Award Data

Organophosphorus chemical warfare nerve agents (OP-CWA) are attractive to terrorist groups and rogue states as an inexpensive and accessible technology for chemical warfare. OP-CWA and organophosphate pesticides cause severe neurological symptoms and death by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE); the resulting excess acetylcholine accumulates and overstimulates the human or animal bo ...

This Phase 2 project targets the completion of the development of an improved system for the broadcasting of the WWVB signal, as a direct continuation of the Phase 1 project, which successfully validated the proposed approach through a feasibility study and analyses. Objectives of this project include the design of the new modulation scheme and protocol, the development of a new time-code generato ...

A nondestructive tool will be developed to quatitatively assess residual stress in pipelines from the exterior and through coatings. Residual stress is a critical factor that determines the cracking susceptibility of pipeline steels, but existing methods for measuring mechanical damage in pipeline steels are incapable of quantifying the residual stress levels. A larger gouge or dent does not nec ...

Nanometrology International, Inc. (NMI) proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of 3-dimensional (3D) characterization of nanoscale objects using scanning probe microscopy (SPM) with a measurement uncertainty of less than 0.7 nm. To accomplish this task, we propose a novel method of 3D tip characterization and use of an innovative surface reconstruction algorithm recently introduced by NIST and th ...

Chemical imaging sensors require focal plane arrays (FPAs) incorporating long wavelength infrared (LWIR) detectors suitable for hyperspectral detection. These detectors require high sensitivity to account for the low photon counts in narrow wavelength bands. The required sensitivity elevates the associated costs, so a need exists for a lower cost LWIR FPA for use with chemical imaging sensors. The ...

International Electronic Machines (IEM) Corp. will develop the Intelligent Dimension Evaluation and Alerting System, or IDEAS.  In Phase I, IEM will examine two different approaches for achieving the goal of accurate, reliable dimensioning and classification of moving vehicles at highway speeds.  IDEAS will leverage prior work by IEM for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), New York State

TRI proposes to develop reliable methodology and protocols for in-service inspection,recertifying and retiring DOT COPVs to maximize service life while ensuring personnel safety. This method must be sufficiently robust to prevent in-service failures, while being straightforward and affordable enough to be conducted at cylinder recertification facilities. To accomplish this with a high degree of co ...

Currently, the accepted standard experimental model for measuring protective efficacy against botulism is the Mouse Lethality Neutralization (MLN) assay. Botulism poisoning is a life threatening condition that is not only a public health concern, but could also be a potential biological weapon. With seven serotypes of botulinum neurotoxins, there is need for an alternative to the MLN assay due t ...

We propose a metamaterial-enhanced microbolometer with strong absorption over a narrow band that is dynamically tunable over the 8-10 micron band. A single-layer photonic metamaterial consisting of a thin metal film perforated with a 2-D array of dielectric apertures will be deposited on an amorphous-Silicon layer acting as an absorber and bolometer. The metamaterial, in conjunction with planar di ...

Identification of organophosphates (OPs) based nerve agents, is vital to the protection of U.S. armed forces personnel. Existing detection methods use bulky and expensive laboratory equipment, negating their battlefield use. Colorimetric indicators such as the currently deployed M8 and M9 detection papers are the fastest, cheapest, and easiest type of detector to use; however, these cannot detect ...