Award Data

The goal of this program is to design a lightweight optical bench capable of remaining stable under temperature and moisture changes, while isolating the precision optical array from vibrations such as engine noise and air turbulence. By integrating a customizable periodic stack in the bench, vibrations are attenuated more effectively than commercially available mounts. Additionally, the periodic ...

A critical aspect of exoskeleton control that has to date introduced a performance limitation is the ability of the exoskeleton to recognize the intent of the operator so it can apply assistance to their desired motion. This intent recognition effort is typically solved using ad-hoc methods where subject matter experts make design decisions and tune transitions to identify intended maneuvers as re ...

We propose a novel computational framework for discrimination that incorporates sensor data from observations of the engagement and from kill assessment (KA) that such sensors can provide. The KA information is combined with data from other sensors to improve the discrimination decision and to reduce the probability of correlated shots. Approved for Public Release 16-MDA-8620 (1 April 16)

Missile defense faces the challenges of rapidly maturing and evolving complex threats, possessing capabilities which require the use of all available resources to successfully detect, track and identify the lethal objects. Future performance will rely on multiple sensors such as ground and sea based radars and electro-optical and infrared sensors for target recognition. It is crucial to develop a ...

Our proposed second order uncertainty (SOU) product is a decision making software solution that addresses the problem of providing accurate and precisely defined decision courses of action (COAs) of complex, time-constrained problems in a fraction of the time required by alternative methods striving to achieve the same level of precision. Complex decision situations can deal with large volume of ...

Miniaturized base metal electrodes (BME) multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) are of great interest for future missile applications as designers are striving to achieve smaller, lighter, cheaper, faster and better electronic assemblies without sacrificing long-term performance. Unfortunately, screening, reliability and qualifications criteria are either not available or not standardized. In the ...

The reliability of electronic packages is of paramount concern in todays electronics industry, and ensuring their thermomechanical integrity is necessary to achieve this reliability. However, this task has become more challenging with miniaturization and the introduction of new materials. Thermal stresses in electronic packages continue to be one of the leading causes of device failure. The pro ...

Space Micro will develop the core of the decision support system, assemble the models and material properties and demonstrate the utility of the program in materials selection on a subset of failures related to a specific test-bed, which will be the attachment of quad-flat no-leads (QFN) and ball grid array (BGA) devices to printed wiring boards using different solders, underfills, QFN or BGA geom ...

A critical step in the extraction of elements from ore, especially rare earth elements that are found in complex minerals, is separation. Froth flotation is a highly versatile method for physically separating particles based on differences in the ability of air bubbles to selectively adhere to specific mineral surfaces in a mineral/water slurry. The particles with attached air bubbles are then ca ...

Empirical-based mathematical framework and computer algorithms, for representing human perception and cognition processes and limitations, which influence the recognition of salient information about rapidly changing events.