STRATEGIC SYSTEMS PROGRAM OFFICE

PHASE I: Provide design for high thermal conductivity bonds between doublers and electronic components using carbon-carbon fabrics. Compare the design bonds performance with the performance of bonds containing high thermal conductivity particles and whiskers. The designs should include different material doublers, such as carbon-carbon and aluminum.

PHASE II: Using the designs determined in Phase I to bond and test materials and determine the thermal conductivity across the bonds. Based on these tests and additional analysis, determine optimum bond designs(s) and materials or material systems.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The produced thermal conductivity enhanced bond design has commercial potential to effect almost all electronics, as well as, any other application where high conductivity and easy bond disassembly is desired.

N96-131TITLE: Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) Simulator for Re-entry Body Application

DESCRIPTION: Existing commercial multi-channel GPS signal simulators are capable of providing 5 to 10 channels of navigation data modified to account for simulated vehicle motion. However, the embedded motion modules in these simulators are not capable of generating realistic reentry body dynamic conditions. The innovation requested here is the development of a GPS signal simulator which can be used in conjunction with a GPS receiver as hardware in the loop elements of a re-entry body computer trajectory model. The trajectory model will provide body position and angular coordinates as inputs to the GPS signal simulator through an interface. The simulator will then provide the appropriate signals to a GPS receiver, which will furnish positional coordinates back to the computer trajectory model via an interface such as an IEEE 488. The innovation is limited to the GPS signal simulator and the required interface hardware and software.

PHASE I: Perform a preliminary design of the GPS signal simulator and interfaces, and demonstrate feasibility, using a generic GPS receiver, including how body position, velocity, acceleration, antenna-obscuration, antenna pattern rotation with the vehicle, etc. alter the simulated GPS RF signal.

PHASE II: Develop a prototype of the GPS simulation which will input vehicle dynamic descriptors (e.g. vehicle angular velocity and acceleration) and which will include a Navy specified GPS receiver to provide a stream of navigation coordinates via a standard interface. The contractor must document all work performed under this program.

PHASE III: Improvement and sale of simulation and support services to interested government facilities.
COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The most obvious commercial or non-DOD use is in the testing of proposed receivers/navigation algorithms intended to operate in high dynamic environments.
REFERENCES: Boulton, Peter, “Study of Error Sources Relating to Test and Development of GPS Receivers for Attitude Sensors in Low Earth Orbit", Institute of Navigation GPS Proceedings, Sept., 1994.

N96-132TITLE: Inspection System for Large Ductile Iron Castings

PHASE I: Develop a system designs and carry out experiments to determine applicability and performance of a real time inspection system. The emphasis of the system design should be on the speed and accuracy of the inspection system in an automated production environment.

PHASE II: Fabricate and test the Phase I design and develop the prototype system, to include automated inspection, for evaluation during this phase.

PHASE III: The development of an automated, production oriented, real time inspection system for Navy facilities.

OBJECTIVE: Develop a computer‑administered test battery that predicts pilot performance.

DESCRIPTION: This requirement is for a computer‑administered test battery that measures aptitudes and other enduring characteristics related to effective performance as an operational Naval and Marine Corps aviator. The Navy has developed and now implements the FAR (flight aptitude rating) battery, which is used to select persons for Naval Aviation Training. Classification, i.e., aircraft assignment, is based on individual preference, performance in undergraduate pilot training, and aircraft availability. We want to explore the possibility of a new test battery (and new tests) that could be used for selection as well as in the classification process. In particular, there is a need to identify and measure aptitudes and other traits that predict which pilots will develop the highest levels of operational flying skills. Additionally, the current tests are administered to over 20,000 applicants at recruiting stations throughout the country. We are interested in having selection tests that can be remotely updated to insert prototype questions and in "real time" continuously improve the selection instrument.

PHASE I: The contractor will provide recommendations regarding content of the test battery and demonstrate feasibility of the test(s) in the battery which can be remotely updated and accessed via connectivity such as the internet.

PHASE II: Produce a reliable and validated test battery to operate on a personal computer such as the 486/33 microcomputer which can send test answers and receive updated test instruments through remote access to a central naval selection computer server.

PHASE III: An easily administered tool for selection and classification of a complex task, such as piloting modern, combat aircraft, would easily transition to other branches of the government as well as to the private sector.

COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: Potential for a predictive test battery would allow/enhance the selection and placement of personnel in a complex work (task) environment such as public transportation, complex equipment operation or certification requirement standardization, as in motor vehicle operators license procedures.

