DoD STTR 23.B Solicitation

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Trusted AI and Autonomy The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Design and build a system that can passively range to operationally relevant distances in daylight, low light, overcast and night conditions. DESCRIPTION: To date much work has been invested in active ranging. However, laser-based probes are detectable and will leave the operator vulnerable, particularly at night. Commercial applications, particularly those for self-driving vehicles, use a combination of both active and passive sensors. Low light imagers have been recently announced, that span both the VNIR, and SWIR and some are even capable of single photon detection. These low-light detectors are likely intended for the automotive market. Many, but not all have resolutions approaching HDTV. They offer, either through correlation or key-point signature comparisons a way to determine range covertly in what until now has been consider challenging situations. Passive ranging is a desired new capability for our individual soldiers and for military platforms. It is not in any currently fielded system. Providing a measured range accuracy of +/- 20 meters at 300 meters is adequate for a proof-of-concept demonstration. PHASE I: Develop overall system design that includes specifications for ranging to distances of 100 meters, 300 meters and 1km. State the possibilities and challenges to achieving those ends including estimates of uncertainties in range. Consider both GPS and GPS denied regions of operations. Accuracy goals should be approximately +/- 20 meters at 300 meters with a linear increase to +/- 60 meters at 1000 meters. PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a prototype system in a realistic environment. Conduct testing to prove feasibility over extended operating conditions. Accuracy goals should be approximately +/- 20 meters at 300 meters with a linear increase to +/- 60 meters at 1000 meters. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: This system could be used in abroad range of military and civilian applications where ranging and tracking are necessary. Optimize system design for size, weight and power, to include ruggedization to survive in a military environment. REFERENCES: 1. Fitzgibbon, A. (2001). Simultaneous linear estimation of multiple view geometry and lens distortion. CVPR, IEEE Computer Society Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition. Kauai, HI Dec8-14: IEEE. doi:0.1109/CVPR.2001.990465 2. Hartley, R. (2003). Multiple View Geometry in Computer Vision. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. doi:isbn-13 978-0-521-54051-3 3. Yang, J. (2020) Z. Lu, Y.Y. Tang, Z. Yuan and Y. Chen; Quasi Fourier-Mellin Transform for Affine Invariant Features; IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, Vol. 29, 2020 4. Reilly, P. (1999) T. Klein, and H. Ilves; “Design and Demonstration of an Infrared Passive Ranger”; Johns Hopkins APL Technical Digest, Vol 20, No. 2, pp. 220-235, 1999. 5. Tomasi (1992), Carlo and Kanade, Takeo; Shape and Motion from Image Streams under Orthography: a Factorization Method”; International Journal of Computer Vision; Vol 9, no 2, pp. 137-154. 6. Pelegris, Gerasimos (1994); “A triangulation Method for Passive Ranging”; Master’s Thesis Naval Postgraduate School; Monterey California. DTIC AD-A284 180 7. Range finders and Tracking; Summary Technical Report of Division 7, National Defense Research Committee; V. Bush, Director; J.B. Conant, Chairman; H.L. Hazen, Division 7 Chief; 1947 KEYWORDS: passive ranging, low-light, key-points, correlation.

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Hypersonics OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative conformal, ruggedized solutions for thermal protection of extended range artillery rounds. DESCRIPTION: The Army’s Long Range Precision Fires mission expands the current portfolio of conventional artillery to advanced munition technologies with extended range capability (>70km). Extended range requires the projectile to fly to higher velocities and altitudes as well as longer flight times. At high Mach speeds the projectiles may be exposed to high temperatures and heat fluxes up to 3500°C and 1000 W/cm2 respectively. These are new environments to which conventional gun launched ammunition has not been subjected to. Along with qualifying artillery for new weapons platforms such as Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA), they also have to survive the extended range environment. The Army is currently looking for novel thermal protection coatings for artillery shells in an effort to extend the capability of conventional ammunitions and enable integration of other aero-structural materials such as polymer matrix composites and high strength alloys. The proposed solution must be able to protect the underlying base material against high heat flux and high temperature damage. The technology should be capable of surviving typical artillery gun launch loads and should conform to the geometry of an artillery projectile. PHASE I: During the Phase I contract, successful proposers shall conduct a proof-of-concept study that focuses on thermal protection coating technologies that can withstand and operate within varying thermal loads ranging from 5 W/cm2 to 700 W/cm2 and temperatures ranging from ambient to 2000°F (objective) for up to 5 minutes (objective). Coating thickness should not exceed 5mm (objective) and can be ablative in nature so long as sufficient thermal protection is sustained to meet the objectives. Investigations should include analysis of material performance under transient thermal loading and thermos-structural performance of a coated Inconel steel substrate. A final proposed concept design, including a detailed description and analysis of potential candidate coating technology is expected at the completion of the Phase I effort. PHASE II: Using the data derived from Phase I, in Phase II the proposer shall fabricate and integrate a prototype of the technology into a nominal projectile form-factor. The proposer shall further their proof-of-concept design and determine the applicability of the coating for different surface materials. Upon evaluation of the design through a critical design review, the prototype hardware’s survivability shall be demonstrated via high G testing (35,000 G objective) in an air launched munition and aerothermal ground testing. Information and data collected from these tests will be used to validate operational performance. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III selections shall identify large scale production alternatives and fabricate 20 prototypes that can be integrated into a nominal projectile form-factor to be identified by the SBIR: Army 20 Topics and Concepts Government. Live fire tests will be conducted, and the prototype integrated with projectile form-factor will have to withstand shock loads approaching 35,000g’s. Phase III selections will develop of a cost model of expected large scale production to provide estimates of non-recurring and recurring unit production costs. Production concept for commercial application will be developed addressing commercial cost and quality targets. Phase III selections might have adequate support from an Army prime or industry transition partner identified during earlier phases of the program. The proposer shall work with this partner (TBD) to fully develop, integrate, and test the performance and survivability characteristics of the design for integration onto the vendor’s target platform. REFERENCES: 1. Abdul-Aziz A. Durability Modeling Review of Thermal- and Environmental-Barrier-Coated Fiber-Reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composites Part I. Materials (Basel). 2018;11(7):1251 2. Eugenio Garcia,Reza Soltani,Thomas W. Coyle,Javad Mostaghimi,Angel De Pablos,Maria Isabel Osendi,Pilar Miranzo, Thermal Behaviour of Thermal Barrier Coatings and Steel/Thermal Barrier Coatings Structures, Advances in Ceramic Coatings and Ceramic‐Metal Systems: Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings, Volume 26, Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings, 2005 3. Padture N. P.; Gell M.; Jordan E. H. (2002). "Thermal Barrier Coatings for Gas-Turbine Engine Applications". Science. 296 (5566): 280–284. 4. Clarke, D.R.; Oechsner, M.; Padture, N.P. Thermal-barrier coatings for more efficient gas-turbine engines. MRS Bull. 2012, 37, 891–898 KEYWORDS: Thermal Protection System, Advanced Materials, Artillery, Conformal Coatings, Hypersonics, Extreme Environments

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Trusted AI and Autonomy, Microelectronics, Integrated Network System of Systems The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Design and build a programable optical network equivalent to an electrical network to solve Markovian graphs with cycles. Forney-style factor graphs can be solved while avoiding the creation of trees. DESCRIPTION: The use of digital image processing to enable target detection, classification, recognition and identification, as well as targe state estimation for fire control solutions is computationally intensive. It requires significant processing power, which in turn requires significant electrical power. A programable optical network can be used to perform these computations at reduced Size weight and power and at faster speeds. Factor graphs have been used to describe Bayesian networks (Pearl, 1988) and were applied to SLAM (Simultaneous Location and Mapping) by Dellaert (2017). These problems tend to be decomposed into trees for solution. The most general graph, and the one that is most difficult to solve, is the undirected graph with cycles. This is related to quantum computing and such difficult logistical problems such as the travel salesman conundrum. It is desirable to try to develop a room temperature solution, based on optical networks, that can at least reliably solve all convex Kalman filter problems. PHASE I: Design and develop programable optical circuit elements that map the nodes in a factor graph to those of an optical network much as Vontobel did for electrical components. PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a prototype system consisting of the optical elements to create a network that can solve a problem. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Build an integrated optic that can be deployed that can implement a Kalman filter with real world application. REFERENCES: 1. Dellaert, F. (2017). Factor Graphs for Robot Perception; Foundations and Trends in Robotics, Vol 6. No. 1-2 (2017) 1-139; DOI: 10.1561/2300000043 2. Pearl, J. (1988), Probabilistic Reasoning in Intelligent Systems: Networks of Plausible Inference; Morgan Kaufmann Publishers Inc. San Francisco Calf; ISBN 1-55860-479-0 3. Vontobel, P.O.; Factor Graphs, Electrical Networks, and Entropy; http://www.isiweb.ee.ethz.ch/papers/arch/pvto-dlip-aloe-2002-mtns.pdf 4. Vontobel, P.O.; Kalman Filtering, Factor Graphs and Electrical Networks. http://www.isiweb.ee.ethz.ch/papers/arch/pvto-dlip-aloe-2002-mtns.pdf 5. Wang,S. (2020); A Factor Graph-Based Distributed Consensus Kalman Filter; IEEE Signal Processing Letters, Vol 27, 2020. KEYWORDS: Graphs, networks, Kalman Filter, trees, cycles.

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Advanced Infrastructure & Advanced Manufacturing, Sustainment & Logistics OBJECTIVE: Develop a metal powder based additive manufacturing system suitable for deployment in expeditionary environments to manufacture complex metal components with minimal post processing requirements to support contested logistics scenarios. DESCRIPTION: The current state of the art utilizes conventional manufacturing technologies such as computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tools such as mills, lathes, and plasma cutters, which are augmented by various manually operated metal working machines to fabricate metal components. Depending on the component, this process can involve numerous steps to achieve complex features necessary to meet specifications. Additionally, operators require significant skill levels to operate these machines effectively and efficiently in order to rapidly produce components. This all adds up to cumbersome, inefficient approaches to sustain materiel in the field. Compared to conventional manufacturing technologies, additive manufacturing (AM) is the revolutionary process of creating three-dimensional objects by the successive addition of material which starts with a digital model, usually generated by computer-aided design (CAD)1. AM introduces a new design paradigm that allows the fabrication of geometrically complex parts that cannot be produced by traditional manufacturing and assembly methods2. Furthermore, AM can expedite fabrication of complex components which require extensive skills and many operations to achieve using conventional methods, reducing time to product and therefore the buy-to-fly ratio3. One particular AM process is Metal Powder Bed Fusion (PBF), which, per internal government research, may be ideal to manufacture complex metal components to enable agile sustainment of armaments systems in expeditionary environments. While metal PBF may be the optimal AM process for DoD mission needs, it comes with many risks and challenges. First and foremost, the high surface-to-volume ratio of powder particles coupled with the reactive nature of these metals means that special care must be taken when handling them. Powder explosions are unfortunately still a regular occurrence internationally and these often result in serious injury and loss of life4. Therefore, minimizing handling of powdered metal materials is essential to safe operations. Possible approaches include but are not limited to automation of part excavation and powder reclamation and/or use of material cartridges to eliminate manual powder loading. Another challenge is the requirement for an inert atmosphere for the PBF process. The role of the inert atmosphere during powder bed fusion (PBF) is to remove the process by-products and the air that is initially present in the process chamber5. By today’s standard, Argon is most common with laser processing. Nitrogen is also an option which could minimize logistical burdens by allowing use of a Nitrogen generator but, thus far, this option limits print quality for certain materials5. One possible approach to overcome this challenge might entail process development to utilize vacuum in place of gas to achieve the inert atmosphere, which has had success with electron beam processing. PHASE I: Research, modeling, and simulation of novel approaches to improve PBF machine processes, design, and other considerations including but not limited to safe powder storage, handling, and processing to reduce or eliminate exposure to powder materials during material loading or unloading and part excavation, alternative strategies to inert chambers to decrease dependence on process gases, and increased survivability of equipment during transport over rugged terrain (MIL-STD 810). Collaboration between government, industry, and academia will further develop and refine requirements. Develop a test plan for mechanical properties and metallurgy to establish a baseline upon which improvements can be made through process development in follow-on work. PHASE II: Development and engineering of metal PBF AM equipment resulting in a functional prototype which meets requirements developed during Phase I and is proven through extensive testing. Test results must prove that the developed machine can operate in austere conditions with maximum operator/facility safety and minimal logistics requirements while surviving exposure to the military field environment. Testing of materials to determine baseline mechanical and metallurgical properties should be executed and well documented. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The development of metal PBF AM machines to meet this mission requirement will augment sustainment capabilities in austere conditions with more rapid technologies able to produce a broader spectrum of components when compared to the current state of the art. Additionally, this effort has potential for applications in the oil and gas industry to enable enhanced facility and equipment sustainment on-site which can allow continued operations and sustained production rates. Follow-on work should focus on certifying materials through process development to produce qualified application-critical weapon system components. REFERENCES: 1. American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM ISO/ASTM52900-21 Additive Manufacturing – General Principles – Fundamentals and Vocabulary, https://www.astm.org/f3177-21.html (accessed 31 OCT 2022). 2. McCarthy, D.L. & Williams, C.B.. (2012). Creating complex hollow metal geometries using additive manufacturing and electro forming. 23rd Annual International Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium – An Additive Manufacturing Conference, SFF 2012. 108-120. 3. Rasiya, Gulnaaz & Shukla, Abhinav & Saran, Karan. (2021). Additive Manufacturing-A Review. Materials Today: Proceedings. 47. 4. Benson, J.M.. (2012). Safety considerations when handling metal powders. Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. 112. 563-575. 5. Pauzon, Camille & Hryha, Eduard & Forêt, Pierre & Nyborg, Lars. (2019). Effect of argon and nitrogen atmospheres on the properties of stainless steel 316 L parts produced by laser-powder bed fusion. Materials & Design. 179. 107873. KEYWORDS: additive, manufacturing, laser, electron, beam, metal, powder, expeditionary

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Hypersonics The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: A methodology or methodologies to join ultra-high temperature ceramics to a variety of dissimilar substrate materials such as carbon-carbon, ceramic matrix composites and lightweight metals. DESCRIPTION: The U.S. Army must develop highly maneuverable hypersonic weapons that can survive high-G shock loads and harsh aerothermodynamic environments in a GPS-denied environment. To enable these requirements new materials and new manufacturing methods must be developed. There has been increasing desire to develop vehicles and projectiles that travel at the speed of sound and beyond. Materials with melting temperatures of 2000C and higher, ceramics based on silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon nitride (Si3N4) as well as carbon-carbon (C-C) composites, were developed and investigated to handle the aerothermal heating experienced at nose tips and leading edges of vehicles traveling at these velocities. The desire to push velocities into the hypersonic regime requires the development of materials with oxidation resistance and thermomechanical properties that can handle aerothermal heating to 3000C. The temperature requirement alone severely limits the available materials. Carbides and/or borides of hafnium (Hf), zirconium (Zr), titanium (Ti) and tantalum (Ta) fall into this category as do composites based on these materials and potentially high-entropy ceramics (HEC) that are multicomponent ceramics. While these materials meet the necessary temperature requirement and significant effort has been made in improving the properties at these temperatures the geometric complexity of the components as well as the cost associated with the manufacturing these materials it is currently impractical to expect these materials to be employed as monoliths in this application. What is more likely is the development of components comprised of multiple materials. Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), C-C, and lightweight metals could be used as the structural component and can be produced cost-effectively and with the necessary geometric complexity while a UHTC layer on top of the component will protect the structural material from the extreme environments experienced during hypersonic flight. This will only work if these dissimilar materials are properly joined together to take fully take advantage of the benefits of these vastly different materials. The need to join dissimilar materials is not new. Methods such as welding, brazing and solid-state joining have been explored to create innovative ceramic/metal systems that result in improved impact resistance or that can function in advanced diesel and turbine engines as well as a variety of other applications. Success has been limited as a major challenge has been overcoming the residual stresses that develop at the interface due to the significant difference in thermal expansion of the materials. These residual stresses, if not property controlled, lead to generated of cracks and damage that lead to property degradation and reduced reliability of the joint. The focus of this effort will be the development of cost-effective methodologies to join these dissimilar materials to produce multi-material components that can survive the extreme environments encountered during launch and hypersonic flight. The focus will be on joining an ultra-high temperature ceramic to a carbon-carbon composite. A potential advantage over previous joining attempts is that the thermal expansion coefficient of these materials can be tailored to minimize or control the level of residual stress in the system increasing the likelihood of the success. PHASE I: The offerer will demonstrate a method or methods of joining a UHTC (preferably a ZrB2-SiC composition) to a C-C composite and a Zr metal substrate. Treating the UHTC and/or substrate surface and/or the use of a filler material(s) between the UHTC and substrate to promote joining are permitted. At a minimum the following will be performed: • Microstructural characterization of the joint area to determine the extent and quality of the interface including the edges of the interface as well as identifying any damage to the UHTC or substrate that may have occurred due to the joining process, • Measurement of residual stresses that develop at the interface as well as in the UHTC and the substrate material, • Mechanical characterization of the UHTC/substrate joints at room temperature to determine the interfacial tensile and shear strength, • Perform fracture analysis of the mechanically tested specimens to assess joint quality and identify the failure process, • Determine the oxidation resistance of joined UHTC/substrate materials at temperatures up to 1200C, and • Perform thermal shock testing by heating the joined material to 1200C followed by a rapid quench to room temperature in water. A successful joining method will be one where the room temperature interfacial shear and tensile strength are ≥ 150MPa and ≥ 70MPa, respectively. Any joined material that meets these strength metrics must also survive thermal shock testing, material remains joined with minimal to no damage of either material or the joint, in order to be considered a success. PHASE II: Utilizing the successful fabrication techniques developed in Phase I the Phase II effort will have two primary tasks. One will be focused on the optimizing the joining procedure to achieve higher interfacial properties as well as increased oxidation and thermal shock resistance plus expansion of the material selection for the UHTC (inclusion of Hf-based compositions and/or high entropy alloys) and if appropriate the substrate material. The other objective will be the development and testing of procedures and methodologies to fabricate near-net shape and net shape components with complex geometries, such as leading edges and curved surfaces, needed for hypersonic flight. The characterization tasks from Phase 1 will be repeated on any joined materials fabricated with an optimized joining techniques or any newly developed material combinations with the following changes: • Characterization of the UHTC/substrate joints to determine interfacial mechanical properties such as shear and tensile strength from room temperature to 2000C, • Oxidation resistance of the joined UHTC/substrate material will be determined from room temperature to 2000C, and • Thermal shock resistance of the joined UHTC/substrate material will be determined by heating the joined material to 2000C followed by a rapid quench to room temperature. Additional testing and evaluation will include: • Conduct burner rig tests at temperatures up to 2000C in an oxidizing environment to determine the performance and lifetime of the joined material, • Determine the performance of the joined material at high G shock loads (up to 25000G), and • Determine the performance of near-net and net shape components with appropriate complex geometries by exposing them to the harsh aerodynamic environments experienced during hypersonic flight. Success will be determined if the joined material system with a complex geometry has an interfacial shear and tensile strength of ≥ 150MPa and ≥ 70MPa, respectively at 2000C, survive thermal shock testing with the material system remaining intact with minimal to no damage of either material or the joint. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: It is envisioned that the R&D conducted as part of this STTR will provide the foundation of a commercially available method for joining the dissimilar materials needed for military weapons systems to survive and provide maximum performance in the extreme environments experienced in hypersonic flight. Of specific interest will be the development of material systems that can handle the environments experienced by a nose cone and other leading edge applications. REFERENCES: 1. F.A. Mir, N.Z. Khan and S. Parvez, “Recent Advances and Development in Joining of Ceramics to Metals,” Mat. Today: Proceedings, 46 [15] 6570-6575 (2021) 2. M.B. Uday, M.N. Ahmad-Fauzi, A.M. Noor and S. Rajoo, “Current Issues and Problems in Joining of Ceramic to Metal,” in Joining Technologies, M. Ishak, ed., (2016) 3. E. Wuchina, E. Opila, M. Opeka, W. Fahrenholtz and I. Talmy, “UHTCs: Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic Materials for Extremen Environmental Applications,” Elec. Chem. Soc. Interface, 30-36 (2007) 4. W.G. Fahrenholtz and G.E. Hilmas, “Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics: Materials for Extreme Environments, Scripta Mat., 129, 94-99 (2017) 5. R. Loehman, E. Coral, H.P. Dumm, P. Kotula and R. Tandon, “Ultra High Temperature Ceramcis for Hypersonic Vehicle Applications,” Sandia National Laboratories, SAND 2006-2925 (2006) 6. F. Monteverde and L. Scatteia, “Resistance to Thermal Shock and to Oxidation of Metal Diborides-SiC Ceramics for Aerospace Applications, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 90 [4] 1130-1138 (2007) 7. W.G. Fahrenholtz, G.E. Hilmas, I.G. Talmy and J.A. Zaykoski, “Refractory Diborides of Zirconium and Hafnium,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 90 [5] 1347-1364 (2007) 8. S.A. Alvi, H. Zhang and F. Akhtar, “High-Entropy Ceramics,” IntechOpen 9. J. Gild, Y. Zhang, T, Harrington, S. Jiang, T. Hu, M.C.Quinn, W.M. Mellor, N. Zhou, K, Vecchio and J. Lou, “High-Entropy Metal Diborides: A New Class of High-Entropy Materials and a New Type of Ultrahigh Temperature Ceramics,” Sci. Rep. 6, 37946 (2016) KEYWORDS: Hypersonic Flight; Ultra High Temperature Ceramics; Joining; Bonding; Thermomechanical Properties

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Hypersonics The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: To incorporate new mathematical constructs and high-fidelity design tools to predict time-accurate aerothermodynamics of hypersonic vehicles. DESCRIPTION: The United States Army has a need to develop high-fidelity, computationally efficient solvers for the aerodynamic analysis and design of vehicles ranging from rotary-wing aircrafts to medium/long-range hypersonic projectiles. The CREATETM -AV Kestrel team has been developing a comprehensive suite of codes with a combined on-body/off-body computational approach for the prediction of flows around such vehicles for over a decade. The Army has unique gaps in understanding the flight characteristics (e.g., flow structures, pressure distribution, thermal loading) of hypersonic vehicles at high Reynolds numbers, in small physical scales with geometrical uncertainty, and with configurational asymmetries. While robustness and accuracy of Kestrel computational fluid dynamic (CFD) solvers is under continuous improvement [2,4,5], recent advancements in hypersonic boundary layer transition and turbulence modeling [6] for on-body solvers and sub-filter-scale (SFS) vorticity-preserving methods for off-body solvers [3] are yet to be incorporated into Kestrel. Correct prediction of hypersonic boundary layer transition locations, turbulent heat fluxes and vortical structures of high-speed wakes are of paramount importance in enabling the prediction of a next generation Army hypersonic vehicle’s performance. For the near-body analysis, several mesh options are available in Kestrel including strand, structured, and unstructured meshes. The off-body dynamics of freely evolving vortical wakes are handled in Kestrel via a high-order block-Cartesian Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) approach. In both the on-body and off-body domains, numerical dissipation decreases the effective resolution and overall fidelity of computations, in exchange for high degrees of robustness, especially with complex vehicle geometries [2,4]. The fidelity of the Kestrel suite needs to be augmented specifically to capture key features of hypersonic flight, namely: (a) boundary layer transition locations and hypersonic turbulent heat-fluxes and shear-stresses (on-body); (b) high-Reynolds-number high-speed vortex dynamics in the wake (off-body). More specifically: (a) In the near-body region, key fluid dynamic features to capture include ultrasonic acoustic waves trapped in the boundary layer responsible for hypersonic boundary layer transition to turbulence under canonical flow conditions. To improve Kestrel’s hypersonic transition modeling capabilities, verification and validation against high-fidelity numerical approaches capable of shock capturing and dynamic turbulence modeling [6], and experimental data from hypersonic quiet wind tunnels [1], respectively, are required. (b) In the off-body region, compressible coherent vortex structures, and their interactions with shocks, affect aerodynamic forces and moments of projectiles and lifting bodies. Kestrel’s off-body solver currently lacks adequate SFS -- or large-eddy-simulation (LES) -- closures for high-Reynolds-number compressible vorticity. Classic LES models rely on a local isotropic turbulent eddy viscosity closure for the SFS stresses; however, such approach is overly dissipative [4] if not equipped with a dynamic procedure [3]. This should leverage any related investments from partners such as the Air Force or NASA. This applies broadly to the energy category of efficiency because the utilization of hypersonic weapons may reduce the timeline of conflicts which ultimately reduces energy. PHASE I: The Phase 1 effort shall carefully assess the current hypersonic flow prediction capabilities of modern multi-physics solvers (e.g., Kestrel) [5] against benchmark-quality hypersonic quiet wind tunnel experiments [1] and state-of-the-art high-fidelity calculations [3,6] for flow conditions and geometries of interest to the Army. An uncertainty analysis of the predicted boundary layer transition location, and the on-body and off-body turbulent shear-stress and heat- flux levels, should also be carried out by exploring the currently available multi-physics solvers (e.g., Kestrel) model parameter space. Focus of the work will be with unstructured, finite-volume solver, KCFD, for near- and off-body predictions and the high-order, finite-volume Cartesian solver, e.g., SAMAIR, for off-body only predictions. However, methods developed will be applicable to other modern CFD solvers (e.g., Kestrel). Wind tunnel data should replicate natural transition dynamics under quiet conditions over the full extent of an Army reference vehicle, including on-body pressure sensor data and off-body wake surveys, for canonical flow conditions (e.g. low enthalpy and zero angle of attack). Reference boundary-layer-attached high-fidelity simulations need to capture the full range of boundary layer dynamics, from the modal transition process to the turbulent breakdown including the intermittency of the transitional region. One of the Phase 1 outcomes will be outline of Phase 2 schedule for implementation of augmented hypersonic transition and turbulence models in Kestrel, developed in coordination with the CREATE^TM-AV team. PHASE II: Phase 2 should involve direct modifications to the on-body and off-body source codes of the Kestrel solvers (or utilization of the external Python-API) executed under close supervision by the CREATE^TM-AV team. Once new functionalities are integrated and tested, re-assessment of Kestrel’s performance on the Phase 1 canonical benchmark cases should be completed to highlight and quantify improvements made. After re- assessment, the new implementation should be tested against larger-scale and more complex hypersonic test cases, which may include non-zero angles of attack and aerothermochemistry effects. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Collaborate with model, software developers, and users on integration of products into a Long Range Precision Fires application. Optimize toolset to accommodate new advances in the technology delivering high-speed weapons in anti-access/area-denial environments. Transition the technology to an appropriate government agency or prime defense contractor for integration and testing. Integrate and validate the functional aerothermodynamic tools into a real-world development or acquisition program. REFERENCES: 1. T. J. Juliano, S. P. Schneider, S. Aradag, and D. Knight. "Quiet-flow Ludwieg tube for hypersonic transition research"". AIAA Journal, 46(7):1757–1763, July 2008 2. D. R. McDaniel, R.H. Nichols, T. A. Eymann, R.E. Starr and S. A. Morton, "Accuracy and Performance Improvements to Kestrel's Near-Body Flow Solver". AIAA SciTech Forum, p.1051, 2016. 3. J.-B. Chapelier, B. Wasistho and C. Scalo, "A Coherent vorticity preserving eddy-viscosity correction for Large- Eddy Simulation," Journal of Computational Physics, vol. 359, pp. 164--182, 2018. 4. R. H. Nichols, "A Summary of the Turbulence Models in the CREATE-AV Kestrel Flow Solvers," AIAA SciTech Forum, p. 1342, 2019. 5. R.H. Nichols, "Modification of the Turbulence Models in the CREATETM-AV Kestrel Flow Solvers for HIgh-Speed Flows, AIAA SciTech Forum, p. 1174, 2022 6. V. C. Sousa and C. Scalo, "A unified Quasi-Spectral Viscosity (QSV) approach to shock capturing and large-eddy simulation," Journal of Computational Physics, vol. 459, p. 111139, 2022. KEYWORDS: Hypersonics, aerothermodynamics, modeling, design, tools, air vehicles

