Award Data

This proposal describes the design and manufacture of large modulating retro-reflectors (MRR) using Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) based optical modulators. In the proposed MRR device, a micromachined deformable mirror will serve as one facet of a corner cube retro-reflector which will allow intensity modulation of the retro-reflected beam. A characteristic of the MEMS device is that it can ...

Increasing global RF electromagnetic (EM) activity related to commercial, scientific, and military systems, threatens the integrity of satellite communication links and has resulted in an environment cluttered with RF signals, particularly in the UHF-band. This is causing two major problems: 1) interference (due to co-site and jamming); and 2) increase in the EM noise floor. These effects can caus ...

The goal of the proposed research is to develop a non-destructive method for subsurface residual stress measurement in turbo-machinery components. Neutron diffraction techniques have a proven ability to determine residual stresses at significant depths, however implementation of these techniques has been limited to specialized facilities such as the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) neutron at Oak ...

The Navy has made significant investment in the design, development, and deployment of net-centric information systems that provide critical support to fleet operations. Unfortunately, adverse operational conditions affect the availability and performance of distributed information systems. Since their current systems situation awareness is inadequate, system operators, administrators, and manager ...

Plain, self-lubricating spherical bearings operating in high levels of airborne abrasive contaminant particle environments, such as desert regions, are subject to accelerated wear of their PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) liner systems. Accelerated bearing wear has been observed in fielded aircraft and leads to increased maintenance costs, Flight Safety Risk and reduced operational availability. The ...

The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service describe cheatgrass as "the invader that won the West". This highly invasive annual grass is present or dominant on some 100 million acres in the Great Basin and Intermountain West and land managers estimate its spread is increasing by 12-14% annually. Cheatgrass (and its annual bromegrass relatives) are a principal driving force behind epi ...

Fog harvesting from fog nets has been intensively investigated to utilize untapped fresh water resources. Atmospheric water like fog constitutes approximately 0.04% of the earth's fresh water. If fog is harnessed appropriately, it has a huge potential to alleviate fresh water shortages due to depleting watershed and groundwater resources NBD Nanotechnologies, Inc. is proposing a research progr ...

This research effort seeks to develop a non-toxic and biobased solution to the biofouling problem through the development of novel soy-based polymers that release biofouling when exposed to visible light.Biofouling, the unwanted growth of biological organisms on underwater surfaces, has long been recognized as a major problem for commercial aquaculture. Biofouling dramatically increases labor cost ...

Quorum sensing (QS) allows bacterial populations to coordinate gene expression in a cell density dependent manner and plays a significant role in the onset of pathogenesis and biofilm development. In many Gram-negative bacteria, QS is mediated by signaling molecules called N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs). We recently identified an AHL acylase from P. syringae which can enzymatically degrade and ...

Navy Special Warfare needs to improve the thermal control subsystems on the SEAL Delivery Vehicle to provide heated or cooled water to the operators during transit in water temperatures from approximately 35F or above 95F. Unprotected operation in these environments, and the resulting core body temperature change of more than ~5F risk serious injury, and lasting muscular-skeletal damage. The curre ...