Office of the Secretary Of Defense (OSD)
Deputy Director of Defense Research & Engineering
Deputy Under Secretary Of Defense (Science & Technology)
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Introduction
The Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Science & Technology) SBIR Program is sponsoring the Defense Health Program Biomedical Technology theme, the Materials Technology theme, the Energy and Power Technology theme, and the Cognitive Readiness Technology theme in this solicitation.
The Army, Navy, and Air Force are participating in the OSD program this year. The service laboratories act as our OSD Agent in the management and execution of the contracts with small businesses. The service laboratories, often referred to as a DoD Component acting on behalf of the OSD, invite small business firms to submit proposals under this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program solicitation. In order to participate in the OSD SBIR Program this year, all potential proposers should register on the DoD SBIR Web site as soon as you can, and should follow the instruction for electronic submittal of proposals. It is required that all bidders submit their proposal cover sheet, company commercialization report and their firm’s technical and cost proposal form electronically through the DoD SBIR/STTR Proposal Submission Web site at http://www.dodsbir.net/submission. If you experience problems submitting your proposal, call the help desk (toll free) at 1-866-724-7457. You must include a Company Commercialization Report as part of each proposal you submit; however, it does not count against the proposal page limit of 25 pages. Please note that improper handling of this form may result in the proposal being substantially delayed. Information provided may have a direct impact on the review of the proposal. The DoD SBIR Proposal Submission Web site allows your company to come in any time (prior to the proposal submission deadline) to edit your Cover Sheets, Technical and Cost Proposal and Company Commercialization Report.
We WILL NOT accept any proposals that are not submitted through the on-line submission site. The submission site does not limit the overall file size for each electronic proposal, there is only a 25 page limit. However, file uploads may take a great deal of time depending on your file size and your internet server connection speed. If you wish to upload a very large file, it is highly recommended that you submit prior to the deadline submittal date, as the last day is heavily trafficked. You are responsible for performing a virus check on each technical proposal file to be uploaded electronically. The detection of a virus on any submission may be cause for the rejection of the proposal. We will not accept e-mail submissions.
Firms with strong research and development capabilities in science or engineering in any of the topic areas described in this section and with the ability to commercialize the results are encouraged to participate. Subject to availability of funds, the DUSD(S&T) SBIR Program will support high quality research and development proposals of innovative concepts to solve the listed defense-related scientific or engineering problems, especially those concepts that also have high potential for commercialization in the private sector. Objectives of the DUSD(S&T) SBIR Program include stimulating technological innovation, strengthening the role of small business in meeting DoD research and development needs, fostering and encouraging participation by minority and disadvantaged persons in technological innovation, and increasing the commercial application of DoD-supported research and development results. The guidelines presented in the solicitation incorporate and exploit the flexibility of the SBA Policy Directive to encourage proposals based on scientific and technical approaches most likely to yield results important to DoD and the private sector.
Phase I is to determine, insofar as possible, the scientific or technical merit and feasibility of ideas submitted under the SBIR Program and will typically be one half-person year effort over a period not to exceed six months, with a dollar value up to $100,000. We plan to fund 3 Phase I contracts, on average, and downselect to one Phase II contract per topic. This is assuming that the proposals are sufficient in quality to fund this many. Proposals should concentrate on that research and development which will significantly contribute to proving the scientific and technical feasibility of the proposed effort, the successful completion of which is a prerequisite for further DoD support in Phase II. The measure of Phase I success includes technical performance toward the topic objectives and evaluations of the extent to which Phase II results would have the potential to yield a product or process of continuing importance to DoD and the private sector, in accordance with Section 4.3.
Subsequent Phase II awards will be made to firms on the basis of results from the Phase I effort and the scientific and technical merit of the Phase II proposal in addressing the goals and objectives described in the topic. Phase II awards will typically cover 2 to 5 person-years of effort over a period generally not to exceed 24 months (subject to negotiation). Phase II is the principal research and development effort and is expected to produce a well defined deliverable prototype or process. A more comprehensive proposal will be required for Phase II.
Under Phase III, the DoD may award non-SBIR funded follow-on contracts for products or processes, which meet the component mission needs. This solicitation is designed, in part, to encourage the conversion of federally sponsored research and development innovation into private sector applications. The small business is expected to use non-federal capital to pursue private sector applications of the research and development.
This solicitation is for Phase I proposals only. Any proposal submitted under prior SBIR solicitations will not be considered under this solicitation; however, offerors who were not awarded a contract in response to a particular topic under prior SBIR solicitations are free to update or modify and submit the same or modified proposal if it is responsive to any of the topics listed in this section.
For Phase II, no separate solicitation will be issued and no unsolicited proposals will be accepted. Only those firms that were awarded Phase I contracts, and have successfully completed their Phase I efforts, will be invited to submit a Phase II proposal. Invitations to submit Phase II proposals will be released at or before the end of the Phase I period of performance. The decision to invite a Phase II proposal will be made based upon the success of the Phase I contract to meet the technical goals of the topic, as well as the overall merit based upon the criteria in section 4.3. DoD is not obligated to make any awards under Phase I, II, or III. DoD is not responsible for any money expended by the proposer before award of any contract. For specifics regarding the evaluation and award of Phase I or II contracts, please read the front section of this solicitation very carefully. Every Phase II proposal will be reviewed for overall merit based upon the criteria in section 4.3 of this solicitation, repeated below:
a. The soundness, technical merit, and innovation of the proposed approach and its incremental progress toward topic or subtopic solution.
b. The qualifications of the proposed principal/key investigators, supporting staff, and consultants. Qualifications include not only the ability to perform the research and development but also the ability to commercialize the results.
c. The potential for commercial (defense and private sector) application and the benefits expected to accrue from this commercialization.
In addition, the OSD SBIR Program has a Phase II Plus Program, which provides matching SBIR funds to expand an existing Phase II contract that attracts investment funds from a DoD acquisition program, a non-SBIR/non-STTR government program or Private sector investments. Phase II Plus allows for an existing Phase II OSD SBIR contract to be extended for up to one year per Phase II Plus application, to perform additional research and development. Phase II Plus matching funds will be provided on a one-for-one basis up to a maximum $500,000 of SBIR funds. All Phase II Plus awards are subject to acceptance, review, and selection of candidate projects, are subject to availability of funding, and successful negotiation and award of a Phase II Plus contract modification. The funds provided by the DoD acquisition program or a non-SBIR/non-STTR government program must be obligated on the OSD Phase II contract as a modification prior to or concurrent with the OSD SBIR funds. Private sector funds must be deemed an “outside investor” which may include such entities as another company, or an investor. It does not include the owners or family members, or affiliates of the small business (13 CFR 121.103).