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Trusted AI and Autonomy, Integrated Network System of Systems OBJECTIVE: This project seeks the development and demonstration of algorithms that support near-optimal control of autonomous high speed aerial vehicles in real time, with precision, and in challenging and adversarial environments. DESCRIPTION: Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) used by the Army may be subject to harsh conditions in hostile environments. They need to be able to sense heavy disturbances in their environment that affect their operations, instantaneously adjust to overcome their impact. Furthermore, they should form and track a mission supporting trajectory in real time with speed and agility. Control systems that directly integrate feedback from complex inertial sensors, such as high-end inertial measurement units, or novel odometry systems, and semantic feedback from exteroceptive sensors, such as cameras have the potential to substantially increase the maneuvering capability of high-speed vehicles used or envisioned by the Army. Such measurements can be used in the feedback loop to instantaneously adjust controls to overcome disturbances, as well as predicting abrupt changes in the disturbances and issue predictive control mechanisms. This approach could enable safe and effective operation of for small UASs under excessive wind, abrupt changes in atmospheric pressure due to effects such as blast waves, and occurrence of obstacles which may not be known in advance. This project seeks the development and demonstration of algorithms that can control autonomous aerial vehicles with precision in challenging and adversarial environments listed above, using integrated real-time information from precision inertial sensors and high-frame-rate cameras. The trajectories are pre-determined by the mission in terms of a sequence of waypoints, but they can be subject to small changes based on real-time information acquired by sensors. In general, models describing such systems are complex, and real-time generation of time optimal control policies is challenging. Incorporation of data driven approaches using innovative machine learning algorithms could provide acceptable near-optimal solutions. The research also involves integration of information from a variety of sensors into a from that can be used by the controllers to ensure the stated goals. The proposed algorithms should be implementable over computing hardware that can fit the platform of choice for the demonstration. Sensors that can provide the required information should be specified and the impact of possible gaps in their commercial availability should be identified. It is expected that the computed control laws can provide a performance within 20% of is preselected values of the trajectories and the instantaneous velocities as obtained from simulations and analysis. The demonstration should produce tracking errors no larger than 20 centimeters over the planned trajectory with wind conditions less than 20 miles/hour and have the errors stay bounded under more challenging conditions. A UAS of four vehicles should be able to perform agile movements as required by the control law at a speed more than 15 miles/hour, while reaching the maximum speed of the platform in favorable parts of the trajectory. PHASE I: During Phase I effort, the proposed control algorithms will be completely specified and validated using simulations over realistic scenarios. The theoretical underpinnings of the proposed algorithms should be discussed with technical rigor, accompanied with their analysis of stability, safety and convergence conditions. PHASE II: Four or more or small-scale prototype vehicles with sensor, computation and control units will be designed based on the numerical model and design methodology developed in Phase I, technologies. The prototype devices can be built on commercially available state of the art small rotary wing quadcopters. If applicable, performers are encouraged their own designed crafts with comparable or better performance than commercially available units. Technical risks will be identified and plans for minimizing these risks will be devised. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III effort will explore opportunities for integrating developed technologies into various UAS and weapon systems used by the Army. REFERENCES: 1. W. Sun, G. Tang, and K. Hauser. Fast UAV trajectory optimization using bilevel optimization with analytical gradients. In 2020 American Control Conference (ACC), pages 82–87. 2. D. Mellinger and V. Kumar. Minimum snap trajectory generation and control for quadrotors. In 2011 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, pages 2520–2525 3. S.Meyn. Control Systems and Reinforcement Learning, Cambridge University Press, 2022. KEYWORDS: UAS, Trajectory Planning, Time Optimal Control, Reinforcement Learning

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Integrated Network System of Systems, Directed Energy OBJECTIVE: Develop compact chip-scale blue laser systems with high beam quality useful for machining and propagation. Advances based upon the coherent beam combining of diode lasers of high brightness are sought. DESCRIPTION: Laser systems in the infrared have a long history of development for both DoD and commercial applications. Blue laser diode systems have been developed with improved performance over the past 2 decades; however, their brightness and power levels are much less than the best infrared systems. Of particular interest is GaN based blue laser diodes which have superior brightness and power scaling potential over the current state-of-the-art. Blue light at wavelengths around 450 nm is of particular interest due to the increased absorption in many materials, particularly metals. The laser energy can thus be transmitted into the material more quickly for more precise machining with less power. The Army would like to develop superior blue laser systems to assess applications in machining and directed energy where more compact and high performing systems may be possible. Diode systems are of interest due to their compact size and GaN is known as a high thermal conductivity material so may be amenable to significant power scaling if coherent combining architectures can be developed. Finally, high beam quality and brightness are of interest for the applications and may require consideration of the laser diode architecture itself, and not just the beam combining architecture. However, the desired metrics for this topic allow for flexibility in the device approach. PHASE I: Pursue chip-scale directed energy beam combining techniques using high efficiency diode lasers exceeding 30% wall-plug efficiency each with 0.4-0.46 micron wavelengths. Design coherent beam combining architecture for either surface emitting arrays or in-plane laser beam combining. Use of monolithic cavities or chip-scale solutions should be pursued both to demonstrate minimal footprint and show a path toward combining larger numbers of lasers. Additional design considerations should be investigated for the incorporation of effective liquid cooling of arrays to explore maximum power levels. Brightness levels of 200 MW/cm2*sr should be shown to be feasible along with power scaling to > 100 W power levels/cm2 – without coherent combining, but to show thermal heat dissipation design considerations. A demonstration of high-brightness, single mode, Watt-level single emitters should be made along with designs for coherent combining of arrays to reach at least 15 W. PHASE II: Continue implementation of coherent beam combining designs. Pursue 15 - 100 W peak power, uncooled coherently combined arrays and designs for higher power, cooled arrays. Brightness levels of 1000 MW/ cm2*sr should be demonstrated that achieve combining efficiencies of 70% or more for the chip-scale architecture. Optimization of the arrays and studies on minimal spacing between individual lasers for the nominal power target level and within the beam combining architecture should continue along with needed studies to explore power scaling with larger arrays. Demonstration of chip-scale DE systems that achieve > 15 W peak power with designs that can scale to over 100 W and potential to achieve kWs. An assessment of cooling for the array to achieve continuous wave operation should be made toward phase III demonstrations. Eventually, cooled arrays of 100 W or more per square centimeter average power are desired. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Pursue further optimization of array cooling and power scaling with refined chip-scale designs. In addition, multi-stage architectures should be pursued to combine lower power arrays to achieve kW power level output. Monolithic cavities should be pursued for at least the first stage of combining with secondary combining by either external cavities or secondary monolithic cavities. Other consideration to utilize techniques to create lower power arrays (still multi-Watt) for additive manufacturing, under-water laser communications, and beam scanning and surveillance lidar should be made. Particular consideration for phased arrays should be considered for beam steering and adaptive optical beam control to mitigate atmospheric turbulence to achieve maximum power on target. REFERENCES: 1. J.A. Davis, “HEL Wavelengths & Platform Locations! What are the Impacts?” 2020 DEPS Systems Symposium, November 2020. 2. M. S. Zediker, "Blue laser technology for defense applications," Proc. SPIE 12092, Laser Technology for Defense and Security XVII, 1209207 (30 May 2022). 3. Inoue, T., Yoshida, M., Gelleta, J. et al. General recipe to realize photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers with 100-W-to-1-kW single-mode operation. Nature Communications 13, 3262 (2022). 4. M. Ali et al., "Recent advances in high power blue laser diodes," 2017 IEEE High Power Diode Lasers and Systems Conference (HPD), 2017, pp. 47-48, doi: 10.1109/HPD.2017.8261094. 5. R. Liu, Y. Liu, Y. Braiman, “Coherent beam combining of high power broad area laser diode array with a closed-V-shape external Talbot cavity,” Optics Express, Vol. 18, No. 7, 29 March 2010. 6. D. Zhou, J.-F. Seurin, G. Xu, P. Zhao, B. Xu, et al, “Progress on high-power high brightness VCSELs and applications,” Proc. SPIE Vol. 9381, Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers XIX,9 3810B (4 March 2015); doi: 10.1117/12/2080145. KEYWORDS: blue laser diodes, additive manufacturing, brightness, gallium nitride, directed energy, coherent beam combining

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Integrated Network System of Systems OBJECTIVE: Develop a UAS mountable sensor and transmit package that will provide a standalone low-cost survey, including geolocation, of the electromagnetic spectrum without the need for corporate support. DESCRIPTION: Many military and civilian applications require rapid survey of the electromagnetic spectrum for identification and the geolocation of electromagnetic emitters. A UAS provides an ideal platform for rapid surveys in possibly hazardous environments. For example, in a natural disaster Emergency Management Services (EMS) require a rapid means of surveying the electromagnetic spectrum that will identify cell phone signals and locate the sources of those signals. The small tactical military unit has a similar need. The technical challenges are developing a low weight sensor that will detect signals, provide geolocation from a small platform, and in real time relay the geolocation information back to decision makers. In the operational scenarios envisioned there cannot be the expectation of external technical support that would aid in the identification and classification of signals. In addition, the form factor of the UAS should be one that enables a single person to carry and deploy, e.g. a quadcopter drone. With the recent development of lightweight, high fidelity RF components through advanced manufacturing techniques and advanced genetic algorithm design provide a new technology to enable the precision, range and SWAP needed for electromagnetic spectrum surveying in battlefield environments. As an example, application specific electrically small antennas can be manufactured with minimal time, cost and weight. In addition, RF shielding for high-dynamic range measurements can be enabled through light-weight artificial materials acting as shields and directors, separating the electrically noisy components of a UAS from sensitive RF electronics. Traditionally, communication signals have been identified through correlation of integrated emissions over a period of time. Civilian and military communications have evolved so that the frequencies use short duration pulsed communications and each emission at subsequent intervals can be centered at different frequencies. Technology is required to efficiently capture the presence of signals rather than the content of the actual signals. Thus, it is more important to know that there is a signal and locate the source of the signal than to know details about the signal. Details such as operating frequency and modulation characteristics are not as important but would of course be of interest. Geolocation is also important and possible solutions include using multiple UAS platforms, using synthetic aperture techniques, time of arrival, or possibly even signal strength determinations as the UAS flies in a formation. This topic shall be manufactured and/or assembled within the continental United States. PHASE I: Develop a system design for a Class I or Class II UAS platform or platforms to map electromagnetic signal emitters including signal type and geolocation. The system should meet threshold values of a payload capacity of up to 10lbs and a minimum operational time of 15 minutes with a minimum observational range of 1 km and an objective payload weight of 5 lbs, operation time of 30 minutes, and observational range of 5km. This should include a spectrum sensing algorithm for use on a UAS and a corresponding system hardware architecture. The objective for spectral sensing should be between 3MHz-6 GHz, able to sense RF power below -90 dBm and produce an accuracy of < 100 meter of signal emitter location. PHASE II: Design and fabricate a UAS electromagnetic sensing system including the algorithms developed in Phase I. The system sensitivity will be improved to below -100dBm. The design of RF shielding and directionality for signal enhancement through custom antenna design and shielding will be demonstrated. The system should then be integrated with a UAS platform that meets or exceeds PHI standards with an improved flight time of no less than 30 minutes and range > 10km supporting maximum payload. Data can be stored locally for retrieval upon return, however the ability to transmit data concurrently with spectrum and location mapping is desired. The UAS should be launchable from a single person. The sensing system should be able to: identify signal emitters by frequency and power, sense RF power below -100 dBm, and provide geolocation with <25m resolution. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The UAS platform demonstrated in Phase II will be developed for specific mission targets in collaboration with Army needs. It is expected that the payload capacity should increase to >15lbs, range should be increased to > 50 km with a flight time > 60 minutes and multiple sensing frequency bands can be concurrently sensed. The UAS system should be able to sense RF power below -100 dBm and also geolocate with < 10 m resolution. REFERENCES: 1. Martian, A. Real-time spectrum sensing using software defined radio platforms. Telecommun Syst 64, 749–761 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11235-016-0205-z 2. Zhao, Xiaoyue & Pu, Fangling & Wang, Hangzhi & Chen, Hongyu & Xu, Zhaozhuo. (2019). Detection, Tracking, and Geolocation of Moving Vehicle from UAV Using Monocular Camera. IEEE Access. PP. 1-1. 10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2929760. KEYWORDS: UAS, UAV, electromagnetic spectrum, sensing, geolocation

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Trusted AI and Autonomy, Integrated Network System of Systems OBJECTIVE: An autonomous legged robotic control system capable of navigating highly uneven, obstructed, and uncertain terrain. DESCRIPTION: The future Warfighter will require autonomous robotic systems to traverse highly uneven, obstructed, and uncertain terrain at speed. Legged platforms are clear frontrunners to meet this requirement, but the control of such systems presents a substantial engineering challenge. However, recent developments in hybrid dynamical systems (the branch of control engineering science that effectively models legged systems) and computational capability suggest that the time to address this challenge has arrived. New techniques in signal filtration and uncertainty characterization may be refined to create a controller capable of guiding a robotic platform across terrain that, up until now, has been impassable by an autonomous agent. Successful performers will have to prove the validity of novel physics-based models and control frameworks for a quadruped robot in question for wide arrays of tasks and demonstrate superiority of this paradigm over learning-based control in specific situations. The results will be further streamlined and tested on current quadruped robots. PHASE I: Design, develop, and validate improved techniques for state estimation and uncertainty propagation in model predictive control of hybrid dynamical systems - specifically quadruped robots in dynamic and uncertain environments. Demonstrate proof-of-concept of this new control paradigm, and quantify its efficacy over the current state-of-the-art. This demonstration should illustrate the ability of a quadruped robot to successfully autonomously navigate a test environment featuring sharply uneven terrain (roots and rocks whose characteristic length are on the order of, and slightly larger than, that of the quadruped foot) hidden underneath grass or grass-like obstructions whose height is on the order of the robot’s. A successful demonstration will permit a quadruped to traverse ten body lengths at 0.5 body lengths per second over flat but uneven terrain featuring ground level variance and grass-like obstructions not exceeding 20% of the robot's height. PHASE II: Design, develop, and validate broad techniques for state estimation and uncertainty propagation across a wide array of physical environments in which a quadruped robot may operate. Demonstrate integration with existing novel perception and sensing capability in a path-planning exercise whose terrain includes obstructions like those in the demonstration of Phase I. Phase II should extend the methodologies of proprioception developed in Phase I to enable increased performance. Compare the efficacy of this new controller against that of traditional techniques such as deep reinforcement learning (DRL) controllers or Model Predictive Control (MPC). A successful demonstration will permit a quadruped to traverse a five body-length incline of +/- 20 degrees with root-like obstructions and slippery surfaces at 0.3 body lengths per second. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The end-state control architecture should be mature enough to extrapolate locomotor performance to any number of scenarios, environments, and robotic platforms. The ideal resulting controllers will feature selective frameworks (such as a framework that could choose between MPC, DRL, etc.), and the inherent ability to determine what control technique is most effective for the task at hand. Production-ready controllers will also enable a robotic platform to extract itself from a ”stuck” position in brush, soft soil, and/or rocky terrain. REFERENCES: 1. Christopher Allred, Mason Russell, Mario Harper, and Jason Pusey. Improving methods for multi- terrain classification beyond visual perception. In 2021 Fifth IEEE International Conference on Robotic Computing (IRC), pages 96–99. IEEE, 2021. 2. Berk Altın and Ricardo G Sanfelice. Model predictive control for hybrid dynamical systems: Sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability with persistent flows or jumps. In 2020 American Control Conference (ACC), pages 1791–1796. IEEE, 2020. 3. Taylor Apgar, Patrick Clary, Kevin Green, Alan Fern, and Jonathan W Hurst. Fast online trajectory optimization for the bipedal robot cassie. In Robotics: Science and Systems, volume 101, page 14, 2018. 4. Max Austin, John Nicholson, Jason White, Sean Gart, Ashley Chase, Jason Pusey, Christian Hubicki, and Jonathan E Clark. Optimizing dynamic legged locomotion in mixed, resistive media. In 2022 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics (AIM), pages 1482–1488. IEEE, 2022. 5. Yanran Ding, Abhishek Pandala, Chuanzheng Li, Young-Ha Shin, and Hae-Won Park. Representation- free model predictive control for dynamic motions in quadrupeds. IEEE Transactions on Robotics, 37(4):1154–1171, 2021. 6. Wei Gao, Charles Young, John Nicholson, Christian Hubicki, and Jonathan Clark. Fast, versatile, and open-loop stable running behaviors with proprioceptive-only sensing using model-based optimization. In 2020 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), pages 483–489. IEEE, 2020. 7. Philip Holmes, Robert J Full, Dan Koditschek, and John Guckenheimer. The dynamics of legged locomotion: Models, analyses, and challenges. SIAM review, 48(2):207–304, 2006. 8. Donghyun Kim, Jared Di Carlo, Benjamin Katz, Gerardo Bledt, and Sangbae Kim. Highly dynamic quadruped locomotion via whole-body impulse control and model predictive control. arXiv preprint arXiv:1909.06586, 2019. 9. Daniel E Koditschek. What is robotics? why do we need it and how can we get it? Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems, 4:1–33, 2021. 10. Nathan J Kong, J Joe Payne, George Council, and Aaron M Johnson. The salted kalman filter: Kalman filtering on hybrid dynamical systems. Automatica, 131:109752, 2021. 11. Matthew D Kvalheim, Paul Gustafson, and Daniel E Koditschek. Conley’s fundamental theorem for a class of hybrid systems. SIAM Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems, 20(2):784–825, 2021. 12. Hai Lin and Panos J Antsaklis. Modeling of hybrid systems. In Hybrid Dynamical Systems, pages 11–64. Springer, 2022. 13. Yuan Lin, John McPhee, and Nasser L Azad. Comparison of deep reinforcement learning and model predictive control for adaptive cruise control. IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Vehicles, 6(2):221–231, 2020. 14. David M Mackie. Analysis of army doctrine documents with respect to artificial muscle and robotic mules. Technical report, CCDC Army Research Laboratory, 2020. 15. Takahiro Miki, Joonho Lee, Jemin Hwangbo, Lorenz Wellhausen, Vladlen Koltun, and Marco Hut- ter. Learning robust perceptive locomotion for quadrupedal robots in the wild. Science Robotics, 7(62):eabk2822, 2022. 16. Marion Sobotka. Hybrid dynamical system methods for legged robot locomotion with variable ground contact. PhD thesis, Technische Universit¨at Mu¨nchen, 2007. 17. Arjan J Van Der Schaft and Hans Schumacher. An introduction to hybrid dynamical systems, volume 251. springer, 2007. KEYWORDS: Robotics, Control, Dynamical Systems, Hybrid Dynamical Systems, Model Predictive Control, Perception, Proprioception, Exteroception, Path Planning, Nonlinear Systems

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Hypersonics The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate a methodology for design and optimization of pyrolysis schedules to generate desirable carbon matrices for carbon-carbon composites. DESCRIPTION: Carbon-carbon composites (CCCs) have been utilized for hypersonics applications for decades. For much of that time, the state of the art in source materials, particularly for the matrix phase, has advanced slowly or not at all. Recently, however, a spate of new potential materials (particularly polymer resins) have been developed and are being evaluated as possible precursors for CCCs. The development and commercialization of these polymers represents an exciting opportunity to meaningfully advance the state of the art in CCC fabrication. However, to date, the manufacture of CCCs is still a long and expensive process, and the urgent and increasing DoD need for these materials in the short and medium term necessitates efforts to bring article lead times and cost down. Since CCC costs are primarily driven not by precursor material costs, but by processing costs, it is important to assess new potential precursor material solutions by the impact of their use on the efficiency of downstream processing steps, i.e., densification cycles. However, the efficacy of a given potential material solution is driven not only by the chemistry of the matrix precursor material, but by how that chemistry behaves during the pyrolysis cycle to which the material is subjected to render a carbon matrix [1]. The nature of the pyrolysis cycle determines several important factors of the resulting matrix and composite. First, the details of the pyrolysis cycle can affect the resulting char yield [2], which is a metric that receives a large amount of attention from polymer developers as they develop new materials. Second, the differences in pyrolysis cycle can influence the microstructure of the resulting voids left behind after pyrolysis [3], which can be large drivers of the efficiency of subsequent densification cycles. That is, for the purposes of redensification, it is desirable to have voids which are 1) of a size which can be efficiently filled by the carbon medium used downstream, and 2) highly connected throughout the part rather than closed and isolated. Third, the pyrolysis cycle parameters should allow for volatiles generated during the pyrolysis to leave the material quickly enough to avoid generating excessive pore pressures [4], which can lead to undesirable outcomes including destructive delaminations, which may render a CCC part unusable. Currently, there are no commercially available methods to guide resin development or to optimize the pyrolysis of new resins with an aim to improving any of the above metrics. Therefore, we seek the development of novel tools and approaches to optimization of pyrolysis cycles that will allow for more cost effective and efficient densification of CCCs for hypersonics applications. Such tools should be robust and broadly applicable to different chemistries of interest, rather than tailored exclusively to one particular chemistry, and be transitionable to DoD and industry partners. PHASE I: The offeror shall develop a method to optimize the pyrolysis cycle for one carbon precursor (e.g., resin or pitch) material of interest to the DoD hypersonics community. This method shall be demonstrated to achieve meaningful improvement of some aspect of the resulting carbon matrix in a CCC that is expected to result in materially improved efficiency of downstream densification cycles. Measured improvement will be in the context of a composite form relevant to DoD hypersonics needs, i.e., either a continuous fiber 2D or 3D woven carbon form of at least ½” thickness. Metrics of improvement may include 1) increase in char yield, wherein the offeror will show at least 10% improvement in char yield over the baseline case; 2) improved void microstructure for efficient redensification, wherein the improvement may be compared to the baseline case using void characterization techniques including, but not limited to, mercury intrusion porisimetry, pycnometry, computed tomography, or diffusivity measurement; or 3) any other reasonable metric commonly accepted by the CCC community as an indicator of expected improvement in densification efficiency. The baseline in all cases will be defined as a temperature ramp from room temperature to 1000°C at a rate of 5°C/min in an inert atmosphere, or some other reasonable pyrolysis cycle in common use in the industry. The offeror may make use of industry- and DoD-derived databases of pyrolysis processes if these are available, but as these will largely be proprietary, the offeror may need to conduct pyrolysis cycles independently to establish the necessary datasets for development of the tool. The offeror is encouraged to keep in mind the need to deliver a product that can be readily transitioned and commercialized at the end of the period of performance. PHASE II: The offeror shall expand the method developed in Phase I to demonstrate the broad applicability of the method to at least two additional carbon matrix precursor chemistries of interest to the DoD hypersonics community. The offeror will demonstrate improvement of pyrolysis cycle for downstream reinfusion/densification with, e.g., demonstration of more complete and uniform infusion of polymer resin into pyrolyzed composite compared to baseline. (Additional pyrolysis and reinfusions beyond this are not required.) The offeror shall deliver a method and toolset that can be readily transitioned and commercialized. The toolset may be standalone software, software modules that can be integrated into existing commercial software, an analytical model, or any other similar transitionable knowledge product. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The offeror is expected to aggressively pursue opportunities to market the method developed herein for use in CCC fabrication for DoD-relevant hypersonics applications. REFERENCES: 1. “Simulating the Initial Stage of Phenolic Resin Carbonization via the ReaxFF Reactive Force Field”, De-en Jiang, Adri C. T. van Duin, William A. Goddard III, and Sheng Dai; J. Phys. Chem. A, 2009 2. “Modification of the pyrolysis/carbonization of PPTA polymer by intermediate isothermal treatments”, Alberto Castro-Muñiz, Amelia Martínez-Alonso, Juan M.D. Tascón; Carbon, 2008 3. “Effect of processing parameters on the mechanical properties of carbonized phenolic resin”, Chul Rim Choe, Kwang Hee Lee, Byung Il Yoon; Carbon 1992 4. “Stress and damage development in the carbonization process of manufacturing carbon/carbon composites”, Tiantian Yin, Yu Wang, Linghui He, Xinglong Gong; Comp. Mat. Sci., 2017 KEYWORDS: Carbon-carbon; pyrolysis; optimization; polymer design; hypersonics; materials; processing.

