Award Data

Based on the research and analysis conducted during Phase I, it was determined that it is feasible to detect, diagnose, predict and manage impending failures in a rotating electrical machine (e.g., aircraft generator) using a real-time, sensory-updating residual life distribution estimation technique. Furthermore, the methodology allows us to develop a prognostic capability for the electrical powe ...

Detection of weak oceanic currents by remote sensing means is an important task for many applications of significance to the Navy and the society at large. A promising way to remotely detect the currents is through variations of backscattering strength of electromagnetic waves scattered from ocean surface roughness modulated by the currents. In Phase 1 of this STTR project we demonstrated that, de ...

Although numerical analysis applications have proven to be effective and reasonably accurate, the effort required to develop the associated analysis models remains a challenging and time consuming task. While many meshing tools are currently available, decomposing and manipulating the design geometry and enhancing the topology for mesh construction are manual processes and place the heaviest dema ...

Structural state awareness can be vitally important to a wide variety of both commercial and military systems, including buildings, bridges, vehicles and advanced sensors. Equipment required to provide this telemetry has typically been large and heavy making it difficult to incorporate into the desired environment. The use of a strain and temperature sensing technique based in fiber optics can p ...

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project shall utilize a multi-organizational team with uniquely experienced and multi-disciplinary personnel to demonstrate the feasibility of a new family of innovative sheet molding compounds (SMCs) that are partially bio-based and have lower density while having similar performance and cost. Kenaf natural fiber will be blended with glass fi ...

This Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase I project will employ a multi-component nanofiber spinning approach to develop a high-strength and high-modulus polymeric composite fiber, using the latest available islands-in-sea spinning technology and innovative spinning process parameters and polymer combinations. The goal of this project is to achieve a composite fiber wherein nan ...

This proposal aims at the development of a low-power deicing system using the newly developed magnetostrictive alloy as functional materials, namely the Ni-Mn-Ga alloy. Present studies have shown that the Ni-Mn-Ga smart alloy does not require excessive input power to operate while an impulsive strain of over 5% can be generated under a load of over 1 Mpa. When power is applied to the solenoid arou ...

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I proposal will develop a process for conformally coating non-woven fibers and fiber-based systems in order to selectively remove toxic pathogens from fluid streams. The chemically treated surfaces of fibers and fabrics made from these fibers will be able to filter, capture and separate hazardous bio-molecules from the fluid streams, such as wat ...

Characteristic modes are proposed to optimize placement of vehicular antennas in the HF through lower UHF bands (2MHz to 450MHz). Characteristic modes provide physical insight into the currents induced on the vehicle and provide for placement of the antenna to excite desirable mode with increased efficiency. Computation of characteristic modes for arbitrary shaped platforms is documented in the l ...

Aurora Flight Sciences and the MIT Aero-Astro Department have been jointly developing the human interfaces and underlying automation for a planning system that enables a field operator to command a team of UAVs to perform operations consistent with expeditionary missions. During Phase II, these tools will be further developed and demonstrated as a comprehensive system including high-level collabo ...