NAVY
Proposal Submission
The responsibility for the implementation, administration and management of the Navy SBIR program is with the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The Navy SBIR Program Manager is Mr. Vincent D. Schaper. Inquiries of a general nature may be brought to the Navy SBIR Program Manager's attention and should be addressed to:
Office of Naval Research
ATTN: Mr. Vincent D. Schaper
ONR 362 SBIR
800 North Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22217-5660
(703) 696-8528
All SBIR proposals should be submitted to the above address and must be received by the date and time indicated in Section 6.2 "Deadline Of Proposal" appearing in the front part of this DOD solicitation.
The Navy's SBIR program is a mission-oriented program which integrates the needs and requirements of the Navy primarily through science and technology dual-use, critical technology topics. A total of 31 Science and Technology (S&T) areas has been identified (see Table 1). While all of these areas may not be funded equally during the annual DOD SBIR solicitations in which the Navy participates, topics will be funded according to a priority it has established to meet its mission goals and responsibilities.
This solicitation contains a mix topics. Please read the information contained in the front portion of this solicitation carefully before sending your proposal. The Navy's part of the solicitation contains topics which permit latitude for small businesses to submit their solutions to Navy requirements and will be on the INTERNET under ONR or ONR Homepage. We are attempting to provide proposers the opportunity to send their proposals on diskette for this solicitation. From the ONR Homepage on the INTERNET under the SBIR section you will be able to go to the Navy part of this solicitation and "pull down" into your computer an SBIR format for filling out your SBIR Proposal on disk which could be mailed to the above address together with a single signed hard copy. All proposals sent on disk should be written using one of the following software packages: WordPerfect 5.1, 5.2, 6.0; WordStar 2000 1.0, 2000 2.0, 2000 3.0, 3.3, 3.4, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0; MultiMate 4.0; MS Word for Windows 1.0 or 2.0; MS Word 4.0 or 5.0; or Display Write 4.0 or 5.0. However, unlike the solicitation on the INTERNET under the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) you will not be able to ask questions. Any questions you want to ask must come through the INTERNET under DTIC SBIR Solicitation. A listing of selections for awards for the Navy SBIR solicitation will be listed on the INTERNET under DTIC and Navy Homepages.
When preparing your proposal keep in mind that Phase I should address the feasibility of the solution to the topic. Be sure that you clearly identify the topic your proposal is addressing. Phase II is the demonstration of the technology that was found feasible in Phase I. Only those Phase I awardees which have been invited to submit a Phase II proposal by the Navy technical point of contact (TPOC) during or at the end of successful Phase I effort will be eligible for a Phase II award. All Phase I and Phase II proposals should be sent to the Navy SBIR Program Office for proper processing. Phase III efforts should be reported to the SBIR program office noted above.
As in the past solicitation the Navy will provide potential awardees the opportunity to reduce the gap between Phases I & II if they provide a $70,000 maximum feasibility Phase I proposal and a fully costed, well defined ($30,000 maximum) Phase I Option to the Phase I. The Phase I Option should be the initiation of the demonstration phase of the SBIR project (i.e. initial part of Phase II). When you submit a Phase II proposal it should consist of three elements: 1) a $600,000 maximum demonstration phase of the SBIR project (i.e. Phase II); 2) a transition or marketing plan (formally called "a commercialization plan") describing how, to whom and at what stage you will market your technology to the government and private sector; 3) a Phase II Option ($150,000 maximum) which would be a fully costed and well defined section describing a test and evaluation plan or further R&D if the transition plan is evaluated as being successful. While Phase I proposals with the option will adhere to the 25 page limit (section 3.3), Phase II proposals together with the Phase II option will be limited to 40 pages. The transition plan should be in a separate document.
Evaluation of proposals to the Navy will be accomplished using scientific review criteria. Selection of Phase I proposals will be based upon technical merit and other criteria as discussed in this solicitation document. Due to limited funding, the Navy reserves the right to limit awards under any topic and only proposals considered to be of superior quality will be funded.
TABLE 1. NAVY MISSION CRITICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AREAS
TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE
Aerospace Propulsion and Power Computer Sciences
Aerospace Vehicles Mathematics
Chemical and Biological Defense Cognitive and Neural Sciences
Command, Control, and Communications Biology and Medicine
Computers Terrestrial Sciences
Conventional Weapons Atmospheric and Space Science
Electron Devices Ocean Science
Electronic Warfare Chemistry
Environmental Quality and Civil Engineering Physics
Human-System Interfaces Electronics
Manpower and Personnel Materials
Materials and Structures Mechanics
Medical Environmental Science
Sensors Manufacturing Science
Surface/Undersurface Vehicles
Software
Training Systems
NAVY SBIR PROGRAM MANAGERS OR POINTS OF CONTACT FOR TOPICS
TOPIC NUMBERS POINT OF CONTACT PHONE
068-076, 078, 081-097 Mr. Douglas Harry 703-696-4286
and 099-101
102-106 Mr. Joseph Johnson 703-640-4801
107-121 Ms. Betty Geesey 703-696-6902
122, and 157-163 Mr. Eugene (Gene) Patno 805-989-9209
125, 126, 132, 134, 147, Ms. Carol Van Wyk 215-441-2375
151-153, and 156
123, 127-129, 135-140, Ms. Cathy Nodgaard 703-604-2437 x6309
145, 146, and 148-150
077, 124 Mr. Ed Linsenmeyer 904-234-4161
130, 141, 173, 197, and 198 Ms. Beth Klapach 301-743-4953
131 and 133 Mr. Charles (Chuck) Sullivan 317-353-7998
142 and 223 Ms. Janet Wisenford 407-380-8276
143, 144, 179, 180 and 194 Ms. Patricia (Pat) Schaefer 202-767-6263
154 and 155 Mr. Peter (Pete) O'Donnell 908-323-7566
164, 166, 167, 169, 171, 172, Mr. William (Bill) White 703-602-3002
174, 176, 177, 181, 186, 209, and 211
165, 170, 182 and 187-190 Mr. Frank Halsall 301-227-1094
080, 098, 168, 175, 178, 183-185 Mr. Donald (Don) Wilson 301-394-1279
191, 204, 210 and 219-221
192, 193, 195, 196 and 199-203 Mr. Jim Linn 812-854-1352
79, 205-208 and 212 Mr. John (Jack) Griffin 203-440-4116
213-215 Lcdr Paul Knechtges 301-295-0885
216-218 Ms. Linda Whittington 703-607-1648
222 and 224 Dr. Meryl Baker 619-553-7681
225-227 Mr. Nicholas (Nick) Olah 805-982-1089
SUBJECT/WORD INDEX
SUBJECT/WORD TOPIC NO.
Accelerometer............................................................................................................................................................................... 184
Acoustic............................................... 78, 79, 83, 86, 88, 96, 97, 103, 118, 120, 124, 125, 128, 129, 160, 183, 184, 205, 209-211
Acoustic Broadband Classification........................................................................................................................................... 120
Active Sonar.................................................................................................................................................................. 128, 207, 210
Actuators..................................................................................................................................................... 70, 81, 88, 101, 175, 204
Adaptive Beamforming................................................................................................................................................................ 128
Adaptive Tutor............................................................................................................................................................................. 223
Additive for JP‑5 Fuel.................................................................................................................................................................. 145
Adhesive Bond Integrity............................................................................................................................................................. 135
Advanced Array Biosensors........................................................................................................................................................ 91
Aircraft Recovery......................................................................................................................................................................... 155
Analog...................................................................................................................................................................... 96, 131, 137, 183
Antenna................................................................................................................................................... 73, 102, 111, 192, 194, 206
Anti‑Reflective Coatings............................................................................................................................................................. 156
Approach and Landing Imaging Sensor................................................................................................................................... 154
Articulated Instrumented Manikin............................................................................................................................................. 216
Artificial Intelligence................................................................................................................................................ 69, 99, 117, 178
Autonomous Power Generation................................................................................................................................................... 74
Biofilters........................................................................................................................................................................................... 93
Blue‑Green Emitters........................................................................................................................................................................ 71
Blue‑Green Laser........................................................................................................................................................................... 124
C3I..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 72
C4 I.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 73
CASE Tools............................................................................................................................................................................. 68, 112
Casualty Handling ....................................................................................................................................................................... 215
CFD Analysis................................................................................................................................................................................ 153
Channelized Direction Finder...................................................................................................................................................... 194
Chip................................................................................................................................................................. 68, 71, 75, 96, 123, 183
Combustion............................................................................................................................................................... 85, 87, 160, 198
Communication................................... 71, 76, 96, 106, 110, 111, 131, 157, 164, 166, 171, 175, 179, 188, 193, 199, 201, 211, 224
Communications................................. 72-73, 76, 82, 90, 96, 100‑102, 107, 110-111, 113, 118-119, 125, 131, 166, 168, 171, 176,
.......................................................................................................................................................................... 192, 193, 199-201, 203
Composite............................................................................................................................... 104, 134‑136, 146, 148‑150, 182, 189
Composite Material Design......................................................................................................................................................... 150
Computational Fluid Dynamics...................................................................................................................................... 77, 86, 153
Cooperative Engagement Capability ................................................................................................................ 195, 199, 200, 202
Cordless Visual Display............................................................................................................................................................... 143
Corrosion Preventive Compounds............................................................................................................................................. 132
Corrosion Resistant Coatings..................................................................................................................................................... 105
Crew Communication................................................................................................................................................................... 131
Data Compression........................................................................................................................................................ 114, 176, 199
Data Link Training........................................................................................................................................................................ 107
Data Management.......................................................................................................................................................................... 76
Data Processing............................................................................................................................................................ 103, 130, 220
Demodulation................................................................................................................................................................................ 110
Diagnosis of Campylobacter Enteritis....................................................................................................................................... 214
Digital.................................................. 72, 96, 100, 109, 113, 120, 122, 126, 131, 133, 137‑139, 143, 144, 163, 166, 170, 183, 211
Digital Assistant Technology.................................................................................................................................................... 100
Digital Signal Processing Multichip.......................................................................................................................................... 183
Digital Voice Signal Distribution................................................................................................................................................ 131
Drug Testing Strategy................................................................................................................................................................. 222
EHF SATCOM.............................................................................................................................................................................. 119
Ejection Seat Aerodynamics....................................................................................................................................................... 153
Electric Energy Absorber System.............................................................................................................................................. 155
Electric Starter Motors................................................................................................................................................................. 170
Electronic Classroom Human Interfaces................................................................................................................................... 171
Electronic Equipment Enclosure................................................................................................................................................. 196
Electronic Warfare................................................................................................................................................ 144, 179, 180, 201
Electronics................................................................... 70, 71, 83, 100, 102, 126, 127, 137, 161, 164, 170, 176, 177, 186, 196, 202
Emulator Chip................................................................................................................................................................................ 123
Enhanced Image Processing............................................................................................................................................... 113, 118
Environmental Test Procedures................................................................................................................................................. 192
Exercise Coupler............................................................................................................................................................................ 107
Expert System................................................................................................................................................................ 112, 115, 118
Fatigue Failures............................................................................................................................................................................. 225
Fiber Optic Switch........................................................................................................................................................................ 168
Fracture in Fluid Structural Interaction....................................................................................................................................... 89
Fuel.................................................................................................................. 80, 85, 87, 90, 145, 149, 157‑161, 174, 196, 197, 216
Fuel Air Explosives (FAE)........................................................................................................................................................... 159
Fuel Fume Environmental Recovery System............................................................................................................................ 174
Gallium Nitride ................................................................................................................................................................................ 71
Global Positioning System............................................................................................................................................ 75, 116, 206
GPS.................................................................................................................................. 116, 122, 125, 137, 140, 175, 176, 206, 211
GPS Receiver................................................................................................................................................................. 116, 122, 175
Haptic Interface............................................................................................................................................................................... 94
Helicopters............................................................................................................................................................................... 97, 147
Helmet Visors................................................................................................................................................................................ 156
Heterogeneous Clutter Scenes................................................................................................................................................... 180
High Energy Density Fuels......................................................................................................................................................... 159
High Temperature Batteries.......................................................................................................................................................... 80
Image Generator............................................................................................................................................................................ 142
Image Processing............................................................................................................................ 72, 113, 118, 120, 140, 163, 207
In Vitro Diagnostic......................................................................................................................................................................... 92
Induction Welding of Composites............................................................................................................................................. 149
Inertial Navigator.................................................................................................................................................................... 75, 176
Information Engineering................................................................................................................................................................ 69
Infrared............................................................................................................................................................. 91, 138, 143, 175, 176
Instabilities.............................................................................................................................................................................. 81, 160
Integrated Tester Software Diagnostics................................................................................................................................... 202
Integrity Monitoring.................................................................................................................................................................... 116
Interferon‑alpha.............................................................................................................................................................................. 92
Landing Zone Obstacle Clearance............................................................................................................................................. 181
Large Screen Color LCD Projection System............................................................................................................................. 186
Launch Canister............................................................................................................................................................................ 208
Light Surface Mapping................................................................................................................................................................ 227
Liquid Fuel Control....................................................................................................................................................................... 161
Magnetic Bearing Shock............................................................................................................................................................. 169
Man Machine Interface................................................................................................................................................... 79, 95, 137
Man‑Machine Interface......................................................................................................................................................... 95, 117
Manufacturing.................................................... 72, 93, 98, 100, 101, 106, 125, 133, 136, 148‑150, 152, 168, 185, 187, 189, 192,
................................................................................................................................................................. 193, 203, 204, 217, 225, 227
Materials 70, 82‑85, 88, 98, 101, 104, 105, 124, 129, 134‑136, 146, 148, 150, 156, 159, 173, 175, 176, 178, 188‑190,
.................................................................................................................................. 196-198, 203, 209, 214, 216, 217, 219, 220, 226
Mechanical Diagnostics................................................................................................................................................................ 95
Metallic Vapor Clouds................................................................................................................................................................. 198
Microwave Transmit/Receive Modules.................................................................................................................................... 203
Milstar MDR.................................................................................................................................................................................. 109
Mine Warfare................................................................................................................................................................ 182, 183, 212
Miniature Diode Laser Velocity Sensor.................................................................................................................................... 187
Miniature Magnetometer............................................................................................................................................................. 185
Mission Effectiveness......................................................................................................................................................... 108, 140
Modeling........................................................ 69, 89, 90, 99, 101, 102, 108, 146, 150, 158, 180, 191, 198, 214, 215, 221, 222, 224
Modeling Distributed Decision Making................................................................................................................................... 224
Molybdenum Disilicide.................................................................................................................................................................. 98
Multi‑Band Radar......................................................................................................................................................................... 121
Multimedia Man Machine Interface............................................................................................................................................ 79
Near‑Infrared Fluorophores.......................................................................................................................................................... 91
Network Bridge............................................................................................................................................................................. 109
Neural Networks............................................................................................................................................. 96, 113, 118, 212, 218
Neural VLSI Microchips................................................................................................................................................................ 96
Neutron Detector.......................................................................................................................................................................... 172
Noise Cancellation........................................................................................................................................................................ 167
Nonacoustic Sensors..................................................................................................................................................................... 97
Nonlinear Control Technology................................................................................................................................................... 204
Nonlinear Dynamics....................................................................................................................................................................... 81
Nonlinear Signal Enhancement..................................................................................................................................................... 77
Observation Vehicle............................................................................................................................................................. 175, 176
Obstacle Detection....................................................................................................................................................................... 103
Ocean Characterization................................................................................................................................................................ 121
Oceanographic Instrumentation................................................................................................................................................... 78
Organic Light Emitting Diodes..................................................................................................................................................... 82
Parallel Desktop Computing................................................................................................................................................ 113, 118
Parametric Analysis........................................................................................................................................................................ 90
Particle Clouds........................................................................................................................................................................ 85, 197
Parts Control.................................................................................................................................................................................. 195
Passivated Pyrophoric Metal Powders..................................................................................................................................... 173
Pattern Recognition................................................................................................................................................ 96, 113, 218, 220
Plastic Foam................................................................................................................................................................................... 190
Portable Environmental Control................................................................................................................................................. 104
Pressure Fluctuations.................................................................................................................................................................... 86
Processing........................ 69, 72, 75, 77, 82, 83, 89, 95, 96, 101, 103, 110, 113, 118‑120, 122, 123, 125, 127‑131, 134, 140, 148,
.................................................................................. 153, 159, 162, 163, 165, 174, 175, 182, 183, 190, 194, 207, 209,218, 220, 224
Production of Intravenous Fluids.............................................................................................................................................. 213
Pulse Width Modulated Valves................................................................................................................................................. 161
Q‑switched Laser.......................................................................................................................................................................... 162
Radar.......................................................................................... 72, 102, 110, 113, 121, 125, 139, 180, 188, 192‑194, 199‑201, 203
Radar‑Sonar Data Fusion............................................................................................................................................................ 125
Radio Frequency........................................................................................................................................................... 106, 107, 164
Rapid Pipe Pile Cutoff.................................................................................................................................................................. 226
Reactive High Temperature Materials......................................................................................................................................... 85
Recycling............................................................................................................................................................................... 134, 185
Reflective Coating................................................................................................................................................................ 152, 156
Removal of Conformal Coatings................................................................................................................................................. 177
Repair/Maintenance Materials..................................................................................................................................................... 84
Retrieval of Human Technical Knowledge............................................................................................................................... 141
RF Burn in Humans...................................................................................................................................................................... 164
Risk Analysis................................................................................................................................................................................ 112
Rugged CD‑ROM Optical Disk Drive........................................................................................................................................ 126
Rule‑Based Formal‑Methods Environments.............................................................................................................................. 68
SAR......................................................................................................................................................................................... 139, 152
Satellite Relay.................................................................................................................................................................................. 76
Scene Generation.......................................................................................................................................................... 127, 138, 139
Sensors...................................... 73‑76, 78, 79, 81, 88, 89, 94, 96, 97, 101, 115, 116, 124, 125, 127, 128, 138, 139, 143, 147, 175,
........................................................................................................................ 176, 184, 185, 187, 188, 205, 206, 209, 216, 223, 225
Shallow Water Submarine Detection......................................................................................................................................... 125
Shared Aperture Concepts.......................................................................................................................................................... 201
Shigella Dysentery....................................................................................................................................................................... 214
Ship Engines.................................................................................................................................................................................... 87
Shock Wave Attenuation............................................................................................................................................................ 190
Signal Processing................................................................................................. 72, 75, 77, 96, 110, 113, 120, 122, 131, 183, 209
Simulation ............................................................................................................................................................................. 179, 215
Software............................................ 68, 69, 72, 75, 77, 89, 90, 94, 95, 99, 100, 115, 118, 121, 125, 127, 128, 131, 140, 141, 144,
................................................................................. 165, 166, 171, 175, 179, 183, 187, 195, 199, 200, 202, 210, 212, 213, 218, 221
Software Automation................................................................................................................................................................... 221
Solid Free‑form Fabrication......................................................................................................................................................... 101
Solid State Neutron Detector...................................................................................................................................................... 172
Sonar Detector.............................................................................................................................................................................. 129
Spatial Geometric Analysis........................................................................................................................................................... 99
Spatial Light Modulators for Displays...................................................................................................................................... 220
Storable Energy Sources............................................................................................................................................................. 157
Superconducting Wire................................................................................................................................................................. 182
Surface Ship Acoustic Countermeasure................................................................................................................................... 211
Surveillance Radar Technology................................................................................................................................................. 102
System Trainer.............................................................................................................................................................................. 117
Target Motion Analysis.............................................................................................................................................................. 210
Telerobotics..................................................................................................................................................................................... 94
Test and Evaluation Tool............................................................................................................................................................ 151
Thermal Management.......................................................................................................................................................... 104, 219
Torpedo Defense.................................................................................................................................................................. 205, 208
Towed Array................................................................................................................................................................................. 209
Tracking Devices.......................................................................................................................................................................... 144
Training........................................ 68, 94, 95, 100, 107, 117, 118, 137‑139, 141, 143, 144, 151, 164, 165, 171, 177, 178, 181, 191,
......................................................................................................................................................................... 210, 215, 218, 223, 224
Transformer................................................................................................................................................................................... 163
UAV................................................................................................................................................................................ 102, 140, 176
Ultra High Speed Processor........................................................................................................................................................ 127
Ultra‑High Isolation Circulator/Duplexer.................................................................................................................................... 73
Ultrahigh Fidelity Inspection...................................................................................................................................................... 136
Ultrasonic Imaging Array Transducer......................................................................................................................................... 83
Ultrasonic Weld Evaluation System.......................................................................................................................................... 165
Universal Portable Communicator.............................................................................................................................................. 166
UUV........................................................................................................................................................................................ 206, 212
Video Data Link............................................................................................................................................................................. 176
Virtual Environment.............................................................................................................................................................. 143, 144
Virtual Information Model........................................................................................................................................................... 114
Virtual Reality.......................................................................................................................................................... 94, 117, 142, 143
Volatile Organic Compound........................................................................................................................................................ 132
Volume Measurement Tool......................................................................................................................................................... 227
Water Crash Dynamics................................................................................................................................................................ 147
Wave Propagation Model........................................................................................................................................................... 180
Wearable Electronics................................................................................................................................................................... 137
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
SBIR 95.3 SOLICITATION TOPIC TITLES
N95-068 User-interfaces for Rule-Based Formal-Methods Environments
N95-069 Uncertain Data in Information Engineering
N95-070 High Power Electronics
N95-071 Gallium Nitride (GaN) Based Blue-Green Emitters on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) Substrates
N95-072 Optoelectronic Signal/Image Processing for C3I Applications
N95-073 Ultra-High Isolation Circulator/Duplexer for Advanced C4 I
N95-074 Underwater Autonomous Power Generation
N95-075 Inertial Navigator on a Chip
N95-076 Data Management and Satellite Relay for Environmental Research Aircraft
N95-077 Nonlinear Signal Enhancement and Bandwidth Reduction of Image Data Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Techniques
N95-078 Four-dimensional (4-D) Oceanographic Instrumentation
N95-079 Innovative Multimedia Man Machine Interface Concepts
N95-080 High Temperature Batteries for Underwater Vehicle Propulsion
N95-081 Nonlinear Dynamics of Crane Operation at Sea
N95-082 High Efficiency Organic Light Emitting Diodes
N95-083 Two-Dimensional Ultrasonic Imaging Array Transducer
N95-084 Innovative Repair/Maintenance Materials for Navy Piers and Wharves
N95-085 Explosions of Particle Clouds Comprised of Reactive High Temperature Materials in Air
N95-086 CFD Code for Surface Pressure Fluctuations
N95-087 Improvements to Naval Ship Engines Through Water Addition
N95-088 Actuators and Sensors Placement for Active Control
N95-089 Simulation of Fracture in Fluid Structural Interaction
N95-090 Parametric Analysis of Naval Ship Systems
N95-091 Near-Infrared Fluorophores for Advanced Array Biosensors
N95-092 A Rapid In Vitro Diagnostic Kit to Detect and Identify Interferon‑alpha in Patient Fluid Samples
N95-093 Biofilters for Reduction of Gaseous Emissions
N95-094 Haptic Interface Technology for Telerobotics and Virtual Reality
N95-095 Man‑Machine Interface to Integrated Mechanical Diagnostics Systems
N95-096 A Communication System for Analog and Digital Neural VLSI Microchips and Boards
N95-097 Nonacoustic Sensors of Sliding Contact Mechanical Properties
N95-098 Ductile-to-Brittle Transition in Molybdenum Disilicide (MoSi2) and Related Materials
N95-099 Spatial Geometric Analysis Systems
N95-100 Digital Assistant Technology
N95-101 Solid Free-form Fabrication
N95-102 Lightweight Surveillance Radar Technology
N95-103 Low Cost, High Waterspeed Obstacle Detection System
N95-104 Portable Environmental Control System (PECS)
N95-105 High Temperature Corrosion Resistant Coatings
N95-106 Radio Frequency Information Dissemination
N95-107 Data Link Training and Exercise Coupler
N95-108 Quantification of Platform Level Mission Effectiveness
N95-109 Milstar MDR - Network Bridge
N95-110 Demodulation of Signals Localized by Super-resolution Array Processing Techniques
N95-111 Multiple, High Bandwidth Light Weight Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Antenna
N95-112 Graphic CASE Tools for INFOSEC Threat and Risk Analysis
N95-113 Coarse-Grained Parallel Desktop Computing System for Enhanced Image Processing
N95-114 Virtual Information Model (VIM)
N95-115 Expert System Tactics Representation
N95-116 Global Positioning System (GPS) Integrity Monitoring
N95-117 Advanced System Trainer
N95-118 Advanced Signal and Image Processing Algorithms for Parallel Desktop Computing
N95-119 Increased Data Throughput on EHF SATCOM
N95-120 Single Channel Acoustic Broadband Classification
N95-121 Multi-Band Radar for Ocean Characterization
N95-122 Frequency Domain GPS Receiver
N95-123 32-Bit High Throughput Processor/Emulator Chip
N95-124 Innovative Solid-state Blue or Blue-Green Laser
N95-125 Radar-Sonar Data Fusion for Clutter Suppression Improvements in Shallow Water Submarine Detection and Classification Performance
N95-126 Rugged CD‑ROM Optical Disk Drive
N95-127 Ultra High Speed Processor
N95-128 Adaptive Beamforming for Mutistatic Active Sonar
N95-129 Expendable Small Object Avoidance (SOA) Sonar Detector
N95-130 Fault-Tolerant Navy Tactical Data Processing
N95-131 Digital Voice Signal Distribution for Crew Communication
N95-132 Corrosion Preventive Compounds or Preservative with Lower Volatile Organic Compound Content
N95-133 Integrated Product Data Environment
N95-134 Recycling of Cured Composite
N95-135 Adhesive Bond Integrity of Composites
N95-136 Ultrahigh Fidelity Inspection of Advance Composite Materials
N95-137 Wearable Electronics for Man Machine Interface
N95-138 Realistic Correlated Infrared Sensor Scene Generation
N95-139 Realistic Correlated SAR Scene Generation
N95-140 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Imagery Processing for Geophysical Information System (GIS) Applications
N95-141 Effective Retrieval of Human Technical Knowledge
N95-142 Low Cost Image Generator for Mission Rehearsal
N95-143 Cordless Visual Display Technology for Virtual Environment Applications
N95-144 Six Degree of Freedom Tracking Devices for Virtual Environment Applications
N95-145 Thermal Stability Enhancing Additive for JP-5 Fuel
N95-146 Energy Dissipation Characterization and Design Methodology for Composite Materials
N95-147 Water Crash Dynamics and Structural Concepts for Naval Helicopters
N95-148 In-Situ Advanced Fiber Placement and Processing
N95-149 Advanced Induction Welding of Composites with Out-of-Plane Reinforcement
N95-150 Composite Material Design and Manufacturing Assessment for Advanced Navy Aircraft and Missile Systems
N95-151 Test and Evaluation Tool for Calibration and Dynamic Testing of Manikin Systems
N95-152 Reflective Coating for Aircrew Helmets
N95-153 CFD Analysis of Rocket Plume Effects on Ejection Seat Aerodynamics
N95-154 Day/Night Ship Mounted Aircraft Approach and Landing Imaging Sensor
N95-155 Electric Energy Absorber System (EEAS) for Aircraft Recovery
N95-156 Anti-Reflective Coatings for Aviation Helmet Visors
N95-157 Compact, High Power, Quick Reacting Storable Energy Sources.
