Award Data

Current prosthetic feet produce much less peak mechanical power than the able-bodied foot/ankle and release only about half of the mechanical energy generated during gait. This leads to higher energy expenditure among amputees as compared to able-bodied i

Intelligent Automation Inc. (IAI) proposes the design and implementation of the Target Recognition with the Assistance of Artificial Intelligence (TRACE) system that incorporates classical model-based target classification and identification approaches with data-driven machine learning solutions to improve the target classification accuracy. The outcome of the TRACE systems is a set of machine lea ...

Vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs) will be selectively applied at interfaces in laminated composite structures to effect locally the mechanical properties that limit rotorcraft structures, such as fatigue and damage tolerance. In Phase I this work will quantify these effects in CFRP and CFRP/GFRP hybrid coupons. The VACNT material will be transferred directly onto prepreg plies, but also ...

Quantum cascade laser optical output power is limited by laser facet catastrophic optical damage (COD). In edge-emitting semiconductor lasers COD is a thermal runaway process wherein the front facet of the laser heats under high power operation. This facet heating reduces the semiconductor bandgap which increases the optical absorption and also increases the electrical injection current in the fac ...

In this program, we will develop solutions to optimize QCL fabrication processes, such as facet passivation and high thermal conductivity coatings, that will mitigate the reliability issues for high power QCL applications. In phase I, we will first evaluate all concepts and efforts that have been largely investigated for GaAs based high power diode lasers and transfer the knowledge to InP based QC ...

Pendar Technologies proposes to develop the next generation of compact, high power quantum cascade laser (QCL) sources with output power exceeding 10 Watts at a wavelength of 4.6 microns. The proposed subsystem will include a DFB QCL array integrated monolithically with power amplifiers, low-loss passive waveguides resulting from ion implantation and optical elements aimed at realizing on-chip wav ...

The Navy seeks technology that is oriented toward a deeper experimental and theoretical understanding of marine turbulence and laser light propagation in the marine boundary. Current measurement techniques, such as Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) technique, are limited to resolutions of 0.5 meters or greater and fall short of the required millimeter level resolution. A new type of spectral imaging modal ...

The littoral and specifically surf zone regions with breaking waves, bathymetry, weather, currents, tides, obstacles, etc. create a dynamic environment that can be very challenging for conducting operations. Systems are being developed to increase situational awareness in this region, however expensive physical testing to verify performance is limited to specific areas and conditions. To supplemen ...

Waste heat from Naval diesel generators provides significant opportunity to introduce organic Rankine cycles (ORC) to increase their fuel efficiency. The objective of the proposed effort is to design and demonstrate a high-speed, spinning scroll expander (HiSSSE) ORC as a power dense waste heat recovery system for diesel generators on ships. The system will leverage Air Squared’s spinning scroll ...

The information environment has become a new battlefield for adversaries of the United States and its allies. Coordinated campaigns have been waged to radicalize, incite division, inflame, influence elections and public opinion on a variety of issues. These campaigns have weaponized social media by forming networks of synthetic accounts (botnets) which spread mis/disinformation, polarize groups an ...