The Fast Track provisions in section 4.0 of this solicitation apply as follows. Under the Fast Track policy, SBIR projects that attract matching cash from an outside investor for their Phase II effort have an opportunity to receive interim funding between Phases I and II, to be evaluated for Phase II under an expedited process, and to be selected for Phase II award provided they meet or exceed the technical thresholds and have met their Phase I technical goals, as discussed Section 4.5. Under the Fast Track Program, a company submits a Fast Track application, including statement of work and cost estimate, within 120 to 180 days of the award of a Phase I contract (see the Fast Track Application Form on www.dodsbir.net/submission). Also submitted at this time is a commitment of third party funding for Phase II. Subsequently, the company must submit its Phase I Final Report and its Phase II proposal no later than 210 days after the effective date of Phase I, and must certify, within 45 days of being selected for Phase II award, that all matching funds have been transferred to the company. For projects that qualify for the Fast Track (as discussed in Section 4.5), DoD will evaluate the Phase II proposals in an expedited manner in accordance with the above criteria, and may select these proposals for Phase II award provided: (1) they meet or exceed selection criteria (a) and (b) above and (2) the project has substantially met its Phase I technical goals (and assuming budgetary and other programmatic factors are met, as discussed in Section 4.1). Fast Track proposals, having attracted matching cash from an outside investor, presumptively meet criterion (c). However, selection and award of a Fast Track proposal is not mandated and DoD retains the discretion not to select or fund any Fast Track proposal.
Follow-On Funding
In addition to supporting scientific and engineering research and development, another important goal of the program is conversion of DoD-supported research and development into commercial (both Defense and Private Sector) products. Proposers are encouraged to obtain a contingent commitment for follow-on funding prior to Phase II where it is felt that the research and development has commercialization potential in either a Defense system or the private sector. Proposers who feel that their research and development have the potential to meet Defense system objectives or private sector market needs are encouraged to obtain either non-SBIR DoD follow-on funding or non-federal follow-on funding, for Phase III to pursue commercialization development. The commitment should be obtained during the course of Phase I performance, or early in the Phase II performance. This commitment may be contingent upon the DoD supported development meeting some specific technical objectives in Phase II which if met, would justify funding to pursue further development for commercial (either Defense related or private sector) purposes in Phase III. The recipient will be permitted to obtain commercial rights to any invention made in either Phase I or Phase II, subject to the patent policies stated elsewhere in this solicitation.
Contact with DoD
General informational questions pertaining to proposal instructions contained in this solicitation should be directed to the topic authors and point of contact identified in the topic description section. Proposals should be electronically submitted. Oral communications with DoD personnel regarding the technical content of this solicitation during the pre-solicitation phase are allowed, however, proposal evaluation is conducted only on the written submittal. Oral communications during the pre-solicitation period should be considered informal, and will not be factored into the selection for award of contracts. Oral communications subsequent to the pre-solicitation period, during the Phase I proposal preparation periods are prohibited for reasons of competitive fairness. Refer to the front section of the solicitation for the exact dates.
Proposal Submission
Proposals shall be submitted in response to a specific topic identified in the following topic description sections. The topics listed are the only topics for which proposals will be accepted. Scientific and technical information assistance may be requested by using the SBIR/STTR Interactive Technical Information System (SITIS).
It is required that all bidders submit their proposal cover sheet, company commercialization report and their firm’s technical and cost proposal form electronically through the DoD SBIR/STTR Proposal Submission Web site at http://www.dodsbir.net/submission. If you experience problems submitting your proposal, call the help desk (toll free) at 866-724-7457. You must include a Company Commercialization Report as part of each proposal you submit; however, it does not count against the proposal page limit of 25 pages. Please note that improper handling of this form may result in the proposal being substantially delayed. Information provided may have a direct impact on the review of the proposal. The proposal submission Web site allows your company to come in any time (prior to the proposal submission deadline) to edit your Cover Sheets, Technical and Cost Proposal and Company Commercialization Report. We WILL NOT accept any proposals which are not submitted through the on-line submission site. The submission site does not limit the overall file size for each electronic proposal, only the number of pages is limited. However, file uploads may take a great deal of time depending on your file size and your internet server connection speed. You are responsible for performing a virus check on each technical proposal file to be uploaded electronically. The detection of a virus on any submission may be cause for the rejection of the proposal. We will not accept e-mail submissions.
The following pages contain a summary of the
technology focus areas, which are followed by the topics.
Defense Health Program Biomedical Technology Focus Area
The Department of Defense is aggressively pursuing unified Force Health Protection and Deployment Health strategies to protect Service members and their families from health hazards associated with military service. Toward that end, DoD is undertaking technology development programs that save lives and promote healthy individuals, units and communities while improving both force morale and warfighting capabilities.
The operational force is exposed to health threats throughout the operational continuum, from CONUS fixed facilities (garrison, base, ashore) through deployment, employment, and redeployment. DoD is developing policy and procedures to assess occupational and environmental health threats for all locations.
When Force Health Protection capabilities are fully implemented, commanders will have a more complete view of potential health threats. Integration of assessments from health databases and other assessments from intelligence (e.g., about land mines, directed enemy fire, fratricide) and safety (e.g., about injuries, vehicle accidents, explosives, aviation mishaps) will provide a framework for identifying future medical technology capabilities necessary for Force Health Protection.
Ensuring the health of the force encompasses several key capabilities:
· To mobilize, deploy and sustain medical and health support for any operation requiring military services;
· To maintain and project the continuum of healthcare resources required to provide for the health of the force;
· To operate in conjunction with beneficiary healthcare; and
· To develop training systems which provide realistic rehearsal of emergency medical and surgical procedures and unit-level medical operations.
These capabilities comprise an integrated and focused approach to protect and sustain DoD’s most important resource—its Service members and their families—throughout the entire length of service commitment.
The Office of the Secretary of Defense believes that the small-business community can be effective in developing new technology-based approaches to needs in force health protection. Three broad capability areas of particular interest are tools and techniques for near real-time surveillance of the health threats and health status of the Force, for epidemiology research, and for delivery of health education and training. These are described in more detail below:
· Health Surveillance Planning and Decision Support Tools: Tailorable and targeted software applications that are integrated into the Military Health System’s backbone of installed information systems are the essential enabling technology for surveillance. Applications in the areas of decision support tools, data and knowledge management, information visualization technologies including geospatial tools, and artificial intelligence-based appliqués for essential analyses are needed. It is expected that the applications would produce a comprehensive system of risk based assessments, predictions, and courses-of-action utilizing epidemiological, intelligence, environmental exposure, and health information concerning deployed forces. The applications should also allow for predictive modeling of medical readiness scaleable from individuals to the aggregated Force, given such data streams as reported real and somatic symptoms.
