AIR FORCE
SBIR 09.3 Proposal Submission Instructions
The Air Force (AF) proposal submission instructions are intended to clarify the DoD instructions as they apply to AF requirements.
The Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is responsible for the implementation and management of the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.
The Air Force Program Manager is Mr. Augustine Vu, 1-800-222-0336. For general inquiries or problems with the electronic submission, contact the DoD Help Desk at 1-866-724-7457 (1-866-SBIRHLP) (8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET). For technical questions about the topics during the pre-solicitation period (27 July through 23 August 2009), contact the Topic Authors listed for each topic on the Web site. For information on obtaining answers to your technical questions during the formal solicitation period (24 August through 23 September 2009), go to http://www.dodsbir.net/sitis/. Please note that the SITIS system closes to receipt of new questions on September 9, 2009, but existing questions and answers in the system will remain available for viewing through the closing date of the solicitation.
The Air Force SBIR Program is a mission-oriented program that integrates the needs and requirements of the Air Force through R&D topics that have military and commercial potential.
PHASE I PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
Read the DoD program solicitation at www.dodsbir.net/solicitation for program requirements. When you prepare your proposal, keep in mind that Phase I should address the feasibility of a solution to the topic. For the Air Force, the contract period of performance for Phase I shall be nine (9) months, and the award shall not exceed $100,000. We will accept only one Cost Proposal per Topic Proposal and it must address the entire nine-month contract period of performance.
The Phase I award winners must accomplish the majority of their primary research during the first six months of the contract. Each Air Force organization may request Phase II proposals prior to the completion of the first six months of the contract based upon an evaluation of the contractor’s technical progress and review by the Air Force technical point of contact utilizing the criteria in section 4.3 of the DoD solicitation The last three months of the nine-month Phase I contract will provide project continuity for all Phase II award winners so no modification to the Phase I contract should be necessary. Phase I technical proposals have a 20-page-limit (excluding the Cost Proposal, Cost Proposal Itemized Listing (a–h), and Company Commercialization Report). The Air Force will evaluate and select Phase I proposals using review criteria based upon technical merit, principal investigator qualifications, and commercialization potential as discussed in this solicitation document.
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ALL PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS TO THE AIR FORCE PROGRAM MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY.
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Limitations on Length of Proposal
The technical proposal must be no more than 20 pages (no type smaller than 10-point on standard 8-1/2" x 11" paper with one (1) inch margins). The Cost Proposal, Cost Proposal Itemized Listing (a-h), and Company Commercialization Report are excluded from the 20 page limit. Only the Proposal Cover Sheet (pages 1 and 2), the Technical Proposal (beginning with page 3), and any enclosures or attachments count toward the 20-page limit. In the interest of equity, pages in excess of the 20-page limitation (including attachments, appendices, or references, but excluding the Cost Proposal, Cost Proposal Itemized Listing (a-h), and Company Commercialization Report, will not be considered for review or award.
Proposal Cover Sheets. Your Cover Sheets will count as the first two pages of your proposal no matter how they print out. If your proposal is selected for award, the technical abstract and discussion of anticipated benefits will be publicly released on the Internet; therefore, do not include proprietary information in these sections.
Technical Proposal: The Technical Proposal should include all graphics and attachments but should not include the Cover Sheet or Company Commercialization Report (as these items are completed separately). Most proposals will be printed out on black and white printers so make sure all graphics are distinguishable in black and white. It is strongly encouraged that you perform a virus check on each submission to avoid complications or delays in submitting your Technical Proposal. To verify that your proposal has been received, click on the “Check Upload” icon to view your proposal. Typically, your uploaded file will be virus checked and converted to a .pdf document within the hour. However, if your proposal does not appear after an hour, please contact the DoD Help Desk at 1-866-724-7457 (8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET).
Key Personnel
Identify in the Technical Proposal all key personnel who will be involved in this project; include information on directly related education, experience, and citizenship. A resume of the principle investigator, including a list of publications, if any, must be part of that information. Concise resumes for subcontractors and consultants, if any, are also useful. You must identify all U.S. permanent residents to be involved in the project as direct employees, subcontractors, or consultants. For these individuals, in addition to resumes, please provide copies of the individuals’ Green Cards. You must also identify all non-U.S. citizens expected to be involved in the project as direct employees, subcontractors, or consultants. For these individuals, in addition to resumes, please provide countries of origin, copies of visas, and explanation of the individuals’ involvement.
Phase I Work Plan Outline
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NOTE: PROPRIETARY INFORMATION SHALL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE WORK PLAN OUTLINE. THE AF WILL USE THIS WORK PLAN OUTLINE AS THE INITIAL DRAFT OF THE PHASE I STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW). |
At the beginning of your proposal work plan section, include an outline of the work plan in the following format:
1) Scope
List the major requirements and specifications of the effort.
2) Task Outline
Provide a brief outline of the work to be accomplished over the span of the Phase I effort.
3) Milestone Schedule
4) Deliverables
a. Kickoff meeting within 30 days of contract start
b. Progress reports
c. Technical review within 6 months
d. Final report with SF 298
Cost Proposal
Cost proposal information should be provided by completing the on-line Cost Proposal form and including the Cost Proposal Itemized Listing (a-h) specified below. The Cost Proposal information must be at a level of detail that would enable Air Force personnel to determine the purpose, necessity and reasonability of each cost element. Provide sufficient information (a-h below) on how funds will be used if the contract is awarded. The on-line Cost Proposal, and Itemized Cost Proposal Information (a-h) will not count against the 20-page limit. The itemized listing may be placed in the “Explanatory Material” section of the on-line Cost Proposal form (if enough room), or as the last page(s) of the Technical Proposal Upload. (Note: Only one file can be uploaded to the DoD Submission Site). Ensure that this file includes your complete Technical Proposal and the Cost Proposal Itemized Listing (a-h) information.
a. Special Tooling and Test Equipment and Material: The inclusion of equipment and materials will be carefully reviewed relative to need and appropriateness of the work proposed. The purchase of special tooling and test equipment must, in the opinion of the Contracting Officer, be advantageous to the government and relate directly to the specific effort. They may include such items as innovative instrumentation and/or automatic test equipment.
b. Direct Cost Materials: Justify costs for materials, parts, and supplies with an itemized list containing types, quantities, and price and where appropriate, purposes.
c. Other Direct Costs: This category of costs includes specialized services such as machining or milling, special testing or analysis, costs incurred in obtaining temporary use of specialized equipment. Proposals, which include leased hardware, must provide an adequate lease vs. purchase justification or rational.
d. Direct Labor: Identify key personnel by name if possible or by labor category if specific names are not available. The number of hours, labor overhead and/or fringe benefits and actual hourly rates for each individual are also necessary.
e. Travel: Travel costs must relate to the needs of the project. Break out travel cost by trip, with the number of travelers, airfare, per diem, lodging, etc. The number of trips required, as well as the destination and purpose of each trip should be reflected. Recommend budgeting at least one (1) trip to the Air Force location managing the contract.
f. Cost Sharing: Cost sharing is permitted. However, cost sharing is not required nor will it be an evaluation factor in the consideration of a proposal. Please note that cost share contracts do not allow fees.
g. Subcontracts: Involvement of university or other consultants in the planning and/or research stages of the project may be appropriate. If the offeror intends such involvement, describe in detail and include information in the cost proposal. The proposed total of all consultant fees, facility leases or usage fees, and other subcontract or purchase agreements may not exceed one-third of the total contract price or cost, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.
(NOTE): The Small Business Administration has issued the following guidance:
“Agencies participating in the SBIR Program will not issue SBIR contracts to small business firms that include provisions for subcontracting any portion of that contract award back to the originating agency or any other Federal Government agency.” See Section 2.6 of the DoD program solicitation for more details.
Support subcontract costs with copies of the subcontract agreements. The supporting agreement documents must adequately describe the work to be performed (i.e. Cost Proposal). At the very least, a Statement of Work (SOW) with a corresponding detailed cost proposal for each planned subcontract should be included.
h. Consultants: Provide a separate agreement letter for each consultant. The letter should briefly state what service or assistance will be provided, the number of hours required and hourly rate.
Failure to meet any of the criteria will result in your proposal being REJECTED and the Air Force will not evaluate your proposal.
1) The Air Force Phase I proposal shall be a nine-month effort and the cost shall not exceed $100,000.
2) The Air Force will accept only those proposals submitted electronically via the DoD SBIR Web site (www.dodsbir.net/submission).
3) You must submit your Company Commercialization Report electronically via the DoD SBIR Web site (www.dodsbir.net/submission).
It is mandatory that the complete proposal submission -- DoD Proposal Cover Sheet, Technical Proposal with any appendices, Cost Proposal, and the Company Commercialization Report -- be submitted electronically through the DoD SBIR Web site at http://www.dodsbir.net/submission. Each of these documents is to be submitted separately through the Web site. Your complete proposal must be submitted via the submissions site on or before the 6:00 am ET, 23 September 2009 deadline. A hardcopy will not be accepted. Signatures are not required at proposal submission when submitting electronically. If you have any questions or problems with electronic submission, contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at 1-866-724-7457 (8:00 am to 5:00 pm ET).
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The Air Force recommends that you complete your submission early, as computer traffic gets heavy near the solicitation closing and could slow down the system. Do not wait until the last minute. The Air Force will not be responsible for proposals being denied due to servers being “down” or inaccessible. Please assure that your e-mail address listed in your proposal is current and accurate. By the end of September, you will receive an e-mail serving as our acknowledgement that we have received your proposal. The Air Force is not responsible for notifying companies that change their mailing address, their e-mail address, or company official after proposal submission without proper notification to the Air Force.
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As a means of drawing greater attention to SBIR accomplishments, the Air Force has developed a Virtual Shopping Mall at http://www.sbirsttrmall.com. Along with being an information resource concerning SBIR policies and procedures, the Shopping Mall is designed to help facilitate the Phase III transition process. In this regard, the Shopping Mall features: (a) SBIR Impact / Success Stories written by the Air Force; and (b) Phase I and Phase II summary reports that are written and submitted by SBIR companies. Since summary reports are intended for public viewing via the Internet, they should not contain classified, sensitive, or proprietary information. Submission of a Phase I Final Summary Report is a mandatory requirement for any company awarded a Phase I contract in response to this solicitation.
