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A02-142 TITLE: Detection of Occupied Caves TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Battlespace ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PM, Combat Terrain Information Systems (CTIS) OBJECTIVE: Previous work shows marked temperature differences between mine shaft entrances and their surrounds. The objective is to develop the capability to remotely identify and characterize (size, depth, occupied, unoccupied, etc.) underground space such as mines, caves, and underground facilities through use of thermal infrared and various remote sensing technologies (for instance, with thermal IR imagers like helicopter FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed)). DESCRIPTION: This research would require several mines/caves in an arid environment with little vegetation. Heated and unheated mines/caves exhibiting various characteristics would be instrumented and imaged/sensed through meteorological frontal passages to obtain changes in barometric pressure. Imagery would be correlated with their known physical and usage characteristics. The correlations developed using known conditions would then be tested under unknown conditions. Research may involve various detection technologies, their correlation with underground system characteristics, and the ability to estimate accuracy of the results. This should result in a sensor/information system, useful in both military and civil applications, for remotely detecting and characterizing underground space, and in the development of an open GIS interface for integration of information into various operational information systems. PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility of detecting and characterizing underground space through use of appropriate remote sensing instrumentation, using actual or simulated conditions over an extended period, and covering a significant barometric pressure change. Demonstrate utility of the technology using thermal imagery (thermal imager in the 8-14 micrometer wave band) and other imagery and graphic means as appropriate, representing conditions in both low and high-pressure environments, and heated and unheated conditions. PHASE II: Using underground space with both known and unknown characteristics, demonstrate and refine the technology/system initiated in Phase I, and bring the system to a level of accuracy and efficiency for first-issue commercialization. Determine whether mines and caves act the same. Test hypotheses using both. Extend the experiment to more caves in several different areas to get a statistical sample and to determine locality influences. Heat caves with different methods and at different temperatures. Resolve sensor and sensor platform issues. Design and demonstrate data output to match requirements of potential military and civil customers, including U.S. Army Combat Terrain Information Systems (CTIS). PHASE III: Provide and further refine system components for use by target customers. This could include training material with thermal and other images and graphics for helicopter pilots. Include cautions concerning terrain, and include background as to expected locations of caves in the terrain. In addition to the military application of locating caves, this research will have the civilian application of locating old mines to allow reuse of the mines, location maps for further prospecting, and location maps for public safety. REFERENCES: 1) Krusinger, A. E., Eastes, J.W. (1995) Surface Radiometric Temperature Study of Mine Shafts and Surrounds, U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds, special report to CIA/ORD, Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Mines, and USGS, Project Western Rainbow, Oct. 1995. 2) Rinker, J. N., (1974), Airborne Infrared Thermal Detection of Caves and Crevasses, Proceedings of the 1974 Fall Meeting of the American Society of Photogrammetry. KEYWORDS: thermal infrared, caves, mines, detection, temperature differences A02-143 TITLE: Tracking System To Monitor Vehicle Dynamic Properties and Environmental Impacts TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems OBJECTIVE: The objective is to design, develop, fabricate, and demonstrate an information system consisting of an inexpensive field deployable vehicle tracking system to monitor vehicle location and vehicle dynamic properties for the timely assessment of mission related impacts on natural resources. DESCRIPTION: The DoD is responsible for administering over 25 million acres of land. Mission activities vary greatly in their spatial and temporal use of installation resources. Understanding the spatial and temporal characteristics of mission related impacts are critical to assessing land condition, estimating land capacity, and restoring/maintaining lands in support of the Army’s training requirements. All DoD natural resources decision-making, modeling, and simulation technologies require accurate spatial representation of mission activities and impacts. Current techniques for assessing mission impacts on installation natural resources involve controlled replicated field studies that are expensive, labor intensive, time consuming and provide relatively limited useful information. These studies provide impacts only for a narrow range of typical