Award Data

A goal of Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) is to use computer simulation of complex systems to make scientifically informed assessments for high-consequence decisions. Because end-to-end empirical data is difficult to obtain for the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), computer simulation provides the best method for understanding BMDS capabilities against a wide range of threats. Numerica Co ...

The Torch Team is proposing to design and conduct laboratory-based experiments to elucidate the fundamental micro-debris formation mechanisms to improve intercept optical models. Ballistic missile intercept optical signatures collected over the last decade have identified definitive micro-debris parameter trends. These measurements place bounds on the debris temperature, number of particles, and ...

We propose to develop the Model for Simulated Human Operator Performance (ModelSHOP), a behavior authoring and execution capability for injecting variable Human-in-Control (HIC) actions and decisions into Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) simulation. ModelSHOP will provide a generative model structure for representing key human performance moderators to combine in different ways to simulate ...

Higher efficiency solar cells are needed to reduce mass, volume, and cost of DoD space missions. However, to achieve higher efficiency and radiation hardness of the best to date multi-junction photovoltaic (PV) devices, several challenges must be addressed. This project aims to develop: 1) Quantum Well (QW)-based multi-junction cell that exhibits enhanced efficiency, and 2) Radiation-hardened PV c ...

The Department of Defense uses large-scale high-resolution federated simulations to propagate rocket vehicle trajectories. Runge-Kutta methods have served as a de-facto standard while conducting such simulations. However, there are several challenges while using Runge-Kutta methods for this task. Firstly, there should be exact time-step matching between federates, otherwise the states have to be i ...

The goal of this proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility of novel surface preparation methods that are easier to apply on metal substrates in various field environments while still enhancing the corrosion protective performance of topcoats. This is made possible by the characteristics of a patented pretreatment technology developed at Ecosil that can be spray or immersion applied. This novel ...

This proposal is in response to the Defense Health Agency 2017 Phase I SBIR topic 17B-005.The approach is the use of a membrane oxygen pump using newly developed nano-thickness membranes with all the layers less than 1 micron total.Nanometer thickness membranes enable more oxygen output per surface area at temperatures of 300-600 C than current state-of-the -art 600-800 C membranes that are 50-300 ...

Inlustra Technologies and the University of Notre Dame propose a Phase I STTR program that, combined with a subsequent Phase II effort, will result in methods for the scalable production of semi-insulating non-polar GaN substrates. These substrates will be utilized in the fabrication of high-power/high-frequency AlGaN-GaN electronic devices capable of reliable operation under high thermal load. ...

The occurrence of combustion instability has long been a matter of serious concern in the development of liquid-propellant rocket engines due to the high rate of energy release in a confined volume in which energy losses are relatively small. Positive feedback between the acoustic waves and unsteady combustion could lead to the destruction of an engine in a fraction of a second. The situation is ...

The development and integration of three unique and innovative algorithm prototypes into a"Fused Track and Characterization Schema"are proposed. This Schema will encompass the determination of signatures and characteristics of objects that can be identified by RF and EO/IR Sensors in order to enable multi-sensor data fusion and correlation. The first algorithm, the"3D Pose Estimation"Algorithm, p ...