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Technology OBJECTIVE: Design and demonstrate a combined materials-, device-, and module-based engineering approach to creating environmentally stable perovskite solar cell modules. DESCRIPTION: Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are an increasingly promising photovoltaic (PV) technology, as their power conversion efficiency has increased from less than 4% at the outset of research in 2009 to over 25% today [1 – 4]. Metal halide and hybrid perovskites adopt the general ABX3 chemical formula and crystallize in the perovskite structure, where the A-site is typically occupied by an organic cation like methylammonium or an alkali ion like Cs, the B-site is occupied by a metal cation like Pb, and the X-site is occupied by a halide ion like Cl. This class of perovskites exhibits strong light absorption and emission, has excellent electronic transport characteristics, and is amenable to solution-processing methods. These advantages may translate to significant improvements in PV size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C), which could enable the US Army to efficiently generate electrical power from the sun in a variety of environments ranging from large permanent installations to Soldier-level power-on-the-move. Despite these advantages, poor thermodynamic stability, hygroscopic behavior, and poor environmental stability continually plagues PSCs and is limiting their development and ultimate technological impact. This challenge is manifold: lead halide perovskites themselves are thermodynamically unstable with respect to decomposition (i.e., they have a positive enthalpy of formation) [5]; high mobility of X-ions causes significant ion migration during PSC operation and degrades material quality and PV performance; thermal stresses and thermal cycling during operation further degrade performance; and the presence of humidity during PV operation ultimately destroys crystal quality and PV module performance over long periods. These problems are compounded by a lack of mechanistic understanding of degradation modes. Thus, a holistic research effort is needed to improve stability across the PSC hierarchy, ranging from fundamental science and engineering at the materials level, to device engineering, to module design and integration. This scope-encompassing effort would provide (a) better insight into the physics and chemistry of perovskite degradation; (b) new materials design rules that imbue perovskites with resistance to thermodynamic instability and ion migration; (c) device engineering approaches spanning contacts/electron transport layer/hole transport layer/substrate that address interfacial, thermal, and moisture instability; and (d) module engineering approaches that mitigate or eliminate sources of instability (e.g., moisture, thermal regulation) that cannot otherwise be addressed with materials design or device engineering approaches. Recent isolated, limited-scope research advances suggest this approach is feasible—for example, perovskite A- and B-site ion composition can be tuned to improve stability at the materials and device level [6]. Likewise, composition and tolerance factor engineering in oxide [7] and hybrid perovskites [8] suggests that entropy may be an underutilized tool for thermodynamic stability, i.e., an “entropy-stabilized” hybrid perovskite [9,10]. Interfacial ion-blocking barriers in devices may be useful to modulate chemical potential to suppress ion migration [11]. Ionic passivation of grain boundaries may also suppress ion migration [12]. Encapsulation strategies at the device and module level can provide added protection against humidity and thermal cycling, though more work is needed [13]. PHASE I: Design a concept for an environmentally stable perovskite solar cell module that incorporates stability science and engineering at the materials and thermodynamic stability level, device level, and the module/packaging level. Describe the proposed thermodynamics and materials design science, device engineering, and module packaging schemes that will be employed. Perform ab initio atomistic modeling, molecular dynamics simulations, thermodynamic calculations, electromagnetic simulations, finite element analysis, and/or technology computer-aided design (TCAD) as needed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. The module design must have a minimum of 400-square-cm PV-active area and consist of four (4) individual 100-square-cm perovskite solar cells wired in series, parallel, or combination thereof. The module must be designed to have an absolute power conversion efficiency of 15% or greater. The module must be designed to retain 90% or more of its initial power conversion efficiency over an 8000-hour period while being subjected to 1 Sun, 40˚C, and 85% relative humidity (RH) for at least 4000 hours. Outline the techniques and procedures that will be used to fabricate the proposed design and characterize its PV power conversion performance. Outline the necessary techniques and procedures specifically needed to evaluate PSC environmental stability based on, or appropriately adapted from, the International Summit on Organic PV Stability (ISOS) [14]. Proposed stability tests must include, but are not limited to, shelf-life and dark-storage testing, outdoor testing, light-soaking testing, thermal cycling testing, and combined light-humidity-thermal cycling testing. The proposed model solution must elucidate the stability parameters requirements, stability constraints, and demonstrably meet the elements critical to success of the proposed design. A critical Phase I deliverable is to create at least one physical module prototype that successfully demonstrates one or more of the stabilized solutions that are critical to success of the proposed model design. This prototype must demonstrate one or more of the proposed stabilization approaches: improved perovskite materials thermodynamic stability, device engineering, and/or the module integration scheme. This physical module prototype must have at least 100-square-cm PV-active area and a power conversion efficiency of 7.5% or greater. The prototype must retain 75% or more of its initial power conversion efficiency over a 720-hour period while being subjected to 1 Sun, 40˚C, and 85% relative humidity (RH) for at least 360 hours. PHASE II: Based on the designs, modeling, and prototypes from Phase I, fabricate, test, and demonstrate at least one operational PSC-based solar cell module. The module must have a minimum of 400-square-cm PV-active area and consist of four (4) individual 100-square-cm perovskite solar cells wired in series, parallel, or combination thereof. The module must have a power conversion efficiency of 15% or greater. Perform the proposed ISOS testing protocols and any additional tests, as appropriate, to characterize the solar module stability. Using accelerated and/or surrogate testing methods, environmental chambers, and/or field testing, demonstrate that the prototype module will retain 90% or greater of its initial power conversion efficiency over 8000 hours when subjected to 1 Sun illumination and the entire range of climactic operating conditions (i.e., 11 different daily cycles in air temperature and relative humidity) defined in Table 3-1 of AR 70-38 [15]. Data and metrics to report must include initial solar cell characterization (current-voltage curve, maximum power point, internal and external quantum efficiency), encapsulation strategy and performance (wiring, layering, edge sealing, geometry, evolution of stresses/strains within these components), aging conditions (electrical bias, cycling, light, temperature, atmosphere), number of samples, outdoor stability, and, importantly, the evolution of power conversion efficiency over time (i.e., how long until the module efficiency degrades to 90% of its maximum power output or peak efficiency?). PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III will transition the newly developed stabilized PSC module technology to commercial availability through prime contractors that build integrated solar power systems, the original equipment manufacturers that manufacture PV modules, other relevant suppliers, and/or other partnering agreement(s), as appropriate. Commercialization of this technology may occur via the incorporation of one or more stabilization approaches anywhere in the PV module (e.g., materials design, device engineering, module integration, etc.). Ideally, a successful effort will deliver a capability upgrade for a relevant Army Program of Record at the end of Phase III, in the form of a solar power generating system capable of providing power against SWaP-C metrics of $3/W or less, 150 W/kg or more, and a functional lifetime of 5 years or greater. Expected dual-use applications include commercial PV power plants, self-charging electric vehicles, microgrids for self-powering infrastructure components, residential solar power, and portable solar power generators and battery chargers. REFERENCES: 1. Wang, R., et al., (2018), A Review of Perovskites Solar Cell Stability, Advanced Functional Materials, 29, 1808843. 2. Zhang, H., et al., (2022), Review on Efficiency Improvement Effort of Perovskite Solar Cell, Solar Energy, 233, 421 – 434. 3. Mahmud, M., et al., (2022), Origin of Efficiency and Stability Enhancement in High-Performing Mixed Dimensional 2D-3D Perovskite Solar Cells: A Review, Advanced Functional Materials, 32, 2009164. 4. Huang, Y., et al., (2022), Recent Progress on Formamidinium-Dominated Perovskite Photovoltaics, Advanced Energy Materials, 12, 2100690. 5. Nagabhushana, G.P., et al., (2016), Direct Calorimetric Verification of Thermodynamic Instability of Lead Halide Hybrid Perovskites, Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 113, 7717 – 7721. 6. Turren-Cruz, S.-H., Hagfeldt, A., Saliba, M., (2018), Methylammonium-Free, High-Performance, and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells on a Planar Architecture, Science, 362, 449 – 453. 7. Chol, S., et al., (2018), Exceptional Power Density and Stability at Intermediate Temperatures in Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells, Nature Energy, 3, 202 – 210. 8. Tan, W., et al., (2018), Thermal Stability of Mixed Cation Metal Halide Perovskites in Air, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 10, 5485 – 5491. 9. Rost, C.M., et al., (2015), Entropy-Stabilized Oxides, Nature Communications, 6, 8485. 10. Saliba, M., et al., (2016), Cesium-Containing Triple Cation Perovskite Solar Cells: Improved Stability, Reproducibility, and High Efficiency, Energy & Environmental Science, 6, 1989 – 1997. 11. Qiu, P., et al., (2018), Suppression of Atom Motion and Metal Deposition in Mixed Ionic Electronic Conductors, Nature Communications, 9, 2910. 12. Cai, F., et al., (2018), Ionic Additive Engineering Toward High-Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells With Reduced Grain Boundaries and Trap Density, Advanced Functional Materials, 28, 1801985. 13. Cheacharoen, R., et al., (2018), Design and Understanding of Encapsulated Perovskite Solar Cells to Withstand Temperature Cycling, Energy & Environmental Science, 11, 144. 14. Khenkin, M.V., et al., (2020), Consensus Statement for Stability Assessment and Reporting for Perovskite Photovoltaics Based on ISOS Procedures, Nature Energy, 5, 35-49. 15. Army Regulation 70 - 38, Research, Development, Test and Evaluation of Materiel for Worldwide Use. https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30017-AR_70-38-000-WEB-1.pdf KEYWORDS: Photovoltaics, solar cells, environmental stability, perovskite solar cells, materials, module engineering

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Trusted AI and Autonomy OBJECTIVE: Develop a semiempirical tool for generating time-domain based, nondimensionally scaled, acoustic spheres from limited flight test data. DESCRIPTION: Accurate helicopter source noise models are required by the US Army in order to estimate the acoustic impact of proposed helicopter operations. Conventional helicopter source noise models used by current mission planning tools are empirical in nature, relying on measurements of helicopter noise captured by ground based microphone arrays during steady flyovers [1-2]. These models are entirely empirical, which limit their capability to estimate the noise produced by the helicopter at operating conditions inside the limited measurement database. Therefore, inaccurate estimates are provided when vehicle operations occur at different altitudes, gross weights, and external store configurations than those measured. These models are further incapable of accurately predicting effects of maneuvering flight conditions that are difficult to measure with a ground-based array. First-principles helicopter noise prediction models exist, but do not have the validated accuracy sufficient to produce reliable estimates of helicopter noise spheres required by mission planners. This topic proposes the development of a time-domain based hybrid method, where a mid-fidelity helicopter aeroacoustic prediction method is calibrated to measured data using a parameter identification approach. Accuracy comparable to empirical models is assured by calibrating the model to the available data; however, the model can be applied to predict noise at conditions that were not measured because it contains a physical model of the helicopter noise sources. Prior research has proven the viability of this concept through the development of the Fundamental Rotorcraft Acoustic Modeling from Experiments (FRAME) method of developing source noise models for helicopters and other rotorcraft [3]. The FRAME technique has been used to make accurate helicopter noise predictions from limited sets of vehicle data; for example, validated predictions have been made at different airspeeds, descent rates [4], and density-altitudes [5]. Validated predictions have also been made for a variety of horizontal and vertical maneuvers with load factors ranging from 0.5 g to 2 g [6]. However, the FRAME software is at a low TRL and is primarily oriented towards community noise prediction. The goal of this proposed topic is to prompt the development of a commercial source noise modeling method that can support acoustic predictions for civilian and military helicopter operations. PHASE I: The objective of phase I is to create a proof-of-concept semiempirical tool for generating, time-domain based, nondimensional scaled acoustic data for an isolated main rotor using wind tunnel acoustic measurements, or flight test measurements, as the source of model calibration data. Validate the tool by demonstrating that when the tool is calibrated to a subset of the measured data, the tool can accurately predict the time-domain main rotor harmonic noise radiation for rotor operating conditions both inside of (interpolation) and outside of (extrapolation) the range of data used to calibrate the tool. Develop technology transition plan and initial business case analysis PHASE II: The objective of phase II is to further develop the tool to accurately model the acoustics of helicopters in free flight. Extend the tool to produce rotor harmonic time-domain noise data for both the main and tail rotors. Develop a method to calibrate the tool using ground-based microphone acoustic data collected during the flight testing of helicopters. Validate the tool by demonstrating that when the tool is calibrated to a subset of measured data, accurate rotor harmonic noise predictions can be made for flight conditions both inside of and outside of the range of calibration data. Extend the tool to generate acoustic data spheres suitable for use as input to existing acoustic propagation software used to assess the acoustic impact of helicopter operations. Refine transition plan and business case analysis. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The objective of phase III is to further validate and finalize the tool for routine use in Government and commercial applications. Incorporate noise predictions for non-rotor-harmonic noise sources, such as broadband and engine noise. Validate the tool by demonstrating that accurate noise predictions can be made under atmospheric conditions different from those under which the calibration data were collected. Validate the tool by demonstrating that accurate noise predictions can be made under maneuvering flight using only steady flight noise data for calibration. Integrate the tool with a user interface and develop end-user documentation. The resulting tool is applicable to both military and commercial rotorcraft. Key military applications include predicting vehicle acoustic footprints during flight operations. The validated tool will be useful for accurate land use models for both military and civilian community operations. REFERENCES: 1. Lucas, M. J. and Marcolini, M. A., “Rotorcraft Noise Model,” AHS Technical Specialists’ Meeting, Williamsburg, VA, October 1997. 2. Conner, D. A. and Page, J. A., “A Tool for Low Noise Procedures Design and Community Noise Impact Assessment: The Rotorcraft Noise Model (RNM),” Heli Japan, Tochigi, Japan, 2002. 3. Greenwood, E., Fundamental Rotorcraft Acoustic Modeling from Experiments (FRAME). Ph.D. University of Maryland, 2011. 4. Greenwood, E., and Schmitz, F.H., "A Parameter Identification Method for Helicopter Noise Source Identification and Physics-Based Semi-Empirical Modeling," presented at the American Helicopter Society 66th Annual Forum, Phoenix, AZ. May 2010. 5. Greenwood, E., Sim, B.W., and Boyd, D.D., "The Effects of Ambient Conditions on Helicopter Harmonic Noise Radiation: Theory and Experiment," presented at the American Helicopter Society 72nd Annual Forum, West Palm Beach, FL. May 2016. 6. Greenwood, E., Rau, R., May, B., and Hobbs, C., "A Maneuvering Flight Noise Model for Helicopter Mission Planning," presented at the American Helicopter Society 71st Annual Forum, Virginia Beach, VA. May 2015. KEYWORDS: Rotorcraft, Helicopter, Acoustics, Noise, Modeling

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Biotechnology OBJECTIVE: A compatible Organic Acid Technology (OAT) coolant with a 50% increase the thermal efficiency over traditional coolants that allows for improved performance of Future Vertical Lift, Unmanned, and ground vehicles. DESCRIPTION: Develop an advanced Nitrate Free Organic Acid Technology (OAT) based coolant with improved thermal efficiency of at least 50% to reduce coolant needed or improve heat rejection/reliability of affected systems. In May of 2022 DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center released a technical report in support of the Army converting to modern OAT based coolants. Heavy Duty OAT based coolants are very attractive with up to a five (5) year lifespan versus traditional Supplemental Coolant Additives (SCA) based coolant which have annual service requirements. However, this OAT chemistry only improves the thermal efficiency on average of 2% under laboratory conditions. The reference report by DEVCOM and conducted by SWRL showed OAT coolants at a 60/40 mixture with a thermal conductivity average of 0.4046 (W/mk) versus traditional SCA coolants with a thermal conductivity average of 0.3892 (W/mk). If inorganic additive nanotechnology were added to OAT coolants, a thermal conductivity of approximately 0.60 (W/mk) could be realized while maintaining all legacy performance requirements of the fluids. The new coolant (OAT plus inorganic nano additives) must perform across a wide temperature range between -60°C and 60°C ambient and be compatible to all liquid cooled Army platforms. Thermal efficiency increases of 50% would allow armored vehicles with little airflow to operate more efficiently, UAVs with liquid coolant to reduce operating weights and allow the ARMY to have a single, universal coolant for all vehicles for the next generation of warfighter. PHASE I: Identify and baseline current OAT coolants. Building upon the previous research conducted by DEVCOM, investigate various inorganic additive materials technology to optimize the thermal efficiency by 25-50% on the two final candidates for OAT/EPC coolants. Demonstrate thermal efficiency while having minimal impact on viscosity, foaming, cavitation, corrosion and without precipitation over an extended service life; begin laboratory benchtop testing on materials candidates. Testing to include by not be limited to: 1. Glycol Content (%) via Refractometer 2. ASTM D1287-11 – Standard Test Method for pH of Engine Coolants and Antirusts 3. ASTM D5931-20 – Standard Test Method for Density and Relative Density of Engine Coolant Concentrates and Aqueous Engine Coolants by Digital Density Meter [10] 4. Thermal Conductivity and Specific Heat using C-Therm TCi Thermal Conductivity Analyzer PHASE II: Refine and optimize the materials selected in Phase I and develop and deliver prototype OAT plus nano additive coolant for additional benchtop ASTM laboratory testing as needed. Begin long term field trials on selected ground and air warfare systems. Request OEM participation where available. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Transition technology to the U.S. Army for adoption and use by specific platforms. Continue long term field trials with monitoring teams. Finalize packaging requirements Integrate this technology where current SCA technology is being utilized. Investigate where cooling systems can be made more efficient due to new EPC cooling technologies. REFERENCES: 1. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/AD1170629 2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142727X99000673 3. https://www.ijert.org/a-review-on-nanofluids-the-next-super-coolant-for-radiator KEYWORDS: Enhanced Performance Coolants (EPC), Organic Acid Technology (OAT), GVSC’s Ground Systems Fluids and Fuels (GSFF), UAS, Future Vertical Lift (FVL), Nanotechnology, Nanofluids, Nanocoolant

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Trusted AI and Autonomy OBJECTIVE: Additively manufacture (AM) aluminum alloy 7XXX (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) or equivalent material via solid-state for replacement of forged legacy components with long lead times and logistics tail. DESCRIPTION: As the need for sustainment of aging US armed forces aircraft continue to rise and will continue to rise with the introduction of Future Vertical Lift (FVL) [1], there is a growing necessity for supplementing the supply chain for long logistic components to maintain fleet readiness. As a disruptor of traditional manufacturing, AM has come into focus as a leading technology to fabricate components, supplementing hard to procure aerospace components [2]. This is possible due to AM systems offering all-in-one turnkey manufacturing solutions, providing benefits in reducing production costs associated with build time and waste material of traditional manufacturing methods [3]. However, for fusion-based AM processes (e.g. selective laser melting and electron-beam melting), certain alloys suffer from poor weldability impeding fabrication via AM [4], and are typically limited to smaller parts that must fit within 1 sqft. sealed environments for processing. One such alloy system is Al-Zn-Mg-Cu (AA7XXX) aluminum alloys, which comprise the majority of the structural materials used in aerospace across the DoD and industry including FVL offers. It is well established that the AA7XXX family is traditionally considered unweldable, and when subjected to high thermal gradients, hot cracking occurs in the microstructure. Therefore, fusion-based AM, in which high thermal gradients are introduced into the microstructure similar to welding, typically results in hot cracking and material anisotropy when fabricating or repairing AA7XXX. These deleterious defects within the microstructure reduce the mechanical performance of the material, beyond allowable limits for aviation applications. To alleviate the detrimental-effects to the microstructure, AA7XXX powders for fusion AM have been enhanced with additional alloying elements (e.g. Scandium). However, the introduction of these new additives raises concerns on material response when compared to traditional AA7XXX, and how it will respond during typical aerospace service conditions. Thus, there is need for a 1-to-1 replacement of traditionally high strength, low weight forged aerospace materials to preclude the inherent uncertainties with AM aluminum materials. Nascent solid-state AM techniques have been proven to be capable of depositing traditional materials, like AA7XXX, due to the low thermal requirements to deposit the material. As a result, the microstructure is not thermally stressed to the same degree as fusion-based AM and is not subject to the same negative effects observed when processing with conventional alloys as the input feedstock. Additionally, solid-state techniques are more modular and are not limited to the geometric constraints governed by inert build chambers or laser interactions, permitting significantly larger build areas. However, the low resolution and characterization of the alloys for aerospace components has left technological gaps to permit adoption for aviation applications. The goal of this topic is to identify a solid-state AM processes that can 3D print traditionally unweldable aerospace materials without adding additional alloying elements to the bulk material for a true 1-to-1 replacement of components. The solid-state AM process will demonstrate the feasibility of printing a large aviation component free from contamination and additional inoculants. Then after successful printing, an optimized process will produce a final aerospace component as a demonstration. PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of printing a large, full-sized aviation component (build area/volume larger than 1sqft/1ft3) via a friction-based solid-state additive manufacturing method utilizing a high-strength alloy (e.g. 7XXX). This component will serve as both a technology demonstrator and a first article cut up. Initial microstructural and mechanical characterization will be performed by extracting material samples from the first article component to demonstrate a lack of process related defects, porosity, and contaminants, with an initial evaluation of mechanical performance. Phase I deliverables include a report detailing first article production and evaluation of the sectioned component for process defects and optimization plan for the material and process. PHASE II: Following the initial successful demonstration using solid-state AM to produce a print with a 7XXX aluminum alloy, process optimization will be conducted to further refine parameters. The optimized parameters will then be used to establish repeatability through analysis of process structure property (PSP) relationships and mechanical testing. Material samples shall be evaluated in the final post-processed condition. Extensive microstructural evaluation utilizing a combination of optical and electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy and tomography provides an in-depth analysis of the microstructural evolution to elucidate production and post-processing effects on the final prototypes. This includes inspections on density, phase identification and dispersion, and granular characterization. Additionally, mechanical performance of the optimized component shall be evaluated with tensile and fatigue, with detailed observations on damage mechanisms and failure modes using microscopy. Test and evaluation techniques shall follow ASTM standard procedures to be documented and contrasted against legacy aviation material requirements. Complete data and manufacturing instructions from process preparation to post-processing shall be delivered in a phase II report along with a second finished component fabricated with the optimized and substantiated material developed under this effort. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The civilian and defense sectors would benefit from this developed technology as an alternative means to rapidly produce large scale, long lead wrought aluminum forgings with that match original requirements of the legacy component that would be otherwise difficult to match through current additive manufacturing methods. DoD may pursue this technology for transition into the larger organic industrial base, as a close out report with all data and documentation necessary to fully replicate large parts within the defense industrial base. Successful delivery of manufacturing instructions will be transferable to the Jointless Hull activities in relation to the Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) in direct collaboration with DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center. Thus, successful demonstration of solid-state AM producing an aluminum alloy component with 1-to-1 equivalent material will increase Army readiness and reduce logistical timeframe for component procurement across ground and aviation systems. REFERENCES: 1. Dixon, M., 2006, The Maintenance Costs of Aging Aircraft: Insights From Commercial Aviation, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA. 2. Liu, R., Wang, Z., Sparks, T., Liou, F., and Newkirk, J., 2017, Aerospace Applications of Laser Additive Manufacturing, Woodhead Publishing, Sawston, UK. 3. Berman, B., 2012, “3-D Printing: The New Industrial Revolution,” Bus. Horiz., 55(2), pp. 155–162. 4. Cevik, B., 2018, “Gas Tungsten Arc Welding of 7075 Aluminum Alloy: Microstructure Properties, Impact Strength, and Weld Defects,” Mater. Res. Express, 5(6), p. 066540. 5. Reschetnik, W., Brüggemann, J. P., Aydinöz, M. E., Grydin, O., Hoyer, K. P., Kullmer, G., and Richard, H. A., 2016, “Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Additively Processed En AW-7075 Aluminium Alloy,” Procedia Struct. Integr., 2, pp. 3040–3048. KEYWORDS: Additive Manufacturing, Solid-State, Forging, Aluminum, Replacements, Process-Structure-Property

