Award Data

We propose a platform for aerial environmental monitoring based on the integration of two advanced technologies for the first time: a lightweight, flying robotic platform capable of hovering and swarming, and a compact, low-power chemical sensor platform called the Molecular Property Spectrometer (MPS): a robust, low-cost, silicon-chip-based micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) that has been use ...

We propose a rapid mapping and 3-D visualization system especially suited for inside buildings, tunnels, urban canyons, and other environments where GPS may be poor or not available. The system--which was fully demonstrated in our Phase I effort-- includes mobile Sensor Nodes that wirelessly supply compressed 3D range data and color imagery to a central Fusion Node. The Fusion Node runs 3D recon ...

ABSTRACT: The innovation proposed is a computationally-tractable, physics-based, portable turbulent combustion modeling strategy for application to a wide range of Air Force aero-propulsive systems, including augmentors, liquid rockets and scramjets. This modeling strategy will be implemented within an Application Programming Interface (API) library suitable for easy integration within Air Force ...

ABSTRACT: Due to scarcity of spectrum, Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) becomes a needed technology to improve the utilization of electromagnetic spectrum for DoD satellite communication. However, current DSA approaches are developed for terrestrial communications without addressing the unique challenges for SATCOM environments such as error-prone spectrum sensing, high mobility, and large coverage. ...

ABSTRACT: Coordinating and sharing information across multi-level security (MLS) networks are of great interest in many military applications. However, it is very challenging to accomplish those goals due to the heterogeneous security classifications of different network domains. The recent proposed cross-domain solutions (CDS) provide initial steps to make such applications possible. However, th ...

This project address the fabrication of solar blind detectors from the MgZnO material system. Both MBE and MOCVD material growth techniques will be used for deposition of the required material layers. Simulation software we be used to aid in the design of the photodetector structure. Devices will be fabricated from the grown structures and their electrical and optical characteristics determined.

ABSTRACT: Strong coupling in ionized plasmas occurs when inter-particle interactions result in correlation energies that are comparable to the mean kinetic energy of the thermal motion of individual particles. Strongly coupled plasmas are known to be present in a number of physical systems including ultra-cold plasmas created in the laboratory and present in the ionosphere, explosive gases associ ...

The goal of this program is to develop an autonomous, hover-capable, flying robot with an onboard chemical sensor chip for chemical surveillance and environmental monitoring. The key capabilities of this integrated system will be, in order of priority: 1. Real-time chemical sensing and data transfer to a base station. The final platform will detect and identify airborne chemicals using the Mole ...

Gas turbine combustion plays an important role in a range of Army systems critical to fulfilling the Armys strategic mission. Since high-performance gas turbine propulsion systems operate under highly turbulent high-pressure flow conditions, reliable computational design support tools are used to supplement expensive experimental and flight test programs. In order to provide the desired predictive ...

This Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer program will simulate and demonstrate the feasibility of a Spin-torque microwave diode spectrograph for real-time determination and monitoring of incident microwave signals. The microwave detection will be performed by a bandwidth encompassing parallel array of nano-patterned magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). When an ac current of microwave frequency ...