· New Methods to Monitor Health Status and Clinical Laboratory Data: Monitoring of health status during deployments is necessary to determine etiologic factors of deployment related health change. Data and information analysis tools are needed to collect and harmonize disparate data and information sources and to provide health status surveillance pre- or post-injury to medical information consumers within and outside of military medical channels. Health monitoring should be for a limited set of indicators, and should yield an unambiguous interpretation of health status. Projects are required to have a strong biological basis and be sensitive to changes in health status based on either real-time measurements from warfighters in an operational environment, clinical laboratory data sources, and/or recorded in-patient or out-patient or trauma registry data.
· Medical Training and Learning Tools: Developing and maintaining skills among the personnel of the Military Health System is an important aspect of deployment health. Advanced distributed learning, simulation-based training and other computer-based training technology should enable all health-care personnel to plan, respond and manage the future medical missions, and should assist medical professionals to maintain clinical knowledge and skills. Tools that can be extended to use by the general military population for proactive preventive medicine are desirable. Tools should be based on existing medical and allied health knowledge, should be universally accessible, should allow for unlimited practice, and should be SCORM-compliant in content and in delivery modalities.
The Defense Health Program Biomedical Technology topics are:
OSD08-H11 Medical Simulation-Based Training System for Rapid Trauma Skills Training (Army)
OSD08-H12 Sim-Game based Training System for Scene and Patient Management Following Blast Injury from Explosives Including Improvised Explosive Device (IED) (Army)
OSD08-H13 Improving Patient Safety by Enhancing the Medication Delivery and Administration Process into a Seamless System that is Integrated into the Electronic Health Record (Army)
OSD08-H14 A Biomechanical Model for the Investigation of Blast Traumatic Brain Injury (Army)
OSD08-H15 Interactive Game-Based System for Psychological Health Education (Army)
OSD08-H16 Integrated Clinical Environment (ICE) Supervisor (Army)
OSD08-H17 Evaluation of Hearing-Critical MOS/Mission Performance Capabilities (Army)
OSD08-H18 Pro-Active Dynamic Accommodating Socket (Army)
Materials Technology Focus Area:
Mitigating Lead-free Finish and Solder Risk
The military/aerospace industries are seeking to mitigate issues in electronic system design, production, and repair related to lead-free solders and surface finishes. In the last three years, the European market driven movement to use lead-free surface finishes on electronic components has eliminated about 75% of the supply chain availability of electronic components suitable for current military electronic designs. The trend toward lead-free assembly processes also is impacting military and aerospace systems.
Because of military/aerospace requirements for high reliability with long service life under demanding operating conditions, any transition from proven and qualified materials and processes to new technology must be undertaken with discipline and substantiated with data and analysis. The failure modes associated with lead-free solders are significantly different from those of the well understood tin-lead solder alloys currently in use. The elimination of lead also greatly increases the probability of “tin whisker” related failures. This is especially significant for mission critical systems.
While much of the commercial electronics industry is shifting to the use of lead-free solders and finishes for circuit boards and components, currently, the military/aerospace is concentrating on meeting its contractual reliability and service life requirements.
Generally, the reliability models of solder and components, reliability test protocols, assembly and rework processes involving lead-free solders and surface finishes and combinations with tin-lead solder are immature as compared to the heritage tin-lead systems. The performance of lead-free soldered assemblies is different from heritage tin-lead eutectic solder alloys when used in high-performance applications. The major risks are (1) tin whiskers associated with high-tin-content lead-free solder and finishes, and (2) solder joint reliability risks associated with alloys with material properties that are significantly different from those of traditional tin-lead alloys.
The Materials Technology topics are:
OSD08-M01 Assessment of Reballing Methods for Ball Grid Array (BGA) Devices (Navy)
OSD08-M02 Physics of Failure Based Electronics Reliability Analysis Software (AF)
OSD08-M03 Assessment and Modeling of Shock and Vibration Performance of Lead-Free Alloys (Navy)
OSD08-M04 Development and Validation of Tin-Whisker Growth Model and Accelerated Testing (Army)
Energy and Power Technology Focus Area:
Thermal Management
Technology advances in electric power generation, distribution, and use are enabling new, transformational military capabilities. Advanced power and energy technologies are providing the critical concepts, architectures, and systems to enable this revolutionary warfighting advantage. Integrating and distributing power on ships, aircraft, ground vehicles and other platforms for use in advanced weapon and survivability systems, leads to significant enhancements in platform flexibility, survivability, lethality and effectiveness. The Army’s transformation challenge is to develop a smaller, lighter, and faster force, utilizing hybrid electric drive, electric armament and protection, and a reduced logistical footprint. The Navy is developing future ship concepts that integrate electric power into a next-generation architecture which enables directed energy weapons, electromagnetic launchers and recovery, new sensors, as well as supporting significant fuel, maintenance, and manning reductions. The Air Force needs electric power to replace complex mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic subsystems, and also enable advanced electric armament systems. Improved batteries/power sources will support the individual soldier by permitting longer mission durations and reduced weight borne by the soldier. Space based operational capability improvements include a more electric architecture for responsive and affordable delivery of mission assets, and powering space based radar systems.
More electric and all-electric systems and platforms have distinct technological advantages but also penalties; predominately a marked increase in the amount of heat generated by all the electronic components. Shrinking component sizes are resulting in increasing volumetric heat generation rates and surface heat fluxes in many devices. Power system components such as batteries, capacitors, power semiconductors, generators, pulsed power sources and other components have thermal design issues when their performance is pushed to deliver higher and higher power. These thermal management issues are a key metric in the overall performance and have significant effects on the reliability, maintainability, cost, weight and volume of the equipment.
The Energy and Power Technology topics are:
OSD08-E09 Contaminant Resistant High Power Density Fuel Cells for Military Application (Navy)
OSD08-E10 Thermodynamic Vapor Quality Management, Mixing and Stability Enhancement in Steady and Transient Flows of Refrigerants (AF)
OSD08-E11 Cost Effective Coatings for Low-Friction Ducting (Navy)
OSD08-E12 High Speed Compact Vaneaxial Fans (Navy)
Cognitive Readiness Technology Focus Area:
Accelerated Learning
There has been significant DoD investment in game technology over the last decade. While it is difficult to dispute the entertainment value of games, their impact on training is not as well understood. Game development for entertainment purposes often excludes instructional elements and technologies that are beneficial to training, because they do not enhance entertainment value. This theme supports developing serious game technology that demonstrably accelerates learning and provides tools to evaluate the effectiveness of the learning. This theme extends the scope of serious games from a focus on tactical and kinetic skill sets to those that are crucial for non-kinetic and strategic actions.