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Trusted AI and Autonomy OBJECTIVE: Reduce the hottest components temperature through the development of a lower temperature methanol steam reforming catalyst which can be integrated into existing fuel cell systems. DESCRIPTION: C5ISR Center, in conjunction with industry, have developed wearable Soldier fuel cell systems that can provide on the move light-weight power for systems operations and battery recharge and extend mission duration and reduce Soldier load (carried weight). Current fuel cell systems have been developed based on the Reformed Methanol Fuel Cell Technology. Soldiers have commented that while using fuel cell systems, this capability increases their autonomy in the field. However, heat signature could be a potential issue, and reduction of thermal signature would be beneficial. Part of this thermal signature reduction will be achieved through a material solution focused on reducing the reformer temperature, which is the hottest part within a reformed methanol fuel cell system [1-2]. Historically, Reformed Methanol Fuel Cells have commonly used copper zinc oxide, which requires reactor temperatures in the range of 300°C [2-4]. However, recently new catalysts have emerged showing that reactor temperatures as low as 150-200°C are possible [4-7]. In these works, the catalyst is in a powdered form. C5ISR Center desires the catalyst to be pelletized. Reducing the temperature of the hottest component in the fuel cell system (reformer) has significant impacts to the War Fighter, such as potentially reducing the thermal signature and increasing soldier comfort. In addition, by reducing the temperature of the reformer, the system will have quicker startup times. This topic is appropriate for STTR investment due to an applied research solution that can significantly positively impact system development and addresses Soldier feedback. The new catalyst itself can potentially be a near drop in solution. The catalyst itself shall be a pellet or monolith configuration. The catalyst synthesis approach must be scalable to an industrial setting. The catalyst will be evaluated and characterized at C5ISR Center. If successful, the catalyst will be incorporated into existing fuel cell systems for further evaluation. PHASE I: Conduct an initial study and provide potential solutions. Provide initial samples of catalyst for evaluation. PHASE II: Develop and deliver a new low temperature catalyst with small diameter pellets that are less than 4mm in diameter or supported on a monolith surface. The catalyst should be capable of processing about ml per min of methanol water. Four sets of catalyst will be delivered. Catalyst should operate at near atmospheric conditions while maintaining full conversion 99%+. The new catalyst should be able to operate for >1000hrs, with low level of degradation. As previously demonstrated in literature [4-7] the new catalyst should have an activity of greater than135 µmolH2/gcat-sec at low temperatures, definitive numbers to be provided to firm upon selection. The catalyst should be able to support a minimum GHSV of 6000 -hr determined at reactor conditions. Catalyst will be evaluated multiple metrics. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The catalyst developed in Phase 2 will be integrated into the existing fuel cell systems. Update as needed the balance of plant software/firmware for optimal fuel cell system performance. Deliver 5 functioning Fuel cell systems with the new catalyst. A Safety Assessment Report (SAR) shall be provided with the fuel cells. These systems will be initially evaluated at C5ISR Center for performance characterization, and then evaluated at Soldier touch points for Soldier operational use. REFERENCES: 1. EG&G Technical Services, I., 2004, “Fuel Cell Handbook,” Fuel Cell, 7 Edition (November), pp. 1–352. 2. Reformed methanol fuel cell, Reformed methanol fuel cell - Wikipedia, accessed 10/18/2022 3. Zaizhe Cheng, Wenqiang Zhou, Guojun Lan, Xiucheng Sun, Xiaolong Wang, Chuan Jiang, Ying Li,”High-performance Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts for methanol steam reforming with enhanced Cu-ZnO synergy effect via magnesium assisted strategy”, Journal of Energy Chemistry, Volume 63, 2021, Pages 550-557, ISSN 2095-4956 4. Sandra Sá, Hugo Silva, Lúcia Brandão, José M. Sousa, Adélio Mendes, "Catalysts for methanol steam reforming—A review", Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Volume 99, Issues 1–2, 2010, Pages 43-57 5. Gao, Lizhen & Sun, Gebiao & Kawi, S.. (2008). A study on methanol steam reforming to CO2 and H2 over the La2CuO4 nanofiber catalyst. Journal of Solid State Chemistry. 181. 6. Fufeng Cai, Jessica Juweriah Ibrahim, Yu Fu, Wenbo Kong, Jun Zhang, Yuhan Sun,”Low-temperature hydrogen production from methanol steam reforming on Zn-modified Pt/MoC catalysts”, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Volume 264, 2020 7. Yufei Ma, Guoqing Guan, Chuan Shi, Aimin Zhu, Xiaogang Hao, Zhongde Wang, Katsuki Kusakabe, Abuliti Abudula,”Low-temperature steam reforming of methanol to produce hydrogen over various metal-doped molybdenum carbide catalysts”, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 39, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 258-266. KEYWORDS: Fuel Cell, Soldier, Reformer, Methanol, Catalysis, Steam Reforming

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Integrated Network System of Systems OBJECTIVE: Creation of a high energy dense, future safe, lithium-ion battery that facilitates charge transfer of solid-electrolyte interfaces, high voltage cathodes, and lithium-metal anodes. DESCRIPTION: Higher energy densities can be achieved primarily through pairing high voltage, high-capacity cathodes with Li-metal anodes. To enable the use of next generation elevated voltage cathode materials with lithium-metal anode, stabilizing cathode coatings can be affixed to improve interfacial structural stability, mitigate electrochemical impedance increases, and diminish thermally induced degradation. Additionally, employing electrolytes that can withstand penetration testing without flame and fumes is important for the development of on-platform energy storage such as arial and ground vehicles. Lithium-anodes are vital for improving the energy density of the cell due to the capacity / weight of graphite anodes, although uniform plating and electronic connectivity to the electrolyte needs improvement. Cathodes with elevated discharge voltages will increase the energy output / electron moved, better understood through this application of the Ohm’s Law: Energy Density = (Current Density * Voltage) * Time. Spinel, olivine, and other high voltage cathodes can store high quantities of lithium-ion and discharge at elevated voltages making them prime candidates. Solid-electrolyte batteries are a vital technology that needs to be developed to meet the energy safety requirements for the future Army. They can sustain high cell voltages, which promote greater power and energy capabilities, they are mechanically stronger than liquid electrolyte batteries, fighting dendrite formation with lithium anode increasing safety, and they have high conductivity capabilities leading to high electrochemical performance. The issue with these solid-electrolyte batteries is the elevated charge transfer resistance at both solid-solid interfaces between the electrolyte and the electrodes. If the charge transfer at these interfaces can be improved and the low temperature performance of the solid electrolyte can be augmented. Battery needs to be able to operate in a wide temperature range. This STTR looks to create artificial solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layers with conducting polymers to overcome the inherit challenges to ionic transfer across the cathodic and anodic interfaces. These resistances to charge transfer are largely attributed to the poor connection between a solid electrolyte and a solid electrode. Ameliorating these will promote longer cycle lives, improved power, and more stable charge transfer with the lithium-anode, leading to better safety characteristics. Utilizing known supercapacitor work with electrically conducting polymers (ECPs), specifically poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PANI), quinone, polyacetylene, and biological derivatives such as lignin / sulfonated lignin, artificial SEI / cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) layers can exploit the conductive nature of the polymer to assist ionic transport. With these adaptations this battery will fully be able to exploit the inherit safety and energy storage performance of solid electrolyte batteries, while finally amending the internal resistance issues to promote a wide application of energy dense batteries. This work should be at the STTR level because the maturity of these chemistries is currently in fundamental research. PHASE I: Design a concept cell for nonflammable solid-state electrolyte that optimize gravimetric energy density at elevated discharge voltages and prolonged cycle life above 80% capacity retention. Phase I deliverables include monthly progress reports describing all technical challenges, technical risk, and progress against the schedule, a final technical report, and 10 laboratory cells (coin or pouch cells) to the U.S. Army for testing. PHASE II: Refine and optimize cell level materials selected in phase I and develop and deliver pouch cells to meet target performance requirements of elevated discharge voltage cells, high energy density, decent cycle life capability > 80% capacity retentions at room temperature, and 75% capacity retention at 0 °C with respect to room temperature capacity. Additional optimization with the target of expanding the rate capability of these cells will also be included in phase II. Required phase II deliverables will include 20 cells (pouch), as well as monthly progress reports and a final technical data package. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Transition this technology to prototype cells that will be intended for assembly into batteries for soldier carried applications. The deliverable for phase III is multilayered pouch cells with capacities in the order of Ahs to be included in future batteries. REFERENCES: 1. Baroncini, E. A., Rousseau, D. M., Strekis IV, C. A., & Stanzione III, J. F. (2020). Optimizing conductivity and cationic transport in crosslinked solid polymer electrolytes. Solid State Ionics, 345, 115161. 2. Baroncini, E. A., & Stanzione III, J. F. (2018). Incorporating allylated lignin-derivatives in thiol-ene gel-polymer electrolytes. International journal of biological macromolecules, 113, 1041-1051. 3. Atwater, T. B., & Tavares, P. (2013). Halogenated Lithium Manganese Oxide AB₂O4-dXd Spinel Cathode Material. SAE International Journal of Materials and Manufacturing, 6(1), 85-89. 4. Huang, Y., Dong, Y., Li, S., Lee, J., Wang, C., Zhu, Z., ... & Li, J. (2021). Lithium manganese spinel cathodes for lithium‐ion batteries. Advanced Energy Materials, 11(2), 2000997. 5. Zeng, J., Liu, Q., Jia, D., Liu, R., Liu, S., Zheng, B., ... & Wu, D. (2021). A polymer brush-based robust and flexible single-ion conducting artificial SEI film for fast charging lithium metal batteries. Energy Storage Materials, 41, 697-702. 6. Liu, Y., Hu, R., Zhang, D., Liu, J., Liu, F., Cui, J., ... & Zhu, M. (2021). Constructing Li‐Rich Artificial SEI Layer in Alloy–Polymer Composite Electrolyte to Achieve High Ionic Conductivity for All‐Solid‐State Lithium Metal Batteries. Advanced Materials, 33(11), 2004711 KEYWORDS: Energy Storage, Polymeric Electrolytes, Spinel Cathodes, High Energy Density, Improved Safety, Soldier Lethality, Future Vertical Lift.

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Advanced Materials The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: To develop a high performing infrared and centimeter-wave attenuating graphitic fiber with improved conductivity through heat treatment and bromination. DESCRIPTION: To maintain operational overmatch of our near-peers, signature management needs to be exploited to the greatest limits of science. Obscuration leverages our resources by protecting multi-million dollar assets with cost-effect aerosol materials. Recent discoveries have illustrated the ability to vastly increase the performance of these obscurants in the infrared and centimeter-wave regions of the electromagnetic spectrum– both areas in which our enemies use imagers to identify our warfighter’s locations. This topic focuses on these developments of carbonaceous-based obscurant materials in the form of fibers, either fractal-quasilinear or linear. Due to the recent improved understanding of the significant impact heat treatment and bromination make on conductivity, and thereby efficiency, STTR is the preferred pathway to ensure success among small business and university partnerships (references 5-7). Graphitic particles have long been recognized as obscurants. Such particles can be produced by graphitization of polymers, for example, or from fibrous forms, already nominally graphitic. One cost-effect, scalable approach may be through electrospinning and subsequent heat-treating of these particles. Further bromination of these particles has been illustrated to improve the conductivity above 10^5 mho/cm—a factor that vastly improves obscuration performance. Produced in this way, a low-cost, high performing, high strength material that will not fuse or agglomerate upon compression can be realized. PHASE I: Demonstrate with 50 milligram or greater quantities, an ability to produce graphitized fibers using high heat treatments in the range of 2800-3000oC on nominal graphite or polymeric material. For IR fibers optical measurements and/or electrical conductivity will be used to determine the success of the heat treatments while for CMW fibers, both optical and electrical measurements (equivalents) will be used. Following successful heat treatments, the graphite fibers should be brominated and additional enhancement of conductivity remeasured for both wavelengths. PHASE II: Demonstrate that the process is scalable by providing 1 kilogram of samples with no loss in performance from that achieved with the small samples. During Phase II, idealized particle lengths and widths should be achieved for infrared (3-5 µm in lengths, 50-100 nm diameters) and centimeter-wave (one cm or greater in length, 4-10 µm diameters) attenuation. In Phase II, a design of a manufacturing process to commercialize the concept should be developed. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: 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. Jelinek Al V., Charles W. Bruce and Sharhabeel Alyones, “Absorption Coefficient of Moderately Conductive Fibrous Aerosols at 35 GHz,” Applied Physics, 2021. 2. S. Alyones, C. W. Bruce and A. Buin, “Numerical Methods for Solving the Problem of Electromagnetic Scattering by a Thin Finite Conducting Wire,” IEEE Trans. Antennas and Propagation,” 55, (June 2007). 3. C. W. Bruce, Al V. Jelinek, Sheng Wu, Sharhabeel Alyones and Qingsong Wang, "Millimeter Wavelength Investigation of Fibrous Aerosol Absorption and Scattering Properties,” Appl. Opt., 43, (20 Dec. 2004). 4. 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. 5. Ping Wang; Dandan Liu; Jingyun Zou; Yuanhang Ye; Ligan Hou; Jingna Zhao; Chuanling Men; Xiaohu Zhang; Qingwen Li, “Gas infiltration of bromine to enhance the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube fibers,” Materials & Design, Volume 159, p138-144; 2018. 6. Wonsik Eom, Sang Hoon Lee, Hwansoo Shin, Woojae Jeong, Ki Hwan Koh, and Tae Hee Han*, “Microstructure-Controlled Polyacrylonitrile/Graphene Fibers over 1 Gigapascal Strength.” ACS Nano 2021, 15, 8, 13055–13064, 2021. 7. Fogg,J.L., Putman, K.J.,Zhang, T., Lei, Y.,Terrones, M., Harris, P.J.Marks, N.A., Suarez-Martinez, I. Catalysis-free transformation of non-graphitising carbons into highly crystalline graphite.” Communications Materials, 1,47, 2020. KEYWORDS: High conductivity, graphene, infrared obscuration, bromination

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Microelectronics, Biotechnology TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors, Chem Bio Defense OBJECTIVE: Develop, demonstrate, validate, and produce aerosol particle collectors which are Size, Weight, and Power + Cost compatible with microsensor platforms and capable of being produced using advanced manufacturing techniques. DESCRIPTION: Small, low-power, low-cost, networked, and potentially attritable sensors (“microsensors”) can be rapidly dispersed over an area to enhance situational awareness and continuously monitor for threats such as toxic chemicals or pathogens. The ability to use networks of smaller and cheaper sensors instead of large and expensive systems will allow Warfighters to maintain increasingly expeditionary postures. Current systems for capturing aerosol particles in defense-relevant size ranges and delivering these particles to downstream devices for analysis are not suitable for use microsensors, due to size, power consumption, robustness, or the ability to operate without manual intervention. Recent innovations in miniaturized components such as pumps, well- or channel-based impactors, electrostatic precipitators, and impingers offer potential means by which to capture aerosols then deliver them in a solvent to a downstream process while remaining small and consuming minimal power. To realize these capabilities, additional development is required to identify specific collection components, match them with air and liquid pumps, and demonstrate the ability to efficiently collect and deliver particles in relevant size ranges. To enable successful integration with multiple types of microsensor detection and identification modules, flexible designs are favored. Desired features include but are not limited to 1) The ability to quickly modify a ‘base design’ to collect different particle sizes, 2) delivering particles in varying volumes of different solvents, 3) utilization of components designed to be produced close to the point of need using advanced manufacturing techniques, and 4) operating under the control of non-proprietary code to enable agile experimentation and integration with experimental detector and identifier modules. PHASE I: Identify components suitable to achieve aerosol collection and subsequent delivery in a liquid solvent within a minimal SWaP+C envelope. Demonstrate the function of these components in a breadboard system (it is not necessary to minimize SWaP+C at the breadboard stage, but the ability to make those components work in the tightest envelope possible is a vital criteria for later phases). Evaluate their performance working together in the breadboard system. Deliver a report on the breadboard system to include performance data, cost, size, and power consumption of the breadboard system, and an estimate of the cost, size, and power consumption of the system were it to be integrated, packaged, and optimized. Investigate potential civilian markets for the technology. PHASE II: Develop an integrated collector module based on the breadboard design: Integrate components into a small physical package (threshold: 350mL, objective: 175mL) with efficient power usage (threshold: can idle for 6 hours and perform 4 collect-dispense cycles on a battery internal to the device, objective: can idle for 24 hours and perform 24 collect-dispense cycles on a battery internal to the device), and reasonable weight (threshold: 500 grams, objective: 200 grams). Demonstrate the performance of this collector module on relevant aerosol challenges. Demonstrate integration with Army-specified detector modules. Participate in a user-engagement event with a field demonstration component. Deliver reports on these activities, prototypes, and technical data packages to include component and system models and software/firmware used on the device. Develop version(s) of the module suitable for identified civilian applications and explore commercialization. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Mature concepts and prototypes into a manufacturable or transitionable system: Refine the integrated collector module to improve performance or the ability to flexibly integrate with multiple detectors and multiple missions. Establish the use of advanced manufacturing to adapt the base design to different detectors or missions in collaboration with potential user groups. Develop documentation on the use of the technology for multiple mission types and transition the technology to DoD partners. Commercialize products based on the enabling technologies for civilian applications. REFERENCES: 1. Pan, M.; Lednicky, J. A.; Wu, C. Y., Collection, particle sizing and detection of airborne viruses. J Appl Microbiol 2019, 127 (6), 1596-1611. 2. Li, H. Y.; Liu, J. K.; Li, K.; Liu, Y. X., A review of recent studies on piezoelectric pumps and their applications. Mech Syst Signal Pr 2021, 151. 3. Lee, U. N.; van Neel, T. L.; Lim, F. Y.; Khor, J. W.; He, J. Y.; Vaddi, R. S.; Ong, A. Q. W.; Tang, A.; Berthier, J.; Meschke, J. S.; Novosselov, I. V.; Theberge, A. B.; Berthier, E., Miniaturizing Wet Scrubbers for Aerosolized Droplet Capture. Anal Chem 2021, 93 (33), 11433-11441. 4. He, J. Y.; Beck, N. K.; Kossik, A. L.; Zhang, J. W.; Seto, E.; Meschke, J. S.; Novosselov, I., Evaluation of micro-well collector for capture and analysis of aerosolized Bacillus subtilis spores. Plos One 2018, 13 (5). KEYWORDS: aerosol, particle, collector, sampler, chemical, biological, micro, miniature

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Integrated Network System of Systems, Trusted AI and Autonomy OBJECTIVE: Develop an innovative methodology to utilize satellite observations of weather-related atmospheric variables within the analog ensemble (AnEn) technique for environmental predictions, when no in-situ observations (i.e. field data) are available. DESCRIPTION: Uncertainty in weather prediction affects Army mission preparation and planning degrading decision advantage. Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models generate atmospheric forecasts to provide a deterministic weather forecast, but present inherent uncertainty. A number of factors cause uncertainty associated with Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models; including but not limited to, errors in initial conditions, quality of the model initialization field, model physics, and various parameterization schemes [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Understanding the uncertainty in forecast predictions will address problems in weather support that cause impediments to the Army’s mission preparation and planning. PHASE I: Determine the scientific, technical merit, and feasibility for developing an AnEn framework using satellite observations (potentially also using hybrid in-situ and satellite observations, required in Phase II) for continuous and discontinuous atmospheric variables. Develop a conceptual methodology providing multiple weather and environmental conditions with their associated uncertainty. Deliver a report documenting the research and development efforts along with a detailed description of the proposed final methodology, implementation, and impacts upon uncertainty quantification results. PHASE II: The methodology will be fully implemented, using the programming language python, enabling straightforward integration with the Army’s geospatial software baseline used by geospatial engineers. The code will allow users, whether civilian or Army, to make weather and environmental predictions based on either satellite data or a combination of satellite and in situ observations. A methodology and implementation for hybrid use of satellite and other observational datasets within the AnEn techniques shall be set forth. A report will be delivered that provides an understanding of the AnEn techniques strengths and weakness when utilizing satellite and/or hybrid observational datasets, along with implementation recommendations. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The AnEn prediction geospatial tool can be integrated into baseline software on the Geospatial Workstation (GWS) used by Army geospatial engineers, leading to a DoD commercialization potential. The geospatial engineers will benefit from this tool by having the new capability to predict several potential weather and environmental related impacts to mission planning quickly and capture weather-related mission risks caused by prediction uncertainty. Non-DoD commercialization potential exists within the civilian sector. The technology has many potential applications outside of the military to address weather-related forecasting challenges, and topics. For non-DoD sectors, the python based development fosters access and integration opportunities due to the popular adoption of python in many development practices. Furthermore, the ease of integration with geospatial (i.e. ArcGIS) software will facilitate the potential use within the non-DoD sector for those with existing ArcGIS licensure. REFERENCES: 1. E. N. Lorenz, "Atmospheric predictability as revealed by naturally occurring analogs," Journal of Atmospheric Science, vol. 26, pp. 639-646, 1969. 2. J. Berner, M. L. Shutts and T. Palmer, "A spectral stochastic kinetic enery backscatter scheme and its impact on flow-dependent predictability in the ECMWF ensemble prediction system," Journal of Atmospheric Science, vol. 66, pp. 603-626, 2009. 3. S. Haupt, P. Jimenez, J. Lee and B. Kosovic, "Principles of meteorology and numerical weather prediction," Renewable Energy Forecasting, no. Elsevier, pp. 3-28, 2017. 4. J. Berner, S.-Y. Ha, A. Hacker, A. Fournier and C. Snyder, "Model uncertainty in a mesoscale ensemble prediction system: Stochastic versus multiphysics representations," Monthly lWeather REview, vol. 139, pp. 1972-1995, 2011. 5. J. Slingo and T. Palmer, "Uncertainty in weather and climate prediction," Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, vol. 369, pp. 4751-4767, 2011. 6. L. Delle Monache, T. Nipen, Y. Liu, G. Roux and R. Stull, "Kalman filter and analog schemes to post-process numerical weather predictions," Monthly Weather Review, vol. 139, p. 35543570, 2011. 7. L. Delle Monache, T. Eckel, D. Rife, B. Nagarajan and K. Searight, "Probabilistic weather predictions with an analog ensemble," Monthly Weather Review, vol. 131, pp. 3498-3516, 2013. 8. S. Alessasndrini, L. Delle Monache, L. Sperati and G. Cervone, "An analog ensemble for short-term probabilistic solar power forecast," Applied Energy, vol. 157, pp. 95-110, 2015. 9. J. Zhang, C. Draxl, T. Hopson, L. Delle Monache, E. Vanvyve and B. M. Hodge, "Comparison of numerical weather prediction based deterministic and probabilistic wind resource assessment methods," Applied Energy, vol. 156, pp. 528-541, 2015. 10. G. Cervone, L. Clemente-Harding, S. Alessandrini and L. Delle Monache, "Photovoltaic Power Forecasts Using Artificial Neural Networks and an Analog Ensemble," Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017. 11. E. Vanvyve, L. Delle Monache, A. J. Monaghan and J. O. Pinto, "Wind resource estimates with an analog ensemble approach," Renewable Energy, vol. 74, pp. 761-773, 2015. 12. H. M. van den Dool, "A new look at weather forecasting through analogs," Monthly Weather Review, vol. 117, pp. 2230-2247, 1989. 13. S. Alessandrini, L. Delle Monache, C. Rozoff and W. Lewis, "Probabilistic prediction of tropical cyclone intensity with an analog ensemble," Monthly Weather Review, vol. 146, no. 6, pp. 1723-1744, 2018. 14. A. Badreddine, D. Bari, T. Bergot and Y. Ghabbar, "Analog Ensemble Forecasting System for Low-Visibility Conditions over the Main Airports of Morocco," Atmosphere, vol. 13, p. 1704, 2022. 15. M. Shahriari, G. Cervone, L. Clemente-Harding and L. Delle Monache, "Using the analog ensemble method as a proxy measurement for wind power predictability," Renewable Energy, vol. 146, pp. 789-801, 2020. 16. L. Clemente-Harding, "Extension of the Analog Ensemble Technique to the Spatial Domain," The Pennsylvania State University, University Park , 2019. 17. E. Kalnay, Atmospheric modeling, data assimilation and predictability, Cambridge University Press, 2003. KEYWORDS: uncertainty quantification, data analytics, geoinformatics, analog ensemble, prediction, atmospheric science, machine learning

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Directed Energy, Microelectronics OBJECTIVE: An active, variable transmission eyewear on a ballistic substrate with ultrawide transmission range that can switch reversibly and automatically between high (≥70%) and low-transmission states. DESCRIPTION: Soldiers are subjected to quickly changing light conditions, such as inside a dark building versus outside in the sun, within a single mission. The pupil can take a few 10s of seconds to fully acclimate to changing light levels [1]. Additionally, low-energy laser threats such as dazzlers are encountered in the field [2]. Soldiers already have issued (approved) variable transmission eyewear (VTE) on the Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL), but the current systems do not provide the required transmission range in a single lens. These are the e-Tint CTRL MS1 Spectacle and the e-Tint CTRL MG1 Goggle. Due to insufficient transmission range, these two designs are currently being fielded with both a variable transmission lens (for use in variable lighting conditions encountered during daytime operations, such as going in and out of buildings) and a standard, high transmittance clear lens for nighttime operations. Based on Soldier feedback during testing, the decision to field a standard clear lens in conjunction with the transition lens was made by eye protection subject matter experts at Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment. Soldiers commented that the transition lens was too dark for nighttime use [3]. In addition, this creates undue cognitive burden on the Soldier decreasing their situational awareness. In addition, Soldiers may choose to forgo the protection altogether, which puts their eyes at even higher risk. A solution to this problem is active variable transmission eyewear with ultrawide transmission range, i.e., from 10% to 70%, or more, transmission. Previous efforts at active VTE have struggled to achieve much higher than 60% clear state transmission as certain layers have contributed to high parasitic optical losses. VTE with very low transmission in the dark state can also function as laser eye protection for low-energy threats. The proposed VTE solution should address the following requirements. Variable transmission prototypes must be manufacturable on a ballistic substrate and continue to provide other eyewear functions including anti-fragmentation, anti-scratch, anti-fog, and anti-ballistic. Variable transmission proposals should retain high optical quality. Approaches should be color neutral. While an eyewear is not required in the early Phases, proposals should keep an eye on technologies and approaches amenable to the eyewear platform. Proposals should either have a roadmap to meet or exceed the standard fielded U.S. military combat eye protection requirements, per MIL-PRF-32432. The VTE must reversibly switch repeatedly. It should go to clear state (high transmission) when powered off or fails. Active VTE prototypes should be aware of power needs of proposed solution and work to minimize power requirements. For instance, if a battery is part of a submitted design, then a single charge should last at least 72 hours and be fully borne on the eyewear frame. Ideally switching times should be less than a second, with 250 ms being the objective. Comfort of the VTE should be considered which includes weight, distribution of mass, retention on face, and compatibility with other headgear. PHASE I: During Phase I, the contractor shall research and develop innovative approaches to ultrawide variable transmission. Proposed solutions should exceed current variable transmission range of 12—65%. Proposed solutions must show how they can achieve higher than 70% clear-state transmission in a single lens. Proposed solutions must be amenable to military relevant eyewear substrates. For the purposes of Phase I, demonstrations may include switchable devices and/or eyewear prototypes that exhibit active variable transmission. Through Phase I, the contractor should provide monthly progress reports detailing technical and programmatic results. End products shall include an end-of-phase report with conceptual drawings and a proof-of-concept prototype. End-of-phase report shall include, but not limited to, the following: variable transmission range achieved, power consumption, switching speed, color appearance (i.e., chromaticity), construction of lens and variable transmission layers, electronic schematics, material composition. Ability to enhance situational awareness and increase lethality while preserving existing vision protection capabilities (i.e., be equal to or better than standard fielded U.S. military combat eye protection, per MIL-PRF-32432) should be supported with sound reasoning and substantial evidence. PHASE II: During Phase II contractor shall address in detail the technical approach and design of the technology chosen in Phase I. Engineering challenges associated with the technological approach should be noted. Minimum required deliverable for the Phase II shall be a switchable active variable transmission eyewear prototype. Dark state transmission should be equal to or less than 15%. Target clear state transmission is greater than 85%. Prototype shall be on a military relevant substrate. Power shall be on-board prototype. Technical report shall detail optical characteristics (including transmission range and ANSI Z87.1 optical performance), electrical and power characteristics (including power consumed, battery life), and testing associated with MIL-PRF-32432 (i.e., ballistic fragmentation, anti-scratch). PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The end-state of this technology is for a single combat eye protection for all levels of illumination and provide some protection against laser dazzler threats. Further potential military applications include other headgear platforms that have a need for VTE. Civilian markets for this technology include law enforcement operations, environmental and agricultural markets, and outdoor recreational uses REFERENCES: 1. ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2015 American National Standard Occupational and Educational Personal Eye and Face Protection Devices 2. MIL-PRF-32432A, Performance Specification: Military Combat Eye Protection System 3. Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL) http://www.peosoldier.army.mil/equipment/eyewear/ 4. ATC-11772, "Developmental Test (DT) of the Soldier Protection System (SPS) Human Factors Assessment II (HFA 2) Transition Combat Eye Protection (TCEP) System", Richardson, Elizabeth N., Gearin, Steven G., (2015) KEYWORDS: Eyewear; variable transmission; laser protection; PPE

