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A02-036 TITLE: Active Infrared Multi-Spectral Sensor TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PEO for Tactical Missiles and Smart Munitions OBJECTIVE: Develop an active infrared (IR) multi-spectral sensor that can provide rapid spectral tuning and 3D sensing in a compact platform. The sensor shall not require cooling. Resultant on-board spectral data will be reduced in a format conducive to candidate sensors in the objective Force. The sensor will be man-portable (less than 50 pounds) and will be designed for incorporation into unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and robotics. DESCRIPTION: There is a requirement to rapidly locate, identify and track targets in a cluttered environment. There are currently deficiencies in the manner in which spectral and spatial sensors acquire threat signature information. This impacts target detection and kill assessment capabilities. It is anticipated that the Objective Force sensors must be able to scan a sector, out to line of sight limits (or estimated 6 km, whichever is limiting value) within limited time constraints and discern the number of discrete objects that satisfy target-like conditions. Many targets, including vehicles and facilities have unique spectral signatures (IR, chemical, spectral). There is a need for such sensors to rapidly scan through a spectral range of several hundred nanometers in the mid-infrared (3.0 - 5.0 microns). Spectral scanning rates must be at micro-Hertz rates. 3D laser radar sensing issues related to detection bandwidth and spatial resolution in the mid-infrared must be addressed. PHASE I: Assemble and demonstrate the basic system components in a bench-top prototype design of a pulsed active IR multi-spectral sensor. PHASE II: Provide design of a fieldable (less than 50 pounds, battery included) sensor system. Demonstrate spectral tenability, image discrimination and rapid data reduction. PHASE III: Remote detection and rapid (real time) identification and location of targets or environmental concerns. Military applications include detection and identification of targets concealed by camouflage or foliage, detection of chemical agent production and storage facilities, agent releases into the atmosphere. This sensor could be integrated into existing UAV, airborne platforms or unmanned ground vehicle systems for tests and evaluations of Military systems. Commercial applications include remote detection and mapping of chemical agents and volatile chemical compounds associated with base remediation, environmental incidents (chemical spills), illegal dumping and environmental monitoring. REFERENCES: 1) K. Johnson, et al, "Adaptive LADAR receiver for Multispectral Imaging", SPIE Conference, Ladar Radar Technology and Applications VI Session, Orlando FL, 17-19 April 2001. 2) R. Warren, et al, "Sequential Detection and Concentration Estimation of Chemical Vapors using Range-resolved Lidar with Frequency-Agile Lasers", Chemical and Biological Sensing Conference, Oralndo FL, 24-25 April 2000. 3) D. Schaack, et al., "Laser Radar Technology and Applications V", Orlando FL, 26-28 April 2000. 4) E. Degtiarev, et al., "Compact Dual Wavelength 3.30-3.47 micrometer DIAL Lidar", SPIE Conference on Remote Sensing, Toulouse FR, September 2001. 5) E. Degtiarev, et al., "Electronically Tuned Ti:Sapphire Laser", Optics Letters, vol. 81, no. 10) pp 731-733, May 15, 1996. KEYWORDS: Multi-spectral IR sensors, remote sensing, Objective Force, laser radar. A02-037 TITLE: Explosive Detection System TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors INTRODUCTION: Various technologies have been demonstrated to detect explosive materials. However, challenges remain to make the explosive detection technology reliable and efficient. This is due to the fact that the sensor must be able to detect a very small signature (perhaps in the parts per billion) in varying environmental conditions. Thus, current systems often have a very slow area coverage rate due to limited range capability and/or an extended dwell time required to acquire concealed chemical signatures. OBJECTIVE: Design and build a portable, lightweight explosive detection system. The system must include an efficient means to sample and analyze suspected contaminated areas in-situ with minimal dwell times. A goal should be to develop a system that can sample and analyze an area at the speed of a walking person. DESCRIPTION: Numerous techniques have been explored to detect the presence of explosives. For example, trained dogs are being used because they can reliably detect the presence of concealed explosive materials. Investigators have tried to determine what the dogs are sensing to develop an “electronic nose” to perform the same function. Investigators also have explored the use of an intermediate medium such as bacteria or a synthetic polymer that would fluoresce in the presences of explosive compounds. Others are investigating the potential to cause the explosive materials to fluoresce by exciting them with an external source. Finally, an approach that has not received as much attention is the potential to locate the presence of explosive materials due to the affect they may have on the vegetation above and around the buried explosive. An