The gaming universe is incredibly diverse, and even the most successful games are only played by a fraction of the population. There are, however, many common human systems elements to most games. While the keyboard, mouse, and joystick are ubiquitous, novel interfaces such as the Nintendo Wii controller add an entirely new dimension. It is common practice to render virtual worlds in a first and third person perspective and add small abstract maps to aid in navigation. Current games have minimal or generic environments and characters. Future games that include accurate geospatial, social and cultural environments and characters will provide valuable learning tools for the development of non-kinetic and strategic strategies and skills. Another critical aspect is communication both with adjacent and remote players. The effectiveness of these human systems interfaces on learning needs to be addressed. Additionally, the creation of effective content to accelerate learning and adapt learning to differing individuals needs further development. Recent and ongoing research has identified numerous psycho-physiological signals that may be useful markers for skill or knowledge acquisition, or for assessing general cognitive workload capacity. Robust sensors for collecting these signals in real-world environments are now available in prototype or COTS form. Incorporation of closed-loop neuro-physioloical feedback, i.e. augmented cognition technologies, to the instructor and trainee are one of the critical components that will help transform today’s gaming technologies into useful training tools. Processing methodologies for assessing and evaluating these signals in real-time have also been the subject of intense research over recent years. Finally, the tools and technologies developed as part of this focus and theme will enable a new generation of learning tools. Current challenges facing the US Marine Corps and US Army, such as, tactical-to-operational planning handoffs in the non-kinetic environment, will be transformed in that the solution set will change from games that train to structured learning tools to that accelerate training and tools that begin to blur the distinction between training and operations.
This theme supports research topics that utilize innovative technologies that can be used to accelerate learning and to push the envelope on providing new training capabilities for the deployed warfighter in organizational echelons from combat teams to Joint Task Force Headquarters. The focus of these topics should be on developing unique and operationally relevant technologies and content.
The Cognitive Readiness Technology topics are:
OSD08-CR5 Closed-Loop Real-Time Neurophysiologically-Driven Simulation-Based Training System (Navy)
OSD08-CR6 Providing Instruction and Practice through Game-Based Technology (Army)
OSD08-CR7 Learning the Human Terrain (Navy)
OSD08-CR8 Accelerated Learning through Serious Game Technology (AF)
OSD SBIR 083 Topic Index
OSD08-CR5 Closed-Loop Real-Time Neurophysiologically-Driven Simulation-Based Training
System
OSD08-CR6 Providing Instruction and Practice through Game-Based Technology
OSD08-CR7 Learning the Human Terrain
OSD08-CR8 Accelerated Learning through Serious Game Technology
OSD08-E09 Contaminant Resistant High Power Density Fuel Cells for Military Application
OSD08-E10 Thermodynamic Vapor Quality Management, Mixing and Stability Enhancement in
Steady and Transient Flows of Refrigerants
OSD08-E11 Cost Effective Coatings for Low-Friction Ducting
OSD08-E12 High Speed Compact Vaneaxial Fans
OSD08-H11 Medical Simulation-Based Training System for Rapid Trauma Skills Training
OSD08-H12 Sim-Game based Training System for Scene and Patient Management Following Blast
Injury from Explosives Including Improvised Explosive Device (IED)
OSD08-H13 Improving patient safety by enhancing the medication delivery and administration
process into a seamless system that is integrated into the electronic health record.
OSD08-H14 A Biomechanical Model for the Investigation of Blast Traumatic Brain Injury
OSD08-H15 Interactive Game-Based System for Psychological Health Education
OSD08-H16 Integrated Clinical Environment (ICE) Supervisor
OSD08-H17 Evaluation of Hearing-Critical MOS/Mission Performance Capabilities
OSD08-H18 Pro-Active Dynamic Accommodating Socket
OSD08-M01 Assessment of Reballing Methods for Ball Grid Array (BGA) Devices
OSD08-M02 Physics of Failure Based Electronics Reliability Analysis Software
OSD08-M03 Assessment and Modeling of Shock and Vibration Performance of Lead-Free Alloys
OSD08-M04 Development and Validation of
Tin-Whisker Growth Model and Accelerated Testing
OSD SBIR 083 Topic
Descriptions
OSD08-CR5 TITLE: Closed-Loop Real-Time Neurophysiologically-Driven Simulation-Based
Training System
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Human Systems
OBJECTIVE: Develop an integrated system that collects, cleans, and processes neurophysiological, physiological, and performance-based data in real-time from individuals and teams training in currently fielded simulation based training environments then uses this processed data to drive closed-loop adaptive training mitigations.
DESCRIPTION: Today’s Warfighter is challenged to acquire a broad range of tactically relevant skills ranging from basic marksmanship and close quarter battle skills to basic language proficiency and tactical cultural awareness. This research effort should combine approaches from applied cognitive neuroscience (Berka et al 2004; Scerbo et al, 2003), instructional/educational sciences (Fowlkes et al, 1998; Zachary et al, 1999), with simulation-based training methods (REF) to create effective instructional content that accelerates learning and provides a learning environment that is adaptive to the differing needs, capabilities, and skill levels of individuals.
It is critical to incorporate methods for calibrating physiological/neurophysiological driven assessment measures for individual trainees in a non-burdensome manner. All data collection, artifact removal, and processing for assessment of performance, skill acquisition, etc. must occur in real-time. Sensor systems should be robust, easy to don and doff, and easily maintained. The training mitigation system should include interventions that are empirically validated with the target simulation. The underlying software should include APIs that allow other developers to obtain artifact-cleaned data, as well as the processed performance assessments and allow externally developed modules to drive both new and existing training mitigations. The result should be an integrated, user-friendly system that readily plugs in with existing training simulations and serves as a base architecture for further adaptive training systems development.
PHASE I: Determine the feasibility of integrating the various modules. Develop a comprehensive plan indicating the transfer of I/O between modules. This plan should include an indication of the existing simulation based training systems that will be targeted for initial development.
PHASE II: Develop data collection, artifact removal, performance assessment processing, training mitigation code, and APIs as described above. The development of these elements will be based on the plan outlined in Phase I
PHASE III: Refine the functional code provided in Phase II, and conduct a validation of the collective capabilities of this system. In addition, develop the user interfaces to yield a finished product. This technology will be directly applicable to a wide variety of computer-based training and rehabilitation needs.
REFERENCES:
1. Berka, C.; Levendowski, D.J.; Cvetinovic, M.M.; Petrovic, M.M.; Davis, G.; Lumicao, M.N.; Zivkovic, V.T.; Popovic, M.V.; Olmstead, R. (2004) “Real-Time Analysis of EEG Indexes of Alertness, Cognition, and Memory Acquired With a Wireless EEG Headset.” International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, Volume 17, Issue 2, pages 151 – 170.
2. Scerbo, M.W.; Freeman, F.G.; Mikulka, P.J. (2003) “A brain-based system for adaptive automation.” Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science, Volume 4, Issue 1 & 2, pages 200 – 219.
3. Fowlkes, J., Dwyer, D. J., Oser, R. L., & Salas, E. (1998). Event-based approach to training (EBAT). International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 8(3), 209-221.
