 2014.

2:  H.L. Glass, "Growth of thick single-crystal layers of yttrium iron garnet by liquid phase epitaxy", Journal of Crystal Growth, Volume 33, Issue 1, 1976, Pages 183-184, ISSN 0022-0248,

3:  H.L. Glass, M.T. Elliot, "Attainment of the intrinsic FMR linewidth in yttrium iron garnet films grown by liquid phase epitaxy", Journal of Crystal Growth, Volume 34, Issue 2, 1976, Pages 285-288

4:  P.J. Besser, J.E. Mee, H.L. Glass, D.M. Heinz, S.B. Austerman, P.E. Elkins, T.N. Hamilton and E.C. Whitcomb, AIP Conf. Proc. No. 5 (1972) 125.

KEYWORDS: Magnetic Substrate, Spinwaves, Radio-frequency, Analog Signal Processing 

CONTACT(S): 

Hunter Patterson 

(256) 876-4073 

hunter.s.patterson2.civ@mail.mil 

Robert Herron 

(256) 876-5061 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this effort is to develop an ultra-wideband ultra-Low Loss radome for very large antenna applications. 

DESCRIPTION: The US Army has programs that requires an ultra-wideband ultra-low loss radome to protect large antenna structures in various harsh environments. This radome will be designed to survive in temperatures between -70 degrees F and 180 degrees F and winds in excess of 100 mph. It is to have an operational temperature range between -40 degrees F and 150 degrees F. The diameter of the dome is to be no less than 24 feet in diameter. This radome will be incorporated into a transportable test RADAR system that is being developed for demonstration. It will require a non-disclosure agreement with the prime contractor and the development of the technology will be International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) restricted. The radome is expected to survive in a variety of environments, both land and maritime, with less than 1 dB of transmission loss over the design bandwidth and a minimal reflection coefficient. The transmitted electrical energy is to be greater than 10 terawatts (TW). The dome will be permanently installed as a part of the transportable RF system. At the present time there is no maximum weight requirement, but lighter weight solutions will be considered a better solution. There are presently no snow, lightning, or UV exposure requirements. As the objective system evolves, additional requirements may be added for a final phase III development. 

PHASE I: Develop ultra-wideband ultra-low loss radome design and develop proof-of-concept models to verify it can efficiently pass frequencies of interest (X-Ku Band), can withstand high peak powers (10 TW), a pulse length of 30 ns, and a pulse repetition frequency of 500 Hz. The Phase II contract will be classified at the Secret level and a Form DD254 will be required. The successful bidders should anticipate the start of a facilities clearance process, if it does not yet possess one. 

PHASE II: Based on the results of Phase I, build a proof of concept radome. Work with the systems developers to ensure that the antennas can meet the form factor requirements as well as other requirements for system integration. Baseline specification for new radome include: (1) A radome that operates efficiently in the frequency band from 9 - 20 GHz when incorporated into the RF transmitter systems. (2) Can withstand high peak powers (10 TW). (3) A pulse length of 30 ns. (4) A pulse repetition frequency of 500 Hz. (5) Use Temperature: -40 degrees F and 150 degrees F. (6) Survive Temperature: -70 degrees F and 180degrees F. (7) Strength, Stiffness: Survive 100+ mph winds (8) No performance degradation in 90 degrees F, 100% humidity. (9) No performance degradation in Salt Fog environment. The radome will also need to be hail resistant. Delivery of a full scale prototype is preferable, but may not be feasible with funding constraints. 

PHASE III: There are many military and commercial uses for radomes including communications, radars, and various sensors. In particular, the results of this effort will be of interest. Likewise, there are many military platforms that require broadband radomes including missiles, munitions of various types, and satellite communications systems. If successful, the most immediate transition path is the delivery of a new class of radome to Program Executive Office Missiles and Space (PEO MS). 

REFERENCES: 

1: J.D. Kraus, Antennas, McGraw-Hill Book Company (1950).

2:  R.A. Cairns and A.D.R. Phelps, Generation and Application of High Power Microwaves, Taylor and Francis (1997).

3:  D.V. Giri, High-Power Electromagnetic Radiators: Nonlethal Weapons and Other Applications, IEEE Press (2001).

4:  R.J. Barker and E. Schamiloglu, High-Power Microwave Sources and Technologies, Wiley-IEEE (2001).

5:  J. Benford, J.A. Swegle, and E. Schamiloglu, High Power Microwaves, 2nd Edition, CRC Press (2007).

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Mark Rader 

(256) 955-9205 

mark.s.rader2.civ@mail.mil 

Meeda Stephenson 

(256) 842-8530 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate Navigation-Grade MEMS inertial accelerometers that is applicable for use in precision gyro-compassing, tilt measurement, GPS denied navigation and guidance for various DoD assets; that reduces the Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) of systems. 

DESCRIPTION: Although low-cost consumer-grade MEMS accelerometers are widely available in the commercial market, these devices have a higher noise floor, smaller range, and higher thermal sensitivity than required for navigation-grade accelerometers. There is a demand for navigation grade MEMS accelerometers to complement concurrent developments in the navigation grade MEMS gyroscopes. Navigation grade Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) contains 3 or more navigation grade MEMS gyros and accelerometers. Accelerometers play a significant role in the navigation performance when used with navigation grade gyroscopes in an INS. Research is required in the area of sensing mechanism(s) for the specific force measurements along with low noise electronics to develop a high-performance accelerometer. Some of the key performance parameters for the navigation grade accelerometers are as follows: # Accelerometer Parameters Threshold Values 1. Bias <1 mg 2. Bias stability coefficient 50 µg (s) 3. 1 year composite bias repeatability <200 µg 4. Bias ramp coefficient 3 µg/min 5. Noise coefficient (Velocity random walk) 5 µg/vHz 6. Thermal Sensitivity coefficient 200 µg/°C/min (s) 7. Non-linearity 50 µg/g2 (50-2000 Hz) 8. Input Range 20 g 9. Scale factor Error 10 ppm (s) 10.Bandwidth 300 Hz 11.Internal Axis misalignment <0.1 mrad (s) 12.Size <0.01 cu. In. 13.Weight <0.005 lb. 14.Power <3 mW 15.Survivability MIL-STD-810 

PHASE I: Develop a preliminary design for the proposed accelerometer sensor technology. •Develop sensor error models and simulations to estimate the expected performance of the proposed. •Validate the error model and simulation results using representative data. •Deliver a final report that includes: o Accelerometer design, o Error model results and validation, o Feasibility of manufacturing the proposed concept to achieve desired performance o A plan for Phase II activity. 

PHASE II: Perform trade studies and conduct component test and evaluations. •Develop the final design for fabrication of the accelerometer sensor. •Fabricate three or more working prototypes (for concurrent independent government testing and characterization) •Conduct characterization testing and validation of the error models with the representative design; government test facilities can be provided for these characterization (if required) •Deliver a final report containing the trade studies, component test results, Final Design Documents, and test results. 

PHASE III: Productize the accelerometer design and integrate into an INS that can used in soldier-worn, soldier-borne, UAV or other platforms requiring navigation or Situational Awareness function. The accelerometer may be integrated into existing inertial navigation systems. Additionally, identify broader use commercialization and militarization options for this technology 

REFERENCES: 

1: Honeywell, QA2000 Q-Flex® Accelerometer, https://aerospace.honeywell.com/en/~/media/aerospace/files/brochures/accelerometers/q-flexqa-2000accelerometer_bro.pdf

2:  Safran, Colibrys, MS-9000 Accelerometer, http://www.colibrys.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/30S-MS9000.M.03.15-nod1.pdf

KEYWORDS: Gyro-compassing, GPS Denied Navigation, Precision Tilt Measurement, Navigation-Grade Inertial Sensors 

CONTACT(S): 

Anik Duttaroy 

(703) 704-3664 

anik.duttaroy.civ@mail.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform 

OBJECTIVE: Propose and develop next generation day Heads Up Display (HUD) capable of accepting an external video signal and projecting that video on an aviator helmet visor. 

DESCRIPTION: The current day HUD tested by the Army overlays data on vision, but forces the wearer to change his focal point when looking at the symbology vs looking at his environment, and has a limited field of view. A new HUD technology which creates a projected image so that it appears at the same focal distance of your eyes as the environment around the user is needed and allows a much greater field of view. A greater field of view will allow more symbology on the HUD display without interfering with direct line of sight or distracting the pilots. Number one complaint with current system is the inability to declutter enough symbols, which is directly linked to the 2nd complaint, reduced field of view (Final Test Report, Air Soldier System, Developmental Test for the CH-47F, May 2017, ATEC Project No. 2017-DT-RTC-AIRSS-G5960). Multiple companies are working on commercial HUD products for motorcycle helmets which can project symbology such as moving map display, instrument gages, and an interface for the motorcycle radio which is easy to use without taking eyes off the road. These new products are very light since crash standards for weight on a motorcycle helmet are very similar to Army aviation crash requirements. Projecting the display symbols on the visor have other advantages. As example, a projected image can be bright enough to see in bright sunlight at a programmable focal distance that can better serve the eyesight of different people as they age. Another advantage is that the display is far less susceptible to problems with glare. The proposed system must support an external video source of an existing HUD computer. The proposed display must be capable of projecting on or through a helmet visor equipped with laser protective properties. The proposed system must include system components to provide symbology on an aviation visor with the necessary reflective properties to see the symbology while still seeing through the visor in both day and night conditions. Cost target for production rates anticipated for fielding would be $10,000. In commercial quantities, would estimate that to be as low as $2,000, similar to the other commercial systems. The current motorcycle market in America does not have this product on the market, nor do commercial aviation helicopter helmets. Leverage of this technology could be easily applied to a HUD enhanced with moving map directions attached to a phone or Garmin. 

PHASE I: This effort shall generate a feasibility study which defines whether an existing or development commercial projection HUD product can be modified to fit on an Army HGU-56P helmet and project an image provided by a standard PC video input on the visor. The product proposed shall not introduce a new lens in front of one eye. The product proposed shall project an image in front of the pilot that is perceived at infinity. The visor in the product proposed shall support laser protective properties per the requirements of the Common Helmet Mounted Display (CHMD) specification AVNS-DTL-10868B. The study shall outline what technology can be leveraged from an existing product already in development or production. The vendor shall provide any supporting data already in existence to include performance, optical characteristics, distortion and the results of any testing that may have been performed, and provide analysis where data or testing is not available. 

PHASE II: This effort shall build and produce a quantity of not less than eight prototype hardware displays capable of mounting on an HGU-56P helmet and projecting a video input from a laptop computer on the helmet visor. The hardware shall demonstrate sunlight readability of the display, adjustable brightness and the ability to adjust the focal length of the display. The hardware shall demonstrate the ability to see symbols projected while night vision goggles are installed on the helmet. The vendor shall create an item specification for the product which shall be delivered. The item specification would define product capability, test requirements to prove those capabilities, and include compliance requirements of the specification written in phase II. A study shall be delivered outlining a program cost and schedule to build the product so that it would accept video input from the Army standard HUD, bench test the system for all performance requirements called out in the new item specification, and support aircraft simulator testing. All hardware developed under Phase II shall become the property of the US Government as a deliverable. The Government will furnish as many helmets as required to support development. All drawings and source code developed in response to this effort shall be delivered to the Government upon completion of this phase. 

PHASE III: The Projection HUD shall be built and tested to accept video input from the Army standard HUD computer. The production hardware weight shall be less than or equal to the current HUD display weight with an objective of half the current display weight. The new HUD display will be tested in a simulator to the performance specification requirements. The new HUD display will undergo bench qualification testing to the performance specification requirements. The new HUD display will then enter aircraft flight testing and evaluation. Thirty six (36) displays will be built and furnished to support test and evaluation. 

REFERENCES: 

1: AVNS-DTL-10868B, Detail Specification, Item Specification for the Air Soldier Common Helmet Mounted Display (uploaded in SITIS on 12/8/17)

2:  Commercial technology potential sources: https://livemap.info/ https://www.ridenuviz.com/

CONTACT(S): 

Gilbert Murray 

(256) 842-8530 

gilbert.l.murray2.civ@mail.mil 

James Hauser 

(256) 876-3769 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this SBIR proposal is the demonstration and subsequent production of new small arms barrels with improved durability, and maintaining performance in a high rate of fire in varying environmental conditions. For example; Titanium barrels with deep titanium nitrided bores have been made using Powdered Metal (PM) and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) technology. A bi-metal barrel with refractory liner will create a heat and wear resistant bore using a conventional barrel material as the outer tube. Longer barrel life is expected at a reasonable cost. The new barrel can result in a long life barrel at significant weight savings as compared to conventional steel barrels. 

DESCRIPTION: New Powdered Metal (PM) gun barrel technologies are being studied and new manufacturing methods and material combinations have been proposed which promise to show gun barrel life extension and consistent accuracy. Goal is to have a barrel capable of a rate of fire of 60 rounds per minute for 16 minutes and 40 seconds without a barrel change or risk of cook-off. Cyclic 200 rounds without cook off (Threshold). Capable of 108 rounds per minute sustained for 9 minutes and 16 seconds without barrel change or risk of cook off.(Objective). A cost target of $900.00 (Threshold) $400.00 (Objective) PM technologies have matured to a point where the construction of sample test barrels can begin and made ready for live fire evaluation. Advancements include: • Dual material (bi-metal) gun barrels with PM refractory material bores. • PM titanium barrel with thick titanium nitride bore. • Others A bi-metal barrel with refractory liner will create a heat and wear resistant bore using a conventional barrel material as the outer tube. Longer barrel life is expected at a reasonable cost. The titanium barrel promises a long life barrel at significant weight savings as compared to steel. Bore wear concerns are addressed by deep titanium nitriding using Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP). 

PHASE I: The Phase I effort is intended as a first step into a new world of gun barrel manufacture. Demonstrating a sample bi-metal barrel or rugged titanium barrel, or both, will open the door to a new light weight and long lasting gun barrel technology available at a reasonable cost. Phase activities shall include: a) literature survey, b) market research, c) samples acquired and demonstrated in lab. Along with the sample supply a report providing results of the literature survey, market research, weight and cost projections, material specifications, and fabrication process description will also be supplied. 

PHASE II: A Phase II effort is envisioned to expand the types of new material bores and further develop as a viable gun barrel material. Government furnished ammunition will be requested for Phase II in order to establish and validate the durability, extended life, and performance of these new technology gun barrels. Government issued weapon barrels will also be requested for use as control samples. No other certifications or restrictions are envisioned. The goal is to deliver two finished barrels made with new technologies, each having been subjected to limited testing to validate feasibility, determine accuracy, and record initial muzzle velocity. The barrel technologies shall demonstrate capability of a barrel capable of a rate of fire of 60 rounds per minute for 16 minutes and 40 seconds without a barrel change or risk of cook-off. Cyclic 200 rounds without cook off (Threshold) at a target of cost $900.00 USD. 

PHASE III: DoD and Federal Agencies Successful demonstration of PM technology in gun barrels will lead to enormous opportunities for commercialization. The DoD is interested in maximizing barrel life while at the same time offering lighter weaponry. Once the technology is proven viable, the market will expand to other defense agencies. Commercial Firearms Market Powder metal technology can be the answer to early throat wear in high velocity cartridges. This technology will be promoted on the commercial market to major U.S. firearms manufacturers as an answer to the technological challenges presented by these calibers. The Commercial firearms market has been growing steadily with over 10-million firearms produced annually. More than 4 million of these are rifles, where the PM technology is expected to show the most significant advantages. If 10% of this market can be captured in the near term, 400,000 gun barrels yearly will represent a sizeable market. It is believed this market potential can be achieved over a 5-year period. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Richter, D., G. Haour, and D. Richon. "Hot isostatic pressing (HIP)." Materials & design 6.6 (1985): 303-305.

2:  Helle, A. S., Kenneth E. Easterling, and M. F. Ashby. "Hot-isostatic pressing diagrams: new developments." Acta Metallurgica 33.12 (1985): 2163-2174.

3:  Bocanegra-Bernal, M. H. "Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) technology and its applications to metals and ceramics." Journal of Materials Science 39.21 (2004): 6399-6420.

4:  Jackson, Melvin R., Paul A. Siemers, and David P. Perrin. "Gun barrel for use at high temperature." U.S. Patent No. 4,669,212. 2 Jun. 1987.

KEYWORDS: Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP), Refractory Metal Bores, Powder Metal Technology, Barrel Manufacturing, Firearms, Gun Barrels, Small Arms Barrels 

CONTACT(S): 

Sergio Aponte 

(973) 724-8547 

sergio.j.aponte.civ@mail.mil 

Walter Gadomski 

(973) 724-6984 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Human Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Design and develop a singular or multi-aspect non-pyrotechnic Battlefield Effects Replication (BFER) system/family of solutions to provide audio and visual cues of hostile threat fire, successful target engagement/hit, and lingering effects (burning). The capability must be usable within a live fire open environment for extended periods of time, and must not create any health or environmental impacts (operations and disposal). 

DESCRIPTION: During Force-on-Force and Live Fire Training events, there exists inconsistent replication of threat fire, successful engagement, and lingering effects signatures. The effort will be to design and develop a singular or multi-aspect approach for creating realistic cues and signatures (visual, thermal, and audio) within the training environments. Non-pyrotechnic development and solutions are desired. The non-pyrotechnic Battlefield Effects Replication (BFER) system should leverage common off the shelf control and cueing elements to the maximum extent possible. There is no requirement for a single device to do everything. Solution could be a single “box” or could be a family/product-line of solutions predicated on a common control, interface, and/or signature solution. The BFER needs to: • Replicate burning vehicles within the live fire training area (i.e., black lingering smoke), that creates a real world like obscurant in the battle space. • Create visual, thermal, and audio signatures associated with mounted (main gun) and un-stabilized hostile fire signatures within the live fire training area. • Create visual, thermal, and audio signatures associated with small arms hostile fire (15 rounds per second) to include 3D replication of tracer round fly-outs as applicable (out to 40m). • Create visual, thermal, and audio signatures (metal strike) associated with a successful target engagement within the live fire training area. These elements should utilize a modular concept to fulfill the requirement; could be one box or many as long as interoperability is achieved. The S&T of the effort is the mechanism, processes, and approaches to achieve the effects. Solution must support to eventual safety certification of the solution(s). Portability of the solutions is very important; most solutions will be emplaced during training exercises. Space limitations will apply, and will be driven to the space available within a live fire target position (refer to TC 25-8 and CEHNC 1110-1-23). No hazardous materials will be allowed within the approach or solution. The design must support operations for 3 to 5 days before maintenance actions (number of actuations will vary by training event and signature replication). In terms of burning effects, hostile threat, and hit signatures, the preliminary design should support a minimum of 30 actuations. In terms of small arms hostile fire with tracer replication, the preliminary design should support 600 actuations with 40 tracer actuations. The BFER should utilize common off the shelf elements to reduce cost and increase availability. The solutions must be capable of integrating into an existing (TCP/IP) live fire range network. The sensor must not be fixed to a target system, and must be capable of operating either in conjunction with a target or in a stand-alone mode. 

PHASE I: Determine the feasibility and approach of developing a Battlefield Effects Replication (BFER) solution. The study shall determine the ability to create realistic effects (illumination, thermal, and audio) for the desired cues. The study shall determine the design capacity based on the various training use cases, and develop the design approach to ensure training requirements can be supported. The study shall consider the environmental impacts and ballistic protection schemas as required. 

PHASE II: Develop a prototype modular Battlefield Effects Replication (BFER) solution. Demonstrate its ability to create the various battlefield effects as defined in the topic description. Demonstrate its ability to align with the Live Training Transformation (LT2) product line in terms of common command and control (via Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) interfaces/contracts). Demonstration will be at TRL 7. 

PHASE III: Military application: Transition technology to the Army Program called Future Army System of Integrated Targets (FASIT). Technology would be viable for both digital and non-digital ranges, urban operations ranges, and other live fire training ranges where Battlefield Effects Replication (BFER) solutions are required. Technology would also may be applicable to the force-on-force training environment. Commercial applications include sports, gaming, and law enforcement applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Chen, Gary

2:  Showalter, Shawna

3:  Raibeck, Gretel

4:  Wejsa, James

5:  "Environmentally Benign Battlefield Effects Black Smoke Simulator"

6:  1 November 2006

7:  DTIC Accession Number: ADA481520

8:  CEHNC 1110-1-23

9:  USACE Design Manual for Ranges - Revised Range Design/Construction Interface Standards Supplement

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

11:  https://atiam.train.army.mil/soldierPortal/atia/adlsc/view/public/6851-1/TC/25-8/toc.htm

12:  Field Manual (FM) 7-1, Battle Focused Training

13:  https://atiam.train.army.mil/soldierPortal/atia/adlsc/view/public/11656-1/fm/7-1/fm7_1.pdf

CONTACT(S): 

James Todd 

(407) 384-3905 

james.a.todd28.civ@mail.mil 

Andrea Morhack 

(407) 384-3556 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Create a user-friendly training content management system for scenario-based training, supporting discovery of scenarios or scenario elements on the basis of learning objectives. Help unit personnel build an adaptive training roadmap. 

DESCRIPTION: The future of Army collective simulation/scenario-based training will be a cloud-based integrated environment, which will support the breadth of a unit’s training needs. The environment will provide an exercise design capability and an exercise repository. The design capability will enable a user to design a new scenario, use an existing scenario, modify an existing scenario, and store new/modified scenarios. To support this, exercises in the repository must be discoverable based on the unit’s current training needs. The purpose of this topic is to support the development of a web-service to support discoverability and recommendation. The results should (1) provide an editable underlying structure for organizing exercises according to multiple dimensions (e.g., learning objectives, terrain, unit size and type, ratings, etc.), (2) provide a dashboard of recommended tasks (e.g., CATS—Combined Arms Training Strategies), and (3) provide a user-friendly method for associating new/modified exercises with the underlying structure. The work should include methods for establishing the organizational scheme (underlying structure) with users, and that is ultimately successful and appropriate for users/training content. The dashboard will support unit personnel in (1) creating an adaptive training roadmap, (2) recommending content that will allow the unit to progress along that roadmap, and (3) adapting exercise recommendations dynamically, based on both unit readiness and user input. The dashboard must be user friendly and support an understanding of the reasons for system recommendations. Users should be able to accept or reject recommendations, and the system should use these choices to adapt future recommendations. The web-service or services developed should be agnostic as to simulation or virtual environment and training objectives. They should also provide open APIs allowing exchange of data from other systems (e.g., the Army Training Management System). The work should also demonstrate usability by the intended user audiences, and methods by which recommendations are adapted over time. 

PHASE I: Phase I is a feasibility study (6-month effort) to develop an initial concept design and key elements required for the capabilities described in the Topic Description. This includes, but is not limited to (1) a concept for the underlying structure and the interface for user editing, (2) approaches for involving users in developing the content dimensions needed in the underlying structure, (3) a conceptual design/storyboards for the user dashboard, (4) conceptual methods of recommendation and recommendation adaptation, and (5) user interfaces for associating new/modified scenarios with the underlying structural taxonomy/dimensions. During Phase I, any demonstration content should be based on CATS HHC, INF BN (IBCT) 07416R000. 

PHASE II: Phase II is a 2-year R&D effort that will culminate in a working prototype based on Infantry CATS. While actual scenario-based training exercises do not need to be created in a repository, dummy files with descriptions of scenarios should be created to support the demonstration. In addition to demonstrating the capabilities described in the Topic Description and designed in Phase I, human-interfaces must conform to common usability heuristics (https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ten-usability-heuristics/), and a usability study be conducted with participants from the potential user audience (or similar). Ideally user input will be collected iteratively. A final demonstration should show the prototype’s technical ability to meet the specifics of the topic description, by demonstrating its capability to generate and adapt training roadmaps for 5 different types of Infantry units, using simulated user interaction data based on hypothetical training results and varying user acceptance of system recommendations. At least some of the training results should be read in “automatically” from one or more simulated training systems, thus demonstrating API data exchange. In addition, a user study should be conducted demonstrating that with no more than an hour’s training, users (at least 5) can interact with the system to generate the same or similar results as the technical demonstration, based on a conceptual description of the simulated input data used for the technical demonstration. 

PHASE III: Phase III derives from and extends efforts performed during the previous phases, and covers technology transition and commercialization. During Phase III the prototype will be transitioned to a fielding-ready system. The specific Phase III military applications will be to apply the developments to various virtual/simulation training environments which involve scenario repositories. Candidate Army environments include Close Combat Tactical Trainer, Games for Training, and the Synthetic Training Environment (STE). It is STE that this topic was particularly aimed at. The vision for the STE is to be a single multi-echelon collective training environment as described in the Topic Description. The STE will require the type of training management capability to be developed under this topic. Phase III should integrate the designed prototype with ongoing efforts to develop the STE, design the appropriate hand-shakes with other STE web-services or other Amy systems, and comply with information security requirements. With respect to commercial application, the developed services should be applicable to any learning repository for which users need to make a training plan, and update that plan as time progresses. While the military application is about training for teams, the developed services can also be applied to individual learning, and may be of benefit for university, vocational and ElHi teachers and/or training managers. 

REFERENCES: 

1: TRADOC Force Operating Capability (FOC): Soldier and Team Performance Overmatch

2:  Warfighter Outcomes: Enhance Realistic Training, Improve Solder, Leader, and Team Performance.

3:  Human Dimension Strategy Lines of Effort: Cognitive Dominance, Realistic Training

4:  PEO STRI: PM ITE

5:  ARL-HRED-ATO: Training Effectiveness

KEYWORDS: Simulation, Content Management, Human Dimension 

CONTACT(S): 

Paula Durlach 

(407) 384-3983 

paula.j.durlach.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Robert Forbis 

(407) 384-3884 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Reusable alternatives to blank cartridges for use with dismounted MILES systems. 

