Department of the navy (don) 17. 1 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions introduction

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Ground/Sea Vehicles

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 251 AIRCRAFT LAUNCH & RECOVERY EQUIPMENT

OBJECTIVE: Develop a Horizon Reference System for air capable ships that can be operated during both day and night, is compatible with Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) devices and is minimally intrusive on ships structure.

DESCRIPTION: US Navy air capable ships have a Horizon Reference Set (HRS) that provides a stable, external, visual horizon reference to aid the pilot during helicopter deck landings. The reference is in the form of a horizontal display bar assembly (DBA) fitted with electroluminescent lamps along its full length. The DBA is a 10-foot long mechanical horizontal light bar that adjusts for ship motion using a servo motor that receives information from the ship’s gyro.

The system is among the highest maintenance cost drivers on the ship. Obsolescence issues with the drive motor and control systems have been a particular Fleet maintenance concern. The current system is bulky with a large footprint. A need exists for a visual horizon cue capability on Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), but the size of the current HRS would be a challenge to install on LCS class ships as it would need to be co-located in the same area that the Stabilized Glideslope Indicator (SGSI) and SeaRAM are located.

Multiple COTS solutions are available using a bar of lights stabilized for ship’s roll but all suffer from similar design limitations as the current HRS DBA, which is it requires a substantial servo motor to move its horizon reference bar. A new system is sought capable of providing a stabilized horizon reference for helicopter pilots aboard air capable ships, that not only provides the stabilized horizon reference display viewable during day and night operations, is operationally compatible with NVIS devices but one that also employ designs that do not rely on large servo motors and are inherently more reliable.

Design solutions may employ electro-optical/mechanical, projection or other lighting and stabilization technologies. Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) lighting technology with its special properties (surface light source, flat, potentially flexible) can open up new applications such as light tiles that may be utilized as the HRS light source; construction with composite materials can significantly reduce weight placing less of a load on designs that use servo motors; and large LED/OLED billboard type displays offer the ability to have a software configurable multicolor display with no moving parts. Novel solutions employing projection could explore projection onto the ship’s superstructure or directly to the pilot, while meeting all eye safety limitations [Ref 2].

The design solution should reduce the current overall hardware footprint, be easily maintained, and as a goal have low radar cross section that can be deployed on newer class ships. Projected production cost should be considerably less than that of the current HRS, which is $350K-$400K per unit.

The new HRS should meet the following requirements:

PHASE I: Provide a conceptual design and prove the feasibility of meeting the stated requirements for the development of a Day, Night, and Night Vision Display Compatible Horizon Reference System through analysis and limited lab demonstrations to address targeted technical issues, if appropriate. Identify specific strategies for meeting performance and reliability goals [Ref 1].

PHASE II: Develop a Day, Night, and Night Vision Display Compatible Horizon Reference System prototype, and demonstrate performance including horizon stabilization accuracy. Demonstration can be in a lab environment, but must simulate ship motion. Provide an estimate of cost including manufacturing. Provide a failure analysis, service life estimate, and assessment of meeting shock, environmental and reliability requirements.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Deliver Day, Night, and Night Vision Display Compatible Horizon Reference System production units for planned new-construction ships and existing ships without HRS. Retrofit aboard existing ships with HRS would be on an attrition basis, during scheduled HRS overhauls, if a business case can be made to procure the new system vice overhauling the HRS. Provide logistics with the production systems. Pursue commercial transition to commercial ships that use helipads. Private Sector Commercial Potential: This technology would have benefit to any commercial ships that use helipads, such as cargo or cruise ships, as well as floating oil drilling platforms.

REFERENCES:

1. MIL-PRF-85281C, 20 July 1998. “Performance Specification, Horizon Reference Set, Ship Mounted for LAMPS Mk III Helicopter.” Available at http://www.techstreet.com/standards/mil-mil-prf-85281c?only_path=false&product_id=1458541.

2. ANSI Z136.1-2014, 10 December 2013. “Safe Use of Lasers.” Available for purchase at https://www.lia.org/publications/ansi/Z136-1.

3. MIL-L-85762A, 26 August 1988. “Lighting, Aircraft, Interior, Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) Compatible.” Available at http://everyspec.com/MIL-SPECS/MIL-SPECS-MIL-L/MIL-L-85762A_6500/.

4. MIL-HDBK-2036, 1 November 1999. “Preparation of Electronic Equipment Specifications. Available at http://www.techstreet.com/standards/mil-mil-hdbk-2036?only_path=false&product_id=1481684.