Evaluation of the primary research effort and the proposal will be based on the scientific review criteria factors (i.e., technical merit, principal investigator (and team), and Commercialization Plan). Please note that where technical evaluations are essentially equal in merit, and as cost and/or price is a substantial factor, cost to the government will be considered in determining the successful offeror. The Air Force anticipates that pricing will be based on adequate price competition. The next tie-breaker on essentially equal proposals will be the inclusion of manufacturing technology considerations.
The Air Force will utilize the Phase I evaluation criteria in section 4.2 of the DoD solicitation in descending order of importance with technical merit being most important, followed by the qualifications of the principal investigator (and team), and followed by Commercialization Plan. The Air Force will use the Phase II evaluation criteria in section 4.3 of the DoD solicitation with technical merit being most important, followed by the Commercialization Plan, and then qualifications of the principal investigator (and team).
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NOTICE: Only government personnel and technical personnel from Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), Mitre Corporation and Aerospace Corporation, working under contract to provide technical support to Air Force product centers (Electronic Systems Center and Space and Missiles Center respectively) may evaluate proposals. All FFRDC employees at the product centers have non-disclosure requirements as part of their contracts with the centers. In addition, Air Force support contractors may be used to administratively process or monitor contract performance and testing. Contractors receiving awards where support contractors will be utilized for performance monitoring may be required to execute separate non-disclosure agreements with the support contractors.
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The Air Force has implemented on-line proposal status updates and debriefings (for proposals not selected for an Air Force award) for small businesses submitting proposals against Air Force topics. At the close of the Phase I Solicitation – and following the submission of a Phase II via the DoD SBIR/STTR Submission Site (https://www.dodsbir.net/submission) – small business can track the progress of their proposal submission by logging into the Small Business Area of the Air Force SBIR/STTR Virtual Shopping Mall (http://www.sbirsttrmall.com). The Small Business Area (http://www.sbirsttrmall.com/Firm/login.aspx) is password protected and firms can view their information only.
To receive a status update of a proposal submission, click the “Proposal Status / Debriefings” link at the top of the page in the Small Business Area (after logging in). A listing of proposal submissions to the Air Force within the last 12 months is displayed. Status update intervals are: Proposal Received, Evaluation Started, Evaluation Completed, Selection Started, and Selection Completed. A date will be displayed in the appropriate column indicating when this stage has been completed. If no date is present, the proposal submission has not completed this stage. Small businesses are encouraged to check this site often as it is updated in real-time and provide the most up-to-date information available for all proposal submissions. Once the “Selection Completed” date is visible, it could still be a few weeks (or more) before you are contacted by the Air Force with a notification of selection or non-selection. The Air Force receives thousands of proposals during each solicitation and the notification process requires specific steps to be completed prior to a Contracting Officer distributing this information to small business.
The Principal Investigator (PI) and Corporate Official (CO) indicated on the Proposal Cover Sheet will be notified by e-mail regarding proposal selection or non-selection. The e-mail will include a link to a secure Internet page to be accessed which contains the appropriate information. If your proposal is tentatively selected to receive an Air Force award, the PI and CO will receive a single notification. If your proposal is not selected for an Air Force award, the PI and CO may receive up to two messages. The first message will notify the small business that the proposal has not been selected for an Air Force award and provide information regarding the availability of a proposal debriefing. The notification will either indicate that the debriefing is ready for review and include instructions to proceed to the “Proposal Status / Debriefings” area of the Air Force SBIR/STTR Virtual Shopping Mall or it may state that the debriefing is not currently available but generally will be within 90 days (due to unforeseen circumstances, some debriefings may be delayed beyond the normal 90 days). If the initial notification indicates the debriefing will be available generally within 90 days, the PI and CO will receive a follow-up notification once the debriefing is available online. All proposals not selected for an Air Force award will have an online debriefing available for review. Available debriefings can be viewed by clicking on the “Debriefing” link, located on the right of the Proposal Title, in the “Proposal Status/Debriefings” section of the Small Business Area of the Air Force SBIR/STTR Virtual Shopping Mall. Small Businesses will receive a notification for each proposal submitted. Please read each notification carefully and note the Proposal Number and Topic Number referenced. Also observe the status of the debriefing as availability may differ between submissions (e.g., one may state the debriefing is currently available while another may indicate the debriefing will be available within 90 days).
IMPORTANT: Proposals submitted to the Air Force are received and evaluated by different offices within the Air Force and handled on a Topic-by-Topic basis. Each office operates within their own schedule for proposal evaluation and selection. Updates and notification timeframes will vary by office and Topic. If your company is contacted regarding a proposal submission, it is not necessary to contact the Air Force to inquire about additional submissions. Check the Small Business Area of the Air Force SBIR/STTR Virtual Shopping Mall for a current update. Additional notifications regarding your other submissions will be forthcoming.
We anticipate having all the proposals evaluated and our Phase I contract decisions within approximately four months of proposal receipt. All questions concerning the status of a proposal, or debriefing, should be directed to the local awarding organization SBIR Program Manager. Organizations and their Topic Numbers are listed later in this section (before the Air Force Topic descriptions).
PHASE II PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS
Phase II is the demonstration of the technology that was found feasible in Phase I. Only those Phase I awardees that are invited to submit a Phase II proposal and all FAST TRACK applicants will be eligible to submit a Phase II proposal. Phase I awardees can verify selection for receipt of a Phase II invitation letter by logging into the “Small Business Area” at http://sbirsttrmall.com. If “Phase II Invitation Letter Sent” and associated date are visible, a Phase II invitation letter has been sent. If the letter is not received within 10 days of the date and/or the contact information for technical/contracting points of contact has changed since submission of the Phase I proposal, contact the appropriate AF SBIR Program Manager, as found in the Phase I selection notification letter, for resolution. Please note that it is solely the responsibility of the Phase I awardee to contact this individual. There will be no further attempts on the part of the Air Force to solicit a Phase II proposal. The awarding Air Force organization will send detailed Phase II proposal instructions to the appropriate small businesses. Phase II efforts are typically two (2) years in duration and do not exceed $750,000. (NOTE) All Phase II awardees must have a Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) approved accounting system. Get your DCAA accounting system in place prior to the AF Phase II award timeframe. If you do not have a DCAA approved accounting system, this will delay / prevent Phase II contract award. If you have questions regarding this matter, please discuss with your Phase I Contracting Officer.
All proposals must be submitted electronically at www.dodsbir.net/submission. The complete proposal – Department of Defense (DoD) Cover Sheet, entire Technical Proposal with appendices, Cost Proposal and the Company Commercialization Report – must be submitted by the date indicated in the invitation. The Technical Proposal is limited to 50 pages (unless a different number is specified in the invitation). The Commercialization Report, any advocacy letters, SBIR Environment Safety and Occupational Health (ESOH) Questionnaire, and Cost Proposal Itemized Listing (a-h) will not count against the 50 page limitation and should be placed as the last pages of the Technical Proposal file that is uploaded. (Note: Only one file can be uploaded to the DoD Submission Site. Ensure that this single file includes your complete Technical Proposal and the additional Cost Proposal information.) The preferred format for submission of proposals is Portable Document Format (.pdf). Graphics must be distinguishable in black and white. Please virus check your submissions.
FAST TRACK
Detailed instructions on the Air Force Phase II program and notification of the opportunity to submit a FAST TRACK application will be forwarded with all AF Phase I selection e-mail notifications. The Air Force encourages businesses to consider a FAST TRACK application when they can attract outside funding and the technology is mature enough to be ready for application following successful completion of the Phase II contract.
NOTE:
1) Fast Track applications must be submitted not later than 150 days after the start of the Phase I contract.
2) Fast Track Phase II proposals must be submitted not later than 180 days after the start of the Phase I contract.
3) The Air Force does not provide interim funding for Fast Track applications. If selected for a Phase II award, we will match only the outside funding for Phase II.
For FAST TRACK applicants, should the outside funding not become available by the time designated by the awarding Air Force activity, the offeror will not be considered for any Phase II award. FAST TRACK applicants may submit a Phase II proposal prior to receiving a formal invitation letter. The Air Force will select Phase II winners based solely upon the merits of the proposal submitted, including FAST TRACK applicants.
On active Phase II awards, the Air Force will select a limited number of Phase II awardees for the Enhancement Program to address new unforeseen technology barriers that were discovered during the Phase II work. The selected enhancements will extend the existing Phase II contract award for up to one year and the Air Force will match dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000 of non-SBIR government matching funds. Contact the local awarding organization SBIR Manager for more information. (See Air Force SBIR Organization Listing). If selected for a Phase II Enhancement, the company must submit a Phase II Enhancement application through the DoD Submission Web site at www.dodsbir.net/submission.
The Air Force reserves the right to modify the Phase II submission requirements. Should the requirements change, all Phase I awardees that are invited to submit Phase II proposals will be notified. The Air Force also reserves the right to change any administrative procedures at any time that will improve management of the Air Force SBIR Program.
In addition to all the Phase I contractual deliverables, Phase I award winners must submit a Phase I Final Summary Report at the end of their Phase I project. The Phase I Summary Report is an unclassified, non-sensitive, and non-proprietary summation of Phase I results that is intended for public viewing on the Air Force SBIR/STTR Virtual Shopping Mall. A Summary Report should not exceed 700 words, and should include the technology description and anticipated applications/benefits for government and/or private sector use. It should require minimal work from the contractor because most of this information is required in the final technical report. The Phase I Summary Report shall be submitted in accordance with the format and instructions posted on the Virtual Shopping Mall Web site at http://www.sbirsttrmall.com.
All Final Reports will be submitted to the awarding Air Force organization in accordance with the Contract. Companies will not submit Final Reports directly to the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC).
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
These special instructions apply only to Air Force topic AF093C-122, “Rapid Boot Installation”, and are in addition to the regular instructions listed at the beginning of the Air Force section of the solicitation.
The primary focus of Phase I of this effort is to demonstrate the feasibility of developing, integrating and transitioning innovative manufacturing process technologies to support the production of DoD weapon system(s). In addition to demonstrating the proposed technology solution, successful offerors should also consider the technical, business and transition plans necessary to lower the risk of technology insertion into the targeted manufacturing/inspection processes of a DoD weapon system Production floor.
The Air Force plans to award multiple Phase I awards on this topic. Each Phase I will be limited to $100K. These Phase I awards will be normal nine month efforts with six months planned for the technical effort and an additional three months allowed for reporting. The Air Force plans on awarding one Phase II contract worth up to $5M and lasting for 24 months. Phase II proposals will be by invitation only. At that time, special instructions will be provided for the Phase II proposals.
