Award Data

Although global pose is essential for success in certain vehicle missions and tasks, when GPS is denied there is no single technology (source) that can robustly estimate global pose without suffering from one or more failure modes. We propose to design an architecture that provides robustness by integrating automated celestial navigation, registering on-board sensor data to a map (map registration ...

The increase in extreme weather events over the past several decades has underscored the need for regional planning strategies that will support future preparedness and mitigate climate change impact on local communities across the United States. While existing climate modeling tools for non-researchers support a conceptual understanding of climate change at the global level, they do not address t ...

The Acoustically Synchronized Store Ejection/Release Technology (ASSERT) test process was developed by CRAFT Tech. This research has produced a capability to conduct small scale dynamic drop tests instrumented with stereo-photogrammetry to track store motion and synchronize this with unsteady weapons bay flowfield measurements. An advanced pneumatic ejection system has been developed which support ...

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant In this NIH SBIR Phase II Actuated Medical Inc will finalize and clinically test the andquot Active Fine Gauge Spinal Needle with CSF Sensing to Minimize PDPH and Dura Damage andquot Phase I achieved all Specific Aims and demonstrated that the Smooth Insertion Spinal SIS System provided greater control for the clinician by reducing the buckling of G tra ...

Dense maritime environments pose significant challenges to naval airborne maritime sensor systems with respect to surface target classification because surface vessels of interest must often be separated from a larger number of similar looking surface vessels with non-threatening intent. Perhaps the most difficult classification challenge arises in vessels that are inherently similar in nature and ...

Wick properties are often the limiting factor in a heat pipe design. Current technology uses conventional sintering of metal powders, screen wick, or grooves to fabricate realtively simplistic wick geometries. Additive manufacturing (laser sintering) of a porous structure would allow much greater freedom in defining the wick geometry and properties. One example is the RDU thermosyphon wick. Valuab ...

Acoustic sensors, such as the Ground Counter Fire Sensor (GCFS), are used by the USMC to identify the point-of-origin (POO) and point-of-impact (POI), as well as provide source identification. This effort will develop a proof-of-feasibility set of signal processing algorithms for the GCFSs Command Post (CP). These algorithms will permit a network consisting of a mixture of up to 12 fixed listening ...

ProtoInnovations, LLC (PI) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have formed a partnership to research, develop, and experimentally test a suite of methods for significantly improving the safety, mean travel speed, and rough-terrain access of wheeled planetary exploration rovers. We will accomplish this by developing algorithms for all-terrain adaptive locomotion. This will include a ...

Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. (ACT) proposes the development of an advanced finned-tube heat exchanger with an integrated phase distributor. Studies have shown that the heat transfer improvements available in the commercial market allow for smaller and lighter heat exchangers compared to conventional heat exchangers. In addition, as these heat exchangers use straight fins, they provide excel ...

Achieving robust autonomy by demonstration is challenging for several reasons. First, it is important to be able to provide demonstrations in a way that they capture the key aspects of robot interaction with environment. Second, the interface for providing demonstrations needs to be friendly enough for a non-technical user such as a Soldier. Third, it is critical to be able to verify the safety of ...