4. Zachary, W., Cannon-Bowers, J., Bilazarian, P., Krecker, D., Lardieri, P., & Burns, J. (1999). The Advanced Embedded Training System (AETS): An intelligent embedded tutoring system for tactical team training. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 10, 257-277.
OSD08-CR6 TITLE: Providing Instruction and Practice through Game-Based Technology
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Human Systems
OBJECTIVE: To develop methods that will combine instruction and game-based practice to train “how to” and “when to” perform in Contemporary Operating Environment (COE) scenarios.
DESCRIPTION: Quality training includes a number of components: (1) identification of training objectives, (2) presentation of procedures and other knowledge components (3) demonstration of how tasks are performed, and (4) practice with expert feedback. Game-based technology has become an increasingly popular method for conducting military training. Games have been used primarily to provide environments for demonstrating correct performance and/or environments for practice. They provide a means to accelerate gaining experience through exposure to relevant scenarios and practice of not only “how to” but “when to” perform military tasks. There are two categories of games that have been designed specifically for training. The first category of training game is intended for training of tactics, techniques and procedures. Examples of this type game are VBS2, OLIVE and Ambush. The other type of military training game has a specific skill training objective. An example of this type game is BiLAT, which trains bilateral negotiation skills. Since games do not generally deliver all of the components of quality training, it is difficult to assess their effectiveness without taking into account the other components of the training process. To be effective as a stand-alone solution game-based training should include instruction on new skills, procedures and knowledge. Instruction could be presented prior to practice with the game or as remedial help after mistakes are made. The approach would depend on the training strategy employed. In addition to designing training approach around training games that include all the elements of effective training authoring techniques are needed that are capable of producing instructional content and practice scenarios.
Phase I: The objective of Phase I is to design approaches to total training solutions that are centered on game-based demonstration and practice. Methods for incorporating instruction into tactical and skills and knowledge games will be developed including plans for implementation of these strategies given currently existing games or game engines. This phase will develop two sets of training objectives and plans and rationale for how they would be trained. The first set of objectives will focus on training notional tactics, techniques and procedures that might have emerged from lessons learned in the COE. The second set of objectives would train procedures, skill and knowledge necessary to perform a task or function. In both cases at least the demonstration and practice phases of training would be enabled by game-based technology. The contractor should consider the possibility of completely embedding the instruction and practice within the same game context.
Phase II: In this phase the contractor will carry out the plans developed under Phase I. The contractor will develop or adapt an authoring capability for the instructional content to be presented and the scenarios to be utilized for demonstration and practice. The authoring capability will be able to instantiate scenarios and instruction in the game environment and provide training support packages for instructors and/or trainees. Given the nature of the training for the two applications different approaches may be needed for tactical vs. skill/task based training. After development of the instruction and authoring capability the contractor will conduct an evaluation of the capability of military trainees and instructors to utilize and learn from the prototype training applications.
Phase III Dual Use Applications. In this phase the contractor shall further develop the authoring tools begun under Phase II. Applications in a wide variety of fields is possible particularly police and emergency services and homeland security are possible. The potential for these applications will be developed under Phase III.
REFERENCES:
1. Bonk, C.J. and Dennen, V.P. (2005) Massive Multiplayer Online Gaming: A Research Framework for Military Training and Education (Technical Report 2005-1). Washington, DC: Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
2. Hays, R. (2005) The Effectiveness of Instructional Games: A Literature Review and Discussion (Technical Report 2005-004). Orlando, FL: Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division.
3. O”Neil, H.F., Wainess, R. & Baker, E.L. (2005, December) Classification of Learning Outcomes: Evidence from the Computer Games Literature. The Curriculum Journal, 16(4), 455-474.
KEYWORDS: multiplayer games, game engines,simulation, training authoring, game-based technology
OSD08-CR7 TITLE: Learning the Human Terrain
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Human Systems
ACQUISITION PROGRAM: ONR 30, Human Performance, Training, & Education
OBJECTIVE: Develop a serious game that efficiently teaches the social, cultural and communication skills necessary for Marines and Soldiers to function in the irregular warfare and stability and reconstruction environments. The serious game must provide real time cognitive state assessment capabilities allowing the game to automatically tailor the challenges of the game to the individual’s current knowledge and skill level.
DESCRIPTION: The Irregular Warfare battlefield and the Department of Defense’s mission has a new emphasis on security, stabilization, transition and reconstruction efforts requires new capabilities for Marines and Soldiers in the area of social, cultural and communication skills. Specifically, Marines and Soldiers must have the cross-cultural communication skills to effectively interact with contested populations. This require knowledge of social and cultural information and communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal. Serious games focused on cross-cultural communication skills have the potential to provide a relatively inexpensive, deployable and widely available training tool for all Marines and Soldiers.
Several serious games are being used to train cultural and language skills using experiential learning paradigms. However, the learning efficiency of these serious games has not been examined. Currently, the salient features of these games that facilitate language and culture learning are not known. Understanding the characteristics of the immersive environment that facilitate learning will improve the efficiency of learning and reduce training times. The implementation of real-time cognitive state assessment will further increase the efficiency of learning by tailoring the training to the individual.
This SBIR will develop a compelling social, cultural and communication training tool that will provide high levels of learning efficiency by tailoring the training to the individual based on real time cognitive state assessment.
PHASE I: Phase I will develop a complete concept plan, concept design for the overall system and a simple prototype. Phase I should identify the technology limitations and risks, describe the storyboard, and provide the design of the feedback system that will be implemented to individualize the training.
PHASE II: Build and demonstrate the prototype system. Demonstrate the ability to individualize the training. Demonstrate metrics for improving the efficiency of training.
PHASE III: Phase III will result in fully functional, validated training tool. This technology will be directly applicable to other organizations that work in the irregular warfare and stabilization and reconstruction environments, including Department of State, Department of Commerce and Non-Governmental Organizations.
KEYWORDS: Accelerated learning, cultural training, language training, augmented cognition, Game-based training, Socio-cultural modeling, PMESII
OSD08-CR8 TITLE: Accelerated Learning through Serious Game Technology
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Human Systems
OBJECTIVE: Use of serious games to train supervisors to detect and thwart cyber insider threats.
DESCRIPTION: Considerable concern and investment is going into defensive cyberwarfare to prevent enemies and potential enemies from penetrating DoD cybernetworks. Little attention or investment has been paid to training to detect and thwart threats to cybernetworks that come from U.S. personnel. As is the case with corporate and academic cyber crime, the DoD faces threats from employees who wish to maliciously harm cyber infrastructure. The motives for these attacks include; greed, revenge, expression of employment frustration, a desire to embarrass, and a range of other reasons. Supervisors need to know what behavioral signs to watch for that might indicate an employee intends to commit an insider crime. There are a variety of technologies for digitally watching over an employee’s activities on their cyber workstations. However, in many cases the employees who intend harm are clever enough to overcome these automatic defenses. What is required in addition to the automatic defense systems are supervisors who are alert to behavioral markers of suspicious behavior or attitudes on the part of employees.