5. MIL-STD-1399-300B, 24 April 2008. “Department of Defense Interface Standard for Shipboard Systems, Section 300B: Electric Power, Alternating Current.” Available at http://everyspec.com/MIL-STD/MIL-STD-1300-1399/MIL-STD-1399-300B_13192/.-

KEYWORDS: Horizon Reference; artificial horizon; display; Night Vision Imaging System; Organic Light Emitting Diode; light projection

Questions may also be submitted through DoD SBIR/STTR SITIS website.

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform, Battlespace, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 205 AVIATION TRAINING SYSTEMS

OBJECTIVE: Develop a methodology and tool that results in a capability to investigate the training effectiveness, comparable utility, and return on investment of an augmented reality solution for applied aviation training tasks.

DESCRIPTION: Augmented reality (AR) has been on the cusp of ushering in a training paradigm shift for over a decade by allowing overlays of a digital world on real platforms. Although the Navy and industry counterparts have been exploring the value of using AR technology in training, its perceived utility remains modest and has yet to make a substantial and sustained impact in the training domain. Additionally, few rigorous measurements of effectiveness have been conducted of AR itself, as well as comparing it to other related training technologies (e.g., tablets or game-based virtual training); this is likely due to the lack of methods and tools that support a quantitative comparison of these AR technology solutions with other training mediums. Yet, as technology improves, AR remains a promising training capability as it enables embedded “train as you fight” training by providing a means to fuse natural cues from physical surroundings in an organic setting with virtual or synthetic components.

The Navy is seeking a quantitative analysis tool grounded in a methodology that supports comparison of AR and alternative solutions for a representative training environment. The resulting tool should include development of generalizable, best-of-breed methodology that will allow researchers to quantify the effectiveness of modern AR training and how AR training performance compares to related technologies. This effort focuses on delivering a rigorous measurement of effectiveness of AR and ability to calculate return on investment or design solution tradeoffs of comparative technologies. Additionally, considerations for how to conduct these analyses using early proposed training system designs or early prototypes through modeling or other means is desirable. Comparative training technologies include using a virtual reality solution (interacting with a simulated plane in a virtual environment), and a tablet-based training application. This technology comparison supports future investigations of AR usefulness as a training tool in other domains.

PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility for the development of AR and alternative training solutions (e.g., handheld tablet training, game-engine based virtual environment training) for a representative training task (e.g., aviation preflight checklist training). Consider experimental design planning, including identification of applicable methods of assessing effectiveness, utility performance comparisons, and return on investment analyses for research in Phase II.

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate functional prototypes of at least three alternative training solutions (e.g., AR, handheld tablet training, game-engine based virtual environment training) for a defined representative training task (e.g., training to support aviation preflight checklist training). Execute an experimental plan based on the designed methodology to compare the AR solution with the VR and tablet application alternative training technology choices. Based on the method, outcome and lessons learned of this analysis, develop a decision support tool that provides outputs including training effectiveness, task performance results, training utility (e.g., benefits and limitations of each solution), and return on investment calculations. Where feasible, the resulting tool should support automated capture and analysis of pertinent parameters.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Based on the Phase II results, refine, as needed, the methodology and tool(s) developed to meet training requirements for a wider variety of aircraft preflight checklists and/or similar scenarios to support transition and commercialization of the product. Investigate the potential of expanding the decision-support tool to more complex training environments and developing the paper-based decision-support tool into an automated, online support tool for researchers that will guide the design, development and test of future AR/VR and mixed reality immersive training solutions. Private Sector Commercial Potential: The advancement of AR technologies in recent years continues to strengthen interest in applying the technology in a variety of domains. The results of this effort can be far reaching, and would provide guidance and best practices for determining when and how to use AR training solutions. Specifically, the commercial aviation, military, medical, and educational domains stand to benefit the most. Many of these already use AR or VR for training and could use the results to modify or optimize their current or future training needs.

REFERENCES:

1. Azuma, R. T. (1997). “A Survey of Augmented Reality”. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 6(4), 355-385. Available at http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=J628&picked=prox&CFID=831999154&CFTOKEN=46426398.

2. Billinghurst, M., Clark, A., & Lee, G. (2015). “A Survey of Augmented Reality.” Foundations and Trends in Human-Computer Interaction, 8(2-3), 73-272. Available at http://www.slideshare.net/marknb00/a-survey-of-augmented-reality.

3. Hoff, W. A., Nguyen, K., & Lyon, T. (1996, October). “Computer-vision-based Registration Techniques for Augmented Reality.” Photonics East '96 (pp. 538-548). International Society for Optics and Photonics. Abstract available at http://inside.mines.edu/~whoff/publications/1996/spie1996.pdf.

