Award Data

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) has a contract with Lockheed Martin to design, build, and produce the center fuselage section of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF F-35). There are three ducts which are the primary components of this section – the aft duct and two forward (inlet) ducts – right and left. Due to their length, curvature, and extremely tight constraints, the RH & LH inlet ducts pr ...

The authors establish a novel metrology system capable of determining the pose of a robotically-mounted End of Arm Tool (EOAT) in Six Degrees of Freedom (6-DOF) to a capability better than True Position (TP) 0.010 in. The metrology system consists of low-cost, modular components in the form of motorized gimbals that steer laser beams onto robot-affixed, photosensitive chips typical of those found ...

In phase II we will develop a prototype TD-THz step/gap mismatch measurement system. This system will be able to measure the sub-surface ground-plane step and gap dimensions on the seams of panels on the F-35 aircraft. In phase I, we demonstrated the ability of the TD-THz method to measure the dimensions of the ground-plane step and gap through otherwise opaque boots and coatings. The first app ...

ABSTRACT: Sorting, solvent-cleaning, promoting, delivering, sealing and installing 30,000 fasteners per day is a critical task required for full-rate production of the F-35 Lightning II. These 30,000 fasteners are comprised of approximately 350 unique part numbers and each must receive one of three different promoter solutions and sealers, each with time-limited properties. Preparing the fast ...

Nanocerox proposes to use our custom formulated, high purity yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) nanopowder for the production of YAG windows 6” by 12” by 10 mm thick with theoretical transmission from visible to 5µm wavelengths to demonstrate their utility in IR transparent material applications. YAG is a high strength ceramic which, with proper processing, can achieve our phase II optical goals ...

Biomason’s prototype MEDUSA dust abatement system provides a superior performing, logistically lean, and environmentally friendly solution for rapid dust suppression for VTOL operations in austere, forward operating positions. Moreover, base MEDUSA systems and processes may be adapted for utilization in multiple industrial sectors and serve several other key military and civilian use-cases - fro ...

In Phase I, Kutta defined and detailed its vision for a subterranean wireless communication system that gives America’s soldiers the ability to communicate more effectively and efficiently than ever before in underground caves and urban tunnels. During Phase I, Kutta exceeded the Army’s Phase I distance transmission requirements by nearly four-fold feet by demonstrating the ability to send voi ...

In Phase I, Kutta Consulting defined and detailed its vision for a Dismounted Associate (DA) that gives America's soldiers over-the-hill battlefield intelligence. Kutta, however, did not act alone. AATD, Boeing Phantom Works, General Dynamics, Advanced Ceramics Research, Neural Robotics Incorporated, 21st Century Systems, and numerous user groups contributed significant concepts, subject matter ex ...

In the proposed effort, we will establish all of the basic components working together in a laboratory environment, in order to demonstrate our impulsive energy deposition technology for high-speed flight. We will also identify DoD systems, applications, and requirements, that will most benefit from our technology, including the critical next steps to advance the technology to flight tests. Approv ...

Propose to investigate and develop, build and test an innovative communications system to provide continuous, high speed, in-flight communication links between a Ground Based Communication Antenna and Hypersonic Vehicles in flight through a plasma environment. Several approaches have been considered for mitigation, with varying degrees of success. We have investigated these and other alternatives ...