DESCRIPTION: The Army’s goal has always been to train as they fight in a realistic environment. Live training intends to provide the most realistic environment to prepare the warfighter for actual combat. The Multiple Integrated LASER Engagement System (MILES) allows soldiers, commanders and instructors to simulate real-time, direct-fire, force-on-force (FoF) combat between opposing forces. MILES equipment is responsive to MILES coded LASER fire from MILES equipment. Functionally, the equipment conforms to the same hit, kill, and near miss definitions of firing event outcomes. Different versions of MILES systems are available. The Instrumentable – Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (I-MILES) is designed to simulate both the direct-firing capabilities and the vulnerability of dismounted troops, tactical vehicles and combat vehicles and to objectively assess weapon effects during training. This provides unit commanders an integrated training system to use at the home station local training area and instrumented training areas. Gun-mounted MILES Small Arms Transmitters (SATs) are designed to emit lasers when they detect indicators that their gun is being fired – they wait for an explosive sound (report) and simultaneous shock from recoil. To produce a small arms signature effect without endangering trainees, the military uses blank cartridges, a type of cartridge that contains powder but no bullet. Blanks provide an acceptable level of realism, forcing the trainee to deal with real-life tasks such as gun jams and ammo management. The standard infantryman is issued 210 rounds (7 30-round magazines) for an operation. Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs) contain 3 Infantry companies, each of which can consist of as many as 250 soldiers. Using those numbers, we can assume that a SBCT training exercise at the National Training Center (NTC) in Barstow, California will include as many as 750 trainees. If each soldier expends all of the rounds issued to him, a single Army Force on Force exercise can go through 157,500 blanks. At a price of $0.25 per blank, the Army could potentially pay $39,375 for blanks alone every exercise. This figure does not account for additional logistics costs such as storage and transportation or for blanks for OPFOR forces. Purchasing blank cartridges is a major cost driver for live training. This commodity is expendable, and some must be replaced each time a new exercise is initiated. Removing the need to replace blanks for each exercise could lead to major cost savings, reduced environmental impacts, and lessening the Army’s logistics burden. The idea of reusable alternatives to blank cartridges is not new. Previous offerings included a recoil actuating bolt paired with a battery-powered magazine & muzzle-mounted “flash” device. While a novel concept, the problem with this approach is that it requires modification of the firearm, leaving it unable to perform in an operational environment. An ideal solution would not require firearm modification, allowing trainees to switch from operations-ready to training-ready (and back again) with as few intermediary steps as possible. The Army continues to transition toward a “training on demand” paradigm, where the amount of time and money required to initiate training is reduced through the use of persistent & on-demand training products. A low-impact, reusable, easy-to-use alternative for blank cartridges would give the Army the flexibility to offer live-fire training with low overhead and little impact on operational capability. Having this capability would propel live Force on Force training forward toward full “training on demand” compliance. 

PHASE I: 1. Analyze/conduct a feasibility study and identify alternatives to blank cartridges for small arms weapons chambered in 5.56mm and 7.62mm that are inexpensive, easy to use, and require no firearm modification 2. Develop a proposed design for alternatives identified in Task 1. 3. Document a set of use-cases for the device based on doctrine and possible applications. 

PHASE II: After the scientific & technical merit of such a device is measured and approved, efforts during Phase II would entail the development of prototypes of the devices designed in Phase I. 

PHASE III: The commercialization potential of the product developed in Phase II is significant given the widespread use of MILES SATs. 

REFERENCES: 

1: MILES, SAT, TESS

CONTACT(S): 

William Bogler 

(407) 208-5035 

william.c.bogler.civ@mail.mil 

Jesse Campos 

(407) 208-5035 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: To develop a high efficiency high-energy laser (HEL) with a reduced Size Weight and Power (SWaP) footprint for integration into smaller, more tactical platforms. 

DESCRIPTION: Current high energy lasers have a large SWaP footprint due in large part to their low electrical to optical efficiency of around 40%. The low efficiency of these systems requires substantial cooling systems to remove the waste heat from the system and requires large power banks to supply the electrical power. The large size of these systems limit our ability to integrate lasers into smaller, more tactical systems. 

PHASE I: The phase I effort will result in a design concept and analysis of both the efficiency and scalability. The phase I effort shall include a final report with modeling and simulation, and/or proof of concept experimental results supporting performance claims. 

PHASE II: The phase II effort will build upon the phase I and will include lasing demonstration and scalability experiments. It is acknowledged that a full power demonstration may not be possible at this stage, but its feasibility should be well documented and validated. 

PHASE III: DoD laser weapons offer benefits of graduated lethality, rapid deployment to counter time-sensitive targets, and the ability to deliver significant force either at great distance or to nearby threats with high accuracy for minimal collateral damage. Future laser weapon applications will range from very high power devices used for air defense (to detect, track, and destroy incoming rockets, artillery, and mortars) to modest power devices used for counter-ISR. The phase III effort would be to design and build high efficiency HELs for integration into a variety of military platforms. The US Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center as part of its Directed Energy research would execute military funding for this Phase III effort. 

REFERENCES: 

1: D. J. Richardson, J. Nilsson, and W. A. Clarkson, "High power fiber lasers: current status and future perspectives [Invited]," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27, B63 (2010).

2:  N. W. Carlson, Monolithic Diode-Laser Arrays (1994).

3:  M. N. Zervas and C. A. Codemard, "High Power Fiber Lasers: A Review," IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 20, 219–241 (2014).

4:  W. F. Krupke, "Diode pumped alkali lasers (DPALs) – A review," Prog Quant Electron. 36, 4-28 (2012)

KEYWORDS: High Energy Laser, Tactical, Directed Energy, Laser Weapons, High Efficiency, High Power Laser 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Brett Hokr 

(256) 270-5668 

brett.h.hokr.civ@mail.mil 

Amanda Black 

(256) 955-5543 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors 

OBJECTIVE: To develop an algorithm capable of reliable target classification for a wide range of targets, including, but not limited to, Rockets, Artillery and Mortars (RAM); Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); and cruise missiles. 

DESCRIPTION: For defensive High Energy Laser (HEL) missions, the engagement timeline can be very short. Thus, it is highly desirable to have a robust target classification system that, at the very least, can provide additional information to the operator. It has been established that reliable classification cannot be accomplished using only state information such as target velocity and acceleration. However, modern HEL systems have multiple imaging sensors, and a laser range finder in addition to radar queueing information. This suite of sensors provides a wealth of information about the target that when combined together, can help with identification and classification of targets. 

PHASE I: The phase I effort will result in analysis and design of the proposed algorithm. The phase I effort should include the development of tools to test and evaluate the efficacy of the algorithm. The phase I effort shall include a final report. 

PHASE II: The phase II effort shall include development and testing of a breadboard system. The designs will then be modified as necessary to produce a final prototype. A complete demonstration system (camera, lens, etc.) will need to be provided by the offeror and larger items such as radars can be utilized for testing as GFE if they are required and available. The final prototype will be demonstrated in a field test against targets of interest to validate performance claims. 

PHASE III: High energy DoD laser weapons offer benefits of graduated lethality, rapid deployment to counter time-sensitive targets, and the ability to deliver significant force either at great distance or to nearby threats with high accuracy for minimal collateral damage. Future laser weapon applications will range from very high power devices used for air defense (to detect, track, and destroy incoming rockets, artillery, and mortars) to modest power devices used for counter-ISR. The Phase III effort would be to design and build a target identification/classification processor that could be integrated into the Army’s High Energy Laser Mobile Tactical Truck (HELMTT) vehicle. Military funding for this Phase III effort would be executed by the US Army Space and Missile Defense Technical Center as part of its Directed Energy research. 

REFERENCES: 

1: B. Khaleghi, A. Khamis, F.O. Karray, and S.N. Razavi, "Multisensor data fusion: A review of the state-of-the-art," in Information Fusion, Vol. 14, Issue 4, pp. 28-44, 2013

2:  E. Blasch and B. Kahler, "Multiresolution EO/IR Target Tracking and Identification," in 7th International Conference on Information Fusion, pp. 275-282, 2005

3:  J.F. Khan, M.S. Alam, and S.M.A. Bhuiyan, "Automatic target detection in forward-looking infrared imagery via probabilistic neural networks," in Applied Optics, Vol. 48, Issue 3, pp. 464-476, 2009

4:  S.P. Yoon, T.L. Song, and T.H. Kim, "Automatic Target Recognition and Tracking in Forward-Looking Infrared Image Sequences with a Complex Background," in International Journal of Control, Automation, and Systems, Vol. 11, Issue 1, pp. 21-32, 2013

5:  H. Zhang, N.M. Nasrabadi, Y. Zhang, and T.S. Huang, "Multi-View Automatic Target Recognition using Joint Sparse Representation," in IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 2481-2497, 2012

6:  L.M. Novak, M.B. Sechtin, and M.J. Cardullo, "Studies of target detection algorithms that use polarimetric radar data," in IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, Vol. 25, Issue 2, pp. 150-165, 1989

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Brett Hokr 

(256) 270-5668 

brett.h.hokr.civ@mail.mil 

Amanda Black 

(256) 955-5543 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea 

OBJECTIVE: Dual-voltage Lithium-ion 6T packs (24V/48V) capable of supporting low-voltage and high-voltage ground vehicle and robotic applications. 

DESCRIPTION: The military requires low-voltage 24V batteries to provide energy and power for starting, lighting, & ignition (SLI) and Silent Watch on legacy ground vehicle platforms. There are however current and future military ground vehicle platforms that use or will be using higher voltages ranging from 48V to as high as 600V. Common 48V examples include medium-size military ground robotic platforms, such as the TALON, and 48-V hybrid-electric all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). While the 6T format is widely used in 95% of Army ground vehicles, Lead-Acid and Lithium-ion 6T batteries currently only support 12V and 24V vehicle buses respectively. Therefore, there is a need for a Lithium-ion 6T battery which can support at a minimum 48V operations. To avoid the need for multiple fielded batteries to meet both needs, having a Lithium-ion 6T battery which can support multiple voltages is preferred. Accordingly, innovative solutions must be developed and demonstrated which will allow for a Lithium-ion 6T to operate at both 24V and 48V without greatly increasing cost of the 6T product or affecting its fit and function in legacy 6T applications. Additionally, the higher characteristic voltage of 48V should allow the Lithium-ion 6T to serve as a building block for higher voltage systems up to at least 300V. The Dual-Voltage version of the Lithium-ion 6T in the 24V mode should meet all existing requirements of MIL-PRF-32565. The existing 6T form factor should be maintained to the greatest extent possible, however additional provisions for the higher voltage output are allowable as long as the added components do not increase 6T height beyond post height and do not impede battery tie downs. Technology developed to allow 24V/48V dual-voltage operation should be fully integral to the Lithium-ion 6T battery, with the exception of power output provisions. Technology developed for allowing the Dual-Voltage Lithium-ion 6T to build larger voltage packs (ex: 300V mobility packs) may use external components housed in some type of battery box/enclosure. Technologies developed should additionally allow for achieving 48-V operations using two Dual-Voltage Lithium-Ion 6Ts in 24-V mode in series and using two Dual-Voltage Lithium-ion 6Ts in 48-V mode in parallel. Concepts should also take into account all new required battery electrical and thermal interfaces, battery safety, and battery-to-battery communication requirements to allow for higher voltage operations. 

PHASE I: Identify and determine the engineering, technology, and embedded hardware and software needed to develop this concept. Drawings showing realistic designs based on engineering studies are expected deliverables. Additionally, modeling and simulation to show projected performance and Ah capacity of a single Dual-Voltage Lithium-ion 6T (<5% reduction in overall Li-ion 6T pack capacity to achieve 48-V dual-voltage operation) developed in this phase is expected. Cost analysis projections should also be performed to determine the cost premium between a Standard and Dual-Voltage Lithium-ion 6T (<20% increase in overall Lithium-ion 6T product cost). A bill of materials and volume part costs for the Phase I design should also be developed. This phase also needs to address the challenges identified in the above description, including scaling to larger voltage mobility packs. 

PHASE II: Develop and integrate prototype embedded hardware and software into 24V Lithium-ion 6T's to create Dual-Voltage Li-ion 6Ts capable of both 24V and 48V operations. Additionally, hardware and software should be developed to allow Dual-Voltage Lithium-ion 6Ts in 48V mode to be combined into and demonstrated as a 300V hybrid mobility pack. Analysis should also be performed to show potential for operation up to a 600V pack. Testing should be performed on single Dual-Voltage Li-ion 6T batteries in both the 24V and 48V mode to demonstrate operation, performance, and Ah-capacity (<5% reduction in overall Li-ion 6T pack capacity to achieve 48-V dual-voltage operation). Additionally, 48-V operation should be tested on a 2-series set of two Dual-Voltage Lithium-ion 6T batteries set to 24V mode and on a 2-parallel set of two Dual-Voltage Lithium-ion 6T batteries set to 48V mode. Series operation up to 300V using Dual-Voltage Lithium-ion 6T's in the 48V mode should also be demonstrated. Cost analysis should also be performed on the finalized product to determine the cost premium between a Standard and Dual-Voltage Lithium-ion 6T (<20% increase in overall Lithium-ion 6T product cost). A bill of materials and volume part costs for the Phase II design should also be developed. Deliverables include electrical drawings and technical specifications, software, M&S and test results, and at least six Dual-Voltage Li-ion 6T batteries with the integrated embedded hardware and software improvements as well as software and hardware required to operate the batteries in a 300V hybrid mobility pack configuration. 

PHASE III: This phase will begin installation of Dual-Voltage Lithium-ion 6T packs using the solutions developed in Phase II on selected vehicle platforms (military, commercial EV/HEV, etc.) and will also focus on integration of Phase II embedded hardware and software technologies into the production processes of current Li-ion 6T batteries. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATION

2:  BATTERY, RECHARGEABLE, SEALED, 6T LITHIUM-ION," MIL-PRF-32565, https://assist.dla.mil.

3:  Kim, Taesic, Wei Qiao, and Liyan Qu. "A series-connected self-reconfigurable multicell battery capable of safe and effective charging/discharging and balancing operations." Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC), 2012 Twenty-Seventh Annual IEEE. IEEE, 2012.

4:  F. Baronti, R. Di Rienzo, N. Papazafiropulos, R. Roncella, "Investigation of series-parallel connections of multi-module batteries for electrified vehicles," Electric Vehicle Conference (IEVC), 2014 IEEE International, pages 1 – 7, 17-19 Dec. 2014.

CONTACT(S): 

David Skalny 

(586) 282-2196 

david.a.skalny.civ@mail.mil 

Alexander Hundich 

(586) 282-2289 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a portable instrument or method for the rapid measurement of corrosion inhibitor/lubricity improver in military fuel. 

DESCRIPTION: In certain field situations the Army is required to field additize commercial jet fuel with military fuel additives to make it acceptable for use in military air and ground equipment [1]. The Army would like to develop a light weight portable instrument or simple field method for the determination corrosion inhibitor/lubricity improver additive concentrations in military fuels. Analysis of fuel additive concentrations is critical to the Army for ensuring the proper additive levels during fuel distribution and in the additive injection processes, as too much or too little additive can lead to mechanical and fuel stability problems. Instrumentation must be portable and able to operate off battery power in field conditions, total weight for the solution will be under 10 pounds. The threshold ability of the instrument/method is being able to detect and quantify corrosion inhibitor/lubricity improver (0 – 36 ppm) [2] as required in JP-8 fuel [3]. Additional objective detection goals for the instrumentation/methodology include the detection and quantification of static dissipater (quantity to be able to provide a measurable conductivity between 0 – 1050 picosiemens per meter), fuel system icing inhibitor additives (0 – 2250 ppm) [3], and incidental contaminants. The Army’s goal is to use the device for testing fuel samples and/or monitoring fuels for correct additive levels to ensure the proper function of fuels. 

PHASE I: Develop an approach for the design of a portable analytical instrument(s) that is capable of analyzing fuels to determine the concentration of corrosion inhibitor/lubricity improver and other fuel additives. Conduct proof of principle experiments supporting the concept and providing evidence of the feasibility of the approach. 

PHASE II: Develop, build, and demonstrate a prototype portable analytical instrument(s) or methodology that is capable of analyzing fuels to determine the concentration of corrosion inhibitor/lubricity improver and other fuel additives. The prototype shall be delivered to the government. 

PHASE III: Technology developed under this SBIR could have a significant impact on commercial and military fuel distribution and field additive injection processes, the intended transition path is into the Army’s Petroleum Expeditionary Analysis Kit or alternatively the Petroleum Quality Analysis System - Enhanced. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Schmitigal, Joel

2:  Bramer, Jill, "JP-8 and Other Military Fuels (2014 UPDATE)," 17 June 2014.

3:  Military Performance Specification MIL-PRF-25017H w/Amendment 1, "Inhibitor, Corrosion/Lubricity Improver, Fuel Soluble," 25 March 2011.

4:  Military Specification MIL-DTL-83133J, "Turbine Fuels, Aviation, Kerosene Types, NATO F-34 (JP-8), NATO F-35, and JP-8+100," 16 December 2015.

CONTACT(S): 

Joel Schmitigal 

(586) 282-4235 

joel.a.schmitigal.civ@mail.mil 

Bridget Dwornick 

(576) 282-6280 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this SBIR is to reinvestigate the feasibility of preview sensing suspension by leveraging private industry autonomous preview sensing technology and modifying it for an off-road military application. 

DESCRIPTION: Preview Sensing Suspension technology was originally investigated through the SBIR process in 1997. A Phase 1 and Phase 2 SBIR titled “Active Suspension Using Preview Information and Model Predictive Control” was awarded to Scientific Systems Company, Inc. At the conclusion of Phase 2 it was determined that the concept would have to wait until a future date when technological advancements could achieve the maturity required to successfully execute this concept. The technological shortfalls included radar and sensor technology and processing speed. The radar technology was difficult to calibrate for the needed resolution and range. The sensors that met the required high frequency range generated so much noise that the data was inundated and almost unusable. Once significant effort was put into refining the data limitations it was then determined that the processing speed wasn’t fast enough to receive, process, and respond before the vehicle reached the identified terrain. A significant lesson learned during the original investigation was that a Kalman Filter, linear quadratic estimation, was not able to isolate the dynamic motion of the vehicle when processing the terrain data acquired by the radar and sensors. Any future work would require control algorithm development that includes significant understanding of vehicle dynamics. 

PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study to determine if technology has reached a maturity that addresses the challenges that were identified during the initial investigation. The study should address the technological improvements and how they will be utilized throughout the project. The study should also define what the physical design may be, conduct mobility analysis’s to determine any positive or negative mobility of incorporating a system, and determine the scalability of a system to be included onto larger tracked or wheeled vehicles. 

PHASE II: The focus of phase II will be more on the physical design, implementation, and testing of the preview sensing suspension. A prototype system shall be constructed and installed in a vehicle to conduct physical testing and analysis to prove the validity of the technology. 

PHASE III: This SBIR will focus on the further development of the preview sensing system for military application and the integration and production of the system at low rate manufacturing levels for military vehicles and potentially carrying over to the commercial sector. 

REFERENCES: 

1: https://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/300950

2:  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF02943668?no-access=true

3:  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/095915249380005V

4:  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474667016392606

CONTACT(S): 

Andrea Wray 

(586) 282-6376 

andrea.c.wray.civ@mail.mil 

Jason Alef 

(586) 282-6376 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea 

OBJECTIVE: To develop, examine, and evaluate the plausibility of diesel engine in-cylinder wear coatings to reduce high power density diesel engine friction and fuel consumption while maintaining military engine acceptable durability and reliability targets. 

DESCRIPTION: Future military combat engines require very low heat rejection and high engine power density in order to aid in minimizing the overall propulsion system size. Such engine performance characteristics include fundamental power cylinder tribology challenges associated with high in-cylinder temperatures and pressure inherent of low heat rejection diesel engine technology. One possible technology to aid in addressing such challenges are durable in-cylinder coatings capable of enduring mixed and boundary lubrication regimes at high oil temperatures over noticeably longer portions of the cycle time than standard commercial four-stroke diesel engines. An additional benefit from such coatings is possible engine friction reduction that correlates to reduced fuel consumption based on the particular duty cycle. The objective of this topic is to develop, examine, and evaluate in-cylinder wear coatings for high output, low heat rejection two and four stroke diesel engines that are durable, reduce engine friction by 15%, and decrease fuel consumption by 2% to 5 % based on engine speed and load. Such engines must operate on military fuels including DF-2, JP-8, and F-34 while utilizing 15W-40, OW-30, and 0W-20 oils for lubrication and cooling purposes. Additionally, such military engines must be able to operate under stringent desert like operating conditions nominally in the 125 F ambient temperature range that include engine oil sump temperatures exceeding 260 F. 

PHASE I: Identify and assess possible in-cylinder wear coatings that are plausible under the conditions described in the description section and also provide a relevant bench top demonstration of possible engine targeted candidates. Such an effort should include any necessary analysis to support coating selection candidates along with necessary material (composition) analysis. The outcome of this phase should be a selection of wear coating candidate(s) for evaluation in phase II. 

PHASE II: Demonstrate and validate the performance of the chosen phase I candidate wear coatings in a multi-cylinder two or four stroke diesel engine at relevant military operating conditions. Such a demonstration should focus both on the durability of the wear coating(s) and any associated engine friction and fuel consumption reductions. 

PHASE III: Develop a wear coating for in-cylinder components that could be readily used in both military and commercial diesel engines. It is envisioned that this technology could be beneficial for all diesel engine markets under the constraint that it is durable and reduces engine friction that ultimately reduces engine fuel consumption. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Wang, G., Nie, X., and Tjong, J., "Load and Lubricating Oil Effects on Friction of a PEO Coating at Different Sliding Velocities," SAE Technical Paper 2017-01-0464, 2017, doi:10.4271/2017-01-0464.

2:  Maurizi, M. and Hrdina, D., "New MAHLE Steel Piston and Pin Coating System for Reduced TCO of CV Engines," SAE Int. J. Commer. Veh. 9(2):270-275, 2016, doi:10.4271/2016-01-8066.

3:  Bergman, M., Bergwall, M., Elm, T., Louring, S. et al., "Advanced Low Friction Engine Coating Applied to a 70cc High Performance Chainsaw," SAE Technical Paper 2014-32-0115, 2014, doi:10.4271/2014-32-0115.

KEYWORDS: Wear Coatings, Tribology, Ceramics, Engine Friction 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Peter Schihl 

(586) 282-6147 

peter.j.schihl.civ@mail.mil 

Maged Tadros 

(586) 282-5438 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea 

OBJECTIVE: Design a high voltage wide bandgap motor controller (HVMC) capable of operating across on all military ground vehicles. The use of wide bandgap should reduce size, weight and cooling requirements. 

DESCRIPTION: With the growing vehicle electrical power requirements in military vehicle systems the use of wide bandgap semiconductor technology is necessary for the future. The motor controller must account for safety, efficiency, scalability, configurability, CAN control, and integration. The solution will have the processing power necessary for fault detection and handling capabilities, built-in diagnostics, and stand alone and remote control in a compact device suitable for use in military ground vehicle applications. The proposed unit must use wide bandgap technology capable of operating at high voltages as specified by MIL-PRF-GCS600A. Topic proposals should focus on units capable of operating up to 18kW at 30A DC. The use of wide bandgap power electronics that can operate in a 71C ambient environment using 105C coolant is required. The unit should be able to communicate using J1939 CAN interface to accept commands from the “host”, and provide diagnostic status on command, or in the event of a “fault”. The motor controller should demonstrate High Voltage Interlock capabilities. The proposal should address thermal management plan for the HVMC, while also meeting military standards. 

PHASE I: Develop a proof of concept circuit for a high voltage wide bandgap motor controller that addresses the features and functionality described above. This preliminary design will include a packaging plan with SWaP, thermal analysis and considerations for meeting MIL-STD-1275E, MIL-PRF-GCS600A, MIL-STD-810G, MIL-STD-461G supported by modeling, analysis, and/or brass board proofs of concept, all to be provided. 

PHASE II: Electrical, thermal, mechanical, and functional aspects of a high voltage wide bandgap motor controller solution will be designed, developed, and built. Demonstration and technology evaluation will take place in a relevant laboratory environment or on a military ground vehicle system. Phase II will reach at least TRL 5 and commercial viability will be quantified. 

PHASE III: Mechanical packaging and integration of the HVMC (high voltage motor controller) into a vehicle that will achieve TRL 6 and a technology transition will occur so the device can be used in military ground vehicle applications. Applications include MRAP CS13 vehicles, Stryker, Bradley, Abrams, and AMPV. 

REFERENCES: 

1: MIL-STD-1275E

2:  MIL-STD-810G

3:  MIL-STD-461G

4:  MIL-PRF-GCS600A

CONTACT(S): 

Eric Szczesny 

(586) 282-4889 

eric.a.szczesny2.civ@mail.mil 

Paul Hillebrand 

(586) 282-8756 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea 

OBJECTIVE: To research and develop a prototype Non-pneumatic tire in a 16.00R20 size for both paved on-highway performance and off-road mobility capable of increasing survivability unconstrained by explosives/hazards in a military mission environment. 

DESCRIPTION: There is a critical need for a non-pneumatic tire that can sustain hazards including explosive, ballistic, and road debris and yet continue the vehicle mission. This project investigates technologies which would provide a non-pneumatic tire in these types of environments while providing optimum tire performance on the highway and in an off-road environment. Currently, non-pneumatic tires in the larger truck or off-road equipment are used in slower speed off-road applications. The focus of this project is the development of new technologies that can perform on the paved highway at sustained high speed and also provide improved tractive effort when the vehicle is operated in an off-road environment. These attributes of on-highway performance and off-road mobility require a new solution optimized for both conditions. Currently, a pneumatic tire in an off-road environment would typically be lowered through the vehicle’s Central Tire Inflation System or other means to provide increased tractive effort. The goal of this technology would be to provide the advantage (resistance to becoming flat) of a non-pneumatic tire while providing good tractive effort off road, and at less weight & same cost as a comparable pneumatic tire with a runflat. This technology could be integrated for any vehicle system that operates in both on-highway and off-road conditions including military vehicles, commercial dump trucks and construction equipment. 

PHASE I: Develop a computer based model of a non-pneumatic tire in the 16.00R20 size for On-Highway and Off-Road Mobility providing detailed design and materials used. The design would meet the dimensions and load capacity for 16.00R20 Load Range M size as define by the Tire & Rim Association Standards. Modeling and simulation of this concept non-pneumatic tire shall be conducted at different loading conditions (50%,75%, 100% of the 14800 Lb Load) and with simulated hazards at various degrees of damage (up to 20% material loss) to determine performance. Load deflection and footprint area will be modeled at the above loading conditions. Simulation of the non-pneumatic tire and pneumatic tire at these conditions would be conducted. The model and simulation with a final technical report would be the resultant deliverables to this phase. 

