Award Data

Current scene projection hardware is challenged to simultaneously meet the requirements for high peak temperature (> 2000K), high resolution (> 1Kx1K), response time < 1 ms, cryogenic and temporally uniform photon flux. MEMS, Resistor arrays, liquid crystals, and photonic crystals all suffer in one or more areas. MEMS suffer from flicker and low dynamic range. Resistor arrays suffer from low frame ...

We apply the theory of partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) to the design of guidance algorithms for controlling the motion of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with on-board sensors for tracking multiple ground targets. While POMDPs are intractable to optimize exactly, principled approximation methods can be devised based on Bellman’s principle. We introduce a new approximation ...

We propose to develop ultradense plasmonic integrated devices and circuits for optical interconnect compatible with the electronic circuitry. In our proposal, we will employ engineered metallic nanostructures that combine energy concentration by plasmonic lenses and retardation-based plasmonic resonances to even further boost the efficiency of materials exhibiting optical nonlinearity. These plas ...

Higher efficiency solar cells are needed to reduce solar array mass, volume, and cost for Air Force space missions. Intermediate-band quantum-dot (QD) solar cells can yield dramatically higher efficiencies than current multi-junction (MJ) technologies. However, several issues must be addressed to demonstrate manufacturable, high efficiency devices. CFDRC aims to develop: 1) High-efficiency, ligh ...

The recent success of ultra-high speed direct digital synthesizers (DDS) provides excellent solutions to waveform generation directly at radar bands. An arbitrary waveform generators operating at clock frequency close to 52 Gs/s with bandwidth greater than 26 GHz and dynamic range close to 80 dB would greatly improve transmitter performance for applications such as telemetry and multi-purpose RF s ...

The design of future hypersonic vehicles requires detailed understanding of flow regimes ranging from rarefied to continuum. Hypervelocity flows are characterized by high temperatures, real gas effects, nonequilibrium chemistry, and ionization. The goal of this project is to develop unified kinetic/continuum solution methods with automatic domain decomposition for a wide range of Air Force applic ...

In this effort, tOSC and the University of New Mexico COSMIAC (Configurable Space Microsystems Innovation Applications Center) will combine to generate a Target-in-the-Loop (TIL) system concept that can simultaneously measure the strength of atmospheric turbulence and scintillation, as well as the refractivity occurring at the measurement time. For this system concept, we will leverage existing tO ...

MZA partnered with the Michigan Technological University (MTU) proposes development and testing of key components for our unified Atmospheric Refractivity and Turbulence Sensor (ARTS.) Software upgrades will be made to MZA’s DELTA-Sky sensor to enable atmospheric refraction measurements in addition to existing turbulence profiling. The illuminator assembly to implement the ARTS probe laser ...

An experiment to obtain validation data on the transient aerothermoelastic response of a curved panel in hypersonic flows will be designed and evaluated for its feasibility. Significant challenges must be overcome for a successful experimental campaign i...

This effort seeks verification tools and techniques to ensure safety and stability of spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) algorithms, particularly the attitude control system integrated with autonomy software. Advanced control algorithms and autonomy are increasingly necessary to enable responsiveness of fleets of vehicles to attitude constraints and object avoidance. Verus Researc ...