Award Data

"The objective of this proposal is to describe an automated (or semi-automated) lightweight, low-cost handling system for lauch & recovery of offboard vehicles which can be fitted to existing Navy ships or designed into new classes of ships. Many of thesystems required for this effort are either in preliminary development of have been developed. It is intended that by combining existing offboard h ...

"Aurora Flight Sciences of West Virginia (AWV) is small business offering a complete range of aerospace structural manufacturing capabilities in both metals and composites. Our largest customer is Northrop Grumman, for whom we manufacture flight-ratedproduction parts for such aircraft as the E8 JSTARS, E2C HawkEye, and RQ4A Global Hawk. We are ISO-9000 registered and we hold materiel review board ...

"This Phase II proposal uses multi-axis fiber grating strain sensors to characterize strain fields interior to complex composite materials. Advantages of this approach include the ability to measure transverse strain, transverse strain gradients and axialstrain simultaneously at multiple points along a single fiber line. Models and software will be developed to complement a data base generated t ...

"Single and multi-axis fiber grating strain sensors were used to detect damage in a Phase I composite cryogenic tank. Acoustic signatures were collected from multiple fiber grating sensors during impact. Multi-dimensional strain field measures were usedto measure damage remotely through three cryogenic cycles. The first cycle occurred prior to impact and the second and third after two subsequen ...

"Single and multi-axis fiber grating strain sensors were used to detect delaminations and cut tow damage sites in composite motor casings during Phase I of this program. Acoustic signatures were collected from multiple fiber grating sensors during impactand pressure cycling of the Phase I test article. Multi-dimensional strain field measures were used to measure damage remotely. The Phase II ef ...

"This Phase I SBIR will study the potential of a multi-axis fiber grating strain sensor system that is capable of monitoring strain internal to a solid rocket motor bondline. This multi-axis technology would allow unique multidimensional strain fieldanalysis via a non-intrusive, embedded optical sensor. This technology could not only be used to monitor solid rocket motors, but has a wide range of ...

"Blue Road Research intends to extend the use of both high reflectivity, wavelength multiplexed grating sensors and low reflectivity, interferometrically multiplexed grating sensors to measure multi-dimensional strain fields in bonded joints in aerospacestructures, and use this strain field information to monitor structural integrity over the vehicle lifetime. In addition, Blue Road Research in ...

"Blue Road Research intends to extend the use of both high reflectivity, wavelength multiplexed grating sensors and low reflectivity, interferometrically multiplexed grating sensors to measure multi-dimensional strain fields in bonded joints in aerospacestructures, and use this strain field information to monitor structural integrity over the vehicle lifetime. In addition, Blue Road Research in ...

"For years Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have failed to deliver on their promise to revolutionize the remote-sensing industry. Their potential for small size and low cost has been offset by the lack of sufficient avionics hardware and softwareintegration resulting in expensive vehicles that are difficult to maintain, and suffer from high rates of attrition. The recent introduction of the Motor ...

"A drastic reduction in structural weight is an indispensable prerequisite to realize future Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems. Boost Defense segments of the program such as the Airborne Laser (ABL) and Space-Based Laser (SBL) require thestorage and transport of large amounts of cryogens. All elements contributing to the cryogenic system mass must be as light as possible. Advanc ...