PHASE II: Using the model and simulation developed in phase 1, a physical prototype non-pneumatic tire in the 16.00R20 size would be developed and validated in the laboratory, and demonstrated in a field environment. The concept tire would be evaluated against a 16.00R20 pneumatic tire under the same loading conditions (50%, 75%, 100% of the 14800lb) in accordance with SAE J2014 Load Deflection 4.4.12 including pressure pad measurements. The concept tire would be tested in accordance with FMVSS 571.119 at the prescribed loads for the 16.00R20 size for durability evaluation. The concept tire would also be tested in accordance with FMVSS 571.129 with the lateral force test modified to accommodate for the larger tire size. The non-pneumatic tire technology would be subjected to simulated hazards (including up to 20% material loss) and tested in accordance with FMVSS 571.129 S5.4 Tire Endurance. The non-pneumatic tire would be mounted on a vehicle and demonstrated subjectively for subjective ride and handling for a duration of 200 miles. Deliverables for this phase would be the 16 prototype tires, load deflection, pressure pad, FMVSS 571.119, FMVSS 571.129 and degraded endurance test results, and demonstration on military vehicle 

PHASE III: Prototype non-pneumatic tires developed in Phase II would be evaluated and integrated on a military or commercial vehicle platform. Testing on a military or commercial vehicle in accordance with SAE J2014 shall include 4.4.8 Treadlife Durability (mission profile) ,4.4.9 Comparative Stopping Distance(Braking) , 4.4.2 Tire Traction (soft soil, sand, mud), 4.4.3 Vehicle Evasive Manuever, 4.4.20 Steady State Dynamic Stability, and 4.4.17 Absorbed Power Ride Quality with comparison against a baseline pneumatic tire under same loading conditions. Degraded durability test with 20% material loss of the non-pneumatic tire shall be conducted on vehicle for 1000 miles. This integration may require design optimization for the particular vehicle system. This technology would be transitioned to a tactical, combat or Mine Resistant Ambush Protected military vehicle and/or on-highway / off-road commercial vehicle (dump truck, construction equipment). Deliverables for this phase would be 36 prototype tires, manufacturability plan, integration plan and on-vehicle testing results. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Ma, Ru

2:  Reid, Alexander

3:  Ferris, John, Capturing Planar Tire Properties Using Static Constraint Modes, March 2012

4:  Sandu, Corina

5:  Pinto, Eduardo

6:  Naranjo, Scott

7:  Jayakumar, Paramsothy

8:  Andonian, Archie

9:  Hubbell, Dave

10:  Ross, Brant, Off-Road Soft Soil Tire Model Development and Experimental Testing, 17th International Conference of the International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems – September 18-22, 2011, Blacksburg, Virginia

11:  Madsen, Justin

12:  Seidl, Andrew

13:  Negrut, Dan

14:  O’Kins, James

15:  Reid, Alexander, A Physics-Based Terrain Model for Off-Road Vehicle Simulations, April 2012

16:  Shoop, Sally A., Finite Element Modeling of Tire-Terrain Interaction, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, November 2001

KEYWORDS: Tire, Non-pneumatic, Survivable, Runflat, Mobility, Hazard 

CONTACT(S): 

Steven Bishel 

(586) 282-6326 

steven.g.bishel.civ@mail.mil 

Richard Vinkovich 

(586) 282-2473 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea 

OBJECTIVE: It is desired to develop a rapid, transient, CFD-based solver for human and vehicle thermal signature prediction involving innovations in flow, heat transfer, air humidity, engine exhaust, and thermal signature modeling and simulation. 

DESCRIPTION: Modeling and simulation (M&S) software capable of analyzing human and vehicle thermal signature already exists; however, as it relates to such thermal solvers, various desirable features, such as transient flow field modeling, are lacking. Thermal solvers typically account for the effects of the problem flow fields on surface heat transfer in multiple ways: (1) through the application of constant heat transfer coefficients and spatially-coarse fluid temperatures without the accounting of flow thermal transport, all within one solver such that computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are not required to be used; (2) through the application of constant heat transfer coefficients and spatially-coarse fluid temperatures with the accounting of flow thermal transport among spatially-coarse subdivided regions of a steady-state flow field, all within one solver but requiring a steady-state CFD simulation to be performed beforehand; and (3) through the application of time-varying, spatially-fine heat transfer coefficients and fluid temperatures with the accounting of flow thermal transport among spatially-fine subdivided regions of a transient flow field, requiring co-simulation between a thermal solver and a CFD solver at each time step. For transient flow and thermal problems, methods 1 and 2 generally would not permit accurate transient modeling, but method 3 requires time- and labor-intensive transient co-simulation between two solvers. Therefore, it would be desirable to develop a new method that: (1) like method 1, can be performed using only one solver; (2) like method 2, accounts for the flow thermal transport among the subdivided regions of the flow field; and (3) like method 3, accounts for time-varying, spatially-fine flow temperatures and heat transfer coefficients for a transient problem. For this new, CFD-based method to be “rapid”, there would need to be limits regarding the spatial discretization of the flow fields and the extent to which the flow field physics are rigorously modeled. It would be desirable to allow the software user to control, through setting the value of a solver input parameter, the balance between accuracy of the predicted flow field and simulation time. Ultimately, the new method should: (1) involve turbulence modeling; (2) involve conduction, convection, and radiation modes of heat transfer; (3) be validated using a notional vehicle case study; and (4) be robust. The development of transient CFD-based modeling capability should facilitate the development of transport modeling of air humidity and engine exhaust. Humidity transport modeling would augment solver capabilities related to heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) modeling and human thermal modeling, and engine exhaust transport modeling would augment solver stand-alone capabilities related to thermal signature. 

PHASE I: For phase I, it is expected that a concept of a rapid, transient CFD-based solving method that can be directly integrated into a thermal signature solver be developed. Related to the CFD-based solving method, the following concept information shall be proposed and delivered: (1) a suitable turbulence model; (2) the entire set of governing physical equations, both flow and thermal; (3) the basic numerical / discretization scheme to be used for solving both the flow and thermal equations in one solver; and (4) a final demonstration / feasibility study. 

PHASE II: For phase II, it is expected that the concept proposed in phase I will be fully integrated into a working, transient, thermal signature solver, including a complete graphical user interface (GUI). All concept refinements subsequent to phase I – such as those involving the proposed turbulence model and the numerical / discretization scheme to be used – shall be provided. A study shall be performed involving the prediction of the thermal characteristics of a notional vehicle which is undergoing “cool-down” after a “heat soak”. “Heat soak” describes the application of steady-state thermal conditions, consistent with SAE J1559, to the unmanned vehicle in a laboratory environment with wind, the vehicle powered off, and all hatches / windows shut; “cool-down” refers to the cooling evolution of the interior cabin of the now-manned, idling vehicle, immediately following the “heat soak” and engagement of the HVAC system. The notional vehicle shall possess sufficient complexity such that significant flow velocity and temperature gradients result inside the vehicle cabin and in the underhood region of the vehicle during “cool-down”. The same study shall be performed using a commercial CFD solver. The main metrics for comparing the two studies shall involve: (1) the flow velocity and temperature at points inside the vehicle cabin and near each soldier consistent with SAE J1503; (2) the flow velocity and temperature at key points in the underhood portion of the vehicle; (3) temperature contours of the exterior vehicle surfaces; (4) vehicle thermal signature assuming a uniform background and specific viewing aspects; and (5) temperature and velocity contours of the vehicle interior and exterior flows associated with specified viewing planes. The viewing planes shall involve: (1) a vertical, longitudinal plane bisecting the vehicle; (2) a vertical, transverse plane bisecting the driver and another bisecting the underhood region; and (3) a horizontal plane bisecting the driver and another bisecting the underhood region. The thermal signature of the vehicle model associated with the commercial CFD solver shall be determined by importing the resulting exterior temperature contours into the thermal signature solver, and determining the “delta-T RSS” signature metric for the same background and vehicle aspects. The “basic hot” environment associated with MIL-STD-810 shall be assumed. 

PHASE III: For phase III, the military application involves a stand-alone, rapid, transient, CFD-based solver for human and vehicle thermal signature prediction which can be used to assess requirement compliance associated with typical military vehicle thermal signature requirements. Such requirements would likely be classified, and may involve various backgrounds, times of year, geographical locations, weather patterns and climates, vehicle aspects, etc. The commercial application would be a stand-alone, rapid, transient, CFD-based solver for human and vehicle thermal modeling, with no thermal signature capability. 

REFERENCES: 

1: SAE J1503: "Performance Test for Air-Conditioned, Heated, and Ventilated Off-Road, Self-Propelled Work Machines"

2:  SAE J1559: "Determination of Effect of Solar Heating"

3:  MIL-STD-810: "Department of Defense Test Method Standard, Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests"

KEYWORDS: Heat Transfer, Thermal Signature, Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD, Modeling And Simulation 

CONTACT(S): 

Nathan Tison 

(586) 282-4603 

nathan.a.tison.civ@mail.mil 

Yeefeng Ruan 

(586) 282-5602 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Design a bi-directional power converter that uses wide band gap technology for connecting high voltage sources and loads to MIL-PRF-GCS600A compliant power busses capable of operating on all military ground vehicles. 

DESCRIPTION: In the next generation combat vehicles where high voltage systems are being used it is necessary to incorporate power conversion devices that connect energy storage devices and power supplies to MIL-PRF-GCS600A compliant power busses. The high power demand, limited space, weight restrictions and thermal signature requirements makes it necessary to use wide bandgap semiconductor technology to achieve the desired power density and efficiency. The electrical power conversion device must account for safety, efficiency, configurability, CAN control, integration, and robust stable operation. The solution would have the processing power necessary for fault handling capabilities in a compact device suitable for use in military ground vehicle applications. The chosen cooling medium of 105C liquid coolant requires advanced technologies such as wide bandgap power electronics to meet performance requirements. The electrical power conversion device would have two power interfaces. Power interface 1 would operate over a range from 250VDC to 635VDC. Power Interface 2 would operate over a range from 565VDC to 635VDC as specified by MIL-PRF-GCS600A. The device would operate over the full voltage range with a minimum current handling capability of 50 amps on power interface 2. The proposed device should be designed for implementation in a modular fashion with like devices in parallel to facilitate integration into scalable power architectures. 

PHASE I: Develop a proof of concept circuit for an advanced power converter that addresses the features and functionality described above. This preliminary design will also include a packaging plan with SWaP, thermal analysis and considerations for meeting MIL-PRF-GCS600A, MIL-STD-704F, MIL-STD-1275E, MIL-STD-810G, MIL-STD-461 supported by modeling, analysis, and/or brassboard proofs of concept, all to be provided. 

PHASE II: Electrical, thermal, mechanical, and functional aspects of a high VDC power converter solution will be designed, developed, and built. Demonstration and technology evaluation will take place in a relevant laboratory environment or on a military ground vehicle system. Phase II will reach at least TRL 5 and commercial viability will be quantified. 

PHASE III: Mechanical packaging and integration of the solution into a vehicle with high VDC power buses will be achieved (TRL6) and a technology transition will occur so the device can be used in military ground vehicle applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: MIL-PRF-GCS600A,

2:  MIL-STD-1275E

3:  MIL-STD-704F

4:  MIL-STD-810G

5:  MIL-STD-461

CONTACT(S): 

Margaret Horton 

(586) 282-4669 

Margaret.a.horton2.civ@mail.mil 

Aric Haynes 

(586) 282-5913 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and validate a new class of Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes that has the ability to overcome current technologies limitations 

DESCRIPTION: AM holds the potential to revolutionize supply chains and manufacturing processes, making low-volume and low cost part production. However, no current AM processes meet the Army’s needs to printing large metallic structures, while still preserving surface quality. This has limited their adoption within the Army’s organic base. The Army has an urgent need to develop a new class of AM process. This technology is expected to be easily scalable, operate in open environment, and utilize non-traditional heating sources (no Lasers) and still have the ability to create complex features, internal cavities, and intentional voids. 

PHASE I: In this phase, the small business assess the viability of the proposed technical approach. These studies should include discussions with TARDEC to identify specific process requirements for printing ferrous, Cobalt, and Nickel-based alloys. Work should begin with a detailed requirements analysis and system design specification relevant to a chosen application. The design should clearly demonstrate the ability to be easily scalable and operate without the need of processing chambers / shielding gases. High rating will be placed to technologies that do not require the use of Lasers, Electron Beam, and binders. Post processing techniques, process times, and equipment will need to be defined. Demonstrate feasibility of the developed approach by performing limited testing and characterization of printed parts. Material volume of no larger than 4 cubic feet. Deliverables shall include process development documentation in conjunction with materials property data. 

PHASE II: In Phase II, the small business will build a larger prototype of the AM process and explore the method for the chosen alloy(s) and intended applications. Work should begin with a detailed requirements analysis and system design specification relevant to a chosen application. The project should then proceed to acquire or build the necessary components and build the prototype new system in line with the design. Method development and quality should be verified through materials analysis of test coupons that confirm and improve the theoretical basis for the method. Materials tests that are appropriate for the target application should be developed and used to validate the technology. Build volume is expected to be a minimum of 8+ cubic feet. TARDEC to identify specific requirements for the printing process, such as the type of metallic alloy and part geometry. Test examples will include the following: - A minimum of three metallic alloys will be demonstrated - Test samples showing feature fidelity of a maximum of 1/8" - Advance process control & add in-process inspection - Detailed post processing requirements: process times, equipment, and size limitations - Deliverables include process development documentation, test samples that include intentional designed complex features and internal cavities, material tests results and the prototype system developed under this effort. 

PHASE III: In the final Phase of the project, the contractor shall determine the capabilities for process control and the development of a strategy for qualification. Additionally, the contractor shall integrate and test the solution on several production parts and demonstrate a path to commercialization and certification. Since this is the development of a new additive manufacturing process, the technology should easily transition to other Federal Agency and Private Industry. Military applications include aluminum transfer cases and titanium hatches for Navy ships. Commercial applications are widespread and include produces such as titanium suspension components for the automotive industry and aluminum seat frames for the aerospace industry. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Shea, R., Santos, N., Appleton, R., "Additive Manufacturing in the DoD - Employing a Business Case Analysis", Troika Solutions, LLC, November 16, 2015.

2:  Sanders, L., "Implications of Additive Manufacturing Deployed at the Tactical Edge", Defense Acquisition University Aberdeen Proving Ground United States, 15 Apr 2015. http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=AD1016539

3:  Zimmerman, B, Allen, E., "Analysis of the Potential Impact of Additive Manufacturing on Army Logistics", Naval Postgraduate School Monterey Ca, Dec 2013. http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA620821

4:  Hormozi, A. M. "Means of transportation in the next generation of supply chains", SAM Advanced Management Journal, 2013, 78(1), 42–49.

KEYWORDS: Additive Manufacturing, Multi-Materials, 3D Printing, Metallic Alloys, Portable, Joining, Scalable, Near-Net-Shape 

CONTACT(S): 

Michael Nikodinovski 

(586) 282-0688 

michael.nikodinovski.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Marc Pepi 

(410) 306-0848 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea, Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a Modular, Open Architecture, Open Source, Integrated, and Validated Mobility Prediction Capability that is suitable for on-and off-road trafficability assessment for commercial and military vehicles 

DESCRIPTION: Currently, the NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM) is the only NATO recognized numerical modeling tool for assessing mobility objectives, but it is also broadly understood to be theoretically limited and difficult to adapt to contemporary vehicle design technologies and to implement within modern vehicle dynamic simulations. The proposed capability will abstract and expand the basis for the legacy NRMM to define the Next Generation NRMM (NG-NRMM) to be any innovative mobility modeling and simulation capability (M&S) that develops and facilitates interoperation with current and evolving M&S capabilities including: geographic information systems (GIS), physics based vehicle dynamics, physics based terramechanics, vehicle intelligence, as well as uncertainty quantification supporting probabilistic M&S. Geographic information systems (GIS): which are critical to building the required terrains needed to support coalition mission planning and operational effectiveness analyses. Properly characterizing terrain is critical to generate accurate, operationally-relevant ground vehicle performance results using the Next-Generation NRMM (NG-NRMM). In order to achieve this, the NG-NRMM must be able to import and aggregate remotely-sensed Geographic Information System (GIS) data and generate terrains that can be analyzed in the NG-NRMM vehicle / terramechanical analysis software. physics based vehicle dynamics are critical to evaluating more accurately the system and sub-system level performance criteria. High fidelity physics based vehicle dynamics is critical to vehicle terrain interaction (VTI). At the same time capturing the accurate soil mechanical properties such as internal friction, cohesion are critical to evaluating soil such as soft soil and for VTI. This is possible with physics based terramechanics modeling. The emergence of intelligent ground vehicles and their dependence upon quantitative analysis of mobility has infused terrain vehicle systems modeling with a new relevance and broader scope than ever before. Mobility metrics and analysis for robotics and VI is a very active and prolific research area and is an essential element of a NG-NRMM from two application perspectives: 1) Inclusion of robotics and VI in mobility metrics and assessments for operational planning, acquisition, and design; 2) Embedding NG-NRMM models and metrics into robots and VI algorithms because they are standards for mobility assessment and decision making. Also Propagation of variabilities of terramechanics input parameters to mobility, such as speed-made-good, are critical for generation of stochastic mobility map With the research and development of the physics behind these capabilities as well as the rapid advancement of technologies such as high performance computing, this proposal of developing open architecture, open source, integrated, verified and validated mobility capability a reality. This capability will also enhance interoperability of ground vehicles used in multi-national missions. 

PHASE I: During the Phase I effort the contractor shall perform a feasibility study of NG-NRMM being any ground vehicle mobility modeling and simulation architectural framework that is applicable to the full range of vehicle geometric scales and shall able to model, geometric information systems, physics based vehicle dynamics, physics based vehicle–terrain interaction system, intelligent vehicles (autonomy), uncertainty quantification, verification and validation. 

PHASE II: During the Phase II effort contractor shall develop, demonstrate, and validate an NG-NRMM prototype capable of being any ground vehicle mobility modeling and simulation architectural framework studied in Phase I and shall provide, standard and evolving M&S methods, modular interoperability, portability, future expansion, verification and validation scales, benchmarks appropriate to multiple levels of theoretical, geometric, and numerical model resolution. 

PHASE III: The prototype developed under Phase II shall be fully developed and transitioned to commercialization of NG-NRMM capable M&S toolset with a potential to demonstrate on a Next Gen Combat Vehicle (NGCV) Virtual Prototyping project. Consisting of 55 members from 15 nations from both military and commercial entities in NATO NG-NRMM Research Group, this product has strong dual-use potential, and will be useful not only among defense industry, but also in commercial vehicle development industries. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Gorsich, D., et al., "The Next Generation NATO Reference Mobility Model Development," Paper No. STO-MP-AVT-265-11, NATO Specialists’ Meeting AVT-265/RSM-044 on Integrated Virtual NATO Vehicle Development, Vilnius, Lithuania, May, 2017 (Public Release), 42 pages, uploaded in SITIS on 12/13/17

2:  McCullough, M., Jayakumar, P., Dasch, J., and Gorsich, D., "The Next Generation NATO Reference Mobility Model Development," Proc. 8th Americas Regional Conference of the International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems, Troy, Michigan, September, 2016, 12 pages, uploaded in SITIS on 12/13/17

3:  Dasch, J., and Jayakumar, P., editors, "Next-Generation NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM)," 221 pages, uploaded in SITIS on 12/13/17

CONTACT(S): 

Srinivas Sanikommu 

(586) 574-5475 

srinivas.sanikommu.civ@mail.mil 

Paramsothy Jayakumar 

(586) 282-4896 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground Sea 

OBJECTIVE: Develop smart linkage mechanism to unfold 63-foot-long scissor type Bridge with mechanical advantages other than traditional cable-pulley and built-in hydraulic linear cylinder launchers. The expected concept and layout of the design can be adapted to rapid launch and retrieval movement, light in weight and easy interconnection with electrical or hydraulic servo systems for programmable motion profile and control algorithm. 

DESCRIPTION: This SBIR topic will deliver a novelty design and technology by applying a linkage mechanism to unfold Army Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB). Army AVLB is based on a tank chassis, but instead of the tank's gun turret, it is equipped with a bridge launcher integrated into the chassis and mounted on top. When emplaced, the bridge is capable of supporting tracked and wheeled vehicles with a military load bearing capacity up to Class 85. The bridge can be retrieved from either end. During deployments, bridge emplacement can be accomplished in 2 minutes, and retrieval can be accomplished in 10 minutes under armor protection. There are two types of launcher mechanisms, built-in hydraulic cylinder and cable-pulley, for this Army scissoring-type Assault Bridge. Because of this in-bridge hydraulic cylinder, AVLB’s weight is heavy. It also requires regular maintenance to hydraulic lines, while cable-pulley design offers limited motion profile, less stability and lower speed in launch and retrieval. Proposed mechanism should utilize its mechanical advantage and optimization of location of joint of linkage for Military Load Class (MLC) 85 on the bridge. In general, weight reduction to the current in-bridge set of hydraulic cylinder and cable-pulley is approx. 25% (threshold), 50% (objective). The general idea for linkages in that type of application is achievable. However, to integrate linkage assembly with the bridge set in such restricted area could be a challenge, as well as extreme loads at linkage joints and irregular bar contour design. In addition, to interface with a rotary actuator and modular design is also the contest in this project, which could be a breakthrough of linkage application that requires advanced analysis and simulation before launching a prototype and integration with the full-size bridge. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility of algorithm using basic linkage theory to calculate loads at joints for this 30klb-weight bridge, acquire data set comprising either the design intent and a possible motion profile or a statistically robust number of concepts and, registry of measurement accuracy by comparing the results to analysis conducted. With help of software simulation, it is towards a modeling and algorithm to perform a design and load optimization based on the analysis and the data set. 

PHASE II: Design and build a scaled prototype with hydraulic or electric actuators to validate the concept and design. Delivered prototype must be suitable for testing and validation at an Army facility by technical personnel. Clear operational manuals required but not in military format. During this phase, the Army expects to work closely with the Contractor to clarify mission integration requirements appropriate for the initial prototype maturity. 

PHASE III: Final solution is a standardized module for the AVLB bridging system. A launch design works with the Bridge and Tank chassis to meet all the requirements of Army assault bridging. The Army can integrate the technology developed under this SBIR into an end item to answer assault bridge launch requirements. Industry could insert the technology developed under this SBIR in facilities utilizing the latest motion control technology. Further application may be realized for both hydraulic and electric actuators. 

REFERENCES: 

1: DOD Directive 5000.40 - Reliability and Maintainability

2:  MIL-STD-785B - Reliability Program for Systems and Equipment, Development and Production

3:  MIL-STD-721C - Definitions of Terms for Reliability and Maintainability

CONTACT(S): 

Michael Z. Shen 

(586) 282-6999 

Michael.z.shen.civ@mail.mil 

Bernard J. Sia 

(586) 282-6101 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics 

OBJECTIVE: Develop novel methods and materiel solutions for protecting existing Army radio systems from commonly employed RF radiolocation direction finding systems. Intent is employ techniques that can introduce sufficient spatial uncertainty into target radiolocation systems accuracy as to make their use problematic for the purpose of employing indirect fires against the protected transmitter, while not significantly degrading host radio performance 

DESCRIPTION: The Army is in the process of deploying tactical wideband networking mobile radio systems to lower echelons of the force, which has led to exposing a larger number of data networking radios to adversarial electronic warfare threats, including radio direction finding (DF). At the same time, the Army is entertaining upgrades to our narrowband voice and data systems deployed at the very lowest echelons. Traditional high-assurance Low Probability to Intercept (LPI) / Low Probability to Detect (LPD) techniques cannot defeat modern digital signal processing receivers, and come at significant cost in terms of operational utility, performance and/or spectral resources. The desired solution at completion will employ novel techniques at the physical layer or higher to introduce sufficient uncertainty into the target radiolocation systems as to make these systems unusable for providing targeting for indirect fire. Low Probability to detect solutions are desirable, but not required. Typically, an RMS position error of 300-500m or greater would be sufficient to render a tactical DF system ineffective for cueing indirect fire. Solutions can encompass current Army radio waveform modifications as well as transmission chain modifications appropriate for installation in Army vehicle platforms. There have been little to no commercially published reports of radio location obfuscation techniques being implemented or tested. Target radio platforms include narrowband VHF (30-80 MHz) radios such as SINCGARS, wideband UHF (225-450 MHz) and L-band (1350-1390, 1755-1850 MHz) radios, including HMS Rifleman, Manpack, and MNVR Radios. Target waveforms include SINCGARS, Wideband Networking Waveform, and Soldier Radio Waveform. Target radiolocation techniques include but are not limited to Time Difference Angle of Arrival (TDOA), Amplitude comparison, and Correlative Interferometry. 

PHASE I: The Phase One deliverable will be a comprehensive white paper describing: • Explore potential methods of accomplishing the goal of modifying existing tactical radio systems to be resistant to common radiolocation techniques/systems that would be implemented on a tactical ground vehicle or aircraft. • Perform trade analysis to determine best alternative technique/approach, balancing performance, suitability to platform, and cost. • Perform analysis of potential host radio waveform software changes and/or hardware packaging approaches suitable for use on Army radio platforms. 

PHASE II: • Develop and demonstrate a prototype solution for Army radios that employ wideband networking waveforms. • Phase Two deliverables will include: o Prototype solution suitable for use with Army vehicle mounted radios o Demonstration of the prototype with existing Army radio systems o Test report detailing solution performance against common threats o Product documentation detailing functions and operations of the prototype Monthly Progress reports. The reports will include all technical challenges, technical risk, and progress against the schedule. o A baseline approach and schedule for phase III. 

PHASE III: • Develop and demonstrate a radio direction finding obfuscation solution that operates with both current narrowband and wideband tactical radio waveforms, and is suitable for deployment in vehicular, manpack and handheld tactical radios platforms. • Phase III military application can include an applique that can be applied to existing Army tactical radio platforms or integrated into the radio platform itself. Future PM Tactical Radio (PM TR) radio system acquisitions are envisioned to be acquired though both and developmental software defined radio (SDR) programs and commercial NDI procurement programs, so both applique and commercial licensing options would be available depending on the technology solution selected. • Commercial application would similarly encompass both a standalone applique product for commercial radio solutions (e.g. law enforcement, personal protection, etc.), and/or license opportunities for inclusion into commercial radio products, dependent on the technology solution proposed. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Army Techniques Publication (ATP) 6-02.53 TECHNIQUES FOR TACTICAL RADIO OPERATIONS JAN 2016 http://www.apd.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/ATP.aspx

2:  ATP 3-21.21 SBCT INFANTRY BATTALION, FEB 2016 http://www.apd.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/ATP.aspx

3:  ATP 3-90.5 COMBINED ARMS BATTALION, FEB 2016 http://www.apd.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/ATP.aspx

4:  Analysis of Wireless Geolocation in a Non-Line-of-Sight Environment, Y. Qi, H. Kobayashi and H. Suda, IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS, VOL. 5, NO. 3, MARCH 2006

5:  A Non-Line-of-Sight Error Mitigation Algorithm in Location Estimation, Pi-Chun Chen, Wireless Communications and Networking Conference, 1999 WCNC 1999 IEEE 0-7803-5668-3

6:  ATP 6-02.603 TECHNIQUES FOR WARFIGHTER INFORMATION NETWORK-TACTICAL, FEB 2016 http://www.apd.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/ATP.aspx

KEYWORDS: VHF Radio, UHF Radio, L-Band Radio, Radiolocation, Electronic Warfare, Electronic Protect, Digital RF, Signal Processing, WIN-T, WNW, SRW, SINCGARS 

Richard Greel 

(443) 395-8436 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a software utility to 1) rapidly integrate Optical and Radio Frequency biological effect codes into the Galaxy framework and 2) interface these biological effects codes with existing electromagnetic propagation software (such as Scaling for High Energy Laser and Relay Engagement (SHaRE) and Joint Radio Frequency Effectiveness Model (JREM)-simulates electromagnetic field strength from an emitter). The utility should also provide a means of indicating over-exposures relative to a pre-computed limit (safety standard limit, or specified dose limit) and output a summary of hazard probabilities. 

