Award Data

The enabling solid state semiconductor technology in modern electronics and radar systems increases their vulnerability to the effects of high power, fast rise-time EMP, HPM, and UWB pulses. In recent years, significant advances in the technology used to produce these pulses have been made in the United States and abroad, increasing the need for effective protection against these threats. Howeve ...

Networks of short-range wireless sensors can yield cost-effective solutions in diverse military and commercial settings, especially where occlusions render long-range sensors operationally ineffective. The current state-of-the-art in application design, however, falls short of realizing cost-effectiveness. We propose to address this problem via an open framework of sensing, high efficiency commu ...

The objective of the proposed program is to develop and demonstrate a low-cost, high thermal conductivity, low mass density material for use in electronic packaging. Target material characteristics are: less than aluminum heat sinks, thermal conductivity at least 200 W/m-k, and mass density less than aluminum. To address this objective, Cast Metal Composites, Inc. will produce lightweight, high ...

The proposed experimental program demonstrates the technical feasibility of growing single crystals of technologically important ceramics by the solid state method. The proposed method relies on discontinuous grain growth which is often regarded as undesirable and deleterious during the sintering of many ceramics. In order to demonstrate the technical feasibility and versatility of the solid sta ...

Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) will develop polymer matrix composite systems with imbedded microvasular networks that act as conduits for the transport of thermally conductive nanofluids. Optimized to withstand the grueling environmental conditions experienced in the stratosphere including atomic oxygen (AO), ozone (O3), and ultraviolet (UV) light exposure; material development will result ...

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will demonstrate a novel process for electrochemical machining nickel superalloys and other hard, passive alloys. Nickel-based superalloys are widely used in various industries, such as aerospace and automative industries. However, nickel superalloys are difficult-to-cut materials. Traditional mechanical methods failed to machine these sup ...

Energy Focus has envisioned a Generation 2 berth light LED system that incorporates an illumination spectrum consistent with the latest research in spectrally tuned adjustment and resetting of circadian rhythms. Research shows that the human eye contains specialized receptors for 420nm-560nm light which signal the body to suppress melatonin production. In the absence of this light, the body is si ...

The project will develop a solid-state alternative to the inefficient, excessively hot and maintenance-intensive incandescent explosion-proof lighting fixtures used by the Navy. Solid-State Lighting using Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) is now technically feasible but several difficult challenges remain to be overcome in order to deploy them in certain Navy applications. To achieve the long lifeti ...

Proposed is an investigation into the use of flexible, extremely strong and tough, superelastic Nitinol shape memory alloy as a means of dramatically improving puncture resistance for personnel body armor. The Nitinol material is proposed as a surface material or coating for reinforcement or organic fiber fabrics and/or composites or aramid and UHMW polyethylene used in the current body armor sys ...

Applying multivariable optimization in conjunction with modern materials technology has revealed an opportunity to dramatically improve flywheel energy storage technology. Using this innovative approach, GTL’s Advanced Flywheel™ could deliver 500 W-hr/kg with the potential to achieve in excess of 1000 W-hr/kg. This represents a substantial increase in performance over conventional high-perfo ...