Award Data

ABSTRACT: The current polyurethane based coatings on the landing skis/skids of US Air Force aircraft require frequent maintenance due to exposure to extreme conditions. A long-lasting, low-friction, hydrophobic, impact and abrasion resistant coating on the landing ski/skids is highly desired to ensure the ski/skid equipped aircraft can continue to meet their unique mission requirement. Resodyn Co ...

ABSTRACT: Resodyn Corporations proposed Functionalized Polyethylene (FPE) copolymer thermoplastic coating will overcome the shortcomings of the current ski coating. The FPE will provide the long-lasting, low friction, impact-resistant, abrasion resistant and hydrophobic properties required and will also provide hydraulic fluid resistance and reduced drag during wet snow conditions. Enhancements ...

Bridger Photonics (BP) and collaborative partner Montana State University (MSU) propose to utilize feature specific imaging in concert with an innovative actively stabilized FM-CW chirped laser radar source for multi-mode target identification and classification. Feature specific (or compressive) imaging systems project their information directly onto a low-dimensional, predetermined subspace, wh ...

Bridger Photonics proposes to prove the feasibility of an innovative method for multi-mode target identification. To achieve this system, the team will combine the most advanced ultra-high-resolution FM-CW LADAR unit in existence with state-of-the-art feature-specific computational imaging concepts. This marriage will enable the team to identify and realize the truly optimal solution to the Air ...

Not Available Polymeric membrane optics are leading candidates for lightweight space-based optical systems. Significant advances have been made in the understanding of the mechanisms contributing to the shape distortion of the membrane. This Phase I proposal will couple the detailed analytical understanding with an innovative polymeric material and fabrication process. Test samples of the polyimi ...

Accurate 3D models are vital for the inspection and characterization of orbiting spacecraft. 3D models of a target spacecraft can be generated from a set of images captured by an approaching platform, but the accuracy and completeness of the generated 3D model is highly dependent on the geometry of the captured viewpoints and illumination conditions; if navigation is planned without consideration ...

Federal regulations require that USAF supersonic, subsonic and launch vehicle flight operations be assessed as to possible effects to the near-shore environment. Current modeling capability for this topic is lacking in key areas: reliability of results, environmental assessment requirements, field validation, biological nature of the receiver, and accounting for the key interface boundary condit ...

SAR/GMTI payloads are required for advanced weapons. Applied Radar has developed a SAR/GMTI capability through its commercially-developed Attritable Lightweight Sensing & Targeting Radar (ALSTR) for Air Force SAR and GMTI applications. The ALSTR was recently demonstrated as an airborne SAR for the US Army at Eglin AFB, FL in July 2020. Under the proposed funding, the radar will be upgraded to meet ...

This project will develop additional sensing capabilities for the monitoring of corrosive atmospheres. One important parameter in the corrosion prediction is the presence of chlorides in the air surrounding the assets to be protected. Classical methods to

The role of Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the military is growing rapidly and advances in technology are allowing the UAVs to become smaller, lighter, and carry more sophisticated sensors and instrumentation. While the use of hyperspectral imagers aboard UAVs has been shown to possess great potential for target acquisition and battlefield intelligence gathering, current hyperspectral syst ...