REFERENCES:

1. North, R. A., & Griffin, G. R. (1977). Aviator Selection. (Special Report No. 77‑2) Pensacola, FL: Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory.

2. Carretta, T. R. (1992). Recent developments in U.S. Air Force pilot candidate selection and classification. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 63, 1112‑1114.

3. Griffin, G. R., & Mosko, J. D. (1977). Naval Aviation Attrition 1950‑1976: Implications for the development of future research and evaluation. Pensacola, FL: Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory. (NAMRL ‑ 1237).

N96-134TITLE: Tests of Dynamic and Temporal Visual Acuity

OBJECTIVE: Develop a predictive test battery to assess transient and dynamic aspects of vision.
DESCRIPTION: Many naval activities are visually based and depend heavily on a person's ability to detect or recognize an object (target) that is only partially detailed and/or only briefly presented. Often the target is moving or is one of multiple possibilities in the visual field. The ability to quickly move from one to another and to extract distinctive key visual information is critical for successful performance. Although there has been major advances in understanding temporal factors, the need exists to incorporate this recent knowledge into a test battery which assesses temporal factors in vision.

PHASE I: Show the feasibility of constructing a temporal factors test battery.

PHASE II: Development and demonstrate of the practical value of the test battery.

PHASE III: Demonstrate applicability to other government agencies and to non‑military organizations. Produce and market the test battery.

area.

1. Livingston, M., & Hubel, D. (1988). Segregation of form, color, movement, and depth: Anatomy, physiology, and perception. Science, 240, 740.

2. Breitmeyer, B. G. (1984). Visual masking: An integrative approach. New York: Oxford University Press.

3. Secrist, G. E., & Hartman, B. O. (1993). Situational awareness: The trainability of the near‑threshold information acquisition dimension. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 64, 885‑892.

N96-135TITLE: Improved Performance Test Battery

OBJECTIVE: Development of a test battery to detect and measure impairment of a person's readiness to perform their job in the workplace.

DESCRIPTION: Many factors can effect a person's readiness to safely and efficiently perform assigned function in the workplace. A need exists to assess any impairment in a person's readiness to work. A portable test battery is a requisite part of such an assessment program. This should not only be usable and valid before a person enter a work environment but it should also be extended to continuous monitoring of the personnel while in work places such as the cockpit of a naval aircraft.

PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a test battery and recommend procedures for integrating the battery into the larger assessment program.

PHASE II: Develop the battery and overall program requirements for an assessment program.

PHASE III: Produce and market the test battery.

COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The need to assess fitness‑for‑duty in behavioral terms is felt in civilian as well as military life. Hence, successful fitness‑for‑duty tests and programs developed in the military might have wide application in civilian industries and occupations.

REFERENCES:

1. Amler, R. W., Lybarger, J. A., Anger, W. K., Phifer, B. L., Chappell, W., & Hutchinson, L. (1994). Adoption of an adult environmental neurobehavioral test battery. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 16(5), 525‑530.

2. AGARD (1989). Human performance assessment methods. (AGARD‑AG‑308), AMP Working Group 12 and AGARD Lecture Series 163. ISBN 92‑835‑0510‑7.

3. Allen, R. W., Silverman, M., & Itkonen, M. (1992). Real world experience in fitness‑for‑duty testing. SAE Technical Paper 921908. Warrendale, PA: SAE International.

4. Barrett, G. V., Alexander, R. A., Doverspike, D., & Cellar, D. (1982). The development and application of a computerized information‑processing test battery. Applied Psychological Measurement, 6(1), 13‑29.

5. Agnew, J., Schwartz, B. S., Bolla, K. I., Ford, D. P., & Bleecker, M. L. (1980). Comparison of computerized and examiner‑administered neurobehavioral testing techniques. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 33(11), 1157‑1162.

6. Otto, D. A., & Eckerman, D. (Eds.) (1985). Workshop on Neurotoxicity Testing in Human Populations. Neurobehavioral Toxicology and Teratology, 7(4), 283‑420.

7. Kane, R. L., & Kay, G. G. (1992). Computerized assessment in neuropsychology: A review of tests and test batteries. Neuropsychology Review, 3(1), 1‑117.

N96-136TITLE: Rapid Detection of Pathogenic Campylobacter Bacteria Using a PCR/Immunoassay System

general population. Despite considerable effort over the past two decades, rapid and specific detection of pathogenic Campylobacter is still difficult. Current detection methodology requires significant resources and time in a modern clinical laboratory. This application proposes the development of a reagent kit that would be used for the rapid and accurate detection of pathogenic Campylobacter spp. using readily available reagents and hardware.

