Award Data

The pressing need exists within industry to accurately measure high aspect ratio microscale structures. For example, diesel injector nozzles are manufactured with microscale holes ranging from 50-200 micrometers in diameter and 3-5 mm depths. One fundamental challenge is to nondestrucvely measure these features in order to validate models, enhance manufacturing processes, and reduce fuel emissions ...

We propose research to develop and demonstrate a deeply submersible video plankton recording system (ViPR) to perform image recording of plankton. The ViPR will apply artificial intelligence to 2-D or 3-D imaging using pattern recognition for a statistically reliable survey of plankton using two cameras, one for larger zooplankton and the other for microplankton. The ViPR computer will be PC compl ...

Manning Applied Technology proposes to develop a handheld infrared spectrometer, ideally suited to detection of airborne chemical agents at and below permissible exposure limits. This approach offers unmatched sensitivity and specificity for detection of all types of chemical vapors. The instrument is modular, rugged, compact and highly sensitive. Volume pricing will be less than $1000 each. ...

APDs offer tremendous potential for the numerous applications in which photon densities are extremely low and the ability to count single photons is essential. Researchers have recently found that the optimization of InP-based APDs for counting photons may require innovative design approaches that are quite distinct from those shown to optimize APD linear mode performance. For this program, we pro ...

Application of NIR photon counting technology is impeded by the marginal performance of available detectors. We will develop new InGaAs/InP APD designs optimized for Geiger mode photon counting, delivering ten re-designed APDs, having detection probability greater than 50% and dark count rate less than ten thousand per second. During Phase II we will develop a new computer model of the Geiger mode ...

The main objective will be to develop a high-performance flexible composite barrier that provides protection from Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) agents and Toxic Industrial Materials (TIMs). UDC will develop a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) coated fabric to provide CBRN agent resistant tents. Fire retardant capability will be achieved by the addition of fire retardant fi ...

Magnetooptic Indicator (MOI) garnet films are an important non-destructive tool for imaging magnetic domains in a wide variety of applications from basic research to quality control. To be effectively used they must be 1) optimized for individual applications using interactive feedback from users, 2) standardized to allow comparison of data, 3) improved in quality and process control and 4) made g ...

The goal of the proposed research is to develop a highly sensitive and specific amplification system that can be coupled to any pathogen detection and quantification unit for sensitive real-time detection of biological warfare agents. The system is builtaround a dual-enzyme substrate-recycling electrochemical amplification system coupled to an immunoassay detection technology that has already been ...

The United States faces a broad range of nuclear threats and technologies are needed to prevent or mitigate nuclear incidents. SMI has invented (patent pending) a near 100 volume percent efficient, real-time, microelectronic self calibrating and directional radiation detector. We can increase detector area to increase broad sensitivity and the number of layers to increase directionality. We herein ...

Southwest Sciences proposes to develop an automated, fast, and compact instrument to measure tropospheric ammonia from light aircraft. Ammonia plays important roles in aerosol particle chemistry, and particle characteristics are critical in understanding climate change and air quality. Existing ammonia instruments are either too large or measure too slowly for use on light aircraft. The unique ...