mission activities. These studies provide information for only a limited range of environmental conditions and sites. These studies provide no information on the spatial distribution of mission impacts. To facilitate the timely collection of spatially and temporally explicit environmental impact data, a vehicle information tracking system is required to monitor vehicle dynamic properties. The system will monitor vehicle dynamic properties related to impact assessment including velocity, acceleration, deceleration, and turning radius. Location information is required to relate vehicle properties to site conditions. Location information includes time, location, and direction of travel related to topography. The system will also provide a standard serial port input receptacle for access to external environmental sensors as needed. The vehicle tracking system will include four key components: 1) tracking component that determines vehicle location, 2) data processing component that calculates vehicle dynamic properties from location information, 3) data transfer component that transfers data between the tracking and user interface components, and 4) user interface component that displays data. The system must provide location data at intervals sufficient to determine vehicle location and dynamic properties. Minute to quarter-minute location data is required to locate impacts spatially on the landscape. Second to quarter-second location information is required to determine other vehicle dynamic properties. The system will provide the option of real time monitoring with remote data transmission and/or on system data storage for delayed processing. Data reduction, sampling frequency, and data transfer techniques must be developed and integrated to allow real time remote monitoring of vehicles properties for environmental impacts. Because installation natural resource personnel have limited time for monitoring, a system must be self-contained, require limited skill in operation, be flexible to meet installation data requirements, and be automated. The system must be inexpensive, hardened, and miniaturized. The system must provide the option of being self-powered and/or utilizing power outputs of major military weapon systems. System outputs must be compatible with commercial GIS and data analysis systems. This statement of need is for the development of an inexpensive vehicle tracking information system for remote locations that characterizes vehicle properties. While it is expected that a proposed system will build upon existing commercial vehicle/fleet monitoring technologies, existing systems do not adequately address natural resource monitoring requirements. Current fleet systems are not sufficiently hardened/miniaturized, do not adequately monitor vehicle dynamic properties, do not provide sufficient data transmission mechanisms (due to terrain, vegetation, and remoteness), are not easily configured for external mounting, do not interface with standard output connections from other systems, and are not sufficiently integrated with commonly used natural resources GIS and data analysis tools. PHASE I: Conduct an evaluation of existing and innovative commercial technologies for tracking vehicles and their dynamic properties, data transfer to system user, miniaturization of components, and integration of data with commercial GIS products. Prepare a preliminary system design based on technology evaluation. Design should include, as a minimum: specification of components, assembly, interface and control software, estimated costs, packaging, and estimated component size and weight. System design should also include data reduction algorithms, vehicle dynamic property algorithms, and data security processes. Design should provide an analysis of tradeoffs made during the design process. Contractor will develop the software processing capabilities that are required to estimate vehicle dynamic properties from raw sensor data and to transmit protected data between the system and the end user. Conduct a small-scale feasibility test of the proposed system to evaluate the design specifications. Investigation must include two diverse environments that vary in vegetation, topography, temperature, and related site variables. Acceptable results will consist of a system that is inexpensive, small, durable, can be configured to work with multiple weapon systems, and allows relocation of vehicle impacts based on system outputs. PHASE II: Prepare final design and construct full-scale prototype system. Full-scale system prototype must be constructed to evaluate design, construction, efficiency, packaging, and overall system performance. Fabricate and demonstrate a practical vehicle tracking system in terrain conditions chosen by the monitoring agency. Demonstration environments will include several sites with widely varying conditions of extremes in vegetative cover and structure, temperature, monitoring areas, and distances. Prototype system will be refined as deemed necessary based on results of field demonstration. The tracking system will be integrated into a natural resources land management information systems based on current GIS technology resulting in spatially explicit land use and site impact probability maps. Documentation will be prepared to define construction tactics, techniques, and procedures. Documentation will fully describe applications and limitations of the developed system. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: This SBIR will result in a technology base with broad applications in civil and military communities. Strapped for resources and tasked with managing large complex landscapes, many military and civilian communities are required to assess the impact of diverse land use activities on land resources with limited site-specific information. An automated tracking system that monitors vehicle dynamic properties and environmental impacts provides a means to gather timely high quality site-specific land use impact data in a cost effective manner. Phase III will consist of commercialization of a system for military and commercial markets. OPERATING AND SUPPORT COST (OSCR) REDUCTION: Preliminary studies have demonstrated that data collected with vehicle tracking studies provides more useful data than standard impact assessment procedures. Costs of vehicle tracking studies were substantially lower than standard impact assessments (often less than 25%). REFERENCES: 1) Ayers, P., M. Vance, L. Haugen, and A. Anderson. 2000. An Evaluation of DGPS-based Continuously Operating Vehicle Monitoring Systems to Determine Site-Specific Event Severity Factors. ERDC-CERL Technical Report ERDC/CERL TR-00-43, 46pp. KEYWORDS: Land capacity, Environmental impact, data acquisition, real-time monitoring. A02-144 TITLE: Polymer Liners for Lightweight Gel Propulsion Storage Tanks TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Weapons ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Common Missile/PEO Tactical Missiles OBJECTIVE: Develop lightweight, chemically resistant polymer liners for use in gel propulsion applications. Polymer liners will be utilized in filament wound composite tanks containing gelled Inhibited Red Fuming Nitric Acid (IRFNA) and MonoMethyl Hydrazine (MMH). The Army desires to use polymer liners in place of the metallic liners currently in use, resulting in significant weight savings for tactical missile applications. DESCRIPTION: Gel engines provide the significant benefit of managed energy to tactical missiles; however, current state-of-the-art (SOTA) gel propulsion technology is handicapped by the parasitic weights associated with tankages and expulsion systems. Currently, all gelled propellants are stored in metal lined tanks that have internal moving parts and require periodic maintenance for long-term storage applications. Polymer lined composite tanks will not only reduce weight, but also provide additional design flexibility. The polymer liner system is to be utilized in a bonded rolling diaphragm (BRD) configuration to provide integrated tanks with no additional internal moving parts. The polymer liners must contain the gelled IRFNA and MMH during missile handling, transportation, and storage. The diaphragm is actuated by a solid or liquid gas generator, producing hot gas at temperatures from 1500-2200 degrees Fahrenheit and pressures of 2500-4000 psi. The BRD expels the gelled IRFNA or MMH while providing a barrier between the gelled propellant and the gas generator combustion products. The development of a polymer BRD for this application will require the development of new and innovative processing techniques. The attainment of the required material properties in a compatible, processable liner material presents a significant technical challenge. PHASE I: Conduct a materials screening program to identify candidate liner materials. Demonstrate compatibility with IRFNA and MMH (may be different material system for each). Investigate processing techniques for liner manufacture, including the ability of the candidate materials to be case-bonded in a filament wound composite pressure vessel. Develop a BRD design utilizing the most promising liner material candidates. PHASE II: Define a representative pressure vessel geometry for Phase II demonstration. Fabricate polymer-lined composite pressure vessels, conduct burst tests, and demonstrate capability for long-term storage of IRFNA and MMH. Implement BRD design in prototype tanks and perform expulsion tests. Fully document material processing and application techniques and identify methods to ensure quality control. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Gel propulsion systems are being designed by the Army for use in Common Missile as the primary propulsion system and for use in the THAAD attitude control system. NASA is actively pursuing gel propulsion technology for use in launch vehicles, spacecraft, and satellites. As all of these systems require tankages and expulsion systems, the technology developed under this SBIR effort offers significant performance benefits over current state-of-the-art technology. The commercialization of this technology will result in significant inert weight savings, providing high payoffs in terms of system efficiency and size. Lightweight gel engines have extraordinary potential for future proliferation throughout the missile and space sectors due to their ability perform multiple mission profiles within a single configuration. REFERENCES: 1) George P. Sutton, “Rocket Propulsion Elements: an introduction to the engineering of rockets,” 