Award Data

Yale University and Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation (AASC) propose to develop a single propellant electrospray micro-thruster for space propulsion with a wide specific impulse range, from 500s at the low end to >2500s, with the goal of 10,000s, while maximizing the performance. Three key prior accomplishments have motivated the formation of this team: Yale, working with ARL has demonstrated M ...

The goal of the proposed project will be to develop a hybrid structural health monitoring (SHM) system that can detect both microcracks and localized damage/delamination in composite structures.  The hybrid system will combine the unique sensing capabilities of carbon nanotubes along with those of a piezoelectric sensor network to sense the location, nature and extent of damage.  This system com ...

Acellent Technologies and Professor FG Yuen of Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering of North Carolina State University propose to develop an advanced real-time built-in diagnostic system for the monitoring and locating impacts and growing damage in anisotropic aerospace structures. The proposed technologies will provide real-time information on the integrity of structures on aircraft ...

Research is proposed for the development and implementation of state of the art, reduced order nonlinear aeroelastic models for multidisciplinary/multi-fidelity optimization problems. Highly efficient and accurate aeroelastic simulation tools will be constructed based upon the mathematical formalism of optimal prediction theory and a novel implementation of a filtered harmonic balance solution met ...

This program will demonstrate, for the first time, a commercial prototype high power fiber laser in the 3-5µm band, based on Agiltron chalcogenide glass infrared optical fiber technology. High power IR lasers that emit multiwatt output at various infrared wavelengths in the 212µm region are a long-standing technical challenge. Fiber lasers, widely considered the choice for almost all high power ...

Recent developments of advanced hybrid metallic structural concepts have been extremely promising for durable light-weight and ultra-long fatigue life large transport aircraft.  The Alpha STAR team (Alcoa, SWRI, and Virginia Tech) proposes to extend the validated Fiber Metal Laminate (FML) high fidelity analytical capability from GLARE to CentrAl  FML concepts, as well as develop the necessary r ...

Multi-modal photodetectors and focal plane arrays (FPA) with adaptive multi-spectral polarization sensing and signal processing functionalities will greatly enhance Air Forces target recognition and discrimination capabilities. Current existing multi-spectral imaging systems employ scanning dispersive optics (gratings or prisms) to obtain spectral and polarimetric characteristics. These systems ar ...

A key challenge for net-centric warfare in the age of information is: How do we know that our actions are having the desired effects? This deceptively simple question often goes unanswered despite the increasingly massive amounts of information available. In the Air and Space Operations Center (AOC), the Operational Assessment Team is responsible for answering this question for the Joint Forces A ...

Busek Co. Inc. and Stanford University propose to develop and test an advanced high power plasma propulsion concept referred to here as a Coaxial High EnerGy Thruster, or CHENG thruster.  The thruster is first and foremost a propulsive device.  However, because the device is pulsed, compact, and efficient the plasma beam is highly condensed and energetic. For this reason, the thruster may also b ...

Busek proposes, with the MIT Space Propulsion Lab, to develop and characterize a variable-Isp colloid thruster operating only in the ionic mode and achieving its variable-Isp through use of a deceleration grid.  This approach overcomes the usual inefficiencies encountered in variable-Isp colloid thruster operation, where lower Isp is accomplished through operation in droplet or mixed droplet/ion ...