Award Data

Mission and planning is a difficult and time-consuming process that places a heavy burden on manpower and critical thinking and is performed under significant pressure. Existing and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques are well-suited to assisting humans with these challenges. While the promise of AI/ML is great, there are significant obstacles to operationali ...

The requirements for thermal management on tactical aircraft systems have reached a level at which integrated system design must be considered early in the aircraft design process. An integrated propulsion, power and thermal modeling and simulation design approach is necessary for reduced size, weight and power requirements. At the same time, there is an urgent need for capabilities that enable an ...

The Navy is actively developing a self-sealing, water-activated fuel bladder to mitigate fuel leaks upon mechanical shock (e.g. penetration by a .50 caliber bullet). To circumvent the requirement of an external water source to activate the self-sealing, this system will require water-filled microcapsules that can be incorporated directly into the polymeric matrix of the fuel bladder. Upon mechanic ...

During the proposed Navy STTR program, NanoSonic and Virginia Tech will design and synthesize innovative, high strength ceramic nanocomposite microcapsules filled with > 80 volume percent water that are empirically optimized to function as readily dispersed powdered additives with long-term water retention, durability during air craft bladder production, and rupture during ballistic shock. NanoSon ...

Defense Health Agency (DHA) is seeking a multi-functional diagnostic to determine blood coagulopathy in real time at point-of-care (POC). Blood coagulopathy, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding, is implicated in 80% of operating room deaths and 50% of trau

Stottler Henke proposes PaCT, leveraging our related past work in computer vision and machine learning. Drawing from techniques used in ExPATSS, a Phase II SBIR effort slated for transition to the Naval fleet, PaCT will perform bacterial characterization using features derived from the phenotype of the bacteria. PaCT will predict bacterial characteristics such as pathogenicity, antibiotic resistan ...

Portable Advanced Battlefield and Ground surveillance radar can now provide effective detection of small targets, posing challenges for troop movement and stealth missions. Radar absorbent strategies have been achieved in composites and larger textile objects, but effective light-weight solutions for current operational clothing and individual equipment systems such as uniforms, knapsacks and body ...

For this research program, Mainstream will collaborate with Colorado State University (CSU) to develop a nanostructured heater capable of curing aerospace grade composites out-of-autoclave (OOA). The use of autoclaves is the primary cost driver in composite manufacturing due to size limitations, long processing times, and inefficient energy usage. Therefore, the Navy is looking to develop a nanost ...

This project will address the U.S. Air Force needs for single-piece, electronically dimmable eye protection device (EDEPD). In Phase I, InnoSense LLC (ISL) will demonstrate feasibility of the approach by incorporating electrochromic layer on curved polycarbonate substrates. Phase I tests will include optical and physical characterizations regarding transmission range, switching speed, haze, unifor ...

As unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) become more prevalent there is an increasing desire to automate UAS navigation and control. To enable future UASs to perform a wider variety of missions, the they must be able to complete autonomous relative navigation to accomplish missions. Current technologies rely heavily on GPS measurements, which are undesirable since GPS signals may be unavailable in many ...