As this effort is focused on AF weapon system production, successful offerors may find it useful to dialog and/or partner with an AF/DoD prime in order to understand their specific system requirements, implementation risks, and transition windows. Successful offerors may also benefit from consideration of technical, manufacturing, and business readiness levels when preparing responses to manufacturing SBIRs. Guidance and information on these three readiness measures can be found on the Air Force SBIR Web site located at http://sbirsttrmall.com/Library/Default.aspx. Identification of return on investment (ROI) through a quantitative cost analysis should be addressed since this topic stresses the production implementation-developed technologies over existing baseline capabilities.
These special instructions apply only to Air Force Topic AF093C-123, “Aircraft Outer Mold Line (OML) Control”, and are in addition to the regular instructions listed at the beginning of the Air Force section of the solicitation.
The primary focus of Phase I of this effort is to identify and demonstrate measurement technologies which will be able to provide the accuracy (+/- 0.001”) and consistency needed for controlled fit-up, in terms of step and gap, of upper and lower aircraft skins. The measurement technology must be amenable to being automated and able to be used, eventually, in a production environment. In addition to demonstrating the proposed technology solution, successful offerors should also consider the technical, business, and transition plans necessary to lower the risk of technology insertion into the integration processes of a DoD weapon system.
The Air Force plans to award no less than two Phase I awards on this topic. Phase I awards will be limited to $100K. These Phase I awards will be executed at an accelerated pace, a six-month effort, with four months planned for the technical effort and an additional two months allowed for reporting. The accelerated pace of the Phase I (and Phase II) efforts is needed in order to meet the expected schedule for implementation into F-35 LRIP IV.
The Phase I effort will identify and demonstrate the measurement technique and provide a plan for the overall system concept and architecture.
The Air Force plans on awarding one Phase II effort worth $3+M with an 18-month period of performance. Examples of the additional information needed in the Phase II proposal package include the following: innovative technical approaches to address the critical processes, associated return on investment (ROI), and potential related uses. Also, it is expected that the Phase II proposal will include both a business plan and a transition plan. Phase II proposals will be by invitation only. At that time, special instructions will be provided for the Phase II proposals.
These special instructions apply only to Air Force Topic AF093C-137, “Multi-Function Laser Radar (LADAR) for Rotorcraft Brownout and Cable Warning/Obstacle Avoidance”, and are in addition to the regular instructions listed at the beginning of the Air Force section of the solicitation.
The primary focus of the Phase I effort is to develop and demonstrate innovative laser radar (LADAR) technologies to provide situation awareness during brownout approach and landing and cable warning/obstacle avoidance during all mission phases. In addition to demonstrating the proposed technology solution, successful offerors should also consider the technical, business, and transition plans necessary to lower the risk of technology insertion into the integration processes of a DoD weapon system.
The Air Force plans to award four Phase I awards on this topic. Each Phase I will be limited to $100K. These Phase I awards will be nine-month efforts with six months planned for the technical effort and an additional three months allowed for reporting. The Phase I effort will develop the system concept and architecture. Collaborative efforts are encouraged to reduce the risk on critical component technologies including, for example, multi-function laser, variable field-of-view scanning, real-time signal and data processing, and display processing techniques.
The Air Force plans on awarding one Phase II effort worth $3+M with a period of performance of 18-24 months. Examples of additional information needed in the Phase II proposal package include the following: innovative technical approaches to address the critical processes and associated return on investment (ROI). Also, it is expected that the Phase II proposal will include both a business plan and a transition plan. Phase II proposals will be by invitation only. At that time, special instructions will be provided for the Phase II proposals.
Air Force Program Manager Listing
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Contracting Authority |
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Topic Number |
Activity |
Program Manager |
(for contract questions only) |
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AF093-001 thru AF093-007 |
Air Vehicles Directorate |
Larry Byram |
Brad Kneisly |
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AFRL / RB |
(937) 904-8169 |
(937) 656-9027 |
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2130 Eighth Street |
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Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 |
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AF093-008 thru AF093-016 |
Directed Energy Directorate |
Ardeth Walker |
Susan Thorpe |
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AFRL/RD |
(505) 846-4418 |
(505) 846-3404 |
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3550 Aberdeen Ave SE |
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Kirtland AFB NM 87117-5776 |
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AF093-017 thru AF093-033 |
Human Effectiveness Directorate |
Sabrina Davis (937) 255-3737 |
Gerema Randall (937) 656-9833 |
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AFRL/RD |
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2610 Seventh, St, Bldg 441 |
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Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 |
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AF093-034 thru AF093-055 |
Information Directorate |
Janis Norelli |
Lynn White |
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AFRL/RI |
(315) 330-3311 |
(315) 330-4996 |
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26 Electronic Parkway |
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Rome NY 13441-4514 |
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AF093-056 thru AF093-094 |
Space Vehicles Directorate |
Danielle Lythgoe |
Jean Barnes |
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AFRL / RV |
(505) 853-7947 |
(505) 846-4695 |
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3550 Aberdeen Ave SE |
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Kirtland AFB, NM 87117-5776 |
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AF093-095 thru AF093-108 |
Munitions Directorate |
Jill Barfield |
Melissa St. Vincent |
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AFRL / RW |
(850) 882-3920 |
850-883-2682 |
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101 West Eglin Blvd. Suite 143 |
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Eglin AFB, FL 32542-6810 |
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AF093-109 thru AF093-130 |
Materials & Mfg. Directorate |
Debbie Shaw |
Kim Yoder |
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AF09C-122, AF093C-123 |
AFRL / RX |
(937) 255-4839 |
(937) 255-4628 |
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2977 Hobson Way, Rm 406 |
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Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 |
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Edwards AFB, CA 93524-7033 |
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AF093-131 thru AF093-161 |
Sensors Directorate |
Claudia Duncan |
Debbie Bucher |
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AF093C-137 |
AFRL / RY |
(937) 904-9764 |
(937) 255-3585 |
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2241 Avionics Circle, Rm N2S24 |
(937) 904-9155 |
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Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 |
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AF093-162 thru AF093-185 |
Propulsion Directorate |
Mary Kruskamp |
Mary Lykins |
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AFRL / RZ |
(937) 904-8608 |
(937) 656-9752 |
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1950 Fifth Street |
Barb Scenters |
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Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433 |
(937) 255-9255 |
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AF093-186 thru 190 |
Propulsion Directorate West |
Chanda Smith |
Sun McGuinness |
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AFRL / RZO |
(662) 275-5930 |
(661) 277-3524 |
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5 Pollux Drive |
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Edwards AFB, CA 93524-7033 |
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AF093-191 thru AF093-196 |
Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center |
Becky Medina |
LaLinda Harrison |
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OC-ALC / ENET |
(405) 736-2158 |
(405) 739-3464 |
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3001 Staff Drive, Suite 2AG70A |
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Tinker AFB, OK 73145-3040 |
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AF093-197 thru AF093-203 |
Ogden Air Logistics Center |
John Jusko |
Michael Allred |
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OO-ALC / LHH |
(801) 586-2090 |
(801) 586-3335 |
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6021 Gum Lane |
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Hill AFB, UT 84056-2721 |
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AF093-204 thru AF093-208 |
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center |
Frank Zahiri (478) 327-4127 |
Mr. Craig Polk (478) 468-9501 |
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WR-ALC / ENSN |
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450 Third Street, Bldg. 323 |
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Robins AFB, GA 31098-1654 |
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AF093-208 thru AF093-213 |
46 TW / XPXR 101 West D Avenue Bldg 1 Eglin AFB, FL 93524-6843 |
Ramsey Sallman (850) 883-0537 |
Daniel Burk (850) 882-0168 |
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101 West D Avenue Bldg. 1 |
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Eglin AFB, FL 93524-6843 |
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AF093-214 thru AF093-219 |
Arnold Engineering Development Center |
Ron Bishel (931) 454-7734 |
Sue Tate (931) 454-7801 |
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AEDC / XRS |
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1099 Schriever Ave |
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Arnold AFB, TN 37389-9011 |
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AF093-220 thru AF093-223 |
Air Force Flight Test Center |
Abe Attachbarian |
Glenda Downing |
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AFFTC / XPR |
(661) 277-5946 |
(661) 277-7708 |
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1 S. Rosamond Blvd, Bldg 1, Rm 103A |
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Edwards AFB, CA 93524-6843 |
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Air Force SBIR 093 Topic Index
AF093-001 Novel Experimental and Analytical Methods for Designing Damage Tolerant Composite Structures
AF093-002 Ground Mobility and Landing Gear for a Bird-Sized Perching Micro Air Vehicle (MAV)
AF093-003 Robust Optic Signal Distribution within Enclosures for Aerospace Applications
AF093-004 Innovative Aerodynamic Measurement for Integrated Hypersonic Inlets
AF093-005 Technologies for Cost-Effective Mixed-Criticality Flight Control Systems
AF093-006 Structurally Embedded Power and Signal Cabling for Air Vehicles
AF093-007 High Speed Store Separation Data Acquisition Techniques
AF093-008 Components and Compact Packaging of Fiber Laser Amplifier Arrays
AF093-009 Measurement of laser irradiance on target for directed energy weapons
AF093-010 Spatial-Temporal Control Applied to Atmospheric Adaptive Optics
AF093-011 Conformal High Energy Laser Weapon System
AF093-012 Advanced Estimation and Data Fusion Strategies for Space Surveillance/Reconnaissance
AF093-013 Autonomous and Adaptive Technique to Collect and Analyze RF Effects Data
AF093-014 Advanced Dielectric Insulation Techniques for High Voltage Pulsed Power Systems
AF093-017 Holographic Waveguide Visor Display (HWVD)
AF093-018 Dichoptic Vision System (DiVS)
AF093-020 Eye Tracker for Avionics Helmet Systems (ETAHS)
AF093-021 Ultrahigh Definition Microdisplay (UDM)
AF093-023 Kinetic Power Technologies for the Dismounted Warrior