PHASE I: To develop a simple, rapid system to detect Campylobacter spp. in fecal samples using an antibody immunoassay to concentrate this bacteria and PCR to amplify Campylobacter‑specific sequences to permit detection in less than 12 hours. This system would be based on the use of antibodies to specifically 'capture' Campylobacter spp. from raw samples, then detect specific DNA sequences using PCR.

PHASE II: The detection system will be tested at a pediatric diarrhea vaccine site located near Alexandria, Egypt to determine utility under field conditions and will be adapted to allow the processing of multiple samples.

PHASE III: Upon successful field testing, a reagent kit that is compatible with existing commercial hardware would be developed, permitting widespread use of the detection system in both the military and civilian sectors.

COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: This product would have the greatest commercial potential both in the health‑care and agricultural industry. Campylobacter infections in humans and in poultry are still difficult and time‑consuming to detect, even in the best clinical laboratories. Development and marketing of this system would give, for the first time, a simple, rapid, and cost‑effective procedure to detect Campylobacter spp. in large numbers of samples.

1. Chuma, T., T. Yamada, K. Okamoto, H. Yugi, and T. Ohya. Application of a DNA‑DNA hybridization method for detection of Campylobacter jejuni in chicken feces. J. Vet. Med. Sci. 1993; 55(6):1027‑1029.

2. Giesendorf, B.A., A. van‑Belkum, A. Koeken, H. Stegeman, M.H. Henkens, J. van der Plas, H. Goossens, H.G. 3. Niesters, and W.G. Quint. Development of species‑specific DNA probes for Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter lari by polymerase chain reaction fingerprinting. J. Clin.Microbiol. 1993: 31(6):1541‑1546.

3. Luk, J.M. A PCR enzyme immunoassay for detection of Salmonella typhi. BioTechniques. 1994; 17(6):1038‑1042.

4. Monfort, J.D., S. Bech‑Nielsen, and H.F. Stills. Detection of flagellar antigen of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in canine faeces with an enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): new prospects for diagnosis. Vet. Res. Commun. 1994; 18(2):85‑92.

5. Stonnet, V., and J.L. Guesdon. Campylobacter jejuni.‑specific oligonucleotides and DNA probes for use in polymerase chain reaction‑based diagnosis. FEMS lmmunol. Med. Microbiol. 1993; 7(4):337‑344.

PHASE I: Design a methodology to determine the optimal mix of manpower skills and pay levels using Navy officer communities and enlisted ratings as the test bed. Ensure that the procedure provides for reasonable shore rotation opportunities and equitable career advancement.

PHASE II: Develop, test, and operationally demonstrate the model(s) designed under Phase I.

PHASE III: Produce a version of the model marketable in the civilian sector.

N96-138TITLE: Determining the Size and Relative Efficiency of Corporate Infrastructure.

PHASE I: Design a methodology to (1) link reductions in the primary product to infrastructure reductions and infrastructure efficiency, (2) link infrastructure manpower needs to aggregate budget variables, and (3) determine infrastructure inefficiencies, duplication of functions and potential for reduction or consolidation.

PHASE II: Develop, test, and operationally demonstrate the models designed under the Phase I effort.

PHASE III: Produce a version of the model marketable in the civilian sector.

PHASE I: The contractor shall explore non-destructive techniques and tools that may satisfy the objectives of detecting the depth and areal extent of deteriorated concrete. Demonstrate proof of concept via laboratory testing for candidate system(s).

PHASE II: Develop and construct prototypes tools. Test prototype inspection tools in field-like applications for their accuracy, precision, accessibility and ease of operation. Complete a failure mode and effect analysis of the design, manufacturing and operational process associated with each inspection tool. Prepare a final report of the findings and make recommendation for preparing the tools for field use. Phase II funding will depend on the availability of advanced development funding, along with contractor's investment strategy and product development plan.

PHASE III: Construct a actual inspection tool for commercial use.

N96-140TITLE: Tag Initiated Communications System for Real Time Asset Monitoring

PHASE I: The first portion of the work will be to define the protocol for tag initiated communication. The tag will need a system for processing external interrupts originating from the add-on module and determining the proper routing. A method of checking the airwaves for existing RF communication will be researched to avoid RF interference and the resulting collisions. If the airwaves are clear, the tag will transmit the interrupt or data to the interrogator via it current RF transmitter. The protocol must address instances in which the tag is outside of the interrogator range or the interrogator is busy and the tag does not receive a response from the interrogator. The interrupt event must be stored in the tag memory for future retrieval and the battery cannot be drained by repeated communication attempts.