Award Data

High fidelity simulations of complex systems still pose a challenge to the scientist trying to understand its physical characteristics. The challenge is in finding useful bits in terabytes of data that directly relate to the nature of time-varying, multivariate data. An intelligent data mining capability is needed that has both knowledge (descriptive physics) and foresight (cognitive model of user ...

The monitoring of multiple UAV video sources is challenging, in part, due to the poor quality of the video received. Significant video degrading is caused by clouds, haze, and dust in the atmosphere; jitter and blurring from the UAV platform motion; and low video resolution due to sensor characteristics and high altitude flying. Higher quality video would alleviate much of the challenge for the o ...

X-ray computed tomography (CT) is used to evaluate the integrity and aging of solid rocket motors (SRM) used in missile defense. There is a need for better vizualization of bondlines of materials, and the detection of their flaws, in the dome region. This problem is due to partial volume effects inherent in all CT instruments. This project will develop and investigate algorithms and computer pr ...

Successful completion of the proposed Phase I work outlined and follow-on Phase II work will provide a system to rank existing materials and coatings for severe wear applications. In addition, the ranking system can be utilized to identify desirable properties in new materials and/or coatings that could be developed for specific severe wear applications. The validated system resulting from the Ph ...

Could the future military use of UAV create a revolution in military affairs as great as the introduction of the airplane or the tank? Is the revolution underway now? If so, how can we best prepare our military for success? The advent of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) is once more changing present and future aerial warfare. The configuration, deployment, and face of the United States Air Force ...

The proposed multi-spectral IFF beacon will use 40 to 50 % effient high power laser diodes at 863, 1064, and 1550 nm wavelengths. Thermal emitters including diamond-like carbon thin films, photonic crystals, and quantum cascade lasers will be characterized and compared. Finally a model to predict the detection range of IFF beacons will be developed using proprietary emitter power and atmospheric ...

The Air Force has identified a need for an advanced traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA) that supports future generations of broad bandwidth, efficient and linear military satellite communication. To address this need, InnoSys proposes to develop innovative solutions for advanced TWTAs that operate from 81 to 86 GHz, deliver high efficiency greater than 30% with a relatively high saturated gain g ...

For this Phase I program, MO-SCI Corporation and Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) will develop reactive fusion and reactive plasma welding techniques that are capable of joining ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) composites. Past work at Missouri S&T demonstrated the feasibility of fusion welded UHTC composites. This program will build on the joining successes at M ...

Test facilities such as wind tunnels require stringent control of test parameters such as wind speed, temperature, pressure, etc., in order to satisfy the objectives of the simulation. Control of test facilities can be significantly improved using mathematical models for the facility behavior that are developed from physical principles. A shortcoming of mathematical control models is that they t ...

Efficient production of hydrogen from abundant fossil fuel reserves along with effective CO2 sequestration processes can lead to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and elimination of dependence on foreign oil. Currently, hydrogen production via water-gas shift (WGS) reaction of either a coal-derived syngas or natural gas steam reformate, coupled with pressure-swing adsorption is the most econom ...