Award Data

Leveraging Agiltron’s industrial leading developments for optical measurement of motion in MEMS devices, we propose to use electro-optical sensors for measuring the displacement and gap in the NIST micro-rheometer. No electrical connections are required to the moving parts. All electronics and optics are removed from the chip so that it is inexpensive and disposable. A fixed, simple micro-fluidi ...

RoadNarrows proposes a novel architecture to be implemented in a 6DOF vision system with applications in autonomous robotics. The system will report objects of interest along with location and pose information to a supervising computer. This system will be built around an advanced 3D vision platform that can deliver multiple video streams and 3D spatial measurements. The sensors will deliver high- ...

To further advance the characterization and utility of microcantilevers, next generation optical detectors with higher frequency response, improved displacement resolution and lower noise for weak signal detection are needed. Consequently, Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. (RMD) will develop a turnkey optical detector module for use in characterizing the displacement and resonant frequencies of m ...

Overhead imagery analysts employ computer-based software as Electronic Light Tables (ELTs), to perform detailed analysis of aerial images in search of elements of interest. Conventional display design for ELT software requires analysts to take their eyes away from the image they are analyzing to perform routine functions. This interaction overhead typically leads to losses in visual momentum and i ...

Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) has demonstrated that electroactive polymer coatings (EAP) may be applied to the surface of the cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries to protect against catastrophic cell failure. These EAP coatings form an electrochemical"switch"that can prevent catastrophic failure in lithium-ion batteries by reversibly changing from a conductor to an insulator on overdischarg ...

Micro Air Vehicles (MAV) have emerged as a critical need for the U.S. Air Force. MAVs are envisioned to conduct a variety of indoor and outdoor reconnaissance missions and must be highly mobile and man-portable. Furthermore, many of the envisioned missions for MAVs require significant endurance. Unfortunately, current state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries are not capable of providing sufficient e ...