DESCRIPTION: Electromagnetic (EM) devices are used increasingly in society, with applications in communication, medicine, security, and defense, among other disciplines and technology areas. This has led to a great deal of research regarding the safety and potential health hazards of such devices. Within the Air Force Research Laboratory, researchers within the Optical Bioeffects Branch (711 HPW/RHDO) and the Radio Frequency Bioeffects Branch (711 HPW/RHDR) have created a series of modeling and simulation tools to address the health and safety of military specific electromagnetic devices. These software tools range from simple implementations of the pertinent safety standards, to dose-response models, to physics-level predictions of electromagnetic energy absorption and the resulting thermal effects. As examples of these software packages, library for Maximum Permissible Exposure (libMPE), a software library implementing the ANSI Z136.1 American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers, and Radio Frequency HAZard Analysis (RFHAZ), an end-user application that implements IEEE C95.1 Standard, are implementations of the Optical (ANSI Z136) and Radio Frequency (RF) (IEEE C95.1) standards, respectively. For optical wavelengths, library of Dose-Response (libDR), which implements experimental studies of cumulative probability distribution of damage to tissues from lasers, provides a generalized dose-response for the eyes and skin, while the Buffington, Thomas, Edwards, and Clark thermal model (BTEC), which simulates light propagation in tissues (including eye) and resultant thermal response and damage, and Scalable Effects Simulation Environment (SESE) provide 2D and 3D physics-level simulations of light transport, heat deposition and transfer, and thermal damage estimates. For RF analysis, a dose-response model does not currently exist, but 3D physics-level simulations are performed using C-Language Finite-Difference Time-Domain (CFDTD), which is a numerical method of simulating radiofrequency wave/field propagation according to Maxwell's equations, a three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain solver that is tailored for calculating energy absorption within voxelized anatomical models. Currently, these software tools are generally used in a serial fashion. That is, for an analyst to perform an end-to-end simulation of an EM device, he/she will typically need to translate the output of EM propagation software into a format that is suitable for these biological effects codes. To streamline this process, the Galaxy framework has been created, which links simulation packages together for end-to-end analyses and distributes simulation runs to high performance computing resources. A primary goal of this SBIR is to develop methodologies to link existing Government owned bioeffect software with EM propagation tools that currently reside within the Galaxy framework. These propagation tools include SHARE (for optical propagation) and JREM (for RF propagation). In order to efficiently link existing and future codes into Galaxy, a software approach should be created that examines a library’s command-line interface code or exposed functions to create a quick configuration utility. The utility should also provide a means of indicating over-exposures relative to a pre-computed limit (safety standard limit, or specified dose limit) and output a summary of hazard probabilities. A second goal of this SBIR is to mature the existing three-dimensional software tools that exist for both Optical and RF bioeffects analysis. For optical wavelengths, the SESE code is used to predict energy absorption and thermal effects in 3D constructs of humans. Currently, the code is limited to a few 3D constructs. To mature this capability, it is desirable to utilize posable human body models as inputs into SESE. Similarly, for RF frequencies, finite-difference approaches are currently implemented within software to calculate the distribution of electromagnetic energy absorption and heating within voxelized anatomical models. For both the Optical and RF 3D software packages, this SBIR topic seeks integration with the Galaxy framework as well as an approach to modify and/or randomize the posture of the 3D human body constructs in order to create distributions of biological dose and thermal results. Within this SBIR topic, government owned software and data may be shared with awardees for the purpose of integrating and testing these tools within the Galaxy environment. No other government furnished materials, equipment, or facilities will be provided as part of this SBIR topic. Biomedical scientists, health and medical physicists, and bioenvironmental engineers would all benefit from software that enabled end-to-end analysis of electromagnetic energy. 

PHASE I: Determine the software approach to be used, and develop prototype software that illustrates the effectiveness of the chosen method. The prototype software should focus on integrating existing software libraries into the Galaxy framework. Additionally, develop a software approach for enabling posing of existing 3D human body constructs for use with the SESE code. Finally, develop an approach for editing/randomizing the pose of these models to enable dose analysis for both optical and radio frequency analysis. 

PHASE II: Extend the Galaxy integration approach developed in Ph I to the complete suite of Optical and RF bioeffects codes, and finalize the software utility for efficiently linking these codes to EM propagation codes within Galaxy. Also, implement the software approach for posing 3D human body models for use with SESE, and integrate the model posing approach and SESE software package within the Galaxy framework. 

PHASE III: Military Application: Use by engineers and health physicists to study risks of accidental RF overexposures over a broad set of exposure conditions. Used by Air Force to predict potential of overexposure during engagement of novel directed energy systems. Commercial Application: Use by engineers and health physicists to study risks of accidental RF overexposure. Use in hyperthermia treatment applications. Use in human thermal comfort research. 

REFERENCES: 

1: V Singh, and D Silver. Interactive Volume Manipulation with Selective Rendering for Improved Visualization. IEEE Symposium on Volume Visualization and Graphics, 2004.

2:  T Uusitupa, I Laakso, S Ilvonen, and K Nikoskinen. SAR variation study from 300 to 5000 MHz for 15 voxel models including different postures. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2010, Vol. 55.

3:  P Crespo-Valero, M Christopoulou, M Zefferer, A Christ, P Achermann, K Kikita, and N Kuster. Novel Methodology to characterize electromagnetic exposure of the brain. Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2011, Vol. 56.

4:  J. Petillo et al., "Developments in parallelization and the user environment of the MICHELLE charged particle beam optics code," 2016 IEEE International Conference on Plasma Science (ICOPS), Banff, AB, 2016, pp. 1-1. doi: 10.1109/PLASMA.2016.7534264

KEYWORDS: Radio Frequency, Optical Wavelengths, Distributed Simulations, Electromagnetics, Physics Simulations, Finite-Difference Time-Domain, Thermal Modeling, Biological Effects 

CONTACT(S): 

Jason Payne 

(210) 539-7905 

jason.payne.14@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Weapons 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a tunable high voltage nanosecond electrical pulse generator that can deliver between 100 and 300kV to a 200 ohm load. 

DESCRIPTION: Research into nanosecond electrical pulses suggests potential applications in the medical and security industry. The majority of biological based research using nsEP pulses has been completed using <40 kV nanosecond pulses and very little is known regarding biological affects following high application of short duration high voltage electrical pulses. nsEPs are generally ultra-short electric pulses that have durations typically between 0.1 and 10000 nanoseconds, and amplitude in thousands of volts. Applications using high-powered nsEP range from instrument sterilization to in vivo treatment of superficial melanomas. Schoenbach et al. first applied nsEP to cells using a microscopic parallel plate setup and showed dramatic bioeffects, including nuclear granulation, calcium influx into cytoplasm (reported to be from internal stores), permeabilization of intracellular granules, cell apoptosis, and damage to the nuclear DNA. It is hypothesized that “nanopores” are formed within the plasma membrane, allowing for the influx of ions and water into the cell, but still restricting the influx of larger molecules like propidium iodide. Pakhomov et al. further verified this finding using patch clamp technique to measure the plasma membrane integrity following nsEP exposure. Low-intensity nsEP exposures have also generated action potentials (APs), leading to muscle contractions and neural stimulation. Jiang and Cooper demonstrated that a single 12-ns nsEP at 403 V/cm was capable of activating skin nociceptors using patch clamp technique. They were able to demonstrate this same effect at 100 pulses delivered at 4000 Hz with very low voltages (16.7 V/cm). Modeling work suggests that at higher voltages (100 kV/cm at 10 ns or 2 kV/cm at 600 ns) nsEPs can cause the inhibition of APs by forming a conductance block. Modeling work also suggests that a larger target requires a more extensive energy delivery to meet motor inhibition needs. Scientists, researchers, and medical support personnel require a portable, adjustable pulse generator with the capability of delivering the following requirements: - Adjustable high voltage: 100-300kV - Pulse width: 900-10000 nanoseconds - Rise time: 10 nanoseconds - Pulse repetition frequency: 0.1Hz to 0.003Hz - Load: 200 ohm - Size/weight: less than 50 cubic centimeters volume/less than 500 grams mass No government furnished materials, equipment, data, or facilities will be provided. 

PHASE I: In Phase I, a prototype design concept will be developed for use in a laboratory setting. The developed “breadboard” should meet basic requirements for repeated nanosecond electrical pulse generation. RESEARCH INVOLVING ANIMAL OR HUMAN SUBJECTS: No human or animal research will be performed by the SBIR company. 

PHASE II: The developed breadboard from Phase I will be implemented into a final design solution, a laboratory-use prototype developed, and optimized output validated. Based on the Phase I design parameters, construct and demonstrate a functional prototype of the device. The technical feasibility of the device should be validated through data rich samples that meet the outlined technical requirements listed in the description. A biologically relevant load for high voltage delivery should be used (such as an aqueous-electrolyte resistor). Specifically the prototype should address the general requirements listed above, as well as the method for electrical delivery control when transferring energy to the target. 

PHASE III: Use by bioeffects researchers, RF engineers, and medical support personnel to help characterize effects of short duration high voltage pulses in biological material. Transition the technology to field-able devices for use in military, medical industry, and commercial security applications. Phase III will transition the device, developed in Phase II, into an operationally acceptable prototype for use during non-lethal incapacitation, for use both in military and commercial applications. A device that can quickly inhibit motor movement for extended durations from a short pulse will enable more a more efficient force application. In addition, such technology can alleviate in-field challenges such as incapacitating multiple targets in a short window of time. It can also provide a safe application for both operator and target during extended duration operations. The translation of the technology can also be explored into the commercial sector for law enforcement applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Ledwig, P., M. Jirjis, J. Payne, B. Ibey, Nanosecond Electrical Pulse Bioeffects: Simulation of the Electric Field at the Spinal Cord in a Human Model, AFRL-RH-FS-TR-2015-0036, Sept 2015

2:  Payne, J., B. Ibey, N. Montgomery, R. Seaman, Nanosecond Electrical Pulse Bioeffects: Simulation of the Electric Field at the Spinal Cord, AFRL-RH-FS-TR-2014-0038, June 2014.

3:  Ibey BL, Mixon D, Payne JA, Bowman A, Sickendick, K, Wilmink G, Roach W, Pakhomov AG, "Plasma membrane permeabilization by trains of ultrashort electric pulses" Bioelectrochemistry, 79, 2010.

4:  Pakhomov AG, Bowman AM, Ibey BL, Andre FM, Pakhomova ON, Schoenbach, KH, "Lipid nanopores can form a stable, ion channel-like conduction pathway in cell membrane," Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 385(2), 2009

KEYWORDS: Pulse Generation, Generator, Nanosecond Pulsers, Pulsed Power Applications, High Voltage, Electrical Pulse Generation 

CONTACT(S): 

Michael Jirjis 

(210) 539-8035 

michael.jirjis.1@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Bio Medical 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a new class of small sensors and packaging for routine wear by aircrews capable of recording and storing the magnitude & duration of exposure to impact during an aircraft ejection event. The particular focus should be on sensing the dynamic human body response by recording the linear and rotational (angular) acceleration levels during an aircraft ejection event. The solution may either be standalone or be integrated with some form of aircrew garment (preferably in the head/neck region for example on the helmet, mask, visor, ear cups or some other equipment near the head) that will be worn by fixed wing pilots and should be able to withstand impact/acceleration levels observed between the egress event through the parachute opening shock phase of the ejection process. It is important to consider that any added weight or CG shifts added to the helmet should be minimized or implemented in a way to minimize forward CG additions. Additionally with focus on minimizing decoupling/transfer function from sensor to the head. 

DESCRIPTION: An increasingly important issue in personnel force protection is the ability to quantify injury causation resulting from aircraft ejection events. With the harsh environmental factors associated with an ejection event, it is neither feasible nor possible to test human subjects at these limits. Using rocket sled tests with instrumented manikins and lower G level laboratory human studies we can estimate what the occupant would experience during certain phases of ejection; however, collection of data during actual ejection events would make it possible to acquire unique information that would be very useful in verifying and improving the accuracy of models currently used to evaluate safety equipment in the ejection environments, in addition to providing a useful tool during mishap investigation for understanding potential causes for specific injuries. Data collected during these dangerous events could be useful in increasing the TR level of existing ejection seat technology. Additionally, another potentially useful application of such a data set could be for injury mishap investigation teams to acquire better understanding of the events that transpired prior to a dynamic event. Over time the acquisition of datasets during ejections would allow for revisions in current injury probability models using the acquired data from these events. The aircraft cockpit environment has restrictions which may influence the final system design including: sensor package weight, size, and mounting location in the cockpit or on the occupant. Therefore, the final sensor package must be a self-contained solution (i.e. integrated data collection, sensors, and power) with no reliance on the aircraft for power or activation and ideally not containing batteries that would need periodic replacement. The preferred powering solution would involve use of energy harvesting technologies capable of charging from the native environment. 

PHASE I: Conduct research leading to the development of very small, inexpensive, sensor package that physically captures the magnitude and total energy of acceleration events during an ejection sequence. Results must demonstrate that practical components are feasible, and that such components would have wide application (hence low price). The resulting design should provide linear (X, Y, Z) and angular measurements (rate, and/or acceleration) of biodynamic motion during the egress event covering the time from ejection system initiation through the parachute opening shock phase of the ejection procedure ideally with a sample rate greater than 200 Hz minimum (ideally >1kHz). 

PHASE II: Consists of developing, testing and validation of a prototype system of sensors acquiring biodynamic response data as described in Phase I, and demonstration of its use in both a laboratory and a rocket sled ejection environment (provided by the government). 

PHASE III: Consists of final system validation and undergoing the air-worthiness approval process. This will involve interfacing sensors with actual aircrew on-board and environmental testing as specified by Mil-Std. This phase may also consist of additional rocket-sled testing for final validation and performance testing. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Knox, Ted, Validation of Earplug Accelerometers as a Means of Measuring Head Motion. SAE Paper 2004-01-3538, Proceedings of the SAE Motorsports Conference and Exhibition (P-392). Nov. 30 – Dec2, 2004, Dearborn, MI

2:  Lewis "Survivability and injuries from use of rocket assisted ejection seats: analysis of 232 cases." Aviat Space Environ Med. 2006 Sep

3: 77(9):936-43.

KEYWORDS: Force Protection, Warfighter, Battlefield Stressors, Whole Body Or Component Injury Criteria, Epidemiology Of Injury, Ejection Criteria, And Acceleration Sensors 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Casey Pirnstill 

(937) 255-9331 

casey.pirnstill@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop manufacturable high-performance superconducting sources and receivers operating beyond 1 THz. Electronics operating in the millimeter wave band (THz) are important for several defense applications such as, imaging, detection, RADAR, spectroscopy, and wide bandwidth high-data-throughput communications. Development of THz components have proven difficult to develop especially at frequencies between 1 and 10 THz known as the “THz gap”. Power generation and receiver technologies are very inefficient and large scale production of high performance devices in this range is currently unfeasible. To control and manipulate radiation in this portion of the RF spectrum, especially at the higher end, new electronic devices must be developed. 

DESCRIPTION: Superconducting electronics based on Josephson junctions provide the most precise frequency control and detection accuracy over any other technology via the AC Josephson effect. Josephson junctions are precise to the quantum level and are used by NIST to define the volt. Unfortunately easy to process metallic superconductor Josephson junctions are limited to a maximum frequency of about 900 GHz. This is a fundamental limit determined by the superconducting energy gap. (The energy gap ofniobium is around 3mV). In contrast, ceramic high temperature superconductors (HTS) have energy gaps greater than 40 mV which may allow for frequencies above 10 THz [1]. This would provide a solution that can cover the entire THz gap! 

PHASE I: Task 1. From measurements of single direct write Josephson junction devices, use electrical data to design and simulate a planar voltage controlled oscillator HTS terahertz source based on arrays of Josephson junctions. Task 2. Design and simulate a THz receiver based on the AC Josephson effect. Task 3. Investigate low cost chip packaging solutions to integrate components into an imaging system. 

PHASE II: Task 1. Develop manufacturing process for Josephson array THz sources and detector chips. Task 2. Package oscillators and detectors for commercial electronic applications. Task 3. Construct and demonstrate a compact THz imaging system. 

PHASE III: Deliver components to industry for incorporation into commercial THz systems. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Welp et al. "Superconducting Emitters of THz radiation" Nature Photonics 7.9 (2013). 702-710.

2:  Ahn et al. "Terahertz Emission and Detection Both Based on highTcsuperconductors: Toward an Integrated Receiver", Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 092601(2013)

3:  doi:10.1063/1.4794072

4:  Tsuimoto et al., "Terahertz imaging system using highTcsuperconductingoscillation devices", Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 092601 (2013), doi: 10.1063/1.4794072

5:  Cybart et al. "Nano Josephson Superconducting Tunnel Junctions in YBa2Cu3O7-delta, Directly Patterned with a Focused Helium Ion Beam." Nature Nanotechnology 10.7 (2015): 598-602.

KEYWORDS: THz Sources, THz Radiation, Focused Helium Ion Beam, Josephson Junction Arrays, HTS Superconductors 

CONTACT(S): 

Harold Weinstock 

(703) 696-8572 

harold.weinstock@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Test hardware and testing methodologies for the evaluation of the effects of sustained vibration and high temperature environments on polymer bonded composite materials 

DESCRIPTION: Polymer bonded composite materials employed in future munitions are expected to endure harsh environments of intense wide-frequency vibration combined with heightened temperatures for long durations (30-60 minutes or more). The Air Force is interested in methods to evaluate the degree of degradation and structural/mechanical changes of polymer bonded composite materials in response to such environments. Samples of suitable composite materials should be insulted with a controlled wide-frequency vibration profile while simultaneously subjected to a controlled temperature environment. The composite material sample should also be monitored via various techniques (infrared thermography, laser Doppler vibrometry, vibration spectrum analysis, high-speed/post-test microscopy, etc.) to evaluate the degradation and internal heat generation of the sample due to the combined effects of the vibration and high temperature environment. 

PHASE I: Design appropriate experimental hardware and testing methodology to hold small (few gram to 2 kg) test samples of polymer bonded composite materials under controlled vibration profiles with frequencies up to 40 kHz and accelerations up to 4 g. During testing the sample should be contained in a temperature controlled enclosure capable of maintaining the air temperature at settings between a minimum of -60ºC and a maximum of 300ºC. Diagnostic techniques such as infrared thermography, laser Doppler vibrometry, vibration spectrum analysis, and microscopy shall be utilized to characterize the degree of degradation of the composite materials under the applied conditions. Efforts should be focused to explore the specific mechanisms of degradation and internal heat generation of the materials due to the combined vibration and thermal conditions (e.g. particle-particle friction, thermal degradation of polymers, viscoelastic heat generation, etc.). 

PHASE II: Develop and implement the experimental designs and methods from Phase I. Extend capabilities of the experimental design to be suitable for large test pieces (up to 10 kg and from 10 kg to 1000 kg, or appropriate intermediate ranges) of energetic composite materials. 

PHASE III: This technology is applicable to the evaluation of the safety and performance of future munitions under harsh vibration and thermal environments, which is of interest to the Air Force and DoD. Commercial interests may include developed tools and techniques central to the area of non-destructive evaluation for monitoring the health of civil and aviation structures and may extend to the evaluation of damage in transported materials, as well as for materials in other high-stress industrial environments. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Woods DC, Miller JK, Rhoads JF. On the Thermomechanical Response of HTPB-Based Composite Beams Under Near-Resonant Excitation. ASME. J. Vib. Acoust. 2015

2:  137(5):054502-054502-5

3:  G. Busse. Nondestructive Evaluation of Polymer Materials. NDT & E Int. 1994

4:  27 (5):253262

KEYWORDS: Vibration, Munitions, Polymers, Thermal Degradation, Composite Materials, Non-destructive Evaluation, Thermography 

CONTACT(S): 

Martin J Schmidt (AFOSR/RTA1) 

(703) 588-8436 

martin.schmidt@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop integrated photonic technologies that can enable miniaturization, integration, and military environment operation of high-performance, laser based inertial measurement devices requiring many active and passive optical and electronic components. 

DESCRIPTION: For many applications relevant to the DOD, NASA and commercial sectors, there is a need to develop chip-scale inertial measurement systems (IMS) with capabilities far beyond the current state of the art. For the Air Force, these applications range from unmanned air systems (UAS), micro-air-vehicles (MAVS), miniature precision guided weapons, compact high performance missile and air launched interceptors, and advanced laser beam pointing/steering systems. For these platforms, it is essential to have an IMS that has robust environmental characteristics and extreme sensitivity. Navigation, sensor direction, and operation either in a GPS jammed environment, terrain masking scenarios, or other severe environments are of significant interest to the Air Force. An IMS consists of three gyroscopes and three accelerometers. Even the best IMS that is currently available is not accurate enough for some demanding applications. Furthermore, these systems are too large for many platforms. In recent years, significant progress has been made in developing new technologies that can potentially yield performance parameters that would meet the most stringent requirements. These include, for example, atomic interferometers and superluminal ring lasers. However, these systems are highly complex, requiring many active and passive optical and electronic components. In order to achieve the degree of miniaturization necessary for small platforms, it is therefore necessary to develop integrated photonic technologies that would enable chip-scale implementations of inertial measurement systems based on such technologies. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the area of silicon photonics. The first wave of commercial products in this area are aimed at the telecommunications and data communications spaces, but applications in sensing, analog data processing, coherent systems, laser ranging, and many other areas are rapidly developing. Unfortunately, the emerging technologies suitable for ultra-precise inertial measurement systems are typically based on alkali atoms, such as Cs and Rb. The relevant wavelengths for these alkali atoms, namely 852 nm and 894 nm for Cs and 780 nm and 795 nm for Rb, are not well suited for silicon photonics. As such, there is a need for developing integrated photonic technologies at these wavelengths, with the capability to realize multiple narrow-band and high power lasers and high quantum efficiency photodetectors, as well as ultra-low loss high frequency modulators and passive waveguides on the same chip. In addition, technologies for on-chip and high-fidelity off-set phase locking of diode lasers, implementation of high extinction and low-loss optical isolators, as well as miniature vapor cells with high quality windows need to be developed. The chip-scale IMS should be able to withstand missile and tactical fighter aircraft temperature, acceleration, and vibration environments and not be sensitive to electro-magnetic interference (EMI). While the focus of the development of the integrated photonic technology will be on components necessary for realizing inertial measurement systems based on Cs or Rb atoms, these technologies are also expected to be of significant interest in other areas of precision metrology. For examples, some of the best atomic clocks and magnetometers often make use of these alkali atoms, employing optical excitations at these wavelengths. The chip-scale technology to be developed under this project would also prove useful in miniaturization of these devices. 

PHASE I: Develop a conceptual design of an integrated photonic technology based chip that would be suitable for realizing a chip-scale inertial measurement system, meeting the metrics outlined above, for Cs or Rb. Identify performance parameters and potential challenges for realizing such a system, and develop a plan for addressing these challenges. 

PHASE II: Fabricate and test a chip-scale system, based on the design developed in Phase I, and demonstrate measurement of rotation and acceleration in one axis. Carry out performance studies to identify design modifications necessary for improving performance. Implement the design modifications, realize copies of the system, and develop an integrated electronic control system, to demonstrate simultaneous measurement of rotation and acceleration along three orthogonal axes. 

PHASE III: Military applications include unmanned air systems (UAS), micro-air-vehicles (MAVS), miniature precision guided weapons, compact high performance missile and air launched interceptors, and advanced laser beam pointing/steering systems. Commercial applications include guidance of airplanes under GPS denied conditions and navigation in uncharted terrains. 

REFERENCES: 

1: L. Zimmermann, G. B. Preve, T. Tekin, T. Rosin, and K. Landles, "Packaging and Assembly for Integrated Photonics-A Review of the ePIXpack Photonics Packaging Platform," IEEE J. Sel. Quant., 17, 645-651, (2011).

2:  M. Kasevich, "Precision Navigation Sensors based on AtomInterferometry," https://web.stanford.edu/group/scpnt/pnt/PNT12/2012_presentation_files/07-Kasevich_presentation.pdf

3:  H.N. Yum, M. Salit, J. Yablon, K. Salit, Y. Wang, and M.S. Shahriar, "Superluminalring laser for hypersensitive sensing," Optics Express, Vol. 18, Issue 17, pp. 1765817665(2010).

4:  J. Yablon, Z. Zhou, M. Zhou, Y. Wang, S. Tseng, and M.S. Shahriar, "Theoretical modeling and experimental demonstration of Raman probe induced spectral dip for realizing a superluminal laser," Optics Express, Vol. 24, No. 24, 27446 (2016).

KEYWORDS: Optical Gyroscope, Rotation Sensitivity, Fast Light, Hypersensitive Sensing, Superluminal Ring Laser, Integrated Photonics, Precision Navigation, Semiconductor Lasers, Photo-detectors, Atomic Interferometers, Laser, Inertial Measurement Devices 

CONTACT(S): 

Gernot Pomrenke 

(703) 696-8426 

gernot.pomrenke@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: To research and develop advance methods to dissect missile motors for obtaining fleet aging and surveillance data. 