N95-158 Modeling Characteristics for Volumetric Explosives
N95-159 High Energy Density Fuels for Solid Fuel Air Explosives (FAE)
N95-160 Passive Techniques To Eliminate Combustion Instabilities
N95-161 Pulse Width Modulated Valves for Liquid Fuel Control
N95-162 Weapons Quality Q-switched Laser
N95-163 3-Dimensional Perspective Transformer at Video Rates
N95-164 Develop Test Concepts and Techniques to Quantify the Free Field Safety Level of RF Induced Body Currents and RF Burn in Humans
N95-165 Develop and Produce a Real-Time Ultrasonic Weld Evaluation System
N95-166 Universal Portable Communicator
N95-167 Develop System for Gas Turbine Duct Noise Cancellation
N95-168 Develop a Low Cost Fiber Optic Switch
N95-169 Magnetic Bearing Shock
N95-170 Develop Electric Starter Motors for Ship Propulsion Gas Turbine
N95-171 Develop Improved Electronic Classroom Human Interfaces
N95-172 Develop Improved Solid State Neutron Detector
N95-173 Develop Passivated Pyrophoric Metal Powders
N95-174 Develop a Fuel Fume Environmental Recovery System (FFERS)
N95-175 Develop an Expendable, Gun Launched Observation Vehicle
N95-176 Develop an Expendable Video Data Link
N95-177 Development of Improved Methods for Removal of Conformal Coatings from Electronic Printed Circuit Boards
N95-178 Develop Customized Training Using Artificial Intelligence Methods
N95-179 Develop a Unified Architecture for a Real-Time Distributed, Electronic Warfare (EW) Simulation
N95-180 Develop a Real-Time, Wave Propagation Model for Heterogeneous Clutter Scenes.
N95-181 Surf Zone and Craft Landing Zone Obstacle Clearance.
N95-182 Develop Aluminum Stabilization of NbTi Superconducting Wire
N95-183 Design, Develop, and Demonstrate a Low Power Digital Signal Processing Multichip Module for Mine Warfare
N95-184 Develop a Miniature, Low Power Ocean Bottom Seismometer/Accelerometer (S/A)
N95-185 Develop a Miniature Magnetometer
N95-186 Develop and Produce a Large Screen Color LCD Projection System
N95-187 Develop a Miniature Diode Laser Velocity Sensor
N95-188 Develop Stealthy Materials for Moving Systems in the Sail of Submarines
N95-189 Development of Manufacturing and Assembly Methods for the Production of Acrylic/Fused Silica, Laminated, Composite, Heated Periscope Head Windows Using Electro-Conductive Coating Heating
N95-190 Develop and Produce New Elastomeric/Plastic Foam Materials for Shock Wave Attenuation
N95-191 Connection of Simulation Based Design (SBD) and Advanced Distributed Simulations (ADS) for Military System Development.
N95-192 Develop Mechanical and Environmental Test Procedures for Transmit/Receive (T/R) Modules Procedure
N95-193 Optimal Active Array Architectures for Communications Applications
N95-194 Develop a Channelized Direction Finder
N95-195 Development of an Automated Logistics Software to Implement Hardware Change Control and Parts Control from Problem/Failure Reports of the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) Program.
N95-196 Develop a Lightweight Electronic Equipment Enclosure
N95-197 Chemistry of Self Propagating High Temperature Synthesis (SHS) Particle Clouds in Air
N95-198 Prompt Formation of Metallic Vapor Clouds
N95-199 Data Compression Techniques on Microwave Link
N95-200 Development of Rapid Prototyping of Application Specific Signal Processors (RASSP) Program Interface for the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) Program
N95-201 Shared Aperture Concepts for Point-to-Point Communications
N95-202 Integrated Tester Software Diagnostics
N95-203 Improve Thermal Efficiency of Microwave Transmit/Receive Modules
N95-204 Develop Robust Nonlinear Control Technology
N95-205 Develop a Left/Right Passive Bearing Ambiguity Resolution Sensor (BARS) for Torpedo Defense
N95-206 Develop and Produce High Precision Sensors for Under-Ice Submarine Operations and Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Missions
N95-207 Develop and Produce High Resolution Image Processing with a MidFrequency Active Sonar
N95-208 Develop and Produce a SSTD Launch Canister
N95-209 Develop New Towed Array Technology
N95-210 Develop and Demonstrate Active Sonar Target Motion Analysis
N95-211 Develop a Surface Ship Acoustic Countermeasure (CM)
N95-212 Develop Mission Adaptable Control Strategies for a Resilient Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) Control System
N95-213 Shipboard Production of Intravenous Fluids
N95-214 Portable Rapid Tests for Diagnosis of Campylobacter Enteritis and Shigella Dysentery in Operational Ship and/or Field Environments
N95-215 Optimization of Casualty Handling
N95-216 Articulated Instrumented Manikin
N95-217 Active Thermal Absorbing/Insulative Materials
N95-218 Application of Neural Networks for Pattern Recognition in Logistics Data
N95-219 Thermal Management for Strategic System Nosetips and Leading Edges
N95-220 High Definition Spatial Light Modulators for Displays Methods
N95-221 Software Automation for Distributed System Development
N95-222 Command-Level Drug Testing Strategy
N95-223 Adaptive Tutor for Conceptual Knowledge
N95-224 A Tool for Modeling Distributed Decision Making in Complex Environments
N95-225 Eliminating Fatigue Failures in the Navy Infrastructure
N95-226 Rapid Pipe Pile Cutoff Technology in Support of Amphibious Logistics Operations
N95-227 Portable and Light Surface Mapping/Volume Measurement Tool
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY SBIR 95.3 TOPIC DESCRIPTION
OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH
N95-068 TITLE: User-interfaces for Rule-Based Formal-Methods Environments
OBJECTIVE: Develop enabling technology that will enhance the ability of software engineers to apply formal-methods techniques to safety-critical applications.
DESCRIPTION: Formal methods offer great promise for the elimination of software errors in safety-critical systems. Before formal methods can be widely adopted in industry, they must be supported by tools readily acceptable to professional programmers. Of particular importance are tools that couple the creation of formal specifications with automatic or semi-automatic tools (theorems and proof-checkers) for the verification of such specifications. Existing formal-methods tools are often hobbled by weak, obscure, amateurish, or non-standard user-interfaces. In addition, the supporting tools are not mature, nor are they integrated with commercial CAD/CASE tools. The long-range goal is to create a high-level, customizable, portable, common user-interface tailored to formal-methods applications. A near-term objective is to address the many straightforward applications realizable by a set of rules that take an input and a state to an output and a new state, and which are amendable to formal verification technologies. Often such designs have a practical tabular representable and are a useful intermediate step towards a target language code generation such as in Ada or C.
PHASE I: Develop a design for a software prototype of a "formal-methods interface" (FMI). This FMI must address and justify coordination management among back-end theorem provers, model-based simulation and the FMI. Important FMI features and capabilities should be described through "storyboard" illustrations.
PHASE II: Create a prototype FMI usable with several theorem-proving and proof-checking systems (e.g., PVS, HOL, Nth, Nuprl, and Coq), model-based systems (e.g., FDR), and simulation system for appropriate demonstration purposes with instantiations of the FMI for many of the candidate formal-methods systems.
PHASE III: Potential follow-on efforts are anticipated on government projects in software safety-critical systems and in particular on C4I projects.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The development of safety-critical systems is carried out by both defense-related and non-defense-related companies such as aerospace applications, medical software, automotive control, and micro-processor chip design and testing. Improved tools for formal-methods techniques would have significant impact both in training and in production applications. Growing numbers of applications stand to benefit from the application of formal-methods techniques. Society is increasingly at risk because of the lack of their application as recently witnessed with the floating point arithmetic failure of the Intel Pentium microprocessor which did not verify the correctness of its design. Increased computing power and improvements in implementations of verification tools offer a real chance for these techniques to have significant impact. A formal-methods interface could help as a catalyst for quicker acceptance.
REFERENCES:
1. G. Cherry, Software Engineering with Ada in a New Key: Formalizing and Visualizing the Object Paradigm, "Proceedings of TRI-Ada '94", November 1994.
2. R. Constable, et al.; Implementing Mathematics with the Nuprl Proof Development System. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1986.
3. J. Cuadrado; Teach formal methods. Byte, December 1994.
4. L. Thery, Y. Bertot, and G. Kahn; Real theorem provers deserve real user-interfaces. Proceedings of the Fifth ACM SIGSOFT Symposium on Software Development Environments, (Tyson's Corner, VA, Dec. 9-11, 1992), ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes 17, 5 (December 1992), pp. 120-129.
5. S. Owre, N. Shankar, and J. M. Rushby; The PVS Specification Language (Draft), Computer Science Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, March 1993.
N95-069 TITLE: Uncertain Data in Information Engineering
OBJECTIVE: To develop algebraic techniques for processing uncertain, imprecise, and conditional information with variable conditions in a way faithful to both logic and probability.
DESCRIPTION: Information engineering concerns the organization and management of large amounts of data on an "enterprise-wide" basis. Management information systems must handle information which might be uncertain, probabilistic, non-monotonic, temporal, default, propositional, or fuzzy. Often such information arises in real world situations (e.g., when only partial information is available, or information is hypothetical). Current language standards (e.g., SQL) do not fully address the range of possible information type interactions. This can lead to inconsistent results. For example, the use of null values in a DBMS may lead to query results different from a DBMS that uses default values for representing partial information. Another example involves material implication of classical logic. With the closed-world assumption material implication can be easily expressed as a propositional statement; however, in a context where both propositions and facts are uncertain, this identification may not be warranted. All information has context and conditions under which valid inferences are made. The lack of understanding of these conditions and rules of inference may lead to problems in the fusion of information.
PHASE I: Develop a mathematical basis for the fusion of different types of information as mentioned above; identify problems where current approaches may lead to inconsistencies, contradictions, or the absence of meaningful information; and develop approaches to identify and remove circularities, redundancies and inconsistencies in a knowledge base.
PHASE II: Develop a functional prototype that is operable with and extends a standard query language (e.g., SQL or KQML) that is based on the results of Phase I. Validate this prototype on realistic problems that have arise in C4I systems.
PHASE III: Potential follow-on efforts include government projects in database, statistical databases, software safety-critical systems, and in particular on C4I projects.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This technology applies to data bases, knowledge-bases, artificial intelligence, robotics, Bayesian analysis, computer languages, statistical contingency data analysis, and theoretical computer science. Current methods of managing and reasoning from uncertainty data are ad hoc. This effort seeks to raise the level of assurance in the quality and reliability of the answer to any query involving uncertain information. The commercialization potential results from a robust software product and for impacting query language standards.
REFERENCES:
1. Dubois, D. and Prade, H. (1991). "Conditioning, Non-monotonic Logic, and Non-standard Uncertainty Models", in: I.R. Goodman, M.M. Gupta, H.T. Nguyen and G.S. Rogers, eds., Conditional Logic in Expert Systems, (North-Holland, Amsterdam) 115-158. ADA241664
2. Goodman, I. R., Nguyen, H. T. and Walker, E. A. (1991A) Conditional Inference and Logic for Intelligent Systems: A Theory of Measure-Free Conditioning, North-Holland. ADA241568
3. Gunter, Carl, (1992) "Powerdomains, Conditional Event Algebras, and their Applications in the Semantics of Programming Languages", Final Technical Report, March 25, 1992, University of Pennsylvania Department of Computer and Information Science.
N95-070 TITLE: High Power Electronics
OBJECTIVE: Develop semiconductor power amplifiers capable of controlling 10 times the voltage and 40 times the power of present silicon devices.
DESCRIPTION: Innovative new approaches have shown that high bandgap (e.g., > 2 eV) semiconductors exhibiting significant improvements in thermal conductivity, dielectric strength, and charge carrier velocity may now be synthesized with purities approaching that in silicon. This capability will enable thrusts emphasizing (1) high power actuators and motor controllers capable of replacing hydraulic devices on ships and aircraft, (2) high power microwave/millimeter wave vacuum tube replacement amplifiers, and (3) efficient and versatile electric drive systems for ships and vehicles.
PHASE I: Demonstrate 10‑fold improvement over silicon in breakdown strength of a small device.
PHASE II: Demonstrate 40‑fold improvement (over silicon) in power output from an amplifier of equivalent dimensions.
PHASE III: Demonstrate a microwave power amplifier exhibiting 5 times the power output of a GaAs device of the same dimensions.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This will advance the state-of-the -art for all electric vehicles.
REFERENCES:
1. Matus, L. G., Powell, J. A., and Salupo, C. S.,"High Voltage 6H‑SiC p‑n Junction Diodes", Appl. Phys. Lett. 59, pp.1770‑2 (1991).
2. B. J. Baliga, "New Materials beyond Silicon for Power Devices" in "Power Semiconductor Devices and Circuits", Ed. by A. Jaecklin, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 377‑388, (1992).
N95-071 TITLE:Gallium Nitride (GaN) Based Blue-Green Emitters on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) Substrates
OBJECTIVE: Develop large area (8-inch diameter) Silicon Carbide (SiC) substrates made from SOI wafers, and blue-green light emitters fabricated using Gallium Nitride (GaN) and Indium Gallium Nitride (InGaN) on these (SiCOI) substrates--using Aluminum Nitride (AlN) buffer layers, and integrate the emitters with Si-based logic devices on the same wafers.
DESCRIPTION: A high quality compliant substrate called SiCOI contains low defect density, thin, cubic silicon carbide layer on SiO2 on Si, and is made from a commercially available 8-inch or 5-inch diameter SOI substrate. SiCOI can be a platform for integration of wide bandgap semiconductors with Si-based logic. Blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) based on GaN can be fabricated on SiCOI at much lower cost than on sapphire or SiC substrates now in use for GaN-based devices.
PHASE I: Develop process for conversion of thin Si layer on top of SOI wafer to cubic SiC with low defect density, evaluate characteristics of SiC layers, and initiate growth of GaN-based structures on these SiCOI wafers.
PHASE II: Fabricate GaN-based LEDs on SiCOI wafers and optimize process for conversion of SOI to SiCOI.
PHASE III: Develop 5-inch and 8-inch SiCOI substrates for SiC-based electronics, transmitter for optical bus communication, (consisting of LED array on SiCOI chip with integrated LED driver circuits and DRAM buffer on the base Si wafer), and related chips to integrate LEDs with Si devices.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Integration of blue and green LEDs with Si logic for optical communication and display applications, and low cost SiC substrates for high temperature, high power devices.
REFERENCES:
1. Powell, A.R., Iyer, S.S., and LeGouses, F.K., "New Approaches to the Growth of Low Dislocation Relaxed SiGe Material," Appl. Phys. Lett. 64 (14), 4 April 1994.
2. S. Nakamura, T. Mukai, M. Seno, "High Power GaN P-N Junction Blue-Light Emitting Diodes," Jpn. J. Appl. Physics, 30, L198 (1991).
N95-072 TITLE:Optoelectronic Signal/Image Processing for C3I Applications
OBJECTIVE: Develop optoelectronic technology and/or signal processing modules that will support command, control, communications, and intelligence (C3I) systems; specifically, multi‑function phased array antennas.
DESCRIPTION: Future systems will reduce the number of separate shipboard and airborne antennas by sharing adaptive phased array antennas, multifunction receiver modules, and common signal processing resources. Enabling technologies for this concept include wideband phase shifters, high dynamic range fiber optic links (140 dB/2 GHz), methods for adaptive multiple‑beam steering, optical techniques for addressing and interconnecting large numbers of wideband target recognition modules, and robust methods of automatic target recognition (ATR). Fiber optic links with high spurious free dynamic range (>140 dB) are needed to achieve the required receive only signal distribution for the next generation surface combatant. Proposals which exploit the inherent parallelism of optical systems or the speed/bandwidth of photonic technology, including nonlinear optical phenomena, will be considered.
PHASE I: Investigation of proposed concept; identification of innovation and discussion of technical issues. If possible, given technical status and funding, conduct laboratory demonstration proving feasibility of concept or resolution of controversial issue.
PHASE II: Design of prototype; demonstration of concept with prototype system; discussion of all relevant performance scaling issues and production or manufacturing issues.
PHASE III: Develop Phase II prototype; demonstrate in naval system.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The wideband technology components and systems developed for this program have numerous private sector applications within the high‑speed telecommunications, satellite communications, and digital multimedia distribution markets. In addition, relevant software products designed for efficient resource allocation and data fusion are equally applicable to industrial concerns.
N95-073 TITLE:Ultra-High Isolation Circulator/Duplexer for Surveillance and Communication
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this effort is to develop the most feasible approach to obtain more than 120 dB of isolation in a UHF (200 to 1850 MHz) M port circulator/duplexer. Other performance criteria include low insertion loss (3 dB) and 60 dBm peak power handling capability for transmit and receive applications.
DESCRIPTION: The Navy has constraints in its ability to add new antenna systems to its ships due to the proliferation of antennas currently adorning their topside real estate. One solution to this problem is to combine shipboard systems to utilize a single antenna aperture thereby reducing the number of antennas required and making space available for new ones. To do this Ultra-High Isolation Circulators/Duplexers, exceeding 120 dB, need to be available to achieve the required isolation between transmit and receive functions as well as between systems. This problem is currently referred to as Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and our goal is to obtain Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) between collocated systems.
PHASE I: This part of the investigation will entail defining the problem and assessing the current state of isolator technology in Active (solid state), Passive (ferrite), and Emerging (cancellation) technologies that will lead to solutions. Further, an initial design and demonstration of the isolation properties of the successful approach, and a prototype design of a three port Ultra-High Isolation Circulator/Duplexer, should be addressed.
PHASE II: This part of the investigation will entail transitioning the successful isolation technology to an two-port isolator, a three port circulator, and an M port circulator which meet the program specifications and packaging requirements for both Military and Commercial applications.
PHASE III: The successful devices from Phase II will be transitioned into a Navy Advanced Technology Demonstration.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The commercial sector will make use of ultra-high isolation circulators in the automobile and communications industries. A specific example of an application would be to combine functions such as global positioning, personal (cellular) communications, and intelligent vehicle highway system functions into a single wideband aperture mounted on/in the roof of a vehicle. These systems will be coming to automobiles by the year 2000 and the need for this technology to be identified in order to obtain the required system performance.
REFERENCES:
1. Goto, "The Impact of Mobile Radio Communications", IEEE Antennas and Propagation Transactions, Vol. 34, pp. 22-29, April 1992., IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Transactions
N95-074 TITLE:Underwater Autonomous Power Generation
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to develop a system to trickle charge batteries on the sea floor using mechanical energy available from the local environment.
DESCRIPTION: Future autonomous oceanographic sampling systems will use small autonomous underwater vehicles deployed for many months. The vehicles will recharge their batteries at docking stations on the ocean bottom that contain a cache of batteries. Mechanical, solar and/or thermal energy will be used to trickle charge the battery cache. The focus of this effort is a mechanical system for recharge that utilizes wave and current energy as available near-bottom. Two configurations are envisioned: shelf and deep ocean. The system should be compact, rugged and intelligently manage input mechanical energy types/levels and optimum cycling of state-of-the-art batteries (e.g., lead-acid, silver-zinc, lithium).
PHASE I: System design and evaluation of engineering/cost trade-offs including expected power output in representative ocean regimes and management of different battery types.
PHASE II: Fabrication, testing and evaluation of prototype systems deployed in the ocean (shelf and deep regimes) for at least one month.
PHASE III: Transition of the system to the autonomous oceanographic sampling networks for basic research, mine countermeasure and ordinance disposal missions.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Commercial applications include powering sensor systems for environmental monitoring and prediction, for satellite ground truth, for marine navigation, for fisheries management and for resource development. Common to these applications is the need for remote, undersea measurements with infrequent service intervals to be cost-effective. Local power generation will extend the service life of such systems and enable more data to be telemetered in real time through satellite and cellular phone links.
REFERENCES:
1. Curtin et al., 1993. Autonomous Oceanographic Sampling Networks. Oceanography, 6(3): 86-94.
N95-075 TITLE:Inertial Navigator on a Chip
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to develop a low cost, low power inertial navigation system in a microprocessor form factor for use in small autonomous underwater vehicles.
DESCRIPTION: Future autonomous oceanographic sampling systems will use small autonomous underwater vehicles deployed for many months. Absolute geolocation, attitude and precise relative navigation are critical capabilities for such systems. A geo-located inertial navigator is sought using new micro-electro-mechanical technology. Sensors and signal processing hardware/software should be integrated within a single low power microprocessor-scale chip. In addition to power and cost, utility will be determined by the drift rate, which should be minimized, and the capability to detect the local geographic reference frame (magnetic north, local gravity). The network-class vehicles of interest have a speed range of 1 to 5 knots, and are stable in attitude to within a few degrees. Long intervals of submerged operation will limit access to the satellite-based global positioning system, which should not be relied on as a primary input.
PHASE I: System design and evaluation including sensitivity, drift rate, power consumption and geo-location accuracy.
PHASE II: Fabrication, testing and evaluation of a prototype system deployed on a network-class vehicle operating in the ocean for at least one month.
PHASE III: Transition to the Autonomous Oceanographic Sampling Network for basic research, mine countermeasure and ordinance disposal missions.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Commercial applications include environmental monitoring and prediction, satellite ground truth, marine salvage, and fisheries management. The many industries associated with these activities will benefit.
REFERENCES:
1. Curtin, et al., 1993. Autonomous Oceanographic Sampling Networks. Oceanography, 6(3): 86-94.
N95-076 TITLE:Data Management and Satellite Relay for Environmental Research Aircraft
OBJECTIVE: Development of a data management system and in-flight satellite telemetry capability for real-time data analysis and interactive in-flight aircraft operations.
DESCRIPTION: Innovative data management and satellite telemetry schemes are solicited to support environmental research. Over-the-horizon communications are required to fulfill long duration (24 hour) and long range measurement strategies. In addition, researchers must be able to monitor data collection for real-time decision making and flight operations. The system that is solicited here shall: a) coordinate data streams from various onboard sensors (possibly operated in different configurations), b) provide onboard storage of all data collected, and c) telemeter selected data, video, and all flight control commands via satellite communications to a ground station for real-time analysis and system operation. The command and control system shall use a currently available communication satellite (such as INMARSAT) that continuously provides at least 1200-baud data average transmission rates. Innovative data handling schemes will be required to collect, process, and transmit high data rates from a variety environmental sensors and flight control systems.
