Award Data

Phase I of this project will seek to establish feasibility of the selective harvesting system for high density grove through scaled prototype testing. Our focus will be on developing a new end effector concept with an integrated hyper-redundant forearm, along with an integrated fruit detection sensory suite. This system will be integrated and tested using our most advanced image processing and vis ...

Ammonia gas that is emitted from agriculture can create health problems for workers and, surprisingly, for people far from the agricultural operation. Once released into the air, the ammonia undergoes a series of chemical reactions that lead to small particles (known as PM2.5) that are inhaled deep into people's lungs. Those particles can trigger asthma and are linked to increased risk of hea ...

Center pivot irrigation systems are widespread across the Nation's critically water short regions. A common bias for irrigators is to give crops more water than is actually needed in order to cover uncertainties and ensure enough water is present. This practice leads to profound waste of water and energy. Providing just what the crop needs is the means to achieve profound conservation that ca ...

Net cleaning and maintenance represent a significant cost in the aquaculture industry. Clean nets are essential in maintaining a healthy stock, and achieving optimal yield. Fouled nets also generate drag, and the dirtier the net, the higher the loading on moored structures in the farm, which could lead to failures. However, few options exist that are truly efficient in terms of their consumption o ...

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Ranked as one of the world's most valuable commercial seafood, tuna species belonging to the Thunnus genus are considered the most important and endangered fish in worldwide trade. Extensive research to develop methods to distinguish Thunnus at the species level has significantly contributed to the enormous databanks of genetic information on these fish. However to date, no single approach ha ...

Defense Electronics Corporation (DEC) proposes an innovative radiation hardened by design (RHBD) and reliability improvement solution for silicon, III-V compounds (e.g. SiGe, SiC, GaN, InP, GaAs,), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and graphene. The method is based on analyzing chip-partitioned quiescent current signatures associated with failure modes common to these process technologies. Furthermore, the ...

Since submission of this Phase II grant application, JDC has selected a site at the former Noralyn Mine beneficiation plant in Bartow, Florida for its research institute and follow-on demonstration plant. We are presently completing the business arrangements to lease and operate at this site. JDC will then move its office and laboratory to the Noralyn site where it plans to carry out significant p ...

This proposal concerns the detection of Special Nuclear Materials (SNM) by using large networks of small, inexpensive, and robust gamma detectors. These detectors will be deployed where consistent surveillance would be difficult by any other means, like remote mountain trails. The proposal describes a novel gamma detector that is extremely robust and inexpensive. The new scintillation material is ...

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Species identification of catfish is necessary for the detection of inappropriately labeled products. U.S. farmed Channel catfish has ranked fifth among the top consumed fishery products since 1999. Due to its high value and immense popularity the Channel catfish is susceptible to substitution using less valuable fish species. Authenticity of catfish and catfish-like product ...