Award Data

The ACR led team proposes an affordable manufacturing technique for complex-geometry composite components to be used as stiffened curvilinear structural panels and variable shaped fuel and ballast tanks for Off-board surface vehicles. Through the use of its Aquapour™ and Aquacore™ water-soluble tooling materials, ACR has previously demonstrated that different composite material systems based o ...

The two primary motivations for this work are: First, to provide forecasts of dispersion of a hazardous release and associated uncertainty (or “error bars”) based on the available ensemble MET data. Second, to provide an efficient and user-friendly tool for decision makers supporting both deterministic and ensemble forecast MET data as well as resulting dispersion model forecasts. To achieve ...

Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) is the most practical material for infrared transparent domes and windows operating at long wave infrared wavelength. Hard outer coatings have been applied to ZnS to protect it from rain and sand erosion. Theoretical analysis of multi-layer coatings suggests that a compliant layer between the hard outer coating and the ZnS surface may improve resistance to rain impact damage. In ...

Agiltron, in collaboration with Tufts University, proposes to realize MWIR fiberoptic switches that meet all the required performance specifications for the new type of compact airborne IRCM applications. The approach is based on our extensive experience in volume production of fiberoptic switches of industrial leading performance as well as in-house chalcogenide glass fabrication capability. Th ...

New technology is needed for the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of defects in gas turbine engines. While these defects adversely affect hot-section performance and reduce component life, they are difficult to detect and characterize without destructive inspection. The lack of detailed flaw detection and characterization raises safety concerns, hampers fleet readiness and negatively impacts the li ...

We propose to develop a new fiber optic switch for IRCM applications. The purpose of the phase I program is to demonstrate the feasibility of a high power 1xN (N=2-6) fiber optic switch operating in the mid IR region. By carefully optimizing each individual optical component, the optical switch will have a minimum net insertion loss of less than ~0.25dB at given laser wavelengths in the mid IR reg ...

Off-board vehicles deployed in littoral environments are subjected to severe operational loads, including wave slamming, high-speed collision with debris, and underwater explosions. They additionally serve as sensor platforms, and would benefit from reduced self- and radiated noise for towed array performance and mine defense. Consequently, we propose to exploit the flexibility of design offered ...

Modern information technology enables decision makers to access and filter large volumes of information; however, this technology does not necessarily translate into improved decisions. While much technology has been created to deliver information, relatively little has been developed to help decision makers organize, assess, and systematically apply that information to evaluate decision options. ...

Traditional military training is becoming increasingly constrained by logistical challenges, geographic distribution of personnel, and limited resources, leading to an increased interest in game-based training approaches. However, training developers need to better understand how to develop game-based training that is motivating and engaging, but still pedagogically sound. The IGAME effort propose ...

Technology continues to advance at faster and faster rates. Often new technology is created with little regard for the impact to the humans who must use this technology. One new technology the Navy is considering using is autostereographic displays, which permit users to see a true 3D image without wearing cumbersome glasses. Aptima and its partner, Dr. Dirk Reiners of Iowa State University, will ...