explosive detection system could be used to detect buried landmines and unexploded ordnance for environmental remediation. It could also be used for counter-terrorist activities. This program will develop a system to detect concealed explosives to be used by an operator with minimal training. The proposed technology must specifically detect the chemical compounds found in explosives. That is, technologies such as metal detectors that detect the casings that hold the explosive will not be considered in this program. The proposed technology should be able to differentiate between the various explosive materials that may be found in landmines and unexploded ordnance (e.g., RDX, TNT). The proposed technology should also be capable of providing an indication of the concentration levels of the detected explosive material. PHASE I: Develop overall system design for a lightweight, portable, explosive detection system. PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a prototype explosive detection system in a realistic environment. PHASE III: Incorporate design attributes to make the system lighter. Reduce system response time and/or increase the minimum operating distance to increase the speed of the system to that of a walking person. Dual use application: Due to the closing of many military bases over the last few years, there is an increasing requirement to turn these military installations back over to the public. However, there are many unexploded ordnances present at these installations. Since there are very few records of where all of the ordnance is located on the installations, locating and removing the unexploded ordnance has become a very costly endeavor. The proposed system could be used for detection of unexploded ordnance for environmental remediation. REFERENCES: 1) D. Hannum, J. Parmeter, "Survey of Commercially Available Explosives Detection Technologies and Equipment", Sandia National Laboratories, September 1998. 2) A. M. Rouhi, “Landmines: Horrors Begging for Solutions”, Chemical & Engineering News, March 10, 1997. 3) M. S. Freund and N. S. Lewis, "A Chemically Diverse Conducting Polymer-Based Electronic Nose", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 2652 (1995). 4) S. Kercel, et al, “Novel Methods for Detecting Buried Explosive Devices”, Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 3079, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets II, pp. 467- 477. 5) N. Lewis et al, “Array-based Vapor Sensing Using Chemically Sensitive, Carbon Black-Polymer Resistors”, Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 3079, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets II, pp. 660-670. KEYWORDS: sensors, explosive detection, chemical detection A02-038 TITLE: Translation of Foreign Road Signs Using a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Human Systems OBJECTIVE: To develop a hand-held device for capturing and translating foreign road signs in order to aid military missions in foreign lands. DESCRIPTION: We are soliciting proposals for the development of a hand-held system for capturing and translating text on road signs in foreign countries. Such a system would be based on Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) components, including a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and plug in camera module. Software developed for this system would support capture of road sign images, correct for skew between the camera and the face of the road sign, identify foreign language text within the image, convert the foreign language text to English, and display the resulting text on the PDA screen - preferably as an overlay over the original image. Processing of a road sign image should be completed quickly so that it does not detract from the soldier's mission. User interfaces should be simple and intuitive, permitting operation by dismounted or mounted soldiers. All proposals should address technologies to be used, maximum possible operating distance between user and sign based on a given text size, maximum permissible skew of road sign to camera image plane, and novel and innovative techniques to be researched and developed for image capture, recognition of text within the image, and machine translation on a PDA. PHASE I: Develop or identify suitable algorithms or research areas to support the desired functionality within the constraints of the PDA processing environment. Demonstrate the feasibility of these design concepts through modeling, simulation, development, or other means in order to show the validity of the chosen research areas or algorithms. PHASE II: Develop a working prototype of the system through the implementation of the research and algorithm development identified in Phase I of this effort. Test and evaluation of the prototype system, to include human factors evaluation. PHASE III: The same benefits provided by this device for soldiers are directly applicable to tourists. The ability to identify directional signs, identification signs, and warning signs would be of assistance to visitors to foreign lands that are unable to read the local language. Note that with the addition of support for English to foreign language conversion this system is equally applicable to foreign visitors to the USA, including NATO forces working within U.S. military