This SBIR topic solicits industry ideas about how serious games might be used to properly train supervisors to detect and thwart insider threats to cybernetworks. What is required is not just a game, but an instructional system that employs serious game(s) in addition to other instructional support features, aids, and instructional characteristics. The game system is meant to be used in the stand alone mode and must provide adequate instructional feedback both to the supervisor being trained and the instructor(s) who is training the supervisor. In addition to being able to be used in the standalone mode, the serious game instructional system should also be able to be used in an academic classroom setting.
A key part of the solicitation involves an exploration of technologies like closed-loop neuro-physioloical feedback, i.e. augmented cognition technologies, to the instructor and trainee. A major research goal of this work is to determine how such advanced technologies can be used to accelerate learning. Therefore, the proposals should provide a plan for measuring learning acquisition and retention while using the serious game instructional system. Ideally, the research plan will determine how much acceleration in learning has taken place when the serious game is compared to a more traditional form of instruction.
Phase I: Analyze the insider threat challenge in the U.S. military by reviewing documents and surveying cyber facilities and supervisors. In addition, survey some supervisors who do not have cyberwarfare as their primary work domain. Perform a literature review of the accelerated learning literature. Based on the analyses, develop a design for a serious game that could be used to train supervisors to detect and deter insider threat damage to cybersystems.
Phase II: Exercise the design produced in Phase I to develop a prototype serious game as part of a training system for insider threat training. In addition to the game, the training system should include training materials based on clear learning objectives and should have a performance measurement system that can assist in determining how well the trainee has learned anti-insider threat principles. Evaluate the effectiveness of the training system, including the game. Deliver specifications for the training system. Discuss lessons learned from the development process, and define optimal approaches for use of the prototype training system.
Phase III: The military is naturally more concerned about outsider threats to cyber systems than it is with insider threats. The developer should apply the training system to military domains in which insider threat is possible. In addition, the developer should explain why this training goes beyond the training a supervisor normally gets in the course of determining whether any of their employees are having behavioral problems.
REFERENCES:
1. DoD Office of the Inspector General, DoD Management of Information Assurance Efforts to Protect Automated Information Systems, tech. report no. PO 97-049, US Dept. of Defense, Sept. 1997.
2. Doolittle, P.E. and Camp, W.G. , "Constructivism: The Career and Technical Education Perspective," J. Vocational and Technical Education, vol. 16, no. 1, 1999;
3. Greitzer,F.L., Pond, D.J. , and Jannotta M , "Scenario-Based Training on Human Errors Contributing to Security Incidents," Proc. Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conf. (I/IT-SEC 04), 2004;
4. Greitzer, F.L., Moore, Andrew, P., Cappelli, D.M., Andrews, D.H., Carroll, L.A. and Hull, T.D. Combating the insider threat. IEEE Security and Privacy. Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 61-64.
5. Cappelli, D.M., Moore, A.P. and Shimeall T.J., Common Sense Guide to Prevention/Detection of Insider Threats, tech. report, Carnegie Mellon Univ., CyLab and the Internet Security Alliance, July 2006;.
OSD08-E09 TITLE: Contaminant Resistant High Power Density Fuel Cells for Military Application
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles
OBJECTIVE: Develop materials, processes, designs and demonstrate
DESCRIPTION: According to the Defense Science Board Energy Report, improving the endurance of operational forces by producing more “effect” for less “is one of the corner stone concepts to achieving enhanced military energy security. Recent advances in fuel processing technologies enable the utilization of Fuel Cell systems as power generators for Marine Corp and Army applications. Fuel Cell systems in this role could operate at efficiencies as high as 55%, allowing for lower fuel consumption, while prototype fuel cell generators are currently at approximately 40%. They tend to produce less heat and noise signatures than traditional generators and provide modular design options that dramatically improve the ease with which to perform general maintenance and to conform to a variety of platforms and applications. Additionally this can enable “right sizing”, the ability to have as much power as necessary per mission, and not operate an oversized generator. Fuel cells are also inherently environmentally "friendly" due to negligible NOx, soot and carbon monoxide production, compared to typical diesel generators.
The Department of Defense has invested in the technologies required to convert logistics fuel to a reformate stream. Though rich in hydrogen, this stream may contain impurities such as trace amounts of sulfur or CO, known to contaminate certain types of fuel cells. Additionally, the United States military operates in environments possibly rich with air pollutants due to battle zone contaminants and other mission issues. It is essential that Fuel Cells be capable of operating in these environments.. A contaminant tolerant fuel cell capable could additionally lead to lower maintenance costs and a smaller balance of plant with respect to air clean up and fuel processing thereby reducing overall system weight.
It is desired therefore to develop fuel cell stack technology that utilizes a reformate stream and air to produce DC power while minimizing the need for gas purification equipment for both the cathode and anode streams. The fuel cell power unit, which is the fuel cell stacks and balance of plant required to condition and control both the reformate and air stream, shall be designed to achieve or exceed the following goals:
• Conversion Efficiency: 50% based on LHV of Hydrogen
• Volumetric density: 75 watts/liter
• Gravimetric density: 100 watts/kg
• Stack Durability: 10,000 hours
• Stack Scalability: 2-100 kWe
• Starts/year: 50 starts
• Stack Inlet temperature: 120-200C
• Stack exhaust temperature: 120-220C
The system should be designed to operate with the following streams.
• Reformate stream composition in mole fraction:
HYDROGEN - 0.32
WATER - 0.30
CO - 0.01
CO2 - 0.14
METHANE - 0.01
N2 - 0.22
H2S - 10-50 PPM
• Water content may be reduced as necessary, provided that technology and BOP is sufficient to dry as necessary.
• Cathode stream composition shall consist of air with elevated levels of H2S, SO2, CO and salt air.
Proposals are encouraged to include development summary and performance data including fuel utilization of the proposed fuel cell stacks. Technologies with tested stack assemblies with scalable characteristics that demonstrate the ability to exceed the goals listed above are desired.
Phase I: Develop a conceptual design for a modular, fuel cell power unit to operate with the reformate gas properties and stated goals as provided above. The conceptual design will include performance models for static operation and 3D layout of the notional system in an integrated subsystem module. In addition, the concept design will also include a basis for operation including startup, shutdown, load pickup / reduction. A proof of concept operation of the notional system in a sub-scale would be beneficial to demonstrate performance with a simulated reformate stream and tolerance levels for sulfur and CO.
PHASE II: Develop a detailed design, including Process & Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID), and Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) of a fuel cell power unit at a nominal 500 kWe size. Conduct a sub-kW test to demonstrate degradation and the ability to meet durability goal. Construct a 10+ kWe prototype of the Phase I concept, to be delivered at the end of the phase II effort. In conjunction with this work, further refinements of static process model, 3-D conceptual layouts, component maintenance strategies, and notional operational performance, should be performed. Develop a dynamic model based upon the efforts of the Phase I concept, and design of the phase II prototype, that simulates the operability and transient performance of the fuel cell power unit.
