Award Data

Modern fligt control systems rely on hardware redundancy to overcome failures of sensors and actuators. This is an expensive approach which does not make use of analytical redundancy present in a flight control system. Analytical redundancy is achieved by comparison of sensor outputs over time and across sensors using physical and identified models. We propose here methods to detect failures us ...

A radical, high performance system design concept for UAV missions is proposed. Its characteristics derive directly from propulsion and power generation capabilities inherent in microturbine technology under development at MIT. The proposed vehicle configurations is an oblate spheroid, giving a high package volume with sufficient fuel capacity for hover duration of about one hour. Thrust from m ...

Micro Aerial Vehicle (¿AVs) will open up a wide range of new missions for the US Armed Forces, but also present a new set of technical challenges. The power and propulsion system will have a significant impact on the ultimate capabilities and range of missions of ¿AVs. While advanced battery technology can provide good propulsion performance for ¿AVs, miniature internal combustion engines can ...

Standoff detection of chemical and biological agent clouds is extremely important for the protection of US armed forces. We propose a system that will successfully perform stand off detection of both chemical and biological agents using a unique combination of advanced technologies. An imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) will perform the remote detection of chemical agents from an Unman ...

A feasibility study for the development of a Fuel-to-Aerostat Shuttling Transporter (FAST) is proposed. This powered vehicle would transport liquid fuel from the ground to an aerostat, guided by the non-powered control tether. The fuel carried to the aerostat will be used to produce electricity by running existing liquid-fueled generators on-board the ship. By allowing for the delivery of fuel ...

RECENT RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF AEROASSISTED ORBITAL TRANSFER MANEUVERS FOR REALIZING SIGNIFICANT FUEL SAVING OVER PURELY PROPULSIVE MANEUVERS FOR BOTH COPLANAR AND PLANAR TRANSFER USING APPROXIMATE CLOSED-LOOP GUIDANCE LAWS AND/OR NUMERICAL OPTIMIZATION ALGORITHMS. THIS RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED ON CURRENTLY ENVISAGED TRANSATMOSPHERIC VEHICLES. BASIC RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO INVES ...

Providing the commander with timely, accurate, and meaningful information is a critical problem in the design and deployment of battlefield information management systems. A methodology is needed for presenting the critical information in a situationally-relevant manner, to support the commander's visualization of the battlefield and assessment of tactical alternatives. We propose a hybrid solu ...

It is proposed to evaluate the feasibility of affordable fuel cells of simple design, having energy densities of 6 to 7 MJ/kg and about 3 Mj/liter, as candidates for the power supply in micro air vehicles. The feasibility of mass producing Fly-on- the-Wall- sized fuel cell power supplies will be determined from product and manufacturing design studies and by testing the product made from tempora ...

N/A

N/A