DESCRIPTION: The multiple aspects of rocket motors are tested to obtaining fleet aging and surveillance data. This testing is key in monitoring the health of the rocket motor fleet. To obtain the testing samples rocket motors are cut into section ranging from 10 – 110 pounds. These sections are sent to the Propellant Lab at Hill AFB for test & analysis of propellant physical & chemical properties as well as propellant/liner bond strength. The cutting of the motor cases is an inherently dangerous process, if the propellant were to ignite the surrounding facility could be destroyed. The Motor Dissect Facility (MDF) currently uses a saw to cut missile cases – a carbide slitting blade for composite cases and a slotting blade for cutting steel and titanium cases. This effort is to Research and Develop (R&D) new technologies that shall modernize the cutting and dissection of missile motors at the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) MDF, prevent any degradation of the sample quality for age testing of missile propellant, increase safety to dissect personnel and facility, decrease environment burden, decrease processing time etc. Among known areas of interest are fully automating cutting capabilities, measuring propellant temperature at the point of saw impingement in the current configuration (real time knowledge of temperature vs ignition point), decrease process time while maintaining and/or increasing safety and increase in heat dissipation during cutting operations without harming sample integrity. The contractor shall perform a safety survey and analysis of the UTTR solid rocket MDF. From this safety and technology survey the contractor shall determine where opportunities exist in the MDF and the current dissect process. The contractor shall identify where improvements to the MDF can be made as well as where new technologies need to be researched and developed. The contractor shall also identify the requirements for the development of new technologies. The contractor shall perform a preliminary Business Case Analysis (BCA) to include but not limited to possible Return-On-Investment (ROI), increase in safety, decrease in environmental burden, estimates on R&D for new technologies etc. The Government will review identified opportunities and their requirements and accept or reject them. For Government accepted opportunities and requirements proof-of-concept prototype(s) for new technologies shall be researched and developed. Prototypes shall be refined and Validation and Verification (Val/Ver) testing shall be completed per identified requirements. Test plans for qualification to the Government Requirements will be developed. Test plans will be reviewed, commented on by the Government. If accepted the test plans shall be followed for qualification of the technologies. 

PHASE I: Perform survey and develop solutions that meets above requirements - conduct preliminary BCA to determine implementation costs, including a ROI calculation that compares anticipated savings to expected costs - increase in safety. Proof-of-concept prototype(s) may be developed to demonstrate conformance to the requirements. 

PHASE II: Proof-of-concept prototype(s) shall be developed/refined to installation-ready article and shall undergo testing to verify and validate compliance to requirements. This process may require multiple iterations before a final design(s) is selected. Refine BCA/ROI based on the final design(s). 

PHASE III: Verify/Validate new technologies to requirements. If the new technologies qualify to requirements then transition and implement the developed technology into MDF processes. 

REFERENCES: 

1: MIL-STD-882

2:  2. TO 35D13-2-7-1

KEYWORDS: Propellant, Rocket Motors, Dissect, Cutting Technology 

CONTACT(S): 

Sean Wilson 

(801) 777-1739 

sean.wilson.16@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Accurately determine over a wide range of flow rates (turndown ratio) the mass flow of steam being produced & consumed at the point of use. The data will focus energy reduction efforts, quantify results & leading to cost savings for the steam system. 

DESCRIPTION: Steam is an energy-transport medium that is used for distributing heat in a wide range of applications. Steam applications such as chemical processing and industrial-scale space heating makes steam metering generalization difficult. The effective use of flowmeters can lead to cost savings for most steam distribution systems. Steam metering personnel face many hazards. Work is performed in varying weather, dirty conditions, steam systems are usually located in harsh, hot, humid and corrosive environments. Steam systems operate around 300 – 500 degree Fahrenheit temperatures at high pressure, exposing personnel to severe burn hazards. The primary source of metering error in steam systems is the use of meters that do not account for variation in density due to fluctuating steam pressure and temperature. Wetness is another source of error while metering saturated steam systems. Nearly all steam meters are flowmeters developed for gas applications with adaptations for high pressures and temperatures. They are used to measure the mass flow of dry steam instead of saturated steam present in most steam systems. In addition to high temperature and pressure conditions, steam meters should ideally cope with highly variable flows and condensate. Turndown rates for existing steam meters range from 4:1 to 100:1 depending upon the flow meter technology. Ideally, meter turndown rates for building HVAC and industrial plant process heating can account for both idling low flow and for full load conditions. Current technology does not provide for repeatable, highly accurate steam meters across a wide range of flow rates. This disparity leads to incorrect analysis of steam energy conservation measures, combined steam heat and power cost/benefit, facility energy usage, and point-of-use billing. Develop improved steam meters that are accurate across a wide range of steam flow rates, efficient to maintain, and minimally impede the flow. Ideal meters would have a turndown rate of 100:1 across all flow rates, accuracy +/- 0.01%, smooth bore, non-obtrusive flow path, and capable of withstanding internal temperatures of 200ᵒF to 400ᵒF. An accurate and cost effective steam metering solution would impact AF, DOD and commercial entities in accessing meaningful data to make informed energy usage decisions. 

PHASE I: Develop a solution that meets above requirements and conduct preliminary business case analysis (BCA) to determine implementation costs, including a return-on-investment (ROI) calculation that compares anticipated savings to expected costs. Proof-of-concept prototype(s) shall be developed to demonstrate conformance to the requirements. 

PHASE II: Initiate and complete the test plan developed in Phase I. Proof-of-concept prototype(s) shall be refined to installation-ready article and shall undergo testing to verify and validate all requirements. This process may require multiple iterations before a final design is selected. Refine BCA/ROI based on the final design. 

PHASE III: If developed technology is cost effective, passes verification / validation and qualification testing, then it shall proceed to transitioning and implementation technology. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Instrumentation Engineers Handbook, RCC 1121-07, December 2007

2:  The World Market for Steam Flow Measurement, 2nd Edition. 2008, Flow Research, Inc.

3:  A Review of Steam Flowmetering Technology, October 2004, Report Number 2004/69, National Measurement Directorate, London

KEYWORDS: Steam, Flow Meter, Energy Saving 

CONTACT(S): 

Nick King 

(801) 777-5944 

nickolas.king@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: This topic is to automate continuous mapping of ICBM silo steel liner wall thickness measurements. These measurements will be used to determine where corrosion has damaged the steel wall, dictating repairs. 

DESCRIPTION: The interior walls of ICBM silos are lined with mild steel plate. The steel thickness varies depending on location. The NDI equipment shall be operated from the inside of the area. Per inspection work cards, when an active water leak or bulge in the metal due to corrosion from the back side occurs, a repair to the steel plate is required. Current state of the art for measuring the wall thickness of the ICBM silos is to use hand held ultrasound thickness probes. Current technology takes 2 technicians 2 – 3 hours to cover an area of about 2 Sq. Ft. The thickness measurements may be performed while energetic materials or Electromagnetic Impulse (EMI) sensitive equipment is present. Hence, all of the measurement equipment shall meet 21M-LGM30G-12 TO specifications. The automated mapping thickness measurement device shall be able to measure on flat or curved wall surfaces (minimum radius 40”) which may be vertical and/or overhead, with obstructing ladders, piping, and geometric changes. The device shall require no human aid to stay in place or to move across the wall surface (operators would set up and initiate the device’s operation and return after the wall area thickness measurement mapping is completed). The shape of the areas requiring wall thickness measurements will vary (i.e., shapes may be in the form of squares, rectangles, oblongs, circles, and ovals) and area sizes may range from 10 square feet to 10,000 square feet. The areas where wall thickness measurements are obtained may have coatings applied to its surface (e.g. cadmium, primer, and/or paint with a thickness up to 0.030”). The device shall not damage walls in any way and shall meet energetic material and EMI safety requirements (21M-LGM30G-12 TO Specifications). The device’s operation shall not require operators to modify the walls, such as by boring fastener attachment holes or by removing paint. The device shall detect wall thickness within +/-0.025”. The data from the wall thickness measurements shall be stored in such a manner that a digital representation of the thickness of the wall area can be accessed in the future. 

PHASE I: Develop a solution that meets above requirements and conduct preliminary business case analysis (BCA) to determine implementation costs, including a return-on-investment (ROI) calculation that compares anticipated savings to expected costs. Proof-of-concept prototype(s) shall be developed to demonstrate conformance to the requirements. 

PHASE II: Proof-of-concept prototype(s) shall be refined to installation-ready article and shall undergo testing to verify and validate all requirements. This process may require multiple iterations before a final design is selected. Refine BCA/ROI based on the final design. 

PHASE III: If cost effective, transition and implement the verified and validated technology. 

REFERENCES: 

1: 21M-LGM30G-12 TO

2:  Master Change Log (MCL) 21-SM80-1440, Repair Water Leaks, Launch Facility

KEYWORDS: NDI, Wall Thickness, Missile Silos 

CONTACT(S): 

Mark Forbes 

(801) 586-5928 

mark.forbes@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Identify & qualify hydrogen embrittlement test method which is as good as or better in terms of defining acceptable residual hydrogen levels in electroplated high strength steels as the current ASTM F519 200 hr tensile test method in less than 30 hrs. 

DESCRIPTION: The current method for identifying the existence of unacceptable levels of hydrogen in high strength steels is to utilize a 200 hour sustained load tensile test per the ASTM F519 test standard. This test is utilized to determine if a steel experiencing an electroplating operation or other manufacturing or overhaul process has adequately been relieved of hydrogen to an acceptably low concentration. The current accepted process is time consuming and cumbersome. Often parts are available for shipping or are shipped before test results are available. This 200 hour ASTM F 519 sustained load testing requirement not only creates potential cost increases due to increased flow times, it also creates potential increased safety risk due to parts being misplaced once they enter the field or supply system. This SBIR shall identify and qualify a tensile test method which is as good as or better in terms of defining acceptable residual hydrogen levels as the current ASTM F519 200 hr tensile test method. The method shall provide quicker test results and may mimic incremental step load methods existing in ASTM F 1940 and ASTM F 1624. 

PHASE I: Develop a solution that meets above requirements and conduct preliminary business case analysis (BCA) to determine implementation costs, including a return-on-investment (ROI) calculation that compares anticipated savings to expected costs. Proof-of-concept prototype(s) shall be developed to demonstrate conformance to the requirements. 

PHASE II: Initiate and complete the test plan developed in Phase I. Proof-of-concept prototype(s) shall be refined to installation-ready article and shall undergo testing to verify and validate all requirements. This process may require multiple iterations before a final design is selected. Refine BCA/ROI based on the final design. 

PHASE III: If cost effective, qualify, transition and implement the test procedure in the production environment at the Hill Air Force Base Plating facility with associated recommended technical order changes. 

REFERENCES: 

1: ASTM F 519

2:  ASTM F 1940

3:  ASTM F 1624

4:  MIL-STD-860

KEYWORDS: Hydrogen Embrittlement, Electroplating, High Strength Steels 

CONTACT(S): 

Chad Hogan 

(801) 777-5739 

chad.hogan@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a capability to separate Dynalene HC-40 and Ethylene glycol/water mixture while retaining at least 90% of the original concentration of the corrosion inhibitors from the ethylene glycol in the process. 

DESCRIPTION: The goal is to develop a system capable of separating the Dynalene HC-40 and ethylene glycol while retaining at least 90% of the original concentration of the corrosion inhibitors in the ethylene glycol. The fluids Dynalene HC-40 and ethylene glycol/water are used as brines for industrial refrigeration processes. The two brines are contained in a shell and tube heat exchanger with the Dynalene HC-40 on the tube side and the ethylene/glycol water mixture on the shell side. The ethylene glycol is normally only exposed to air and the Dynalene HC-40 is normally only exposed to nitrogen and becomes corrosive when in contact with air. Under normal circumstances the ethylene glycol and Dynalene HC-40 are kept separate. However in the large Air Force test facilities, there are conditions under which portions of the two fluids become mixed and must be separated. Information from the vendor of Dynalene HC-40 indicates an ethylene glycol mixture with a Dynalene concentration as little as 5% by weight can make the mixture become corrosive when exposed to air. Furthermore, the ethylene glycol system includes a glycol concentrator that removes water from solution. When Dynalene HC-40 enters the concentrator, a portion of the Dynalene HC-40 is left on the heat transfer surfaces of the concentrator decreasing the effectiveness of the concentrator. Thus, a capability is needed to extract on average one gallon per hour of Dynalene HC-40 from a 14,000 gallon ethylene glycol/water solution originally containing 5% Dynalene HC-40 by weight. The final Dynalene concentration in the ethylene/glycol water mixture needs to be less than 1% by weight. The temperature of the ethylene/glycol Dynalene HC-40 solution can vary widely, ranging from -24 °F to 90 °F. The ethylene glycol is manufactured by KOST USA under the product name Kostchill HD 100 and contains a borate/nitrite type corrosion inhibitor package. The Dynalene HC-40 is manufactured by Dynalene Inc. and contains a proprietary inhibitor package. At least 90% of the original concentration of the borate/nitrite corrosion inhibitor in the ethylene glycol must be present after the separation process. The retention of the Dynalene HC-40 is not a requirement for this effort. After separation, the ethylene glycol needs to be returned to an active ethylene glycol system and the Dynalene HC-40 discharged to a proper container for storage and disposal. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of separating the Dynalene HC-40 and ethylene glycol/water mixture with the separated ethylene glycol retaining at least 90% of the original concentration of the borate/nitrite type corrosion inhibitor. Establish and demonstrate a small scale process capable of separating the Dynalene HC-40 and ethylene glycol/water mixture resulting in a final Dynalene concentration in the ethylene/glycol water mixture of less than 0.5% by weight. 

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a prototype system capable of extracting on average one gallon per hour of Dynalene HC-40 from an ethylene glycol/water solution containing 5% Dynalene HC-40 by weight. The final Dynalene concentration in the ethylene/glycol water mixture should be less than 1% by weight. The final ethylene glycol product needs to retain at least 90% of the original concentration of the borate/nitrite type corrosion inhibitor. 

PHASE III: The proposed process would be applicable to military or commercial facilities using large quantities of ethylene glycol to reduce the need to purchase new ethylene glycol each time it becomes contaminated with a corrosive substance such as Dynalene HC-40. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Dynalene HC Heat Transfer Fluid Engineering Guide," https://www.dynalene.com/v/vspfiles/templates/210/datasheets/Dynalene_HC_Engineering_guide.pdf

2:  "Kostchill HD 100 Product Data Sheet," https://www.kostusa.com/page/safety-data-sheets

KEYWORDS: Brine, Separation, Corrosion 

CONTACT(S): 

Jimmy Steele 

(931) 454-3739 

jimmy.steele.5@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a capability to measure volume loss on test articles traveling at speeds ranging from 5,000 to 18,000 ft/s. 

DESCRIPTION: Technologies are needed for measuring the volume loss due to erosion or ablation of test articles traveling at speeds from 5,000 to 18,000 ft/s. For example, volume loss could be determined from surface geometry measurements at two stations along the flight path. Obtaining ablation and/or erosion data during high speed material testing that has a moving test article is a critical for the development of hypersonic weapon systems. High speed ballistic ranges and sled facilities have been used extensively to perform erosion and ablation studies on the performance of re-entry vehicle (RV) materials. Historic methods of measuring ablation/erosion at discrete test stations used high speed photography systems located along the test sample flight path. Cameras opposed to the flight line were used at several locations to obtain images of the ablated or eroded test sample. Significant effort was required to calculate the geometry loss using these images, and uncertainty was high. For facilities such as the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) Range G (light gas gun) and the Holloman High Speed Test Track, methods were developed to recover test samples in order to overcome these difficulties and improve understanding of material response. Because these facilities have long test lengths (1,000 ft and 10,000 ft, respectively), the ability to understand non-linear effects through the use of multiple instrumented stations is still limited by the photographic measurement techniques. Recent advances in laser scanning, holography, and photogrammetry technologies should enable more accurate methods for obtaining geometry measurements of test samples. Laboratory investigations of holography systems show the capability of point measurement resolution below 3 micrometers (0.0012”) and potential for hypersonic applications. Innovative concepts using these or other technologies are sought for measuring three dimensional changes in geometry with a spatial resolution on the order of 0.001” for each dimension. Test samples in the ballistic range can reach surface temperatures greater than 2500 °F. Analysis software should perform volume comparisons to determine the volume loss on the surface and output three dimensional models of the test sample surface for comparison with computer modeling and simulation results. Expectations for Phase I include a feasibility demonstration of scanning the surface of cylindrical and conical shaped objects up to 1” in diameter x 1” in length. The object should be moving at velocities greater than 2,000 ft/s, possibly a projectile fired from a rifle. The spatial resolution of the scanned object should be demonstrated in a laboratory using an objective surface of less than 0.005”. Phase II should provide two fully operation prototype systems for measurements at two separate measurement stations along the path of the test article. The prototype systems should be capable of scanning the test articles used with the Range G 3.3” launcher at a threshold spatial resolution of 0.001” for each dimension, and should include a software for processing of the data obtained between the two stations so that comparisons of test sample erosion and ablation can be provided after the test The prototype system should be demonstrated in an environment similar to that of AEDC Range G that uses a facility guided 3.3” diameter track and recovery system. The demonstration/validation test article should be similar to an AEDC legacy RV nose-tip model containing a sample up to 3” in diameter with a length under 2”. The test article should be recovered and compared to measurements made using the prototype system. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of scanning cylindrically shaped objects up to 1” in diameter at spatial resolutions on the order of 0.001” (for each spatial dimension) at a velocity greater than 2,000 ft/s. 

PHASE II: Develop two prototype systems capable of measuring the shape of test objects in a large ballistic range at a 0.001” spatial resolution per dimension and velocities ranging from 5,000 to 18,000 ft/sec. 

PHASE III: Develop a portable system than can be easily installed at AEDC Range G or the Holloman sled track. Test article size should be increased to objects above 8” in diameter and over 8” long with the same .001” per dimension measurement resolution. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Development of an Aeroballistic Range Capability for Testing Re-Entry Materials, Journal of Spacecraft, Vol 12, May 1975

2:  Boundary-Layer Transition on Large-Scale CMT Graphite Nosetips at Reentry Conditions, AEDC-TR-79-45

3:  Development of a high-speed ballistic holography camera for field experiments, SPIE Vol. 5210

4:  A Novel Holographic Technique to Record Front-Surface Detail from a High Velocity Target, NASA SP-299

5:  AEDC-TR-77-98 - AEROBALLISTIC RANGE/TRACK PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTRUMENTATION DEVELOPMENT, available from DTIC with no login credentials required (added on 12/15/17).

KEYWORDS: Laser Scanner, Holography, Photogrammetry, High Speed, Erosion, Ballistic Range, Sled, Holloman, AEDC Range G 

CONTACT(S): 

Marshall Polk 

(931) 454-5965 

edward.polk.1@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Development of small balance technologies having the capability for measuring forces and moments on extremely small wind tunnel test models. 

DESCRIPTION: The size of models tested in the AEDC 16-ft wind tunnels, particularly models of stores used in Captive Trajectory System (CTS) testing, can be unusually small for large vehicles due to the small scales needed for the parent vehicle to fit within the wind tunnel. These small models cannot be tested using traditional force and moment balances since the size of the supporting stings can be much larger than the models, making the small forces upon the models to fall within the noise measured by the balance. A small six degree of freedom (DOF) force and moment balance system is needed to enable the forces and moments on wind tunnel models whose characteristic outer dimension is down on the order of .5 inches or smaller. This implies the balance itself needs to by .2 inches in diameter or smaller. Time resolved measurements up to frequencies of 2000 Hz are desirable. This technology will be used in wind tunnel testing with flow fields ranging in Mach number from 0.1 to 2.5, altitude pressures from -1,000 to 100,000 ft, and temperatures ranging from -50 to 140 °F. The approach may be a traditional sting with extremely small components, but other concepts such as a tethered system or holding of the store with a magnetic field will be considered. The hardware material must be sufficiently strong to withstand the aerodynamic forces created by the facility and be tolerant to the temperature, which can be extremely cold due to the expansion of the flow before the test section. 

PHASE I: Develop a conceptual design for a small balance/force and moment measurement capability and a development plan for a prototype system and demonstration. 

PHASE II: Develop a prototype system and demonstrate the capability for measuring the force and moments in a relevant environment. 

PHASE III: The prototype system should be standardized with components that can easily be procured. Any software/data reduction capabilities needed with the system will be refined to integrate with facility test measurement data systems. 

REFERENCES: 

1: G. BRIDEL and H. THOMANN. "Wind-tunnel balance based on piezoelectric quartz force transducers", Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 17, No. 5 (1980), pp. 374-376. http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/3.44662

2:  R. L. BLACK. "High-speed store separation - Correlation between wind-tunnel and flight-test data." Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 6, No. 1 (1969), pp. 42-45. http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/3.43999

3:  Frank Steinle, Jr., "Modeling of anelastic effects in calibration of a six-component wind tunnel balance", AIAA-2000-0105, 38th Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. http://dx.doi.org/10.2514/6.2000-150

KEYWORDS: Balance, Flight Vehicles, Wind Tunnel, Force Measurement 

CONTACT(S): 

Joseph Wehrmeyer 

(931) 454-4345 

Joseph.wehrmeyer.1@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a method to isolate signal transfer between the fluid and structure in a hydrodynamic ram (HRAM) impact event. 

DESCRIPTION: Aircraft fuel tanks are intrinsically vulnerable to ballistic threats due to their large capacity and location. These ballistic threats have the possibility of leading to catastrophic structural failure by creating an internal damage mode classified as HRAM; this categorizes the event of pressure shocks that have potential to inflict long-lasting overpressures. Recent methods have been explored to understand the effects of HRAM on fuel tank structures; however, these methods were unable to isolate the fluid wave from structural wave during testing. The presence of the structural wave affected test results, producing inconsistent testing conditions and inadequate data collection. This effort will identify a robust method for isolating wave propagation to the fluid, and/or establishing a significant propagation delay in the surrounding structure. The solution must be robust enough to withstand numerous HRAM impact events. Improvements are necessary to collect more accurate HRAM data feeding modeling and simulation of structural skin/joint/spar failures. 

PHASE I: Analyze the interaction between fluid and metallic structure, specifically skin, joints, and spars, subjected to high pressure impulses from fluids. Develop a robust methodology to isolate, or delay, the wave propagation from the RAMGUN metallic structure to the fluid and, subsequently, the “target” that influences test results. Solutions should be robust enough to withstand numerous HRAM impact events; pressure produced would not exceed 34MPa (5kpsi). 

PHASE II: Implement Phase I methodology to the RAMGUN and surrogate aircraft fuel tanks. The solutions need to demonstrate the ability to produce consistent results as well as reduce the impact of the structural wave propagation on the testing material. Proposed solutions should not interfere or dampen the water column wave propagation and the results that it produces on the test specimen. 

PHASE III: Military Applications: Advancement will provide means to measure existing aircraft fuel tank structural strength against HRAM threats. Furthermore, the methodology improves confident levels in assessing military aircraft vulnerabilities with upgraded research integrated into platform survivability modeling and simulation. Solutions/findings would also potentially have applicability to Navy vessel structural integrity studies. Commercial Applications: Solutions will allow commercial airliners opportunity to conduct studies on aircraft skin, joint, and spar strength to dynamic HRAM pressures and impulses versus static testing. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Czarnecki, Greg. "Assessment of Fuel System Failure Effects – Skin-Spar Joint Resistance to Hydrodynamic Ram." (2016).

2:  Czarnecki, G.J., "Evaluation of Skin-spar Joint Resistance to Hydrodynamic Ram"

3:  Report Numbers: DTIC ADA464155, AFRL-WS-WP-TR-2007-9002, Report Date 2006-03-01

4:  3. Kane, David, "Composites Affordability Initiative-Phase 2 Pervasive Technology Task 5.1-Methods and Performance Requirements", Report Numbers: DTIC ADB297905

5:  AFRL-ML-WP-TR-2004-4052

6:  Report Date 2002-03-01

KEYWORDS: Hydrodynamic Ram, Fuel Tank Survivability 

CONTACT(S): 

Adam Goss 

(937) 255-4246 

adam.goss@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Provide a geometry kernel code-base and associated APIs that can be incorporated into other simulation frameworks to enable dynamic simulations involving surface mesh deformation, adaptive mesh refinement and non-linear surface elements. 

DESCRIPTION: When analyzing aerodynamic systems using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a computational mesh is required to discretize the region of interest and capture the physical mechanisms driving the system. Traditionally, surfaces defining boundaries within the region have been comprised of static linear elements (typically triangles and quadrilaterals). To address many real-world dynamic problems, an analyst is often confronted with situations involving transient and dynamic environments where surfaces are not rigid or are in motion relative to each other. To perform simulations with higher-order accuracy, generating CFD solutions involving finite-element discretization methods is becoming increasingly common. These methods require higher-order (non-linear) elements, which requires access to the geometric properties of the original surface on which the mesh was created. Dynamic simulations can include rigid bodies moving relative to one another, as happens during a store separation event or a moving rotor modeled as part of a turbomachinery simulation. The simulations can also involve a surface physically changing shape, as happens for cases involving ablation and aeroelasticity. If a surface moves or changes shape, a new computational mesh that accounts for the change in surface configuration must be generated for a CFD analysis to proceed. If the surface movement can be decoupled from the CFD simulation, each new mesh can be generated autonomously with a capable mesh generation tool. Manually generating each new mesh (which may need to be done as often as every iteration during a CFD simulation) can be time consuming and inconvenient and it is often advantageous to incorporate the mesh manipulation directly into the aerodynamic solution generation process. For the surface mesh to move as part of a dynamic simulation, it must have access to a well-developed geometry kernel that offers functionality such as projecting mesh nodes back onto a surface after transient processes such as elliptic smoothing or mesh refinement have driven them off of their initial position. Having a mesh coupled to an analytic surface also facilitates efficient interaction that is unavailable if a surface is brought in from a tool completely decoupled from the meshing process. Furthermore, having a mesh coupled to an analytic (non-discretized) surface allows the surface elements to increase in order and support finite-element based CFD. The development of a geometry kernel is a time-intensive and technically rigorous undertaking requiring someone with a solid background in computational geometry as well as geometry-related algorithms and application program interface (API) development. Few engineers and computer scientists within the DoD have this specific background; however, within the small business community this expertise is more common as it is required for modeling everything from computer animation to video games. The geometry kernel should consist of flexible and robust non-manifold surface definitions such as non-uniform rational b-spline (NURBS) surfaces and a set of APIs to perform commonly required tasks such as node projection onto a given surface. To enable effective deployment of the capability that this tool would enable, the DoD will need the source code and licensing rights to use the provided code without restriction. For Phase II, the APIs associated with the kernel should have bindings in several popular code languages including Python, C++ and Fortran and should extend capabilities to include wall distance and miss distance calculations. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of providing a well-developed geometry kernel appropriate for incorporation into larger DoD developed tools and frameworks and a versatile set of APIs to efficiently perform commonly required tasks related to geometry and associated computational meshes. 

PHASE II: Develop, demonstrate and provide the source code for a well-developed geometry kernel to incorporate into larger DoD developed tools and frameworks and a versatile set of APIs to efficiently perform commonly required tasks related to geometry and associated computational meshes. The final product should be scalable over many computational cores and a suite of automated unit tests should be included to improve code integration and maintenance. 

