Award Data

We propose a platform for aerial environmental monitoring based on the integration of two advanced technologies for the first time: a lightweight, flying robotic platform capable of hovering and swarming, and a compact, low-power chemical sensor platform called the Molecular Property Spectrometer (MPS): a robust, low-cost, silicon-chip-based micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) that has been use ...

The proposed Bio-Inspired Visual Navigation System will enable UGVs to operate semi-autonomously with minimal input from an operator even in degraded communication environments. Semi-autonomous landmark-based navigation in low-texture indoor environments is difficult due to the lack of distinctive micro-features needed by conventional algorithms such as SIFT and SURF. In Phase I, Intelligent Aut ...

In this STTR program, technology created at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) to fabricate silicon photonics based integrated laser devices, including wafer bonded gain elements, will be utilized to develop ultra-coherent integrated laser devices that are widely tunable. Novel laser designs developed by Morton Photonics, taking advantage of ultra-low loss microresonator based f ...

The proposed project will demonstrate high-frequency (0.5 5 GHz) operation of novel 2-dimensional semiconductor molybdinum disulphide (MoS2) based field-effect transistors. Our project will focus on innovative growth startegies for large-area growth of MoS2 along with novel device design methodologies which will consider the tradeoffs between monolayer and multilayer device designs for high-frequ ...

The Department of Defense is concerned with circadian rhythm misalignments as they are known to affect judgment, psychomotor skills, and can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). At present, there is no comprehensive unobtrusive and easy-to-use solution that measures the circadian misalignment and automatically administers the appropriate therapy for realignment of circadian rhythm. Intel ...

This STTR project seeks to overcome the performance limitations of experimental sulfur tolerant SOFC materials by combining two elements of efficient SOFC design: 1) micro-tubular arrays (OD

Robotic Research, LLC and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at the California Institute of Technology are teaming their efforts under the Army STTR topic A14A-T018"Intelligent Terrain-Award Navigation and Mobility of Unmanned Ground Vehicles Operating Under Varying Degrees of Autonomy"to develop an unmanned terrain-aware navigation and mobility system that would enhance soft soil mobility and reduce ...

Autonomous or teleoperated navigation of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) is difficult even in benign environments due to challenges associated with perception, decision making, and human-machine interaction, among others. In environments with rough, sloped, slippery, and/or deformable terrain, the difficulty of the navigation problem increases dramatically. In this effort, Quantum Signal, LLC, Un ...

In this STTR proposal, we propose a novel computational technology for analyzing millimeter wave and sub-millimeter wave scattering from complex and electromagnetically extended objects and environments. The core of our formalism lies in a technique for rapidly calculating and coherently adding fields produced by different scatterer constituents, ranging from conducting, flat surfaces to penetrabl ...