enclaves. KEYWORDS: machine translation, character recognition, personal digital assistant (PDA) A02-039 TITLE: Production of Non-Traditional Optical Surfaces for Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Guidance TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Enhanced Night Vision Goggle OBJECTIVE: Provide technology capable of producing low cost, high performance optics that require precise surface tolerances on the inside of tight radius optics, cylindrical, torodial, ogive, etc. and other conformal shapes. These areas are often difficult or impossible to access with traditional optical polishing processes. DESCRIPTION: The SBIR will seek out novel approaches to this challenge. The combination of ultra-precise surface shapes and difficult to work materials are often required to increase performance of next generation surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition systems while at the same time demanding lower cost than for traditional high performance optics. These optics will impact everything from sensors, fire control systems, to photolithographic equipment for the fabrication of electronics at ever smaller line width and pitch. PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of an approach to affordably (target cost equal to the cost of polishing a hemispheric dome made from the same material) polish the inside surface of a 3.0 inch diameter ogive-shaped optical dome with a fineness ratio of 1.0 to 1.5. The ogive dome shall be produced from suitable IR and multispectral transmitting materials to an optical surface figure better than l/20 p-v (l = 3 microns), having an rms surface finish of 25 angstroms or less. PHASE II: Produce a prototype machine that will demonstrate this same surface figure and finish capability over a variety of optical surfaces (aspheric, toroidal, cylindrical, conical, etc.) and suitable IR and multispectral transmitting materials. PHASE III: Produce a commercial machine or added capability that can be used for both military and commercial applications that require ultra-fine surface finishes such as silicon substrates, composite mirror materials, optics for extreme ultraviolet stepper lenses, and photoblank substrates. Military applications will be precision optical components with conformal shapes for target acquisition, surveillance, and guidance. These components are found on UAVs, missile/rockets, helicopters, and ground systems with varying materials and performance requirements. REFERENCES: 1) Defense Manufacturing in 2010 and Beyond - Meeting the Changing Needs of National Defense, National Research Council, pg 7-8. 2) DARPA Technology Reinvestment Program - Asphere Manufacturing Program. 3) Texas Instruments Missile Application Assessment Report ? DARPA Physical Optics Program. 4) Boeing Aircraft Application Assessment Report - DARPA Physical Optics Program. 5) Defense Technology Area Plan, 1997. 6) US Patent #5,706,136. KEYWORDS: Optics, polishing, computer-controlled optical polishing A02-040 TITLE: Complex Obstacle Traversing Suspension System for Wheeled Ground Vehicles TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PEO Aviation OBJECTIVE: Design, build and demonstrate an advanced suspension system for wheeled vehicles for rapid traversment of complex obstacles in urban and rural environments. DESCRIPTION: Future military wheeled ground vehicles require equal or superior mobility at greater speeds than achievable with current tracked vehicles. Neither natural (e.g., ditches and boulders) nor man-made (e.g., downed telephone poles, building rubble or burned cars) impediments should restrict the forces operational tempo. Improvements in wheel/tire technology can improve soft terrain mobility but has insufficient impact on traversing complex obstacles. Suspension system motion in concert with precise wheel propulsion control (rotation and/or wheel locking) is deemed the crux for traversing complex obstacles typical of those found in urban and rural settings. Considerable laboratory research has been conducted over the past two decades on robotic walking/crawling devices. An excellent starting point on walking and climbing robots can be obtained from References 1 - 3. These robots exhibit mobility of thre snakes, spiders, bugs, lizards, dogs, fish and humans, to name a few, demonstrating the capability to swim, crawl, walk, run, jump and climb. It is now time to utilize the basic principles behind these robotic creations and develop practical suspension systems for wheeled ground vehicles to facilitate rapid traversing of complex obstacles. The Army Research Laboratory Vehicle Technology Directorate has a high mobility hybrid electric drive vehicle (Mongrel) under development. Mongrel, a 3700 lb vehicle, has an approximately 130-inch wheelbase, utilizes a common swing arm suspension at all four suspension locations on the vehicle with an actively controlled strut controlling the suspension system motion. In-the-wheel motors are located at the end of each swing arm providing individual wheel propulsion. Steering is accomplished by differential wheel speed control. It is the objective of the proposed research topic to develop a suspension system common to all wheel positions on a vehicle and the necessary control logic that facilitates the rapid crossing