Award Data

The AVLB is a combat system employed in the assault phase of land operations to provide a means for rapid narrow gap crossing. This mission dictates that the AVLB often leads the way and hence can be subject to direct and indirect enemy fire. This fact suggests the minimization or total removal of the crew from this vehicle and the development of a remote operation system for it. The data required ...

Advanced composite materials are finding new applications in critical components of military and commercial equipment to exploit their synergistic properties. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor in real-time the integrity of critical composite components during the manufacturing processes. Accomplishing this task (producing high quality/reliable components) will reduce/eliminate the in-service c ...

The following proposal describes a means of integrating a field tunable electrical discharge (sting) system into ballistically delivered snare net system thereby providing the user with a flexible response to a broad range of tactical situations. The proposed tunable sting subsystem allows the shooter to preselect the effect on the target. At low settings the net will perform only as an ensnarem ...

Foster-Miller proposes to conduct a technology assessment aimed at examining and developing in situ approaches to monitor, in real time, the chemical, mechanical and structural stateof a composite vehicle from "cradel-to-grave". In addition, we propose to perform a laboratory-scale feasibility demonstration of a critical aspect of the technology during Phase I. The embedded system itself would be ...

Current helmets for ground troops provide excellent protection against fragmentation-type threats, but not as good protection against small arms fire or similar higher energy projectiles. soldiers' survivability and effectiveness will be enhanced by a new lightweight helmet which will better protect them against a variety of threats. This Phase I project will develop such a helmet armor using a h ...

Adiabatic tapered optical couplers or mode expanders have been developed recently for high efficiency coupling between diode lasers and optical fibers. In this SBIR program, Foster-Miller proposes a novel low-cost coupler that achieves high efficiency via a 2-axis tapered design. The tapered structures, formed in semiconductor substrates are integrated with polymeric waveguide media in construct ...

We propose to develop a new class of dendrimer based coatings that meets the performance goals demanded by the harsh environmental conditions to which Army materials are exposed. Our technical approach employs urethane-based dendritic coatings in a simple process that provide potential for a single coating apporach due to the multiple functionality afforded by teh dendrimer structure. The basic c ...

In this effort, Foster-Miller proposes to perform a laboratory investigation aimed at demonstrating a multi-sensor system for use in monitoring processing and health of a liquid resin molded composite structural armor. A set of complementary technologies has been selected for use on the program that provide five key benefits including (1) multifunctionality; (2) quantitation; (3) non-invasiveness ...

Thermoplastics are stable, high molecular weight polymers that retain their chemical structure during processing. Since fully polymerized thermoplastics do no form cross-linked networks, they can be softened, melted, and reformed. This program will demonstrate the induction bonding of composite armor materials by first incorporating a thermoplastic material onto the composite surface. Subsequen ...

This proposed program will develop a rapid trimming device that will permit a nonmetallic trim tab to be quickly and accurately positioned. Enabling a rapid trimming technique will decrease blade tracking timer simplifying the procedure and enabling the accuracy and turnaround of metal trim tabs. Foster-Miller will use a combination of ultrasonic heating and design modifications to develop a tec ...