AF093-025 Visualization of Cross-Domain C2ISR Operations
AF093-026 C2-ISR Capability-Need Pairing Framework to Support Resource-Task Pairing such as Sensing-Target Pairing and Weapon-Target Pairing
AF093-027 Voice-Interactive Training Environment for Tactical Exercise Familiarization
AF093-028 Network-Centric Supervisory Control of Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
AF093-029 Short Pulse Radio Frequency (RF) Field Measurement System
AF093-030 Automated Analysis and Classification of Anomalous 3-D Human Shapes and Hostile Actions
AF093-031 Intuitive Interfaces for "Layered Sensing"
AF093-033 Countering Cyber Terrorism through Internet Media
AF093-034 Innovative Methods for Increasing Data Link Capability
AF093-035 High Speed Digital Video on Legacy Aircraft Wiring
AF093-036 Automated Fiber Optic Interconnect Cleaning and Inspection Involving Aerospace Platforms
AF093-038 Enabling End User Computing Environments
AF093-041 Non-cooperative Target Detection/Identification (ID)
AF093-042 Persistent Queries for Evolving Situational Awareness of Organization Entities
AF093-043 Mult-access Optical Communications
AF093-044 High Power Optical Transmitter for Satellite Communications
AF093-045 High Power Optical Amplifier (HPOAs) for Free Space
AF093-046 Automated Adversarial Course of Action Model Generation and Reasoning for Satellite Protection (commercial/military)
AF093-047 Automated Tools for Adversarial Threat Characterization
AF093-048 Wi-Fi for Assured PNT and Integrity Verification
AF093-049 Self-Shielding Systems and Attack-Surface Mutation
AF093-050 Course of Action (COA) Analysis, Comparison and Selection for Effects Based Space Operations
AF093-051 Cyber Behavioral Attribution across Networks and Workstations
AF093-053 Automatic Artificial Diversity for Virtual Machines
AF093-054 Securing personal mobile devices for use as digital proxies
AF093-055 Net-Centric, Mixed-Initiative Plan Representation
AF093-056 Spectral Imaging of Space Objects
AF093-057 High Frequency (HF) Over the Horizon Radar (OTHR) Metric Accuracy
AF093-058 Distributed Satellite Resource Management for Mission Operations
AF093-059 Advanced Gimbaled Dish Antenna
AF093-061 Variable Coverage Wide Field of View Satellite Antenna
AF093-064 Canisterized Satellite Development for Operationally Responsive Space
AF093-065 Advanced Li-ion Battery Cathode
AF093-066 Innovative Laser-based Cueing Technology for Space Protection Countermeasures
AF093-067 Data Mining Development for OCS/DCS SSA Operations
AF093-068 Automation of Satellite On-orbit Check-out
AF093-070 Miniaturized Satellite Development for Responsive Space Missions
AF093-071 Adaptive Thermal Control Coating for Radiation Hardening of Spacecraft
AF093-072 Lithium Ion Battery and Ultracapacitors Hybrid for Satellite Power
AF093-074 Thermal Stable Panel (TSP) with Thermal Control Features for Transient Spacecraft Payloads
AF093-075 Discrimination and Identification of Closely-Spaced Objects (CSO)
AF093-076 Space Microelectronics Security Verification
AF093-077 Rapid, Accurate, Satellite Structural Dynamic Modeling Methods for Responsive Space Needs
AF093-078 Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) Network Operations Upgrade- Enterprise Software Prototype
AF093-079 High Temperature Heat Pipes and Passive Two-Phase Cooling Systems
AF093-080 Ultra High Efficiency Multi Junction Solar Cells for Space Applications
AF093-081 Rapid Radiation Hardened Prototyping of Obsolescent Military Satellite Microelectronics
AF093-082 Ultra Low Power Logic Device
AF093-083 Improved Cryogenic Cooling Technology
AF093-084 Low Power, Radiation Hardened Embedded Memory Compiler
AF093-086 Compact Type 1 Space Encryption Hardware
AF093-087 Autonomous Space Systems
AF093-088 Modular Cubesat Architectures and Components
AF093-089 Component and Subsystem Development for Compact, Efficient LADAR Ranging
AF093-090 Responsive, Pre-launch and On-orbit, Electro-Optical Sensor Characterization and Calibration
AF093-092 Space and Operational Environmental Protection for Thin Multijunction Solar Cells
AF093-095 High Performance High Reliability Weapon Bus Switch
AF093-096 Non-Conventional (Non-Nuclear) Techniques for Defeating HDBT/UGF
AF093-097 Modeling Techniques for Assessing Counter-Electronic Effects
AF093-098 High Density or Multi-Functional Compact Power Source
AF093-100 Laser Beacon for Identification, Friend or Foe (IFF) and Combat Identification
AF093-101 Hyperspectral and Persistent Sensor Signal Processing Platform and Algorithms
AF093-102 Microladar collision avoidance and target detection technology
AF093-103 Microscale Ordnance Technologies for Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs)
AF093-104 Boundary layer control of flow separation for Micro Air Vehicles
AF093-107 Micro Seeker Technology
AF093-108 Technology for Dynamic Characterization of Micro-scale Aerial Vehicles
AF093-109 Cost Reducing Processing Development of High Performance Transparent Armor
AF093-110 Canopy/Transparency Advanced Coating Technology
AF093-111 Lead-free Solder Alternative Interconnect Material
AF093-112 Innovative Methods to Reduce Aircraft Outer Mold Line (OML) Repair Cycle Time
AF093-113 Multi-layer Coating Thickness Probe
AF093-114 Peel and Stick Adhesive for Outer Mold Line (OML) Material Repair
AF093-115 Conformal Infrared Window with Structural and Distributed Aperture Capability for Airborne Platforms
AF093-116 Material Approaches to Mitigate Gap Filler Cracking
AF093-117 Integrated Processing and Probabilistic Lifing Models for Superalloy Turbine Disks
AF093-118 Development of a New Structural Film Adhesive for On-Aircraft Repair
AF093-120 Innovative Methods for Automated Controlled Removal of Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) and Bondcoats from Turbine Airfoils for Rework and Repair
AF093-121 Small-Hole Measurement Techniques
AF093-124 Passive, Wireless Sensors for Turbine Engine Airfoils
AF093-125 Physics-based Life Prediction Model Incorporating Environmental Effects for SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites
AF093-126 Passive Optical Switches
AF093-127 Materials for Morphing Shape-Memory Polymer (SMP) Skins
AF093-128 Fluids for Dielectric Switch Applications
AF093-129 Accelerated Reconnaissance Window Development
AF093-130 Development of A Structural And Thermally Conductive Composite
AF093-131 Air-Deliverable Geologic Sensors
AF093-132 Wide Area Unresolved Target Detection and Tracking
AF093-133 Sense and Avoid (SAA) Radar Improvements
AF093-134 Adaptive Control of Digital Channelized Receivers
AF093-136 Laser Technologies Adapted for UAS Sense and Avoid (SAA) Applications
AF093-138 Improvements in Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Detection Through Multi-band Imaging
AF093-139 Integrated SAR and LiDAR Change Detection Techniques for Small Object Detection
AF093-140 Inertial Reference Corrective Approaches to Complementary Antenna Pedestal Gyro Units
AF093-141 Airborne Detection of Spoofed ADS-B Reports
AF093-143 Develop Cross-Platform Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image quality metric for automatic target recognition (ATR)
AF093-145 Exploitation of Geometric Diversity for High Resolution Ultrahigh Frequency (UHF) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Imaging
AF093-146 Broadband, Ultra-linear, Extremely High Frequency (EHF) Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier
AF093-147 Highly Linear E-Band Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier
AF093-148 V-Band Solid State Power Amplifier with Integrated Power Combiner
AF093-149 Passive Hydrogen Maser for Space Applications
AF093-150 High Performance Pulsed Rubidium Clock for Space Applications
AF093-152 Global Positioning System (GPS) User Equipment (UE) Time Aiding Using WWV/WWVB
AF093-153 Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) Field Program Gate Array (FPGA) and/or ASIC Development
AF093-154 User Equipment (UE) Cognitive Functions
AF093-156 Robust Shape and Motion Estimation Algorithms for All-Weather Imaging
AF093-158 High Power 2-micron Fiber Laser Components
AF093-159 Ultra Low Power Electronics for Autonomous Micro-Sensor Applications
AF093-160 Readout Integrated Circuit (IC) Technology for Strained Layer Superlattice Photodetectors
AF093-162 Efficiency Methodologies for Chemical Reactions of JP-8
AF093-163 Small Unmanned Aircraft Propeller Improvements
AF093-164 Efficient Implementation of Models for Improved Prediction of Gas Turbine Combustor and Augmentor Robustness
AF093-165 Robust Spark and Plasma Ignition Systems for Gas Turbine Main Combustors and Augmentors
AF093-167 Fully Resolved Spatial and Temporal Measurement of Turbine Inlet Conditions
AF093-168 Electron Beam/Physical Vapor Deposition (EB/PVD) Coating Process Mapping for Complex Shapes
AF093-169 Improving the Predictability of Thermal Spray Coating Process Outcome
AF093-170 Advanced Electronics Cooling for Power Electronic Devices
AF093-171 Development of Multifunctional Damping Coating Systems for Turbine Engine Components
AF093-172 Wide Temperature, High-Frequency Capacitors for Aerospace Power Conditioning Applications
AF093-173 Dual Mode Electrical Accumulator Unit (DMEAU)
AF093-174 Improved Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) System
AF093-175 Innovative Thermal Management Technologies for Dissipating Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) Electronics Heat
AF093-176 Predicting Faults and Determining Life of Electro-Mechanical Actuation (EMA) System for Engine and Aerospace Applications
AF093-177 Strain Mapping Capability for Hot Composite Engine Structures
AF093-179 Built-In Damage State Detection and Localization Capabilities for Composite Engine Structures
AF093-180 Extend Operational Use of Global Positioning System (GPS) User Equipment (UE) via Operational Techniques and Enhanced Energy Devices
AF093-182 Hypersonic Propulsion: Enhancing Robustness in Mid-Scale Scramjets
AF093-183 Development of Reactive Molecular Dynamics (RMD) Simulation Software
AF093-184 Energy Harvesting for Efficient Power Generation
AF093-185 Elimination of Microbial Contamination in Aviation Fuels
AF093-186 Low Cost Valve Technology
AF093-187 Plume Measurements for the Identification of Required Maintenance in Liquid Rocket Engines (LREs)
AF093-188 Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Based Material for Rocket Propulsion or Tether Applications
AF093-189 Green Monopropellant Thruster Catalytic Degradation and Performance Modeling
AF093-190 Mechanism and Model-based Improvement of Nanoenergetic Particles
AF093-191 Non-Intrusive Direct Part Marking
AF093-193 Multi-Attribute Reliability and Maintainability Engineering Assessment Methodology
AF093-195 Real Time Coating Process Monitoring System
AF093-196 Improved Electrical Characteristics of Airborne Radomes
AF093-199 Non-Destructive Test (NDT) methods for High Velocity Oxygenated Fuel (HVOF) coated Landing Gear (LG) components
AF093-200 Rapid Assembly of Durable Composite Radome Panels and Radome Mounting Interface
AF093-202 Rapid Assembly, Energy Efficient Composite Shelter
AF093-203 Improved Landing Gear Grinding/Finishing Methods on Hard Wear Resistant Surfaces
AF093-204 Increased durability of Infrared (IR) Materials for Long Endurance Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) applications
AF093-205 Reliability Modeling for the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in National Airspace
AF093-206 Real-time Overlay of Map Features onto a Video Feed
AF093-207 Failure Prognostics Based on Existing Data
AF093-208 Expert Troubleshooting Technology for Rapidly Diagnosing Failures in Complex Systems
AF093-210 Aircraft Tire Contact Patch Force and Shear Sensor
AF093-212 Low-Cost Infrared Countermeasure
AF093-213 Subminiature Hi-def UAV Reconnaissance (SHUR)
AF093-214 Store Unsteady Aerodynamic Loads Measurement Technology
AF093-215 Cryodeposit Cleaning System for Low-background Radiometric Space Simulation Chambers
AF093-216 Broadband Infrared Coherent Fiber Image Guide
AF093-217 Autonomous Distributed Plant Monitoring Network
AF093-218 Solar Lunar Spectral Source for Space Sensor Exclusion Testing
AF093-221 Accurate Automated Analysis for Trajectory Reconstruction of Highly Dynamic Vehicles
AF093-222 Multispectral Desert Fauna Surveillance and Recognition System
AF093-223 Advanced Uncooled Infrared Detectors Using Nano-Scale
AF093-224 Non-Lethal Avian Active Denial System Using Directed Energy
AF093C-122 Rapid Boot Installation
AF093C-123 Aircraft Outer Mold Line (OML) Control
AF093C-137 Multi-Function
Laser Radar (LADAR) for Rotorcraft Brownout and Cable Warning/Obstacle
Avoidance
Air Force SBIR 093 Topic Descriptions
AF093-001 TITLE: Novel Experimental and Analytical Methods for Designing Damage Tolerant Composite Structures
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes
OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate approaches to characterize the damage tolerance capabilities of composite materials and translate the capabilities into successful designs for composite structures.