PHASE III: The advanced technology design will transition to commercial and military fuel cell applications where the fuel cell stacks will be built and tested at full size with a reformate stream.
KEYWORDS: Fuel Cells
OSD08-E10 TITLE: Thermodynamic Vapor Quality Management, Mixing and Stability Enhancement
in Steady and Transient Flows of Refrigerants
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Ground/Sea Vehicles
OBJECTIVE: Develop techniques and devices for regulation of thermodynamic vapor quality for the mixing of multiple streams of two-phase flow, with the goal of stable operation of two-phase thermal systems.
DESCRIPTION: Thermal management is quickly becoming a limiting factor for Department of Defense (DoD) systems, whether they are aircraft, spacecraft, or other platforms. Each of these systems is comprised of a large number of different subsystems, components, and materials which all play a role in thermal management. Any excess energy must be handled in the most efficient manner possible to meet mission goals. As a result, vapor cycle systems are being examined to transport energy from its point of origin to an ultimate sink. The DoD is developing advanced vapor cycle thermal management systems (TMS). Typically, these vapor cycle refrigeration devices utilize both series and parallel flow segments for heat acquisition at various locations within the platform. The subsequent transport and merging of streams exiting multiple evaporators forms a primary vapor cycle transport loop, in which the vapor is compressed and condensed at a high temperature. Ideally, the individual parallel flow segments would merge to be eventually transported to the vapor cycle compressor inlet as saturated vapor. Series heat transfer segments would allow downstream segment exit quality to be less than 100 percent, with subsequent quality increases achieved by series heat transfer segments. It is desired to minimize the thermal resistance of the TMS to maximize the TMS to the heat sink available temperature difference. Typically, these parallel segments transport kilowatts of heat, and the entire TMS is envisioned to be capable of transporting hundreds of kilowatts of heat over distances from 1 to 10 meters. Heat loads in some of the legs are intermittent, and the ultimate condenser conditions can be transient, with peak loads approaching five times the average loads.
This effort seeks to explore phase separation, mixing enhancement, control, and/or wall heating methodologies to ensure that stable operation of the TMS segments and guarantee saturated and/or appropriate vapor conditions exist at the exit of each flow mixing segment, and ultimately as saturated vapor at the compressor inlet. The mixing segment needs to be able to handle a dynamic difference in the superficial mass flow rate (mass flow/area) of up to a 10-to-1 ratio existing between two inlet streams, and be able to process thermodynamic vapor qualities that can vary by up to 30 percent. The pressure drop through the mixing segment should be minimized. Variable speed compressors may be employed to improve the energy efficiency of the system. Any technique proposed must be capable of operating in extreme environments consistent with DoD applications, such as variable-g loading, inversion, and high-shock environments.
PHASE I: Construct and demonstrate a preliminary heat/mass transfer analytical model of candidate approaches identified in the Phase I proposal. This should identify potential control methods and stability issues of the system. Phase II test apparatus design should also be considered.
PHASE II: Build and demonstrate a laboratory-scale experimental test apparatus capable of evaluating series/parallel flow mixing and refrigerant quality regulation, sufficient to experimentally simulate steady/transient mixing, separation, and fluid control, representative of situations in nominal 1-kilowatt series/parallel segments of a full-scale TMS, using conventional fluorocarbon refrigerants.
PHASE III / DUAL USE: Military application: Advanced cascaded two-phase vapor compression cycle TMS, as well as advanced multi-evaporator two-phase TMS for land-, sea-, and air-based platforms. Commercial application: Commercial applications of this technology include any advanced two-phase system incorporating multiple evaporators, including potential aircraft and residential/industrial HVAC applications.
REFERENCES:
1. Benning, S.L. and Ostgaard, J.C., “Supplemental Cooling for Legacy Aircraft Avionics,” Proceedings of the 18th IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference, St. Louis, MO, October 1999, pp. 6.C.4-1 - 6.C.4-8, Vol. 2.
2. Lovell, T., Zielke, D. and Benning, S.L., “Augmented Avionics Cooling for Existing Aircraft,” SAE/AIAA 26th International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES), Monterey, CA, July 1996.
KEYWORDS: thermal management, two-phase thermal management system, advanced vapor cycle, multiple-quality two-phase flow management, two-phase mixing, vapor quality, multi-phase flow, vapor-liquid mixing
OSD08-E11 TITLE: Cost Effective Coatings for Low-Friction Ducting
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles
OBJECTIVE: Develop cost-effective methods to apply low-friction coatings to military ventilation ducts made from galvanized steel or aluminum. Non-toxic and non-flammable coatings should significantly reduce airside frictional losses and improve resistance to corrosion within a marine environment.
DESCRIPTION: Thermal Management is a critical requirement for future military platforms with advanced electrical propulsion, weapon, and sensor systems. It is projected that future thermal loads will be an order of magnitude higher than today’s combatants. Recent advances attained from work in Army, Navy, and Air Force laboratories under the DDR&E Energy & Power Technology Initiative have led to demonstration of waste heat removal via evaporative cooling technologies of fluxes in excess of 103 W/cm2. However, it is expected that many future and legacy electronic systems will continue to reject waste heat via air cooling into sealed compartments, adding load to already overburdened heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. In addition to ensuring the comfort and health of the crew, the HVAC system on military platforms is often a critical element of damage control systems.
To meet this challenge, various technology concepts have been identified to permit higher duct velocities and smaller chilled water and air distribution systems. Currently, the maximum air velocity in round duct is specified as 4500 feet per minute, 3500 feet per minute in rectangular duct. Ambient temperature variations between -20ºF to 150ºF are possible. Innovative research is sought to produce the next generation of near-frictionless ductwork. Cost effective approaches to install surface coatings are desired.
PHASE I: Develop advanced coatings enabling the doubling of maximum allowable airflow velocities within ventilation ducts with comparable pressure losses. Demonstrate method to apply treatments to galvanized steel or aluminum. Quantitatively analyze for consistent exposure and smoothness, including transitions at joints and flanges. Evaluate scalability, cost, safety, and added weight of surface treatments. A detailed report containing the design concept, cost estimate, performance testing approach, and identification of risks will be prepared to enable the government to evaluate the viability of proceeding with Phase II.
PHASE II: Demonstrate coating performance in a small ventilation system mockup. Ducts should be sized to provide a variety of airflow velocities. Performance data shall be taken on the baseline system and coated ducts at various airflows up to 9000 feet per minute, documenting pre-treatment cleaning, coating application, and post treatment drying/curing procedures, as well as weight of pre-treated and post treated ductwork. Airborne sound measurements shall be obtained at the various duct velocities. Develop Phase III transition plan including identification of risks.