6th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 1992. KEYWORDS: Composite pressure vessels, Polymer liners, Bonded rolling diaphragm, Gel Propulsion, Gelled propellant tanks, Filament winding. A02-145 TITLE: Innovative Technology Development for Laser Radar (LADAR) TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors OBJECTIVE: To develop materials, devices, and packaging techniques that allow for the maturity level to be increased in laser radar sensors in missile applications. DESCRIPTION: Compact imaging laser radar will likely have a key role in future autonomous systems from unmanned vehicle navigation to missile guidance due to the high resolution, three-dimensional images that can be achieved. There are several critical areas in realizing high resolution range information. These include, but are not limited to, laser power and quality vs packaging size, detector responsitivity vs wavelength, single detector vs Focal Plane Array, and scanning vs non-scanning. To achieve less than 0.4 meter range resolution, presumed necessary for reliable automatic target recognition (ATR), subnanosecond timing resolution is required. When laser pulse width is substantially greater than desired timing resolution, sophisticated signal processing is generally required. Additionally, in achieving sufficient peak power and narrow pulse width for high probability of detection and accurate range measurement, a compromise in laser pulse repetition frequency (PRF) is generally necessary. A low PRF limits the scan rate and area of coverage for an imaging ladar. To increase the area of coverage for a given scan rate, laser beam splitting and multiple receivers are typically used. In this case, a Flash or Flood ladar could be used to increase frame rate. Proposals need not cover every aspect of a laser radar (LADAR) system design, but should contain enough information to make clear how the proposed component or technique fits into a LADAR scheme that is appropriate for imaging targets distance on the order of 1 Km or greater. Proposed schemes should be appropriate for implementation in at least a laboratory breadboard setup. PHASE I: Examine material combinations, architectures and processes for constructing proposed system, with an emphasis placed on compact packaging. Identify candidate configurations, and perform trade studies to determine feasibility of each configuration identified. Propose a practical design that addresses the compact missile volume objectives and performance goals. Provide a detailed analysis/simulation to support the proposed design. PHASE II: During Phase II, a testable prototype will be fabricated. This prototype component or Ladar system is based upon the design developed in Phase I. Test the device to stated performance objectives. Analyze the electrical noise characteristics, electrical power requirements, and cost drivers in the fabrication process. Identify areas for performance enhancement, and fabrication cost reduction. PHASE III: The Laser Radar technology and components developed under this SBIR effort would demonstrate enabling technology leading to availability of high resolution sensors presently restricted by eye safety issues associated with current solid state laser technology. Small, light weight laser based sensors distinctly have both military and commercial applications including: range finding, remote sensing, and imaging laser radar. One important commercial application is high altitude, ladar terrain mapping. REFERENCES: A. Jelalian, "Laser Radar Systems," Artch House, Boston 19922. Electro-Optics Handbook, RCA Solid State Division, Lancaster PA, 19743. I. Melngailis, W. E. Keicher, C. Freed, S. Marcus, B. Edwards, A. Sanchez, T. Y. Fan, and D. L. Spears, "Laser radar componenttechnology," in Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 84, No. 2, pp. 227-267, February 1996.4. G. R. Osche, and D. S. Young, "Imaging laser radar in the nearand far infrared," in Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 84, No. 2, pp. 103-125, February 1996. KEYWORDS: Laser Radar (LADAR), Laser Ranging (rangfinder), Direct Detection, Pulse Capture, Laser, Dector, Scanning A02-146 TITLE: Low Cost, High Purity Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Powder for IR Missile Domes TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes OBJECTIVE: To develop a production process for high-purity magnesium aluminate spinel powder that can be hot pressed to high optical transmission in the 0.25 micron to 5.0 micron range. The process must exhibit a high degree of control and lot-to-lot consistency with respect to variations in chemical composition, chemical purity, particle size, particle size distribution and surface area. The process must produce stoichiometric powder that exhibits less than 1% compositional variation, total impurities of less than 300 ppm, and surface area between approximately 8m2/g and 30m2/g. These qualities must be obtainable in large production quantities (50kg). DESCRIPTION: Optical quality MgAl2O4 spinel is finding an increased number of applications for military acquisition, tracking and pointing systems as well as ground vehicle and aircraft armor. Of specific interest are applications in infrared (IR) windows and missile domes. Spinel offers the potential of strength near that of sapphire at a