PHASE III: For military and commercial applications, this technology can be used for any type computational analysis of higher order CFD methods involving deforming bodies (aeroacoustics and aeroelasticity). 

REFERENCES: 

1: Winslow, A., "Numerical Solution of the Quasilinear Poisson Equation in a Nonuniform Triangle Mesh," Journal of Computational Physics, Vol. 2, pp 149-172, 1967.

2:  Masters, J. and Tatum K., "Unstructured Mesh Manipulation in Response to Surface Deformation," AIAA Journal, Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 331-342, January 2016.

3:  Erwin, T., Glasby, R., Stefanski D., Karman, S., "Results from HPCMP CREATE-AV Kestrel Component COFFE for 3-D Aircraft Configurations with Higher-Order Meshes Generated by Pointwise, Inc.," 55th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Grapevine, TX, January

KEYWORDS: Winslow Smoothing, Computational Geometry, Geometry Kernel, CFD, Mesh Adaptation 

CONTACT(S): 

Taylor Swanson 

(931) 454-4240 

taylor.swanson.1@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a virtual reality test cell presence system that provides real time three dimensional, multi-spectral, and test data access to test hardware and support systems while testing is in progress. 

DESCRIPTION: The Air Force operates complex facilities, testing one-of-a-kind test articles to be operated at or beyond their limits. Physical and visual access to the test articles and supporting hardware in test facilities is severely restricted during test runs due to personnel safety concerns and the complex and crowded test hardware installations. Current state of the art test cell visualization systems consist of a limited set of video cameras generally operating in the visible light spectrum. These cameras are typically located throughout the test cells for viewing specific areas. These fixed two-dimensional views often do not provide clear visibility of all critical or at risk hardware. The potential for minor issues growing into major issues is high. The Virtual Test Cell Presence System (VTCPS) is proposed to replace current test cell visualization systems with three dimensional camera systems tied to a Virtual Reality (VR) computer-based processing and visualization system. The proposed VTCPS hardware must be robust enough to survive in low pressure, high temperature environments that can occur in test cells (individual test cells typically have their own individual barometric and thermal constraints) and provide a real-time VR viewing experience. The VTCPS would capture in real time the video feed from a test cell visualization system and convert that imagery into a virtual world of the test cell. Virtual reality goggles would then be used by test operations engineers, craft personnel, and analysis engineers to monitor the test cell hardware by “walking around” inside the test cell in a true virtual manner. Requirements for technology development and testing during the development of the VTCPS may be extensive. A robust test cell visualization system of sufficient power and coverage to adequately allow the creation of a VR test cell environment is needed. More than just a general layout, the system needs to provide an image that can be converted into a VR environment where test personnel can inspect “blind areas” on the test article that might be buried under instrumentation cables and other hardware. An interface between the test cell visualization system and the VR hardware will be required that can process large volumes of raw video feeds into the required format for real-time VR viewing. This subsystem needs to include the future ability to bring in real-time data feeds from both standard test facility data systems and more specialized data systems such as the Computer Assisted Dynamic Data Modeling and Analysis System (CADDMAS). A software Human-Machine Interface (HMI) to the VTPCS needs to be developed that will satisfy the specific needs of the VTCPS. For example, a mechanism will be required to place a virtual traveler at a specified location in the given test cell and then remove the traveler without undue disorientation. All components of the VTCPS must be compatible with existing test cell national defense security requirements and customer proprietary requirements. During Phase I, the proposer should collaborate with Air Force staff to detail VTCPS system requirements for application to a target test facility, provide a feasibility assessment, and a conceptual system design and approach for implementation. The assessment and conceptual design should include hardware integration requirements, VTCPS Systems integration approach, as possible, provide empirical data on the performance of design concepts in a typical test facility. 

PHASE I: Develop a conceptual VTCPS design and demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a VTCPS in a typical test facility. 

PHASE II: Develop a prototype VTCPS system and demonstrate the VTCPS in a representative test cell hardware environment, including complex tubing installations with a simulated or actual test article in a non-test environment. Merge the VTCPS with existing test cell data and analysis systems to provide real-time data display in the VR environment including facility and test article parameters, such as pressures, temperatures and flow rates. 

PHASE III: Military Applications: Deliver a fully commercialized system for ground test facilities and for other DOD test organizations Commercial Applications: Deliver a fully commercialized system to industry and other Government test agencies such as NASA, auto industry test complexes, and aerospace industry test complexes. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Hackathorn, Richard and Todd Margolis, "Immersive Analytics: Building Virtual Data Worlds for Collaborative Decision Support," paper submitted to the Immersive Analytics Workshop at the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Virtual Reality

2:  Vora, Jeenal, et al., "Using Virtual Reality Technology for Aircraft Visual Inspection Training: Presence and Comparison Studies," Applied Ergomics, Vol. 33, Issue 6, November 2002, pp 559-670.

3:  Sanchez-Vives, Maria V. and Slater, Mel, "From Presence to Consciousness Through Virtual Reality," Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Vol. 6, April 2005, pp 332-339.

KEYWORDS: Virtual Reality, Test Cell, Software, Presence, Ground Test 

CONTACT(S): 

Josh Osborne 

(931) 454-7132 

joshua.osborne.4@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an Optical Turbulence Collection Sensor to support the development of Directed Energy (DE) decision aids. 

DESCRIPTION: DoD is spending billions of dollars developing laser weapon technology. There are a number of programs in development in the USAF and US Army designed to create lethal and non-lethal capabilities that are expected to be fielded in the next 5-15 years [1]. Currently, there are no persistent optical turbulence collection sources in the DoD or US gov’t. Historically, measurements of optical turbulence have been made at point locations using indirect methods such as thermosondes with thin-wire microthermal sensor and onboard electronics convert the temperature difference to a voltage signal, which can be translated into refractive index structure parameter, Cn2. This instrument is commonly used balloon-born to measure turbulence profiles of the atmosphere, but when used at a stationary location, its fragile construct means that it breaks under tough meteorological conditions. Additionally, point measurement have been made using sonic-anemometers, which built to handle any conditions due to its metal frame and its lack of moving parts. More direct optical measurement can be made using system such as generalized scidar or scintillometer for example. Scintillometers measure the turbulence over a given path instead of at a specific location [2, 3] and can lack range correlated turbulence. Additionally, they also required an optical source or target at the far end of the path (transmit and receive geometry) in order to make measurements. AF Weather will likely need a mechanism to collect optical turbulence data that overcomes the limitations of historical systems in order to support the various Directed Energy Weapons being developed and ultimately fielded. In order to properly account for atmospheric conditions a three dimensional, volumetric scan of the atmosphere may be required to support laser weapons. This type of scan will provide not only real-time conditions, but begin to build a worldwide climatology of this atmospheric parameter of interest. 

PHASE I: Research the existing and near-term optical turbulence collection sensors. Analyze which ones, if any, can operate 24/7 and can collect data in a volumetric scan, similar to a weather radar over distances ranging from approximately 1-10 km. Determine the optimized location and placement of the sensor to acquire uncontaminated data. Design a solution while adhering to security & IA doctrine. 

PHASE II: Using the results from Phase I, develop a prototype optical turbulence collection sensor. Determine how this system would plug into the existing AF Weather observing network and how the data would be disseminated. Verify product usefulness by engaging in collection efforts with comparisons to other validated optical turbulence sensors. Operate the system under persistent, dissimilar weather conditions and make data comparisons. 

PHASE III: Produce production quality collection sensors. 

REFERENCES: 

1: United States Air Force Directed Energy Weapon Flight Plan, 2017

2:  Jumper, G., Et al., "Comparison of Recent Measurements of Atmospheric Optical Turbulence," AIAA-2005-4778, AFRL-VS-HA-TR-2005-1124, 2005.

3:  Travouillon, T., et al., "Accurate measurements of Optical Turbulence with Sonic-anemometers," Journal of Physics: Conference Series 595, 2015.

KEYWORDS: Atmospheric Propagation, Atmospheric Characterization, Optical Turbulence, Volumetric Wavefront Sensing, Adaptive Optics, Phase-front Distortion, Decision Aid 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr Nicholas Morley (AFRL/RDLA) 

(505) 846-0805 

nicholas.morley@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Provide a prime power system using rechargeable thermal batteries suitable for airborne systems. 

DESCRIPTION: Demonstrate the feasibility of using rechargeable chemical batteries as prime power sources on airborne platforms beginning with an analysis of the current state of the art and progressing to a completed system. 

PHASE I: Generate a report on the available state of the art in chemical thermal batteries. The report will demonstrate an understanding of all available battery chemistries. The report must describe the capabilities of the available chemistries including: Energy per cubic cm, weight per cubic centimeter, current per unit area, operational temperature range, recharge efficiency, recharge rate, and number of recharge cycles. The report will include a trade-space matrix of these capabilities, a description of how to advance the state-of-the-art, and summary of commercialization opportunities for advancing the state-of-the-art. 

PHASE II: Develop a design for a thermal battery for airborne systems based on specifications that will be provided. The design must finalized in this phase. A prototype system will be constructed and tested at an Air Force Facility to demonstrate that the design meets the provided specifications. 

PHASE III: Refine the prototype design from phase II into a commercial product. Develop a manufacturing system to produce commercial volumes of rechargeable thermal batteries that satisfy Air Force and other customer needs. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Method of recharging a pyrotechnically actuated thermal battery, Thomas A Velez, Nicholas Shuster, United States Patent, Patent No: US 6,384,571 B1, May 7, 2002.

2:  .K. Preto, Z. G Tomczuk, S. von Winbush, and M.F. Roche, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 264, (1983)

KEYWORDS: Thermal Batteries Prime Power Pulsed Power 

CONTACT(S): 

Remington Reid 

(505) 846-1032 

remington.reid.1@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors 

OBJECTIVE: Assessing the effect of a high-power electromagnetic (HPEM) attack is challenging, and potentially requires the use of multiple sensing techniques that must be integrated to determine mission success or failure. We are seeking innovative approaches based on advanced statistical techniques to perform this assessment for an HPEM attack, as well as to quantify the contribution of specific sensors to the assessment. 

DESCRIPTION: Performing BDA for an HPEM attack is a challenging technical problem, potentially involving multiple sensors to attempt to quantify how the target is affected. This includes aspects such as reconstitution time that may not be directly observable, and for which we can only hope to determine probability distributions. In addition, many aspects of the target system may themselves be only imperfectly known. Modern statistical/Bayesian approaches coupled with nonlinear optimization techniques offer the opportunity to approach this problem in a novel way that allows us not only to perform BDA more efficiently and more accurately, but also to understand the role and utility of specific sensors in this process. We are seeking novel approaches to modeling the uncertainties in this problem, with the aim of better understanding what sensors are required for an HPEM attack and quantifying the utility of specific sensors in reducing the total uncertainty of critical mission effectiveness parameters such as target functionality and reconstitution time. 

PHASE I: Develop technical approach and software development plan for combining sensor information and assessing uncertainties in assessed quantities, as well as quantifying utility of specific sensors. 

PHASE II: Build and deliver software tool implementing technical approach, and demonstrate to AFRL/RDH. Apply to one or more test cases (unclassified) to show utility of approach. 

PHASE III: Transition to DoD and work with other industry partners to apply to real world test cases of relevance to HPEM weapon systems. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Bayesian Data Analysis, Third Edition. Gelmanm, Carlin, Dunson, Vetari, and Rubin. Chapman & Hall/CRC Texts in Statistical Science, 2014.

2:  Commander's Handbook for Joint Battle Damage Assessment, 2004, US Joint Forces Command Joint Warfighting Center: http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/doctrine/jwfc/hbk_jbda.pdf

KEYWORDS: Battle Damage Assessment, Advanced Statistical Techniques, Bayesian, Multiple Sensors 

CONTACT(S): 

Timothy Clarke 

(505) 846-9107 

timothy.clarke@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms 

OBJECTIVE: Conceive of and perform R&D on theoretical approaches and associated algorithms that could expedite the modeling of 3-D satellite geometries from limited amounts of 2-D imagery, thereby saving end-user resources for the verification & validation of the ensuing model. 

DESCRIPTION: The need for quickly extracting shape information from a limited number of observational images is growing fast. The observed 2-D images have limited spatial resolution, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and viewing aspects. The reality of satellites as complex 3-D shapes with details extending to tiny size scales translates to limited model fidelities as constrained by the observed imagery. This SBIR provides a means to investigate notions for rapidly obtaining satellite models, and associated confidence levels, on the basis of innovative research. For the most part, the point spread function for space-based imagery should be considered known, whereas for ground-based imagery residual effects of atmospheric seeing could be present. Historically, the prowess of the “eye-brain” combination has been unsurpassed up until recent times for determining patterns in imagery and assessing quality of fitted models, and this applies as well to 3-D volumes as they are rotated and aligned during visual fitting processes. Yet, subjectivism, and the lack of quantified uncertainties, limit the attractiveness of this approach. The efforts of the analyst might be more productively used for the quality control and oversight of a continuing flow of new observations and model builds. The challenge of this SBIR is accommodating a vast range of image data set quality and diversity (number of images and their aspects, and image SNR). Approaches that begin with a limited number of degrees of freedom to determine the simplest shapes that are mathematically compatible with the observed data might focus on optimizing chi-squared per parameter, or minimizing parameter uncertainties in the sense of Cramer-Rao bounds (CRB), and are expected to lead to fewer spurious artifacts and not over-represent the information content of the data. Alternatively, approaches that draw from a library of simple shapes with a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) decomposition that includes associated CRBs for the derived eigenvalues are expected to represent more complicated object geometries, possibly at the expense of superfluous or unphysical artifacts. The ultimate goal of the SBIR is for an end user to be able to compare the derived shape and its uncertainties with an independent object library that is not publically available, to facilitate identification or correct library associations. 

PHASE I: Analyze and determine the fundamental performance limits on the proposed approach, as constrained by information theory and in view of the image data set limitations mentioned above. These include Shannon Information Theory as it applies to the information content of images, Cramer-Rao bounds on optimal parameter estimates, Bayesian Estimation Theory, and even PCA approaches if the associated uncertainties in the eigenvalues can be quantified. Imagery examples for test may be either synthesized or requested of the government (AFRL/RD). 

PHASE II: Quantify approach viability through testing with actual image data sets. Quantify speed of processing in a controlled environment simulating an end-users production flow. Additional efforts, should the above basic requirements be realized, include the synthesis of a model with a known format (*.NSM as an example), possibly within a known time interval, and possibly embellished with electro-optical properties. Collaboration with Air Force scientists and engineers for access to object model libraries is possible in Phase II. 

PHASE III: Productize knowledge base and algorithmic approaches with the transitioning of verified and validated algorithms to the Air Force user community for insertion into a national space data center. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Hope and Prasad, "AMA Statistical Information based analysis of a Compressive Imaging System", 2009 AMOS Conference Proceedings

2:  Matson, Charles L., et al. "Fast and optimal multiframe blind deconvolution algorithm for high-resolution ground-based imaging of space objects." Applied Optics 48.1 (2009): A75-A92.

3:  Robinson, Dirk, and Peyman, Milanfar. "Statistical performance analysis of super-resolution." IEEE Transactions on Image Processing 15.6 (2006): 1413-1428.

4:  Helen, Brian J., John R. Valenzuela, and Joel W. LeBlanc (2016). "Theoretical performance assessment and empirical analysis of super-resolution under unknown affine sensor motion. JOSA A 33.4 (2016): 519-526.

KEYWORDS: 3D Models, 2D Imagery, Optics Deconvolution, Tomography, Space Surveillance, Satellites, Space Object Identification 

CONTACT(S): 

Paul LeVan 

(505) 846-9959 

paul.levan@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Info Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop algorithms and networking protocols for secure, wireless high-frequency communications systems that are dependable, survivable, and jam resistant, with low probability of detection, interception, and exploitation in nuclear/EMP environments. 

DESCRIPTION: High-frequency radio communication systems have long been valued for beyond line-of-sight links, but have fallen out of favor since the growth of satellite communications. HF has received renewed interest as of late due to saturation of the satellite communication spectrum, but commercially-available HF radios still suffer from low data rates, high bit error rates, and susceptibility to signal degradation during storms and solar activity. The proposed communications methods must support a data rate of at least 300 KBPS, have a minimum range of 500 miles, and a bit error rate (BER) of less than 1E-5. Preference will be given to systems operating within 3-30 MHZ. Proposed systems must show a valid approach to implementing jam resistance and probabilities of detection, interception, and exploitation than currently available technologies. Specific metrics are to be proposed by the researchers and agreed to by the government. The communication system must be able to support both based stations to mobile distributed (i.e., mobile to mobile) communications. Algorithms and protocols proposed must be designed to survive Electromagnetic Pulses (EMPs) and nuclear explosion events. Systems should not include or rely on external systems which are unlikely to survive an EMP or nuclear explosion i.e. commercial wireless/cell phones and commercial Internet. Proposed hardware / software, if any, must be available from approved supply chains. Algorithms and protocols developed under this effort must be designed with SWaP (size, weight, and power) constraints in mind, as target applications include military aircraft with size and power constraints. The expected outcome of the effort includes algorithms and protocols that can be hosted aboard an HF radio for field experimentation. 

PHASE I: Develop a viable wireless communication schema, identifying networking protocols and other algorithms that can meet the HF BER, data throughput and range goals, and perform a technology feasibility assessment. Develop/deliver computer based model as well as simulation results versus theory using an industry standard M&S tool (i.e., MATLAB, Simulink, Riverbed Modeler etc.) of the proposed schema. Provide specific limitations of current & developing capabilities; potential solutions; and technical areas requiring additional research and development supporting the potential solutions. Identify limitations and threat susceptibility with each schema and supporting equipment. Propose limitations to be further investigated in Phase II. 

PHASE II: Implement identified networking protocols and algorithms in an HF radio hardware system, using COTS components where practical. Perform bench & limited field testing to validate model predictions for link budget, BER, data throughput, range, and sunspot impact. 

PHASE III: Commercial: Provide enhanced HF radios for maritime (Global Maritime Distress & Safety System,) forestry, construction and law enforcement applications. Military: Provide a high-bitrate, reliable, survivable alternative to the current HFGCS system and its compatible radios. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Wideband FM Demodulation and Multirate Frequency Transformations." Santhanam,Balu and Liu,Wenjing. 15 Dec 16. http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=AD1024701

2:  "A new wideband high frequency channel simulation system." Mastrangelo, J.F., Lemmon, J.J., Vogler, L.E., Hoffmeyer, J.A., Pratt, L.E., and Behm, C.J. IEEE Transactions on Communication, Vol 45 Iss 1, Jul 1997, pg. 26-34. ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel1/26/12066/00554283.pdf

3:  "High Frequency Electromagnetic Propagation/Scattering Codes." Geshwind, Frank & Rokhlin, Vladimir, 01 Sep 2000. http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA381832

4:  "A Real-Time Software Simulator of Wideband HF Propagation Channel." Guo, Yang & Wang, Ke. 2009 International Conference on Communication Software and Networks.

KEYWORDS: Advanced HF, Wideband, HF, High Frequency, Algorithm, Network Protocol, Networking 

CONTACT(S): 

Jared Feldman (AFRL/RITF) 

(315) 330-4714 

jared.feldman@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors 

OBJECTIVE: Provide means to rapid assess, predict, validate, and report high frequency (HF) signal propagation in both near-real-time and forecast situations 

DESCRIPTION: NOTE: Throughout this topic, use of the term "HF" may be exchangeable with Medium Frequency (MF), HF, and VHF, and similar spectra below 30 MHz. With the advent of improved circuitry, software-defined radios (SDR), and our advancing understanding of high-frequency (HF), low-frequency, very-low-frequency (VLF) bands which are advantaged by favorable ionospheric conditions, communicators are able to take advantage of these well-established spectra through use of advanced antenna systems, improved discrimination and sensitivity in the receiver units, and employment of "wideband" bandwidths, among other things. Unlike the nearly 80-year history of traditional military use of HF which utilizes narrow bandwidth channels, we may soon see 8-10+ times the bandwidth used in modern HF warfighter communications systems. In hours of darkness in winter months, most HF communication is confined to 10 MHz and below, while mid-day summer conditions may extend the usable HF spectrum to the 30 MHz, the top of the HF band. Space weather effects also significantly impact quality and distance of HF communications. High-FIVE, utilizing all available measurements on a continual basis, world-wide, continuously collects, analyzes, recommends, and disseminates best-use information to our military and allied forces. Best-use includes factoring in specific ionospheric conditions affecting sky wave, direct wave or other propagation, directionality for point-to-point (e.g., a specific mission to be contacted), distance, antenna tuning factors, general orientation of transmitter and receiver antennae, etc.). We are seeking improved means to support wideband HF communications, as well as traditional HF signals (3kHz) propagation, determine optimized frequency selection, obtain NRT feedback to the propagation modeling system(s), improved parametric settings to control the signal, and other innovative solutions to maximize the HF quality of service. 

PHASE I: Provide visualization solutions for communications centers and operations centers to determine best planning frequencies for HF use, means to disseminate HF propagation data and instructions in a timely manner, means to obtain feedback from intended and opportunistic communication nodes. Develop planning approaches to extend from HF operators through worldwide reporting and monitoring, to include feedback to operators, command and communications centers, to include potential input to the combat cloud. 

PHASE II: Develop protocol(s) for passing HF spectral conditions to the war fighter at sea, on land, and in the air. This may be via broadcast, relay, or other means. Determine ways to use this advantageously for tactical and strategic missions. Demonstrate visualization and command-control (battle management C2) for potential worldwide use. 

PHASE III: Provide means to commercialize this capability to increase distance, reduce power, and otherwise maximize the use of wideband HF communications. Provide similar capabilities for other low-frequency (VLF through UHF). 

REFERENCES: 

1: J. Taylor and B. Walker, "WSPRing Around the World, QST, November 2010, p. 30-32

2:  N. A. Frissell, et al. (2014), "Ionospheric Sounding Using Real-Time Amateur Radio Reporting Networks", Space Weather, 12, 651-656, doi:10.1002/2014SW001132

KEYWORDS: ALE, Automatic Link Establishment, HF, High Frequency, MF, Medium Frequency, VLF, Very Low Frequency, Spectra, Ionosphere, Ionospheric, Spectrum, Sky Wave, Direct Wave, Ground Wave, Shortwave, Long Wave, Winlink 

CONTACT(S): 

Kevin Magde 

(315) 330-3609 

kevin.magde@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Human Systems 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an optimized wireless personal area network (WPAN) for Battlefield Airmen’s personnel equipment set based on information security, survivability, workload, and size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) considerations. 

DESCRIPTION: Battlefield Airmen carry extensive sensing, communications, computation and information management equipment on the battlefield. This equipment set, known as the Battlefield Air Operations Kit (BAO Kit), includes worn items (computer, GPS, headset, visual displays, batteries), hand held items (radios, range finders) and placed items (laser designators, packable radios). The cables required to network the BAO Kit create storage, management, and mobility challenges. The current wired network has an undesirable footprint. The large number of unique ruggedized cables and spares take up a significant portion of the Battlefield Airman’s packable space and weight budget. Assembly and disassembly of the cabled network takes time and is particularly difficult under low light conditions. Cables have to be integrated with outer garments, backpacks, tactical vests, helmets and other protective gear. Worn cables create entanglement and snag hazards which can cause injury and degrade the pace of operations. The advantages of a cabled connections include reduced electromagnetic signature, secure transmission and simplified, efficient, power management from a single, high capacity battery. Wireless solutions must provide for rapid entry and exit of the network and comply with DoD wireless operating standards. It is possible that the optimized system may contain a mixture of wireless and cabled connections. A robust systems engineering effort is needed to digest operational requirements, prioritize human factors issues, analyze BAO Kit component interfaces, bandwidth, information security and power requirements and build an optimal network design. It has always been the major focus of the BAO Kit program management office (PMO) to field a functional kit that is as small, lightweight, and powerful as possible with the need for improvements in cable management to reduce entanglement, snag hazards, and modularity. The purpose of this SBIR topic is to design a WPAN that meets SWaP-C, while taking into consideration cost, bandwidth, and security considerations (in particular covert operation) for the BAO Kit. 

PHASE I: Investigate data transmission requirements for each BAO Kit component. Conduct space, weight, power, security and ergonomic trade analysis for various wired and wireless options. Design optimal transmission components and overall network system. Conduct technical analysis (e.g., modeling and simulation) to quantify initial designs. Chart a clear course using system documentation for developing the WPAN technology in Phase II. Additional GFI related to BAO Kit will be provided to successful offerors. 

PHASE II: Refine design based on cost, manufacturing and logistics considerations. Conduct a formal risk assessment, and document key program risks. Produce a prototype WPAN. Develop test plan and conduct laboratory testing to confirm performance. Provide a demonstration of the WPAN prototype. System design and demonstration of the WPAN should take into consideration the intended environment and its characteristics (e.g., RF interference, friendly/hostile jamming, and co-site issues) for use of the WPAN. 

PHASE III: Produce field-ready WPAN prototypes with corresponding performance specification documentation. Demonstrate the WPAN prototypes in an environment relevant to the operations conducted by Battlefield Airmen (e.g., military operational exercise). Develop detailed field test plan describing the planning and execution of use case scenarios and a follow-on field test report capturing WPAN test and post-demonstration analysis results. Provide a user’s manual describing detailed operation of the WPAN. Work with the Government on the development of a technology transition plan for the WPAN system. 

REFERENCES: 

1: AFSOC BAO Kit http://www.ndiagulfcoast.com/events/archive/34th_Symposium/34_Day1/12_AFSOC%20NDIA%20Brief.pdf

2:  Joint Publication 3-09.3, Close Air Support Podcast: http://dtic.mil/doctrine/docnet/podcasts/JP_3-09.3/podcast_JP_3-09.3.htm

3:  AFSC 1C2X1 Combat Control Career Field Education and Training Plan, http://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a3_5/publication/cfetp1c2x1/cfetp1c2x1.pdf

KEYWORDS: Wireless Personal Area Networks, Battlefield Airmen Networking Technology, Secure Networking, Inter/intra-network Communications, Wearable Communications Devices, Tactile Network Interface, Short-range Connectivity, Covert Communications Technology, Auton 

CONTACT(S): 

Robert Riley 

(315) 330-4326 

robert.riley.12@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms 

OBJECTIVE: Develop robust, adaptive machine learning capabilities that maintain and improve performance even as the data and behavior being modeled evolve to support decision making processes. 