PHASE I: Describe a system concept complete with data management and telemetry capabilities.
PHASE II: Produce a viable prototype system and demonstrate it's ability to support in flight data management and telemetry of scientific data and flight control commands from an operating Cessna 337-type research aircraft.
PHASE III: Transition the technology to vendors and customers.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Data management and over the horizon communications for research aircraft can be used to support a variety of world meteorological, oceanographic, and commercial needs.
N95-077 TITLE:Nonlinear Signal Enhancement and Bandwidth Reduction of Image Data Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Techniques
OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate feasibility of signal enhancement and bandwidth reduction, using nonlinear dynamical techniques, applicable to image data which will provide the capability of recovery from transmission errors and provide improved storage efficiency and increased data transmission rates.
DESCRIPTION: Image enhancement techniques based on various transform and statistical approaches are well developed, and their success is well known. Nonlinear techniques based on dynamical approaches are more recent in their development, but promise novel signal processing capabilities. It is envisioned that significant advances in error reduction and data transmission rate may be possible using these nonlinear techniques. The specific application required here is to detect partially obscured mines and barriers, minefields and barrier fields in general, in the surf zone and in shallow water.
PHASE I: Develop a signal processing technique for improving mine and minefield (and barrier and barrier field, and mixed) detection capabilities in the surf zone and shallow water using the indicated nonlinear signal enhancement techniques which will outperform or at least compete with existing techniques. Compare the technique against typical images and typical (even stressing) levels of background clutter and varied background textures.
PHASE II: Produce and demonstrate a finished software package of ready‑to‑use algorithms for mine and minefield (as well as barrier, barrier field, and mixed) detection, classification, and identification based on the developed nonlinear approaches which will run on a shipboard or airborne personal computer.
PHASE III: Bring the finished software package into production in a form that meets Navy needs for application to littoral warfare.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Software and related hardware developed would provide enhanced capabilities in medical imaging, satellite imagery, paramilitary reconnaissance, and industrial applications.
REFERENCES:
1. S. Eidelman, W. Grossmann, and A. Friedman, "Nonlinear Signal Processing Using Integration of Fluid Dynamics Equations," Proc., SPIE 1567, 439‑450 (1991).
N95-078 TITLE:Four-dimensional (4-D) Oceanographic Instrumentation
OBJECTIVE: To develop innovative instrumentation to measure oceanographic and/or meteorologic parameters.
DESCRIPTION: Innovative sensors and measurement techniques are solicited to obtain marine atmospheric and oceanographic variables (e.g., acoustical, optical, physical, biological, chemical, and geophysical) in 3-D space and time. The emphasis must be placed on (1) novel approaches and concepts for measuring multiple parameters coherently in 4-D, and (2) new methods of measuring turbulent fluxes, acoustic wavefields, or fluid motion of multi-phase mixtures (e.g., water/bubbles/sediments/biologics). Instruments can be individual towed/tethered sensors, elements in arrays, or suites of instruments on unmanned vehicles/platforms to cite a few examples. Low cost, reliable and possibly expendable sensors/components are particularly desirable. Full depth capability is desired in instrumentation planned for subsurface use. Particular capabilities are sought for bubble and spray population measurements, dynamic void fractions in water, small scale turbulent fluxes of heat mass & momentum, and near bottom sediment fluxes.
PHASE I: The Phase I effort should provide a description of exactly what will be measured and to what accuracies and coherence as well as providing the design concept for achieving the measurements. Phase I should produce a proof of concept by demonstrating untested concepts or instruments.
PHASE II: The Phase II effort would develop hardware and demonstrate feasibility via laboratory and/or field testing.
PHASE III: Phase III would transition the instruments to ocean science researchers, ocean monitoring systems and operational DOD systems.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: New instruments/technology can be used in commercial ocean monitoring systems.
N95-079 TITLE:Innovative Multimedia Man Machine Interface Concepts
OBJECTIVE: To develop interactive man machine interface concepts which will reduce undersea platform operator workload and present an easily understood array of information to afford a clear and accurate picture of the tactical environment.
DESCRIPTION: A need exists for the development of an interactive man machine interface capable of presenting data from multiple sources and of varying types to an operator in a clear, unambiguous manner, while minimizing the workload required of the operator. This man machine interface must be able to present to an operator all information about a tactical situation pertinent to the type of task being performed, e.g., acoustic warfare, drug interdiction, air traffic control, and allow the operator to interrogate the data and vary the level of data presented as required by the situation. This man machine interface must present data in real time highlighting important features of the environment/situation in an easily recognizable manner.
PHASE I: Explore multimedia man machine interface concepts
PHASE II: Implement concepts in a prototype for demonstration with data fusion technology developments
PHASE III: Transition prototype to production systems
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The display of data to operators becomes an increasingly more difficult task as the amount and types of data to be presented increases. This is true in a military application such as acoustic warfare as well as the tracking of targets and weather for the FAA, or the sorting of possible drug trafficking aircraft in a busy traffic corridor. As systems develop to higher levels of complexity, more data is available for exploitation. In order not to completely overwhelm the system operators, the man machine interface must be carefully designed to present the data in a user friendly and natural way. The use of multimedia technology may provide a better means to help an operator have a clear understanding of the situation in which he/she is working.
N95-080 TITLE:High Temperature Batteries for Underwater Vehicle Propulsion
OBJECTIVE: Demonstrate the performance capability of high temperature batteries to increase the range and speed of underwater systems.
DESCRIPTION: The silver oxide/zinc (AgO/Zn) battery is the Navy's workhorse power supply for driving a number of its underwater vehicles, like Swimmer Delivery Vehicles, Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles, torpedoes and torpedo targets. For such use, AgO/Zn offers the highest energy density of any commercially available, high power rechargeable battery. However this energy density is still insufficient to power the run times needed by future vehicles especially at sea water temperatures. Under these conditions a high temperature battery has the potential to provide three to four times the gravimetric energy density. Naval vehicles require from 100 to 160 volts for 6, 10 and 20 hour periods, typically, and most applications require no more than 100 cycles. The space for the power supply is often limited to an 18- or 36-inch diameter.
PHASE I: Design a high temperature battery power supply for underwater vehicles. Evaluate energy and power densities (both gravimetric and volummetric) as a function of the energy content and physical size (including all ancillary components)of the high temperature battery. These should include all additions to the battery to assure safe operations in the vehicle, on the deployment platform, and in storage.
PHASE II: A specification will be provided for a specific application which will be representative of one or more of the sizings from Phase I. Bench top demonstration of the high temperature battery chemistry.
PHASE III: Transition for further development into the ONR High Energy Battery Task (RJ14Y41).
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Electric vehicles for civilian use. Quiet electric vehicles for front line military use.
REFERENCES:
1. E.J. Cairns, The Electrochemical Society Interface, Winter 1992, p.39.
2. Anon., International Defense Review, September 1991, p.944.
3. Handbook of Batteries and Fuel Cells, D. Linden, ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1984. Table 26-6, pp. 26-9.
N95-081 TITLE:Nonlinear Dynamics of Crane Operation at Sea
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this research is to devise automated crane operating procedures based on the nonlinear dynamics of crane cable motions at sea to allow the safe transfer of cargo in Sea State 3 and above.
DESCRIPTION: The Navy uses crane ships to transfer cargo to smaller, lighter ships at sea when ports are not available for the heavier crane ship. The cargo is in standardized large containers. This transfer operation becomes dangerous when the condition Sea State 3 is reached. This corresponds to 3 1/2 to 4 foot waves. Pendulation of the crane cable occurs as the load is lowered. In addition, the larger crane ship responds more to ocean swells, while the light ship is more effected by the local wave conditions. Highly skilled operators can still operate in Sea State 3, so safe operation is possible. Automated nonlinear dynamical control techniques have experimentally proved to be successful in controlling unstable behavior in lasers, circuits, actuators, and cardiac tissue. It is hoped these types of nonlinear controls can be applied to crane operation.
PHASE I: A realistic theoretical and numerical study of the operation of a three dimensional Navy style crane on a ship being driven by wave motions. This should illuminate all possible motions and instabilities in the crane-load dynamics as a function of Sea State. Automated control techniques will be developed and demonstrated. This can include developing a protocol of operation using available operator controls and data inputs, as well as, suggesting feasible design modifications and additional data input devices, eg motion sensors.
PHASE II: The theory of crane operation will be tested experimentally on a model with progressively higher sea states. This will include picking up a load and transferring it to a lighterage ship. Control will be applied in an automated manner to minimize cable oscillations.
PHASE III: Automated crane operation at sea will be tested on a Naval vessel.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Maritime fleets would benefit from safer crane operations at sea and increased efficiency by maintaining operations in higher Sea States.
N95-082 TITLE: High Efficiency Organic Light Emitting Diodes
OBJECTIVE: The simple fabrication of high efficiency (>4%), organic light emitting diodes using conventional, economical, processable polymers and simple room temperature processing.
DESCRIPTION: Overcome difficulties with conventional polymer light emitting diodes, which include (1) mismatch between the work-functions of the anode and the cathode materials and, respectively, the ∂ and ∂* orbitals of the electroluminescent polymer that result in a significant increases in operating voltage of the devices, (2) low mobility of injected charge carriers in undoped conjugated polymers ( 10-5 to 10-2 cm2/V.s), (3) space charge effects near the electrodes limiting the carrier concentrations, (4) combination of low carrier mobility and low carrier concentration resulting in weak current (low brightness). (3) unbalanced densities of injected holes and electrons because at the two polymer/metal interfaces and resultant dependence of recombination rate on population of minority carriers (excess majority carriers simply reduce device efficiency).
PHASE I: Develop innovative solutions using alternative device architectures to overcome the above difficulties and exploit the phenomenon of polymer electroluminescence. Develop a novel approach to the injection of charge carriers into a conjugated polymer.
PHASE II: Reduce phase I effort to engineering practice.
PHASE III: Scale up synthesis/fabrication/processing to pre-production level; fabricate devices for air/fleet evaluation such as advanced information displays for Naval aircraft and vessels.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Displays for watch dial illumination, illuminated toys, and illuminated novelties.
N95-083 TITLE:Two-Dimensional Ultrasonic Imaging Array Transducer
OBJECTIVE: Devise materials processing methods to make a pulse-echo ultrasonic imaging transducer having the form of a two-dimensional array for forming three-dimensional images.
DESCRIPTION: Currently, ultrasonic images are made by sending an acoustic probe pulse and detecting returning echoes with a single element transducer or a line array of transducer elements; two-dimensional images are made by either mechanically or electrically scanning the acoustic beam in a plane. In order to speedily image a three-dimensional volume, two-dimensional arrays of transducer elements are needed. Fabricating the large number of very small transducer elements and providing the necessary electrical connections to each element presents demanding material synthesis and processing challenges, especially in obtaining a transducer material with high electro-mechanical conversion efficiency, in tailoring each element's electrical impedance to interface it efficiently to the transmit/receive electronics, and in matching the array acoustically to the imaging medium without introducing interelement crosstalk. This topic focuses on solving the materials issues in fabricating the two-dimensional transducer array rather than acoustics or electronics issues which are also needed for three-dimensional imaging.
PHASE I: Demonstrate materials fabrication methods for a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducer elements with electrical interconnections to all elements. Determine acoustic and electric properties of candidate structures.
PHASE II: Devise materials processing methods to fabricate two-dimensional ultrasonic transducer arrays complete with acoustic backing and matching layers and electrical connections. Fabricate a prototype transducer array with high element sensitivity, high interelement isolation, and appropriate electric and acoustic impedance. Form three-dimensional acoustic images using the array.
PHASE III: Construct the transmit/receive and image display electronics to form three-dimensional volumetric ultrasonic images in real-time.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Key component of pulse-echo ultrasonic imaging systems for Navy undersea mine classification, non-destructive material evaluation, and medical diagnostic imaging.
REFERENCES:
1. R. L. Goldberg and S. W. Smith, “Multilayer 2D Array Transducers with Integrated Circuit Transmitters and Receivers: A Feasibility Study,” Proceedings of the 1994 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium.
N95-084 TITLE:Innovative Repair/Maintenance Materials for Navy Piers and Wharves
OBJECTIVE: Develop novel materials and processes applicable to Navy shore infrastructure for rapid repair and maintenance of concrete structures.
DESCRIPTION: Navy piers, wharves, and other waterfront structures must withstand regular usage with a minimum of maintenance and scheduled repair in an intrinsically aggressive marine environment. In addition, these structures must constantly stand ready for very heavy surge usage during critical times with little potential for extensive repairs either before or during surge periods. Innovative scientific, technological, or both approaches are needed to support the development of alternative cementitious (hydraulic) systems, repair materials and processes to maintain the integrity of concrete structures or return the structure to its design strength, and novel nondestructive inspection/evaluation procedures specifically designed to evaluate the integrity of large marine concrete structures.
PHASE I: During Phase I the contractor will be expected to survey current repair and maintenance techniques and contrast them with proposed replacement materials, processes, inspection techniques for naval shore concrete structures. Pilot demonstrations of minor repairs of cracking or surface spallation would be desirable.
PHASE II: Phase II should concentrate on the development of an integrated approach to pier and wharf maintenance and repair including inspection and repair materials and processes. Concepts for the accelerated screening of repair and maintenance concepts would be very desirable attributes of a Phase II effort. The compatibility of techniques to modern lightweight concretes would be a further advantage to any materials developed during Phases I or II.
PHASE III: Phase III would be expected to follow a successful Phase II with the contractor participating in the establishment of standard procedures that would be applicable to naval structures and in the supply of materials and processes and expertise to further development and application.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Although Navy shore structures have unique requirements with respect to surge usage coupled with often lower general usage and requirements for structural flexibility in usage, the structures themselves are virtually identical to commercial piers, wharves, and other waterfront structures. Repair materials and inspection techniques developed for Navy structures will be capable of direct application in commercial structures.
N95-085 TITLE:Explosions of Particle Clouds Comprised of Reactive High Temperature Materials in Air
OBJECTIVE: Develop methodology to disperse and ignite clouds of self-sustaining reactive materials using SHS (self propagating high temperature synthesis) technology, in order to achieve superior fuel/air explosive capability.
DESCRIPTION: It is essential to develop the methodology to ensure ignition and self propagation of solid fuels in dispersed fuel/air reactions. These systems normally have a tendency to quench because of the rapid volumetric expansion during dispersion. Consequently, the use of intermetallic/ceramic reactions such as SHS technology is needed in order to ensure that complete combustion and maximum performance can be achieved.
PHASE I: Develop an understanding of the conditions required for ignition and propagation of the SHS and subsequent fuel/air reactions. Demonstrate the capability to inject and form SHS particle clouds in air and to measure the explosion blast pressure.
PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate the capability to disperse and ignite clouds of reactive SHS fuel particles such that complete fuel/air combustion is achieved. Conduct fuel/air test demonstrations and measure performance (blast pressure). Optimize experimental conditions such as dispersion conditions, choice of reactive materials, particle size, morphology, and porosity of system to maximize performance characteristics.
PHASE III: Transition technology into specific weapons programs for military application, and explosions/fire safety programs for industrial application.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The technology developed under this effort can be used to develop an understanding of dust cloud explosions which are serious concerns in several industries, such as coal mines, flour mills, and metal powder factories. The U.S. Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh Research Center Fires and Explosions Office has expressed interest in supporting Phase II awardees in the adaptation of the processes developed here, for Phase III work in industrial programs.
REFERENCES:
1. J. E. Gatia and V. Hiavacek, Ceramic Bulletin, Vol 69, No. 8, 1990
N95-086 TITLE:CFD Code for Surface Pressure Fluctuations
OBJECTIVE: Develop a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code for the prediction of spatially correlated pressure fluctuations on the surface of a structure in an incompressible turbulent flow sufficient for determining the resulting structural vibrations.
DESCRIPTION: Structural vibrations due to spatially correlated pressure fluctuations on a structure in a turbulent flow lead to unwanted acoustic emission to the interior or exterior fields. Prediction of these fluctuations is necessary for development of appropriate noise reduction techniques and/or control of the fluctuations themselves. Within the code adequate temporal and spatial resolution of the pressure fluctuations is required for the spatial correlations.
PHASE I: Develop a basic code to capture the essential features of the pressure fluctuations, including spatial correlations, for a turbulent flow over a simple geometry (eg., flat plate). Demonstrate extendability to practical configurations and flow conditions.
PHASE II: Develop, test, and demonstrate an operational code for practical geometries and flows. The code should be compatible with one or more standard gridding techniques and produce wave‑number/frequency pressure predictions on the surfaces.
PHASE III: Produce a code incorporating the Phase II features for practical flow configurations as occur on naval vessels, commercial aircraft, automotive vehicles, and other industrial flow applications.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The code would find ready application in a number of industries addressing a wide variety of flow noise problems on naval, aerospace, and automotive vehicles, and numerous other fluid flow applications.
REFERENCES:
1. ASME NCA-Vol. 11 (Book H00713), 1991
N95-087 TITLE: Improvements to Naval Ship Engines Through Water Addition
OBJECTIVE: Investigate and develop potential modifications to Naval diesel engine and gas turbine engine cycles by using water addition to improve performance and reduce exhaust emissions.
DESCRIPTION: Engines used to power Navy ships are typically modifications to hardware designed originally for aircraft or land transportation applications. One modification that has not been exploited in the ship environment is the opportunity to introduce considerable amounts of clean water into the engine cycle. Recent advances in the production of fresh water from salt and brackish waters have now made it possible to consider water addition to engine cycles at rates equal to or greater than the fuel flow. It is known that if significant amounts of water are available, new thermodynamic cycles can be constructed so as to improve efficiency, raise power density, and/or reduce exhaust emissions. All of these characteristics have particular benefit to Naval applications where power plant and fuel occupy a large fraction of the platform. In addition, the detectability and survivability of a Naval ship are also quite dependent on the emissions and reliability of the power plant. It is therefore desired to examine how the thermodynamic, fluid control, and combustion chemistry effects of air breathing ship engines can be re-optimized through the introduction of water to various locations of existing or appropriately modified Naval engine configurations.
PHASE I: Identify modifications to thermodynamic cycles using water augmentation, and develop optimization procedures. Characterize the effects of water addition on compression, combustion, control systems, and exhaust emissions. Examine the behavior of water injection/sprays for various geometries, flow fields, and temperature conditions.
PHASE II: Select engine arrangements that demonstrate the benefits of water addition, and perform testing new components. Explore water production methods appropriate to the needs of the cycles, rates and purity needed. Prepare preliminary designs of water augmented power plants as configured for shipboard installation.
PHASE III: Assemble a prototype engine and demonstrate, in cooperation with an engine manufacturer, its performance. Submit final designs showing engine, water systems, exhaust, and shipboard modifications needed for both a retrofit and a new ship application.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Many engine types used on Naval ships are also used on commercial ships. While the Naval optimization is different, a large part of the new water addition technology will be transferable. By bringing the engine manufacturer into the development, it is expected that the commercial applications will be accelerated, especially for engines with demonstrated performance. In addition, this technology should show considerable promise for land based engines where water is available, for example in power plants. The commercial potential seems highest in the areas of reduced pollution from exhaust gases and increased power density.
N95-088 TITLE: Actuators and Sensors Placement for Active Control
OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate techniques and devices for optimal placement of actuators and sensors for active noise and vibration control.
DESCRIPTION: Active control of noise and vibration has received a great deal of attention and achieved a certain level of practicality. However, active control methods have some limitations and drawbacks that additional research and development efforts are needed for further implementations. These efforts include optimal placement for sensors and actuators, effective control strategy, and affordable control system components. For active control of sound radiation from structures, it is more effective to use structural sensing technique at the nearfield to estimate the far-field acoustic pressure. Collocated sensor/actuator control technique is stable, robust, and economical if the sensors and actuators are integrated properly. To be effective, control algorithms must be model-independent and do not require excessive computing. Most important, current control strategy needs to be extended to off-resonant, and broadband vibration and acoustic control.
PHASE I: Concept formulation: develop concepts and techniques for optimal placement of sensors and actuators for active control of noise and vibration on structures. Select applications and develop devices for test and evaluation.
PHASE II: Design, fabricate, test and evaluate devices to demonstrate the capabilities of optimal placement techniques. Demonstrations are conducted on practical systems commonly found in both military and commercial applications.
PHASE III: Transition methodology, technology, and devices to practical and engineering problems in both defense and commercial industries.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This technology would have direct applications to control noise and vibration on vibrating structures, such as aircraft structure, machinery, ground transportation vehicles, and home appliances.
REFERENCES:
1. Burdisso, R. A. and Fuller, C. R., Theory of Feedforward Controlled Systems Eigenproperties, Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 1990.
2. Dosch, J. J., Inman, D. J., and Garcia, E., A Self-sensing Actuator for Collocated Control,” Journal of Intelligent Materials and Structures, January 1992.
3. Hagood, N. W. and Anderson, E. H., Simultaneous Sensing and Actuation using Piezoelectric Materials,” SPIE Conference on Active and Adaptive Optical Components, July 1991.
4. Liang, C., Sun, F. P., and Rogers, C. A., An Investigation of the Energy Consumption and Conversion of Piezoelectric Actuators Driving Active Structures, Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Intelligent Materials, June 1994.
N95-089 TITLE : Simulation of Fracture in Fluid Structural Interaction
OBJECTIVE: Develop a dynamic fracture simulation capability for design and analysis of hull structures for dynamic events such as underwater explosion, ship grounding, and fatique.
DESCRIPTION: Several structural dynamics software programs are now used by the industry in crashworthiness analyses and other severe impact applications. In addition hydro codes have been developed for the simulation of shock and underwater explosions. None of these codes is capable of simulating the fracture process in large submerged structures, because they rely on finite element or finite difference which use structured meshes. Finite element methods are quite limited in their capabilities to simulate fracture, because cracks can generally only be modeled along the directions of the element edges. Therefore, modeling of arbitrary crack growth by finite elements requires continuous remeshing. The major breakthrough has been the development of the Element-Free Galerkin (EFG) computational method that is able to simulate fracture very accurately. This method is often called a meshless or gridless method, as the method requires only nodes. The interpolants which are used for the unknowns are moving least-square interpolants. In the EFG method, arbitrary cracks can move through the solid, and the problem of interest is modeled by a set of nodes and a Computer Aided Design-like model for the outside and inside surfaces of the structure, including any cracks which are modeled. The analyst does not have to know where cracks are emanating from and which direction they are propagating. Crack initiation and propagation criteria are provided by the user; the program then implants nodes and moves nodes in the direction of the crack with no elements or connectivity to be tracked.
PHASE I: Develop computer code capability base on Element-Free Galerkin. Perform the analysis of dynamic loading on a plate and compare its fracture. Demonstrate the coupling with existing hydrodynamic software for canonical geometries of submerged shells. Demonstrate strategy for parallel processing.
PHASE II : Couple code with existing hydrodynamic code for fluid simulation. Develop, test, and demonstrate the simulation capability for general geometries. Implement parallel processing for efficient computation.
PHASE III: Develop a general code with user documentation
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Applications to: car and aircraft crashworthiness analysis, oil tanker grounding (design, litigation etc.), off-shore oil rig safety, power and gas industry safety and environmental impact studies.
REFERENCES:
1. T. Belytschko, "Element Free Galerkin Method," Keynote Address, Society of Engineering Science, 31st Annual Tech. Meeting 10-12, 1994.
2. B. Nayroles, G. Touzot and P. Villon, "Generalizing the Finite Element Method: Diffuse Approximation and Diffuse Elements," Computational Mechanics, 10, pp. 307-318, 1992.
3. T. Belytscko, Y. Y. Lu, and L. Gu, "Element Free Galerkin Methods," Int. Jnl. for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 37, pp. 229-256, 1994.
N95-090 TITLE: Parametric Analysis of Naval Ship Systems
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this effort is to develop a set of advanced design algorithms and implement them in the form of a software package which will allow a user to perform parametric analysis of shipboard systems (PASS). Specifically, PASS will rely heavily on first principles analytical models of all significant aspects of shipboard systems. The impact of parametric changes of a given system will be represented by the change to the system itself as well as its interaction with other systems. As a result, PASS will enable ship designers and systems engineers alike to assess the effects of changes in size, weight, and performance of a multitude of fundamental parameters defining operational systems and ship performance.
DESCRIPTION: PASS will enable navy ship designers to parametrically evaluate changes in systems and operational requirements on overall system performance. The basic core of PASS will have the capability of defining all significant subsystems of a ship, based on first-principles algorithms, to a level of detail sufficient to verify the feasibility of the ship with a proper balance of weights, volume and power. Additionally, the PASS user interface will allow a user friendly implementation of the models, while allowing the user to define the ship design to a useful level of detail. The advanced version of PASS will enable ship designers to assess overall shipboard improvements in survivability, covertness, and operational efficiency with the option to specify the platform.