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Directed Energy OBJECTIVE: A lightweight and wearable Soldier PPE able to neutralize high energy laser threats upon impact and, incidentally, able to alert the wearer of the presence of such threats DESCRIPTION: High energy laser (HEL) threats are expected to be deployed in the future battlefield. They exhibit many compelling features including speed-of-light engagement, a deep magazine, and limited protection against the highest powers. The threat mechanism is via optical damage and intense thermal damage. These qualities behoove the development of PPE for Soldiers. A solution to this problem does not have to provide complete protection against HELs, even partially protection can buy Soldiers enough time to evade or engage the threats. In addition, the wavelength could be in the near infrared (NIR), such as with a Nd:YAG laser, making it undetectable visually via scattered light. A PPE system was developed for industrial users of high energy lasers [1]. The PPE proposal here could involve a wearable for the Soldier or a shield-like product. HELs can have irradiances greater than 10 W/cm2 or powers greater than 500 W. Even materials with extremely small amounts of absorption in the visible or NIR, such as noble metals, will lead to optical power absorption, heating and thermal runaway as the material gets damaged. Damage leads to further absorption as the material’s absorption coefficient increases. Energy can be reflected away and/or spread around to a larger volume to prevent damage. The HEL PPE must demonstrably reduce the burn injury/damage to both the wearer and the article itself. The wearable must address the following when exposed to a visible or NIR laser of irradiance 100 W/cm2: not allow the laser to penetrate to the skin before 1 minute, result in an inner surface temperature less than 44 °C, i.e., the burn injury threshold, for at least a minute, not catch on fire before either the inner surface temperature is greater than 44 °C or before 1 minute. Proposers should note that HEL PPE that simply reflects all the energy as may cause injury to nearby bystanders. The HEL PPE must be wearable, flexible, able to be carried by an individual Soldier, and greater than 1 m2 in area. ASTM standards for thermal protection should be followed including ASTM 1959, 1930, 1358, and C1055-20 [2—4]. PHASE I: During Phase I the contractor shall research and develop innovative approaches to HEL personal protection. Throughout the Phase I, monthly reports detailing technical and programmatic results shall be delivered. End of products shall include a technical report detailing proposed materiel solution with expected protection levels in terms of inner surface temperature reached after 1 minute of exposure to vis or NIR laser of 100 W/cm2 and expected length of survival against exposure to an HEL. Proposed solution should address wearability, flexibility, weight, and size. Ability to preserve situational awareness and increase lethality of the Soldier should be supported with sound reasoning and substantial evidence. PHASE II: The vision for this R&D is a baseline for HEL PPE for Soldiers and shielding material for equipment such as UASs. The end-state is the ability for Soldiers to have extra time while irradiated to evade or engage. The technology developed here would be transitioned to a Program of Record through the Product Manager (PM-SCIE). Additionally, a commercial need for such PPE exists (industrial users of lasers or other intense sources of heat and radiant energy) and would help in driving down fabrication costs as the market grows. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The vision for this R&D is a baseline for HEL PPE for Soldiers and shielding material for equipment such as UASs. The end-state is the ability for Soldiers to have extra time while irradiated to evade or engage. The technology developed here would be transitioned to a Program of Record through the Product Manager (PM-SCIE). Additionally, a commercial need for such PPE exists (industrial users of lasers or other intense sources of heat and radiant energy) and would help in driving down fabrication costs as the market grows. REFERENCES: 1. C. Hennigs, M. Hustedt, S. Kaierle, D. Wenzel, S. Markstein, A.Hutter, “Passive and Active Protective Clothing against High-Power Laser Radiation”, Physics Procedia, Vol 41, pp 291-301 (2013) 2. ASTM C1055-20 “Temperature for Bioeffects” 3. ASTM F1959 “Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating of Materials for Clothing” KEYWORDS: High energy laser; personal protective equipment; thermal

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Directed Energy, Microelectronics, Integrated Network System of Systems The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 3.5 of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Research and develop an innovative power beaming and receiver system to a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS). Deliver a prototype demonstrating power beaming (PB) in a relevant outdoors environment. DESCRIPTION: Unmanned vehicles are playing increasingly central and sophisticated roles on the battlefield and fulfill many different missions during both peace and wartime. Small autonomous vehicles like Group 1 sUAS represent a top DoD and Army priority, and are common in military formations, with wide distribution to units across the Services and in civilian agencies. These sUAS play a critical role in communication, situational awareness, etc. for squads and individual Warfighters, yet their battery lifetimes are limited to the 30-minute range [1,2], which curtails their mission effectiveness; it is unrealistic and cognitively burdensome to swap out batteries by hand every half-hour in a contested battlespace. New laser and microwave directed energy technologies, including new receiver materials technology, enable “remote power”, where energy is transmitted to a vehicle’s receiver, using an intense, directed-energy beam [3-6]. The vehicle will be more mobile and lethal, not burdened by a heavy load of batteries and frequent battery swaps, and the unsustainable and vulnerable logistics load of extra batteries will be reduced or eliminated. Calculations, based on representative sUAS and onboard batteries, indicate that if 100 W could be continuously supplied to the sUAS batteries in-flight (implying > 100 W incident power on the sUAS receiver and even higher powers in the transmitted beam at the source), the mission lifetime of the sUAS could double to one hour, before the battery would need to be changed. If 200 W could be delivered onboard the sUAS to the battery, the sUAS could operate indefinitely, and the need for extra batteries greatly curtailed. Early demonstrations focused on a UAS relatively stationary in a wind tunnel [7]; a more applicable demonstration is needed. Beaming power to a sUAS is technically challenging: a powerful beam must be continuously aimed at and confined within the sUAS-borne receiver for a long time, despite atmospheric turbulence and sUAS motion. Eye safety and the effect of the receiver on sUAS motion must also be considered. Photovoltaic receivers have been proven to be lightweight and efficient, especially for space and portable power applications. Photovoltaic cells for PB must also maximize power output and handle some amount of movement (due to atmospheric turbulence, sUAS motion, etc.) of the incident beam, and they must be thermally stable, not heating and losing efficiency excessively under continuous illumination by a powerful beam whose centroid wanders. Rectennas or bolometers are also possible receivers, especially for wavelengths in the short-wave infrared regime or longer. In all cases, new materials, robust to temperature swings and capable of delivering power, must be designed or reconfigured. The goal of this Topic is to research and develop a novel PB system to extend the range of Group 1 sUAS (< 20 lb.) far beyond the current limitation of approximately one-half hour flying time for Group 1 sUAS, at least doubling it, while not negatively impacting mission (due to attached receiver) or generating significant safety issues (demonstrated outdoors in Phase II). Laser PB may be best for small Group 1 sUAS. PHASE I: NOTE THAT IN-HOUSE CONTRACTORS (ORISE POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATES) WILL ASSIST WITH PROPOSAL REVIEW Identifying, through early-stage experiments and modeling (not just modeling), a PB system that will provide at least 100 W continuous onboard a sUAS which is carrying out a simple mission (e.g., reconnaissance, or observing a fixed area), at a range of 500 m or more from the source. The PB system must have source, receiver, and sUAS technology with technical merit specified. The wavelength of the PB source and the receiver can be selected by the responding firm, as can the outdoors environment and mission scenario, but the sUAS must be “blue”; e.g., on the US government’s permitted acquisition list. Model, and conduct initial experiments informing understanding of, power beaming to a sUAS. In reports, comment on eye safety, range, aiming stability, sUAS type, mission and scaling to faster re-charge times. Predict and justify a technical and programmatic path, based on modeling and initial experiments (not just modeling), of extending mission lifetime, ideally by 30 minutes with less than 60 minutes of charging and range of at least 500 meters. Employ preliminary experimental data, for example using a relevant laser in a laboratory. PHASE II: NOTE THAT IN-HOUSE CONTRACTORS (ORISE POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATES) WILL ASSIST WITH PROPOSAL REVIEW Building on Phase I work, in Year 1 of Phase II: demonstrate a prototype, consisting of a full PB system and Group 1 sUAS with receiver, and demonstrate in a lab environment the power delivery to the sUAS batteries in an eyesafe manner. Also in Year 1, demonstrate receiver robustness under high power densities and interaction with a moving beam. In Year 2, demonstrate the full PB system outdoors in the relevant environment with the sUAS’ executing a simple mission, like reconnaissance (moving in a straight line) or hovering or circling a protected area. Power levels should be at least 100 W onboard (not incident on) a sUAS, and the power must be demonstrated over a distance of at least 500 meters continuously. At the end of Phase II, demonstrate onboard delivery of 100 W to the sUAS battery over a range of at least 500 meters outdoors. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: "Scale the technology demonstrated in Phase II up to a level that produces a full system that could be used for a sUAS mission, such as reconnaissance/situational awareness, in an operationally relevant environment for the Army, including probably larger range to 1 km and beyond. The technology must be of interest for the Warfighter and civilian (e.g., first responders) in challenging environments; for example, for reporting back to Warfighters and/or civilian emergency personnel situations in dangerous environments (battlefield, contaminated area, mines, etc.). Scale up the technology from Group 1 sUAS to much larger UAS that can travel across continents, especially where solar power cannot be relied on. Dual use potential comes from (1) the great commercial potential of sUAS and UAS in general to deliver commercial products in an efficient and targeted way (2) the application of sUAS and autonomous assets in general to penetrate dangerous environments unfit for humans for reconnaissance and retrieval purposes, especially where remote power is advantageous because it would be dangerous and inefficient to change sUAS batteries by hand (e.g., environments contaminated by toxic chemicals or pollutants) and (3) the similarity of power beaming to other directed energy applications where the sUAS is flying in an unauthorized area (e.g., near an airport), and where law enforcement or military needs additional tools to defend the area. It is envisioned that this technology will benefit from large emerging civilian markets where remote power is increasingly sought as UAS travel further and are required to carry larger payloads." REFERENCES: 1. Article/info sheet titeld "Skydio X2D uses unmatched AI to turn every operator into an expert pilot" https://pages.skydio.com/rs/784-TUF-591/images/skydio-x2d-datasheet-x2-pg.pdf 2. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2018. CounterUnmanned Aircraft System [CUAS) Capability for Battalion-and-Below Operations: Abbreviated Version of a Restricted Report. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24747 3. Naval Research Laboratory Press Release (2019): “Researchers transmit energy with laser in historic power-beaming demonstration” 4. IEEE Spectrum News Article (2021): “New Optical Antennas Harvest 100 Times More Electricity from Heat” 5. Science v. 367 p. 1341 (2020; abstract only): “Electrical power generation from moderate-temperature radiative thermal sources” 6. Naval Research Laboratory Press Release (2022): “NRL Conducts Successful Terrestrial Microwave Power Beaming Demonstration” 7. Lockheed Martin News release; PR Newswire; Palmdale Calif.; July 11, 2012; https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2012-07-11-Laser-Powers-Lockheed-Martins-Stalker-UAS-For-48-Hours KEYWORDS: Power beaming, Remote power, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Autonomy, Photovoltaic, Receiver, Near-Infrared, Short-wave infrared

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Biotechnology OBJECTIVE: Develop a multiplex detection system that can be used by an expeditionary force for the detection of pathogens in food and water using shelf-stable nanotechnology enabled assay DESCRIPTION: U.S. troops are deployed worldwide to places where commercial food sanitation standards may be inferior with poor enforcement. Survey data of military personnel deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan reported high rates of diarrhea, 70 and 54% respectively, for respondents. Higher rates in deployed personnel in Iraq was attributed to more access to local foods (26.6% in Iraq reported eating local food weekly compared to only 5.3% in Afghanistan). There is significant risk to Warfighters consuming local food or water that contains pathogens. Pathogens can be naturally occurring or intentionally introduced. Current methods to detect pathogenic contamination in food/water such as culture counting, molecular diagnostics, and ELISA like assays require reagents with limited shelf-life, cold storage requirement, trained users, multiple manual steps, and long wait times. This topic seeks to utilize detection technologies to protect Warfighters from incidental or intentional contamination by verifying the safety of food/water. Reducing the logistical burden associated with acquiring safe food and water will maintain expeditionary posture on extended missions up to 7 days without resupply as part of multi-domain operations. Current detection systems for food/water pathogens require multiple pieces of equipment for a pre-enrichment/concentration of target in the food sample followed by multiple steps to isolate the pathogen from the sample matrix. These procedures increase the testing time and ultimately extends the overall time to response. In addition, cold chain logistics is a key resource limiting factor that directly affects reagent stability and is not feasible for the expeditionary force. Recent advances in biotechnology, synthetic biology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence/machine learning provide opportunity to overcome many of these limitations and hurdles. The proposed concept would utilize a single hand-held test device that can provide a yes/no determination of food and water safety without the use of other supporting equipment elements in a resource limited environment. This system would be capable of targeting enteric viruses, parasites, and bacteria. Viral targets would include Hepatitis A, Norovirus, Poliovirus, Rotavirus and Coxsackievirus. Parasite targets would include Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Schistosoma, Entamoeba histolytica and Cyclospora. Bacterial targets would include Shiga Toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, coliforms and Campylobacter. The overall size and weight of the system should be man portable with the objective of each individual component to be hand-held (threshold total system weight of less than 5lbs with the objective weight of less than 3lbs). Stability of the system and reagents will need to be compatible with non-controlled environmental conditions to include extremes in temperature (low -40°F, high 160° F), freeze-thaw cycles, wide range of moisture condensing and non-condensing (RH% 10 to 90%). Shelf stability of reagents in the test kit is necessary and must not expire for at least one calendar year. System will provide a rapid (threshold time to response < 8 hrs, objective time to response < 2 hrs) yes/no determination of safety without the need for user interpretations. An internal positive control and negative control for system readiness and test reagent verification will also be key requirements of the final system. PHASE I: Design and develop a proof-of-concept unit capable of demonstrating the performance requirements and metrics outlined above. Establish the feasibility, usability and practicality of the proposed design and materially demonstrate and validate the concept through preliminary testing. For Phase I the detection system would have to show the ability to detect one target from each group (virus, bacteria, and parasite) in water on a single test kit without using supporting laboratory equipment. Detection of the targets would occur at levels that are high enough that enrichment would not be needed for bacterial targets. Detection system in this phase will be a breadboard unit. A preliminary cost analysis must be completed based on projected scale-up and manufacturability considerations. A final report shall be delivered that specifies how requirements will be met (including mitigation of risks associated with factors limiting system performance). The report will detail the conceptual design, performance modeling and associated drawings (CAD or Solidworks® format), scalability of the proposed technology with predicted performance, safety and human interface (MANPRINT) factors, and estimated production costs. The projected technical readiness level (TRL) shall achieve a TRL of 3 and provide a clear path to Phase II/III and follow-on commercialization. PHASE II: Refine the technology developed during Phase I in accordance with the goals of the project. Fabricate and demonstrate a high fidelity, full scale, advanced prototype for the target warfighter application, verifying that the desired performance is met. Expand detection to the other four organisms in each group that were not addressed during Phase I. Phase II will also include sampling of food matrices for all of the pathogens in each group. Food samples will include spinach, strawberries, and ground beef. Phase II will also maximize sensitivity improving on the detection limit established in phase I in water by lowing the detection limit by factor of 10 (Threshold) to 1000 (Objective). Minimize detection time for the assay (time to result; Threshold 8hrs, Objective less than 2hrs). Shelf stability of included reagents without refrigeration or other controlled environment will be addressed (shelf-life threshold 1 year, objective 5 years). Complete construction of full-scale prototype system meeting metrics for size (handheld), weight (Threshold 5 lbs., Objective 3 lbs.) and run time before recharge (i.e. battery life; Threshold 10 hr, Objective 24 hr) requirements. Provide a report, associated drawings and control software/source code, if applicable, documenting the theory, design, component specifications, performance characterization, projected reliability/maintainability/cost and recommendations for technique/system implementation. Deliver a high-fidelity full-scale prototype, consumables, and user guide to support joint Warfighter technical, operational, environmental and safety testing in the target application by the end of Phase II. An updated production cost analysis shall be completed and design for manufacture considerations shall also be projected to support advancement of TRL and associated Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL). An implementation plan shall be provided for the scalable warfighter sustainment (food and water) sensor system and reagents for use by the joint expeditionary force. The Phase II prototype shall support operational testing that validates the feasibility of the approach and can ultimately support transition to military and commercial applications (Phase III). The projected technical readiness level shall be a TRL 6. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The proposed technology innovation and associated manufacturing capability will overcome the present technology gap and be rapidly transitioned to both military and commercial applications. The anticipated product is a self-contained, rapid, easy to use, shelf stable assay as part of an ideal detection platform for field use by expeditionary forces, as appropriate. The detection system in this phase will be a fully operational single process unit. The Phase III is expected to advance the proposed innovation to a TRL of 7 or higher, supporting a system demonstration in a relevant environment in the hands of the Soldier. Ultimately, the technology will be transitioned to the Squad or individual Warfighter, where high efficiency, long life, and low-cost technology is needed. This will maximize the performance, lethality and security of the Warfighter by ensuring safe and optimum hydration and nutrition in all operating environments. The Phase III represents concurrent (unfunded) commercialization of the technology that is expected to provide economy of scale, logistic, and other benefits that can be attributed to the proposed development. This technology will transition to Joint Project Manager Medical Countermeasure Systems – Diagnostics (JPM-MCS-dX) or Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment (PdM-SCIE). Commercially, this system can be used for rapid, simple identification of pathogens in food and water that may be contaminated with multiple pathogens. The system may also have potential use in point of care diagnostics for these targets in a medical environment. REFERENCES: 1. Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) Handbook, Ver. 1.1,1 June 2018 2. Commandants Planning Guidance, 38th Commandant of the Marine Corps, 2019 3. Bülbül, G., Hayat, A., & Andreescu, S. (2015). Portable Nanoparticle-Based Sensors for Food Safety Assessment. Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 15(12), 30736–30758. https://doi.org/10.3390/s151229826 4. Yanli Lu, Zhenghan Shi, Qingjun Liu, Smartphone-based biosensors for portable food evaluation, Current Opinion in Food Science, Volume 28, 2019, Pages 74-81, ISSN 2214-7993, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2019.09.003 5. Putnam SD, Sanders JW, Frenck RW, et al. Self-reported description of diarrhea among military populations in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. J Travel Med. 2006;13(2):92-99. doi:10.1111/j.1708-8305.2006.00020.x KEYWORDS: Nanotechnology, Biosensor, Food and water, Diagnostics, Pathogen detection, Multiplex, Shelf-stable reagents, Synthetic biology, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Integrated Sensing and Cyber OBJECTIVE: Develop mission capability of secure free-space mid-wave infrared communications that optimize data transfer rates and bit error rate (BER) while achieving physical-layer security such that eavesdroppers cannot decipher intercepted messages. DESCRIPTION: Free-space optical (FSO) communication in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) allows the transmission of signal in non-optimal atmospheric conditions with the presence of optical obscurants such as fog, rain or snow, taking advantage of the low-absorption windows in the 3–5 µm and 8–12 µm spectral ranges. Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs) have attained performance levels, which make them attractive as transmitter sources for FSO communication. The extremely fast carrier dynamics and pico-second scale upper-level photon lifetimes present the potential for high bandwidth with relatively low-temperature dependence and a small-package footprint. Semiconductor lasers with distributed feedback have shown strong longitudinal-mode selection, and are ideal candidates for communication applications. Although the narrow-beam, direct link between the FSO transmitter and receiver makes it more difficult to intercept an FSO signal than RF-wireless communication, the FSO is still not impervious to interception. Advances in high-speed computing threaten the ability of data encryption to prevent deciphering of intercepted messages. Additional measures to ensure data security are needed when absolute security is a requirement. Various methods of securing data at the physical level have been studied extensively for telecom lasers and wavelengths, but while these methods may conceivably be extended to mid-IR QCLs, the device dynamics for QCLs are much more complex. One method for secure communication is using lasers operating within the chaotic regime. Researchers using chaos in the fiber-optic telecom wavelength range have been able to theoretically show data transfer rates on the order of 4–10 Gbit/s while using chaos [Refs 1, 2]. Recent work [Refs 3-6] has shown that, similar to their interband (diode) semiconductor laser counterpart, QCLs exhibit chaotic behavior in both the temporal and frequency domains. However, this work has shown a relatively high BER for larger data transfer rates owing to a reduced correlation between the leader and follower lasers. In interband devices, the linewidth enhancement factor, which can influence chaotic behavior, is dependent on the feedback ratio, as well as the drive current and output power [Ref 7]. Further work is needed to control the onset of chaos in QCLs and demonstrate the feasibility of a QCL-based communication link using chaos to ensure security of high-data rate communications. For FSO communication over longer distances and in adverse weather conditions such as rain or haze, high-power MWIR sources are required. Furthermore, the degree of chaos is expected to increase with output power since for QCLs it has been found [Ref 8] that the linewidth enhancement factor increases as the drive current above threshold increases. Characterization of chaos at high-output powers will be necessary for the development and use of secure mid-IR FSO communications. To ensure security, an eavesdropper BER can be used as guidance with values above 25% [Ref 9]. PHASE I: Establish the feasibility of the proposed method to improve chaos bandwidth beyond 100 MHz and link distance beyond 100 m from an MWIR source operating within the ~ 10 µm low-absorption window. Support the analysis with QCL experimental data at any wavelength. Design a leader and follower laser to meet Phase II goals. The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II. PHASE II: Demonstrate a transmitter and receiver using chaos in the 10 µm wavelength region to mask a signal with a BER of less than 4% and a data transfer rate greater than 100 Mbit/s at a link distance > 1 km. An eavesdropper should have an error rate of > 25%. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Develop a prototype based on the design from Phase II for transition to an operational test asset, which will be determined in Phase III. Issues related to test platform integration will be addressed in cooperation with the Government. Focus on risk management and mitigation (versus the test plan and schedule). Other Government applications within the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Intelligence Community for use with non-RF, covert communication under adverse weather conditions are also considerations. Private sector use in telecommunication and local, urban communication (communication nodes—line of sight) would benefit from this technology due to its high-security and high-bandwidth capabilities even in adverse weather conditions. REFERENCES: 1. Sanchez-Diaz, A., Mirasso, C. R., Colet, P., & Garcia-Fernandez, P. (1999). Encoded Gbit/s digital communications with synchronized chaotic semiconductor lasers. IEEE journal of quantum electronics, 35(3), 292-297. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=748833&casa_token=JYXvDVKW-oIAAAAA:PXYM-6EjBFoZuDzCMpol3WrKfK6cta1WEdnjDocHPCoYynHnasavbzUKcFMYQPsMQ55oEzUs&tag=1 2. Yang, Z., Yi, L., Ke, J., Zhuge, Q., Yang, Y., & Hu, W. (2020). Chaotic optical communication over 1000 km transmission by coherent detection. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 38(17), 4648-4655. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9091335&casa_token=Fzy7w4DPJ9YAAAAA:0Tx7Htbet_1WTr7cxty7OYhYJ8TopKj8kzUIm0ht6Qyl9Zq3yzxMIsT9NSdfaet1ukkW513l 3. Jumpertz, L., Carras, M., Schires, K., & Grillot, F. (2014). Regimes of external optical feedback in 5.6 µ m distributed feedback mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers. Applied Physics Letters, 105(13), 131112. https://perso.telecom-paristech.fr/grillot/60.pdf 4. Jumpertz, L., Schires, K., Carras, M., Sciamanna, M., & Grillot, F. (2016). Chaotic light at mid-infrared wavelength. Light: Science & Applications, 5(6), e16088-e16088. https://www.nature.com/articles/lsa201688.pdf?origin=ppub 5. Spitz, O., Wu, J., Herdt, A., Carras, M., Elsässer, W., Wong, C. W., & Grillot, F. (2019). Investigation of chaotic and spiking dynamics in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers operating continuous-waves and under current modulation. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 25(6), 1-11. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=8815933&casa_token=bmv4S9nQZJ4AAAAA:0TnT1oFXIQZFWYqh4_umcAbtsJ1rQYBTA-vigD5GNwIPK0_6M_z7t1uYHBPyBXEmEnTgbC7j 6. Spitz, O., Herdt, A., Wu, J., Maisons, G., Carras, M., Wong, C. W., Elsäßer, W., & Grillot, F. (2021). Private communication with quantum cascade laser photonic chaos. Nature communications, 12(1), 1-8. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-23527-9.pdf?origin=ppub 7. Takiguchi, Y., Ohyagi, K., & Ohtsubo, J. (2003). Bandwidth-enhanced chaos synchronization in strongly injection-locked semiconductor lasers with optical feedback. Optics letters, 28(5), 319-321. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1084.7122&rep=rep1&type=pdf 8. Jumpertz, L., Michel, F., Pawlus, R., Elsässer, W., Schires, K., Carras, M., & Grillot, F. (2016). Measurements of the linewidth enhancement factor of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers by different optical feedback techniques. AIP Advances, 6(1), 015212. https://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/1.4940767 9. Bogris, A., Argyris, A., & Syvridis, D. (2010). Encryption efficiency analysis of chaotic communication systems based on photonic integrated chaotic circuits. IEEE journal of quantum electronics, 46(10), 1421-1429. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=5565358&casa_token=OOOMv4lQJm8AAAAA:3cLWbaq1nTCPEdFTeDacRI-t14rfpDUdzyis78GeZlPpYYpPn8cTmUywl0N8GTKTbSG0suLQ KEYWORDS: Secure; mid-wave; infrared; free-space; optical communication; chaotic laser Mode

