Award Data

Ultra-short pulse lasers have advantages over continuous-wave lasers for directed-energy applications due to the high peak powers that can be reached. Directed-energy weapons are profoundly limited by the aberrations caused by atmospheric turbulence and current adaptive optics can correct for these aberrations only when the propagation medium is reciprocal. Unfortunately, nonlinear effects in the ...

BCL proposes developing a Graphical Speech Recognition Tool (GSRT) that will allow Navy Training Operators and Developers to customize Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) Systems to their scenarios within minutes and without the need for external support. In addition, the GSRT System will have a Train the Speaker module that will allow users to familiarize themselves with the ASR System so that the ...

ATA Engineering and researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology will develop a framework for the accurate reconstruction of rotor loads from a suite of fixed-frame fuselage sensors that are utilized to augment physics-based simulations. The loads reconstruction framework will consist of two modules: the physics module, which provides first-principles predictions from simulations, and the se ...

Makel Engineering, Inc. and Sandia National Laboratories propose to demonstrate an advanced multi-modal sensor system suitable for in-situ analysis of exhaled VOCs for pilots, divers and field patients. Our proposed system will combine a micro-gas chromatograph (GC) and miniature ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) for detection of trace amounts of exhaled breath VOCs with miniature solid state sensor ...

There is a lack of quantitative tools to accurately map tissue viability in a rapid and quantitative manner so a surgeon can properly excise tissue prior to grafting. Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (SFDI) is an optical method that has been shown to be a reliable method for physiology assessment - particularly for burn depth. SFDI measures of tissue structure (scattering) and function (hemoglobi ...

Near-Field Scanning Microwave Microscopy (SMM) is a technique relying on a raster scan of a microwave probe across a sample surface, while measuring its reflected microwave signal. The existing technologies are limited to the surface analysis, and are not compatible with liquid environment. These limitations are addressed by the proposed wideband 3D tomography SMM with sub-surface analysis capabil ...

Achieving strong and durable polymer adhesion to inorganic substrates under various environmental conditions is challenging. The required long-term durability tests are over long time- and length-scales, beyond the capability of current modeling, and extensive experimental testing is needed. Currently, no commercially available method exists for monitoring how a polymer/substrate system evolves du ...

For effective protection against EMP and HPM threats, it is important to understand the physics of the threats, and also to quantify the effects they have on electrical systems. EMP and HPM vulnerability testing requires delivery of high peak power and electric fields to distant targets. The most practical solution to simulate such environments is to develop a modular, optically-isolated MV-antenn ...

During the last two decades, vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs) have emerged as excellent high-power laser sources that combine diode-pumping, broad-pump tolerance, wavelength selectivity, narrow linewidth, broad tunability, high beam quality, compactness, and efficiency into one attractive package. These characteristics make them an ideal candidate for use as more economic ...

The US Air Force has noted a need for a tool for broadband (300 nm2m) measurement of optical propagation properties such as absorption and scattering coefficients. A simple and inexpensive generic tool for extracting these properties from samples would be beneficial to many areas of both DoD and general scientific and industrial research. The present proposal seeks to develop a commercial instrume ...