Award Data

Terrorist use of radioactive nuclear materials via nuclear and/or radiological dispersion devices (dirty bombs) is a serious threat. Therefore, it is critical to detect the proliferation of nuclear material. Critical challenges facing this objective include: (a) high sensitivity detection of signature emissions (e.g., gamma rays) from common radioactive isotopes behind shielding, and (b) cost-effe ...

Leveraging the results of our Phase I work, the Torch Team proposes to execute laboratory-based experiments to elucidate fundamental micro-debris formation mechanisms to improve optical modeling of impacts. Optical signatures from impacts collected over the last decade have identified definitive micro-debris parameter trends. However, current theories have difficulty reproducing these optical ob ...

There is an unmet demand for nano-scaled ultra-low-power low-cost radios to address field-deployable and massively producible sensing and communication networks in future military and commercial applications. To overcome the limitations in existing bulky and power hungry radios, we propose a disruptive solution by exploiting the holistic integration of THz radio transceiver system, on-chip antenna ...

ABSTRACT: The proliferation of autonomous- and human-machine systems necessitates the creation of new tools for system design and evaluation. Key among these are simulation testbeds that support interactions between multiple warfighters and systems, and methods for creating and integrating intelligent agent models into simulation environments. We see a significant opportunity to advance the state ...

ABSTRACT: Designing an efficient and effective film cooling system to protect critical components of modern rocket engines requires a significant number of challenges to be addressed. Complicating the already difficult hydrodynamic challenges, thermal cracking of hydrocarbon fuels is always accompanied by coke formation. The coke deposits on the combustor and nozzle walls reduces heat fluxes and c ...

ABSTRACT: Speech recognition technology is in wide use today and has been successfully integrated in a number of applications. Most of these applications require a microphone located near the talker. However, when a distant microphone is used where the speaker is at some distance from the microphone as in a hands-free communication, or in a meeting room, there is a major problem with the captured ...

In this STTR effort nGimat will partner with the University of Kentucky to develop a new process for manufacturing scandia-doped tungsten powder for use in vacuum tube cathode devices. While a significant amount of research over the last several decades has shown promise for scandate cathode materials, reliable manufacturing processes that enable commercialization of this technology have remained ...

To handle the so-called black start fault contingency, Energy to Power Solutions proposes the use of a novel hybrid cable design. The cable would be designed to handle the full 100 % electric power load under normal operating and battle conditions (i.e. a fully/partially functioning cryogenic cooling system operating at cryogenic temperatures ~ 50-60 K), and capable of handling 30 % of the rated p ...

Computational Sciences LLC will collaborate with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to develop and validate a stand-alone computational module that naturally accounts for the effects of turbulence. Such fluctuations and transitions may be associated with compressible flows and boundary layer interactions. The module will be designed for implementation in to existing legacy codes for use in ...

Turbulent shear flows in naval applications are characterized by vastly different lengths and time scales associated with rotor tip vortices and the vortical structures shed from the ship, and additional phase from water drops and water vapor. To tackle the modeling challenges, we propose a novel methodology that combines a vorticity preserving method and a new approach to LES turbulence modeling ...