Award Data

Spectral Energies proposes to design a multisensory diagnostic suite for measurements within elevated-pressure RDEs. This sensor will utilize tunable-laser absorption spectroscopy to measure temperature, pressure and H2O concentrations in the annulus of a rocket-RDE and background-oriented schlieren imaging system for flow density gradient imaging to provide time resolved information about the sho ...

Effective and efficient data-driven mission support is crucial for achieving readiness and superiority in warfighting enterprises. Leveraging machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in mission planning would not only minimize the human-error factors and increase accuracy, but also improve speed in planning, execution, and evaluation of a mission. REVAMP will improve the next generat ...

The objective of this project is to develop human intelligence-inspired algorithms that exploit multi-modal sources of low and high quality data to achieve a series of objectives such as detection, localization, tracking, and classification. A Bayesian model-based hierarchical adaptive decision making (HADM) algorithm will be developed which includes multiple levels of decision making organized in ...

The Navy is actively developing a self-sealing, water-activated fuel bladder to mitigate fuel leaks upon mechanical shock (e.g. penetration by a .50 caliber bullet). To circumvent the requirement of an external water source to activate the self-sealing, this system will require water-filled microcapsules that can be incorporated directly into the polymeric matrix of the fuel bladder. Upon mechanic ...

During the proposed Navy STTR program, NanoSonic and Virginia Tech will design and synthesize innovative, high strength ceramic nanocomposite microcapsules filled with > 80 volume percent water that are empirically optimized to function as readily dispersed powdered additives with long-term water retention, durability during air craft bladder production, and rupture during ballistic shock. NanoSon ...

Portable Advanced Battlefield and Ground surveillance radar can now provide effective detection of small targets, posing challenges for troop movement and stealth missions. Radar absorbent strategies have been achieved in composites and larger textile objects, but effective light-weight solutions for current operational clothing and individual equipment systems such as uniforms, knapsacks and body ...

Opportunity: Guayule, a US native plant, is the only alternate rubber crop with an established, mechanized, agronomic system. Problem: Low rubber yields and lack of effective resin and bagasse coproduct valorization, have prevented widespread adoption by American farmers and processors. Rubber is only made when the cytoplasmic monomer pool (isopentenyl-pyrophosphate; IPP) is larger than that requi ...

The objective of this research program is to develop an ultra-lightweight carbon nanotube-lithium metal (CNT-Li) hybrid anode to enable high energy density lithium ion cells. These CNT-Li anodes will be paired with carbon nanotube enhanced high areal loading (mAh/cm2) cathodes to achieve cell-level energy densities that exceed 400 Wh/kg at the cell-level and have the potential to exceed 500 Wh/kg. ...

RADAR (and similar direct or observational meteorological measuring equipment) has limitations (inability to measure low vis conditions, line-of-site, limited vertical (z-axis), expensive/heavy equipment is required, etc.). To solve these limitations, a Purdue University team (launched via a SBC called FlightProfiler) has developed a technology that delivers a computer generated X-Y-Z environmenta ...

There are numerous ongoing research and development efforts on SansEC technology for applications to enhance warfighter and commercial technologies. Two major SansEC applications of interest are (1) the detection of damage on composite airframes, (2) the measuring of the shape of morphing airframes actively in-flight, and subsequently feeding this information back to a flight control system in rea ...