fraction of the cost. Because of the longer IR cut off the optical properties of spinel are superior to sapphire and ALON. Spinel is also suitable for next generation multi-mode seekers such as Common Missile. Suitable raw material powder sources will be required to meet this growing demand. Commercial sources available today generally contain less than 1000 ppm total impurities. Good spinel can be made using these powders, but the scatter is borederline for the most demanding optical applications. The impurities of the starting powder significantly affect scatter and other transmission properties. A higher purity spinel powder will give lower scatter in the finished product and a higher yield. Prior research by Don Roy (see references) has demonstrated that excellent spinel powders came be made using a sol-gel synthesis route. These powders yielded spinel with excellent optical properties. The results have been difficult to repeat and a concerted effort is needed to develop a process that is amenable to large-scale production with good batch-to-batch control and reproducible powder properties. A powder of higher purity could cut the hot pressing time required to generate optical parts in half. It could also increase the yield of the finished blanks from 70% with current powders to around 85-90%. Lastly it might permit the Hot Isostatic Pressing step to be bypassed, at least for some applications. PHASE I: The Phase I research effort will demonstrate process feasibility by producing high purity, stoichiometric MgAl2O4 powder in quantities sufficient for chemical, particle size, particle size distribution and surface area analysis as well as a limited hot pressing study of small tiles approximately 2”x 2” x 0.375” and/or small disks up to 2” in diameter. At least three separate batches in quantities sufficient for characterization and a limited hot pressing study shall be produced. The stoichiometry, impurity content by type, particle size, distribution, morphology and surface area of each batch will be characterized to compare lot-to-lot consistency. Optical properties of small hot pressed specimens will be measured by the Government. Transmission of 80% plus in the visible and up to 4.5 microns in the IR and a haze of less than 2% are goals for the hot pressed specimens. PHASE II: The process will be scaled up to produce powder lots at least 50 kilograms in size. The powders will be fully characterized in accordance with standard practices and, as a minimum, include the data required in Phase I. The powders will be used to produce dense MgAl2O4 spinel tiles (4”x4” 0.375”) for ballistic testing and 6” inch hemispherical domes for optical property characterization. In addition, transparent samples will be produced for microstructural (grain size), hardness, fracture toughness, four point bend strength and rain erosion measurements. Optical property measurements will include transmission as a function of wavelength up to 5.5 mm optical scatter (haze) and index of refraction. A minimum of ten 4’’x 4” x 0.375” tiles will be provided to the Army for ballistic testing. Flat disks and/or net shape optical components will also be provided to the Army for seeker related evaluation. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Process scale-up to produce powder of optimal quality in order to manufacture IR missile domes and windows for military applications as well as transparent armor tile for protection of U.S. Army, Marine, Air Force, Department of Justice, other law enforcement agencies, and private citizens. Numerous high temperature industrial applications as well as wear resistant applications also exist. REFERENCES: 1) T. Shiono et al, “Deformation Mechanism of Fine-Grained Magnesium Aluminate Spinel Prepared Using an Alkoxide Precursor,” J. American Ceramic Soc. 83 [3] 645-647 (2000). 2) T. Shiono et al, “Synthesis and Formation Mechanism of Spinel from Helerogeneous Alkoxide Solution,” Mater. Sci. Res. Int. 2, 61-62 (1996). 3) C. T. Wang et al, “Preparation of MgAl2O4 Spinel Powders via Freeze- Drying of Alkoxide Precursors,” J. American Ceramic Soc. 75 [8] 2240-43 (1992). 4) S. Hokazono et al, “The Sintering Behavior of Spinel Powders Produced by a Homogeneous Precipitation Technique,” British Ceram. Trans J., 91, 77-79 (1992). 5) R. J. Bratton, “ Coprecipates Yielding MgAl2O4 Powders,” American Ceramic Soc. Bulletin, 48 [8], 759-62 (1969). 6) D. C. Harris, "Materials for Infrared Windows and Domes," ISBN 0-8194-3482-5. SPIE Press, 1999. 7) Donald W. Roy and Stanley H. Evans, “Correlation of strength and processing variables for optical-quality spinel,” in Passive Materials for Optical Elements II, G.W. Wilkerson, ed., Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng. 2018, 1993. 8) Donald W. Roy and Gay G. Martin, “Advances in spinel optical quality, size/shape capacity, and applications,” in Window & Dome Technologies and Materials III, Paul Klocek, ed., Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng. 1760, 1992. 9) K .E. Green, J. L. Hastert, and D. W. Roy, “Polycrystalline MgAl2O4 spinel – A broad band optical material for offensive environments,” in Window & Dome Technologies and Material, Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng. A90-34551 14-74, 1989.
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