PHASE I: Define all relevant systems (i.e., structure, propulsion, power plant, electrical, communications, weapons, etc.) and platform characteristics (i.e., size, displacement, volume, required complement, etc.), and compile these definitions into an analytical model.
PHASE II: This part of the development of PASS will involve enhancing the scope and accuracy of the first principles algorithms and verifying them by performing a detailed analysis on a representative test ship such as a modern guided missile destroyer. Also, a cost analysis modeling feature will be added to PASS. Most of the effort in Phase II will be focused on assessing and improving the models of shipboard systems and costs. This version of PASS will allow ship designers to quickly and accurately determine the payoff of parametric changes in system performance for a current or future ship design.
PHASE III: The refined version of PASS from Phase II shall further be developed to encompass the description of parameters related to ship survivability, covertness and operational efficiency. As in Phase II, essential improvements to existing models will be carried out, as well as the addition of new models as required to describe new shipboard systems as well as emerging technologies as they develop. In addition, PASS will become SURPASS and will incorporate sockets to CAD, NE, and IR packages which will allow optional implementation of platform specific analysis.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The commercial sector will make use of PASS in the design of both marine and terrestrial vehicles. The technology developed will be particularly useful to leverage small engineering firms into the automobile, bus, and marine vessel design and development sectors. Specifically, PASS will aid in the design of advanced fuel efficient vehicles and will eventually enable modeling of futuristic capabilities such as Intelligent Vehicle Highway System functions in particular.
N95-091 TITLE:Near-Infrared Fluorophores for Advanced Array Biosensors
OBJECTIVE: Produce new fluorophores suitable for biosensor signal transduction with excitation wavelengths greater than 665 nm and having electrophilic functionalities for covalent attachment to proteins and nucleic acids.
DESCRIPTION: In order to better exploit fiber optic biosensing based on fluorescence detection (via intensity, ratioed intensity or lifetime), reactive near-infrared fluorophores are required (to match diode laser sources and optical fiber transmittance). These fluorophores should contain electrophilic substituents (maleimide, N-hydroxy succinimidyl ester, isothiocyanate, haloacetyl or imidoester) for easy covalent attachment to protein and nucleic acid nucleophiles. They should be good fluorophores (quantum yield >20%, extinction coefficient >100,000 M-1 cm-1 in last absorption band, reasonably photostable) and soluble in water at ~1 mg/ml near pH 7 (<5% co-solvent if necessary). Peak absorbance should be no lower than 665 nm with peak emission in the range 690-1000 nm. Desirable excitation wavelengths include 670, 690, 790 and 830 nm (750nm and 850-1000 nm are undesirable). A series of affordable fluorophores is anticipated, with emphasis on solvent-insensitive emission (although high solvent sensitivity is also of interest). Combinatorial synthetic approaches might be considered.
PHASE I: Demonstrate synthesis of representative fluorophore (lacking electrophilic functionality if necessary), measure fluorescence emission spectrum.
PHASE II: Design, synthesize and characterize a series of reactive fluorophores with the desired properties. In consultation with the sponsor, attach these to representative proteins and nucleic acids and evaluate
PHASE III: Optimize and scale-up synthesis of best candidates from Phase II and prepare for transition to commercial production.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Civilian applications of near-infrared fluorescence-based biosensors in Clinical Diagnostics, Medical Imaging (both integrated into fiber optic networks eventually), Environmental Monitoring, Workplace Monitoring, Process Control and Applied Science are likely to be important.
REFERENCES:
1. Red and Near-Infrared Fluorometry by Richard B. Thompson (in Topics in Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Volume 4: Probe Design and Chemical Sensing, edited by J. R. Lakowicz, pp 151-181, Plenum Press, New York, 1994).
N95-092 TITLE:A Rapid In Vitro Diagnostic Kit to Detect and Identify Interferon‑alpha in Patient Fluid Samples
OBJECTIVE: To develop solid‑phase membrane technology (utilizing immunology/nucleic acid probes) for a commercially available in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kit that will rapidly detect, identify and semi‑quantify interferon‑alpha in patient fluid samples. This technology will assist the health care provider in distinguishing acute viral infections from acute bacterial infections and reduce the use of inappropriate drugs for the treatment of afflicted naval personnel either in a deployed field environment or in out‑patient clinics.
DESCRIPTION: The government has a need for a diagnostic kit for rapid identification of interferon‑alpha in patient fluids. Recently it has been recognized that interferon‑alpha may represent a clinically useful marker for acute viral infections. However, no clinically useful assay for interferon‑alpha exists, although the peptide sequences of several of the interferon‑alpha subtypes associated with viral infections are known. Available information should allow the design of a probe specific for the consensus sequence of interferon‑alpha subtypes that is suitable for use in a solid‑phase membrane‑based kit. The availability of such a kit should allow reliable detection of interferon‑alpha subtypes associated with human viral infections without the use of special equipment.
PHASE I: Design/develop a specific probe suitable for a solid‑phase membrane‑based IVD kit that is reactive with human interferon‑alpha subtypes commonly associated with acute viral infections in patient fluid samples.
PHASE II: Validate the sensitivity and specificity of the IVD kit with acute phase human serum/plasma samples or other body fluids from confirmed viral and bacterial infections.
PHASE III: Evaluate the IVD kit under field‑deployed conditions and submit for Food and Drug Administration approval per regulatory requirements for IVD kits.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: It is widely recognized by clinicians that acute viral infections are indistinguishable from acute bacterial infections on clinical grounds, and the current practice is to prescribe antibiotics in the event that the infection is of bacterial origin. Being able to rapidly distinguish between viral and bacterial infections with clinical specimens will reduce this inappropriate use of antibacterial drugs in patients experiencing flu‑like symptoms. A kit with this capability will both reduce costs of health care delivery and reduce the unnecessary build‑up of drug resistant bacteria in human populations. The kit technology to be developed under this topic is directly applicable to manufacture of other IVD kits for clinical diagnosis.
REFERENCES:
1. Raymond, J., et al. Absence of intrathecal synthesis of some interferon-alpha subtypes in bacterial meningitis. J Infect. Dis. 166:657-659, 1992.
2. De Boissieu, D. et al. Viral infection in the neonatal period: diagnostic difficulties, the role of interferon alpha levels. Pediatrie (Bucur) 46:677-684, 1991.
N95-093 TITLE: Biofilters for Reduction of Gaseous Emissions
OBJECTIVE: Develop biofilters suitable for removal of volatile organic carbon (VOC) or volatile sulfur‑containing compounds.
DESCRIPTION: Emissions of VOC or sulfur may create health hazards or cause noxious odors, and some emissions are regulated under the Clean Air Act. Sources of VOC and sulfur on shipboard include holding tanks for sewage, oily bilge and hazardous solvents. VOC emissions result from manufacturing, maintenance and disposal operations at DOD bases. Biofiltration devices can be engineered to provide efficient and cost‑effective approaches to reducing emissions both on ship and shore. VOC and toxic sulfur emissions can be effectively removed using biologically based filtration systems such as biofilters, biological trickling filters and bioscrubbers.
PHASE I: Screen microorganisms for gaseous waste transformation; design physical‑chemical support system for biofiltration.
PHASE II: Develop lab‑scale biofiltration model to confirm transformation of emissions to benign products. Engineer scale‑up to working model, and evaluate use in ship and shore applications.
PHASE III: Identify dual‑use applications of biofilters for commercialization. Applications will include emission reduction on shipboard and at military bases, as well as reduction of industrial emissions in a variety of manufacturing processes.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Compliance with the Clean Air Act of 1990 will require innovative and cost‑effective technologies. Markets for biofiltration technology are currently estimated to be in excess of $1 billion.
N95-094 TITLE: Haptic Interface Technology for Telerobotics and Virtual Reality
OBJECTIVE: Exploit and implement recent developments in the science of haptic sensing and sensor‑driven control in humans and robots to advance the technology of haptic interfaces for telerobotic and virtual reality systems.
DESCRIPTION: There are a number of recent developments in the science of haptic sensing (touch and kinesthesis) and sensor‑driven control in humans and robots that can inform the design of haptic interfaces for telerobotic and virtual reality systems in applications that require perception of features such as object shape, compliance, impact, contact, sliding, slipping, and kinematic constraint. These developments include microsensors, haptic display devices, and display algorithms for encoding the feel and movement of real or virtual objects during manipulation or exploration. They also include advances in our understanding of the nature of haptic feedback needed to create a realistic haptic experience. The objective of this SBIR is to implement these promising scientific developments.
PHASE I: Carry out feasibility study for incorporation of advanced haptic sensors, display devices and haptic display algorithms into haptic interfaces for specific telerobotic or virtual reality systems. Provide demonstration of the feasibility.
PHASE II: Implement haptic interface technology in prototype hardware or software products. Demonstrate interface for application such as remote robotic manipulation, remote surgery, virtual environments for training.
PHASE III: Develop for commercialization haptic interface technology for telerobotic or virtual reality displays prototyped in PHASE II.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Haptic interfaces have a commercial potential in a wide variety of domains. Some of these are telerobotic manipulators for hazardous waste removal, nuclear plant maintenance and repair, oceanographic sampling, remote surgery; for virtual reality applications in the entertainment industry, in medical training, training in the aerospace industry; for computer interfaces.
N95-095 TITLE: Man‑Machine Interface to Integrated Mechanical Diagnostics Systems
OBJECTIVE: To provide a realtime view of mechanical system health in high stress operational and combat environments.
DESCRIPTION: As we transition our aging fleet into the 21st century, concerns for safety and affordability are in the forefront. Ships, aircraft, land combat vehicles and submarines will be operational well‑past their planned service lives thereby introducing a new set of challenges for fleet operators and maintainers. Accordingly, both the Safety and Logistics Round Tables identified the transition to "Condition Based Maintenance" and the maturing of mechanical diagnostics technologies as their number one priority. Mechanical diagnostics technologies emerging from the Navy S&T community will allow onboard, realtime processing of data to accurately determine machinery health. These technologies will be available commercially in three to five years. Although information vital to safety and weapons system readiness will be generated by onboard processors, present man‑machine interface technologies are not capable of providing usable information onboard, in realtime. To harness the enormous power of integrated mechanical diagnostics systems, new approaches to man machine interface need to be explored. U.S. Navy forward deployed and Marine Corps expeditionary force operations will depend on onboard processing to safely support the doctrine of Operational Maneuver from the Sea.
PHASE I: Contractor will develop a (COTS) helmet mounded display demonstrator capable of displaying video imagery, color graphics and symbology. Video displays must be upgradable to HDTV‑standards as those technologies mature. Video in Phase I will be used for mission scenario demonstration purposes. Also in Phase I, the video capability will be used to demonstrate an embedded training capability and an electronic tech manual for field maintenance personnel. Contractor will coordinate with ONR/NAWC (TSD) to incorporate actual mission video, audio and diagnostics graphics and symbology to produce a proof of concept demonstration centered on an actual combat mission scenario for a Marine Corps H‑46 (medium lift) helicopter. Contractor will demonstrate one example of a video electronic tech‑manual on the HMD for (off‑board) use by H‑46 maintenance technicians and one example of how embedded training could be incorporated in the MMI‑system.
PHASE II: H‑46 Flight demonstration. Begin avionics systems integration (with diagnostics system provider) for interface to a government specified integrated mechanical diagnostics system. The flight system will be capable of fusing data from (at least) two separate diagnostics subsystems and display this information in realtime. Contractor will coordinate with NAWC (TSD) and NAVAIR to gain appropriate hardware and software certifications and flight clearances. Contractor will deliver a flight‑ready MMI system within one year of the beginning of Phase II. The flight system will also incorporate limited embedded training and video electronic tech‑manual capabilities for off‑board use by H‑46 maintenance technicians using the helmet mounted display while on aircraft main or auxiliary power.
PHASE III: Transitions of MMI‑technologies include the entire Navy and Marine Corps helicopter fleet of approximately 1200 aircraft. An immediate transition opportunity may be the H‑46 program where the Program Manager has voiced a desire for integrated diagnostics systems as part of a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) for the H‑46. Another immediate opportunity is the U.S. Army CH‑47 Program that is now planning integrated diagnostics for that aircraft in a modernization program. The British MoD is also very interested in these technologies. No investment in onboard, realtime MMI is taking place in Europe. We anticipate that the contractor would team with the diagnostics system provider to incorporate MMI technologies as an integral part of a realtime, onboard integrated mechanical diagnostics system.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: There is a vast commercial market for MMI technologies worldwide. New technologies are increasing the power of mechanical diagnostics systems while dramatically lowering the cost. As such, the commercial customer base becomes (nearly) open‑ended. Whether helmet mounted, goggle mounted or flat panel displays, the new technologies emerging from this SBIR will be tremendously valuable to the performer. In the emerging market for the next generation of realtime mechanical diagnostics systems, MMI will be a multi‑billion dollar industry. Customers: commercial autos, trucking, machine tool industry, railroads, oil/gas industry, commercial aviation (helicopter/fixed wing), auto/boat racing, nuclear power industry, commercial shipping, and machinery‑intensive heavy industry
REFERENCES:
1. Boff, K. R., Kaufman, L. and Thomas, J. P. (1986) Handbook of perception and human performance: Vol. 2, John Wiley & Sons: N.Y.
N95-096 TITLE:A Communication System for Analog and Digital Neural VLSI Microchips and Boards
OBJECTIVE: To develop a scalable communication system for neural event messages communicating between analog and digital neuromorphic VLSI chips and boards.
DESCRIPTION: The NAVY is developing analog VLSI sensors and pattern recognition systems in the acoustic and visual domains based upon neural network technology. Many applications will require the integration of multiple chips into tightly interacting subsystems where neural messages must travel from one chip to another or from one circuit board to another with proper accounting for message delays. Since analog neurons integrate signals in time, the communication system must not introduce latencies or variabilities that interfere with the neural integration mechanism. The goal of this SBIR is to develop a system that can 1) represent neural events taking place at a variety of sparse locations, 2) transport and route the event messages with adequate time representation, and 3) scale gracefully to very large multichip and multiboard systems using modular circuit board techniques with attention to size and power. Examples of this type of communication are the address‑event, event‑list and similar schemes proposed for action potential oriented neuromorphic analog VLSI. This SBIR work would allow efficient coupling and expansion of multiple address‑event type pathways into a larger network of interacting neural network regions.
PHASE I: Develop communication protocols that generalize address‑event and event‑list schemes. Specify the hardware electrical and mechanical interface for a multiboard system. Demonstrate feasibility via a prototype of the system that has at least two neural network boards interacting over a backplane with central power distribution. Identify interface components best implemented in VLSI. Identify parameters that critically affect scalability.
PHASE II: Develop a complete demonstration system that integrates several neural network boards into a pattern recognition or control application while using both neuromorphic VLSI and classical digital neural network methods. Develop tools for system monitoring and performance measurement. Develop guidelines for deployment and for interfacing to existing NAVY electronic standards.
PHASE III: Productize the core components of the phase II demonstration hardware. Commercialize these items and seek industry standardization where merited. Develop and source custom VLSI support circuitry.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The core communication technology developed will conserve bandwidth and preserve timing relationships making it an enabling technology wherever neural networks are implemented in hardware that spans multiple chips or circuit boards.
REFERENCES:
1. Mead, C. Analog VLSI and Neural Systems, Addison Wesley, 1989.
N95-097 TITLE: Nonacoustic Sensors of Sliding Contact Mechanical Properties
OBJECTIVE: The detection of the state of mechanical "health" of a moving component, e.g., gear, bearing, or seal, is a major component in the growing field of condition based maintenance. Additional sensors of state variables, e.g., pressure, temperature, and chemical composition, must be embedded as integral components of moving parts and used as direct and early warning devices for mechanical failure. (We do not seek improvements or modifications of existing devices based
on acoustic or acceleration sensing.)
DESCRIPTION: Many problems associated with ageing military vehicles, e.g., trucks, tanks and aircraft, in particular, have to do with mechanical failure in critical elements. Rotor hub and transmission failures in certain helicopters, for example, have lead to a number of unfortunate fatal accidents. Past practice in maintenance is based on the cycle lifetime notion; vehicles and machinery are inspected on definite intervals and parts are replaced based on these inspections. The difficulty with this approach is that it does not work to detect many critical failures. In addition, the inspection process--requiring the dismantling of components--frequently introduces faults. The most tested approach makes use of acoustic sensors or accelerometers to detect adverse vibrations that arise and are associated with a failing component. The difficulty with condition-based maintenance has to do with (1) a general difficulty of knowing which mechanical elements are critical, and (2) the deconvolution of the acoustic signals received from various locations on the entire machine. Sliding solid contacts, such as gears and bearings, are difficult to investigate for the simple reason that it has proved difficult to insert appropriate probes into the interface. Some recent work has demonstrated that it is possible to insert thermocouples, pressure sensing devices, and even spectroscopic probes into the interface between two solid sliding contacts. Most current research obtains data on the conditions in the sliding contact--pressure, temperature, and chemical properties of lubricants.
PHASE I: Demonstrate that a new nonacoustic, nonaccelerometer in situ sensor can detect critical failure in a sliding contact sufficiently long before the actual failure occurs to be of use as a warning sensor. Such a demonstration can employ traditional scientific approaches, such as pin-on-disk measurements used in the study of friction and wear. However, the sensor must be an integral part of the sliding contact and cannot merely sense the state of a metal or other solid surface after emerging from contact.
PHASE II: Fabricate a working gear, bearing, or mechanical seal that incorporates the sensor or sensors and carry out tests to mechanical failure to demonstrate that the system works on actual components.
PHASE III: Initiate commercialization of the sensor in an appropriate system. The system can be a military machine (including weapon) or vehicle that is prone to critical mechanical failures.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: There is a growing interest in condition based maintenance in the aerospace and automobile industries. In the civilian aerospace industry, for example, many of the problems that plague the military fleet also appear. Tight financial times have reduced the number of new airliners purchased and have greatly increased the necessary lifetime of the existing fleet. Retrofitting aircraft with critical element and critical failure sensors--as faults are detected--will greatly increase the lifetime of the aircraft, greatly increase the safety margin, and greatly reduce the overall operating costs. In the automobile industry, similar concerns for safety and economy of operation arise.
REFERENCES:
1. A. M. Williams, Y. Jiang and D. Ben-Amotz, chem. Phys. 180, 119-130 (1994): Chem. Phys., 183, 385 (1994)
2. P. D. Horak and U. J. Gibson, Appl. Phys. Lett., 65, 968 (1994)
N95-098 TITLE:Ductile-to-Brittle Transition in Molybdenum Disilicide (MoSi2) and Related Materials
OBJECTIVE: Improve ductile-brittle-transition temperature (DBTT) theoretically (via modelling) and experimentally (via microalloying, for example) in order to provide materials for advanced fighter jet engine parts, such as blades, disks and vanes.
DESCRIPTION: MoSi2 possesses almost all the attributes needed in a very high temperature structural material with use temperatures exceeding 10000C. The only drawback of MoSi2 is its low ductility at low temperatures (<5000C). At present, the DBTT of MoSi2 is about 10000C, and it must be lowered to under 5000C to exploit its full potential without sacrificing its high temperature creep and oxidation properties. In light of related efforts, efforts should focus on microalloying with elements to "ductilize" and toughen MoSi2 intrinsically, permitting economical composition and convenient testing (as a monolithic material). (The addition of a second phase, such as SiCp or SiCw, is not to be considered.)
PHASE I: Theoretical analysis, perhaps by first principals and/or ternary and higher phase diagrams (verified by mechanical and metallurgical characterization).
PHASE II: Extension of approaches to produce larger samples of a family of promising "alloys" with and without particulate or whisker additions (e.g., SiC or Si3N4).
PHASE III: Develop manufacturing methods for jet engine or other propulsion system components with a prime contractor(s).
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The market for a ductile and tough MoSi2 is very large. Conventional MoSi2 is presently used for heating elements in an oxidizing environment for >12000C service. Once the problem of toughness, or lack of it, is solved, markets for the material will undoubtedly open up for uses more mundane than that of high temperature heating elements.
N95-099 TITLE: Spatial Geometric Analysis Systems
OBJECTIVE: Develop enabling technology that will enhance the capability to apply constraint-based techniques to spatial geometric applications in mechanical engineering design.
DESCRIPTION: Constraint-based solvers offer an important approach to solving complex geometric problems that often arise in mechanical design. Unfortunately there is limited experience with this technology outside a few research groups. It is important to support development of such software tools that are robust and compatible with a few of the major commercial CAD systems and that provide functionality not currently available in existing commercial systems. Current tools are often limited range of applicability and robustness and are not well integrated with symbolic-numeric geometric data representations. The long-range goal is to create a high-level, customizable, portable, constraint-based spatial geometric solver tailored to CAD applications as arising in the areas of mechanical and assembly design. A near-term objective is to develop a spatial geometric constraint solver with the properties that it (1) does not require that constraints be satisfied in a fixed order, (2) solves a broad class of spatial problems, (3) is computationally efficient, (4) locates solutions when initial problem specification places the shape elements far from their final position, (5) provides for finding alternative solutions, and (6) is interoperable with several commercial CAD systems.
PHASE I: Develop required mathematical techniques and demonstrate a software prototype that demonstrates a important features of a geometric constraint solver. Develop a software design, a clear mathematical justification of its viability, and a software development plan to build a fully functional prototype realizing the above goals.
PHASE II: Develop and validate a fully functional prototype and that is interoperable with several commercial CAD systems. The validation must include realistic constraint problems arising from designs of equipment used by the Navy.
PHASE III: Potential follow-on efforts are expected in Naval ship design and production organizations, on civil engineering activities on government projects, and generally on the design of equipment used by the government.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: A credible solution of the problem can be marketed to all major CAD vendors and many vendors dealing with robotics, major industry including aerospace, shipbuilding, and automotive.
REFERENCES:
1. D. Blackmore and M.C. Leu, Analysis of Swept Volume via Lie Groups and Differential Equations, International Journal of Robotics Research, Vol. 11, No. 6, 1992, pp. 516-537.
2. B. Bruderlin, Using geometric rewrite rules for solving geometric problems symbolically, Theoretical Computer Science, 116:291--303, 1993.
3. G. Crippen and T. Havel, Distance geometry and molecular conformation, John Wiley & Sons, 1988.
4. E. J. Haug, editor, Computer aided analysis and optimization of mechanical system dynamics, Springer-Verlag, 1984.
5. C. Hoffmann, On the semantics of generative geometry representations, In Proc. 19th ASME Design Automation Conference, pages 411-420, 1993.
N95-100 TITLE: Digital Assistant Technology
OBJECTIVE: Develop a prototype of a wearable conformable personal digital assistant for mobile and fixed-based work tasks.
DESCRIPTION: Personal digital assistant (PDA) technology extend conventional information infrastructure and technologies of local area networks (LANs) and computers into a flexible mobile setting. This evolution is evident from the emergence into the commercial marketplace of laptop computers, personal digital appointment notebook computers, and "anywhere" telephone numbers. Problems with PDAs arise from lack of a mobile digital infrastructure (e.g., differing from a conventional LAN), inadequate access in real-time to other computing resources (e.g. limited bandwidth obviated image file transfer), fragility and size of equipment, power management problems, and awkward human-computer interfaces for mobile work activities (e.g. typeboard/ mouse interface may be inappropriate for some tasks). The form and function of current PDAs can often be at odds with mobile tasks and the range of tasks to which they need to be applied. Designs must address general issues raised in the above description, issues of manufacturability and affordability of production, and be justified scientifically and technologically. The PDA environment should focus on applications to industrial/laboratory equipment maintenance and instructional classroom settings, involving several different human-computer interfaces and a wireless, adaptive, and mobile infrastructure for PDA operation.
PHASE I: Design an innovative form and function PDA and associated infrastructure from commercial off the shelf (COTS) technologies and from among emerging innovative technologies (e.g., micro-electro-mechanical systems, battery technologies, voice recognition, solid-freeform fabrication, etc...).
PHASE II: Develop and validate a fully functional prototype. Demonstrate the prototype on a realistic Navy relevant training task for equipment monitoring and maintenance.
PHASE III: Potential follow-on efforts are expected in education and training, and in important equipment repair and maintenance tasks of government equipment.
DUAL-USE: PDAs will enable current fixed based activities to become mobile as needed. This will have a profound impact on education, and training. This concept can enable lesser-trained technicians to accomplish more complex tasks because they will have access to the information and knowledge of senior engineers where and when it is needed via PDAs.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: A credible solution of the problem can be marketed by major OEM and other vendors dealing with software and hardware. In particular important commercialization potential is expected in major industries including aerospace, shipbuilding and repair, and automotive.
REFERENCES:
1. The current commercial PDAs include the Apple Newton or Sharp PDA. ONR and ARPA R&D investments in electronics, micro-electronic-mechanical systems, communications, and manufacturing technologies may provide capabilities to reduce size, weight, flexibility and power consumption and to increase computational capability and range of functionality. An FY95 ARPA initiative in "tactical information assistants" is complementary to this proposed topical area.