4. Livingston, M. A., Rosenblum, L. J., Brown, D. G., Schmidt, G. S., Julier, S. J., Baillot, Y., Swan, J. Edward, Ai, Zhuming, & Maassel, P. (2011). “Military Applications of Augmented Reality.” Handbook of Augmented Reality (pp. 671-706). Springer New York. Available for purchase at http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-4614-0064-6_31.

5. Livingston, M. A., & Ai, Z. (2008, September). “The Effect of Registration Error on Tracking Distant Augmented Objects.” Proceedings of the 7th IEEE/ACM International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (pp. 77-86). IEEE Computer Society. Available for purchase at https://www.computer.org/csdl/proceedings/ismar/2008/2840/00/index.html.

6. MacIntyre, B., Coelho, E. M., & Julier, S. J. (2002). “Estimating and Adapting to Registration Errors in Augmented Reality Systems.” Virtual Reality, 2002. Proceedings. IEEE (pp. 73-80). Available at http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA500367.

7. Van Krevelen, D. W. F., & Poelman, R. (2010). “A Survey of Augmented Reality Technologies, Applications and Limitations.” International Journal of Virtual Reality, 9(2), 1-20. Available at http://kjcomps.6te.net/upload/paper1%20.pdf.

8. Connor, Monroe (editor). “Fused Reality: Making the Imagined Seem Real.” 29 September 2015. Available at http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/features/fused_reality.html.

9. Graham, Luke. “Bored with Virtual Reality? Microsoft’s betting on ‘Mixed Reality’ Now.” 1 June 2016. Available at http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/01/bored-of-virtual-reality-microsofts-betting-on-mixed-reality-now.html.

10. Example Preflight Checklist: http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/flight_training/fxd_wing/preflight.htm.-

KEYWORDS: Augmented Reality; Virtual Reality; Mixed Reality; Mobile Device; Training; Measuring Effectiveness

Questions may also be submitted through DoD SBIR/STTR SITIS website.

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platform, Materials/Processes, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA 201 PRECISION STRIKE WEAPONS

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

OBJECTIVE: Synthesize a novel liquid hydrocarbon fuel or fuel blend that has a higher volumetric energy density than JP-10 and is less susceptible to thermal and oxidative degradation.

DESCRIPTION: There is a growing need to add additional range to current weapon systems. Many Navy weapon systems utilize JP-10 or more conventional fuels derived from petroleum [Ref 1, 2]. The use of higher density hydrocarbon fuels is one way to increase the range of current platforms and weapons without altering existing systems. Additionally, the use of high density fuels may allow for the incorporation of more advanced electronics or sensors without sacrificing range. Fuels such as RJ-5 and other high density fuels can produce significant range enhancement compared to JP-10. However, many of these fuels suffer from compatibility issues and are not commercially available.

The primary route to produce fuels with enhanced volumetric net heats of combustion is to increase the density and/or ring strain of candidate molecules. This can be accomplished starting from either petroleum or bio-based feed stocks [Refs 3-12]. The resulting fuel molecules typically have higher viscosities and freezing points compared to conventional fuels which limit their utility for use in cold climates and at high altitudes. These effects can be mitigated by molecular design, formulation with additives, or blending with other fuels.

The long term aging characteristics of candidate fuels must also be considered in the development. The fuel may be stored at temperatures ranging from -50 to 50°C in metal or polymer fuel bladders that may not have a nitrogen blanket. The fuel must still be able to function over a 30-year life span.

The Navy desires a high density turbine fuel with a volumetric net heat of combustion that exceeds that of JP-10 by at least 10% while maintaining the following properties: freezing point below -40°C, flashpoint above 60°C, pumpability at -40°C, thermo-oxidative stability comparable to or exceeding that of JP-10.

PHASE I: Develop a scalable process for the synthesis of a high density turbine fuel. Synthesize the fuel on a laboratory scale and characterize the high density fuel to demonstrate that the new fuel meets or exceeds JP-10 performance as noted in Description. Produce at least 250 mL of fuel and deliver it to the Navy for additional testing.

PHASE II: Optimize synthesis and formulation of the high density fuel prototype. Confirm fuel properties and perform an accelerated aging study on the fuel. Perform a cost benefit analysis to assess the cost of fuel at designated production levels. Scale up the production of the high density fuel to 100 gallons. Deliver fuel to the Navy for further testing and analysis.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Scale up production to 1000 gallons. Deliver fuel to the Navy for comprehensive fit-for-purpose testing and qualification. Investigate the utility of the fuel as a rocket propellant and explore commercial applications such as fuel byproducts including lubricants and polymer precursors. Private Sector Commercial Potential: Fuels developed through this topic may have utility for rocket propulsion. Byproducts may have utility as lubricants, base oils for cosmetics, and polymer precursors.