DESCRIPTION: Composite materials often offer the most efficient and lowest cost solutions for airframe and propulsion (nacelle) structures. Many of these structures are in areas that are susceptible to incidental impact damage that have the potential for subsequent damage growth. Damage tolerance requirements dictate that structures shall have adequate residual strength in the presence of flaws/damage for specified periods of service usage. Designing solid laminate or integrally stiffened composite panels to assure structural integrity after a damage event is challenging.
Damage tolerance characterization tests such as Compression Strength After Impact (CSAI) rely on the ability of designers to predict the response and residual strength of full-scale composite bay structures based on small-scale tests with different loading, mixity of failure modes, and boundary conditions. These factors make designing composite bays subjected to damage tolerance requirements costly and time consuming. Industry currently lacks methods to translate the response of standard damage tolerance characterization tests to reliable predictions of the damage tolerance (including the effects of bay size, stiffening mechanism, and panel fixity) of full-scale composite structures.
The objective of this effort is to develop and demonstrate efficient approaches to experimentally characterize the damage tolerance capabilities of composite materials and translate the capabilities into successful designs for composite structures. To this end, working with an airframe structures original equipment manufacturer (OEM) on developing and demonstrating novel damage tolerance methods provides a competitive advantage and a focus on technology transition.
PHASE I: Phase I should focus on development of test techniques to exercise possible failure modes to feed development of Phase II analytical methods. Phase II should build on Phase I results to develop analytical approaches which are validated by experimental methods. Both Phases should be conducted with a focus on technology transition and an understanding of what it will take to demonstrate and qualify the method for use in actual aerospace structures design. Costs of a transition/qualification effort should be estimated as part of the Phase II work package, and a potential transition strategy should be discussed in basic detail during Phase I, and in finer detail during Phase II.
The supplier shall develop experimental methods for characterizing the damage tolerance of composite materials and develop approaches to use the characterization test results to predict the damage tolerance response of full scale composite structures.
PHASE II: Phase II should build on Phase I results and include development and demonstration of experimental and analytical methods. The analytical approaches must consider the possible loading and geometric variations that are possible in a composite bay. Experiments shall be conducted to validate the use of small scale characterization test results to predict the response of larger composite structures.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: The approach should be applicable to military aerospace for propulsion and airframe applications as well as potential composite armor and other applications where damage tolerance is a factor.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The approach should be applicable to commercial aerospace for propulsion and airframe applications as well as other applications where damage tolerance is a factor.
REFERENCES:
1. Composite Handbook CHM-17, ASTM, 2002.
2. Joint Service Specification Guide (JSSG) 2006, DoD, 1998.
KEYWORDS: composite, damage tolerance, composite modeling, analytical methods
AF093-002 TITLE: Ground Mobility and Landing Gear for a Bird-Sized Perching Micro Air Vehicle (MAV)
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform
OBJECTIVE: To develop concepts and designs for landing gear and limited ground mobility of a bird-sized platform involved in urban intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
DESCRIPTION: AFRL/RB has recently begun efforts in development of technologies for bird and insect-sized micro air vehicles (MAVs). One of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) strategic visions for 2015 is a bird-sized MAV that can operate in an urban environment for a week. In order to do so, this vehicle will have to perch, either for recharging (energy harvesting) or for ISR of stationary targets. The landing environment might be on a branch, but more likely on a ledge or other horizontal platform. Either way, the landing will not resemble a roll-out landing, but a perching maneuver much like a bird. This SBIR seeks to develop concepts for landing gear of a platform such as this. The landing gear must enable the landing itself, limited ground mobility for repositioning and other maneuverability at the perching site, and possibly incorporate energy harvesting or other functionalities needed for completion of the mission.
PHASE I: Phase I will concentrate on identifying different modes of landing gear, and creating benchtop prototypes to demonstrate different concepts.
PHASE II: Phase II will concentrate on down selection to one or possibly two solutions, miniaturization, and integration into a flying commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) remote control (RC) vehicle for demonstration. Because a perching vehicle of the type envisioned has not yet been developed, large thrust-to-weight (T/W) foamies will most likely be used so that high angle-of-attack landings are possible.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Remote-control vehicles such as crawlers, flyers, climbers, etc., have been proposed for tasks such as bomb sniffing and disposal, emergency search and rescue, and border patrol.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Remote-control vehicles such as crawlers, flyers, climbers, etc., have been proposed for tasks such as bomb sniffing and disposal, emergency search and rescue, and border patrol.
REFERENCES:
1. Reich, G. W., Wojnar, O., and Albertani, R., Aerodynamic Performance of a Notional Perching MAV Design, AIAA 2009-0063, Proc. 47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Orlando, FL, 5-8 January, 2009.
2. Lukens, J. M., Reich, G. W., and Sanders, B., Wing Mechanization Design and Analysis for a Perching Micro Air Vehicle, AIAA 2008-1794, Proc. 16th AIAA/ASME/AHS Adaptive Structures Conference, Schaumburg, IL, 7-10 April, 2008.
3. Spenko, M., Haynes, G. C. , Saunders, J. A., Cutkosky, M., Rizzi, A., Full, R., and Koditschek, D., Biologically inspired climbing with a hexapedal robot, Journal of Field Robotics, Vol. 25, No. 4-5, pp. 223-242, 2008.
4. Bachmann, R. J., Boria, F. J., et al., Utility of a Sensor Platform Capable of Aerial and Terrestrial Locomotion, Proc. IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, Monterey, CA, 24-28 July, 2005.
5. Cory, R. and Tedrake, R., Experiments in Fixed-Wing UAV Perching, AIAA Paper No. AIAA 2008-7256, AIAA Guidance, Navigation and Control Conference and Exhibit, Honolulu, HI, 18-21 August, 2008.
KEYWORDS: perching, micro air vehicles, ground mobility, attachment mechanisms
AF093-003 TITLE: Robust Optic Signal Distribution within Enclosures for Aerospace Applications
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Space Platforms
OBJECTIVE: Develop robust, high density, deployable, maintainable optical distribution solution for aerospace fiber optic applications.
DESCRIPTION: The Air Vehicles Directorate is actively pursuing the use of fiber optic technology for aerospace vehicle control applications. The use of fiber optic technology can be helpful in creating systems that are resilient to electromagnetic interference (EMI) since the photonic elements, such as fiber, are naturally immune to these effects. Fiber optic technology can therefore result in significant benefits to aircraft designers, not only in EMI tolerance, but also in system weight, volume, and cost, due largely to the reduction of shielding requirements. While many advances have been made recently, one area still requires innovation to enable fiber optic technologies for aerospace control applications to achieve their full benefits. Current optical signal distribution within an electronics enclosure, both card to card and card to box, utilize low-density large connectors and create an unwieldy mesh of fibers within the enclosure. The large connectors require significant card edge space limiting the functionality that can be implemented on a single card. The mesh of fibers makes maintenance and repair of the cards exceedingly difficult and time consuming. The combination of the two problems reduces reliability of the overall system. The challenge is to develop a technology solution that enables the optical communication of hundreds of signals from card to card and from the cards to connectors on the enclosure box. The ideal optic signal distribution solution would be compatible with both multi- mode and single mode fibers and address the electro-optic/optic-electro interface as well. The goal of this effort will be to develop an optical signal distribution solution that meets or exceeds the following technical requirements: (1) can accommodate large numbers (> 100) of optical signals; (2) are durable in aircraft operational environments including shock, vibration, humidity, temperature, temperature-humidity cycling, altitude immersion, and electromagnetic effects; (3) maintain optical performance over the service life by minimizing optical power losses, minimizing crosstalk, and maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio (4) permits the quick and easy removal and replacement of cards within the enclosure; (5) are readily cleanable when needed; and (6) reduce the footprint required on the card for interconnection.
PHASE I: (1) Investigate and design innovative technologies that can resolve the technical requirements for optical signal distribution within the enclosure. (2) Demonstrate design feasibility with either single mode or multi mode signals through the development of laboratory quality components.