DESCRIPTION: Enabling rapid Situational Awareness (SA) in support of (Battle Management Command and Control (BMC2) is critical for analyst assessment and commander decision-making from multi-INT data in complex and evolving multi-domain situations. Machine learning technology has been applied to support intelligence needs by automatically processing massive and increasing amounts of intelligence data to provide analysts with awareness and recognition of evolving activities, alerts, and actionable intelligence. However, existing machine learning-based systems that are largely static and non-interactive are not capable of adapting to changes in their input data streams or in the real-world behavior they are supposed to model. Adaptive systems are critical for enhancing decision-making posture. Recent research in machine learning provides us with hope that robust, adaptive machine learning systems can be developed. These include: statistical models for entity, relationship, and descriptor extraction; unsupervised techniques for topic and group discovery from text; automated structure learning; latent variable models that enable inferring joint structure for image/video and text; and active learning with user feedback. Evolving these capabilities to the next level requires developing an architecture that supports full-scale and robust adaptive machine learning across multi-INT/multi-domain data. Fully implementing such a capability requires addressing several challenges: managing model drift and uncertainty, maintaining and managing multiple complementary and possibly competing models, and automatically monitoring model performance to determine when a model needs to be updated, replaced, or retired, or when to solicit human feedback. This topic is seeking new machine learning architectures and technologies to support development of robust and adaptive machine learning based systems that can continue to operate when faced with noisy, diverse data-sets, changing data streams and/or evolving behavior, adapt through continuous learning, respond to dynamic environments and changes in adversary tactics, new mission requirements, and unforeseen contingencies, and development of machine learning algorithms capable of incremental model updating based on user feedback and/or data drift indicators. This topic seeks to bring state of the art machine learning and reasoning algorithms to: - Enable rapid situational awareness in support of Space BMC2 using multi-INT/multi-domain data - Increase Space Operator/Analyst and Senior leadership confidence in situational understanding of the space domain and in identification, evaluation, and selection of appropriate courses of action - Produces situational awareness indications and warnings of anomalous and threats associated with objects’ and entities’ activity behaviors - Support decision making processes under uncertain, changing, and time-sensitive conditions - Increase threat warning time, decrease forensic analysis time, increase accuracy of threat identification and characterization and support predictive analysis It is not anticipated that the government will provide GFE/GFI (including data) during Phase 1. It is anticipated that the government will provide access to data during Phase 2. 

PHASE I: Design a robust, adaptive machine learning architecture. Define a set of metrics for assessing performance. Deliverables will include a system architecture design, block diagram identifying data flows and interfaces, and identification of required data sets and demonstration use cases. 

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a prototype system based on the architecture defined in Phase I. Develop and implement a plan to test and measure the performance of the system against real data. The Phase II system should be tested on at least two use cases identified during Phase 1. 

PHASE III: RAM technologies/architectures will support a broad range of intelligence and intelligence-related applications. Commercial -The improved learning capability will allow rapid deployment and robust performance for a variety of business intelligence and marketing applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Sudderth, E., A. Torralba, W. Freeman, A. Willsky (2005). Describing visual scenes using transformed Dirichlet processes. NIPS, Vancouver, BC.

2:  Wang X., N. Mohanty, A. McCallum (2006). Group and topic discovery from relations in text. NIPS 2006.

3:  Jain, Vidit, E. Learned-Miller, A. McCallum (2007). People-LDA: anchoring topics to people using face recognition. International Conference on Computer Vision.

4:  Kemp C., J. Tenenbaum (2008). The discovery of structural form. PNAS 105:31

KEYWORDS: Machine Learning, Adaptive Learning, Robust Learning, Statistical Modeling 

CONTACT(S): 

Carolyn Sheaff (SMC/SYE) 

(315) 330-7147 

carolyn.sheaff@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Provide model-based tools and methods to represent aircraft systems, architectures, and behaviors such that the impact of candidate modifications to criterion-driven certifications can be identified and factored in acquisition plans and budgets. Such certifications include but are not limited to Airworthiness Determination, CNS-ATM Compliance, and Cyber-security. 

DESCRIPTION: Project planning and cost estimation models/tools are increasingly reliable but are driven by historical data for product development. They often fall short or ignore completely the variables associated with aircraft certification and credentialing requirements mandated for Air Force and other systems. Failure to correctly identify potential impacts to these criterion-driven assessments leads to increased risk that data, analysis, and reports generated during modification will satisfy outside organizations charged with credentialing the operational readiness of capability improvements and modernization. This lapse is increasingly a source of substantial delays and cost increases at the end of modification programs; and thus have a severe negative impact on fleet capacity. Natural language specifications and change descriptions are not capable of representing the behavioral complexities of modern avionics and flight systems needed to reliably predict and assess the potential impact of planned modifications with respect to the subject assessments. System modeling tools and methods have been demonstrated that successfully capture architectures and interactions, including functional and behavioral representations, in a form suitable for analysis of alternatives and sensitivities. These must be tied with specific military and civil standards in order to fully meet the Objective of this topic. 

PHASE I: Identify evidence-based certification requirements and standards applicable to Mobility aircraft and operations. Identify an exemplar system, modification, and applicable certification criteria. Develop and demonstrate a framework to capture/model a system performance, assert a modification, and identify potential impacts to certification criterion. The selected Challenge Problems should be of sufficient scope to both prove the viability of the concept and framework, and to show scalability to support a Phase II development. 

PHASE II: Prototype and demonstrate the selected aspect of system modification acquisition planning and analysis support for the Challenge Problem selected in Phase I. Expand features to include the capability to recommend compliance approaches based on characteristics of a modification, and to identify artifacts necessary to be generated during modification development and test to satisfy impacted criteria. 

PHASE III: Correctly estimating and resourcing the effort necessary to retain operating credentials in a regulatory environment is a ubiquitous challenge for civil airspace operators and other industries. The results of Phase II will be a technology readiness sufficient to attract bridge funds for full-scale development specific to a System Program Office (such as the C-130); then ultimately investment toward a full-operating-capability product. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Survey of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Methodologies", Jeff A. Estefan, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 2008.

2:  "Verification of Cyber-Physical Systems", Majumdar, Murray, and Prabhakar, 2014.

3:  "Evidence Based Certification: The Safety Case Approach", Kelly, High Integrity Systems Engineering Group, University of York, 2008.

KEYWORDS: System Modeling, Architecture Modeling, Evidence-based Certification, Formal Methods, Acquisition Analysis, Acquisition Planning, Airworthiness, CNS-ATM Compliance, Cyber-security Compliance, Agile Acquisition, Change Impact Analysis 

CONTACT(S): 

Greg Moster (AFRL/RQVI) 

(937) 656-8780 

gregory.moster.1@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a novel strategy to eliminate or mitigate--preferably passively--combustion instabilities over a wide range of combustor and/or afterburner operating conditions. This concept should concentrate on essentially preventing combustion instabilities in the first place. 

DESCRIPTION: Possible strategies for combustion instability reduction include the design of sufficient fuel circuits to allow manipulation of fuel placement to reduce combustion instabilities. This requires multiple fuel circuit controls and considerable testing to explore how changing the fuel placement can prevent the acoustics. This approach provides a means to alter the acoustics should they arise. Actively controlled approaches in which fuel is manipulated temporally, but out of phase, with the combustion acoustic signature, have proven successful. However, this approach can involve many actuators and adds new sources of unreliability to an already complex system. Also, if instability frequencies are high, fast-acting valves are required, which may themselves fatigue. These approaches also lead to weight and packaging issues. Alternatively, screech liners have been used in augmentors to passively damp acoustic instabilities, and have been proven effective in practice. Acoustic liners generally have limited damping capability below roughly 1000 Hz and tuning them to lower frequencies results in significant issues with weight, size, and packaging. Maintenance of screech liners can be extraordinarily costly. However, a better screech liner is not the objective of this topic. A major challenge with combustor and augmentor development is that the design may need to be modified after engine testing, since typical engine conditions are not easily attained in rig tests. Current design methodologies are limited, especially for next generation military systems, for which boundary conditions such as temperature, operating pressure, velocity/Mach number, turbulence levels and vitiation level (for augmentors), are expected to be more severe, contributing to a higher tendency for combustion instabilities. The local flow conditions in today’s military systems can greatly deviate from the global parameters used to design them. Because of this, improved concepts that capture the local physical phenomena and are robust to changes in operating conditions are needed. This SBIR topic seeks novel concepts that focus on the reduction or prevention of the combustion instability in the first place, or a method to “self correct” the acoustic instability. Small peak-to-peak pressure amplitudes are generally acceptable to most OEMs. The concept should also not cause significant weight gain or complexity to the system. A strong collaboration with the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) is highly recommended from the inception of this program. 

PHASE I: Show the feasibility for a novel concept for avoiding or reducing combustion instabilities. Develop a strategy for evaluating the idea, through testing and/or analysis, and identifying the key performance parameters necessary to document the concept's ability to avoid or reduce combustion instabilities. Develop an initial transition and business plan. 

PHASE II: In Phase II, the methodology developed in Phase I should be validated for additional conditions approaching those found in practice and for geometries that incorporate geometric features found in practice. In the Phase II effort, steps should be taken to establish requirements for integration of the reduced order model into a standalone design tool that incorporates sufficient details to allow it to successfully predict. The work should be transitioned to interested OEMs. 

PHASE III: Future Phase III efforts should involve further commercialization of strategies developed for incorporation into elevated TRL demonstrations. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Eldredge, J.D. and Dowling A.P., "The absorption of axial acoustic waves by a perforated liner with bias flow," J. of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 485, pp. 307-335, 2003.

2:  Hathout, J.P., Fleifil, M., Annaswamy, A.M., and Ghoniem, A.F., "Combustion instability active control using periodic fuel injection," J. Prop and Power, Vol. 18 (2), pp. 390-399, 2002.

3:  Heuwinkel, C., et al.,"Establishment of High Quality Database for the Modeling of Perforated Liners," GT-2010-22329, Proceedings of ASME Turbo Expo 2010, Power for Land, Sea and Air, June 14-18, 2010, Glasgow, U.K.

4:  Kinsler, L.E., Frey, A.R., Coppens, A.B., and Sanders, J.V., "Fundamentals of Acoustics," John Wiley and Sons, 4th ed., pp. 284-286, 2000.

KEYWORDS: Augmentor, Combustor, Combustion Instability, Fuel Injection, Combustion Dynamics, Screech, Growl, JP-8, Durability, Analysis 

CONTACT(S): 

Vince Belovich (AFLCMC/LPE) 

(937) 255-4229 

vincent.belovich@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a low-cost portable real-time infrared imaging and visualization capability for high speed turbine and internal combustion (IC) engine components to improve inspection capability and enhance engine life cycle management. 

DESCRIPTION: Small Turbine and IC engine designs employing novel combustion features, advanced thermal materials, and high speed components impose challenges on collecting appropriate data for analysis and evaluation in situ. Large turbine maintenance evaluation of critical components is accomplished with visual inspection using a bore-scope through case access points or through the back of the engine at scheduled intervals. More detailed capability to determine the state of health of the turbo-machinery components is needed to push reliability improvements and accommodate new requirements for achieving condition based maintenance plus (CBM+) goals. Applications of this capability to uninstalled engines in the test cell is desired. Current state-of- the-art (SOA) optical IR imaging used in aerospace component demonstration, test and evaluation is fragile, costly, and limited in ability to capture/process imaging phenomenon (visible and hidden defects, cooling effectiveness) in real time. Commercial industrial imaging includes real time process monitoring (metals, furnaces, plastics, semiconductors), safety, and product performance where the optics and electronics are at ambient conditions. Most military applications to date are for long range imaging, surveillance, and data collection. Immediate (real-time) availability of the imaging data is important for operator efficiency and decision analysis. SOA technology is limited to large low speed, ground based (power generation) turbines where high cost sensing systems are justified. Processing is typically accomplished off line where there are no hardware and time constraints. No suitable solutions are available for aero ground engines in test cell applications. Development of a multi-wavelength short (0.9-1.7 micron) or mid-band (1.5-5 micron) imaging capability using electronically scanned detectors, no cooling, and a robust ability to operate in a shop or flight line environment (above 150 F) is desired to enhance performance and reduce cost of engine maintenance. The imaging capability must have the ability to scan in a limited space and tight access such as borescope locations. This capability must accommodate rotor rotation frequencies over 500 Hz with imager integration times below 500 nanoseconds and high pixel rates. Extracting a thermal 2-dimensional profile of the turbine blades along with a 3-dimensional point map showing blade deflection is desired. The technique should be able to accommodate inspection and detection of blade coating artifacts. The IR detectors (cameras, arrays, sensors) that operate at ambient temperature or above, are a significant cost, operability, and usability benefit compared to IR detectors that require cooling to liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) temperatures. An IR and visible thermographic approach is an NDE technique that can also be especially useful in finding precursors to flaws and damage in composite aerospace structures. Active IR imaging (natural excitation) also closes the gap for testing the near surface region between the surface and moderate depths of structural elements. Identification of the feature domain of the components imaged as part of the design will potentially reduce the need for extensive high speed computation. 

PHASE I: In the Phase I program, a prototype concept will be designed that meets imaging capture speed, flexibility, robustness, and real time performance goals of the topic. Suitable laboratory tests will be performed to verify the concept can be implemented for flight line and real-time applications. 

PHASE II: In Phase II, relevant hardware will be refined and fabricated based on the Phase I design and testing. Demonstration of the flight line and real-time capability will be performed with a state-of-the-art or legacy engine bench test. Operational limitations and capability will be documented as well as applicability to a wide family of engines. 

PHASE III: In Phase III, implementation issues documented with Phase II will be addressed and a fielded design will be developed that meets the depot or aircraft technical and operational requirements. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Markham James, et al., "Aircraft engine-mounted camera system for long wavelength infrared imaging of in-service thermal barrier coated turbine blades", Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 85, Issue 12, December 2014.

2:  Thurner, Thomas,"Real-Time Detection and Measurement of Cracks in Fatigue Test Applications", AMA Conference 2015, - SENSOR 2015 and IRS2 2015.

3:  Lindgren Eric and Buynak Charles, "Materials State Awareness for Structures Needs and Challenges", 12th International Symposium on Nondestructive Characterization of Materials, Blacksburg, VA., June 2011.

KEYWORDS: Real Time, Optical Imaging, State Awareness, Flaw Detection, Flight Line Maintenance, Diagnostics, Harsh Environment, Turbine Engine 

CONTACT(S): 

Kenneth Semega 

(937) 255-6741 

kenneth.semega@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop improved turbochargers and turbocharger installations to improve engine performance in areas such as takeoff power, endurance, altitude capability, exhaust scavenging, noise suppression and power enhancement for engines from 2 horsepower up to 20 horsepower (hp). Improve propulsion system thermal efficiency by using exhaust gas pressure for two stroke and four stroke engine application. 

DESCRIPTION: This topic seeks turbochargers for small engines in the 2 to 20 hp range. Included are turbochargers for two stroke engines used for UAS application. The turbochargers must be light weight, durable, and efficient. Turbocharger system development for the current and future fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and small aircraft is underrepresented. Improvements are needed in installed metrics such as takeoff power, endurance, altitude capability, as well as component-level metrics such as extended pressure ratios, efficiency and viability of small engine turbochargers, improved engine operability, or turbo surge margin. Desired for small UAV engines are increases in service ceiling, or conversely, the ability to start at higher altitudes than normal aspiration allows. Also of interest, is the ability to "turbonormalize" engine conditions; to achieve power at altitude. Specific categories of engines include, (1) engines below 20 hp, including 2-strokes, (2) 2- and 4-stroke engines below 20 hp, and (3) diesel engines. Present day state-of-the-art turbochargers are used on 50 shp engines with an efficiency of 75 percent - this effort seeks smaller turbochargers (see Garrett Turbocharger website). 

PHASE I: Produce a feasibility study and development plan with realistic goals and schedule for an efficient small engine (2-20 hp) turbocharger. Applications should be oriented to aviation propulsion systems with the intent to increase needed or desired operational capabilities, or to leverage and extend existing automotive technology into aviation-specific areas. Studies should include the effects and consequence of turbocharging small two-stroke engines from 2 to 20 hp; on installation, performance, lubrication, acoustic & vibration effects; include preliminary aerodynamic analysis depicting compressor and turbine performance. (CAA: Q5 - Phase I narrative does not define what needs work - requesting the production of a feasibility study seems more as a planning activity, not R&D. Recommend that the Phase I demonstrate concept feasibility of the proposed technology.) 

PHASE II: Develop and test a working, proof-of-concept turbocharger. Turbocharger is required to be demonstrated on small UAS engines. Further, compressor and turbine maps should be developed. The proof of concept must consider rotordynamics analysis and bearing lubrication (oil lubricated and air). Engine testing is required for two stroke and four stroke UAV application supplemented with CFD optimization for compressor and turbine performance. 

PHASE III: Develop and test an actual production-intent turbocharger installation, ideally with flight testing of a representative aircraft. Commercialization would be in the recreation and UAV market which use small engines in the 2 to 20 hp range. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Fundamentals of Turbocharging," Nicholas C. Baines, Publisher: Concepts ETI, Inc., 2005.

2:  "Aero and Vibroacoustics of Automotive Turbochargers," Nguyen-Schäfer, Hung, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2013.

KEYWORDS: Turbocharge, Forced Induction, Rotordynamics, Pressure Ratio, Efficiency, Air Bearings 

CONTACT(S): 

Gregory Minkiewicz 

(937) 255-1878 

gregory.minkiewicz@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate an intelligent robust controller that can be applied to control and optimize the energy and propulsion of small hybrid electric unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). 

DESCRIPTION: The demand of UAVs for military and civil missions has greatly increased in the last two decades because of their performance in battle fields and rescue operations. The use of UAVs, especially UAVs in the range of 10 - 100 lbs., is escalating, predominately due to cost savings over manned systems. In his recent “Report on Technological Horizons: A Vision for Air Force Science and Technology During 2010-2030”, the Chief Scientist of the Air Force makes UAV autonomy the number one research and development priority. The development of energy-efficient and low-cost propulsion systems for UAVs by implementing hybrid electric concepts is critical both for sustainable energy as well as mission performance. To meet the needs of United States Air Force and commercial aviation, actions to increase energy efficiency are essential. The benefit of hybrid electric propulsion systems is that they provide an enormous advantage over conventional petrol powered vehicles in terms of energy efficiency, flight duration, and noise signature. A hybrid propulsion system can be an integration of two or more power units such as IC engine, motor-generator/battery, fuel cell, jet engine or solar cell. To effectively control and minimize the energy flow of the hybrid electric propulsion system, an intelligent robust controller is sought. It is intended to minimize the weight and optimize the energy efficiency of the hybrid systems for all operation conditions. The objective of the intelligent control system is to optimize the energy consumption and regeneration between the power units such that the hybrid system can operate in the highest efficient condition. The control system will be provided with automatic and manual modes. The default mode is automatic; the manual mode is operated by the pilot of UAV and may be switched to different modes including silent mode if the mission is required. In Phase II, use modern sensor and actuator technology to monitor and control the energy flow and regeneration; and to manage the operation of engine and motor/generator such that the system can effectively switch among individual (engine or motor) mode, dual mode, automatic mode, manual mode, battery charging, etc. 

PHASE I: Develop an intelligent robust controller that can be used to control the hybrid electric propulsion system for UAVs. The configuration of the powertrain architecture consists of an automatic gearbox, an electric motor, power electronics, a battery, a clutch and a turbocharged spark-ignited internal combustion engine, etc. The hybrid test models could also consist of inline and planetary gear configurations to be designed and integrated with the controller. Preliminary tests of these hybrid systems will be conducted. 

PHASE II: Fully develop the prototypes for above hybrid configurations that are implemented with the intelligent controller and demonstrate the capability of the hybrid UAVs by conducting field tests with various flight patterns and payloads in order to evaluate and improve the performance of the system. 

PHASE III: Military applications of this effort may include C-ISR and C-AIED missions. Commercial applications of this technology that address possible counter-terrorist threat activities in the civilian sector. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Tobias Nuesch *, Philipp Elbert, Michael Flankl, Christopher Onder and Lino Guzzella, "Convex Optimization for the Energy Management of Hybrid Electric Vehicles Considering Engine Start and Gearshift Costs.", Energies 2014, 7, 834-856

2:  doi:10.3390/en

3:  L. Doitsidis, K. P. Valavanis, N. C. Tsourveloudis and M. Kontitsis, "A Framework for Fuzzy Logic Based UAV Navigation and Control," Proceedings of the 2004 IEEE International Conference on Robotics & Automation New Orleans, LA, 2004.

4:  Liwei Qiu, Guoliang Fan, Jianqiang Yi and Wensheng Yu, "Robust Hybrid Controller Design Based on Feedback Linearization and µ Synthesis for UAV," Proceedings of the 2009 Second International Conference on Intelligent Computation Technology and Automat

KEYWORDS: UAV, Controllers, Propulsion Systems, *electric Power, *hybrid Systems, Velocity, Computer Programs, Optimization, Intelligence, Disasters, Monitoring, Networks, Unmanned, Electricity, Lithium Batteries, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Aspect Ratio, Electri 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Alireza Behbahani (AFRL/RQTE) 

(937) 255-5637 

alireza.behbahani@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms 

OBJECTIVE: Develop concepts for non-traditional booster stage rocket engines which will provide an overall system benefit. 

DESCRIPTION: Booster stage rocket engines have used traditional cycles, such as pressure-fed, expander, gas generator, and oxygen-rich staged combustion cycles and constant pressure combustion for the past 50 years. However, over that time period, other concepts that could result in increased reliability, operability, or reduced cost have been identified such as detonation combustion or electrically-driven propellant pumps. The purpose of this topic is to identify and develop novel cycles which will have great benefit to the overall launch vehicle system, but have not been fully developed. Modern booster stage engines typically have a throttle range of 50% to 100%, have specific impulses that exceed 300 seconds with a Liquid Oxygen/kerosene propellant combination, have reliabilities that exceed 0.98, and can have multiple starts on the test stand. Minimizing the size or cost of the engine is also an important consideration. It is expected that any system proposed here will, at minimum, meet these overall requirements. During the first phase of the study, the offeror shall develop a proposed vision engine system and will compare the launch vehicle performance using this new engine concept with the performance of existing launch vehicle systems. The offeror shall also identify why this system would provide quantitative benefits over currently existing systems. In subsequent phases, the offeror will perform critical risk reduction efforts that demonstrate the viability of the concept. This risk reduction shall be in the form of both experimental and modeling and simulation of the system. Because of the harsh conditions present in liquid rocket engines, it is anticipated that this testing will be at sub-scale and on components that are not fully representative of the all of the conditions within a liquid rocket engine. Therefore, it is expected that the testing will be set up in such a way that the test data gathered will be useful to validate the modeling and simulation efforts. The result of this effort will be a potential high performance, highly operable, reduced cost stage liquid rocket engine concepts. These concepts will need to be further developed for commercialization in Phase III efforts.  

PHASE I: Specify the liquid booster stage concept and identify the benefits over current state of the art cycles. 

PHASE II: Develop and perform risk reduction testing to demonstrate the potential performance increases and the operability/cost improvements for the new liquid booster engine. 

PHASE III: DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Military: High performance booster stage engines are required in order to launch payloads of military utility into the appropriate orbit. Commercial: As the growth in commercial spacelift systems continue, low-cost, high performance engines will enhance capability to deliver payloads to orbit. 

REFERENCES: 

1: G.P. Sutton and O. Biblarz, "Rocket Propulsion Elements," 7th Ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 2001, ISBN 0-471-32642-9.

2:  Oberkampf, W.L. and Trucano, T.G., "Verification and Validation in Computational Fluid Dynamics,"Vol. 38, pp. 209-272, Progress in Aerospace Sciences (2002).

3:  Yang, V et. al, Liquid Rocket Thrust Chambers: Aspects of Modeling, Analysis, and Design, Vol 200, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, Published by AIAA, Washington DC, 2004, ISBN 1-56347-223-6, pp 403-436.

4:  Oberkampf, W.L. & Trucano, T.G. "Verification and Validation in Computational Fluid Dynamics", Vol. 38, Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 2002. Pp. 209-272.

KEYWORDS: Booster Stage Rocket Engines, Verification And Validation, Assured Space Access, Low-cost Rocket Concepts 

CONTACT(S): 

Eric Paulson 

(661) 275-9688 

eric.paulson.1@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms 

OBJECTIVE: To develop innovative approaches for combine thrust management and interpropellant seal (IPS) systems for advanced upper stage and in-space propulsion systems engine turbopumps. 

DESCRIPTION: High pressures in an engine operating with independent turbopumps represent a significant leakage challenge to the IPS system for the liquid oxygen turbopump. The seal is required to separate the high pressure hydrogen used to drive the turbine from the high pressure liquid oxygen in the pump. Effective sealing systems must mitigate the loss of propellant vented through the IPS. 

PHASE I: Define requirements and a conceptual design for the LOX turbopump IPS which is traceable to an engine cycle for an advanced upper stage propulsion systems using hydrogen-oxygen. Conduct modeling, simulation, analysis, and/or laboratory experiments to evaluate the proposed concept IPS to enable an assessment of its impact on overall engine performance to include thrust management affects. 

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate the IPS device at a scaled-up level, conduct additional modeling, simulation and experiments to characterize the operation. Testing should be performed at an appropriate facility to simulate the engine environment such that the propellant leakage and IPS performance can be investigated. Develop full-scale designs. 

PHASE III: This effort supports current and future DoD/NASA space launch applications. It will also support commercial space launch vehicle development. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Sutton, G.P., "History of Liquid Rocket Engines," American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, Virginia (2006).

2:  "Safe Use of Oxygen and Oxygen Systems: Guidelines for Oxygen System Design, Materials Selection, Operations, Storage, and Transportation," Beeson, H.D., Stewart, W.F., and Woods, S.S., American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2000).

3:  Sutton, G. P., and Biblarz, O., "Rocket Propulsion Elements," 7th ed.

4:  Wiley-Interscience: New York (2000).

KEYWORDS: Interpropellant Seal (IPS), Turbopump, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Liquid Rocket Engine 

CONTACT(S): 

Joseph Mates (AFRL/RQRP) 

(661) 275-8089 

joseph.mates.1@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate an advanced high pressure heavy fuel (JP-8) injection system for Unmanned Aerial Systems/Unmanned Ground Systems (UAS/UGS) application, capable of performing multiple injections per cycle for engines in the size of 2 to 50 horsepower (hp). 