N95-101 TITLE: Solid Free-form Fabrication
OBJECTIVE: Advance the technology and manufacturing processes for solid free-form fabrication.
DESCRIPTION: Current solid free-form fabrication processes have proven their potential for many engineering and medical applications. Conceptualization models, fit check prototypes, manufacturability assessment artifacts, and prosthetics are examples of successful applications of these new technologies. The technological challenges include fabrication of larger parts, faster processing, increased part accuracy, and utilization of new materials that expand the range of functional parts fabricated using these processes. To meet these challenges will demand coordinated R&D efforts in many areas including (e.g.) materials, structures, rugged micro-electro-mechanical sensors and precision actuators, continuous in-situ process monitoring and control, computer aided processing, spray or deposition technology, and laser optics.
PHASE I: Identify and develop a technological advancement in an SFF processing. Justify the basis for the proposed advancement from considerations of scientific, technical, manufacturability, and affordability issues. Define project milestones and participant responsibilities, including partnership consortium descriptions if necessary.
PHASE II: Develop a functional prototype of the proposed technology in an operational SFF system. Demonstrate the capability of the system through the construction of a functionally gradient part of significant design and manufacturability complexity.
PHASE III: Transition to government activities involving design, modeling, rapid prototyping, production, and maintenance of equipment.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Several companies have recently been formed along the major competing SFF technologies. The technology offers the capability for the rapid production of complex custom parts and part models, which can significantly reduce the time and total cost for part development. In addition the creation of SFF service bureaus,accessible via electronic communications networks, offers potential capability to do remote, distributed design and manufacturing. As part size, accuracy, fabrication speed, and functional application increase and as the need for customized and specialty parts increases, demand for the technology will increase dramatically.
REFERENCES:
1. Proceedings of the Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium, The University of Texas at Austin (1992, 1993, 1994).
2. Jacobs, P. F., Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing, Society of Manufacturing Engineering Publications, Dearborn, MI, 1992.
3. Burns, M., Automated Fabrication: Improving Productivity in Manufacturing, PTR Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1993.
MARINE CORPS
N95-102 TITLE:Lightweight Surveillance Radar Technology
OBJECTIVE: To provide technology, simulations, and prototype development for a miniaturized air/ground multi-mode surveillance radar.
DESCRIPTION: The end objective which this topic supports is to develop a miniature surveillance radar, including the antenna system, power supply system, and communications down link, small and light enough to fit into an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The UAV would be used to support airborne early warning (AEW), ground mapping, ground movement detection, and other missions through the use of a variety of in-flight, programmable scan and reporting modes. Data from the UAV-based radar system would be down-linked to a ground based command and control system. Advances in miniaturized solid state radar design, antenna technology, low power electronics, and UAV technology are all potential contributors to this effort. A currently produced UAV could be adapted to this mission, or a new UAV developed.
PHASE I: Perform preliminary design activities, modeling, and/or demonstrations for a miniaturized, multi-mode, radar system or for critical system components. Use Computer Aided Design and Modeling (CAD/CAM) as appropriate to provide preliminary estimates for radar and UAV platform performance.
PHASE II: Continue design activities for the radar system and/or for critical system components. Provide prototype demonstrations and/or detailed system level models. Detail the performance which could be achieved by a completed UAV-based radar system. Refine cost and schedule estimates.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The technology developed would have wide commercial application in areas involving radars for law enforcement, terrain mapping, environmental monitoring, and other areas. Variations of the completed UAV system could be used for traffic surveillance, drug interdiction, and radar-mapping.
N95-103 TITLE:Low Cost, High Waterspeed Obstacle Detection System
OBJECTIVE: To develop a low cost obstacle detection device that will be mounted on a surface vehicle travelling over water at high speed that is capable of detecting submerged objects.
DESCRIPTION: Current sonar and acoustic devices for detection of underwater and sub-surface obstacle are bulky, heavy, and expensive. Military versions are expensive and not easily mountable on small craft. Current commercial systems do not have adequate range or work at vehicle speeds over water at greater than 20 knots. This obstacle detection system shall include detection devices, processor, and operator display. This system shall be capable of discriminating objects as small as 20 pounds in mass and one cubic foot in volume at ranges between 100 and 400 meters from the craft. A 15 degree angle of inclusion shall be provided and a refresh rate of 2.5 cycles per second or greater is desired. The system that extends into or interfaces with the water shall be as small as possible so as not to provide unnecessary hydrodynamic drag, but must be able to operate close to the surface and be non-sensitive to spray and surface generated noise or disturbances. Operator feedback via a display or readout is required to be done in realtime mode.
PHASE I: The contractor shall perform trade-off and requirements analysis, followed by a detailed mechanical and electrical design for an obstacle detection system capable of being mounted on a flat bottom planing hull craft. Under this phase of the program, the contractor shall provide monthly progress reports, a commercial marketing plan, a final design report, and preliminary concept and layout drawings. The contractor shall host two meetings at his facility for government review (start of work and mid-review) and shall provide a final review to the Government at a Government site. An option to this phase which shall be included with the phase I proposal shall be preparation of detailed fabrication drawings and a breadboard demonstration (in the laboratory or in the field) of the highest risk technical aspect of the system.
PHASE II: The contractor fabricate and deliver one complete system of the obstacle detection device suitable for proof of concept demonstration on a planing hull craft. The contractor shall host status review meetings at his facility approximately every three months. Delivery of hardware, to take place after internal contractor testing, shall be 18 months after start of phase II effort. A fabrication report to include contractor test plans and test data and as-built drawings shall be delivered within 20 months after start of phase II efforts.
PHASE III: The contractor shall update the obstacle detection system based on contractor and government test results and shall deliver a ruggedized, second generation system suitable for vehicle testing. A development and fabrication report shall be delivered with the system within 9 months after start of phase III efforts.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: A cost effective obstacle detection system for high speed craft will be of benefit to the pleasure boating and work boat industries that currently rely on sailor experience to avoid possible grounding of craft. High speed, small ferry operations that can not afford military grade sonar systems currently rely on observers to keep craft out of danger, but submerged obstacles are difficult to see in varied daytime/nighttime and different light conditions.
N95-104 TITLE:Portable Environmental Control System (PECS)
OBJECTIVE: To explore new endothermic (heat absorbing) materials for use as cooling media to Navy/Marine personnel in hot, humid environments and as a thermal heating source to personnel in cold environments; To design, develop, and fabricate PECS hardware for laboratory testing, field evaluation, and commercial marketing.
DESCRIPTION: Navy/Marine personnel are exposed to extreme hot and cold environments while performing their duties. Presently, the military inventory must stock separate gear for each condition. Endothermic materials research will be applied to the problem of climate control for military personnel. A single lightweight garment material is desired, working as both a radiating material in hot weather and an insulating material in cold weather.
PHASE I: The contractor shall conduct a search of all data and information on the needs and requirements for microclimate cooling (MCC) and heating for Navy/Marine personnel in order to develop thermodynamic guidelines for potential endothermic agent(s) to be used as the active component(s) in the environmental control system. The contractor shall select and characterize the most suitable endothermic agents for inclusion in a demonstration system prototype. After a thorough thermodynamic evaluation of the agents, the contractor shall design and fabricate a feasibility demonstration prototype for test and evaluation.
PHASE II: Using the research, development, design, and fabrication initiatives from the prototype development effort, the contractor shall extend the scope of the program to optimizing the configuration for PECS development for both cooling and heating utility. Selection and tailoring of the endothermic agent(s) will be based on the results of test and evaluation of the demonstration prototype. The prototype hardware configuration (a garment design or other) shall be optimized for maximum wearer comfort and thermodynamic utility, while requiring minimum logistic supportability. The product of this phase of the development effort shall exhibit not only an attractiveness to the combat sailor/ Marine, but also demonstrate an attractiveness to the commercial market. Commercial applications shall be identified, and product test samples shall be made available for evaluation by potential users.
PHASE III: Commercialization of the Phase II systems shall be given widest dissemination and exploitation. Market surveys commencing during the Phase II effort shall be completed. Scale-up processes from a preproduction mode to full production of PECS shall be identified and commence as the final transition from combat development to commercial application is made. The end product of this R&D program will provide off-the-shelf commodities for procurement by the military and civilian markets.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Limited research & development (R&D) into endothermic, phase change transition materials has demonstrated a potential for keeping foods warm for extended periods of time. These materials, having very high thermal capacity and thermodynamic properties (extremely high heats of fusion and specific heat), have already been incorporated into cups, bags, food carts, trays, and related devices. Some commercialization of the technology has already begun, as Pizza Hut, for example, is now using a special tray and heating disk made from these high tech endothermic materials for their delivery service. These disks have demonstrated the ability to maintain a 2-4 pound pizza above 140∞F for 90 minutes. Although these endothermic materials have high potential for use in hot water heaters, camping gear, cold weather clothing, boots, fire control applications, and the like, no funding efforts have commenced in these areas. Because these materials are "heat absorbing", undergarments impregnated with endothermic agents could essentially extract excess body heat, exhaust such heat to the external environment, and keep the wearer cooler for extended periods of time. Firefighters, race car drivers, and wearers of protective clothing (nuclear and chemical workers, for example) could substantially benefit from these endothermic materials. In cold temperature environments, the heat absorbed from the body by these materials could be prevented from being exhausted and therefore maintain the body's temperature for a longer period of time. Skiers, skaters, oil pipeline workers, and the like could take maximum advantage of this technology in the heating mode.
REFERENCES:
1. "Answer Looking for a Problem" (Ballistic Missile Defense Office technology development), AVIATION WEEK AND TECHNOLOGY, Vol. 15, June 13, 1994.
2. "A Star Wars Legacy: Hot Pizza", BUSINESS WEEK, Vol. 81, January 17, 1994.
3. "Composite Fabrics Spruce up the Heat Sink", OUTLOOK, July 2, 1984
4. US Patent 4,446,916, "Composite Fabric Endothermic Electronic Component Cooling", May 8, 1984
N95-105 TITLE: High Temperature Corrosion Resistant Coatings
OBJECTIVE: To develop a low cost coating that provides increased corrosion resistance for application on components operating in high temperature environments such as engines and exhaust systems.
DESCRIPTION: The United States Marine Corps has identified corrosion as an ongoing problem area. Higher life cycle costs of equipment, reduced operational availability, and excessive manpower requirements to maintain operability are some of the problems associated with corrosion. Current corrosion control methods, as well as some aspects of weapon system designs, have been identified as Naval requirements. Recent surveys of fleet vehicles have targeted several areas requiring the conduct of research and development of new corrosion resistant materials, coatings and procedures to prevent and combat corrosion problems. One persistent problem found repeatedly throughout the investigation was the general corrosion, pitting and crevice corrosion found on several vehicles' engine and exhaust systems. Typical applications to be targeted include engine exhaust manifolds, exhaust pipes, mufflers, and protective screening. These areas of the vehicle are exposed to severe environments where coatings often fail. Consequently, heavy amounts of corrosion can be found in these areas where coatings either fail or are never applied necessitating the need for a more extensive and durable coating. Exhaust components can experience temperatures as hot as 800oC (1,475o F) adjacent to the engine. Components further along the exhaust system experience 200o C temperatures.
PHASE I: The contractor shall perform research efforts toward developing low cost, corrosion resistant coating that can be applied to components and systems operating in high temperature environments. At a minimum, laboratory experiments shall be conducted during this phase to demonstrate the effectiveness of the coating(s) to withstand high temperatures. The contractor shall host two (2) meetings, a kick-off and mid-term review, at his facility for government personnel. The contractor shall provide a Final Report and final review briefing at the completion of the phase at a government site to be determined.
PHASE II: The contractor shall perform full-scale application and demonstration of the high temperature coating(s) on an actual piece of military equipment supplied as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE). Application techniques shall be determined and demonstrated through experimentation. Testing of the sample component(s) shall be conducted in the laboratory under actual environmental conditions including temperature, humidity, salinity, and exposure to the sun. The contractor shall host status review meetings at his facility approximately every three months throughout the performance period. A Final Report and final review briefing shall delivered at the completion of this phase.
PHASE III: The contractor shall apply the developed coating(s) on six (6) pieces of military equipment (GFE) for extensive field testing to determine the operational suitability of the coatings as they relate to performance, durability and maintainability.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: A cost effective coating that can be applied to components that operate in high temperature environments, that resists corrosion, and that withstands normal wear and tear typically experienced in military applications has enormous potential for the commercial automotive industry. Auto makers, truck manufacturers and producers of marine equipment can benefit from this technology. High precision turbine engine, diesel engine and air compressor manufactures can also benefit. Any application where high temperatures are experienced and dependable coatings are required would gain from this technology.
REFERENCES:
1. Corrosion of Combat and Tactical Equipment on US Marine Corps Bases, CARDIVNSWC-TR-61-94/19
N95-106 TITLE: Radio Frequency Information Dissemination
OBJECTIVE: Develop wireless displays and internet compatible transfer of Radio Frequency (RF) tag information through open communication standards.
DESCRIPTION: Military logistics information systems are being developed using RF tagging technologies. The amount of information being disseminated will require advanced communication systems to interface with existing systems and a sophisticated architecture to handle the information volume.
PHASE I: The contractor shall identify Internet and other transmission and messaging standards for RF communication to low-cost battery-operated tags with built in two-way communication. The study shall compare protocols, connection and messaging capabilities. The study will address throughput. Information transmission may include inventory data as well as video display for field asset location. The architecture will provide deployed theater users with access to RF information.
PHASE II: The contractor shall prepare a brass-board concept feasibility model and demonstration. It shall demonstrate open RF transmission protocols between tags and interrogators, and remote heads-up displays. Volume data handling will be demonstrated.
PHASE III: The contractor shall prepare a system for suitable testing on a large scale. Transmission protocols will communicate with tens to thousands of tags present within range, while interfacing the information to a variety of identified military systems. Transition will include commercially available system integration components.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The RF tag which interfaces to large information volume applications will be a benefit to the medical, manufacturing, transportation, and maintenance fields. Item control within wireless local and wide area networks will greatly increase the user ability. Tags will be compatible with the National Information Infrastructure initiatives.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-STDs 1780, 181, 1782
2. FIPS PUB 1461-1
3. RFCs 1122, 1123, 822
SPACE AND NAVAL WARFARE SYSTEMS COMMAND
N95-107 TITLE: Data Link Training and Exercise Coupler
OBJECTIVE: Design and develop a low cost device to couple RF band data link systems via phone lines for use in training, exercise, testing, and development.
DESCRIPTION: Tactical data links use wireless radio communications to connect terminals on land, ships and aircraft. For purposes of training, exercise, testing, development, and potential operational uses it is valuable to be able to link an RF band system, including the host computers served by the terminal, to similar systems at various remote locations around the country or the world. Rather than link systems at such distances by radio frequencies (RF), the proposed coupler would connect to the terminal by coax or fiber at RF, maintaining the high signal to noise ratio. It shall reduce the message traffic to baseband which can be carried over phone lines and connected to similar configurations anywhere in the world. Information describing simulated environments can also be shared via phone lines so that the participating systems seem to be operating together in a common tactical area.
PHASE I: Perform the studies necessary to define design alternatives of a Coupler and develop a preliminary design. The Coupler should be capable of supporting Link 16 fixed format messages. The controlling computer component of the Coupler should be a commercially available microcomputer, preferably an IBM compatible machine. In addition to the radio frequency (RF) interface the Coupler should have a standard serial interface (probably RS-232) over which it will forward data received from the RF interface and will receive data for transmission on the RF interface.
PHASE II: Produce an Advanced Development Model of the Link 16 Training and Exercise Coupler. Demonstrate its functionality by installing and testing the terminal at the Navy's Link 16 Systems Integration Facility (SIF).
PHASE III: The Coupler design will be refined to make it convenient and flexible to use for many military and commercial applications. Cooperative development support will be sought within the Department of Defense and with other interested nations.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The coupler has applicability to other RF systems for similar long distance test, simulation and training.
N95-108 TITLE: Quantification of Platform Level Mission Effectiveness
OBJECTIVE: To devise a methodology and develop a model for quantifying electromagnetic system degradation effects on platform level mission effectiveness.
DESCRIPTION: In recent years, the Navy's Ship Survivability Program developed generic component, system, and platform level deactivation models for use in identifying and prioritizing system and platform vulnerability to specific hard kill threats. These models can be expanded and applied to Battle Force simulators to take into account degradation of systems resulting from EMI, and thus meet the important goal of quantifying platform mission effectiveness. Historically, weapon systems have been assessed individually in terms of degradation of performance without regard to platform level mission effectiveness. The need to develop this assessment capability is supported by the aircraft and ship acquisition and operational communities.
PHASE I: To demonstrate feasibility, the basic approach is to, (a) review existing procedures, practices, and models for applicability, and (b) develop, modify, and apply a prototype model to a specific platform application, and (c) demonstrate satisfactory technical results based upon technical and operational experience.
PHASE II: Integrate the developed Platform Mission Effectiveness model into an existing Battle Force simulator and perform technical and operational assessments and validation checks based upon established operationally accepted Measure of Effectiveness (MOE), for a specific ship.
PHASE III: Standardize these methods for applications in commercial navigation and aircraft control.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Degradation to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) air traffic control system could be modeled using this proposed methodology. This modeling will be particularly important when the new Aircraft Automated System (AAS) is brought on line. The potential threat with respect to air traffic control are conventional and directed energy terrorist weapons.
N95-109 TITLE:Milstar MDR - Network Bridge
OBJECTIVE: Develop protocols for bridging and multiplexing EHF MDR terminals with advanced networks.
DESCRIPTION: Investigate, develop and demonstrate efficient algorithms and protocols to multiplex and interface EHF MDR terminals to advanced networks (such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode/Synchronous Optical Network systems) thereby providing EHF terminal user's access to medical imagery, photography, and fixed site locations while maintaining system security.
PHASE I: Develop the algorithms needed to efficiently bridge and multiplex Milstar MDR terminals with a packet switched network.
PHASE II: Code and demonstrate algorithms using commercial hardware needed for the MDR/ATM interface.
PHASE III: Build and demonstrate the complete interface.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Protocols can be used for connecting other digital satellite systems (e.g., Iridium) with advanced networks.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-STD-1582C, "Satellite Data Link Standards: Uplinks and Downlinks" 10 Dec 91.
2. MIL-STD-188-136, (coordination draft), "Satellite Data Link Standards, Medium Data Rate (MDR), Uplinks and Downlinks" 07 Mar 94.
N95-110 TITLE:Demodulation of Signals Localized by Super-resolution Array Processing Techniques
OBJECTIVE: Explore signal processing techniques which permit reconstructions of signals decomposed by super-resolution array processing techniques.
DESCRIPTION: In a dense signal environment, co-channel interference occurs when two communication signals transmit simultaneously in the same segment of the frequency spectrum. Intentional jamming of radar or communication signals also represents an example of co-channel interference. The use of arrays of antennas to direct radiation pattern nulls provides one approach to the rejection of interferers. When the direction of arrival of an interfering signal is very close to the direction of arrival of a signal of interest (e.g., beamwidths) super-resolution techniques provide means of distinguishing between signals. Unfortunately, most super-resolution techniques discard phase information necessary to demodulate communication signals. Means of separating and demodulating closely spaced signals is of
interest.
PHASE I: Identify candidate approaches for separating and demodulating signals transmitted by closely spaced co-channel emitters. Possible approaches may include, but are not limited to, extraction from original, unprocessed data of phase information for signals distinguished by super-resolution; cyclo-stationary approaches to array and signal processing; or array processing techniques employing higher order statistics.
PHASE II: Implement and, using realistic simulations, demonstrate best approach(es). Evaluate approach(es) with regard to computational intensity, spatial resolution and quality of demodulated desired signal (e.g. bit error rate).
PHASE III: Apply array processing technology to appropriate communication systems.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Interference rejection presents an important challenge to the burgeoning cellular telephone industry.
REFERENCES:
1. Freeman, Roger L., "Telecommunication Transmission Handbook, Third Edition", John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1991.
N95-111 TITLE:Multiple, High Bandwidth Light Weight Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Antenna
OBJECTIVE: Development of a small, light weight multiple band phased array high bandwidth satellite antenna system capable of operating in the UHF, C and Ku bands, SHF and EHF frequency ranges. Dual to multiple band operation is desired. The antenna system is for shipboard use and Very Small Satellite Access Terminal (VSAT) computer communications from small ships and planes.
DESCRIPTION: NRL currently has an ocean buoy system capable of transmitting/receiving data, via commercial satellites operating in the C & Ku bands, to one or more land sites at data rates in excess of 1.5Mb/s. To accomplish this, the buoy currently uses a parabolic dish antenna system 1.2m in diameter. This relatively large size limits deployment opportunities. Miniaturization technology could be employed to reduce antenna size to perhaps as little as 100 square cm, allowing the system to be easily air deployable and deployable from small ships while still operating in the current frequency ranges.
PHASE I: Develop the basics of a phased array antenna system able to operate within the constraints described above.
PHASE II: Develop a prototype antenna to demonstrate the capabilities, size limitations, and bandwidths of phases array technology.
PHASE III: Produce a phased array antenna capable of withstanding the rigors and requirements of at-sea deployments on ships or buoy systems.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Development of this capability could expand the portable communications market by making worldwide high bandwidth communication possible.
N95-112 TITLE: Graphic CASE Tools for INFOSEC Threat and Risk Analysis
OBJECTIVE: To permit security requirements and associated threats and risks for Navy C4I systems to be quickly captured and displayed during initial sponsor/developer/accreditor negotiations.
DESCRIPTION: Existing CASE tools for INFOSEC risk analysis are designed for trained certifiers and are generally not suitable for initial high-level (non-jargon) evaluation of system security approaches. However, designing new CASE tools to meet this need appears prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. The Navy would like to explore the adaptation of existing (non-INFOSEC) CASE tools with good graphical system display capabilities and expert system shells to be effective trade-off and negotiation vehicles.
CASE tools for INFOSEC threat analysis do not exist, and available threat information is disjoint and extremely difficult to use by either trained certifiers or by high-level decision makers. An initial Navy effort, begun in FY 94, has an objective of building a prototype Tailored Threat Profile tool. That tool will contain a database of actual attacks against Navy systems (or analogous systems). When queried, the tool will ask for high-level descriptive data about the proposed system and then return a profile of likely threat scenarios. However, the prototype system will not show a graphical description of the proposed system nor use an expert system shell to reason about likely threat scenarios. The Navy would like to explore the adaptation of existing (non-INFOSEC) CASE tools with good graphical system display capabilities and expert system shells to build a follow-on to the initial prototype.
Modified CASE tools for INFOSEC threat and risk analysis are needed that will capture and display:
a. the system itself with major subsystems and components;
b. the environment that the system operates within;
c. the importance of the system and the information it handles;
d. interfaces to the system (both human and otherwise) with some indication of their trustworthiness;
e. potential threat scenarios; and
f. assumptions and assertions about the existence of INFOSEC protective features (either in the system or in the operating environment).
The output of the INFOSEC threat tool will be a graphical view of the system showing the most likely (if any) threat scenarios. The output of the INFOSEC risk analysis tool will be a graphical view of the system showing the agreed-to set of system and environmental protective features that represents the negotiated INFOSEC approach (ie. acceptable risk, acceptable cost, acceptable program/technical implications).
PHASE I: Define problem, select and demonstrate existing CASE tools, scope and plan required modifications.
PHASE II: Accomplish and demonstrate modified tools suitable
for Navy C4I systems. Support government beta testing. Modify tools as appropriate.
PHASE III: Expand tool libraries beyond initial C4I capability. Produce tools as commercial products.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: These analysis tools would prove very useful for non-defense commercial organizations, especially in the financial and medical industries where disclosure, modification, or destruction of sensitive information could cause a great amount of damage. These tools would help such organizations to identify potential threats and risks to their information assets and address them appropriately.
N95-113 TITLE:Coarse-Grained Parallel Desktop Computing System for Enhanced Image Processing
OBJECTIVE: Development of a high performance, coarse-grained parallel workstation to process sensor data.
DESCRIPTION: Desktop computer workstations are sought that contain 4 to 16 CPUs capable of operating in parallel and providing multiple GigaFLOP performance for image processing applications. These CPUs should also possess large associated internal memories to support the processing of large sections of individual images. Very large data storage systems with capacities in excess of 10 Gigabytes are desired for image processing applications. These systems must have data access times and transfer rates that meet or exceed current desktop computer hard disk specifications. The integration of memory devices such as PC-MCIAs for transferability and security into memory is desired. New visualization techniques are sought for the optimal presentation of the 2-D and 3-D transformed images resulting from the advanced signal and image processing algorithms. An integrated Operator Machine Interface (OMI) is desired that links features automatically detected in the transformed images back to specific features in the original images. This MOMI should be sufficiently generic so that imagery of various types ranging from X-ray to satellite images can be displayed at appropriate resolutions. The capability of simultaneously displaying multiple resolution screens (hyper color) is required. Workstations of this type will have many possible defense and commercial applications in areas such as automated screening of medical or satellite imagery.
