Award Data

Increasing the energy of the electron beam striking an X-ray target can lead to higher electron to X-ray conversion efficiency. For a given electron beam energy, the conversion efficiency can be enhanced through various methods. Optimizing the electron beam parameters, such as beam current, pulse width, and repetition rate, can also improve the conversion efficiency. Choice of the X-ray target mat ...

Machine learning algorithms have demonstrated performance on par with or superior to human analysts on large datasets when sufficient training data is available.  For military applications obtaining sufficient, truthed data is always a challenge.  Three approaches have been used for measured data collections to support sensor exploitation programs: coordinated collections, turntable measurements ...

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) needs a capability to collect and provide immediate presumptive analysis of radiological/nuclear samples of concern at the source of collection. Such in-field technologies should be capable of detecting and identifying trace quantities of elements and/or chemicals containing plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U), with a focus on chemicals specific to the nuclear ...

Machine learning algorithms have demonstrated performance on par with or superior to human analysts on large datasets when sufficient training data is available. For many military applications, sufficient truthed data over relevant operating conditions does not exist and is prohibitively expensive to obtain. A potential solution to thislack of measured datais synthetic data derived from physics si ...

Wide Band Gap semiconductors with advanced topographies allow much higher power densities and efficiencies than prior generation power electronics.   Power density is a function of switching speed and cooling requirements, and operating at or above 50KHz allows for a dramatic reduction in size and weight of power electronics for power conditioning, converting, and motor control.  Powdermet has ...

Phase I technical work will be focused on feasibility demonstrations for new concepts in materials and advanced manufacturing spanning target applications of interest to DARPA (inductors, transformers, and motors).  To reduce program risk while ensuring aggressive progress towards required metrics, two material and manufacturing pathways will be pursued by university partners of CorePower Magnet ...

Natural rubber is an essential manufacturing material that possesses performance properties that are superior to synthetic rubber for many product applications, including increased tear and tensile strength, as well as superior mechanical performance properties. Aircraft tires, for example, are made of natural rubber; whereas, synthetic rubber (which is less expensive to procure) is used for less ...

AwareAbility Technologies (AAT), in collaboration with The Ohio State University (OSU), proposes to develop a small hand-held analysis kit for in-field analysis of trace amounts of Uranium (U) and Plutonium (Pu) that will meet or exceed the requirements set by DTRA. Swipe, dust, or water samples would be analyzed by this kit for isotopes and isotopic ratios to indicate the special nuclear material ...

Phase II will utilize knowledge gained from phase I work to develop and execute a manufacturing process suitable for producing quantities of 3-D printed discrete circuits for radiation detection systems.  The goal is to support mobile radiation detection system requirements for high voltage, analog amplification, and MCA functionality to produce differential pulse height spectra in time sequence. ...

Opportunity: Guayule, a US native plant, is the only alternate rubber crop with an established, mechanized, agronomic system. Problem: Low rubber yields and lack of effective resin and bagasse coproduct valorization, have prevented widespread adoption by American farmers and processors. Rubber is only made when the cytoplasmic monomer pool (isopentenyl-pyrophosphate; IPP) is larger than that requi ...