PHASE III: Finalize development and qualify the coating application for use in a military environment. Specific items to be addressed are potential environmental or safety issues, flammability, corrosion resistance, shock resistance, vibration, durability, and use in a marine environment. Advanced coatings developed here would be suitable for use in commercial and home HVAC systems.
REFERENCES
1. 2005 ASHRAE Handbook: Fundamentals, ISBN 1-931862-70-2, Chapter 35.
2. M. Kuszewski and M. Zerby, “Next
Generation Navy Thermal Management Program,” NSWCCD Technical Report
TR-82-2002/12 (2002).
3. Frank, M. & Helmick, R., 21st Century Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System for Future Surface Combatants, 14 pp.
KEYWORDS: thermal management; ducts; coatings; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
OSD08-E12 TITLE: High Speed Compact Vaneaxial Fans
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles
OBJECTIVE: Develop efficient, compact, and quiet vaneaxial fans operating at speeds over 10,000 revolutions per minute.
DESCRIPTION: Increasing use of electronic systems on military platforms continues to add load to already overburdened heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Recent work in Army, Navy, and Air Force laboratories under the DDR&E Energy & Power Technology Initiative has largely focused on liquid cooling techniques. However, it is expected that many future and legacy electronic systems will continue to reject waste heat via air cooling. Yet, these systems have changed little over the past 50 years. Without innovation or creativity, the default approach to meeting increased thermal load requirements on military platforms will involve installation of larger and heavier systems. The US Navy, for example, has 23 standard vaneaxial fan designs to provide airflows from 250 to 30,000 cubic feet per minute at varying total pressures of 2.5 to 7 inches of water. Five high pressure vaneaxial fan designs provide airflows from 1200 to 5400 cubic feet per minute at a total pressure of 14 inches of water. The standard vaneaxial fan design dates to the 1940s. Ground-based environmental control units typically use forward-curved centrifugal fans, which are susceptible to fouling by dust and other contaminants. Compact vaneaxial fans would allow greater design and orientation flexibility due to their compact, simple, and self-contained packaging.
Vaneaxial fans consist of a flanged cylindrical casing with stationary vanes and an internal concentric mounted electric motor, which rotates a bladed fan wheel at a maximum rotational speed of 3600 revolutions per minute. The electrical motor is air-cooled and the fan heat (power plus motor inefficiency) is an additional burden on the HVAC system. A typical standard vaneaxial fan providing 2000 CFM at 3.4 inches of water operates on 440 VAC, is 15.5 inches in diameter, 26 inches long, and weighs 180 lbs. Second generation, high pressure vaneaxial fans were designed using aerodynamic blade shapes. The efficiency was dramatically improved and the noise was substantially reduced. Application of these concepts to the lower pressure standard vaneaxial fan family, coupled with lightweight permanent magnet motors operating at substantially higher speeds, is one of the goals of this topic. Variable speed drives can also be used to create variable flow rates, reducing the required number of fan designs. Innovative research is sought to produce next generation compact, high-speed, highly efficient and lightweight vaneaxial fans.
PHASE I: Design a vaneaxial fan with an overall efficiency above 85 %, a 50% reduction in weight and volume, and an acoustic signature of less than 80 dBA at 1 meter. Develop analytical tools to evaluate performance of fan design at varying rotational speeds for a specified geometry (blade shape, rotor size, etc.). A detailed report containing the design concept, cost estimate, performance testing approach, and identification of risks will be prepared to enable the government to evaluate the viability of proceeding with Phase II.
PHASE II: Demonstrate a full scale vaneaxial fan sized for 2000 to 5000 cubic feet per minute air flow. Performance data shall be collected at a variety of air flow rates, total system pressures and speeds. Validate analytic models developed in Phase I and evaluate scalability of design.
PHASE III: Design and develop the next series of vaneaxial fans using the knowledge gained during Phases I and II. This series of fans must meet military unique requirements such as shock, vibration, and EMI. Advanced fans developed here would be suitable for use in commercial and home HVAC systems.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL PRF 18953C - Performance Specification, Fans, Vaneaxial and Tubeaxial, Ventilation and Air Conditioning, Navy Shipboard, 14 Feb 2005, 25 pages.
2. MIL PRF 24755A - Performance Specification, Fans, Vaneaxial, High Pressure, Naval Shipboard, 31 May 2001, 22 pages.
3. M. Kuszewski and M. Zerby, “Next
Generation Navy Thermal Management Program,” NSWCCD Technical Report
TR-82-2002/12 (2002).
4. Frank, M. & Helmick, R., 21st Century Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System for Future Surface Combatants, 14 pp.
KEYWORDS: thermal management; vaneaxial fan; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); variable speed drive, permanent magnet motor
OSD08-H11 TITLE: Medical Simulation-Based Training System for Rapid Trauma Skills Training
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Biomedical, Human Systems
OBJECTIVE: To develop &/or implement a simulation-based training system to assist in teaching and training trauma surgery skills. The primary target is an existing US Army military training program, but a secondary target could be other government agencies upon coordination with the government topic manager. The system could also have application to medical training programs in the academic and private sectors. The training audience is “soon-to-be-deployed” surgeons. The field of trauma surgery is dynamic, but the simulation technologies applied to improve trauma training are nascent. So, we seek the development / implementation of an innovative, adaptable, and expandable trauma training system.
Description: Deployed military surgeons, especially those with specialized training, e.g., ob-gyn, ophthalmology, orthopedics, are often required to perform general surgical and trauma surgical procedures required during wartime, with "open surgery" techniques, more often than the procedures they perform in their civilian or even peacetime military practice, which may be performed with "minimally invasive surgery" techniques.. As a result, they may be unprepared to perform them proficiently. Also, their specialty skills are prone to deteriorate during deployment. Thus, the US Army (as well as other DOD medical training programs) has a need to rapidly refresh skills of physicians going to and returning from forward based assignments. The very nature of traumatic injuries makes it difficult if not impossible to schedule traditional patient-based training based on educational objectives
This opportunity focuses on developing / implementing this trauma training system into demanding military medical training environment(s). This training has a direct impact on the care of our military personnel, and the criteria for success are weighted toward systems demonstrating the ability to assist the staff to accomplish their mission.
We seek a system that:
- is based on established educational objectives
- includes metrics upon which to judge proficiency performance
- tests the cognitive and psychomotor skills of trainees at the beginning of training
- identifies deficiencies in cognitive and psychomotor capability
- tests the cognitive and psychomotor skills of trainees at the conclusion of training
- teaches both cognitive and psycho-motor skills required of trauma surgeons
- creates a training program to correct them prior to deployment
- results in minimal negative impact, e.g., time, disruption, resources, of the training staff
- presents multiple trauma cases