PHASE I: Design a scale able, coarse-grained parallel computer workstation architecture capable of at least two GigaFLOPS of performance and having at least 0.5 Gigabytes of RAM. An integrated OMI design complete with associated documentation. A limited demonstration involving two different types of images (X-ray, MRI, etc.) combined with associated images resulting from two or more signal or image transformations of interest is also required at the completion of Phase I. Document this design and demonstrate a prototype at the completion of Phase I.
PHASE II: Extend the Phase I design to produce an enhanced version with at least 20 GigaFLOPS, 2 Gigabytes of RAM, and the ability to store 500 one byte 8" X 10" images with a resolution of 500 pixels per inch. Image processing at 1/8 real time is required. Real time processing is desired. Implementation the Phase I OMI design on a designated coarse-grained parallel computer system and extend the number of image types handled to a minimum of six, based on government provided data sets.
PHASE III: Transition this technology to appropriate defense and commercial sensor data collection, sensor data analysis, and sensor communications applications.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The primary commercial applications of this technology are in automatic rapid computing for mass screening of medical images for conditions requiring physician follow up and automatic rapid computing for material flaws (non-human screening) in mass produced items (i.e. non-destructive testing).
REFERENCES:
1. Digital Image Processing, by Raphael C. Gonzalez and Riochard E. Woods, Addision-Wesley, 1992.
2. Illumination and Color in Computer Generated Imagery by Roy Hall, Springer-Verlag, 1988.
3. Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice, by James D. Foley, Andries Van Dam, Steven K. Feiner, and John F. Hughes, Addison-Wesley, 1990.
4. Deans, Stanley R., The Radon Transform and Some of Its Applications, rev. ed., 1993, Krieger.
5. Bracewell, R. N., The Fourier Transform and Its Applications, 2nd rev. ed., 1986, McGraw.
N95-114 TITLE: Virtual Information Model (VIM)
OBJECTIVE: To adapt emerging video, message and model-modifying techniques for the exchange of hybrid data over existing land and satellite links to and from fleet units. This initiative will unburden the need for bandwidth by transferring only previously unknown data: simple, clear, accurate and timely descriptions of complex changing situations and environments could be exchanged without the consequences of voluminous and overloading data streams.
DESCRIPTION: This task will develop a prototype system optimizing an amalgam of commercial video formats and protocol, Defense Mapping Agency derived models, supplying movable windows with zoomable video, audio and data panes, and operational message formats. The fundamental feature sought is the transfer of hybrid change information of an operational scene (depicted by structured video images, audio transmissions and operational message traffic) to a remote system containing the same initial structure but requiring change data to remain identical. This schema would enable short, quick packets of data in real time to reduce overall traffic demands and use low point-to-point bandwidth.
PHASE I: Conduct a trade-off analysis of existing or low-risk emerging techniques. Insert higher risk techniques with innovative risk reducers into the analysis for optimizing payoff. Provide a short demonstration using PC to PC remote connection, CD-ROM resident scenarios (15 to 30 minutes) with externally selected naval engagement overlays. Proposer may offer an alternative means of demonstration. Apply metrics to compare traditional and model-modifying techniques.
PHASE II: Implement a sender-to-user workstation environment based on the video/audio/message structures designed in Phase I for an initial evaluation at a Navy facility such as Naval Command Control and Ocean Surveillance Center (NCCOSC). Introduce one or more commercially viable scenarios. Stress the model to bandwidth and complexity limits.
PHASE III: The successful use of modelling would lead to low-cost interim pathways pending the implementation of the anticipated "super-highways" connecting global networks. Applications for the telecommunications industry are myriad.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: It is anticipated that this approach will become as profound a capability commercially as militarily, a "force multiplier" for more advanced data links in future, capturing multiple and user-controlled data panes. The technique would be applicable to tactical links, command and control summaries, traffic control, situation displays, and both military and commercial global surveillance (geological, agricultural).
REFERENCES:
1. IEEE Spectrum, March 1992.
N95-115 TITLE:Expert System Tactics Representation
OBJECTIVE: Develop reusable, object oriented, expert system software capable of capturing the human tactical decision processes associated with the employment of Naval platforms, sensors and weapon systems, and reproducing them within campaign and engagement level discrete event warfare simulations.
DESCRIPTION: Current campaign and engagement level discrete event warfare simulations generally represent the tactical decision processes associated with the employment of platforms, sensors and weapon systems in manners that are highly dependent on both the simulation system and the scenario. Frequently the decision processes are fully scripted or are represented by scenario dependent logic trees or rule sets. Such approaches, although computationally efficient, require extensive setup and over no potential for portability between simulations or scenarios. The object oriented paradigm offers the possibility of a sophisticated, reusable expert system capable of capturing and reproducing the tactical decision process at the entity level. Coupling such a system to a generalized schema for the representation of tactics offers the opportunity for maximum reuse and portability across simulations and scenarios. Critical capabilities include superior run time efficiency to support Monte Carlo analyses and the ability to readily modify the knowledge base during run setup.
PHASE I: Develop a partial schema for the representation of platform/system level tactics leading to the development of a sample knowledge base. Demonstrate the sample set with a prototype expert system.
PHASE II: Expand the knowledge base schema to support the tactical decision processes associated with a spectrum of Naval platforms, sensors and weapon systems. Incorporate the expert system into an existing campaign or engagement level warfare simulation and demonstrate its function with a sample problem.
PHASE III: The developed expert system will be applied to additional warfare simulations.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The technology has application to all discrete event simulations used to analyze the performance of complex systems that are affected by human decision processes, including financial and sociological models.
N95-116 TITLE:Global Positioning System (GPS) Integrity Monitoring
OBJECTIVE: Develop improved Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) algorithms for GPS integrity monitoring which can detect integrity failures that result from error drifts over time rather than instantaneous anomalous events. Further, investigate the utility of low cost inertial sensors to aid GPS integrity monitoring. The objective would be to utilize solid state inertial sensors which can be placed on the same electronic card as the GPS receiver.
DESCRIPTION: GPS receivers must be able to detect and reject satellite signals that lead to unacceptable position and velocity errors. Current RAIM algorithms do not have the sensitivity to detect small and slowly varying anomalies. The technical approach shall include detection of small and slowly varying errors in the RAIM algorithms. A second approach to be investigated will use solid state inertial sensors. The utilization of precise multi-satellite GPS delta range measurements should allow accurate estimates of changes in attitude over small intervals. A comparison of the change in attitude over a given time interval as determined by the GPS delta-ranges and the inertial sensor will yield information on the degree that they are tracking each other.
PHASE I: Design and simulate a RAIM algorithm to include detection of small time varying errors. Algorithm performance will be investigated and compared with other RAIM approaches. Conduct a 6 month study to determine the latest available requirements and augmentation plans for non-precision and precision approach integrity monitoring. Develop/adapt models for multi-sensor low cost inertial sensors. Develop algorithms relating inertial sensor outputs and GPS receiver outputs for representative approach dynamic scenarios. Determine observability issues. Perform simulations indicating comparisons on attitude change indications from inertial vs. GPS for various levels of anomalous signal-in-space failures. Paramaterize simulations about levels of sensor performance, relative geometry, lever arms, and dynamic profile.
PHASE II: Prototype build and demonstration. Develop and integrate a real-time GPS RAIM algorithm. The real-time algorithm will be integrated with standard aircraft navigation functions and evaluated in a laboratory environment.
PHASE III: Support design and build of ruggedized unit. The RAIM algorithm will be translated to hardware and flight tested.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The technology has applicability to the commercial aircraft navigation industry. Can be directly used for integrity monitoring for civil aviation.
N95-117 TITLE:Advanced System Trainer
OBJECTIVE: To develop and test an intelligent tutoring system to replace/reduce traditional, labor intensive classroom and team training.
DESCRIPTION: Develop an intelligent tutor focused on conceptual understanding and problem solving skills rather than on procedural behaviors. The intelligent tutor should accurately and efficiently diagnose any trainee's background from responses to curriculum material and should use that diagnosis to adapt and streamline the curriculum presented to that trainee. (i.e. The tutor should automatically determine any individual's training requirements and adapt the training material and skill/comprehension level for optimum individual learning.) The intelligent tutor must present training in a manner to capture the trainee's interest and must run on commonly available hardware.
PHASE I: Examine various innovative methods to automate training. Develop the methodology for replacing team training with individualized computer based training. Outline the structure of an intelligent computer based tutoring system. Describe the knowledge base required by the tutor. To delineate the knowledge base use SURTASS LFA deployment, ADS Operations, or IUSS Operational Readiness Inspections as the target training systems for the tutor.
PHASE II: Develop and test a prototype Advanced training System. The prototype should validate the man-machine interface and the trainer's design approach. The prototype need not implement an actual training capability. Provide cost and schedule estimates for developing a fully capable advanced training system.
PHASE III: Develop and test a fully capable advanced training system.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The technology developed by this SBIR is equally applicable to other government (e.g. FAA) and commercial training requirements. Changes to adapt the Advanced Training System to these other training requirements will be localized in the knowledge data base.
REFERENCES:
1. Tailored MIL-STD-1379D, Military Training Standards; Multi-Media Embedded Training
N95-118 TITLE:Advanced Signal and Image Processing Algorithms for Parallel Desktop Computing
OBJECTIVE: To develop and demonstrate and advanced signal and image processing detection and alerting application for sensor system data.
DESCRIPTION: Advanced signal and image processing algorithms are sought for 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D image analysis to take advantage of expected advances in high throughput, parallel desktop computing systems. Simultaneous processing using multiple algorithms is desirable. Of particular interest are those transform algorithms that generate signal invariances. This includes invariance under translation, rotation, scale changes, polarization changes (if applicable), etc. Neural networks and expert system approaches are needed for automated feature detection, extraction, and classification from 2-D and 3-D transformed images. Development of these capabilities with low false dismissal rates would allow significant advances in automated image screening. Many areas of interest to both the military and industry require the analysis and evaluation of imagery data. Approaches of highest interest would allow automated screening of large numbers of images, provide for automated alert generation followed by operator review and analysis, allow for multiple scale neural net retinas, provide tools for rapid neural net training, allow for the use of hierarchial networks to aid fusion across multi-spectral representations, and utilize expert system rules for data fusion and false alarm reduction. Examples range from feature detection in X-ray, MR, and ultrasound medical images through non-destructive fault detection in hand-made parts and structures to feature recognition in satellite imagery. The development of advanced signal and image processing algorithms capable of generating transformed and enhanced 2-D or 3-D images in near real-time is of great interest. Any algorithms developed should be capable of being generalized to any type of image or any type of data (e.g., real, complex, etc.). Of particular interest are those transformations that result in either a more simplified feature set or signal invariance. Possible candidate algorithms include: 2-D and 3-D FFTs, wavelets, Gabor functions, and Radon/Hough transforms. Software applications that can be hosted (compiled) on today's high parallel desktop computers will have many possible defense and commercial applications.
PHASE I: A number of these algorithms are to developed using a rapid prototyping approach. This effort shall represent a proof-of-principle demonstration. Associated documentation is to be provided. These algorithms are to be evaluated on at least two government provided data sets of interest in order to quantify their ability to enhance visual detectability of important features. Multiple resolution scales and multiple spectral images should be considered in the evaluation. The ability to run multiple algorithms in parallel for comparison is highly desirable. The performance of the neural net detection and classification algorithms shall be evaluated and the performance documented in the form of ROC curves.
PHASE II: During this effort, at least six additional government provided data sets shall be evaluated to demonstrate the usefulness of these algorithms on a wide range of image types. Efforts shall also be made to ensure that all algorithms can be run at near real-time speeds. A speed of 1/8 real time is required while real time is desirable. Neural net training tools shall also be developed as part of this effort.
PHASE III: Transition this technology to appropriate defense and commercial sensor data collection, sensor data analysis, and sensor communications applications.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The primary commercial applications of this technology are in automatic rapid or mass screening of medical images for conditions requiring physician follow up and automatic non-human screening for material flaws in mass produced items (i.e. non-destructive testing).
REFERENCES:
1. Digital Image Processing, by Raphael C. Gonzalez and Riochard E. Woods, Addision-Wesley, 1992.
2. Illumination and Color in Computer Generated Imagery by Roy Hall, Springer-Verlag, 1988.
3. Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice, by James D. Foley, Andries Van Dam, Steven K. Feiner, and John F. Hughes, Addison-Wesley, 1990.
4. Deans, Stanley R., The Radon Transform and Some of Its Applications, rev. ed., 1993, Krieger.
5. Bracewell, R. N., The Fourier Transform and Its Applications, 2nd rev. ed., 1986, McGraw.
N95-119 TITLE: Increased Data Throughput on EHF SATCOM
OBJECTIVE: Design, develop and demonstrate a low cost EHF SATCOM baseband VME processor capable of providing an adaptive processing gain of greater than 10 dB. Processor operation must be automatically scalable from data rates of 300 bps up to 1.5M bps to accommodate arbitrary EHF capacity segmentation.
DESCRIPTION: EHF SATCOM is poised to become a critical backbone for Navy Fleet communications. As such, it must be able to provide reliable service under a broad range of conditions, including: benign conditions, atmospheric scintillation, rain attenuation, interference, jamming and service to disadvantaged platforms. What's needed is an adaptive processor which can operate with reduce link margin and still provide additional processing gain when needed by (adaptively) reducing the user information rate to match channel conditions. When conditions are good, the processor should provide a user data rate close to the channel rate, imposing little overhead. The processor should also support both point-to-point and point-to-multi-point communications.
PHASE I: Define the scalable, adaptive processor, specifying the processing it will perform and a hardware architecture capable of supporting this processing. Also, specify how the processor will be integrated with the Navy EHF Communications Controller (NECC).
PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate prototype scalable, adaptive processor.
PHASE III: Integrate the scalable, adaptive processor with Navy EHF SATCOM terminals.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The technology to be developed would extend the "footprint" covered by commercial satellite links and allow remote mobile terminals to connect reliably to wideband networks, e.g., ATM networks.
N95-120 TITLE:Single Channel Acoustic Broadband Classification
OBJECTIVE: To develop single channel/beam acoustic broadband classification algorithms and techniques.
DESCRIPTION: The objective of this topic is to develop single channel/beam acoustic broadband classification algorithms and techniques. A further goal of this topic is determine the bandwidth of each broadband "swath" of energy associated with a particular target in the channel or beam. Proposals shall address specifically proposed algorithms and fully describe techniques to be employed and tested. Specifically the proposed test procedures will address how the algorithm perform as a function of Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) i. e. the procedures to develop Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves shall be fully described. It is expected that the algorithms will perform at SNR's of less than +5dB per frequency-time cell with a probability of detection (Pd) of 0.5 and a probability of false alarm (Pfa) of less than 0.0001. The method or procedure for maximizing the SNR for each frequency-time cell shall be fully described in the proposal.
PHASE I: A demonstration of the proposed algorithms and techniques using GFI Advanced Deployable Systems (ADS) data will be performed. Results of all tests as well as ROC curve data will be reported. Specifications for the algorithms, techniques, and procedures shall be developed and delivered.
PHASE II: The algorithms, techniques, and procedure will be optimized and implemented on a computer workstation such as DTC III or IV. Further testing with GFI ADS data will be performed and reported. A full and complete description of all algorithms, techniques, and procedures will be reported and an A level performance specification developed.
PHASE III: A potential contract award as an ADS subcontractor to the prime contractor in the post DEM VAL ADS program time frame to integrate the algorithms, techniques, and procedures for broadband classification into ADS or SURTASS.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This development has the commercial potential in non-destructive testing to detect incipient failure in rotating machinery components.
REFERENCES:
1. Theory and Application of Digital Signal Processing, by Lawrence R. Rabiner and Bernard Gold, Prentice-Hall, Inc. 1975. 2. Digital Image Processing, by Raphael C. Gonzalez and Richard E. Woods, Addison-Wesley, 1992.
3. Scientific Visualization, Techniques and Applications, K. W. Brooke et al., Springer-Verlag, 1992.
4. Mission Needs Statement for Undersea Surveillance in Littoral water of 18 March 1993.
N95-121 TITLE:Multi-Band Radar for Ocean Characterization
OBJECTIVE: Develop a multi-band radar capability and associated software to discriminate ocean features.
DESCRIPTION: Ocean characteristics, particularly in the near-coastal/littoral zone are of critical interest to the U.S. Navy for mission planning and tactical decision making. New methods for determining these characteristics need to be developed. Because radar signal response to ocean roughness is a function of radar frequency, a multi-band radar system (e.g., S-, C-, X, and Ka bands) could be used to characterize the ocean surface and discriminate significant surface features. Various ocean features such as convergence and shear fronts, films (thick or thin, natural or artificial), and internal waves can be measured using radar scatterometry techniques. Suitable algorithms to extract and analyze data from a multi-band radar system also need to be developed.
PHASE I: Assess possible alternatives for a multi-band radar system and associated software to derive ocean characteristics based on radar signal response to ocean roughness and propose a candidate system design.
PHASE II: Assemble and test a prototype multi-band scatterometer. Develop analysis algorithms. Test the prototype system. Collect and analyze data and modify algorithms accordingly.
PHASE III: Transition the multi-band radar system to air and space-borne platforms for operational use.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Oil spill detection, characterization and source location.
NAVAL AVIATION SYSTEMS TEAM
N95-122 TITLE:Frequency Domain GPS Receiver
OBJECTIVE: Develop a frequency domain GPS receiver that will track code and carrier at extremely high accelerations, acquire track very quickly, resist jamming and mitigate multipath.
DESCRIPTION: Conventional GPS receivers are based on delay lock loops, which have inherent limitations in tracking very high accelerations and are also susceptible to multipath and jamming. With the advent of very high speed Digital Signal Processing (DSP) techniques, current technology exists to design GPS receivers with signal processing done entirely in the frequency domain. Although GPS receivers are currently capable of tracking code phase up to 90 g's, they require significant aircraft power and pod rail space. Alternative digital signal processing, such as the fast wavelet transform, may yield a more efficient processing algorithm. Wavelet or other new technology algorithms may allow the decomposition and analysis of GPS signals to filter out unwanted multipath or jamming signals. This type of GPS receiver must output position solutions in real time, be capable of hardware miniaturization, and consume small amounts of power.
PHASE I: Investigate the feasibility and efficiency of DSP techniques for GPS receivers applicable to tracking both code and carrier at very high accelerations, very fast acquisition, multipath reduction, and increased resistance to jamming. The DSP algorithms must be demonstrated through analysis and prototype development. Potential architectures will be investigated to demonstrate a suitable platform with minimal power consumption that can be miniaturized.
PHASE II: Develop, test, and operationally demonstrate the GPS DSP receiver methods formulated under the Phase I SBIR effort.
PHASE III: Verify producibility through low rate initial production.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: New GPS DSP methodology can be used for commercial aircraft and differential base stations that would benefit from filtering out multipath and jamming signals.
N95-123 TITLE:32-Bit High Throughput Processor/Emulator Chip
OBJECTIVE: Increase the effectiveness of platform upgrades (e.g., F/A-18 E&F) through the application of a 32-bit processor/emulator chip.
DESCRIPTION: The Navy currently uses 16-bit mission computers some with built-in 32-bit risc processors. Future requirements will demand more use of 32-bit processing and even grow to 64-bits. This project is to demonstrate a 32-bitprocessor/emulator chip which can directly execute existing AN/AYK-14 code and/or MIL-STD-1750 code.
PHASE I: Provide a feasibility study which analyzes technology, industry projections and emerging products leading to the design and demonstration of a modular 32-bit processor which can directly and efficiently execute AN/AYK-14 and/or MIL-STD-1750 source code. Particular attention should be given to the at sea operational environment for naval aircraft.
PHASE II: Develop, test and operationally demonstrate the modular processor/emulator identified during the Phase I SBIR effort including the ability for self test, if feasible.
PHASE III: Produce the modular processor/emulator demonstrated in the Phase II effort. Includes transition to other Navy programs such as the AN/AYK-14, F/A-18 E&F P3I, others which currently use AN/AYK-14 or MIL-STD-1750.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Direct application to commercial versions of the AN/AYK-14 and MIL-STD-1750 computer families.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-E-5400 Class 2
2. MIL-E-16400 Class 2
3. AN/AYK-14 Source Code
4. MIL-STD-1750 Source Code
N95-124 TITLE:Innovative Solid-state Blue or Blue-Green Laser
OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative, solid-state laser(s) having wavelengths in the range from 470-520 nm to better match the optimum transmissivity of seawater.
DESCRIPTION: The Navy is currently developing non-acoustic (electro-optic) sensors for use in various missions from air platforms. Solid-state lasers are essential to meet the packaging required for operation from Navy aircraft, due to size, weight, and power efficiency considerations. To-date, the only solid-state lasers meeting the packaging constraints operate at wavelengths which do not match the optimum for maximum transmission in seawater. Limited testing with gas and dye lasers have shown there to be a substantial benefit from operation at optimum wavelengths. Recent research in industry has shown the potential of developing new laser technology which will produce output in the desired wavelength range. The development of such lasers will substantially increase the capability of such non-acoustic sensors to meet Navy operational needs.
PHASE I: Demonstrate, using laboratory breadboard equipment, basic materials parameters necessary for operations of the desired laser. This demonstration will include laser spectroscopy testing to determine optical gain in the material, and a determination of the net lasing efficiency to be anticipated in Phase II. Perform a feasibility study to determine the optimum pump, cavity, and lasing material configuration for Phase II.
PHASE II: This phase is further subdivided in two parts:
PHASE IIA: Using the feasibility study performed in Phase I, construct an operating breadboard laser. Using this laser, evaluate performance, including particularly net power efficiency, output stability, and performance envelope as a function of pulse repetition rate. Perform scaling study to determine the optimum laser configuration to proceed to Phase IIB.
PHASE IIB: Building on the previous work, perform engineering necessary to demonstrate a brassboard laser having the requisite performance characteristics to meet current Navy requirements. For the purpose of this topic, this is to be interpreted as a minimum of 10 Watts average power at a pulse repetition rate of 40Hz or greater.
PHASE III: Perform the engineering necessary to productize the laser in a configuration providing optimum power efficiency and minimum packaging volume. This will be transitioned into the NAASW program.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: There is a substantial existing market for lasers having output in this wavelength range. This laser, because of its smaller size and greater power efficiency, is expected to displace existing laser technology in some of these applications, and to create other applications which present lasers cannot fill due to weight, size, and power constraints. In particular, lasers in this wavelength range are frequently used in opthamology.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-STD-1425
N95-125 TITLE:Radar-Sonar Data Fusion for Clutter Suppression Improvements in Shallow Water Submarine Detection and Classification Performance
OBJECTIVE: Provide a demonstration of quiet submarine detection and classification performance improvement in shallow water obtainable by data fusion of coincident radar and sonar scattering data to reduce the false alarm rate in both sensors.
DESCRIPTION: Detection and Classification of Quiet Submarine Targets in Shallow Littoral ocean areas to support combined operations with integrated intelligence information communications can be improved by exploiting the complementary nature of Low Frequency Active (LFA) acoustic sensor data and collocated radar maps of surface shipping. Active acoustic sonar returns are often dominated in shallow water environments with multi-path reverberations reflected from bottom surfaces of variable reflectivity and sea water thermal layers with time variable scattering properties - making operator detection of target returns and distinguishing them from clutter reflections from surface ships quite difficult. Superposition of radar knowledge of surface ship positions on an acoustic tactical plot should allow noise and clutter suppression in the acoustic signal data (by screening out sonar scattering signals emanating from radar identifiable large radar crossection (rcs) surface ship locations) with the potential for significantly reducing the sonar false alarm rate. Conversely integration of acoustic source classification and positional information with the radar tactical picture may facilitate the process of distinguishing short time, small rcs periscope detection radar returns from the brown water clutter produced by small boats and floating trash. Integrated passive and active acoustic classification/range/bearing and Doppler information should be useful here when effectively coupled with radar rcs/range/ bearing and Doppler information as evidence of transient radar contact identity.
Accurate data fusion of disparate data from multiple sources of differing resolution, timeliness and confidence into a single self-consistent tactical data frame will best be accomplished through registration of sensor coordinate systems with a common GPS space time data frame. Innovative techniques are needed for data fusion processing which can handle low and variable precision asynchronous acoustic and electromagnetic multi-sensor data derived from distributed heterogeneous processors. This data fusion process must filter noise and clutter, extracting and combining salient information from active and passive systems to develop a single accurate self-consistent tactical picture of target tracks. Algorithms should be scalable to real time operation on an existing computer architecture (eg. a parallel array processor with as many as 32 nodes, each with no more than 64 megabytes of memory).
