Award Data

The performance of a composite material is heavily influenced by the strength and toughness of the interlaminar region, which is the resin rich area between the plies of a fiber reinforced composite. The interlaminar region generally provides a direct path for crack propagation since no continuous reinforcement is present and is often the cause of failure in materials subjected to cyclic loading s ...

Waste heat from Naval diesel generators provides significant opportunity to introduce organic Rankine cycles (ORC) to increase their fuel efficiency. The objective of the proposed effort is to design and demonstrate a high-speed, spinning scroll expander (HiSSSE) ORC as a power dense waste heat recovery system for diesel generators on ships. The system will leverage Air Squared’s spinning scroll ...

The STTR topic N19A-T013 seeks innovative technology to improve the power density and efficiency of propulsion and power generation devices. To address this challenge, Spectral Energies in collaboration with its academic partner Dr. Rory Roberts at Wright State University proposes to develop a compact heat recovery system based on a supercritical CO2 based Rankin Cycle. At the end of the STTR prog ...

The U.S. Navy seeks methods to improve the fuel economy of marine diesel engines through utilization of waste heat. Low temperature engine jacket water, lubrication oil, and aftercooler air are largely untapped streams of thermal energy on these ships, but their utilization circumvents many operation challenges associated with exhaust gases. For example, variable and high exhaust gas temperatures ...

Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are currently limited in the type of missions they can perform. Limited available power limits which sensors can be run or for how long, and also limits the duration and range of the mission. More efficient propulsion systems would increase the power available to the UUV payload. Improved power distribution systems and control systems would also increase the ava ...

The objective of the Phase I proposal is to investigate the application of controlled cavitation cleaning technology in conjunction with gecko-inspired mechanical adhesion and soft elastomeric applicators for use in non-intrusive EOD operations. This investigation requires the proof-of-concept testing and validation of a controlled cavitation cleaning mechanism, and a soft robotic gecko-inspired m ...

Defense against chemical weapons is a critical DoD requirement. An effective defense requires the development of unique respirator systems that prevent inhalation of chemical warfare (CW) agents. In addition, the protective equipment exposed to CW agents must not pose a residual hazard after use in the battlefield. Existing respirator canisters remove CW agents, but they do not self-decontaminate ...

RADAR (and similar direct or observational meteorological measuring equipment) has limitations (inability to measure low vis conditions, line-of-site, limited vertical (z-axis), expensive/heavy equipment is required, etc.). To solve these limitations, a Purdue University team (launched via a SBC called FlightProfiler) has developed a technology that delivers a computer generated X-Y-Z environmenta ...

High-speed and reliable tactical communications have empowered the Air Force with overwhelming information superiority, and control of the battlespace. However, the effectiveness of such systems has been impacted by the increasingly congested and contested spectral environment, compounded by the reliance on half-duplex systems. The latter rely on time- or frequency-division to separate transmit an ...

Small Satellites are a rapidly growing technology and of great interest to both commercial and DOD customers. With the increased access to space and the maturation of small satellites, the mission capabilities have expanded significantly. Along with these expanded capabilities are a need for new approaches to satellite communications with increased capabilities. Blue Cubed is working on developing ...