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): FutureG; Integrated Sensing and Cyber; Trusted AI and Autonomy OBJECTIVE: Design and develop a fully autonomous robotic solution where a multi-robot team in a communication-degraded and GPS-denied environment can complete a mission with minimal human supervision under extreme environmental conditions. DESCRIPTION: It is well known that the future battlefield will experience complex artificial intelligence (AI) competition. An automated group of drones, or unmanned ships/submarines, is expected to be a primary form of future weapon systems and surveillance/reconnaissance systems. Technology-wise, based on the collected sensor information, each robot collaboratively acts to accomplish the common mission goal of this multi-robot system (MRS) and multi-agent system (MAS). In the meantime, the adversary will develop similar collaborative MRS to form the “competition”. A major focus on AI of a single agent or collective data analytics of battlefield, is desirable to elaborate the collaborative MRS to achieve superiority in the battlefield using intelligent machines and systems, provided there is: (a) effective artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) among multi-robot, not just AI for a single robot, so that complex strategy and maneuver for these robots can be facilitated, and (b) ultra-low latency wireless networking to enable fastest possible response to complicated situations in the battlefield, while maintaining low probability of interception and jamming. The proposed technology is to dominate the winning edge in such “competitions” through the cyber warfare technology in communication and computation, with feature technologies: 1. Cyber topology control: A fully connected cyber topology (sensor observation and communication among robots) would assist achieving the mission. Smart topology control enhances the performance of collaborative MRS. 2. Predictive machine learning for adversary’s movement: achievable through integrating multiple online machine learning techniques, while deep learning as offline reference may further assist. 3. Strategic maneuver to neutralize adversary’s actions: In addition to AI, with the aid of communication, proper selection of action algorithms for each collaborative robot works. 4. Attack the cyber links of the adversary (both communication and AI), to destroy adversary’s cyber topology control and ensures the success of the mission. There is interest in innovating the two technological frontiers listed above (cyber topology and AI) and developing an integrated solution, to accomplish superior AI capability in the future battlefield, with the following long-term technologies: 1. An MRS that can accomplish the collective goal or mission in a sophisticated and dynamic policy subject to the dynamics in the battlefield, with the shortest possible response time. For example, (a) to intercept one or multiple hypersonic missile(s) toward an extremely high-value asset by collaborative lower-speed anti-missiles, and (b) a group of collaborative drones to attack an adversary’s high-value asset. This research aims at innovative networked AI for MRS. 2. Current secure data links typically suffer delays in the range up to seconds or even tens of seconds, which is not possible to support any real-time collaboration of robots. The fundamental reason behind this is that the communication links and networks have been designed based on human-to-human (H2H) communication, rather than machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. This research aims at wireless M2M networking of minimal end-to-end latency (i.e., < 1 msec). 3. Given the adversary’s capability of electronic warfare, the wireless network must be resilient against jamming and interception. In addition to post-quantum cryptography, a multimode wireless network shall be innovated, which consists of multi-frequency radio frequency (RF), optical wireless, and quantum optical wireless technologies to form the multimode multipath (M3P) transmissions as a secure and resilient ultra-low latency wireless networking for 2. Possible blockchain management of launching codes, and so forth, allows distributed battlefield management to better fit the efficiency of MRS. There is interest in utilizing emerging classes of miniature (Group 1) Unmanned Vehicles (UVs) for a variety of surveillance and reconnaissance applications in support of the Department of the Navy’s Strategic Blueprint for the Arctic. This SBIR topic seeks to develop and demonstrate a new class of miniature UVs (air, ground, surface, subsurface or a combination thereof). These systems will be air deployed and have the capability to traverse across difficult terrain such as swamps, desert, tundra, and snow or water bodies to satisfy the most demanding mobility requirements of airborne and expeditionary forces. The end goal is a fully autonomous robotic solution where a multi-robot team in a communication-degraded and GPS-denied environment can complete a mission with minimal human supervision under extreme environmental conditions, such as artic and desert temperatures, high altitudes, sand, rain, sleet, and ice. System Attributes are: (a) air, surface and subsurface capable, (b) each robot/agent in the MRS/MAS has its own AI capability to act, and collaboratively accomplish a goal (or mission), (c) end-to-end latency: less than 1 m/sec, (d) operate in a communication-degraded and GPS-denied environment, (e) real-time data output: longitude, latitude, altitude/height, velocity, roll, pitch, yaw/heading, angular rates, acceleration, health status, and calibrated raw data INS/GNSS (for post-processing) (f) interfaces: RS422 (UART and HDLC/SDLC) interfaces, CANaero/ARINC825/CAN, ARINC429, Ethernet (TCP/IP and UDP), and SYNC-I/Os, and (g) output and diagnostic measurement system included (full mission duration storage). Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by DoD 5220.22-M, National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret NAVY level facility and Personnel Security Clearances, in order to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and NAVAIR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material IAW DoD 5220.22-M during the advanced phases of this contract. PHASE I: Describe offense and defense tactics via collaboration in order to compete against the adversary. Define the architecture and topology for ultra-low latency communications and networked AI/ML methodology and operational features. Identify specific sensors or sensor suites to be included and develop the strategy and design of integration and scale of the autonomous platform and onboard processing/architecture. Describe logistics and maintenance strategy. Define the autonomous behaviors, requirements of software and communications to allow cooperative sensor array technology collaboration. The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II. PHASE II: Develop a multimode wireless network architecture of ultra-low latency prototype platform and validate the component integration in terms of physical implementation: architectures, electronics, and communications to facilitate networked AI MRS. Conceptual demonstration of technology (i.e., networked AI to form the collaborative strategy), with one scenario of field demonstration and another scenario of computer simulations. Develop the autonomous behaviors, swarming software and communications defined in Phase I. Perform potential land/sea trial tests of cooperative swarming activities of multiple vessels. Evaluate performance using both single and swarming deployment. Demonstrate ability to operate in various EM environments. Work in Phase II may become classified. Please see note in Description section. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Complete final testing and perform necessary integration and transition for use in multi-platform operations with appropriate current platforms and agencies, and future combat systems (FCS) under development. Commercially this architecture and product could be used to enable remote airborne environmental monitoring and surveying. REFERENCES: 1. Marks III, R. J. (2020, October 15). The first war using modern AI-based weapons is here. Mind Matters News. https://mindmatters.ai/2020/10/the-first-war-using-modern-ai-based-weapons-is-here/ 2. Hambling, D. (2020, November 10). The “magic bullet” drones behind Azerbaijan’s victory over Armenia. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2020/11/10/the-magic-bullet-drones-behind--azerbaijans-victory-over-armenia/?sh=71f1e0eb5e57 3. Frantzman, S. J. (2021). The drone wars: pioneers, killing machines, artificial intelligence, and the battle for the future. Bombardier Books. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=9781642936766&i=stripbooks&linkCode=qs 4. U.S. National Ice Center. (2021). Department of the Navy: A strategic blueprint for the Arctic. Department of the Navy. https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jan/05/2002560338/-1/-1/0/ARCTIC%20BLUEPRINT%202021%20FINAL.PDF/ARCTIC%20BLUEPRINT%202021%20FINAL.PDF KEYWORDS: Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning; AI/ML; Quantum; Communication Architecture; Ultra Low-Latency; Communication; GPS denied

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sustainment; Trusted AI and Autonomy OBJECTIVE: Design and develop a data access tool that can determine if a part could be and should be produced via additive manufacturing (AM). These disciplines can include, but are not limited to the following: engineering design, manufacturability, producibility, testing, and machine learning to develop expert-guided algorithms to identify which readiness degraders, sustainment issues, and next generation components can be produced via AM. DESCRIPTION: AM has the potential to increase readiness and improve maintenance and sustainment operations by reducing long lead times and eliminating obsolescence related issues. Furthermore, the technology enables improvements to current systems (e.g., light-weighting, part count reduction, increased system performance) through designs that are not possible by conventional manufacturing techniques. However, for the technology to continue to transition from indirect uses to efficiently producing qualified end use parts several technology barriers need to be overcome. One of the primary needs is the development and integration of data access tools with analytical capability to optimize the selection of viable families of AM candidate parts without requiring the burden of manual item-by-item review. The solution also should include analytical capabilities to effectively manage product technical and logistics information and provide users with substantive assessments on an item’s suitability to AM production. Knowledge of computer aided design (CAD), technical data packages (TDPs), and product lifecycle management (PLM) tools is required, as well as the ability to quantify the limitations of existing AM systems and processes. Innovative design concepts are being sought for the development of an AM candidate assessment tool with the ability to: (1) coarsely filter and screen for irrelevant parts, (2) identify candidate parts using criteria such as material, performance requirements and parts family types, (3) predict production estimates and delivery schedules by building/expanding upon a cost and time estimation tool, and (4) automatically search Navy databases for parts most suitable for AM and subsequently validate them using a machine learning model or algorithm. PHASE I: Develop, design, and demonstrate feasibility of a concept for an AM candidate assessment tool utilizing representative data. Develop a “coarse” filter or screening mechanism for candidate parts. The filter will use binary (yes/no) expert judgments, combined with active machine learning (ML) (e.g., adding expert judgements iteratively to understand the value of additional information), to filter parts unsuitable for AM. The tool will screen by critical dimensions (i.e., work envelope or bounding box) and known limitations of existing additive manufacturing systems of interest. Design should consider other criteria such as material, performance requirements, and parts family when determining the suitability of a part for AM. Refine existing cost and time estimation tools to predict production cost estimates and delivery schedules for representative AM part candidates. Production cost estimates should consider all post-processing operations (e.g., heat treatment, surface treatment, final machining, and inspection) required to meet the part’s acceptance criteria. The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II. PHASE II: Extend the decision model(s) developed under Phase I to address Navy part characteristics and mission priorities to develop a mutually agreed upon prioritization schema. Produce a ML algorithm, seeded with the aforementioned models, to integrate and search Navy databases for parts most suitable for AM, and the value of potentially (costly) additional information. Demonstrate and validate the prototype by utilizing actual Navy data. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Transition the tool under the guidance of PEO-CS Digital Thread team and/or NAWCAD LKE’s Digital Enterprise Tools Branch. Commercialize the tool resulting from the Phase I/II R/R&D activities. This would likely involve further integration with existing, commercially-available CAD and PLM platforms. Military and Commercial sectors that could benefit from this AM part identification tool include: aerospace, shipping, space, transportation, rail, automobile, and medical. Applications include almost all technology areas such as engine parts, structural parts, mechanical or electrical parts, medical prosthetics, and dental implants. Support the Navy/DoD to help transitioning the system to a DoD SYSCOM in support of various programs. REFERENCES: 1. Parks, T. K., Kaplan, B. J., Pokorny, L. R., Simpson, T. W., & Williams, C. B. (2016). Additive manufacturing: Which DLA-managed legacy parts are potential AM candidates? LMI. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1014552.pdf 2. Page, T. D., Yang, S., & Zhao, Y. F. (2019, July). Automated candidate detection for additive manufacturing: a framework proposal. In Proceedings of the design society: international conference on engineering design (Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 679-688). Cambridge University Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/08AD686E70255907AA0DBC9D6F9B6E09/S2220434219000726a.pdf/automated-candidate-detection-for-additive-manufacturing-a-framework-proposal.pdf 3. Yang, S., Page, T., Zhang, Y., & Zhao, Y. F. (2020). Towards an automated decision support system for the identification of additive manufacturing part candidates. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 31(8), 1917-1933. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10845-020-01545-6 4. Lindemann, C., Reiher, T., Jahnke, U., & Koch, R. (2015). Towards a sustainable and economic selection of part candidates for additive manufacturing. Rapid prototyping journal. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/RPJ-12-2014-0179/full/html KEYWORDS: Additive Manufacturing; AM; Artificial Intelligence; AI; Machine Learning; ML; ; Neural Networks; Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion; Candidate Identification; Decision Making

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Advanced Materials; Sustainment OBJECTIVE: Develop the capability to additively manufacture large, high-complexity, high-criticality metallic parts using wire-fed directed energy deposition (DED) electron beam additive manufacturing (EBAM) and establish a qualification approach for these parts. DESCRIPTION: Traditional manufacturing techniques used to produce large, high-complexity, high-criticality metallic parts involve significant cost and schedule investments related to machine time and material waste. Alternatively, these parts can be manufactured using wire-fed DED EBAM to create near-net fabrications to reduce final machine time, raw material lead time, and material waste. In addition to these part-specific benefits, developing this capability will impact readiness by reducing manufacturing lead times, as well as sustainment by producing difficult to acquire parts or part repairs. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst is seeking innovative solutions to develop this capability through the material and process qualification and production of a large (~12 in. x 16 in. x 56 in. [30.48 cm x 40.64 cm x 142.24 cm]; ~400 lb [181.44 kg]) critical safety item (CSI) part belonging to the Aircraft Launch and Recovery (ALRE) Department made from a custom high-strength steel. Access to commercially available EBAM technology that can deposit steel wire feedstock and the ability to characterize the material properties of AM produced parts in order to develop an optimized parameter set resulting in repeatable mechanical properties for the selected part are required for this SBIR effort. The goal is to produce and test AM material in two stages. The initial stage of this initiative aims to produce an optimized parameter set for depositing custom high-strength steel with a wire-fed DED EBAM system. This will consist of initial bead on plate deposition trials, preliminary material analysis, larger volume depositions to optimize hatch spacing and layer height, coupon fabrication, and material property characterization. The intent of the second stage of this initiative is to apply the optimized parameter set to manufacture the near-net fabrication of the custom high-strength steel part. This will include the development of a process control document, toolpath generation, part deposition, final machining, establishment of qualification considerations, and Non-destructive Inspection/Non-destructive Testing (NDI/NDT) requirements, final part inspection and testing, coupon testing, and the documentation of all processes referenced here. The final deliverable will be a prototype part that meets the engineering requirements of the high-strength steel CSI ALRE part as well as the procedures and documentation required to establish a repeatable wire-fed DED EBAM process for manufacturing the part. PHASE I: Develop optimized wire-fed DED EBAM process parameters for the targeted ALRE component using initial bead on plate trials and preliminary material analysis for the deposition of custom high-strength steel wire feedstock deposited onto a compatible substrate material (most likely made from the same alloy as the wire feedstock). The resulting plates will be sectioned and analyzed with respect to density, hardness, porosity, bead geometry, microstructure, adhesion, and visual defects. Once a suitable baseline parameter set is achieved, larger volume depositions will be required to optimize hatch spacing and layer height. These depositions will be designed to section, polish, and etch in order to determine porosity and grain structure. Further large volume depositions will be used to machine coupons that will be tested to determine the following mechanical properties: tensile strength, density, porosity, hardness, and thermal distortion. At the end of Phase I, an optimized and repeatable parameter set will be developed and demonstrated to meet the qualification test plan (QTP) requirements for the deposition of this custom high-strength steel. The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II. PHASE II: Design and develop a near-net fabrication process based on the results of Phase I, for a large CSI ALRE part made from high-strength steel on a wire-fed DED EBAM system. This process will cover system setup, material selection, parameter set selection, toolpath generation, feed rates, preheating, and post-build processing. Produce a near-net fabricated part along with ride-along coupons necessary to determine the final mechanical properties of the build using the process outlined. After deposition, the near-net fabrication will be final machined, inspected, tested, and qualified. Alongside the NDI/NDT of the part, the ride-along coupons will be machined and prepared for destructive testing. The final deliverable will be a prototype part produced by wire-fed DED EBAM utilizing the custom high-strength steel, an approved process control document, and material test data that meets the performance requirements set forth in the agreed upon part certification plan. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Work with Navy programs of record to certify and implement components manufactured using wire-fed DED EBAM. Developing this capability using pathfinder parts like this CSI ALRE component will help to identify other parts throughout the Navy that would be good candidates for wire-fed DED EBAM technology. Wire-fed EBAM technology can be utilized on any metallic parts that have high-material waste, machine time, procurement lead time, procurements costs, or other issues that could be solved with EBAM technology. Once the material has been qualified and the part has been certified, the procedures can easily be replicated for a family of parts in the same material and part classification level. Military and Commercial sectors that could benefit from this AM system include: aerospace, shipping, space, transportation, rail, and automobile. Applications include almost all technology areas such as: engine parts, structural parts, mechanical parts, and support equipment. REFERENCES: 1. Gusarova, A. V., & Khoroshko, E. S. (2019, November). Influence of electron beam parameters on the structure and properties of 321 steel obtained by additive manufacturing. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2167, No. 1, p. 020133). AIP Publishing LLC. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5132000 2. AMS AM Additive Manufacturing Metals Committee. (2020, November 18). Electron Beam Directed Energy Deposition-Wire Additive Manufacturing Process (EB-DED-Wire). SAE International. https://www.sae.org/standards/content/ams7027/ 3. Gibson, I., Rosen, D., & Stucker, B. (2015). Directed energy deposition processes. In Additive manufacturing technologies (pp. 245-268). Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2113-3_10 4. Fortuna, S. V., Filippov, A. V., Kolubaev, E. A., Fortuna, A. S., & Gurianov, D. A. (2018, December). Wire feed electron beam additive manufacturing of metallic components. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 2051, No. 1, p. 020092). AIP Publishing LLC. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5083335 KEYWORDS: Additive Manufacturing; AM; Electron Beam; Directed Energy Deposition; Wire-fed DED; Metal AM; Large Format AM

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Microelectronics OBJECTIVE: Develop new methodologies (or improve existing methodologies) to determine the reliability of silicon Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) devices and identify failure mechanisms with an emphasis on determining the influence of neighboring intra-chip devices, input/output components, and packaging. DESCRIPTION: PICs provide a tremendous opportunity to significantly improve the performance of future generation microelectronic systems. PICs of continuously increasing complexity are finding applications in analog signal processing, optical communication, light detection and ranging (lidar), chemical and biological sensing, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum applications, and custom Department of Defense (DoD) applications. For example, PICs are a key part of high-capacity transceivers and switches for internet data centers, and are under investigation for transmitters and receivers for free space optical communications, hyperspectral imaging devices, light sources for medical diagnostic equipment, and light sources for atomic clocks and gyroscopes. The reliability of PIC devices applicable to DoD avionics, sensors, and electronic warfare (EW) continues to be under study by the DoD Science & Technology community. Verification and validation of integrated photonic device reliability is paramount to opening the door for technology transition opportunity discussions with programs. Laboratory testing of state-of-the-art silicon photonic devices under development in the DoD or in commercial-sector production requires integration with electrical and optical input/output devices at the package level. Military uses of PICs require environmental ruggedness and reliable operation on the order of 100,000 hr mean time or longer between failures. Device operation has to be sustained under extreme conditions, such as high temperature (> 100 ºC), low temperature (< -40 ºC), high radiation, vibration, shock, and humidity. This SBIR topic seeks to evaluation of the underlying reliability physics of silicon based PIC chips and their corresponding packages, to improve the understanding of their failure mechanisms. Representative silicon-based PICs should be selected, and the main degradation modes should be experimentally and theoretically evaluated. Possible degradation modes include semiconductor crystal point defects and dislocations, dielectric and semiconductor optical absorption changes, material transition interface damage and passivation, dopant diffusion, material mechanical stress, metal diffusion, outgassing, solder creep, and intermetallic compound instability. At the package level possible degradation modes include optical coupling efficiency degradation at optical waveguide and/or fiber optic interfaces, electrical bond (bump or wire) failure, and loss of hermetic seal. These representative PICs should be subjected to Highly Accelerated Life Test (HALT) experiments to uncover failures, which will then improve the understanding of device failure physics and packaging failures after appropriate analysis. Individual chips, chip-on-carrier (CoC), and fully packaged devices should be considered for HALT plan creation and evaluation. Acceleration factors such as temperature, electrical bias, optical power, radiation and mechanical stress should be considered according to MIL-HDBK 217 and MIL-STD-810. Particular emphasis should be placed on understanding the influence of individual PIC devices on the reliability of the optical coupling and packaging. PIC integration with planar lightwave circuits (PLCs) and other optical waveguide devices should also be investigated. Possible failure mechanism evaluation tools to be used include X-Ray radiography, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Optical beam induced current (OBIC), Focused Ion Beam Etching (FIB), Deep-level Transient Spectroscopy (DLTS), and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) among many others. The models verified through experimental testing and the improved understanding of PIC/PLC device and package reliability physics will be used to create reliability prediction models and software for PICs/PLCs planned for use in military environments. Due to the large variety of PIC/PLC architectures and base materials, both in fabrication and under development, it is possible that several methods will be identified to extrapolate the PIC lifetime depending on the device specifics. PHASE I: Define innovative methods to model, and predict silicon PIC and packaged silicon PIC reliability, including experimental test plans based on state-of-the-art reliability physics of failure and modeling, and simulation analyses to ascertain existing software prediction shortcomings. Develop models and experimental test plans for application to silicon-photonic integrated circuit devices, including circuit layouts and packages designed to accommodate these test plans. The focus should be on PIC circuits and components relevant to microwave and analog signal processing. Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II. PHASE II: Acquire representative silicon PIC and packaged silicon PIC devices for experimental testing and perform testing. Develop, demonstrate, and validate the reliability prediction models. Subject silicon PIC and packaged silicon PIC devices to environmental and mechanical test stresses based on modeling and simulation results, reliability engineering principles, and experimental test plans. Perform root cause analyses of device failures to understand silicon PIC, optical input/output, electrical input/output device, and package interactions and reliability prediction interdependencies. Develop, demonstrate, and deliver a packaged silicon PIC reliability software package for subsequent independent verification and validation. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Transition the software package to enable DoD and silicon photonic device producers to predict reliability. Commercial data centers or internet facilities are commercial sector applications of silicon photonics. REFERENCES: 1. Margalit, N., Xiang, C., Bowers, S. M., Bjorlin, A., Blum, R., & Bowers, J. E. (2021). Perspective on the future of silicon photonics and electronics. Applied Physics Letters, 118(22), 220501. https://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/5.0050117 2. Mekis, A., Armijo, G., Balardeta, J., Chase, B., Chi, Y., Dahl, A., De Dobbelaere, P., De Koninck, Y., Denton, S., Eker, M., Fathpour, S., Foltz, D., Gloeckner, S., Hon, K. Y., Hovey, S., Jackson, S., Li, W., Liang, Y., Mack, M., … & Zhou, R. (2017, July). Silicon Integrated Photonics Reliability. In Integrated Photonics Research, Silicon and Nanophotonics (pp. IW3A-3). Optical Society of America. https://opg.optica.org/viewmedia.cfm?uri=IPRSN-2017-IW3A.3&seq=0 3. Norman, J. C., Jung, D., Liu, A. Y., Selvidge, J., Mukherjee, K., Bowers, J. E., & Herrick, R. W. (2021). Reliability of lasers on silicon substrates for silicon photonics. In Reliability of Semiconductor Lasers and Optoelectronic Devices (pp. 239-271). Woodhead Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-819254-2.00002-3 4. Rome Laboratory/ERSR. (1995, February). MIL-HDBK 217F (Notice 2): Military handbook: Reliability prediction of electronic equipment. Department of Defense. http://everyspec.com/MIL-HDBK/MIL-HDBK-0200-0299/MIL-HDBK-217F_NOTICE-2_14590/ 5. The MIL-STD-810 Working Group. (2019, January). MIL-STD-810H: Department of Defense test method standard: Environmental engineering considerations and laboratory tests. Department of Defense. http://everyspec.com/MIL-STD/MIL-STD-0800-0899/MIL-STD-810H_55998/ KEYWORDS: Silicon photonics; reliability; failure analysis; modeling; simulation tools; packaging

