Award Data

Machine learning algorithms have demonstrated performance on par with or superior to human analysts on large datasets when sufficient training data is available.  For military applications obtaining sufficient, truthed data is always a challenge.  Three approaches have been used for measured data collections to support sensor exploitation programs: coordinated collections, turntable measurements ...

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) needs a capability to collect and provide immediate presumptive analysis of radiological/nuclear samples of concern at the source of collection. Such in-field technologies should be capable of detecting and identifying trace quantities of elements and/or chemicals containing plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U), with a focus on chemicals specific to the nuclear ...

Machine learning algorithms have demonstrated performance on par with or superior to human analysts on large datasets when sufficient training data is available. For many military applications, sufficient truthed data over relevant operating conditions does not exist and is prohibitively expensive to obtain. A potential solution to thislack of measured datais synthetic data derived from physics si ...

AwareAbility Technologies (AAT), in collaboration with The Ohio State University (OSU), proposes to develop a small hand-held analysis kit for in-field analysis of trace amounts of Uranium (U) and Plutonium (Pu) that will meet or exceed the requirements set by DTRA. Swipe, dust, or water samples would be analyzed by this kit for isotopes and isotopic ratios to indicate the special nuclear material ...

There is a need to improve the understanding of physical and chemical processes involved in the evolution of chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulant aerosols and vapors that are interacting with combustion, deflagration, and detonation products. However, the measurement of aerosols and vapors is very challenging because of limited knowledge of the photophysics at varying temperatures and pressures, ...

Small multirotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are well suited for sensing and situational awareness missions in closed, confined, and constrained (C3) environments. However, autonomous navigation of small VTOL UAVs is very challenging in C3 environments. Current state of the art navigation methods uses vision and LIDAR to build a map, localize, and plan paths. These methods tend to be computati ...

There is a need to improve the understanding of physical and chemical processes involved in the evolution of chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulant aerosols and vapors that are interacting with combustion, deflagration, and detonation products. However, the measurement of aerosols and vapors is very challenging because of limited knowledge of the photophysics at varying temperatures and pressures, ...

This work advances the state-of-the-art in high-speed diagnostics for the characterization of fireballs, hot gases, and aerosols released by explosives detonation.The proposed advancement is the development of an integrated optical sensor suite, selected from technologies which are already in development in the portfolio of the proposers.During Phase I, the proposers demonstrated the combined LIBS ...

Compact Electromagnetic Pulse Module (EMP) capable of being arranged in series-parallel planar or cylindrical arrays is needed to simulate nuclear weapon effects. High gain optically triggered photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS) based on Gallium arsenide (GaAs) with low timing jitter enables the development of planar or phased arrays of modular EMP or High Power Microwave (HPM) sources. ...

This work advances the state-of-the-art in high-speed diagnostics for the characterization of fireballs, hot gases, and aerosols released by explosives detonation.The proposed advancement is the development of an integrated optical sensor suite, selected from technologies which are already in development in the portfolio of the proposers.The sensor suite will include PIV, PLIF, and LIBS instrument ...