Award Data

First generation mid-infrared lasers contribute to the prohibitively high life cycle cost of infrared countermeasures systems, precluding their broad application in helicopters. We propose to develop a fiber amplifier-based IRCM laser transmitter that will contain all optical beams within optical fiber, eliminating adjustable, discrete optical mounts to significantly increase the laser’s MTBF. ...

Andrews Space, Inc. proposes an innovative high altitude, long endurance (HALE) wing structural concept. The approach will be a careful optimization of the flexible and rigid structure to minimize mass. Additionally, a manufacturing feasibility study will be undertaken in order to determine if current industry tooling and methods are adequate. The effectiveness of HALE aircraft is highly depend ...

Fine-scale, well-calibrated probabilistic weather forecasts are increasingly in demand for such weather-critical applications as battlespace management, and accurate prediction of high-value airborne operations. Built upon the Phase I effort we have just completed, the principal objective of this proposed study (Phase II) is to develop a reliable, efficient, and easily deployable reforecast-calibr ...

Typically, the electro-optical Mach-Zehnder interferometric intensity modulator is the key optical component that determines the ultimate performance of an externally-modulated high-performance analog RF fiber-optic link. Intrinsically, the device has a symmetric structure and has a transmission peak at zero bias. In order to operate at the maximum linearity quadrature point, the optical symmetr ...

The interest in formation and cluster-based satellite applications has grown considerably in recent years, especially as launch costs have dropped and the availability of secondary rides have increased. Unfortunately, the realization of these applications has proven difficult because of challenges such as station keeping and collision avoidance. In this proposed Phase I effort, TUI will demonstrat ...

Orora Design Technologies proposes the development of minimally invasive circuit design-based methods to mitigate single event effects (SEEs) in next generation Ultra-DSM CMOS (

The objective of this effort is to develop the capability to produce low-cost high-performance, lightweight composite cryogenic propellant tanks for use on expendable and reusable space access vehicles and hypersonic aircraft. GTL took a major step towards this capability in a previous effort that demonstrated that it was possible to fabricate ultra-thin BHL composite propellant tanks (small-scal ...

The challenge of producing enough food for our growing planet requires incredible innovation. Insects are a sustainable alternative to existing agricultural inputs. However, to penetrate the $400B global feed industry, insects need to be produced both at...

SBIR Topic SB163-004 describes DARPAs need to develop a real-time system for active feedback control and process characterization of multi-material additive manufacturing. To fill this need, Bridger Photonics, Inc. (Bridger) will prove out an ...

We propose to develop a system that will aid in the unique identification, accurate tracking, and state of health monitoring of satellites and other space objects. This system will consist of an Enhanced Low-Power Transponder (ELT) - a self-contained sm...