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Military Operational Medicine OBJECTIVE: To develop a reliable, rapid, sensitive, multiplex method to quantify the levels of small RNA molecules such as exosome and circulating microRNAs (miRNA) in biological samples to explore their potential as diagnostic and prognostic tools. DESCRIPTION: The volume of in vitro diagnostics continues to grow steadily due to increased availability of easy-to-use devices, thus making it possible to deliver less costly care closer to the patient site in a shorter time relative to the central laboratory services. A novel class of small non-coding RNA molecule microRNAs have recently gained attention in healthcare management for its potential as biomarkers for human diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionary conserved, ~18–24 nucleotides long non-coding RNA, playing a significant role in controlling human gene expression by post-transcriptional gene regulation or silencing. Each miRNA can regulate up to 200 predicted target genes, and one mRNA may be influenced by multiple miRNAs. miRNAs are abundant in many cell types, exosomes, and even occur as extracellular circulating molecules in blood and other biological fluid. A growing number of reports have shown that subsets of miRNAs may have clinical relevance as biomarkers. These biomarkers can be used to indicate presence of a pathology and even the stage, progression, or genetic link of pathogenesis (1). In certain situations, one miRNA biomarker may be sufficient to identify a health outcome such as acute injuries to Warfighters in the operational environment; however, in other cases, a well-defined panel of miRNAs is necessary for increased diagnostic sensitivity and/or specificity such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) etc. These investigations have been undertaken in preclinical animal models and in human cohorts. For example, multi-omics investigation of PTSD patients’ blood samples identified a diversified panel including miRNAs (miR-133a-3p, miR-192-5p, mir-424-3p and miR-9-5p) (2). Data from our lab have also shown exosome derived miRNA are involved in chronic neuropathic pain (3) as well as early impacts of irradiation was underscored by the large number of miRNAs in total body radiation pre-clinical model (4). However, the most widely used methods for analyzing miRNAs, including Northern blot-based platforms, in situ hybridization, reverse transcription qPCR, microarray, and next-generation sequencing involves cascade of operations including sample processing, miRNA quantification can be cumbersome and crippled by serious flaws at all stages of the process. In addition, these methods require that the low abundance miRNA be several folds greater than background to give a significant result. Therefore, the current topic is about the possibility and feasibility to develop a reliable, rapid, sensitive, multiplex method to quantify the levels of exosome and circulating miRNA in biological samples. The ultimate goal is to translate technological developments into diagnostic and prognostic tools. 1) The development of a robust and portable device. 2) To conduct an integrated sample collection-to-assay-to-detection architecture including exosomal and cell-free miRNA. 3) The amount and character of sample requirements. Consider minimally invasive clinical samples, such as blood, urine, saliva. 4) Device should have multiplexing capability and should be flexible to adapt new miRNA panels. 5) The sensitivity and specificity of the assay should be addressed. 6) The robustness and simplicity of the method. 7) The simplicity of software for analysis and interpretation of the data. 8) Minimal use of specialized equipment and reagents. 9) Low turn-around time to result 10) Assay cost 11) Capable to differentiate between exosome-derived vs cell-free miRNA PHASE I: To establish feasibility for a quantitative molecular diagnostics technology based on the detection of exosomal and cell free circulating miRNA using readily available clinical or pre-clinical samples. Current in vitro approaches require extensive preparation involving extraction, reverse transcription of miRNA into cDNA, amplification followed by data analytics. To devise specific technological bricks to release these low molecular weight RNA molecules before proceeding to detection and analysis. Here, we are seeking experimental evidence of the proof-of-concept explaining methodologies to detect multiplexed miRNA panel (exosomal and/or circulating) from a single input of biomatrix of choice with minimal human handling. The proposed device should be able to conduct the entire process starting from the biomatrix collection to analysis in a rapid fashion. Molecular diagnostics assay will have a potential for more sensitive, more accurate, and more objective clinical judgments. Use of human or animal subjects is not intended, nor expected, in order to establish/achieve the necessary proof-of-concept in Phase I. Further noting, animal or human use research shall not occur during Phase I as the period of performance does not allow enough time for required approvals to be received. In addition, descriptions of data analysis and interpretations concept and concerns should be outlined. Phase I should also include the detailed development of Phase II testing plan. PHASE II: The Phase I proposed protype shall be validated in Phase II. During this Phase, technology should undergo testing using a panel of miRNA (exosomal and circulating) for evaluation of the operation and effectiveness of utilizing an integrated system. A complete demonstration from biomatrix to detection of miRNA quantification is expected. Accuracy, reliability, and usability should be assessed. The device should be easy to use and interpret. The testing should be controlled and rigorous. Statistical power should be adequate to document initial efficacy and feasibility of the assay. This phase should also demonstrate evidence of commercial viability of the tool. Any information about risk and its mitigation should be discussed. We encourage to have a data driven analysis of the proposed capability tested using biomatrix that can inform us about the feasibility of next steps. Lastly, shall develop a clear regulatory strategy on how FDA clearance will be obtained. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The product developed is intended to be suitable for use and potential procurement by all Military Services and for civilian. The dual-use technology would be applicable via securing funds from other sources. The successful transition path of the technology is expected to include close engagement with military medical acquisition program managers during product commercialization to ensure appropriate product applicability for military field deployment. This assay format should also be seamlessly integrated into the device for its potential be used as monitoring tool for short- or long-term health assessment. Once developed and demonstrated, the technology can be used for identification of risk, diagnostic, prognostic, monitoring and/ or predictive biomarkers for diseased state. The broader/commercial impact of this project will be to enhance current diagnostic and prognostic tools for early detection of disease. REFERENCES: 1. Hanna Johora, Hossain Gazi S., Kocerha Jannet. The Potential for microRNA Therapeutics and Clinical Research. Frontiers in Genetics 2019 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2019.00478 2. Dean, K.R., Hammamieh, R., Mellon, S.H., Abu-Amara, D., Flory, J.D., Guffanti, G., Wang, K., Daigle, B.J., Gautam, A., Lee, I. and Yang, R., 2020. Multi-omic biomarker identification and validation for diagnosing warzone-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Molecular psychiatry, 25(12), pp.3337-3349. 3. Sosanya NM, Kumar R, Clifford JL, Chavez R, Dimitrov G, Srinivasan S, Gautam A, Trevino AV, Williams M, Hammamieh R, Cheppudira BP, Christy RJ, Crimmins SL. Identifying Plasma Derived Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Contained Biomarkers in the Development of Chronic Neuropathic Pain. J Pain. 2020 Jan-Feb;21(1-2):82-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.05.015. Epub 2019 Jun 19. PMID: 31228575. 4. Chakraborty N, Gautam A, Holmes-Hampton GP, Kumar VP, Biswas S, Kumar R, Hamad D, Dimitrov G, Olabisi AO, Hammamieh R, Ghosh SP. microRNA and Metabolite Signatures Linked to Early Consequences of Lethal Radiation. Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 25;10(1):5424. doi: KEYWORDS: miRNA, Biosensors, exosomes, Biomarkers, non-coding RNA, small RNA, microfluidics,

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Military Operational Medicine OBJECTIVE: To meet an innovation gap in rapidly detecting multiplexed multi-omics library of gene-epigene-protein-metabolite from single input of minimally invasive biomatrix in austere condition. DESCRIPTION: High throughput multi-omics readout and Systems integration galvanize our understanding about the molecular interplay and their roles in manifesting phenotypes. This interactive molecular landscape encompasses different layers of omics, namely epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics1, which operate in synchronized fashions to carry out biological functions. For instance, an epigenetic information flows through transcriptomics and proteomics layers to modulate metabolite landscape. Evidently, disease pathophysiology leaves footprints in any or all these layers of omics; hence a robust panel of disease biomarkers should include candidates from every layer of omics. Indeed, the current trend in biomarker discovery is progressively shifting from finding a single biomarker to a group of multi-omics biomarkers that can collectively define a clinical event2. A growing number of studies have identified multi-omics markers for psychological diseases like PTSD3,4 and somatic illnesses like rectal and prostate cancer1. Rapid probing of multi-omics molecular landscape is expected to enhance the diagnostic performance2, however such capability is yet to be fully materialized. This is the core innovation gap that we are poised to address here. To develop this capability, the pilot prototype of IVD platform will detect multiplexed multi-omics PTSD biomarkers3,4 as a proof of its capability. We will ensure maximum flexibility in this prototype development process, so that the prototype could be easily repurposed in future to diagnose additional diseases including, but not limited to sepsis, TBI, infection, exposure to CBRN and cancer. Diseases like PTSD is a good target for developing the pilot prototype due to two primary reasons. First, PTSD adversely impacts entire system; hence holistic screening of multi-omics landscape is imperative for PTSD subtyping, biomarker discovery and predicting comorbidities. For instance, DNA methylation markers were reported to biotype PTSD patients3. Moreover, multi-omics PTSD blood diagnostic markers included differentially methylated contigs (cg01208318, cg20578780, and cg15687973), miRNAs (miR-133a-1-3p, miR-192-5p, and miR-9-1-5p) and metabolites (gammaglutamyltyrosine)4. Although, we are yet to identify most robust panel of biomarkers for PTSD diagnosis and bio typing, a trend is rather apparent- the final product is likely to have representations from different omics layers, and this trend essentially justifies the proposed STTR program. The second reason to select PTSD is because many of its biomarkers are available in public domain3,4, ensuring an easy access to the Phase I awardees. A web search of SBIR.gov (dated January 25, 2023) found existing solicitations to develop multiplexed multi-omics tools to primarily reconstruct the cellular motifs with high resolution; all these prototypes are expected to be used in sophisticated laboratory settings and preclude any pursuit to make these assays rapid, automated and operatable in austere condition. There are several ongoing STTR efforts to rapidly screen individual omics layer in a field-rugged platforms. Clearly, there is a vast innovation and capability gap in developing a platform enabled to support rapid detection of pan-omics panel in austere condition. Present proposal is poised to meet this innovation gap. PHASE I: Provide experimental evidence of the proof-of-concept explaining methodologies to detect multiplexed multi-omics panel from a single input of biomatrix of choice. The expectation is that the biomatrix should be minimally invasive, such as blood, saliva, urine etc. We further expect that the proposed IVD platform should be able to conduct the entire process starting from the biomatrix collection to analysis in a rapid fashion. It is also important to note that different biomatrix is enriched by different omics components. For instance, whole blood is the preferred biomatrix for extracting maximum amount of mRNA and DNA, while the cell free serum or plasma is the preferred biomatrix for extracting maximum amounts of proteins and metabolites. Therefore, if an IVD prototype targets blood for molecular extraction, it should be able to handle whole blood and serum/plasma concurrently from single input volume. Target PTSD biomarkers could be curated from the public domain3,4. Use of human or animal subjects is not intended, or expected, in order to establish/achieve the necessary proof-of-concept in Phase I. At the end of this phase, a working prototype of the device should be demonstrated with reasonable sensitivity and feasibility. In addition, descriptions of data analysis and interpretations concept should be outlined. Phase I should also include the detailed development of Phase II testing plan. In summary, our expectations from Phase I is the following 1. A plan to develop an IVD device that can detect multiplexed multi-omics biomarker panel to map phenome of interest. For the pilot prototype, we plan to detect multi-omics PTSD biomarkers that are available in public domain. However, the final product should be flexible to diagnose other diseases, such as sepsis, traumatic brain injury, pathogenic infection, exposure to CBRN and cancer. 2. The expected device should be an automated and portable IVD platform enable to be used in far forward lab or at bedside in an energy inexpensive manner. 3. The device is expected to support an end-to-end methodology e.g., an integrated sample collection-to-assay-to-detection protocol. 4. Multiplexing capability of multi-omics panel from single input volume is essential. Should the device select blood as the input biomatrix, the platform should be able to simultaneously handle whole blood and serum/plasma from single input volume. PHASE II: The knowledge/ prototype generated in Phase I should be ready to be improved during Phase II. Phase II should start with a plan to assay the biomatrix of choice to detect a panel of multi-omics biomarkers. A comprehensive testing is expected to determine the feasibility of the platform to be operated with minimum hands-on time and least supervision. Suitable biomatrix should be finalized. The mode of endpoint reading should be finalized, and this process should be easily interpretable. Finally, we expect to have clear indications of the prototype’s operational capability in real-world situations; some knowledge about the risks, source of confounders and concerns should be outlined, and pertinent mitigation plan should be furnished. We encourage to have a data driven analysis of the proposed capability tested using biomatrix that can inform us about the feasibility of next steps. This phase should also deliver a plan for commercialization. In summary, our expectation from Phase II is the following: 1. The input and output modus operandi should be finalized. 2. Assay sensitivity and specificity should be characterized. Screening of limit of detection (LOD) profile in presence of potential confounders and contaminates is expected. 3. A turn-around time should be finalized. Herein the assay time includes the sample collection, assay and detection. 4. Potential risk factors and mitigation plan should be discussed. 5. Probable assay cost should be estimated. 6. Plan for commercial production and a plan on how FDA clearance will be obtained. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The product developed is intended to be suitable for use and potential procurement for primary use in the field/prehospital environment, including austere, prolonged care scenarios. At this phase, target diseases and pertinent biomarkers should be determined. As mentioned previously, the target disease might not be relevant to the health issues exclusive to active duty members. Realization of a dual-use technology applicable to both the military and civilian use could be achieved via securing funds from third party. Therefore, the successful transition path of the technology is encouraged to include close engagement with military medical acquisition program managers during product commercialization to ensure appropriate product applicability for military field deployment. Accuracy, reliability, and usability should be assessed. This testing should be controlled and rigorous. Statistical power should be adequate to document final efficacy and feasibility of the assay. FDA submission and approval is a goal for this phase. REFERENCES: 5. Subramanian I, Verma S, Kumar S, Jere A, Anamika K. Multi-omics data integration, interpretation, and its application. Bioinformatics and biology insights. 2020 Jan;14:1177932219899051. 6. Vincent, J.-L., Bogossian, E. & Menozzi, M. J. C. c. c. The Future of Biomarkers. 36, 177-187 (2020). 7. Yang, R., Gautam, A., Getnet, D., Daigle, B.J., Miller, S., Misganaw, B., Dean, K.R., Kumar, R., Muhie, S., Wang, K. and Lee, I., 2021. Epigenetic biotypes of post-traumatic stress disorder in war-zone exposed veteran and active duty males. Molecular psychiatry, 26(8), pp.4300-4314. 8. Dean, K.R., Hammamieh, R., Mellon, S.H., Abu-Amara, D., Flory, J.D., Guffanti, G., Wang, K., Daigle, B.J., Gautam, A., Lee, I. and Yang, R., 2020. Multi-omic biomarker identification and validation for diagnosing warzone-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Molecular psychiatry, 25(12), pp.3337-3349. KEYWORDS: In vitro diagnostic device, multi-omics biomarker detection, multiplexing capability, targeted molecular identification, minimally invasive biomatrix, rapid diagnosis, austere environment-friendly, minimum hands-on time

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Military Operational Medicine OBJECTIVE: Develop a means to detect the onset of seizures due to CNS-OT for real-time monitoring of divers immersed underwater. DESCRIPTION: Divers breathing hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) are at risk for developing Central Nervous System Oxygen Toxicity (CNS-OT), which can manifest as symptoms that might impair a diver’s performance, such as headache, nausea, tinnitus, lip twitching, tingling of the limbs, or even more serious symptoms such as seizure or altered consciousness(1,2). Oxygen seizures themselves are not harmful, the environmental conditions greatly influence the risks associated with losing consciousness or convulsing; being underwater could result in the dislodgement of the diver’s air supply from his or her mouth, possibly leading to drowning(3,4). Furthermore, the risk of CNS-OT dictates strict diving protocols greatly limiting mission capabilities (depth and duration of a dive are impacted by risk of CNS-OT). Developing a means to detect the onset of seizures due to CNS-OT would provide great safety monitoring that has been absent from risk of CNS-OT in diving. If proven, mitigation strategies to prevent CNS-OT and detection of the consequential seizures in some subjects could reduce risk to divers. The risk of CNS-OT occurrence is highly variable between individuals, making it hard to predict the onset of seizures, and to determine the safety of exposure to HBO2. Being able to establish an individual safe level of exposure would maximize the therapeutic and operational uses of HBO2 in hyperbaric, diving, and submarine medicine (e.g. healing problematic wounds or preventing DCS), by enabling the extension of exposure time in individuals with more neurological tolerance to HBO2. Previous studies have suggested that electrodermal activity (EDA) can be used to predict seizures in rodents exposed to HBO2(5). PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility through analysis and limited laboratory demonstrations, a device that is capable of measuring electrodermal activity (EDA) to be worn by: pool swimmers/divers, surface supplied divers, free swimming divers, and patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen treatment in dry chambers. The device shall provide full function and data processing while immersed in salt water and exposed to increased hyperbaric pressures of 100 feet of sea water (FSW) (threshold)/300 FSW (objective) at a temperature range of 32-95 Degrees F, Provide cost-effective designs and reliability estimates, including lifetime expectancy and lifetime cost estimate. The required Phase I deliverables will include: 1) a research plan for the engineering design of the physiologic monitor; 2) a preliminary prototype, either physical or virtual, capable of demonstrating effectiveness of the proof-of-concept design; and 3) a test and evaluation plan to validate accuracy of data collection including identification of proper controls. Important considerations should include location, minimization of motion artifacts, enhanced comfort and wearability (minimization of wired elements), and on-board processing. Device should detect EDA while submerged underwater. Phase I will provide key information about the uses and limitations of the system and could include rapid prototyping and/or modeling and simulation. PHASE II: Develop, demonstrate, and validate the underwater EDA prototype based on the Phase I design concept. The system should be used under the expected extreme environmental conditions (as cited in the description section) to collect and analyze data and test algorithms against the known physiological alterations during diving activity. Device shall collect data continuously for up to 24 hours at minimum with on-board processing capability to enable feedback to individual. Initial prototype may be designed for use on the body of a diver with or without a wetsuit or drysuit using traditional scuba or rebreather life support. Device should include onboard data processing enabling real-time feedback to diver. No data transmission will be included under the initial development. A lithium battery may be used but alternative power sources that have minimal safety hazards and can function submerged in ocean water should be considered. Initial design may be intended for experimental or training use and need not be adapted for operational use. Phase II deliverable of, at minimum, two prototype units that includes detailed design specifications and technical data package drawings (level 2/3) established through this STTR to ONR that ensures IP protection. Interest by military customer would be defined by validation through testing and confidence in predictive measures. Successful devices would need to be tested either at a Naval dive unit such as Naval Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) if possible or another acceptable dive facility, which could include commercial dive centers. If NEDU is preferred, it is advisable to plan well in advance to ensure they are able to accommodate testing schedule. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: If successful, transition prototype to a functional unit to the US Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (NAVSEA SUPSALV), which maintains diving equipment authorized for Naval use. Operationally relevant conditions will necessitate additional testing and may require greater depths, prolonged data collection, and security considerations. If successful, the small business shall support the Navy in transitioning the resulting technology for use in operational environments. The small business shall develop a plan to transition and commercialize the technology and its associated guidelines and principles. Private Sector Commercial Potential: This SBIR would provide much needed understanding of objective measures for detecting early signs of neurologic distress and generally monitoring brain health across recreational and commercial diving populations during mixed gas dives for use in hyperbaric treatments by medical professionals. REFERENCES: 9. R. Arieli, T. Shochat, and Y. Adir, "CNS Toxicity in Closed-Circuit Oxygen Diving: Symptoms Reported from 2527 Dives," Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, vol. 77, no. 5, pp. 526-532, 2006/05/01/ 2006. 10. K. Donald, Oxygen and the diver. Images, 1992. 11. J. M. Clark and T. S. Neuman, "Physiology and Medicine of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy," 2008 2008. 12. M. J. Natoli and R. D. Vann, "Factors Affecting CNS Oxygen Toxicity in Humans," DUKE UNIV MEDICAL CENTER DURHAM NC FG HALL LAB FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH1996 1996, Available: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA307505. 13. Posada-Quintero HF, Landon CS, Stavitzski NM, Dean JB, Chon KH. Seizures Caused by Exposure to Hyperbaric Oxygen in Rats Can Be Predicted by Early Changes in Electrodermal Activity. Front Physiol. 2022 Jan 5;12:767386. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.767386. PMID: 35069238; PMCID: PMC8767060. KEYWORDS: Electrodermal Activity, waterproof, oxygen toxicity, diving medicine, hyperbaric medicine

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Microelectronics OBJECTIVE: DTRA seeks to significantly reduce the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of battery-powered Deuterium-Tritium (DT) neutron generators to less than 10 pounds (stretch goal: less than 5 pounds) with as small a volumetric footprint as possible, while operating on CR123 or standard power tool lithium-ion batteries. DESCRIPTION: Current commercial DT neutron generators are too large for Department of Defense (DoD) expeditionary missions. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) previously invested in the Intense and Compact Neutron Sources (ICONS) program1, which made significant strides towards the development and commercialization of highly compact neutron generators. However, DoD forces require an even more lightweight (<10 pound), compact (<100 cubic inches), 1E8 neutrons/second (both pulsed and continuous are acceptable if they reach average 1E8 neutrons/second over 1 second) DT neutron generator for multiple applications. Advancements in high-voltage power supplies, capacitors, and spark gap technologies due to DoD investments in directed energy weapons (DEW) for the past decade as well as recent advances in medical isotope production may provide new opportunities for extremely compact and modern neutron generator concepts. The proposed effort does not require associated particle imaging (API) electronics to be incorporated. PHASE I: Conceptualize and design a breadboard electronic DT neutron source. Although not required, more than one concept may be developed and/or evaluated during the Phase I effort. For the completion of Phase I, the prototype design(s) should be capable of the following performance characteristics: (1) 1E8 neutron/second, (2) design weight of all primary and supporting equipment required to operate the system (i.e. produce neutrons) less than 10 pounds, (3) total volume of all primary and supporting equipment required to operate the system less than 100 cubic inches, and (4) the system operates on a CR123 or standard lithium-ion battery for power tools. Modeling and simulation of the design should be conducted and results leading to the final design(s) should be documented and provided in the final report along with a data package on all proposed critical components in the breadboard system design. A design plan should also be submitted outlining the plans for scaling the system to meeting Phase II requirements. PHASE II: Design, construct and test a brassboard electronic DT neutron source building on the Phase I design concept. The use of actual hardware and empirical data collection is expected for the performance analysis of the electronic radiation source and the results should be provided in the final report along with a data package on all critical components in the breadboard system. At the completion of Phase II, the prototype system should be capable of demonstrating the following performance characteristics: (1) 1E8 neutron/second, (2) design weight of all primary and supporting equipment required to operate the system (i.e. produce neutrons) less than 10 pounds with a stretch goal of less than 5 pounds, (3) total volume of all primary and supporting equipment required to operate the system less than 100 cubic inches, and (4) the system operates on a CR123 or standard lithium-ion battery for power tools, (5) the system should be capable of producing 1E8 neutrons/second in less than 1 minute of set up time and (6) the system should be able to be safe to transport within 5 minutes after turn off (i.e. minimal activation of components, automated stored energy dissipation). PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III will consist of a demonstration of a fully capable and packaged electronic neutron source meeting the specified requirements outlined in this paragraph. The final system will represent a complete solution and should be ruggedized. As a minimum threshold, the system should be ruggedized for testing in a dry, outdoor environment. The objective for the system should be to meet MIL-STD-810H standards for shock, vibration, temperature, and altitude. At the completion of Phase III, the prototype system should be capable of demonstrating the following performance characteristics: (1) 1E8 neutron/second DT option, (2) design weight of all primary and supporting equipment required to operate the system (i.e. produce neutrons) less than 10 pounds with a stretch goal of less than 5 pounds, (3) total volume of all primary and supporting equipment required to operate the system less than 100 cubic inches, (4) the system operates on CR123 or standard lithium-ion battery for power tools, (5) the system should be capable of producing 1E8 neutrons/second in less than 1 minute of set up time, and (6) the system should be able to be safe to transport within 5 minutes after turn off (i.e. minimal activation of components, automated stored energy dissipation). All data collected during the demonstrating and analysis of the final system will be included in the final report along with a user’s manual and a data package on all critical system components. REFERENCES: 1. https://www.darpa.mil/program/intense-and-compact-neutron-sources; KEYWORDS: Radiography; radiation; imaging; neutron; accelerator; particle; non-destructive testing; NDT; inspection

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Network Systems-of-Systems The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Design and develop tri-band (S, C, and X-band) communications antennas for on-missile body use. DESCRIPTION: This topic seeks to design and develop an on-missile body tri-band (S, C, and X-band) communications antenna. This program desires to create drop-in, or near drop-in replacements of existing antenna systems to extend the communication capability of a missile across the common RF bands of S, C, and X. No specific antenna types are being recommended for this effort. Proposer is encouraged to propose and explore any of the myriad of antenna concepts (1) (2) (3) that may result in a compliant final design. The goal of this proposed effort is to design and demonstrate a set of proof of manufacturing prototype antenna elements to serve as drop-in replacements. These elements would match existing antenna systems in terms of size, weight, and power (SWaP) to minimize the impact on the existing qualification. The objective would be a single antenna aperture capable of communicating on all three stated bands. The threshold is an antenna system consisting of no more than two distinct apertures capable of being drop-in replacements of current systems. PHASE I: Conduct a study to determine the feasibility of the design concepts. The feasibility would be demonstrated, at a minimum, with modeling results demonstrating antenna gain, return loss, and patterns. The final deliverable produced would be a report containing design concept plots indicating antenna performance across the entire S, C, and X-bands. Trades between antenna performance and band coverage should be explained. No performance requirements are stated for this phase, but a detailed explanation of the trade space illustrating feasibility will be required. PHASE II: Develop, refine, and mature the initial concepts demonstrated in Phase I to meet refined performance requirements provided by the government at a program kick-off meeting. A preliminary design review would be held 12 months after award. Design would be fabricated and demonstrated to a technology readiness level of 5 or greater by the end of the 24 month Phase II effort. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Reducing or maintaining a common SWaP performance while integrating additional communication band is a technology applicable across the defense and commercial spaces. In particular, the greater commercialization of Space would lead to an increased need for communication redundancy of these platforms. REFERENCES: 1. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9708507; 2. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8943886; 3. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8748427; KEYWORDS: Missile Antenna; Tri Band (S, C, & X) Communications