PHASE II: Develop a prototype demonstration of the optical signal distribution that was developed in Phase I. These prototypes must be consistent with the form, fit, and functional requirements for use in aerospace vehicle management systems. Additionally, these prototypes must be able to operate within the temperature, vibration, g-shock, EMI, and humidity conditions experienced in an aircraft environment.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: This technology could lead to future military application in manned aircraft, unmanned air vehicles, directed energy weapon systems, and other new aerospace vehicles.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercial and business jet flight control and reusable launch vehicles. Nonaerospace applications include automotive drive by light, industrial automation, dense computing, and all optical computing.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-STD-810F, Environmental Test Methods for Aerospace and Ground Equipment.
2. Weaver, T.L. and Smith, R.H., Photonic Vehicle Management, 20th Digital Avionics Systems Conference, Daytona Beach, FL, October 2001.
3. Sellers, Gregory J. and Roth, Richard F., Multi-fiber Optic Connectors for Aircraft Applications, SPIE Proceedings, Fly-By-Light: Technology Transfer, Orlando, Florida, Vol. 2467, pp. 87, April 1995.
KEYWORDS: fiber optics, optical signal distribution, photonics, card edge connectors, electro-optic interface, optic-electro interface, optical power loss, crosstalk
AF093-004 TITLE: Innovative Aerodynamic Measurement for Integrated Hypersonic Inlets
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Weapons
OBJECTIVE: Develop affordable, minimally or nonintrusive techniques to enable real-time measurement of hypersonic inlet flow characteristics during wind tunnel testing.
DESCRIPTION: (Military) Air Force interest in operationally responsive space access and prompt global strike capabilities has driven a need for new technologies that will provide increased payload, faster response times, and lower operational costs. Air vehicle propulsion systems that utilize advanced hypersonic propulsion systems have been proposed as a means to achieve these payoffs. If the inlet system can be designed to operate more efficiently than the state of the art, the result will be 10 to 25 percent more range at hypersonic speeds (for missiles and aircraft) and/or increased payload capacity (for aircraft and launch systems).
(Technical Challenges) Hypersonic aeropropulsion integration systems are characterized by high Mach number gas flows through a flowpath that generally includes the vehicle forebody and aftbody surfaces and internal ducts that connect the air intake and exhaust elements of the propulsion system components. The interaction of the high Mach number gases with the flowpath generates multiple fluid dynamic phenomena and interactions that include shock waves, shear layers, vortices, and separated flows, which are additionally influenced by the thermochemical behavior of the high-temperature air and combustion products. Due to these phenomena, the ability to measure in-stream quantities (such as pressure, temperature, and velocity components) and surface quantities (such as shear stress, pressure, temperature, and heat transfer rate) for the entire flowfield of a hypersonic inlet model is technically challenging.
(State of the Art) Wind tunnel models of hypersonic inlets currently utilize three classifications of instrumentation. Flush-mounted or recessed sensors, which can only directly assess the boundary of the flowfield, can be influenced by fluid dynamic phenomena that occur away from the wall. In-stream rakes and probes can measure flow properties away from the wall, but introduce disturbances into the flowfield that may distort the measurements. Nonintrusive sensors do not disturb the flowfield, but require optical access that is difficult to obtain in three-dimensional configurations. Wind tunnel model size and facility requirements further restrict the number and location of instrumentation. The ability to more efficiently gather internal aerodynamic data would provide increased insight into the complex flowfield characteristics that govern inlet operability and performance.
PHASE I: Identify and define innovative minimally or nonintrusive methods for measuring unsteady surface pressure, temperature, shear stress, and heat transfer while characterizing off-body flow field characteristics. Define requirements for data acquisition and reduction, including installation.
PHASE II: Plan and execute a wind tunnel test to demonstrate and evaluate measurement processes developed during Phase I. Prototype technology should be integrated with acquisition, analysis, and support equipment. Methods of measurement, ease of use, and cost effectiveness should be demonstrated.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Increased inlet efficiency can result in increased range for missiles/aircraft, and/or payload capacity for aircraft/launch systems. This technology development can be used to achieve these gains.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The technologies developed for the Air Force are also relevant in testing commercial aviation applications.
REFERENCES:
1. Holden, M. Historical Review of Experimental Studies and Prediction Methods to Describe Laminar and Turbulent Shock Wave/Boundary Layer Interactions in Hypersonic Flows. AIAA-2006-494, January 2006.
2. Proceedings from Scaling Laws Workshop. Dayton, OH. September 2006.
3. Hagenmaier, M., Tam, C., and Chakravarthy, S. Study of Moving Start Door Flow Physics for Scramjets. AIAA 99-4957, November 1999.
4. Van Wie, D., Ault, D. On the Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Determining Hypersonic Inlet Performance in Ground Test Facilities. AIAA 1998-2782-353.
5. Van Wie, D. Techniques for the Measurement of Scramjet Inlet Performance at Hypersonic Speeds. AIAA 92-5104. December 1992.
KEYWORDS: nonintrusive diagnostics, optical measurement, hypersonic instrumentation, propulsion integration
AF093-005 TITLE: Technologies for Cost-Effective Mixed-Criticality Flight Control Systems
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform
OBJECTIVE: Develop new technologies to solve problems inherent to a mixed critical flight control system for an unmanned air vehicle. Desired end product contributes to a design for airworthiness certification.
DESCRIPTION: The increase in functionality and autonomy of future unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) is driving exponential growth in software size and complexity. Increased software size and complexity renders the task of UAV certification significantly more challenging and costly. The development of software architectures that allow mixed criticality is a promising approach to dealing with the future high cost of certification. A mixed critical system is a system that exhibits multiple levels of criticality of operation, including the possibility of interplay of components and data flows of different levels of criticality, under routine or off-normal conditions. This definition is extrapolated to the flight control domain for an UAV where the boundary between flight critical and mission critical is blurred. Safety and security are assumed system characteristics in future mixed critical architectures where mixed criticality (e.g., noncritical and safety-critical) applications could safely and efficiently utilize the same computational resources. This mixed critical architecture design should reduce the effort, cost, and risk of attaining certification for future applications. The mixed criticality design assures safety to meet airworthiness certification as a primary requirement. In current military avionics systems the safety critical functions are often separated from mission critical functions to meet this requirement. This is done by design and implemented through various hardware, operating system, middleware, and application constructs. This separation is desirable from the standpoint of certification as it serves to delineate the higher critical processes from the lower critical ones. The presumption is that this separation prevents an inadvertent cross-pollination of a lower critical function adversely affecting the higher critical function leading to unpredictable behavior, thus compromising or at the very least, significantly complicating the certification effort. Historically, this separation has been considered an absolute, with early attempts to separate safety critical from mission critical functions done by physically separating the logic and processing. The inherent in-efficiency and in-effectiveness of this approach lead to its replacement by process isolation implemented in approaches such as ARINC 653. In this approach, safety critical and mission critical segments are allocated separate processor containers and the data-flow between these containers are tightly controlled through operating system/kernel level mechanisms. The next generation UAV is placing demands on avionics systems in terms of software complexity and higher-level cognitive functions. This increased complexity also introduces closer coupling between the safety critical and mission critical functions especially under off-normal conditions. In an autonomous system, the avionics software has to manage mixed criticality. The proposed SBIR effort must address one or more solutions to the following mixed critical problem areas: middleware composition and tailoring across multicore/multiprocessor computation platforms; noninstrusive instrumentation for composable software and middleware reuse; middleware-driven partitioning schemes to ensure critical data integrity, resource allocation, and timing; data tagging and validation techniques for fault detection/diagnosis and enforced integrity between partitions.
PHASE I: Expectations from this SBIR phase I effort are a clearly defined solution to one or more of the problem areas associated with a mixed critical flight control system. The end product from this effort should show the feasibility of implementing the defined technology in a mixed critical system.
PHASE II: Demonstrate the technology in a mixed critical laboratory environment. Verify safety coverage for Mixed Criticality via FMEA or FME Testing (FMET) techniques to show technology meets a level of airworthiness certification. Integration of the innovation will include software, hardware and associated firmware representative of a mixed-critical control system.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Advanced military avionics with increased functionality and autonomy, especially for UAVs. Primary emphasis win military applications should refer to MIL-HDBK-516B.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Mixed critical systems extends to other domains. Commercial aircraft applications should refer to DO-178B. Applications could extend to automobiles, trains, maritime systems, and nuclear facilities.
REFERENCES:
1. Validation and Verification of Intelligent and Adaptive Control Systems (VVIACS), AFRL-VA-WP-TR-2006-3169; DTIC accession number ADB430811; Greg S. Tallant, James M. Buffington, and Bruce Krogh; Final Report July 2006.
2. Certification Challenges for Autonomous Flight Control Systems; Vincent Crum, David Homan, and Raymond Bortner; AFRL-WS-04-0578; AIAA, August 2004.
KEYWORDS: mixed criticality, partitioned operating systems, middleware, safety critical, embedded software, publish subscribe, data distribution service, multicore/multiprocessor
AF093-006 TITLE: Structurally Embedded Power and Signal Cabling for Air Vehicles
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform
OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate concepts to enable embedment of electric power and signal conductors, interconnects, and ingress/egress in composite air vehicle structure.
DESCRIPTION: Modern air vehicles contain many miles of electrical power and signal wiring. Wiring is costly to install, heavy, and vulnerable to damage from service (i.e., incorrectly routed near hot equipment and/or bundled together with other incompatible wire types such as soft wire laying adjacent hard wire, etc.) and maintenance. All wire deteriorates in service due to environmental factors such as: extreme heat and cold temperature swings, humidity, salt damage associated with marine environments, contamination by aircraft fluids (i.e., fuel, oil, hydraulic fluid, deicing fluid, cleaning chemicals, toilet residue, galley spillage, etc.), as well as in-flight vibration causing chafing of wires rubbing against other wires or the structure of the aircraft. On most aircraft, wire bundles contain many different wires with several different types of insulation. Typically, wire bundles are composed of AC power cables, DC power cables, signal (circuit controlling) wires, and circuit ground wires. Also, there are bundles that carry power from different power sources (busses). These conditions make it extremely difficult to protect any circuit in such a bundle, where an insulation failure could result in an electrical problem that has multiple power sources and current paths to feed it. A wide variety of problems arise including shorting, arcing, or some other type of damage to a bundle with this mix of wires. Embedment of these conductor systems in composite structure during manufacture has significant potential to reduce cost, weight, improve reliability, and most significantly, reducing the factor of safety (i.e., Systems such as fly by wire (FBW) aircraft would benefit greatly by allowing for improved redundancy and increased safety). This effort is intended to develop and demonstrate concepts where the large continuous structural members such as wing spars, longerons, keels, ribs, and frames can serve as hosts for the embedded conductors. Major technical challenges include: conductor interconnects at structural joints, electrical shielding and isolation, and conductor ingress and egress for attachment to the air vehicle electrical and mission system components.