of complex obstacles. The proposed suspension system MUST operate in concert with the wheels. This suspension must provide superior mobility and speed in traversing these obstacles than tracked vehicles while still functioning as a conventional suspension system on normal surfaces. The complex obstacle traversing suspension system must accommodate all existing mobility functions without increasing the occupant-absorbed power or decreasing vehicle maneuverability. The suspension system should be mechanically simple in design and should minimize the volume of space beneath the vehicle's body. Hydraulic and electrical power is available to the suspension and it is permissible to incorporate additional sensors on the vehicle to facilitate the suspension systems operation. The suspension system may ultimately be integrated onto the Army's Mongrel vehicle during Phase II and must accommodate its in-the-wheel motors for propulsion. The offeror's proposal shall present a potential suspension concept and the control logic for crossing complex obstacles. The offeror shall present a series of candidate obstacles, representative of natural and man-made, and discuss how their suspension concept and control logic would be employed to cross these obstacles. A performance comparison relative to other high mobility vehicles is desirable. PHASE I: The contractor shall define a suspension concept. The contractor shall define a series of obstacles that they propose to use to design and evaluate their suspension system. Using validated analytical tools, the contractor shall demonstrate the vehicle traversing the obstacles and conduct suspension trade studies to refine their suspension concept. The contractor shall perform a preliminary mechanical design of the suspension and how the suspension will be integrated onto the Mongrel vehicle. The Government will supply geometric and interface information on Mongrel to the contractor. PHASE II: The contractor shall conduct a detail design and fabricate a prototype suspension unit. The contractor shall conduct extensive simulation of the suspension unit including the control logic. The prototype suspension unit shall be demonstrated on a test stand using the proposed obstacles. PHASE III: Future Military wheeled vehicles will require the aforementioned mobility capability creating a large and continuing market. Commercial sport utility vehicle owners will benefit from these suspensions, representing an even larger market. Other applications for these suspensions are mining, forestry and agricultural. The contractor shall refine the suspension system for commercialization. REFERENCES: 1) Walking Machine Catalogue: http://www.fzi.de/ipt/WMC/walking_machines_katalog/walking_machines_katalog.html 2) Walking Machines: http://mozu.mes.titech.ac.jp/research/walk/walk.html 3) Climbing Robots: http://www2.ee.port.ac.uk/~robotwww/mech.html KEYWORDS: Advanced suspensions, complex obstacles, hybrid electric drive, increased mobility A02-041 TITLE: Laser Shock Peening Technology for Army Vehicle Life Extension TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PEO, Aviation - Concurrent Eng OBJECTIVE: To develop laser shock peening technology for Army vehicle applications, including helicopters and ground vehicles, to extend the service life of components limited by fatigue failure, enable the use of lighter weight designs, and increase maintenance cycle time. While there are many possible applications, those of special interest are drive train and engine components. DESCRIPTION: Laser Shock Peening (LSP) is an emerging surface enhancement technology that develops deep compressive residual stresses through the propagation of a high amplitude shock wave of short duration into the surface of a material to increase fatigue strength and fatigue life. The shock wave is developed by a confined-plasma pressure pulse produced on the part surface through the interaction of a laser beam with the surface. To date, research efforts have focused on the development of LSP for use on 6Al4V titanium for compressor blades in gas turbine engines where it has significantly increased fatigue resistance related to foreign object damage. However, the mechanism involved in the formation of the compressive stress state within the material subjected to LSP requires further research to determine its potential for other materials and military applications. Unlike conventional shot peening, predictive models do not exist for LSP and are essential for widespread acceptance of this process for use in Army rotorcraft and other critical applications. To illustrate this concern further, conventional shot peening typically results in 20-35% cold working at the surface. X-ray diffraction peak broadening values indicate that the same material processed by LSP only results in approximately 1.5-2% cold working. It has been shown with conventional shot peening that the build up of dislocations formed by cold working induce the compressive stresses into a material. However, this relationship has not been adequately investigated with LSP and would require x-ray diffraction studies coupled with microstructural analysis to determine the mechanism responsible for the compressive stresses. Research must also be performed to understand the effects that the propogating