PHASE I: Design and develop a data fusion algorithmic software system which will be able to demonstrate candidate radar/sonar data fusion algorithm performance under parametrically varying signal to noise & clutter conditions; as a part of this algorithm design effort devise integrated data fusion algorithms appropriate to handle typical shallow water propagation conditions, variable environmental/weather conditions and cluttered operational conditions using GFI Navy standard propagation/noise and clutter models to the greatest extent possible. Determine the feasibility of significantly improving detection & classification performance with data fusion clutter reduction techniques.
PHASE II: Implement a simulation of the data fusion algorithmic system designed in phase I using GFI support software and hardware to the greatest extent possible ( eg. the MASS program data fusion simulation software driver and GFE Sun 4 work stations) and test algorithmic processing performance under typical operational conditions using digitized recordings of integrated multi-sensor sea data when available as GFI.
PHASE III: Transition to Navy ASW platform and implement optimally performing algorithms in militarized computer environment (eg. USQ-78A)
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The capability of taking two sensors and integrating the results for improved performance is useful in the medical community. By using both active and passive (for example ultrasound and audio), there would be increased accuracy's in diagnoses.
REFERENCES:
1. Oceanographic and Atmospheric Master Library Summary, Naval Oceanographic Office Report No. OAML-SUM-21B January 1992.
2. Copernicus Project Phase 1 Report, OP-94, Aug 1991.
N95-126 TITLE:Rugged CD‑ROM Optical Disk Drive
OBJECTIVE: Develop an affordable CD‑ROM optical disk drive system architecture for operation in harsh environments.
DESCRIPTION: CD-ROM has becoming a very affordable and popular means of distributing large volumes of electronic information. There have been a number of proposed military applications which require the use of a ruggedized CD-ROM drive. The commercial marketplace has, until now, been unwilling to address this need. Data that does not change frequently such as digital maps and maintenance data, would be stored and accessed directly from a rugged CD-ROM. The drive shall be utilized for shipboard, airborne, and fielded applications. The CD-ROM drive shall have the ability to withstand harsh land based environments such as desert and arctic conditions and be designed for use in battlefield situations on board fighter aircraft, RPV's, small ships, tanks, and land vehicles. It shall have the ability to read standard IEC 908, ISO-10149, ISO-9660 CD-ROM media (120, 90mm) as well as CD-Recordable technology.
The completed drive would be capable of meeting or exceeding the following baseline specifications:
* Capacity 650 MB* Operating altitude to 80,000 ft
* Multi-Session,Multi-Media Compatible * Humidity ‑ 95%
* 2 X Transfer Rate* Operational vibration ‑ 6 Grms from 20 to 20,000 Hz
* ‑20_C to +71_C Operating Range* Shock 30 g's for 11 msec Survival
PHASE I: Phase I would consist of an investigation of the technology‑status of suitable digitally adaptive electronics, a plan to modify and/or design a CD‑ROM deckplate for use in military optical disk systems, and developing media protection plan methods for harsh environments.
PHASE II: Phase II would consist of fabrication of a mechanical transport with MIL‑E‑5400 equivalent anti‑shock housing and vibration isolation system, provide mechanical integration and mechanical integrity tests, and provide a complete electronic system design consisting of controller and READ/WRITE electronics, optical head and servo system. Thorough environmental testing would be accomplished on the completed unit with delivery of two prototype flight systems, test reports, instruction manuals, and other documentation.
PHASE III: Produce the ruggedized CD-ROM drive demonstrated in the Phase II effort. Transition efforts will include incorporating the drive into existing aircraft platforms.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Current audio CD players in cars do skip occasionally resulting in a loss of bits of data. This is rarely noticed in music. Forecasts in the Intelligent Vehicle Highway technology indicate that a CD-ROM optical disk drive system in the future will not be able to afford to drop even a bit of data without affecting the performance. Applications would include digital mapping, travel advisories or emergency information and numbers. Commercial airlines are also exploring the use of CD-ROMs for on-line technical manuals and information which, again, will be more sensitive to dropped bits.
REFERENCES:
1. ISO-9660
2. ISO-10149
3. MIL-SPEC 2036 (Modified and Ruggedized Commercial Off-the-Shelf)
N95-127 TITLE:Ultra High Speed Processor
OBJECTIVE: Increase the throughput of image and/or other sensor processing through the application of cost effective ultra high speed processors which are application specific.
DESCRIPTION: Future naval applications may require the ability to process imagery and other data at extremely high rates in order to form real time perspective or three dimensional scenes. Electronics technology and associated design aids are progressing to the point where it is feasible to develop and demonstrate application specific processors which are capable of throughputs meeting or surpassing supercomputers for specific operations in a highly affordable fashion. Such application specific processor technology may be modular and packaged within racks with other avionics hardware.
PHASE I: Provide a feasibility study which analyzes technology and specific needs of real time perspective scene generation and defines an approach to processing such imagery. Particular attention should be given to working with various military sensors including both on-board and off-board sources of imagery. Wherever feasible solutions should include either commercial or Navy owned software (i.e. PowerScene), preferably written using existing or projected commercial standard graphics language, and appropriate visualization media. The approach to demonstrating a specific demonstration in a Phase II SBIR effort shall be defined.
PHASE II: Develop, test and operationally demonstrate the ultra high speed image processor defined during the Phase I SBIR effort. Study and define self test and maintenance concepts.
PHASE III: Produce the modular ultra high speed processor system demonstrated in the Phase II effort. This will include transition to other Navy programs in airborne situational awareness.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Application specific ultra high speed processor technology should have payoff in numerous commercial applications such as remote real time surgery, robotics, news media, and others.
REFERENCES:
1. IEEE Graphics Language Standards, MIL-E-5400 Class II
N95-128 TITLE:Adaptive Beamforming for Mutistatic Active Sonar
OBJECTIVE: Develop a set of mathematical algorithms to efficiently implement a beamformer for multistatic sonar systems that can automatically adapt to a highly variant noise field.
DESCRIPTION: A set of mathematical algorithms is required to adaptively form beams from sonar arrays used as the receivers in multistatic active fields. Optimum suppression of ship radiated noise and scattering from topographical features is required to obtain maximum effective array gain. Sound sources will be both impulsive broadband as well as both narrow and broadband coherent. Maximum algorithm efficiency in terms of processing requirements is desired to minimize processing resources to allow for potential implementation in expendable sensors.
PHASE I: Study and develop adaptive beamforming algorithms for active multistatic applications that automatically suppress directional interference sources with little or no degradation of signals. Examine real data on successive range bins and mathematically determine algorithm effectiveness in improving echo to noise ratios while suppressing false alarms.
PHASE II: Design and implement on a commercial system an active multistatic adaptive beamformer.
PHASE III: The Navy may implement an efficient adaptive beamformer in all air ASW aircraft as well as in expendable sensors.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Efficient algorithms developed under this SBIR may offer breakthroughs in diagnostic acoustics in the medical field, seismic surveys, and other acoustic diagnostics throughout industry.
N95-129 TITLE:Expendable Small Object Avoidance (SOA) Sonar Detector
OBJECTIVE: Determine if technology can be adapted or developed to make a low cost expendable sonar practical for the detection of mini-submarines, bottomed submarines and mines.
DESCRIPTION: Systems are in development using electro-optic (E-O) techniques for the detection of small objects in shallow littoral waters. A complementary expendable acoustic system would be beneficial to these systems for reduction of false alarms and to overcome the deleterious effects of turbidity. The problem to be solved is the tradeoff of materials and technologies necessary to achieve an air dropable acoustic system that can be built at low unit cost and can be packaged in a form factor no larger than a right circular cylinder 4.75” in diameter and 36” in length.
PHASE I: (1.) Conduct a tradeoff study to determine the technical parameters necessary in an expendable sensor to complement existing and planned helicopter employed E-O systems for the detection of small underwater objects. Measures of effectiveness shall include the helicopter search rate and false alarm rate, with and without the proposed expendable active acoustic sensor.
(2.) Conduct a technology search study to determine the critical technologies that need to be developed to meet the technical parameters determined in (1.) above. Include in this study the required sensor and field processing to achieve optimum tactical performance.
(3.) Perform a unit cost study as a function of yearly purchase quantities and performance parameters.
PHASE II: Design and manufacture a prototype low cost expendable sonar in an “A” size (Diam: 4.75”, Length: 36”) package that will effectively complement existing helicopter E-O systems.
PHASE III: Navy procurement of a low cost expendable that will improve the fleet’s ability to avoid mini submarines, bottomed submarines and mine fields. Transition will be accomplished with a sonobuoy development program with either Advanced Development or Engineering Development funds, depending on remaining technical risks after the completion of PHASE II.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: High-energy acoustic ceramics and batteries required to meet this requirement have numerous applications in high frequency acoustic applications in the medical field and throughout industry in materials and structural test. Tracking marine animals and survey of underwater objects are other potential commercial applications.
N95-130 TITLE:Fault-Tolerant Navy Tactical Data Processing
OBJECTIVE: Use scalable, fault-tolerant computing systems/modules in handling Navy tactical data to ensure fail-safe operation without compromising performance/mission safety. Organic (embedded) computers play a significant role in controlling critical military and civilian functions. The increasing complexity in modern military and industrial equipment increases the probability of malfunctions or mission failures. Failure in any of these computers can be catastrophic, particularly, when the environment becomes hostile due to an act of nature or war. Use of multiple fault tolerant computing systems is a way of ensuring/minimizing fail-safe operation without compromising mission safety. These proposed systems will allow redundancy to be designed throughout the next generation of platforms. The scalability of these systems permit configuration selection based on the number of likely faults within the Mean-Time-To-Repair to ensure continuous fail safe operation.
DESCRIPTION: Develop an innovative, "dual use", multiple fault tolerant, VMEbus and Futurebus+-based computer systems capable of executing real-time Ada/Ada 9X code. VMEbus and Futurebus+have been chosen because of their world-wide usage in military and commercial applications.. The proposal should use a high performance and ultra-reliable RISC computing engine (ex., Intel i960 RISC processor because of its usage in newer systems (F-22, among others)), designed with redundant parts and special fault handling capability, that continues working in-spite of several component failures. These computers (Intel i960 RISC VMEbus and Futurebus+) will be scalable, i.e. users can select application specific configurations for the degree of fault tolerance required, making it efficient and inexpensive. It also permits fault tolerance to be extended outside the computing platform, providing the opportunity, to make the entire application fault tolerant. The approach will be to add fault tolerance to existing technology rather than design it from scratch.
PHASE I: Define the prototype tactical data system. Define the technical performance/reliability requirements the fault tolerant system modules must meet. Define the system tactical interfaces (1397, 188-C, 1553B, etc.) data input/output requirements.
PHASE II: Develop, test and prototype tactical data interface modules, perform design verification and testing for manufacturability/producibility based on definitions/requirements of Phase I. Begin development of commercial market
PHASE III: Develop, test and integrate modules developed under Phase II into tactical data system. Conduct system integration testing. Transition to commercial production. Deliver to Fleet.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Civilian equipment, driven by intelligent computing engines, requiring a high degree of on-line performance, can benefit from these systems such as: Emergency life support, Power Plant and electrical distribution systems, On-line transaction processing, Traffic control equipment (air traffic control, MagLev Trains, subway systems), Future national computer networks and databases
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-STD-1397
2. MIL-STD-1553(B)
3. MIL-STD-188C
4. MIL-STD-SDD
N95-131 TITLE:Digital Voice Signal Distribution for Crew Communication
OBJECTIVE: Improve aircraft communications by implementing an interphone communications capability having digital signal interfaces with microphones, earphones, and radios.
DESCRIPTION: Current interphone communication systems either distribute analog voice communications, or provide digital interphone signal routing with digital to analog (or analog to digital) conversion of voice signals prior to interface with analog microphones or earphones. The effort identified here, is to describe a hardware and software approach to a completely digital signal routing and control capability enabling digital voice information to come directly from microphones or to be provided directly to earphones, and which uses direct digital interface with radios.
PHASE I: Provide a feasibility study which develops a method to provide total digital voice signal distribution of interphone communications through to the crew member’s headset. This process will concentrate on defining the signal conversion at the microphone and earphone, and the interphone signal distribution and control implementation. The signal distribution will utilize digitized audio compatible with the wideband audio input and output of receiver/transmitters such as the AN/ARC-182 and AN/ARC-210. The bus structure for signal interconnectivity is to use fiber optics. The interphone communication units shall be modular and of minimum weight, size, and cost with applicability to such aircraft as the E-2C, P-3C, CH-53, and CH-46E. The feasibility of an embedded approach using software to control the interface with other multifunction controls and displays will also be evaluated. Coordination of this work will be established with appropriate aircraft and crew systems PMAs.
PHASE II: Develop, fabricate, test, and operationally demonstrate the digital voice signal distribution functions formulated for interphone communications during the Phase I SBIR effort.
PHASE III: Produce components of the digital voice signal distribution system, thereby providing system availability and enabling transition onto multi-crew station aircraft.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This process of total digital intercommunications is an expansion of current trends for digital signal processing of communications to improve signal reception and transmission. Additionally, this process offers potential for embedding interphone communication system (ICS) control functions for software implementation. It will have its greatest potential on aircraft with multiple crew stations.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-R-29583 (AS) Radio Set, AN/ARC-210(V)
2. MIL-R-85664 (AS) Radio Set, AN/ARC-182(V)
N95-132 TITLE:Corrosion Preventive Compounds or Preservative with Lower Volatile Organic Compound Content
OBJECTIVE: Develop corrosion preventive compounds (CPC) or preservatives with water displacing characteristics using the state-of-the-art technology to meet current environmental laws/regulations and the performance requirements of MIL-C-81309, MIL-C-85054, MIL-C-6529, MIL-C-16173, MIL-C-11796, MIL-L-63460, or for a specialized application.
DESCRIPTION: Some current state and local environmental laws/regulations restrict the use of CPC or preservatives and the National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants will have limitations for CPC or preservatives in 1997. CPC or preservative is used in various applications for aircraft structure, avionics/equipment and engines. The NAVAIR 01-1A-509 Aircraft Weapons Systems Cleaning and Corrosion Prevention/Control manual, the NAVAIR 16-1-540 Avionics Cleaning and Corrosion Prevention/Control manual, and the NAVAIR 17-1-125 Support Equipment and Corrosion Control manual contain CPC or preservative applications.
PHASE I: Develop new CPC formulation(s) with water displacing characteristics that meet current environmental laws/regulations and the performance requirements for its target application(s). Identify new formulations and potential applications. Conduct preliminary laboratory testing to demonstrate the feasibility of the CPC or preservative formulation for its target applications.
PHASE II: Further develop new CPC formulation(s) based on phase I results. Conduct preliminary laboratory testing and field testing. Also, conduct comparison testing with the CPC being substituted. The above comparison testing shall demonstrate that the new CPCs meet all the performance requirements and the environmental laws/regulations for the target application(s). If necessary, propose amendments to existing military specifications or propose new military specifications for these CPCs to cover their technology.
PHASE III: Produce the CPC formulation(s) demonstrated in the phase II effort for both the military and commercial market.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: New CPCs can be used on commercial aircraft as well as non aerospace applications for both government and private sector.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-C-81309
2. MIL-C-85054
3. MIL-C-6529
4. MIL-C-16173
5. NAVAIR 01-1A-509
N95-133 TITLE:Integrated Product Data Environment
OBJECTIVE: Reduce weapon system support cycle time and associated costs through the use of an Integrated Product Data Environment (IPDE) in manufacturing and rework facilities.
DESCRIPTION: Currently the aviation engineering and manufacturing activities utilize a combination of paper and digital product data for the design, manufacture or rework of a system, equipment, or component. This data is stored within functional areas and is not readily accessible between functional areas. The vision of an IPDE is for all or parts of a single activity and its suppliers to be able to work from a common digital data base, in real time, on the design, development, manufacturing, distribution, and servicing of a weapon system, equipment, or component. The direct benefits would come through substantial reductions in cycle time and costs, along with significant enhancements in quality and performance.
PHASE I: Provide a concept study that integrates: product data to provide a consistent view of all product information across the enterprise; an information highway to provide access to the integrated product data; the interconnection of work processes throughout the enterprise; and reengineered business processes that take maximum advantage of integrated product data and product data tools for workers to efficiently and effectively support a weapon system.
PHASE II: Develop and test a prototype IPDE, formulated under the Phase I SBIR effort, at a NAVAIR rework facility to demonstrate and document its feasibility and benefits. Based on the prototype provide a technical architecture that will allow for IPDE implementation.
PHASE III: Implement the IPDE, documented in the Phase II SBIR effort, throughout the NAVAIR rework/manufacturing facilities.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The developed product would give industry a structure that will allow for radical improvement in the management of product data. The direct benefits to industry would be a substantial reduction in product development cycle time and costs, along with significant enhancements in product quality and performance.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-STD-1840
2. MIL-D-28000 & 28003, STEP
N95-134 TITLE:Recycling of Cured Composite
OBJECTIVE: To develop a process to recycle cured composite materials and to develop uses for the recycled product.
DESCRIPTION: The navy currently uses composite materials in aircraft structure due to the high strength, environmental resistance and light weight. Unlike metals composites can not be easily reprocessed into new parts due to the chemical changes that occur during processing. Composite material contain high value fibers that can provide improved properties to a number of marketable products in DoD and the commercial sector. This effort will develop methods to utilize the superior properties of the high strength fibers found in cured composite material in a marketable product. Recycling will reduce the amount of composite in landfills, provide a means to dispose of retired composite structures and provide a payback to the processor to offset the cost of recycling.
PHASE I: Evaluate state of the art processes to reduce composite structures into useful forms that may be used as reinforcement, fillers and additives to commercial products. These processes should include mechanical, chemical and thermal methods to recycle cured structures. Potential uses of the recycled materials should also be identified along with market size, product form requirements and cost.
PHASE II: In this phase the most promising reduction method will be scaled up and used to produce sample quantities of material which will be used to fabricate a marketable product. The cost of recycling the composite, fabrication of the marketable product and the performance of the product will be evaluated.
PHASE III: In this phase a full scale recycling facility will be set up to reduce cured composite material to a useful product form. This facility may be stand alone or in conjunction with the facilities of the secondary product fabricator.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The use of composite materials in the construction and transportation industries will provide both a source of composite materials and a potential for secondary uses.
N95-135 TITLE:Adhesive Bond Integrity of Composites
OBJECTIVE: To clearly define nondestructive inspection (NDI) methods using state-of-the-art technology to determine adhesive bond strength integrity quantitatively vice qualitatively.
DESCRIPTION: With the continuing rapid improvements in advanced composite materials technology, adhesive bonding integrity is always a matter of concern. In particular, this concern applies to commercial aerospace applications as well as high performance military aircraft. Adhesive bond integrity affects commercial and military aircraft application since employment of advanced composite materials are being expanded as a means to reduce weight and corrosion.
PHASE I: Perform search of commercially available NDI equipment and potential modifications or develop new equipment to meet the objective. Conduct preliminary laboratory testing to demonstrate the feasibility of the potential NDI method. Also, as a means of screening for potential NDI techniques for determination of adhesive bond integrity.
PHASE II: Development of NDI methods and testing of prototype inspection equipment as determined from Phase I feasibility studies. The design development and testing of prototype NDI equipment shall be accomplished. Additionally, the prototype inspection unit shall be a deliverable.
PHASE III: Commercialize NDI equipment and inspection methodology.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Extensive commercial and military industrial applications.
N95-136 TITLE:Ultrahigh Fidelity Inspection of Advance Composite Materials
OBJECTIVE: To clearly define nondestructive inspection (ND) methods using state-of-the-art technology to determine the orientation of laps, gaps, and ply layer of occurrence in advanced composite materials.
DESCRIPTION: New designs and manufacturing processes are rapidly improving the strength and fatigue characteristics of many advanced composite materials. The performance of many of these new composite materials is highly sensitive to ply orientation, lap and gap thicknesses, fiber waviness, etc. There is a critical need in both the commercial and military aircraft industries for NDI techniques which are capable of quantifying variations in ply orientation, etc. Ultrahigh fidelity inspection of advanced composite materials requires additional research in defining tape imperfections, proper fiber placement, orientation of laps and gaps, and through thickness ply location. The increased sophistication of advance composite materials being considered for use on commercial and military aircraft as a means to reduce weight and maintenance costs requires improved inspection methods to assure material integrity.
PHASE I: Perform literature search of ND methodology and of commercially available ND equipment as a means of screening for potential ND techniques and methods for determination of advanced composite materials integrity. Conduct preliminary laboratory testing to demonstrate the feasibility of the potential ND technique(s) and method(s).
PHASE II: Development of ND method and/or prototype inspection equipment as determined from Phase I feasibility studies. The design development and testing of prototype ND equipment shall be accomplished. Additionally, the prototype inspection unit shall be a deliverable.
PHASE III: Commercialize ND equipment and military industrial applications.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Current potential for use of this technique/equipment exists in the commercial and private aerospace industry and a future potential for the automotive industry as more advanced composite materials are utilized.
N95-137 TITLE:Wearable Electronics for Man Machine Interface
OBJECTIVE: Increase the functionality and productivity of the human operator while decreasing the life cycle cost of associated electronics.
DESCRIPTION: The Navy currently uses non-portable computers and equipment for most applications which involve interfacing with an operator. Digital electronics technology has been progressing at a rate which doubles about every two years and is expected to do so for the remainder of the decade according to the semiconductor industry association. Emphasis in commercial digital and analog electronics has changed direction from relatively stationary electronics to man portable electronics and is expected to migrate to wearable electronics in the near future. Wearable electronics potentially could increase the efficiency and productivity of personnel in training, conducting maintenance, rehearsing missions, operating equipment, etc. Future hardware may enhance performance of military systems operations without building expensive and rapidly changing electronics into the platform itself.
PHASE I: Provide a feasibility study which analyzes technology, industry projections and compares such to the needs of the Navy to perform training, maintenance, rehearsal, and military operations in a carrier based aviation environment. Particular attention should be given to the at sea operational environment and, if necessary, applications should distinguish between land and sea based operations. Near to far term applications of wearable systems shall be identified and reported along with an approach to demonstrating high payoff applications in a Phase II program including power source, electronics and human interface hardware (e.g., displays, earphones, voice recognition, etc.)
PHASE II: Develop, test and operationally demonstrate various wearable subsystems identified during the Phase I SBIR effort. Study and project any special maintenance, safety, or operational requirements for such wearable systems.
PHASE III: Produce the wearable electronics subsystems and systems demonstrated in the Phase II effort. This will include transition to other Navy programs such as training, mission planning, maintenance, operational systems, etc.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Wearable electronics could find numerous commercial applications in training equipment operators, performing maintenance, rehearsing scripts, and enhancing operations.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-E-5400 Class 2
2. MIL-E-16400 Class 2
N95-138 TITLE:Realistic Correlated Infrared Sensor Scene Generation
OBJECTIVE: To improve the correlation of simulated Infrared Sensor (IR) scenes with out-the-window scenes synthesized from digital terrain elevation data and satellite imagery and/or aerial photography, thereby enhancing mission planning, mission preview, mission rehearsal, and training activities.
DESCRIPTION: Visual simulation systems capable of generating synthesized dynamic perspective views of the terrain from actual satellite imagery and/or aerial photography with digital terrain elevation data have the potential to enhance greatly the effectiveness of mission planning, mission preview, mission rehearsal, and training activities. Currently lacking, however, are correlated views of the terrain for sensors, such as Infrared (IR), with the same high degree of realism and fidelity as the visible spectrum scenes. This effort will develop innovative techniques for deriving high- fidelity IR scenes from the same data sources as are used to generate the visible spectrum scenes, specifically digital terrain elevation data and visible spectrum (400 to 700 nanometers) imagery.
PHASE I: Provide a feasibility study which develops one or more methods for specific sensor systems capable of deriving realistic, high-fidelity IR scenes from digital terrain elevation data and actual terrain imagery in the visible spectrum. The methods shall be highly automated, requiring virtually no human interaction, and shall be capable of implementation on relatively low-cost engineering workstations. Preprocessing of imagery and elevation data to derive intermediate data, such as terrain material classifications, shall be permitted, but techniques which require no such preprocessing shall be preferred.
PHASE II: Develop, test, and operationally demonstrate the IR scene synthesis techniques formulated under the Phase I SBIR effort.
PHASE III: Incorporate the methods demonstrated in the Phase II effort with existing and emerging Navy mission planning, mission preview, mission rehearsal, and training systems.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Improvements in the correlation of simulated IR with out-the-window scenes synthesized from digital terrain elevation data and satellite imagery and/or aerial photography has numerous commercial applications, among them an increased ability to portray remotely sensed scenes as well as advancing the state of the art in our ability to map and chart mineral deposits.
N95-139 TITLE:Realistic Correlated SAR Scene Generation
OBJECTIVE: To improve the correlation of simulated Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) scenes with out-the-window scenes synthesized from digital terrain elevation data and satellite imagery and/or aerial photography, thereby enhancing mission planning, mission preview, mission rehearsal, and training activities.