REFERENCES:

1. Chevron Products Company. (2014, September). Aviation Fuels Technical Review. Retrieved from https://www.cgabusinessdesk.com/document/aviation_tech_review.pdf.

2. MIL-DTL-87107E (12-Jan-2012). Propellant, High Density Synthetic Hydrocarbon Type, Grade, JP-10. Available for purchase at http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=MIL-DTL-87107E.

3. Liquid Hydrocarbon Air Breather Fuel. US Patent 4,410,749; Oct. 18, 1983. Available at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=9&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=4,410,749&OS=4,410,749&RS=4,410,749.

4. Isomerization of Endo-Endo Hexacyclic Olefinic Dimer of Norbornadiene. US Patent 4,222,800; Sep. 16, 1980. Available at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.htm&r=9&f=G&l=50&d=PTXT&p=1&S1=4,222,800&OS=4,222,800&RS=4,222,800.

5. Chung, H.S., et al. "Recent Developments in High-Energy Density Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels." Energy & Fuels, 1999, 13, 641-649. Available for purchase at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ef980195k.

6. Oligomers of Cyclopentadiene and Process for Making Them. US Patent 5,446,222; Aug. 29, 1995. Available at http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=2&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=5,446,222&OS=5,446,222&RS=5,446,222.

7. Harvey, B. G. et al. “High Density Renewable Diesel and Jet Fuels Prepared from Multicyclic Sesquiterpanes and a 1-Hexene Derived Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene.” Energy Fuels 2015, 29, 2431-2436. Available for purchase at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/ef5027746?src=recsys.

8. Harvey, B. G., et al. “High-Density Biosynthetic Fuels: The Intersection of Heterogeneous Catalysis and Metabolic Engineering.” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2014, 16, 9448-9457. Abstract available at http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2014/CP/c3cp55349c#!divAbstract.

9. Meylemans, H. A., et al. “Low-Temperature Properties of Renewable High-Density Fuel Blends.” Energy & Fuels 2013, 27, 883-888. Available for purchase at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/ef301608z.

10. Meylemans, H. A., et al. “Efficient Conversion of Pure and Mixed Terpene Feedstocks to High Density Fuels.” Fuel 2012, 97, 560-568. Available for purchase at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016236112001044.

11. Meylemans, H. A., et al. “Solvent-Free Conversion of Linalool to Methylcyclopentadiene Dimers: A Route to Renewable High-Density Fuels.” ChemSusChem 2011, 4, 465-469. Available for purchase at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cssc.201100017/pdf.

12. Harvey, B. G. Harvey, et al. “High Density Renewable Fuels Based on the Selective Dimerization of Pinenes.” Energy & Fuels 2010, 24, 267-2731. Available at http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a510069.pdf.-

KEYWORDS: High Density Fuels; Synthesis; Propulsion; JP-10; Multicyclic Hydrocarbons; Increased Range

Questions may also be submitted through DoD SBIR/STTR SITIS website.

N171-023

TITLE: Computer Network Defense Trainer

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Battlespace, Electronics, Information Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-205, Naval Aviation Training Systems

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws.

OBJECTIVE: Design and develop emulations of common cyber threats that can be safely and securely deployed on operational networks and systems to train battle staffs and computer network defense personnel to succeed in contested cyberspace environments.

DESCRIPTION: The Secretary of Defense [Ref 1] and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff have established requirements and guidance for incorporating realistic cyberspace conditions into DoD exercises [Ref 2]. The primary methods for representing cyber threats in today’s exercises are either live red teams or “white cards.” Live red teams produce realistic results, but are limited in their availability and the scope of what they can accomplish given real-world and exercise constraints. Command and control of live red teams during exercises and restoration of operational networks and systems post exercise can also present challenges. White cards are administered by the exercise control group and typically simulate a degraded or denied condition for a period of time. If used properly, white cards can generate the desired conditions, but they offer little or no opportunity for the training audience (staff plus Computer Network Defense [CND] personnel) to realistically detect and react to the threat and restore operations. Emulations of realistic cyber threats such as viruses, malware, spear phishing, etc., that can be safely and securely deployed on operational networks and systems, are needed to advance the state of the art in integrated CND training. Solutions must be compliant with DoD Information Assurance policies and procedures and must be compatible with existing DoD security software such as the Host-Based Security System (HBSS). Emulations of cyber threats must be realistic and current but must not harm the underlying network infrastructure or host systems. The ability to update the threat database to address emerging and theater-specific threats is needed. Real-time situational awareness and distributed command and control of cyber threat emulations are critical, including the ability to rapidly stop effects and restore normal operations. The ability to interface with modeling and simulation environments used to conduct staff training is also of interest.