shock wave has on carbides, grain boundaries and other inherent microconstituents within the material. There are many potential applications for LSP including gears in transmissions and differentials, drive shafts, transmission shafts, universal joints, crankshafts, connecting rods and others. These parts have significant differences from the titanium parts that are being laser shock peened for aircraft turbine engines. The parts are steel, and often have surface areas subject to high stress or wear and may be heat treated to high hardness by induction heating, carburizing or similar treatments. In these applications, the surface areas of interest for life extension treatments include both surface hardened areas and non-surface hardened areas. Where surface hardening is used, the high hardness surface layers overlay a softer, tougher core material, representing a very different materials combination compared to turbine engine blades. In addition, the surface and part geometry of these parts is often significantly different from blades, requiring different processing approaches to be developed for cost effective, high throughput laser shock peening. The result of these differences between engine and drive train parts and turbine engine blades requires a different processing approach to laser peening these parts and a determination of the magnitude of the property benefits which can be derived by laser shock peening. In addition to process development for these types of parts, modeling of the process is of interest. The depth and magnitude of the compressive residual stresses produced in the surface layer of a part by laser shock peening is dependent on the material properties, surface contour, and part geometry, in addition to the laser shock peening parameters. The shock wave propagation through a surface hardened layer into a softer underlying material will require a different approach to optimizing the process for large, deep compressive residual stresses, compared to materials that are not surface hardened. PHASE I: Demonstrate an improvement in fatigue life for carburized Pyrowear 53, carburized AISI 9310 and carburized X-2M by laser shock peening and investigate the mechanism responsible for the formation of the compressive stress state. Propose a model to predict compressive stress magnitude and depth for the LSP process. PHASE II: Identify one or more Army vehicle or helicopter engine or drive train gears fabricated from the materials investigated in Phase I for laser shock peening to increase fatigue life. The gear(s) should have a history of being fatigue limited in service, and would benefit substantially from surface treatment to increase fatigue life. Develop and optimize the laser shock peening parameters for the part and refine the proposed LSP model to predict compressive stress magnitude and depth. Develop a prototype production laser shock peening system to process the part. The system should emphasize affordable laser shock peening of the part, with emphasis on low cost, high throughput and high reliability. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Successful development of a production laser shock peening system for an engine and power train component for Army vehicles and helicopters will have significant potential for expanding the application of laser shock peening to many other components. This would have the benefit of increasing the reliability and maintainability of the vehicles using these components. There would be a huge market in the civilian automotive and helicopter industry for this process. REFERENCES: 1) A. H. Clauer and D. F. Lahrman, "Laser Shock Peening as a Surface Enhancement Process", Proceedings of Symposium on Surface Durability, Trans-Tech Publications, Switzerland, 2000. 2) W. Cowie, S. Mannava and T. Compton, "Development of Laser Shock Peening of Airfoil Leading Edges for Single engine Weapon Systems", Proceedings of the 1997 USAF Aircraft Structural Integrity Program Conference, San Antonio, TX, December, 1997. 3) A. H. Clauer, J. K. Lee, S. A. Noll, A. Gilat, R. A. Brockman and W. R. Braisted, "Modeling Residual Stresses from Laser Shock Peening", 5th National Turbine Engine High Cycle Fatigue Conference, Chandler, AZ, 7-9 March, 2000. KEYWORDS: Fatigue, Turbine Engines, Residual Stress, Surface Treatments, Laser Shock Peening Directory: osbp -> SBIR -> solicitations solicitations -> Army sbir 09. 1 Proposal submission instructions dod small Business Innovation (sbir) Program solicitations -> Navy sbir fy09. 1 Proposal submission instructions solicitations -> Army 16. 3 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions solicitations -> Air force 12. 1 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions solicitations -> Army 14. 1 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions solicitations -> Navy small business innovation research program submitting Proposals on Navy Topics solicitations -> Navy small business innovation research program solicitations -> Armament research, development and engineering center solicitations -> Army 17. 1 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions solicitations -> Navy 11. 3 Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions Download 1.78 Mb. 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