PHASE I: Demonstrate feasibility of an embedded conductor concept through fabrication and test of a representative component. Demonstrate conductor functionality and structural integrity. Estimate weight and cost savings payoff.
PHASE II: Demonstrate the elements of a complete embedded conductor system including component fabrication, joint concepts, ingress, egress, connection to standard aircraft power and signal equipment.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: This concept is applicable to future vehicles featuring unitized composite structure such as: transport aircraft, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, and unmanned air systems.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: This technology would be applicable to commercial transportation systems which utilize composite structures such as aircraft, ships, buses, trucks, and automobiles.
REFERENCES:
1. Composites Affordability Initiative, John Russell,
http://ammtiac.alionscience.com/pdf/AQV1N3_ART01.pdf.
2. Laser Direct Writing of Circuit Elements and Sensors, Alberto Pique, etal.,
http://spie.org/x648.xml?product_id=352695&origin_id=x1636&Search_
Results_URL=http://spie.org/x1636.xml&category=ResearchPapers&isResearch=true&title_abstract=direct%20write&boolean_filter=All.
3. Conformal Loadbearing Antenna Structure (CLAS) Initiative for Multiple Military and Commercial Applications, Allen Lockyer, et al., http://spie.org/x648.xml?product_id=276607&origin_id=x1636&Search_Results_URL=http://spie.org/x1636.xml&category=ResearchPapers&isResearch=true&title_abstract=clas&boolean_filter=All.
KEYWORDS: composites, coaxial cable, conductors, electrical cabling, electrical interconnects
AF093-007 TITLE: High Speed Store Separation Data Acquisition Techniques
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems
OBJECTIVE: To develop inexpensive techniques to enable telemetry, control, and data acquisition during small-scale wind tunnel free drop testing.
DESCRIPTION: The U.S Air Force has a need to study the characteristics of separating payloads from a variety of parent vehicles in the Mach 2 to 5 range to support future weapon system design. These payload separations can occur from a number of different air vehicle stations (lower fuselage, upper fuselage (lee side), aft). The overall goal of this topic is to develop the technology necessary to support design and testing of these systems in order to ensure the safety of the payload, the parent aircraft, and the aircrew.
The three primary areas of interest for this topic are the development of expendable telemetry packages for payload drop test models, development of nonintrusive surface and off body unsteady flowfield diagnostics, and the time synchronization/correlation of such data. Time synchronization of these multiple data sources during a single experiment is critical for proper correlation of the unsteady aerodynamic phenomena necessary to support the vehicle design process and model development/validation.
The ability to telemeter payload instantaneous position and acceleration with surface temperatures and surface pressures back to a base computer as the flight vehicle models float freely in the wind tunnel is required due to the destructive nature of drop testing. The goal would be to design a robust inexpensive technique which will allow information to be acquired simultaneously. As the models will be destroyed by the impact with the downstream portion of the tunnel, it is essential that data links be secure and reliable. Mach numbers in the 2 to 5 range are to be anticipated in the wind tunnel.
Generation of both surface and off body data in a synchronized manner during the same test is essential to support design and model validation efforts. Noninstrusive measurement of high frequency (5 to 10 KHz) surface pressure and shear stress through the innovative use of thin film coatings or pressure sensitive paints (PSP) will enable the collection of surface data. The time correlations of flow diagnostic techniques, such as Schlieren, with payload separation are useful to validate telemetry data.
The need to collect trajectory and flowfield data in a time synchronized manner to assess the unsteady flow effect on store separation as well as the weapons bay acoustics as we move to higher Mach range is essential to the development of innovative, highly integrated vehicle designs. Time synchronization is the key to properly correlating unsteady data from multiple sources during a single experiment. Development of an integrated test/data acquisition capability for unsteady flow applications will support weapon system design as well as the test and evaluation requirements over the lifecycle.
Any combination of the telemetry, flow diagnostics, and data collection synchronization methods are acceptable. Specific data acquisition techniques and innovative use of existing and new approaches are up to the offeror. Preference will be given to proposals that make provisions to incorporate multiple synchronized diagnostic sources.
PHASE I: Develop integrated capabilities for simultaneous acquisition of separation and telemetry data, high frequency surface data and planar off body diagnostic techniques. Demonstrate synchronization of concepts through bench tests of ejection system, telemetry package, surface data, and flow diagnostics.
PHASE II: Fabricate scaled models of parent vehicle, and payload. Install sensors, telemetry packages, and integrate high frequency data collection. Provide an off body, no particle planar diagnostic capability and prove the integrated/correlated concept by testing in a wind tunnel at realistic Mach numbers.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Any aircraft (fighter, bomber, unmanned) that carry weapons or fuel tanks. Unsteady flow and moving surface technology can be applied to control surface, turbine engine, and flow control design.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Potential rocket stage separation, weather sensor deployment, search and rescue systems analysis, advanced instrumentation for wind tunnels, and rapid package delivery system for humanitarian aid.
REFERENCES:
1. Nathan Murray, Bernard Jansen, Lichuan Gui, John Seiner, and Roger Birkbeck, “Measurements of Store Separation Dynamics,” AIAA-2009-105, 47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting, Orlando, FL, January 5-8, 2009.
2. Kazuyuki Nakakita, “Unsteady Pressure Distribution Measurement Around 2D-Cylinders Using Pressure-Sensitive Paint,” AIAA-2007-3819, 25th AIAA Applied Aerodynamics Conference, Miami, FL, June 25-28, 2007.
3. J.H. Bell, E.T. Schairer, L.A. Hand, and R.D. Mehta, “Surface Pressure Measurements Using Luminescence Coatings”, Annual Rev. Fluid Mechanics, vol. 33 pp. 155-206, 2001.
4. D.R. Jonassen, G.S. Settles, and M.D. Tronosky, “Schlieren PIV for Turbulent Flows”, to appear in Optics and Lasers in Engineering, Volume 44, Issues 3-4, pp. 190-207, March-April 2006.
5. S. Fonov, G. Jones, J. Crafton, V. Fonov, and L. Goss, “The Development of Optical Techniques for the Measurement of Pressure and Skin Friction” Measurement Science and Technology, vol. 16 pp. 1-8, 2005.
KEYWORDS: experimental methods, flight test, wind tunnel test, non-intrusive diagnostics, high frequency instrumentation
AF093-008 TITLE: Components and Compact Packaging of Fiber Laser Amplifier Arrays
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Weapons
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop compact lightweight technology to scale CW fiber lasers/arrays to 100s of kW operation allowing switching between beam directors or conformal array outputs for military applications.
DESCRIPTION: Recent demonstrations in scaling Yb-doped fiber lasers and amplifiers have exceeded many expectations. The current continuous wave (CW) diffraction-limited power for broadband fiber lasers is 6 kW by IPG Photonics, with the possibility of obtaining 10 kW or more. Electrical to optical efficiencies of these commercial devices range from 25% to over 30% depending on characteristics of the device with masses as low as 50 kg/kW.
To obtain long range propagation with 100s of kW from a fiber laser array, methods of combining several fiber lasers or amplifiers with increased brightness are necessary; one method is coherent beam combining using a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) configuration. The bandwidth of these MOPA configurations range from kHz to GHz at wavelengths of ~ 1 µm. Spectral beam combination has also been demonstrated to nearly the kW level using either volume Bragg gratings or surface gratings. These beam combining techniques require optical components usually not required for high power, broadband, industrial fiber lasers. For coherent beam combining in a MOPA configuration, isolators increasingly limit power scaling. Currently, small fiber coupled hermetically sealed isolators at low-to-moderate powers do exist. However, high power, all-fiber isolators are sought that are capable of handling powers >200 watts with >30 dB of isolation with minimum loss. Other optical components such as volume Bragg gratings or surface gratings with low loss and capable of high average power are necessary for spectral beam combining. Additionally, packaging is increasingly an important area for investigation in order to obtain lightweight, small volume footprints for airborne applications. This topic is therefore interested in the size, weight and power (SWaP) of fiber lasers and laser arrays at 100s of kW CW operation while maintaining high brightness, with packaging of the overall subsystem to obtain mass goals of <10 kg/kW and volumes of <0.1 m3/kW. The packaging does not include prime power, thermal management or beam control associated with the overall system; however, it does include the pump diodes, power conditioning for the pump diodes, optics, isolators, master oscillator, phase control electronics, other beam combining optics, and all electronics associated with safe and reliable laser operation. The ability to switch the high power output from the forward to aft direction on an air platform may be necessary in order to provide complete coverage with a single high power fiber laser unit. Therefore, technologies or techniques allowing the use of a single high power laser array for complete 360 degree azimuthal coverage by switching between different beam control subsystems while maintaining near diffraction-limited operation is sought.
PHASE I: Develop compact fiber laser concept scalable to 100s of kW with <10 kg/kW and volume of <0.1 m3/kW. Design isolators to show >30 dB isolation in a lightweight all-fiber configuration capable of handling >200 watts; and switching 100 kW in 1 ms while maintaining near diffraction-limited operation.
PHASE II: Characterize hardware to show technology maturity. Conduct validation to demonstrate packaged prototype isolator and/or switches capable of greater than 200 W and 10 kW of signal power respectively. Perform testing to assess loss, polarization performance and power handling. Perform reliability testing of component lifetime and serviceability. Deliver hardware to AFRL/RDLAF for verification.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Efficient high power high brightness fiber lasers enable illuminators, IR counter-measures, and secure communications in hostile environments.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: These include all those with requirements for coherent arrays and implementation of atmospheric compensation such as astronomy, laser communications, power beaming, etc.
REFERENCES:
1. Jay W. Dawson, et al, “Analysis of the scalability of diffraction-limited fiber lasers and amplifiers to high average power,” Opt Express, Vol 16, p. 13240-13266, (2008).
2. Eric C. Cheung, et al, “Diffractive-optics-based beam combination of a phase-locked fiber laser array,” Opt. Lett., Vol. 33, p. 354-356, (2008).
3. K. Nicklaus, M. Daniels, R. Hohn, D. Hoffmann, “Optical Isolator for Unpolarized Laser Radiation at Multi-Kilowatt Average Power,” OSA/ASSP, MB7, (2006).
