Award Data

Composite materials are widely used in aircraft to reduce weight and cost, improve structural performance, and boost fuel efficiency. However, composites are susceptible to adhesive bond quality issues, including kissing bonds which may occur because of initial fabrication or service related issues. Detection of such weakened bonds requires an easily used detection approach to routinely monitor co ...

Autonomous systems continue to be outfitted with larger amounts of sensors that are capable of collecting extremely large amounts of data over the course of a mission. Even autonomous systems with high storage capacities can run into storage limitations when burdened with large amounts of sensor data over long mission durations. This proposal will develop a Learning-based Approach for Relevant Dat ...

This research seeks to develop a method of developing solid-state power amplifiers that operate at 300 Volts, achieve 100 Watt output and greater than 90% efficiency at 1 GHz with 10% bandwidths. We will seek to demonstrate switch-mode amplifiers that use a novel gate design with Gallium Nitride forming the basis for solid state power amplification.

Complex software systems are typically developed by disparate engineering teams working concurrently. At the same time, software requirements are frequently dynamic, evolving even during active development cycles. Discrepancies between how software is defined and how it is implemented at the modular level can cascade into critical system errors when modules are integrated. More troubling is that i ...

The Navy seeks to develop new, innovative motor/generator technologies that can effectively operate at speeds up to 1,000 kRPM at power densities of 40 kW/kg (excluding heat exchanger) with an overall system efficiency of 95% or better. Such a motor/generator will have a wide range of applications, i.e. it can be used as the core building block of a very lightweight electrical energy storage syste ...

As strontium and other alkaline-earth metals become increasingly attractive for ultracold-atom applications, there is a growing need to develop compact, robust systems for cooling, trapping, and studying these elements. In this proposal, ColdQuanta will team with Dr. Jun Ye at JILA and the University of Colorado at Boulder to develop a portable, turn-key system that can produce, utilize, and optic ...

Areas of research relating to self-healing composites structures have been undertaken by well-known and respected research institutions under the auspices of the Department of Defense. Patent literature and public technical communique describe their novel engineering approaches using polymeric healing agents through suitable mechanisms. While these approaches have merit, the choices of materials u ...

Advances in modeling and simulation, networking, and computer graphics technology have made it possible to conduct large-scale, distributed live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) training events, such as the Navy’s Fleet Synthetic Training (FST) exercises, on a regular basis. However, FST exercises are not without room for improvement. Instructors and exercise controllers often confront difficult ...

We envision a coherently coupled QCL array architecture featuring 2nd order DFB gratings to vertically couple out light with excellent beam quality and high output power. This approach does not require cleaving of the devices or facet coatings and is therefore inherently more robust and manufacturable than facet emitters.

The low weight, excellent durability and heat resistance of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) make them attractive materials for use in aircraft engine hot sections, where improved overall engine efficiency can be realized. Nevertheless, the interlaminar properties of CMCs must be well understood before CMCs can realistically replace metallic superalloys in engine hot sections, and no standardized ...