Award Data

The military is looking for innovative technologies that will improve aircraft braking systems. Currently, the majority of the braking power during aircraft landing is supplied by the friction brakes. Many problems arise with the use of friction brakes, the first being the excessive wear on the brakes. The solution we propose involves improving the existing material used for friction braking along ...

Conductive films that maintain transparency are a key element in many current products and industries, including electronic devices for touch screens and automobiles to defrost windows. Such films are also useful in military applications. By introducing a resistive taper in conductive films or antennas, overall performance can be improved by reducing backscattering and increasing sensitivity in an ...

Automated passenger counter has been used in the transit systems for automated passenger counting and reporting. These systems have suffered counting accuracy issues, particularly at high rider load points, and at end-of-line count reconciliation. In Phase I, we have successfully developed systems for passenger counting and re-identification. Test results using the data collected at a transit b ...

Military respirator masks provide the Warfighter with life critical protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. To ensure the safety, comfort, and effectiveness of the American Warfighter, it is essential that every Warfighter be assigned a respirator that is properly sized and fitted. However, current methods for sizing and fitting respirators depend on manu ...

Riding a motorcycle can be a risky activity due to hazards that riders encounter. Some hazards, such as uneven terrain, sand/gravel, and potholes, do not pose a risk to automobiles, but can be dangerous for motorcyclists. However, no motorcycle-specific hazard tracking or alerting systems are currently available for riders. To address this need, Charles River Analytics has designed and demonstrate ...

Crushed aggregate is used as railroad ballast, drainage and stabilization material. Fouling of this aggregate reduces its performance: it loses its ability to drain water resulting in reduced strength. Substructure failure is a leading cause of rail accidents and it is a strategic priority to develop new methods for monitoring ballast condition. The challenge is that aggregate fouling does not pre ...

In prior research and development, the project team and partners developed Cyberchase, a multimedia story-based series for students to practice and learn math. Researchers will develop and test a prototype of a mobile app-based fractions game to be integrated within the multimedia series. The prototype will adjust to students of different skill levels, and will present fractions in different repre ...

Antibiotic resistant bacteria have become a major concern in discharges from hospitals, wastewater treatment plants, and agricultural runoff. A quick, inexpensive, field- deployable method of detecting antibiotic resistant bacteria in these waters is desirable. Antibiotic resistant bacteria of concern include Salmonella, Staphylococci, E. coli, Enterococci, and coliform bacteria, among others. A p ...

Federal regulations require a seat belt assembly with a locking lap belt to be available in passenger seating positions to securely accommodate a child restraint system. More recently, federal regulations have been updated to improve the quality of the child restraint system and the mechanisms by which it is secured. However, there are restrictions on total weight capacities for new restraint sy ...

The principal benefit of this project will be the development of materials, processes and designs for the additive manufacture of air purifying respirators. Additive manufacture allows mass personalization of existing systems. For respirators, that design is the unique size and facial structure of each individual warfighter. The ability to personalize respirator design to each unique warfighter wi ...