Award Data

Master artwork for Air Force systems is traditionally delivered on polyester-based mylar film. This film tends to degrade over time, even when stored in climate-controlled facilities. In addition, drawings must be digitized before circuit boards can be manufactured, which is an expensive and time consuming step. A reliable and repeatable artwork conversion process is needed.This project will pe ...

High power lasers are needed for many airborne applications. These lasers must be compact, reliable in high vibration environments, and must also have a low per unit cost. Aculight proposes to develop a high repetition rate laser with average power of 10-20 watts using novel packaging designs and manufacturing methods. When fully developed, this technology will provide flight-worthy lasers at a ...

Improving the optical beam brightness of diode laser bars and optically pumped semiconductors is essential for many Air Force and commercial applications. In this proposed work Aculight will build and test a MIT/LL optical approach for decreasing the angular divergence of diode laser bars by a factor of at least 80. The MIT/LL approach will be implemented using Aculight's newly developed optical ...

A major objective of the proposed work is to generate a preliminary design for a PCMCIA-based vibration data collection system that provides better portability, a higher level of standardization and greater cost-effectiveness than is currently The feasibility of a PCMCIA carbased vibration data collection system will be studied using the results of a self-funded program to develop a ...

During Phase I, we will develop the technology for a field use instrument to determine the residual stress, fatigue damage and remaining service life for aging metal structures. The technology will be based on a state-of -the-art wide-angle x-ray detector recently developed at ATMI. The life span estimation will use the measured micro-defect density to compare to a paramedic life span map based ...

This Phase I research proposal is directed at demonstrating the feasibility of decontaminating nerve agents on sensitive surfaces and equipment using enzyme-containing polymers. Nerve agent hydrolyzing enzyme polymers have distinct advantages over conventional technologies for agent degradation as they are compatible with biological tissues and wound sites, highly specific for chemical agents, an ...

The interaction of electromagnetic (EM) radiation with living tissue is an important area of current research. Part of this interest is due to the possible health concerns for users of personal communication and military systems. Medical research in the use of EM radiation for such applications as treatment of tumors and microwave imaging is also receiving attention. There is a need for a softw ...

Feasibility of fabricating IR window materials from aluminum nitride (AlN) will be demonstrated. Aluminum nitride windows are sought as replacements for sapphire windows on high speed seeker missiles because of their higher thermal shock resistance. Our approach is to consolidate high-purity ultrafine powders of AlN to obtain a nanocrystalline window. Small grain size is expected to minimi ...

Historically, more fatalities and serious injuries occur from Army ground vehicle mishaps than from combat operations. Training, contingency, and combat operating tempo makes a significant number of vehicular mishaps with fatalities and serious injuries inevitable. Effective occupant crash protection, absent in Army tactical vehicles, would reduce this toll. Operations introduce significant haza ...

A long-standing trend in the integrated circuit industry is to reduce pattern geometries on semiconductor substrates. To continue this trend, the next exposure wavelength after on-going deep-ultraviolet (248 nm) will be 193 nm. This SBIR Phase I program will identify and develop thermosetting bottom anti-reflective coatings (BARCs) meeting requirements for use with 193 nm unilayer resists. A serie ...