Award Data

Infrared (IR) windows operating in the environment experienced by endo-atmospheric interceptors are limited in performance by the high heat fluxes, temperatures, and pressures characteristic of these environments. Window temperature can exceed 900 C from exposure to the high heat fluxes and temperatures associated with hypersonic flight. Existing materials are limited by poor mechanical and optica ...

Connected automated vehicle (CAV) technology has significant implications in terms of transportation system safety and efficiency. However, building and maintaining a wireless communication infrastructure (e.g. roadside units (RSUs), power, fiber optic lines etc.) across the U.S. is a challenging task. In urban areas, where vehicle population and vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) are high, building suc ...

The use of GPUs in space is desirable as they provide means to boost the performance of CPU-based computers in a spacecraft. This will enable the processing of raw sensing data on-board, reducing significantly the amount of data that needs to be transmitted to the ground. This represents savings in power and radio link bandwidth/complexity. Unfortunately, as all microelectronics, modern GPUs are s ...

In the near thirty years since the BEAR experiment, many technologies directly or indirectly applicable to an advanced neutral particle beam (NPB) have emerged due to other DOD programs, commercial investments, or other government programs. Key elements of a space-based NPB system include mass, size, and efficiency. The work proposed herein results from investments in the commercial arena, primari ...

This program is significant in that it represents a leap forward in electron beam (Ebeam) processes as well as liquid propellant tank designs. Mainstream will demonstrate the technical feasibility of Ebeam additive manufacturing (AM) for upper-stage liquid propellant tanks with Mainstream’s EBEAM facility by fabricating test coupons and subscale prototype components from novel materials. We will ...

Based on the results of our Phase I work, one significant barrier to optimizing battery performance lies in understanding the relationship between bulk solids and particle flow properties and the flow into the die. Our hypothesis: an increase in quality batteries production can be achieved if powder preparation process can be optimized and the die filling process controlled. We feel that control o ...

Future interceptors would benefit from advanced propulsion capabilities, with higher performance in smaller, volume-constrained systems. Innovative propellant chemistry is needed to enable substantially greater performance in smaller packages. One factor limiting the maximum performance achievable in modern solid propellants is the slow ignition and combustion of the propellant’s metal fuel part ...

Preliminary definition and analysis of Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) requirements in an isolated, manual, and loosely controlled change environment shows significant overlap in effort, resulting in a major increase to cost, schedule, mission classification, subsystem propagation, and trace of system impacts. To assist MDA with movement of BMDS mission objectives to mission requirements, ...

Lack of transportation access affects approximately 30% of people with functional limitations. In fact, people with functional limitations experience transportation access barriers four times more than those without limitations. With the emerging market of low cost augmented and virtual reality technology, perceptual user interfaces (PUI) that interact more naturalistically with end-users are prov ...

MODELING ANBD SIMULATIONS ARE USED EXTENSIVELY IN THE DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF "BULK" EXPLOSIVES DETECTION DEVICES. HOWEVER, OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF THE INPUT MODEL, NAMELY LUGGAGE AND EXPLOSIVE CONTENTS, CAN LEAD TO POOR DETECTOR DESIGNS. MANUAL PRODUCTION OF SUCH INPUT IS COSTLY AND ERROR PRONE. THIS EFFORT WILL AUTOMATE THE PRODUCTION OF SIMULATED LUGGAGE THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPUTER TOOL. ...