Award Data

Robust instrumentation for advanced engine development in both the near and long term is required to maintain the air superiority of the United States Air Force. This robust instrumentation must withstand the high-temperature and vibration environments present not only in existing high-speed propulsion systems but also future propulsion systems that will operate in hypersonic envelopes. Instrument ...

This program will develop a new concept of a Diffusion of Influence Sweep Effectors, or DISE. The very low cost highly dependable autonomous and sensor-less mine influence sweep system will utilizes random chaos navigation for diffused pathing to assure proximity to target. The navigation system allows for elimination of complex propulsion and electronic IMU based autopilots or the need for commun ...

There is a need for small SWaP-C portable neutron generators for DoD and industrial applications such as neutron and gamma radiographic imaging and directed high-energy neutrons (>6MeV) to penetrate objects for active interrogation. Electrostatic DC acceleration is commonly used for x-ray and portable neutron generators on order of 100kVs with low cost and maintenance needs. There is opportunity t ...

Dielectric Elastomers (DE) are an attractive actuator material due to large actuation strains, the ability to be formed into a variety of actuator configurations, millisecond-scale response times, and high actuation forces. Currently, actuation voltages are unattractively high due to high thickness in the DE layer – moderate actuation voltages can be achieved with reduction in the tube wall thic ...

The EPA has established health advisory levels at 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for combined PFAS concentration. Water resources are susceptible to contamination by PFAS release from industry and landfill sites. Consequently, there is a need for on-site pretreatment technologies for PFASs in industrial wastewater. Electrochemical treatment has been shown to be effective for the mineralization of PFA ...

Aging infrastructure is a major challenge faced by the water utilities in the USA and across the globe, and with an overall rating of D by the ASCE, water distribution systems are no exception. Approximately 240,000 water main breaks occur in US systems every year with a cost of at least $3.6 billion. As such, innovative, economical, and sustainable solutions are needed in renewing the water trans ...

Rubber is pervasive in our economy, with over 50,000 products requiring natural rubber (NR), including military grade tires. Yet significant global shortfalls are projected. Rubber dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz) produces natural rubber (cis-1,4, -polyisoprene) in root latex vessels (laticifers) almost identical to rubber from the tropical rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Problem: Cost-effective ...

It is here proposed to demonstrate AlGaN based solar-blind avalanche photodiodes and arrays operating in both linear and Geiger mode that would be suitable for replacing photomultiplier tube technology bio-agent detection, missile warning systems, and hostile fire identification. These objectives will be reached through a comprehensive R&D thrust in the areas of semiconductor material epitaxial gr ...

Influit Energy LLC (Influit) is proposing a novel approach for a rechargeable liquid energy storage format to address basing and warfighting capability needs. The proposed closed-cycle energy storage ecosystem is enabled by mobile flow battery pods that can be connected to, and accumulate energy from, either distributed or centralized intermittent sources of renewable energy. Once charged, the rec ...

There is a growing need for the wider deployment of infrared cameras in various defense applications, from handheld to vehicle-mounted. Meeting this requires a low-cost imaging device that has low noise and high frame rates. Microbolometers largely fill this need in the longwave infrared regime, although they suffer from relatively slow response times and are near their technological performance l ...