Award Data

The military is increasingly making use of various types of imaging sensors, such as SAR, ISAR,IR, and optical, for tasks such as surveillance, precision strike, automatic target recognition, and rapid retargetting. Traditional techniques for image enhancement and segmentation have a limited utility for military applications using the kinds of sensors. In this research, we will develop a ...

Leveraging existing Simulation Based Design and Multidisciplinary Optimization (SBD / MDO) analyses, optimal hybrid torpedo configuration(s) will be developed. Engineering analyses will be performed on a new chemical oxygen storage and delivery concept and turbomachinery for the hybrid propulsion system. Analysis performed will result in component performance metrics that will be used in system ...

The Navy's nondestructive inspection mainly uses portable instruments with hand held ultrasonic or eddy current probes. The inspector makes the calls based on the data displayed on the instrument in real time without the aid of an image. This makes it difficult to distinguish between flaws and normal substructures and to quantify the size, shape and severity of the flaws. The problem can be great ...

An aircraft carrier’s flight deck is a thousand accidents waiting to happen… large, heavy aircraft must move nimbly about a maelstrom of men, vehicles, aircraft, and bombs. An aircraft moves safely only when the pilot understands the directors perfectly. Now take the pilot away... how can you achieve high sortie rates, reduced manning, and absolute safety with a “dumb” aircraft without th ...

OptTek Systems, Inc. is developing new software to significantly enhance optimization applications. The software, called OptForce, incorporates a sophisticated Meta-Structured Optimization (MSO) approach directly into the representation of the decision-making process. It has been demonstrated to be more effective than traditional mixed integer programming and heuristic solvers. Coupled with simula ...

Future weapon and aircraft systems require IR windows and domes capable of withstanding greater heating rates, greater mechanical loads, and more severe rain and particle impact environments than can be withstood by sapphire. Nanostructured ceramic composites with grain size below 50 nm have the potential to achieve such performance. Synkera Technologies proposes the development of a new nanostr ...

The objective of this proposal is to derive a practical, manufacturable route to a high performance two-dimensional photonic crystal broad area high power diode laser, through collaboration between a leading research institution (Caltech) and a leading manufacturer of high power diode lasers (nLight). Initial work would be performed on InP based high power broad area devices, but would be transfer ...

InnovaTek proposes to develop a JP-8 fuel cell electrical generator built on a microchannel reactor design that provides a very low volume, light weight system. The objective of the Phase I work is to develop and demonstrate the feasibility of a processing configuration that converts JP-8 fuel to a hydrogen rich feed for a solid oxide fuel cell that produces 0.5 to 1 kW electrical power. Key comp ...