Award Data

Micromachined deformable mirrors are being commercialized by the contractor and applied to DOD related projects due to their light weight, fast response, small size, and inexpensive fabrication costs. During Phase II, the contractor and university teamwill demonstrate a novel projection system incorporating a micromachined deformable mirror, and develop a complete adaptive optics system based upo ...

Diffractive wavefront control has been demonstrated as a viable technique for high-dynamic-range laser wavefront control. Unfortunately, most conventional programmable diffractive elements, like liquid crystals and segmented mirror arrays, are damagedwhen illuminated with high-power laser light. The proposed work would investigate approaches for scaling membrane deformable mirrors to provide hig ...

There is a need for a low profile, simple, accurate, localized, responsive sensor to measure shear stress in fluid flow. The unusual properties of the shape memory alloy Ni2MnGa suggest it could make a very sensitive sensor. In recent years,single-crystal films of this alloy have been grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy. Once released from their substrate, the films have exhibited shape memory beh ...

Ultra-Wideband radar systems could contribute significantly to the detection and identification of unknown objects. UWB radars have been shown to work well in environments where conventional radars fail, such as looking through foliage or soil. However,UWB radars suffer from the lack of an antenna with low sidelobes, while still maintaining the ability to radiate a clean impulse. Currently availab ...

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radar systems will be useful for remote target identification, especially when looking through foliage, rain, or soil. The current state of the art, however, requires two separate antennas, one each for transmit and receive. Becausethe space available for antennas is limited, it would be highly convenient to use a single antenna. We investigate here a number of technologies th ...

Due to current threats against the United States, there is a very real need for an efficient, effective and portable method to neutralize or defeat unknown chemical and biological warfare agents (CBWAs). In the event of toxic agent attack on civiliantargets, a rapid and intelligent response by civilian authorities is required to minimize the spread and scope of the attack. It has been suggested ...

Polymer Based Photonics for Space Environment ApplicationsEconomical and efficient polymer based photonic (PBP) components such as high bandwidth electro-optic (EO) modulators are required for implementation in next generation high performance sateliites, including small-nano satellites. Satellite systems such assensors, fiber optic data buses, intra satellite links, navigation, tracking and targe ...

This Phase II effort will design and field test the first Wiring Inspection and Troubleshooting System (WITS). WITS uniquely integrates multiple sensor technologies and automatic database functions into one near-autonomous system that will save many hoursof inspection and troubleshooting. MSI demonstrated in Phase I that WITS identifies and locates opens and shorts in harnesses, and can identify ...

This Phase II effort will design and field test the first Wiring Inspection and Troubleshooting System (WITS). WITS uniquely integrates multiple sensor technologies and automatic database functions into one near-autonomous system that will save many hoursof inspection and troubleshooting. MSI demonstrated in Phase I that WITS identifies and locates opens and shorts in harnesses, and can identify ...

Strategic laser systems for uses including high bandwidth communication, non-imaging target identification, imaging, and the deposition of high laser energy on a target, are subject to the dispersive and refractive effects of a turbulent atmosphere. Theatmosphere manifests itself with effects on the beam size and shape at the target, thus adaptive modification of the far-field pattern to optimize ...