DESCRIPTION: Visual simulation systems capable of generating synthesized dynamic perspective views of the terrain from actual satellite imagery and/or aerial photography with digital terrain elevation data currently exist and have the potential to enhance greatly the effectiveness of mission planning, mission preview, mission rehearsal, and training activities. Currently lacking, however, are correlated views of the terrain for sensors, such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), with the same high degree of realism and fidelity as t visible spectrum scenes. This effort will develop innovative techniques for deriving high- fidelity SAR scenes from the same data sources as are used to generate the visible spectrum scenes, specifically digital terrain elevation data and visible spectrum (400 to 700 nanometers) imagery.
PHASE I: Provide a feasibility study which develops one or more methods for specific sensor systems capable of deriving realistic, high-fidelity SAR scenes from digital terrain elevation data and actual terrain imagery in the visible spectrum. The methods shall be highly automated, requiring virtually no human interaction, and shall be capable of implementation on relatively low-cost engineering workstations. Preprocessing of imagery and elevation data to derive intermediate data, such as terrain material classifications, shall be permitted, but techniques which require no such preprocessing shall be preferred.
PHASE II: Develop, test, and operationally demonstrate the SAR scene synthesis techniques formulated under the Phase I SBIR effort.
PHASE III: Incorporate the methods demonstrated in the Phase II effort with extant and emerging Navy mission planning, mission preview, mission rehearsal, and training systems.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Improvements in the correlation of simulated SAR with out-the-window scenes synthesized from digital terrain elevation data and satellite imagery and/or aerial photography has numerous commercial applications, among them an increased ability to portray remotely sensed scenes as well as advancing the state of the art in our ability to map and chart mineral deposits.
N95-140 TITLE:Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Imagery Processing for Geophysical Information System (GIS) Applications
OBJECTIVE: Investigate sensor suite and imagery processing workstation for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to be used in collecting geographic/geophysical data and build a low cost Geophysical Information System (GIS) for mission planning and targeting selection.
DESCRIPTION: Geophysical information systems(GISs) traditionally have been used by the Air Force in weapons avionics and mission planning in which expensive satellite data and long lead-time planning/data reduction effort are required to built a GIS for limited applications. A UAV with GPS aided autonomous navigation system can serve as a low cost sensor platform for collecting precise geographic images/conducting geophysical survey in near realtime; the envisioned UAV sensor may be 3-D imaging with stereoscopic staring sensor, laser range finder for precise distance measurement, or multispectral sensor for locating natural/artificial artifacts, etc.; the latest commercial computer workstation and off-the-shelf image processing/GIS software may be used to build a multidimensional and features laden map/database by the lower echelon commander for their operational area for near realtime mission planning and force maneuver and target selection.
PHASE I: Investigate the sensor suite enhancements for the UAV and identify an imagery processing workstation/software for UAV GIS applications. Perform requirements analysis, architecture definition, and conduct technology trades.
PHASE II: Develop prototype hardware/software, and demonstrate a low cost UAV Imagery Processing/GIS system.
PHASE III: Productize the UAV GIS sensor(s) and imagery processing/GIS workstation and conduct field test.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The UAV GIS system has potential applications for law enforcement, i.e., build a GIS database for correlation/analysis of crime patterns and trends, command and control/tactical decision aid database during emergency response; The UAV GIS system can also be used during Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emergency response coordination and disaster relief effort. Other commercial applications include building accurate geophysical survey/GISs of existing utility grids or gas pipelines or highways/bridges for periodic maintenance and emergency repairs, urban development area surveying/zone planning, agricultural resources/land utilization management, etc.
N95-141 TITLE:Effective Retrieval of Human Technical Knowledge
OBJECTIVE: Develop an effective method of obtaining information from individual expert technical personnel for use in subsequent training computer-based training courses.
DESCRIPTION: Computer Based Training (CBT) systems have been shown to promote high learning training effectiveness and cost effectiveness. The most essential ingredient in these systems is the specific technical knowledge which they are designed to transmit. However, it is very difficult to retrieve this data stored in the technicians brains and record it on a more permanent and adaptable storage medium. A concept for a Naval "Electronic Capture and Handling, Integrated Engineering Facts" system (e-CHIEF) shall be formulated, designed and implemented to provide an effective method of obtaining the knowledge from the individual and using it in multiple, broad-based CBT applications, using a phased approach.
PHASE I: Establish basic e-CHIEF functional requirements, and define the psychological, training and technological methods to be used to satisfy those requirements. The primary product will be a system design specification for processes and tools to effectively transmit technical knowledge from practitioners to a computer data base.
PHASE II: Develop e-CHIEF processes and the human and computer-based tools to support it. These computer based tools (ie, "the system") will feature maximum open architecture, broad applicability, and easy adaptation for use in each specific knowledge specialty. The system will facilitate separating the raw knowledge into discrete areas of technology to enable the information to be used functionally, across multiple applicable learning programs. PHASE II will conclude with a demonstration of a database produced using the system in an actual "knowledge transmission session." The products of Phase II will consist of written documentation of the processes to be used in conducting information-gathering sessions, and the computer-based tools (software) designed to assist those processes.
PHASE III: Refine e-CHIEF system and transition it into the mainstream. Here, the documentation of the processes and the design of the software tools will be finalized. Products include the processes and software tools as well as the initial e-CHIEF data base of recorded technical information.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Full application to business and academia training programs.
N95-142 TITLE:Low Cost Image Generator for Mission Rehearsal
OBJECTIVE: Investigate affordable high performance computational elements to develop real-time photo-texture based image generators (IG) for mission rehearsal.
DESCRIPTION: With the increased emphasis on synthetic environments Military and commercial trainer systems of the future will require affordable texture based Image Generator's. Requirements exist in areas such as mission rehearsal, mission planning and mission preview to utilize Photo-textured scene's as the primary planning tool. There are several companies developing boards for systems that are ADVERTISED to provide texture-based, image generator's at 30HZ. These boards (1 or more) in a system will cause a large cost reduction for operational mission rehearsal systems. Potential cost reduction for a system is 50 to 80 % of a current systems hardware cost.
PHASE I: Provide a report describing the proposed concept and a system implementation of an affordable photo based image generator.
PHASE II: Demonstrate a prototype image generator running photo-based images on a CRT and Helmet Mounted Display (HMD).
PHASE III: Transition the high performance Image Generator to a military mission rehearsal simulation system.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: An expanding commercial use of image generators into the home game market, travel market and aircraft flight simulator market is expected. Commercial trainer applications into automobile simulators, train simulators, fire fighting simulators (virtual reality market) all expand as photo texture based system arrive.
N95-143 TITLE:Cordless Visual Display Technology for Virtual Environment Applications
OBJECTIVE: Develop digital hardware technology to produce a cordless, high resolution, lightweight, full color, head-coupled display for use in virtual environment applications.
DESCRIPTION: The dominance of the visual channel in human perception indicates the importance of head-mounted display technology to virtual environment research. Applications such as naval simulation and training are limited in their capabilities by display technology. Although the fidelity of display technology has been increasing regularly, an effort has not been made to eliminate the cords thus freeing the wearer of a connection to external equipment. Therefore, the technology development called for includes the elimination of all cords to the display as well as general display improvements. There are three primary technologies presently in use for stereoscopic displays in virtual environment research. For applications in which the operator cannot wear a physical device, a flat-screen stereoscopic display is used. A recent alternatives been to mount the display on a counter-balanced arm allowing the display to be heavier than a typical head-mounted display (Bolas, et al., 1994). In both boom-mounted and head-mounted displays, the display itself has been either LCD or CRT based. Technologies for cordless devices include infrared sensors and optoelectronics (Ward, et al., 1992). Current needs and requirements call for a cordless, high resolution(minimum of 1000 lines of resolution) display which is lightweight, full color, with a high field of view (greater than 100 degrees). The display should also be reconfigurable as view replacing (opaque) or view augmenting (transparent). Head-mounted displays are physically coupled to the head and an external tracking system to follow head movements. Therefore, in compliance with the cordless requirement, a proposed solution must provide for integration with the signal generated from a cordless tracking device.
PHASE I: Provide a thorough investigation of current solutions and develop a design which addresses the needs and requirements listed above. A report describing the proposed solution, its technical improvements over past solutions, and its expected performance specifications will be required.
PHASE II: Develop, test, and demonstrate the solution described under the Phase I effort.
PHASE III: Produce the system developed under the Phase II effort for general purpose applications.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: High resolution, high field of view, stereoscopic display technology is applicable to all forms of virtual environment research. The cordless improvement will enable a wider range of applications to be pursued which have been excluded to this point by technology constraints. The integration of cordless displays with cordless tracking facilitates applications such as firefighter training which are currently hampered by the state of the technology.
REFERENCES:
1. Bolas, MT., I.E. McDonnell, and. Mead. (1994). "Design Background for BOOM Viewers - A Family of Application Specific Head-Coupled Displays." Proceedings of SIP 1994 Conference 2177B - The Engineering Reality of Virtual Reality. 2. Ward, M., Azuma, R., Bennett, R., Gottschalk, S., & Fuchs, H (1992). A Demonstrated Optimcal Tracker With Scalable Work Area for Head-Mounted Display Systems. Proceedings of the ACM 1992 Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics.
N95-144 TITLE:Six Degree of Freedom Tracking Devices for Virtual Environment Applications
OBJECTIVE: Develop digital hardware and software technology to enable cordless, long range, high fidelity six degree-of-freedom tracking in virtual spaces by human operators.
DESCRIPTION: Six degree of freedom tracking devices are a critical component of virtual environment systems in that they allow direct manipulation interaction between the human operator and virtual objects within the space. Virtual environment training problems, such as firefighter training require a large operating radius and low interference without the use of cords. In addition, virtual environment simulation problems, such as electronic warfare systems evaluation require high accuracy and sampling rates. The most common method currently in use is magnetic tracking which tracks the position and orientation of a receiver within a magnetic field. This can also be achieved through mechanical tracking which determines position and orientation through the relative positions of the joints in a mechanical arm. Other techniques include ultrasonic tracking, inertial tracking, and optical tracking (Ward, et al., 1992). Current needs and requirements call for a cordless system with a long range of operation (minimum ten foot radius). It must be lightweight, accurate, and insensitive to metallic interference enabling possible future shipboard use. Lastly, the device must have a low latency providing a high sampling rate. A proposed solution complying with the cordless requirement must provide for integration with a video signal as would be used in a head-mounted display.
PHASE I: Provide a thorough investigation of current solutions and develop a design which addresses the needs and requirements listed above. A report describing the proposed solution, its technical improvements over past solutions, and its expected performance specifications will be required.
PHASE II: Develop, test, and demonstrate the solution described under the Phase I effort.
PHASE III: Produce the system developed under the Phase II effort for general purpose applications.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: A six degree of freedom tracking system as described would be applicable to all virtual environment applications including those in the medical field as well as scientific visualization. The aforementioned firefighter training example extends beyond military use into all types of firefighter training.
REFERENCES:
1. Ward, M., Azuma, R., Bennett, R., Gottschalk, S., & Fuchs, H. (1992). A Demonstrated Optical Tracker With Scalable Work Area for Head-Mounted Display Systems. Proceedings of ACM 1992 Symposium on Interactive 3D Graphics.
N95-145 TITLE:Thermal Stability Enhancing Additive for JP-5 Fuel
OBJECTIVE: Development of an additive that will increase the stability of JP-5 fuel at elevated temperatures without deteriorating the performance of the fuel.
DESCRIPTION: Future generations of gas turbine engines for naval aircraft and missile application have strong requirements for high specific thrust ratios and low specific fuel consumption. In order to meet these goals, gas turbine engines must operate at significantly higher temperatures and pressures. Currently used JP-5 fuel (narrow cut kerosene jet fuel) will oxidize prematurely at the elevated temperatures anticipated in the new turbine engines. Additive technology exists that will extend the elevated temperature stability of jet fuel but does not stabilize the fuel at the very high inlet temperatures expected. Also, such technology deteriorates other performance properties of the fuel such as water-shedding ability, low temperature characteristics, filterability, and ignition quality.
An innovative additive development effort is required to address the problem of premature oxidation of the fuel due to the high temperatures expected in future generation gas turbine engines. The additive must be compatible with JP-5 fuel in that it does not degrade the important properties of the fuel. In addition, contaminant pickup from shipboard CuNi aviation fuel systems has been shown to degrade the thermal stability of JP-5 and must be addressed in the development.
PHASE I: Efforts should demonstrate the stability enhancing chemistry necessary for high temperature JP-5 performance.
PHASE II: Covers the formulation of doped JP-5 fuel and demonstration of high temperature stability improvement over undoped fuel.
PHASE III: The contractor will scale up the production of the additive formulation in PHASE III for marketing to fuel suppliers as a NAVAIR-approved additive package for JP-5.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The new additive technology will be applicable to all kerosene based fuels for enhancing both thermal stability and storage stability. Commercial gas turbines will operate at higher temperatures also.
N95-146 TITLE:Energy Dissipation Characterization and Design Methodology for Composite Materials
OBJECTIVE: To develop energy dissipation characterization methodologies for composite material/laminate characterization and design of aircraft certification representative structure.
DESCRIPTION: Energy Dissipation approaches to composite material characterization and design offer the potential to significantly reduce the cost and schedule associated with composite materials for advanced Navy platforms. This technology utilizes energy methods to characterize composite material/laminate energy dissipation under multi-axial loading conditions, better representing actual composite material structural response in both the linear and non-linear regions. The extensive data generated by this approach provides improved material/laminate characterization for use in finite element modeling and design of composite structure. This program will assess current composite material characterization methodologies and evaluate/develop proposed methodologies for use in composite materials and structural development.
PHASE I: Evaluate energy dissipation methods compared with currently accepted composite material/laminate characterization and design methodologies. Develop an approach for certification methodology development and perform an analysis of benefits when fully implemented.
PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate the analytical certification methodologies which support the application of this technology for advanced air vehicles. Validate the attributes of the technology in terms of performance, cost and schedule. PHASE III: Apply this technology for certification of representative demonstration components.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This technology will be able to be put into practice on commercial aircraft and will provide an avenue for continuing the U.S. lead in advanced composites.
REFERENCES:
1. P.W. Mast, J.G. Michopoulos, L.W. Gauss and R. Badaliance, "Dissipated Energy Density Characterization of Composites", NRL.
2. P.W. Mast, G.E. Nash, J. Michopoulos, R.W. Thomas, R. Badaliance and I. Wolock, "Experimental Determination of Dissipated Energy Density as a Measure of Strain-induced Damage in Composites", NRL/FR/6383-92-9369, April 17, 1992. ADA250322
N95-147 TITLE:Water Crash Dynamics and Structural Concepts for Naval Helicopters
OBJECTIVE: Determine the hydrodynamic response characteristics of Naval helicopters during sudden water penetration associated with crashes at sea. Based on the determination of impact pressure and force distribution time histories on typical hull shapes, develop potential structural concepts and associated requirements necessary to be used as a design tool for achieving water impact survivability. Crash deceleration time history data required for on-board crash sensor calibration and energy absorbing seating will also be defined.
DESCRIPTION: The Navy operates a fleet of approximately 1500 helicopters, all of which include substantial over-water missions. Nearly 90% of crashes for some Navy helicopter types occur into water. Though ground and barrier impact characteristics are very well understood through U.S. Army and automotive research, extremely little is known about water crash dynamics. As a result, no crash criteria (other than low severity ditching) or design approaches exist for the Navy, or civil, water impact threat. This effort will use pre-existing computer simulation codes to predict water impact response properties of typical helicopter hulls suddenly penetrating into water. After validating predictions, this information will then be used to determine crashworthiness subsystem requirements and potential structural concepts for providing survivability under water crash conditions.
PHASE I: Use currently available computer simulation programs, such as KRASH and/or CFD codes, to predict water impact response properties of typical helicopter hull shapes penetrating into water throughout a range of typical impact conditions. Determine pressure and force distribution time histories, as well as vehicle kinematic response. Develop a preferred developmental approach and determine the technical merit and feasibility of this approach. Evaluate the extent to which Phase II results would have the potential to yield a product or process of continuing importance to DoD and the private sector.
PHASE II: Design/manufacture prototypes and validate computer predictions through scale model and sectional drop testing into water. Obtain measured pressure and force levels, as well as kinematic responses, to compare predicted and actual results. Based on validated results, determine deceleration time histories required for calibration of onboard subsystems such as crash sensors and energy-absorbing seats. The end product of Phase II will be a determination of structural requirements to be used as a design tool for managing water impact forces in future Naval helicopters.
PHASE III: Apply the results of the SBIR effort to crashworthy products intended for use by the U.S. Government and the private sector. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be able to establish water impact criteria for civil helicopters as a result of this effort.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: In addition to helicopters, the results of this effort can be applied as a base for other applications including lightweight aircraft.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-STD-1290 & Aircraft Crash Survival Design Guide (USAAVSCOM TR 89-D-22A)
N95-148 TITLE:In-Situ Advanced Fiber Placement and Processing
OBJECTIVE: To develop, optimize and implement advanced fiber placement using in-situ consolidation for composite structures. Demonstrate the certifiability of the technology, develop a repeatable process and characterize the advantages of the process for composite material applications. Develop and demonstrate an advanced in-situ fiber placement head design which can be scaled-up to full scale aircraft fiber placement applications
DESCRIPTION: In-situ fiber placement is the next logical step in advanced fiber placement technology applicable to staging thermoset materials and consolidating thermoplastic or thermoplastic/thermoset hybrid composites. This innovative technology provides the promise to automate the composite lay-up and consolidation process to eliminate/minimize post-processing via autoclave. Also, this process provides significant opportunity for unitizing composite structures via fiber placement over substructure w/o adhesive bonding.
PHASE I: Develop and evaluate innovative approaches to advanced in-situ fiber placement heat application/control and consolidation. Develop proposed concepts and design approaches for fiber placement head design to produce repeatable, cost effective certification representative aircraft and missile composite structure.
PHASE II: Design and build an optimized in-situ fiber placement head for subscale demonstration. Demonstrate process performance and characterize process parameters for applicability to primary composite structure. Evaluate the critical aspects of the materials processed using this innovative approach and recommend process/material enhancements for further development and scale-up.
PHASE III: Demonstrate the reproducibility of the process and evaluate the structural performance of a prototype system addressing critical Navy concerns.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Significant potential to change the paradigm of the composite manufacturing process.
REFERENCES:
1. Advanced Research Projects Agency
2. Great Lakes Composites Consortium
N95-149 TITLE:Advanced Induction Welding of Composites with Out-of-Plane Reinforcement
OBJECTIVE: Develop concepts for improved primary structural bond strengths using advanced induction welding and joining of composites via out-of-plane reinforcements. Demonstrate the performance of inductively welded composites with out-of-plane reinforcement for use in certification representative structure. Analyze the cost, weight and performance benefits when applied to Navy aircraft.
DESCRIPTION: Induction welding of advanced composites offers the potential to significantly reduce the cost and weight of advanced Navy aircraft and missile systems. This technology, through the minimization or elimination of fasteners offers payoffs such as weight, cost, aerodynamics, observables, fuel sealing, lightening strike etc. The basic induction welding technology utilizes susceptor screens in the bondlines to locally heat thermoplastic films which melt fuse to the substrates to be joined. Incorporation of out-of-plane reinforcements in this bondline could provide significant improvements in joint strength, minimizing the requirements for a large joint surface area in structural applications. This technology shows significant promise in terms of enhanced bond strength over conventional approaches. The incorporation of reinforcements out-of-plane offers the potential for significant improvements over the current state-of-the-art. This program will provide the foundation for truly unitized composite structure.
PHASE I: Develop advanced joining technology for composite primary structures minimizing the need for fasteners through reliable, certifiable joints. Innovative approaches to improve bond strengths as feasible alternatives to current bolted structure will be evaluated. Demonstrate concept feasibility to substantiate phase II process development and demonstration for representative application.
PHASE II: Demonstrate subscale applications of preferred approaches and develop analysis and certification methodologies as well as assess benefits for aircraft structure.
PHASE III: Implement and validate the technology on advanced demonstration articles representative of production hardware.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Significant payoff for commercial aircraft as well as non aerospace applications.
N95-150 TITLE:Composite Material Design and Manufacturing Assessment for Advanced Navy Aircraft and Missile Systems
OBJECTIVE: To identify the cost and performance trade-offs associated with the introduction of improved composite materials systems and manufacturing methods in aerospace structures.
DESCRIPTION: Historically, the development trend in the advanced composites community has been towards stronger, stiffer, tougher materials. These trends have been realized through the introduction of new high performance fibers, and toughened matrix systems. However, increased emphasis on low-cost weapons systems requires cost/performance trade-offs associated with these various composite materials and manufacturing methods be identified in advance of production.
PHASE I: Identify advanced airframe structural composite components and their cost and performance drivers. Identify candidate materials systems representative of various levels of maturity, performance, and cost. Perform preliminary cost/performance trade-offs associated with candidate materials systems, candidate manufacturing methods, and candidate structures. Develop a concept for a model to evaluate material performance/cost/selection trades.
PHASE II: Expanded Phase I activities to include alternate manufacturing approaches and complexity of structural application. Develop a model for cost/performance modeling of composite materials, processes, and structures.
PHASE III: Cost/performance model implementation for commercial aviation and infrastructure.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Cost/performance models are of interest to those seeking to develop and apply advanced composite materials in commercial and industrial markets where cost is a much greater driver than performance.
N95-151 TITLE:Test and Evaluation Tool for Calibration and Dynamic Testing of Manikin Systems
OBJECTIVE: Current calibration methods of manikin systems primarily consists of static measurements. The manikin system, however, is utilized to evaluate dynamic loads. The objective of this research topic is to develop a test fixture to facilitate short duration, dynamic testing and systems-level calibrations of an anthropomorphic manikin vertebral column/head complex. This dynamic calibration capability is essential for repeatability of test results from one test series to the next, and is particularly important for accurate and fair evaluation of life support systems.
DESCRIPTION: During the initial stages of an ejection, an aviator can be exposed to injurious levels of acceleration along his or her spinal column. Accordingly, fractures of the lower thoracic and upper lumbar vertebrae have been recognized as one of the most dominant major injuries which occur during ejections. Over the years, advanced anthropomorphic test devices have been used to estimate the potential for spinal injury. Typically, prior to testing, these devices are assembled from an inventory of pre calibrated components. The development of a calibration fixture to evaluate the systems-level biofidelic performance is desirable to improve the predictive consistency of the device. The fixture must be capable of providing accurate and repeatable excitations sufficient to produce reliable calibrations. Additionally, the fixture must possess the versatility to conduct short duration, dynamic studies of aircrew interaction with various seating and restraint systems.
PHASE I: A feasibility study shall be conducted which details the conceptual design, analysis, and proof of concept.
PHASE II: A fully functional prototype test/calibration fixture shall be developed which fulfills the Phase I objectives. Refine the prototype hardware and deliver preproduction units.
PHASE III: The developer shall implement the capabilities and technologies learned for the specific Navy use and transfer this technology for use by other DOD and government agencies including the U.S. Air Force and Department of Transportation.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This effort has commercial applications in the automotive testing community.
REFERENCES:
1. Buhrman, J. R., “Vertical Impact Tests of Humans and Anthropomorphic Manikins,” Air Force Armstrong Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson AFB, Interim Report, Report No. AL-TR-1991-0129, 1991. ADA245866
N95-152 TITLE:Reflective Coating for Aircrew Helmets
OBJECTIVE: To develop and field a coating for aircrew helmets that can replace the combination of paint and reflective sheeting that is currently in use in the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps.
DESCRIPTION: During search and rescue (SAR) operations, it is desirable to have the aircrew as visible as possible in order to expedite recovery. Currently, the main component seen by SAR aircraft is the helmet, especially if the downed aircrew member is in water. This is due to the white reflective tape that is applied to the helmet, in accordance with OPNAV Instruction 3710.7 (General NATOPS). Currently, Scotchlite® brand reflective sheeting is used (560/580 Series). This tape is applied over the paint that is applied during the manufacturing process. The taping process is extremely labor intensive, requiring 4-6 hours of labor by maintenance personnel. Due to cutbacks in personnel, it is desirable to develop an improved manufacturing process. The helmet must retain 100% reflectivity when wet and be durable enough to withstand the environment during normal use (salt air, humidity, scuffing, exposure to oils and hydraulic fluids). The coating must be capable of touch-up and cleaning without presenting any hazard to the wearer, maintainer, or the environment. This coating must be able to meet the reflective requirements specified in Federal Specification L-S-300C and coating requirements of MIL-C-46168D(ME). Application of the coating should not significantly effect the time or cost of production of the helmet.
PHASE I: Provide a technical and industry survey of current coatings that could be used or describe what steps must be taken in order to develop such a coating.
PHASE II: Use off-the-shelf technology or develop technology necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of coatings identified in Phase I.