DESCRIPTION: This effort is to develop a fast responding, light weight, direct injection system to operate within the fuel’s ignition delay time for UAS/UGS application. These systems must be applicable to engines that are 2 to 50 hp, either reciprocating or rotary. A technical challenge associated with the conversion of gasoline engines to heavy fuel (JP-8) is the avoidance of knock. An approach used to avoid knock is to operate within the fuel’s ignition delay time; hence to employ direct combustion chamber injection. The challenges of the reciprocating engine are to avoid end gas knock (auto ignition occurring in the end gas after spark) and to inject the fuel very late into the cycle. The challenges for the rotary engine are atomization and the avoidance of wall quenching due to its combustion chamber shape.Delaying the injection process causes higher pressure rise rates which can exceed the engine’s design capabilities. An injection system that offers fast response and multiple injections per cycle may alleviate excessive pressure rise and the avoidance of knock. Good combustion control eliminates many durability issues from overloading, shock, and combustion deposits. The shape of the combustion trace can be tailored through multiple injection pulses and combustion deposits can be controlled with better atomization and fuel patterns. Hence an injection system that offers fine atomization, fast response, and multiple injections per cycle is needed. Note - Present day state-of-the-art direct injection systems used for automotive application are solenoid type and operate up to 3000 psi with 0.010" orifice and have response times (opening delays) of 0.5 msec. 

PHASE I: Define and develop innovative fuel injection technologies that will result in improvements to the direct injection process for reciprocating and rotary UAS engines (fuel injector design). Bench tests of fuel system components operating at designed pressures and quantification of injection spray pattern is desired (fuel injector operation). The fuel injection system should have the capability to perform multiple injections per cycle and at engine operating speeds up to 10,000 rpm. CFD to define the optimum fuel-air contour should be considered. Small scale bench testing is appropriate to determine feasibility of concept. 

PHASE II: Demonstrate and validate the performance of the Phase I technology in a laboratory environment on a representative engine. Engines should be UAV platform of the Group 2 and Group 3 UAV class. Further analytical modeling (CFD) and spray tests must supplement engine testing. Demonstration of direct combustion chamber injection with rate shaping (multiple injections per cycle) is required. The avoidance of knock while operating on JP-8 and delivering equivalent power is the desired outcome. 

PHASE III: This technology has additional transition opportunities in the commercial sector. Companies could incorporate the injectors, high pressure supply pump, feed pump and controller with harness to optimize the fuel injection associated with the engines. This could lead to cleaner combustion that could greatly increase the life of the engine. Further, advanced direct injections systems have the potential to reduce specific fuel consumption. Small engine application for UAS, electrical power generation, and RV usage are potential markets of application. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Fundamental Spray and Combustion Measurements of JP-8 at Diesel Conditions," L. Pickett and L. Hoogterp, SAE Paper No. 2008-01-1083, 2008.

2:  "Piezoelectricity: Evolution and Future of a Technology," Chapter on Piezoelectric Injection Systems by R. Mock, K. Lubitz Authors: Prof. Dr. Walter Heywang,Dr. Karl Lubitz,Wolfram Wersing ISBN: 978-3-540-68680-4 Publisher: Springer, Nov 2008.

3: "Common Rail Injection System for High Speed Direct Injection Diesel Engines" by Guerassi N. and Dupraz P., SAE Paper 980803, Detroit, MI 1998.

KEYWORDS: Atomization, Emulsification, JP-8, Knock, Ignition Delay Time, Common Rail, Rate Shaping 

CONTACT(S): 

Gregory Minkiewicz 

(937) 255-1878 

gregory.minkiewicz@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a low cost and high performance, design concept and technologies for an innovative propulsion system, (40 to 50 shaft horsepower (shp) for class III Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the area of small recuperated or high OPR (overall pressure ratio) turbine engines. 

DESCRIPTION: The role of class III UAVs is becoming more prevalent for high altitude reconnaissance, and weapons delivery. New turbine engine based concepts are desired that are reliable and capable of long lives with minimal maintenance, have high fuel efficiency, have high altitude capability, have low noise, have the ability to operate in austere environments and that can be produced at low cost. These requirements require innovation over existing propulsion system architectures available in the market place. Efficient, light-weight, compact, durable, high efficiency and high temperature turbomachinery is required including high efficiency compression systems, compact combustion systems, high temperature turbines, oil-less bearings, long life recuperators, and highly efficient gearboxes. Advanced material systems are available, but not yet demonstrated for small turboshaft/turboprop engines. In addition, advanced subsystems need to be developed for these small engines to increase reliability and reduce costs. The innovative turboshaft concepts, component technologies, material systems and propulsion subsystems concept must provide maximum fuel efficiency at the lowest cost and highest power to weight, while providing a long life reliable system that requires almost no maintenance. The 40 to 50 shp turbine engine should have equivalent weight and efficiency levels similar to the piston engine. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate an innovative small turboshaft or turboprop engine advanced concept and provide cycle analysis, development and cost estimates. Identify the key engine components and subsystems for maturation and approaches on reducing fuel consumption. 

PHASE II: Design, develop, and test key engine components, or subsystems, and/or complete engines. Validate the benefits of the components in a relevant environment and or preferred in a turboshaft or turboprop engine. Validate reliability, power to weight, fuel consumption and reduction in maintenance and production cost. The engine architecture can be validated in a higher or lower power class but should be scalable to 40 to 50 shp. 

PHASE III: Transition engine design technologies/simulations and experimentally validated engine components to SOCOM UAV development programs. Commercialize the design technologies/simulations and prototype (40 to 50 shp) engine for full-scale engine development and production for future class III UAVs. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "Turbo Machinery Dynamics

2:  Design and Operation", Abdulla S. Rangwal, pub: McGraw-Hill, April 2005.

3:  "Gas Turbine Engines: Fundamentals", David R. Greatrix, 2012.

4:  "Development, Fabrication and Application of a Primary Surface Gas Turbine Recuperator," Parsons, E., SAE Technical Paper 851254, 1985. Solar Turbines, San Diego, CA.

5:  "Hydrostatic, Aerostatic and Hybrid Bearing Design", William B. Rowe, 2012.

KEYWORDS: Recuperator, Hybrid Bearings, Air Foil Bearings, Core Component Technologies, Advanced Ceramics 

CONTACT(S): 

Gregory Minkiewicz 

(937) 255-1878 

gregory.minkiewicz@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop advanced sealing technologies for heavy fuel engines for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The technology should address sealing in engine classes of reciprocating and rotary engines for improved durability and performance. Seals for the piston engine are the ring/cylinder pair and for the rotary are the apex seal/housing pair. Improvements in materials pairs which exhibit less wear and new seals design to promote less leakage and longer life are sought. 

DESCRIPTION: Future, advanced engines for small RPA’s are expected to make use of new materials and coatings, such as: ceramics, advanced metallics, composite, superlubrious coatings and other light weight materials. New designs along with the advanced materials are needed to improve engine durability and performance; such as material coatings that offer increased wear resistance for sliding contact; materials with low coefficient of thermal expansion to eliminate piston rings; and materials with high insulating capability to raise thermal efficiency will require advanced sealing concepts. Considerations are to examine an array of tribologic factors; such as surface hardness, roughness, surface coating, and self lubrication. Improvements are sought for seal concepts to address the wear/durability issues; specifically for: the apex seal/rotor/housing of the rotary engine, and piston/ring/cylinder for reciprocation engines, thru advanced materials/designs. Present day state-of-the-art materials for seals are cast iron on chrome/nickel plating; hence improvements are sought to improve this baseline. 

PHASE I: Conduct an assessment of candidate designs/materials to improve combustion chamber sealing of small RPA engines. This includes small scale wear testing of material pairs, analysis of "ring-less" piston designs, and insulating materials for improved performance. Additional items to consider are improvements to the existing seal design i.e.,. integrated seal/spring, elimination of cylinder wall distortion, effects of surface finish, impregnated materials for improved lubricity, and advanced coatings with self healing properties (dry film lubricants). 

PHASE II: The Phase II effort would consist of selecting the best design and material/coating combinations from those identified in Phase I and conducting engine tests to evaluate the ability of selected design/material combinations to operate under engine test conditions. This include improved material pairs, tighter tolerance thru low coefficient of thermal expansion materials, and the effects of insulating materials on thermal efficiency. 

PHASE III: Advanced sealing concepts for small, heavy fuel engines is applicable to the Air Force, Navy, and Army forces. Each service of the DoD operates RPA’s that are powered with small engines. It is currently a DoD directive to transition to a single battlespace fuel, which would inherently be a heavy fuel such as JP-8. Incorporating advanced sealing concepts into RPAs has the potential to increase engine efficiencies, reliability, durability, and to achieve current DoD objectives. Advanced engine sealing thru new materials/designs are applicable to all small size commercial engines for portable power generation, recreational vehicles and light industrial applications. Hence better sealing with provide higher efficiency and lower fuel consumption. 

REFERENCES: 

1: "New Materials Approaches to Tribology: Theory and Applications", Larry E. Pope, Larry L. Fehrenbacher, and Ward O. Winer. Cambridge University Press, 2012

2:  "A Critical Analysis of the Rotary Engine Sealing Problem", H.F. Prasse, H.E. McCormick, and R.D. Anderson, SAE 730118, 1973.

3:  "Ceramic Materials and Components for Engines", edited by Jürgen G. Heinrich and Fritz Aldinger, Wiley 2001, ISBN

4:  3-527-30416-9.

KEYWORDS: Piston Ring, Tribology, Apex Seal, Heavy-fuel, Ceramic Seals 

CONTACT(S): 

Gregory Minkiewicz 

(937) 255-1878 

gregory.minkiewicz@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop turbine and/or rotary engine rotor bearing technologies primarily targeting significant improvements in durability and cost reduction with a secondary objective of weight reduction. 

DESCRIPTION: Propulsion systems for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications have been notoriously unreliable and expensive to maintain. Significant cost savings and aircraft reliability improvements could be achieved simply through improvement of the durability of the engine mechanical systems. To this end, the United States Air Force is looking for innovative rotor bearing technologies for small turbine and rotary engines (<200 lb. thrust, <200 hp.). Technologies of interest include wear resistant coatings and solid lubricant coatings to improve durability of rolling element bearings or development of low-cost air bearing systems for infinite life. As improved range and loiter are of interest for UAV applications, reduced weight systems are highly prized. It is estimated that oil-free systems can provide a weight reduction of up to 30 percent the total engine weight through removal of accessories and plumbing associated with the oil lubrication system. Air bearings are a straight forward method of providing an oil-free system, but other options for rolling element bearings exist, such as fuel lubricated bearings. It is recommended that the small business team with an engine manufacturer to increase commercialization and transition potential. Efforts should be planned such that technical, schedule, and cost risk is minimized to the greatest extent possible. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility and benefits of the bearing concept through analysis and/or benchtop testing. 

PHASE II: Manufacture a prototype of the bearing concept and perform an engine condition representative test to demonstrate TRL 5. 

PHASE III: Produce and supply bearing concept to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of an emerging turbine or rotary engine system or a retrofit of an existing engine system. This technology may be applicable to cruise missile, high-endurance UAV, attributable UAV, and distributed propulsion applications. PRIVATE SECTOR POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: This technology is likely to have application in commercial applications including turbochargers, air compressors, gas turbines, auxiliary power units, and gas turbine engines for general aviation aircraft. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Kim, D., Nicholson, B., Rosado, L., and Givan, G., "Rotordynamics Performance of Hybrid Foil Bearing Under Forced Vibration Input," Paper No. GT2017-65233, Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2017: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exhibition, Ch

2:  Heshmat, H., Walton II, J., and Tomaszewski, M., "Demonstration of a Turbojet Engine Using an Air Foil Bearing," Paper No. GT-2005-68404, Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2005, Power for Land, Sea, and Air, Reno-Tahoe, NV., June 6-9, 2005.

3:  Kim, D., Varrey, M. K., "Feasibility Study of Oil-Free T700 Rotorcraft Engine: Hybrid Foil Bearing and Nonlinear Rotordynamics," Annual Forum Proceedings - AHS International, v. 4, p 2341-2349, 68th American Helicopter Society International Annual For

4:  Heshmat, H., Zhaohui, R., Hunsberger, A., Walton, J., Jahanmir, S., "The Emergence of Compliant Foil Bearing and Seal Technologies in Support of 21st Century Compressors and Turbine Engines," ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Expo

KEYWORDS: Bearings, Lubricant, Oil-free, Anti-wear, Coatings, Small Engine 

CONTACT(S): 

Brian Nicholson 

(937) 255-7567 

brian.nicholson.1@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms 

OBJECTIVE: Design an optimized flight weight spacecraft propellant management device for relatively small thrust levels (1N - 22N) which will possess low inert mass, strong reliability, and good compatibility with USAF developed monopropellants. 

DESCRIPTION: Current state of the art approaches to propellant management device (PMD) configurations within flight vehicle propellant tanks optimized for straight hydrazine (N2H4) have not been validated for use with advanced USAF developed high performance Hydroxyammonium Nitrate (HAN) based monopropellants. The wetting behavior of HAN-based propellants are significantly different from hydrazine and will require new PMD designs. Repeatable and reliable propellant delivery under a variety of conditions from launch, high-g and zero-g environments are to be considered. Typical thrust levels envisioned are from 1 to 22N. Typical feed pressure ranges to be considered range from 200 to 1000 psi. Additionally, material compatibilities must be considered, as reliable and predictable performance over long service lifetimes up to 20 years is desired. Manufacturability and maintainability are to be considered, as these are the largest impacts to an overall system cost. We seek novel exploitation of concepts to reduce to common practice USAF developed high-performance HAN based monopropellants in rocket propulsion systems. 

PHASE I: Detail a list of design requirements and a design configuration that can be realistically produced for a flight weight system based upon the monopropellant wetting properties and mission requirements. The effort should clearly address and estimate propulsion system inert weight impact, compatibility, as well as overall flight system impacts. 

PHASE II: Complete a performance analysis with flight scaled components and perform all possible ground-based testing. Propulsion system inert weight and flight system impacts shall be optimized from those estimated in Phase I. 

PHASE III: The Offeror shall develop viable demonstration cases in collaboration with the government or the private sector. Follow-on activities are to be sought aggressively throughout all mission applications within DoD, NASA, and commercial space platforms by Offeror. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Jaekle, D.E., "Propellant Management Device Conceptual Design and Analysis: Vanes", AIAA 91-2172, 27th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, Sacramento, CA, June 24- 26, 1991.

2:  Hawkins, T. W., Brand, A. J., McKay. M. B., and Tinnirello, M., "Reduced Toxicity, High Performance Monopropellant", Proceedings of the 4th International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, Huntsville AL (May 2010).

3:  Jaekle, D.E., "Propellant Management Device Conceptual Design and Analysis: Traps and Troughs", AIAA 95-2531, 31st AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference, San Diego, CA, July 10-12, 1995.

KEYWORDS: Propellant Management Device (PMD), HAN-Based Monopropellant, Surface Tension, Tank 

CONTACT(S): 

Adam Brand 

(661) 275-5787 

adam.brand@us.af.mil 

OBJECTIVE: Develop an optimized distributed digital communication scheme with smart components, demonstrating the use of model-based controls for optimal performance and health monitoring of aircraft propulsion system. 

DESCRIPTION: Bridging the gap between model-based design and platform based implementation is one of the critical challenges for embedded software systems operating over a single communication bus along with sensors and actuators. Current engine control systems rely mostly on analog signals, circumventing many communication and timing considerations. In the context of embedded control systems that interact with an environment, a variety of errors due to quantization, delays, and scheduling policies may generate executable code that does not faithfully implement the model-based design. The performance gap between the model-level semantics of controllers and their implementation-level semantics can be rigorously quantified if the distributed controller implementation and its interaction with the communication bus are well-understood. The core characteristic of distributed engine control is the presence of a single digital data bus through which all information of interest must transit. In a perfect, distributed environment, no analog signal reaches a centralized processor anymore. Rather, the sensors and the control computers all take turns to transmit information over the data bus. Since they all communicate over a single bus, the frequency at which each sensor, actuator, and control computer is allowed to communicate over the data bus must be traded off against that of the other communicating elements. It is easy to figure that differing priority levels can result in profoundly different levels of performance for the closed-loop control system, independent of the particular communication protocol used. The concerns here are mostly related to the implementation of a distributed engine control architecture: assume all digital sensing components as simple as possible to reflect the condition of high temperature electronics components when they become initially available. Such components are assumed to perform only core functions, such as collecting and digitizing sensed information, and sending this information over the communication network. In this context, it becomes important to decide how the sensors, actuators and control computers must be orchestrated to perform as efficiently as possible for the overall engine system. On the one hand, rapid sensor updates are necessary for the control computer to build a proper estimate of the engine state and health. On the other hand, the faster control computer command are updated and sent over the communication network, the better the engine can be managed. Beyond these basic considerations, more subtle trade-offs arise from the fact that not all sensors carry equal value, and that the messages broadcast by some of them may be much more important than others. There is a need to examine the issue of actuator/sensor message scheduling and to figure out what kind of performance trade-offs can be achieved by varying the fraction of time that each actuator and sensor is given to communicate across the network. Deterministic protocols, such as time-triggered architectures, have much better worst-case characteristics than other architectures, and they are much more attractive for certification purposes for that reason. One of the potential beneficial features is to develop the communication system such that its results would be independent from the particular communication protocol used, and would therefore be applicable to a broad range of options. The proposed distributed control policy and communication architecture must be able to guarantee thrust response and stall margin of the engine while considering aspects such as communication bandwidth and overhead, dynamic prioritization and network allocation, availability of computing resources, determinism, delays, and packet dropouts. Additionally, the design should be applicable to a variety of gas turbine engines. Provided that appropriate certification requirements are met, the technology is applicable to both military and civilian markets. Eventually this technology could be applied to a turbine engine in conjunction with a controller consisting of networked smart nodes. 

PHASE I: Assess design tradeoffs in the embedded system communication architecture and protocol. Define a turbine engine control message scheduling scheme. Develop conceptual design of a networked control system taking into consideration the impacts on controller and engine performance. Use modeling and simulation to demonstrate improvement over the SOA. 

PHASE II: Investigate the hardware necessary to realize the controller designed in Phase I. Implement the controller and test it within a controls hardware-in-the-loop setup. Integrate with relevant turbine engine simulations. Based on the results of this experiment, update the controller architecture as necessary. 

PHASE III: Demonstrate the proposed networked control system in a test cell or engine environment. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Distributed Engine Control Working Group (DECWG), "Transition in Gas Turbine Engine Control System Architecture: Modular, Distributed, and Embedded," NASA Propulsion Controls and Diagnostics Workshop, Dec 2009.

2:  Le Ny, J., Feron, E., and Dahleh, M., "Scheduling Kalman Filters in Continuous Time," IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, Jul 2011.

3:  Nghiem,T., Papas, G.J., Girard, A., and Alur, R., "Time-Triggered Implementations of Dynamic Controllers," EMSOFT '06, Proceedings of the 6th ACM & IEEE International Conference on Embedded Software, Seoul, Korea, Oct 2006.

4:  Alur, R. and Weiss, G., "Interfaces for Control Components," Invited Talk, Workshop on Verifiable Robotics, Computed Aided Verification Conference, Snowbird, UT, Jul 2011.

KEYWORDS: Distributed Control, Time-triggered Architecture, Sensor/actuator Scheduling, Turbine Engine, Communication Bus, Embedded Control Systems 

CONTACT(S): 

Dr. Alireza Behbahani (AFRL/RQTE) 

(937) 255-5637 

alireza.behbahani@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials 

OBJECTIVE: Develop a capability that can collect and fuse maintenance, test, inspection, and engineering data from multiple data streams, formats, and sources for predicting reliability and maintainability issues for a nuclear weapon system that must be viable and credible to the warfighter 40 years past its service life. Provide prognostic capability to identify most urgent sustainment needs. Lifetime-predictive capabilities based on damage accumulation models, physical aging principles, and physics-based understanding. This capability will define the optimal resources on most pressing issues, and reduce costly and unnecessary premature component replacement or maintenance. 

DESCRIPTION: Knowing in advance of entering the wear-out phase for subsystems can provide lead time for planning supply chain upgrades and modifications to the system. This is very important when considering systems that sit in storage for the majority of their lifetimes and are required to operate at high reliabilities upon immediate use. Nuclear weapons may reside in a dormant state for many years within a needed service life of decades (approximately 30-50 years) and then be required to operate with high reliabilities. The typical environment for a nuclear weapon is to be stored in a non-environmentally controlled facility for two years as part of a pylon or launcher package, minimally tested at two years as part of a package, returned to storage for two more years, minimally tested again, returned to storage for two more years, then downloaded for the package and undergo maintenance actions (i.e. Limited Life Component exchange), extensive system level testing, and returned to storage to start the cycle again. 

PHASE I: Identify a feasible cost-effective method for using existing data from multiple data streams, formats, and sources for predicting reliability and maintainability issues. 

PHASE II: Implement cost-effective methodology for predicting how aging of nuclear weapon systems impacts sub-system reliability. Ability to collect and fuse maintenance, test, inspection, and engineering data from multiple data streams, formats, and sources for predicting reliability and maintainability issues. 

PHASE III: Develop a transition strategy for applying Phase II to other military and commercial applications. 

REFERENCES: 

1: NNSA Document R005, "New Material and Stockpile Evaluation Program," Issue B1, Jul 2016.

2:  MIL-HDBK-1798, "Mechanical Equipment and Systems Integrity Program (MECSIP)," 24 Sep 2001

3:  MIL-STD-1530, "DoD Standard Practice, Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP)," 1 Nov 2005

KEYWORDS: Aging, Surveillance, Reliability, Maintainability, Mechanical And Electrical Property Modeling, Nuclear Weapon Sustainment 

CONTACT(S): 

James Singleton (AFRL/RQRM) 

(661) 275-5907 

james.singleton.7@us.af.mil 

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms 

OBJECTIVE: Integrate Enterprise Ground Services (EGS) data from different satellite ground systems into the Advanced Research Collaboration and Application Development Environment (ARCADE) to improve space vehicle awareness for Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) operators. Incorporate new de-commutation software techniques for satellite telemetry into current EGS architecture and publisher/subscriber design between ARCADE application and EGS. 

DESCRIPTION: Current satellite operating centers are highly stove-piped and have limited interoperability with other ground systems. Despite the silo nature of current satellite ground systems, all possess common capabilities: enterprise and mission management, flight dynamics, mission scheduling and engineering data processing. Despite the commonalities, these ground systems all have unique operating systems developed by different contractors. This results in many weaknesses and single points of failure from a cyber security, data standardization and data accessibility perspective. The USAF is moving away from this and towards a common architecture known as Enterprise Ground Services (EGS). One of the goals of EGS is to expose data to enable exploitation by applications and services. For this solicitation, the contractor should leverage a recently developed EGS software architecture to pull and integrate relevant satellite ‘state-of-health’ data into an application that can display the data and eventually couple into an ARACDE software tool. The contractor will concurrently provide telemetry de-commutation software and approaches that can integrate into the preprocessing stage found in the EGS architecture. ARCADE is a test-bed for innovation in the area of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) within the JSpOC. Providing the JSpOC with an application that integrates with previous Space Battle Management Command & Control (BMC2) Mission areas will enhance SSA. Aggregating diagnostic EGS data with robust tracking algorithms will give analysts more insight into an anomalous trajectory and help locate space assets. The availability of this data is inherent on the EGS preprocessor’s ability to de-commutate, process and store satellite telemetry within its databases. De-commutation preprocessor software integrated into the EGS architecture will help SMC accommodate for the many data formats satellites use given their inherent low transmission rates. Innovative approaches to de-commutation, including but not limited to, current value tables, data flow architecture (bit tagging of raw data), etc. are solicited. The developed application within ARCADE will subscribe to an EGS Message Queue (MQ) bus or any type of publisher/subscriber architecture the developer chooses. This will alert the application whenever new EGS data has been de-commutated, is available and different from legacy telemetry readings. The developer should handle satellite abnormality events currently dispatched by the EGS architecture and update the ARCADE application’s interface appropriately. The developer will include plans on how the application will plug in into other ARCADE software tools currently used by the JSpOC. This SBIR ties EGS architectural work into JMS mission applications currently being assessed in ARCADE. EGS architecture work, data consumption and the ARCADE application development under this SBIR should lead to enhanced SSA. Partnership with government EGS architecture developers and commercial satellite/owner operators are encouraged. 

PHASE I: Demonstrate a plan for application to subscribe to relevant vehicle diagnostic telemetry currently housed in a provided EGS database. A demonstration will show application pulling EGS data into the application as the EGS database is updated with different telemetry data for each unique satellite. Any anomalous events dispatched by EGS architecture will be handled accordingly in the software and will update application interface appropriately. A discussion on how application will integrate into current ARCADE software tools used to track current satellite trajectories will accompany demo. Along with this, a de-commutation telemetry software approach, to be included in the EGS architecture’s preprocessing stage, will be provided quarterly and a final report will accompany work. 

PHASE II: Demonstrate software integration with preexisting ARCADE tools that track satellites in orbit. De-commutation software design proposed will be prototyped, tested and integrated into EGS architecture. Software design will be provided for both the ARCADE application pulling and displaying EGS data and the publisher/subscriber relationship between EGS architecture and ARCADE application. The de-commutation implementation integrated into EGS preprocessor stage will also have software architectural details submitted. A final report will accompany work including case for continued ARCADE data subscription along with SMC/EGS support. 

PHASE III: Commercialization and partnership with government to refine architecture that standardizes and pulls EGS data from satellite operators. ARCADE application would update accordingly with appropriate diagnostic data as more satellite operating center data sets are merged into EGS database. 

REFERENCES: 

1: Luce, Rick, Major, Space & Missile Systems Center, Space Superiority Systems Directorate, 2012 AMOS Conference paper. Joint Space Operations Center Mission System Application Development Environment, 12 Sep 2011.

2:  Murray-Krezan, Jeremy et al. "The Joint Space Operations Center Mission System and Advanced Research, Collaboration, and Application Development Environment Status Update 2016", Proc. SPIE 9838, Sensors and Systems for Space Applications IX, 13 May 2016.

3:  Henry, Caleb. "DOD Prepares for Overhaul of Military Ground Systems."http://www.satellitetoday.com/regional/2015/09/14/dod-prepares-for-overhaul-of-military-ground-systems/ (accessed 2 April 2017).

4:  Moltzau, Eric. "How to Improve Enterprise Ground Services for Space."http://www.spacewar.com/reports/How_to_Improve_Enterprise_Ground_Services_for_Space_999.html. (accessed 22 March 2017).

KEYWORDS: Enterprise Ground Services, ARCADE, JSpOC, Space Situational Awareness, De-commutation, Software Development 

CONTACT(S): 

2d Lt Ryan Vary 

(505) 846-6108 

ryan.vary@us.af.mil