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Hypersonics; Network Systems-of-Systems; Trusted AI and Autonomy The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Design and develop innovative solutions, methods, algorithms and concepts that leverage differential game theory and artificial intelligence to support anti-swarm operation in the hypersonic defense context. Demonstrate a working software prototype with example results. The algorithms should be narrow in focus, and verifiable in operation. The solutions should identify appropriate methods and technologies to minimize the time intensive processes, incorporate new technologies unearthed during the effort, and document key areas for further development. DESCRIPTION: Unmanned vehicles operating in "swarms" are a growing concern for warfighters operating across all domains of the modern battlespace (air, sea, ground, and space). In particular, swarms operating in the exo-atmosphere and in the hypersonic regime may be encountered by missile defense systems. To enable defensive systems to counter these evolving threats, this program desires AI-informed algorithms combined with differential game theory to support swarm-on-swarm engagement where the adversary swarm is AI-directed. In addition, the desire for algorithms that are executable post-launch on hardware with size, weight, and power suitable for carrying on each missile and have adequate on-board (and/or satellite-based) sensing and intra-missile-fleet communications. Ideally, entire system would be free of command and control after launch while utilizing centralized battle management control prior to launch; the entire system would be peer-to-peer, without a central fly-along "mother ship", in order to reduce single-point vulnerability. Hypersonic engagements may include multiple attacking hypersonic missiles (glide vehicles or powered, and either separately launched or multi-warhead launched) and multiple defensive missiles, presumably involving multiple launches with multiple KVs on each launch. For both red and blue missiles fleets, consider the following factors: * Significant missile-trajectory maneuverability * Intra-vehicle communication * Implementation of pursuit/evasion strategies * Maneuvers informed by real-time observation of adversary action * Distributed decision-making connecting (perhaps onboard) sensor information and directing maneuver response * Decision making informed by artificial intelligence (AI), particularly of the machine learning/deep learning type (ML/DL) * Maneuvering decisions based on differential game theory. * Possible total autonomy from human control after launch. Exploitation of AI algorithms being developed for offensive deployment of, or defense against, UAV-borne weapons is encouraged. Development of sensing and communication technology would not be part of research. PHASE I: Develop preliminary system design(s) with anticipated performance. Perform modeling, simulation and analysis (MS&A) and/or limited bench level testing to demonstrate the concept and an understanding of the technology. The proof of concept demonstration may be subscale and used in conjunction with MS&A results to verify scaling laws and feasibility. PHASE II: Complete a critical design and demonstrate the use of the technology in a table top/brass board prototype. Evaluate the effectiveness of the technology. Perform MS&A and characterization testing within the financial and schedule constraints of the program to show the level of performance achieved. If brass board achieved, government can provide independent test and characterization. Develop a plan for Phase III product design, test and characterization. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Incorporate lessons-learned from the Phase II prototype into a product design and formulate how to Integrate into battle management. Work with government and/or government contractor to demonstrate product’s performance improvement as compared to the state of the art. Work with government and/or government contractor to fully qualify the product for the intended application(s). Assist government and/or government contractor in integrating this product into a demonstrator system and assist with test and characterization. REFERENCES: 1. Campbell, Adam. (2018). Enabling tactical autonomy for unmanned surface vehicles in defensive swarm engagements.; 2. Montalbano, Nicholas G., Humphreys, Todd E., "Intercepting Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Swarms with Neural-Network-Aided Game-Theoretic Target Assignment," 2020 IEEE/ION Position, Location and Navigation Symposium (PLANS), Portland, Oregon, April 2020, pp. 36-43.; 3. H. Duan, P. Li and Y. Yu, "A predator-prey particle swarm optimization approach to multiple UCAV air combat modeled by dynamic game theory," in IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 11-18, 10 January 2015, doi: 10.1109/JAS.2015.7032901.; 4. Laura Strickland, Michael A. Day, Kevin DeMarco, Eric Squires, and Charles Pippin "Responding to unmanned aerial swarm saturation attacks with autonomous counter-swarms", Proc. SPIE 10635, Ground/Air Multisensor Interoperability, Integration, and Networking for Persistent ISR IX, 106350Y (4 May 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2305086. KEYWORDS: AI; artificial intelligence; game theory; differential game theory; swarm; hypersonic; hypersonic defense; distributed decision making; peer-to-peer; ML/DL; machine learning; deep learning

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Hypersonics The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Develop robust oxidation resistant coatings for metals and/or composites to enable shape stable performance in extreme heat flux environments. DESCRIPTION: Sharp leading edges and nose tips for hypersonic vehicles are beneficial because they enable low drag, but it is difficult to produce sharp leading edges that retain their shape throughout hypersonic flight due to rapid heating, oxidation, and aerodynamic forces. This topic seeks protective coating solutions that enable shape retention and prevent passage of oxygen at high transient heat fluxes, for tens of seconds. Coating solutions are sought for both metallic and composite substrates. Metallic substrates of interest include tungsten alloys (e.g. W-25Re), niobium alloys (e.g. C103), and molybdenum alloys (e.g. TZM - titanium-zirconium-molybdenum). Composite substrates of interest include carbon-carbon, carbon-silicon-carbide, and carbon-carbon-silicon-carbide. Solutions must provide the coating, but solutions may also include modifications to the substrate material and intermediate layers to improve coating interface. Novel coating solutions with functionally graded, structural compatibility and high interfacial characteristics are desired. Vertical integration of coat solution is desired but not required. If proposing glass forming coating solutions, analytical models and simulation tools to predict formed glass retention as a function of temperature and shear is desired. Proposals must provide a path to mature production capability. Mature production capability includes 100 leading edges per year throughput and <10% scrap rate. PHASE I: Evaluate feasibility of proposed coating solution through analytical modeling and simulation, process modeling and/or proof of concept testing. Material formulation and/or coupon fabrication is recommended to provide evaluation of critical properties. Work with hypersonic system integrators to understand environments. PHASE II: Continue material and process development through design, analysis, and experimentation. Optimize processing parameters for yield and quality. Scale process to facilitate coating of leading edge components representative of full-scale configurations, as agreed to by the government. Experimental validation techniques should simulate representative heat fluxes and pressures. Diagnostics and/or process modeling techniques should be utilized to ensure experimental evaluation approach is traceable to target environment. Demonstration in a representative environment is desired. Phase II should identify insertion opportunities, include cost/rate estimates and conclude with definition of a mature manufacturing process. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Work with a hypersonic system integrator to iteratively design and fabricate prototype components for high-fidelity testing in a relevant environment for current or future missile defense applications. A successful Phase III would provide the necessary technical data to transition the technology into a missile defense application. REFERENCES: 1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.109278; 2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2021.126913 KEYWORDS: Coatings; Leading Edges; Hypersonics; Materials; High Temperatures; Oxidation

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Hypersonics The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. OBJECTIVE: Develop solutions for rapid yaw maneuvers for high lift to drag (L/D) hypersonic glide vehicles. DESCRIPTION: Hypersonic vehicles with non-axisymmetric lifting bodies may achieve L/D ratios around 4, which is significantly higher than finned vehicles with conical bodies, but may have slower yaw maneuver response times since bank to turn yaw maneuvers are slower than skid to turn maneuvers. This topic seeks solutions, such as innovative control surfaces and or hybrid configurations to decrease the time constant for maneuvers while maintaining the high L/D of the vehicle concepts. This topic does not seek a solution for any systems in development, but rather seeks to develop and demonstrate solutions that could be applied to future developments. Proposers should assume a glide vehicle with a non-conical geometry similar to the waveriders in reference 1 or the artistic representation of DARPA Falcon HTV-2 in reference 2. Proposers should provide their own geometry or the government may be able to provide a generic geometry after contract award. Design solutions should seek to minimize mass, volume, and drag impacts from control surfaces and/or other mechanisms. Designs should seek to enable time constant for all maneuvers comparable with time constants for finned conical vehicles. Proposers may assume a range of Mach numbers above Mach 5 and a range of altitudes up to 50km. PHASE I: Basic studies on aerodynamic controls or other mechanisms. Could include modeling and/or limited wind tunnel assessment. Estimate maneuverability and kinetic energy loss for maneuvers at a range of Mach numbers and altitudes. Down select to 1 or 2 preferred designs. PHASE II: Work with a missile defense system integrator to mature selected geometry and design. Obtain higher fidelity estimates of performance. Test in representative environment such as wind tunnel. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Work with system integrator to refine requirements and integrate into full guidance navigation and control system. Demonstrate technology in a representative environment. Transition Technology into missile defense application. REFERENCES: 1. http://www.aerospaceweb.org/design/waverider/waverider.shtml; 2. https://www.darpa.mil/about-us/timeline/falcon-htv-2 (topics) Approved for Public Release 23-MDA-11365 (30 Jan 23) KEYWORDS: Aerodynamic Control; Hypersonic; Maneuvers; Lifting Body

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Microelectronics OBJECTIVE: Design, fabricate, and demonstrate electrically small antennas with enhanced bandwidth going beyond the fundamental bounds dictated by Chu’s limit. The proposed electrically small antennas should involve dispersion engineered matching loads using tailored dispersive materials or circuits that will allow tailoring the bandwidth independently from the stored energy in the system, resulting in electromagnetic radiation with higher data rates than conventional antennas. Dispersion engineering may be achieved through suitable electromagnetic design, metamaterial loading, and/or circuit loads implementing desirable frequency dispersion features. The final layout should include all relevant components to tune the antenna for operation beyond Chu’s limit. DESCRIPTION: The need for broader bandwidth in electrically small antennas is one of the most challenging tasks in the general area of antenna design for energy and information transfer, and it is of particular relevance to DoD in the low-frequency regime. Significant advances have been recently made in the realization of electrically small antennas operating close to Chu’s lower bound on bandwidth, and theoretical proposals to overcome this bound have been put forward, with important opportunities for communication systems and energy harvesting. Chu’s lower bound on the quality factor of linear, passive, time-invariant, one-port dipole antennas characterized by a single resonance dictates the maximum achievable bandwidth for given volume and efficiency. Recently it has been recognized that simple matching networks with dispersive materials can overcome these constraints and operate beyond Chu’s lower bound. Dispersion engineering in the form of metamaterial loading, multiple coupled self-resonant modes and/or circuit loading relying on tailored loss and dispersion can be used to enhance the bandwidth of electrically small antennas beyond Chu’s lower bound, still retaining a passive approach. Antennas can be loaded with passive matching networks, which so far have been used to extend the bandwidth by coupling multiple resonances together in order to operate close to the Bode-Fano bound on matching bandwidth. This approach, however, comes with several drawbacks, including introduced signal distortion within the impedance bandwidth, large and dispersive group delay, and inefficiencies associated with a large stored energy. The goal of this STTR is to demonstrate passive electrically small antennas targeting the HF or UHF band supporting data rates beyond state-of-the-art antennas that approachChu’s lower bound. The antennas should have a return loss of at least -6dB at the input port, with a radiation efficiency larger than 70%, an effective stored energy equal or lower than that based on operation with a single-resonant matching network, and a flat group delay across the enhanced bandwidth of operation. The demonstrated antenna should be low-profile, with or without a closely spaced ground plane. PHASE I: In the Phase I effort, a complete design of a passive electrically small antenna operated beyond Chu’s lower bound shall be demonstrated. Proof-of-principle simulations based on accepted methods and computational techniques shall be provided. Comparison of performance metrics to include the bandwidth anticipated by the proposer, efficiency, group delay, and stored energy with conventional approaches to impedance matching of small antennas, should be carried out. PHASE II: In the Phase II effort, the experimental procedures outlined and begun in Phase I shall be realized, and the fabrication and full characterization of the radiation properties of the devices shall be reported. The radiation pattern as a function of frequency across the bandwidth proposed in Phase I shall be verified, clearly demonstrating the behavior proposed in Phase I. Demonstration of broadband response well beyond Chu’s lower bound should be sought after. Comparison of performance metrics to include bandwidth, efficiency, group delay, and stored energy with conventional approaches to impedance matching of small antennas, should be carried out in the experiments, and a demonstration of higher data rates in a standard communication setup should be pursued. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The Phase III work will demonstrate the reliability and scalability of the proposed antennas, their compact form factor including the matching network and feed, and their integrability in standard communication systems, including applying relevant modulation strategies for signal communications. A partnership with industry to commercialize the technology will be created, aiming for both DoD as well as scientific and civilian applications. REFERENCES: 1. L. J. Chu, “Physical limitations of omni-directional antennas”, J. Appl. Phys. 19, pp. 1163-1175, 1948; 2. Yaghjian, Arthur D. "Overcoming the Chu lower bound on antenna Q with highly dispersive lossy material." IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation 12.4 (2018): 459-466; 3. Yaghjian, Arthur D., and Steven R. Best. "Impedance, bandwidth, and Q of antennas." IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation 53.4 (2005): 1298-1324; 4. A. Mekawy, H. Li, Y. Ra’di, and A. Alù, "Parametric Enhancement of Radiation from Electrically Small Antennas," Physical Review Applied, vol. 15, no. 5, p. 054063, 05/27/ 2021 KEYWORDS: electrically small antennas; Chu’s limit; dispersion engineered

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Microelectronics; Quantum Science; Space Technology; Advanced Materials OBJECTIVE: Develop a new ultra-compact, wideband, electro-optic modulator by exploiting ferroelectric materials for the purpose of radio frequency (RF) photonic link applications in DoD platforms. DESCRIPTION: The replacement of the coaxial cable used in various onboard RF/analog applications with RF/analog fiber optic links requires ruggedized, high dynamic range and wideband electro-optic modulators. Current military communications and electronic warfare systems require ever increasing bandwidths while simultaneously requiring reductions in size, weight and power (SWaP). Replacement of the coaxial cabling would provide increased immunity to electromagnetic interference, reduction in size and weight, and an increase in bandwidth and power, however it requires an innovative modulator to complete the system. The ability to harness and control the electro-optic effect in a sub-micron-thick film of a ferroelectric could revolutionize optical switches used in Si photonics. To fully realize the tremendous potential of this novel concept, ferroelectric materials on silicon, which have the largest electro-optic coefficients known for a low loss material, show promise. Recent advances in film growth methods that allow for fabrication of ferroelectric transition metal oxides directly on Si created ground-breaking opportunities in silicon photonics, a hybrid technology combining semiconductor logic with optical information technologies. The desired electro-optic modulators used in RF/analog fiber optic links must be compatible with distributed feedback (DFB) lasers with greater than 100 mWatts of single-mode fiber coupled optical power. These modulators in the future might have dual outputs for use with balanced photo detector receivers which would enable a higher link gain, a lower noise figure and a higher spur free dynamic range, as required in DoD systems. A minimum 3 dB optical bandwidth of up to 40 GHz is required, with V-pi less than 5V at 40GHz and below, and it must be compatible with emerging systems out to 100 GHz. A twofold reduction in SWaP requirements as compared to current electro-optic modulators must be achieved without any degradation in device performance. A future major challenge that must be analyzed is to develop a new compact modulator packaging approach that can achieve operation over a minimum temperature range of -40 to +120 degrees Celsius to avoid material specific phase transition, this will likely require active temperature controls to operate. This key criterion must be met without sacrificing modulator bandwidth and drive voltage efficiency, while demonstrating low optical insertion loss at fiber-coupled DFB laser powers up to 200 mWatts, and possibly higher in the future. PHASE I: Develop a ferroelectric on silicon modulator fabrication process, demonstrate feasibility of the modulator with a supporting proof of principle bench top experiment, and analyze electro-optic modulator performance to meet the target metrics identified above. PHASE II: Optimize the growth and processing techniques required for the modulator fabrication. Initially the modulators will likely be stand-alone devices but by the end of phase II a roadmap must be developed for transition to heterogeneous fabrication of integrated systems. At the end of phase II demonstration of greater than 2 square centimeters of high-quality single domain ferroelectric material must be attained, along with a demonstration of reliable fabrication processes for either fiber coupled or integrated modulators exceeding 3dB optical bandwidth at frequency 40GHz or higher and identification most pertinent direction and use of optical coefficients, i.e., r33 or r42. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Perform extensive modulator reliability and durability testing. Develop packaging for both stand alone and integrated systems. Transition the demonstrated technology to Air platforms and interested commercial applications. The technology would find application in commercial systems such as fiber optic networks and telecommunications. REFERENCES: 1. A. Rahim, A. Hermans, B. Wohlfeil, D. Petousi, B. Kuyken, D. Van Thourhout and R. Baetsa, “Taking silicon photonics modulators to a higher performance level: state-of-the-art and a review of new technologies,” Adv. Photonics 3, 024003 (2021); 2. S. Abel, F. Eltes, J. E. Ortmann, A. Messner, P. Castera, T. Wagner, D. Urbonas, A. Rosa, A. M. Gutierrez, D. Tulli, P. Ma, B. Baeuerle, A. Josten, W. Heni, D. Caimi, A. A. Demkov, J. Leuthold, P. Sanchis and J. Fompeyrine, “Large Pockels effect in micro- and nano-structured barium titanate integrated on silicon,” Nature Materials 18, 42 (2019); 3. C. Xiong, W. H. P. Pernice, J. H. Ngai, J. W. Reiner, D. Kumah, F. J. Walker, C. H. Ahn, and H. X. Tang, "Active Silicon Integrated Nanophotonics: Ferroelectric BaTiO3 Devices," Nano Letters 14, 1419 (2014). KEYWORDS: Ultra-Wideband; Electro-Optic Modulator; Dual-Output; Extended Temperature Range; Analog Fiber Optic Links

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Microelectronics OBJECTIVE: Develop a turnkey system to measure the thermal conductivity and thermal boundary resistance of wide bandgap semiconductor films, interfaces, and substrates. DESCRIPTION: Future military platforms will require high-power converters for propulsion, sensors, and directed energy systems. The power densities for these converters necessitate high-voltage, high-efficiency power switches based on the application of wide bandgap (WBG) and ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductor thin films, because of their wide bandgaps and high breakdown fields. An added benefit of these materials is their intrinsically large thermal conductivities, which can help to mitigate extreme temperature rises during power cycling and high-power operation. For example, isotopically pure diamond can have thermal conductivities of 3000 W∙m-1∙K-1, low defect AlN films were recently shown to have thermal conductivities over 300 W∙m-1∙K-1, and homoepitaxially grown GaN films can have thermal conductivities near 200 W∙m-1∙K-1. However, these large thermal conductivities are often not observed when WBG materials are integrated into power devices. It is well known that defects arising from material growth, interfaces from heterogeneous integration, and dopant species used to tune electrical properties all scatter phonons leading to reductions in thermal conductivity. The resultant reduced thermal conductivity, itself a temperature-dependent quantity, in integrated materials compromise high power devices and can lead to device failure and/or dictate lower max power thresholds. Given the large thermal resistances that occur at heterogeneous interfaces, especially at interfaces of WBG and UWBG materials, measurements of thermal boundary resistances in the 1-100 m2·K/GW range are similarly crucial to and predictive of reliable device operation. The current state-of-the-art for laboratory measurements are thermoreflectance-based techniques that can measure the thermal conductivity of thin films with accuracy significantly higher than that available in commercial systems. Further, control of laser spot sizes these techniques allows for micron-scale spatial resolution of thermal conductivity on sample surfaces, which can reveal spatial inhomogeneities due to dislocations, defects, grain boundaries, and other growth-related phenomena. A major limiting factor in the use of these thermoreflectance techniques for wide scale materials characterization is their complicated, free space design on open optical tables that is not conducive to turnkey operation, even with a highly-skilled technician operating and aligning these systems full time. An additional limitation is the need for user-friendly and versatile instrument control software and analysis codes that can be widely used to acquire and analyze measurement data. The development of a reliable, repeatable, and fully automated tool that harnesses the sensitivities and resolution of free-space thermoreflectance systems is thus a key to establishing consistent and common measurements of materials for DoD applications. This necessitates a system design that does not require optical maintenance or alignment of laser paths to ensure day-to-day repeatability and accuracy when operated by different users. Such a tool would be of significant use for testing a wide array of materials for both military and civilian applications, including hybrid electric vehicles. Recent advances in fiber-optic-based thermoreflectance systems show promise to meet these requirements; however, any approach that has potential to achieve the desired measurement capabilities will be considered. PHASE I: Establish design of a temperature-dependent (25-225 °C) thermal conductivity measurement system that can produce highly accurate (± 5%) and reproducible (± 1%) measurements of the thermal conductivity in both thin films and bulk substrates of wide bandgap semiconductors, as well as thermal boundary resistance in the 1-100 m2·K/GW range across semiconductor interfaces at the wafer scale. The system should have micrometer area resolution and depth resolution capable of measuring atomically thin interfaces/contacts to thin films and buried substrates with device relevant length scales. The system should be designed for ease and repeatability of measurements among multiple users. Demonstrate the capability of measuring the thermal conductivity of materials ranging from 0.1 W∙m-1∙K-1 to 2000 W∙m-1∙K-1 through experimentation or detailed modeling. Perform an initial estimate of size, weight, and cost of production unit, as well as technical risks to be addressed during potential Phase II. PHASE II: Refine Phase I design and fabricate a fully-functional prototype system having automated data collection and analysis capabilities. The system should be able to measure thermal conductivity of materials as high as 3000 W∙m-1∙K-1, measure thermal boundary resistance independently from thermal conductivity of materials, and resolve these properties and thermal resistances of thin film stacks with dimensions and temperatures appropriate for power electronic devices, as well as perform these measurements on an electronic device or test structure under nominal voltage and current operating conditions. Data reduction should be available in analysis codes with GUIs that can rapidly analyze large data sets. Deliver a fully operational prototype of the measurement system, including appropriate control and analysis software, to the Navy for evaluation. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Develop final design and manufacturing plans using the knowledge gained during Phases I and II in order to support transition of the technology for Navy use and adoption in the WBG/UWBG device community. A thermal conductivity measurement tool of this design will enable cost- and time-effective material evaluation of high-power devices. REFERENCES: 1. D. G. Cahill, "Analysis of heat flow in layered structures for time-domain thermoreflectance," Review of Scientific Instruments 75, 5119-5122 (2004); 2. A. J.. Schmidt, R. Cheaito and M. Chiesa, "A frequency-domain thermoreflectance method for the characterization of thermal properties," Review of Scientific Instruments 80, 094901 (2009); 3. J. L. Braun, D. H. Olson, J. T. Gaskins and P. E. Hopkins, "A steady-state thermoreflectance method to measure thermal conductivity," Review of Scientific Instruments 90, 024905 (2019); 4. Naval Power and Energy System Technology Development Roadmap. https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Resources/NPES-Tech-Development-Roadmap/; 5. U. S. Drive Electrical and Electronics Technical Team Roadmap. https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/downloads/us-drive-electrical-and-electronics-technical-team-roadmap KEYWORDS: Thermal Conductivity; Thermal Boundary Resistance; Thermoreflectance; Wide Bandgap Semiconductors

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the solicitation. Additionally, Offerors will describe compliance mechanisms offerors have in place or will put in place to address any ITAR issues that arise during the course of agreement administration. OBJECTIVE: Over the course of the last forty years aircraft have developed, acquired, and fielded sensor systems that span the electromagnetic spectrum (for example: Ultraviolet, Electro-Optics, Infra-Red, Radio Frequency). Historically, each system addressed a unique problem, and consequently was developed and manufactured by a distinct Original Equipment Manufacturer to address the corresponding requirement. While successfully accomplishing their siloed objectives, the data and information generated from these systems have yet to be leveraged by advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), particularly in Deep Learning sub-fields such as Computer Vision and Recommendation Systems. As a result, aviators today are inundated with unstructured data that prohibits the operator to make the final decision on how and when to use the information presented, and correspondingly inhibits peak performance. The objective of this topic is to develop applied research toward an innovative capability to deploy AI/ML to the edge of aircraft and their corresponding systems to enable a wave of new capabilities that increase lethality, safety, and mission effectiveness, while at the same time leveraging the large capital investments in already fielded suites of sensors. IMPORTANT: For SOCOM instructions: please visit: https://www.defensesbirsttr.mil/SBIR-STTR/Opportunities/. Go to the bottom of the page and click the “DoD STTR 23.B” tab. Once there, go to the SOCOM STTR 23.B document. DESCRIPTION: There are several key innovative tasks required for this approach: The first is the establishment of the compute environment with host operating system necessary to enable the second key task, a Docker like platform where discrete sensor and data streams can be made modular and open source, to finally feed into the third task, tailorable AI/ML algorithms that leverage discrete streams of data into actionable information. As a part of this feasibility study, the proposers shall address all viable overall system design options with respective specifications on the key system attributes. PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study to assess what is in the art of the possible that satisfies the requirements specified in the above paragraphs entitled “Objective” and “Description.” The objective of this USSOCOM Phase I STTR effort is to conduct and document the results of a thorough feasibility study (“Technology Readiness Level 3”) to investigate what is in the art of the possible within the given trade space that will satisfy a needed technology. The feasibility study should investigate all options that meet or exceed the minimum performance parameters specified in this write up. It should also address the risks and potential payoffs of the innovative technology options that are investigated and recommend the option that best achieves the objective of this technology pursuit. The funds obligated on the resulting Phase I STTR contracts are to be used for the sole purpose of conducting a thorough feasibility study using scientific experiments and laboratory studies as necessary. Operational prototypes will not be developed with USSOCOM STTR funds during Phase I feasibility studies. Operational prototypes developed with other than STTR funds that are provided at the end of Phase I feasibility studies will not be considered in deciding what firm(s) will be selected for Phase II. PHASE II: Develop, install, and demonstrate a prototype system determined to be the most feasible solution during the Phase I feasibility study on the application of AI/ML techniques for Aviation Sensors in order to optimize cognitive function and decision aiding. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: This system could be used in a broad range of military applications where legacy sensor systems have been developed, but can be enhanced through the application of AI/ML. Examples include the fusion and analysis of multiple sensor inputs to enhance and analyze safer vehicle traffic on roadways; cognitive aiding through the application of AI/ML for sensor data fusion in commercial aviation, and enhanced aerial surveillance and analysis of terrain for the purposes of managing deforestation, smart farming, or forest fire prevention. REFERENCES: 1. Army Pursues Sensor-Related Artificial Intelligence Effort, 18 November 2022, https://www.afcea.org/signal-media/defense-operations/army-pursues-sensor-related-artificial-intelligence-effort 2. How can AI/ML improve sensor fusion performance? https://www.sensortips.com/featured/how-can-ai-ml-improve-sensor-fusion-performance-faq/ 3. AI: how it’s delivering sharper route planning, https://aerospaceamerica.aiaa.org/features/ai-how-its-delivering-sharper-route-planning/ KEYWORDS: Artificial Intelligence; Machine Learning; automation; synthetic data generation; data labeling; computer vision; deep learning; decision aiding, target recognition