KEYWORDS: Coherent Beam Combining, Master Oscillator Power Amplifier, Yb-doped Fiber Amplifier, Isolators, Packaging
AF093-009 TITLE: Measurement of laser irradiance on target for directed energy weapons
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Weapons
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop a diagnostic sensor system for measuring directed energy (DE) system laser beam characteristics at the laser/target interaction location on a test target.
DESCRIPTION: Current advances in DE systems have reached the point where high-value field test demonstrations employing high energy lasers (HEL) need to be addressed with specific detail. While it is critical that performance metrics of the HEL-target interaction be carefully measured and diagnosed, at the same time, the parameters of interest are currently intractably complex for real-time sensors. Innovative approaches are needed to address the challenges of off-normal reflections, obscuration from debris near the irradiated spot and distortion from atmospheric turbulence which are further compounded by dynamic changes in the target surface resulting in continuously changing absorption and reflection properties. The critical requirement of this solicitation is to develop a method for measuring a wavelength distinctive HEL-beam on-target irradiance profiles in real-time at the target surface. It is necessary to measure the illumination at a relatively high temporal sampling greater than 2.5 KHz and moderate spatial resolution (spatial sampling threshold of 10 cm, objective of 1 cm) over the target surface. The shape and intensity profile should be measurable over the entire surface and there should be a means of providing calibration. The proposed sensor system should have minimal interference with the optical (< 5%) and aerodynamic properties of the target, should not interfere with the laser target interaction, should withstand the dynamic conditions of the target while surviving the elevated temperatures, and have a minimal weight and volume requirement.
PHASE I: Develop a preliminary analysis and comparison report and develop conceptual system design(s). Perform hardware development and testing to validate that the selected design will satisfy the requirements. If using a standoff measurement, the report must address issues raised in this solicitation.
PHASE II: Demonstrate the full design developed in Phase I. Tasks shall include, but are not limited to, a detailed demonstration of key technical parameters that can be accomplished and a detailed performance analysis and simulation of the technology. The Phase II work will ideally produce hardware that can demonstrate the feasibility of the concept during a laser/target interaction.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: In keeping with the rapid progression of DE technology development, a demonstrable and accurate testing diagnostic will be needed to maximize high cost field testing of HEL systems.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The high fidelity time and spatial resolution of the on-target optical sensors and algorithms provides a unique diagnostic capability for commercial laser effects diagonostics.
REFERENCES:
1. MDA Link Fact Sheet: Space Tracking and Surveillance System, http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/pdf/stss06.pdf.
2. MDA Link Fact Sheet: Airborne Laser, http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/pdf/laser.pdf.
3. (Reference removed by request of TPOC; not relevant to topic requirements.)
KEYWORDS: target, electro-optical, sensor, electronics, test diagnostic, high energy laser
AF093-010 TITLE: Spatial-Temporal Control Applied to Atmospheric Adaptive Optics
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Space Platforms, Weapons
OBJECTIVE: Design control algorithms that take advantage of spatial/temporal correlations in atmospheric and aero-optic phase aberrations. Trade sample rate for complexity to obtain a given level of performance.
DESCRIPTION: Adaptive optics (AO) has contributed to improved ground based astronomy for civilian and military applications. AO is also used to compensate for atmospheric aberrations that disperse high energy laser (HEL) beams before they reach their target. These adaptive optic controllers are usually designed by separate consideration of temporal and spatial phase aberration characteristics. In astronomy one would consider the Fried parameter (Ro length) to determine the density of deformable mirror actuators and wavefront sensor subapertures. One would then go on to consider the Tyler and Greenwood frequencies to determine the required bandwidths of line of sight and adaptive optic control loops. This approach makes it easy to conceptualize and build systems that provide considerable improvement in optical quality and beam projection. It does not take into account a key feature of the disturbance however. If you examine a sequence of uncorrected wavefront errors you can see "waves" or coherent objects "flowing" through the measurement aperture. One would expect to be able to take advantage of this in designing a controller. Some experimental work in the area of aero-optics has already demonstrated the potential of this idea. Aero-optics is the field dealing with turbulent flows over aircraft mounted telescope turrets. For some range of turret look-back angles these flows start to separate and cause large optical aberrations. These flows can be fluid dynamically regularized so that the optical aberrations look like waves running along the ocean. Knowing the wavelength and velocity of these "waves" experimenters have concocted feedforward schemes for partial correction without even using a wavefront sensor. This topic hopes to exploit this kernel of understanding about "flowing aberrations" to develop spatial-temporal adaptive optic controllers. The example presented here is over simplified in that the aberration “objects” evolve (expand, contract, swirl) as they flow through the aperture. The proposed controller should be adaptive in the sense that it follows and corrects for these evolving disturbances. Successfully reducing the effect of aero-optic aberrations will allow a greater range of turret pointing angles for airborne HEL weapon systems. Laser communication systems should see similar coverage benefits. Active combustion and aerodynamic control would also benefit from these techniques.
PHASE I: Develop techniques for decomposing wavefront sequences into fixed, flowing and random patterns. Demonstrate the control approach on wavefront data sequences provided by the government. Show how the proposed wavefront decomposition and control technique helps foster rule-of-thumb design laws.
PHASE II: Design and implement algorithms on real time wavefront control hardware. Measure the performance of this hardware on a government supplied optical system.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: These control approaches will enable larger field of regard airborne tactical laser weapon systems. Laser communication systems should see similar coverage and link margin benefits.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercial laser communication systems should see link margin benefits. Active combustion for turbine engines and aerodynamic control would also benefit from spatial-temporal control techniques.
REFERENCES:
1. J.S. Gibson, C.C. Chang, B.L. Ellerbrook, "Adaptive Optics Wavefront Correction by Use of Adaptive Filtering and Control," Applied Optics, Optical Technology and Biomedical Optics, Vol 39, No 16, June 2000, pp 2525-2538.
2. M.R. Whiteley and J.S. Gibson, "Adaptive Laser Compensation for Aero Optics and Atmospheric Disturbances," 38th AIAA Plasmadynamics and Laser Conference, AIAA-2007-4012 (2007).
3. A. Nightingale, B. Goodwine, M. Lemmon and E. Jumper, "Feedforward Adaptive-Optic System Identification Analysis for Mitigating Aero-Optic Disturbances," 38th AIAA Plasmadynamics and Laser Conference, AIAA-2007-4013 (2007).
4. L.A. Poyneer, J.P. Veran, "Optimal Modal Fourier-Transform Wavefront Control," Vo. 22, No. 8, J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, Aug 2005.
KEYWORDS: Adaptive Optics, Spatial-Temporal Control, Aero-Optics, Predictive Control, Wavefront Reconstruction
AF093-011 TITLE: Conformal High Energy Laser Weapon System
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Weapons
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Conformal HEL architectures offer a revolutionary reduction in size and weight while maintaining full flight performance. Develop a conformal HEL architecture scalable to Megawatt class performance.
DESCRIPTION: Present High Energy Laser Weapons (HEL) are large and heavy with beam director turrets projecting into the air stream and compromising vehicle maneuverability. Airborne HEL weapons have tended to be very large with massive beam directors creating substantial local turbulence and interference with flight maneuverability. A jet fighter could effectively employ an HEL system for self defense and negation of tactical targets, provided the HEL was sufficiently small and light and did not compromise maneuverability. Conformal HEL systems combined with efficient fiber lasers offer a revolutionary approach to achieve these objectives. Embedded in the skin of the aircraft, transmitting subapertures fed by single fibers can focus the HEL light on the target with the diffraction-limit of the full array size if suitable sensing and control processes can be developed. This process is similar to a phased array radar but requires break-through technologies due to the micron level wavelengths utilized and the need to compensate for boundary layer and bulk atmospheric turbulence. The conformal architecture should address the full sequence of HEL operation including initial cueing, track acquisition, HEL sensing and control, and aimpoint selection and maintenance. Acquisition sensors and target illuminators should be included.
The required innovation is to define a conformal HEL architecture sufficiently small and light to enable tactical beam control from high performance aircraft. Because this project requires research and development it involves a degree of technical risk.
PHASE I: Develop some trade studies to determine architecture choices of conformal optical/control architectures which both achieve similar on-target performance to 30 cm conventional beam control systems using 25 kW laser with reasonable beam quality and determine what a fiber-based conformal array would require in volume, weight, and cost for similar performance on target. Identify required developments of component technology.
PHASE II: Select control architecture and perform detailed design including optical layout. Provide preliminary estimates of component weight and structural requirements. Perform initial lab verification and compare results with predictions from analytic and/or simulation results. Develop a risk reduction plan at the component and architecture level which includes prototyping and lab or field demos.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: This effort would allow military planes to be protected from missile attacks in addition to protection from fighters, etc. The use in a battlefield condition would be enhanced.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The design could be incorporated into commercial aircraft that would fly into areas that are adversarial.
REFERENCES:
1. Defense Science Board Report on Directed Energy Weapons December 2007 available on line at http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/reports/2007-12-Directed_Energy_Report.pdf
2. Gilbert, K. G., “Overview of Aero-Optics, Aero-Optical Phenomena, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics,” Volume 80, 1982.
KEYWORDS: Aero-Optics, HEL, Aircraft Laser, Beam Director
AF093-012 TITLE: Advanced Estimation and Data Fusion Strategies for Space Surveillance/Reconnaissance
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Space Platforms
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop and implement advanced, innovative, robust, real-time algorithms for autonomous space situational awareness, control, and reconnaissance.
DESCRIPTION: Space situational awareness (SSA) and reconnaissance technologies do not address near real-time estimation and assessment of resident space object (RSO) motion. Moreover, few current methods address the associated uncertainty (or confidence) in the knowledge recovered from data. There are too many objects and too few analysts, requiring that any methods brought to bear on this be automated. Each RSO is unique and given the variations in mission profiles, orbit regimes, and non-conservative forces, methods that are robust in adapting or being able to successfully recover estimates from any of these scenarios are desired. Examples of these methods are Interactive Multiple Model (IMM) filters and Hierarchical Mixture of Experts (HMEs). Since there can be a lack of a priori information, estimation strategies for detecting and discriminating RSOs are required. Examples of these are Multiple Hypothesis Tracking (MHT), Probabilistic Data Association (PDA) techniques, etc. Performing these tasks is inherently computationally intensive. Therefore, methods of exploiting high performance computing and parallelization should be investigated and assessed. Given all of the above, the proposed work should have the following properties:
1) Use metric data, features, or other data that provide for accurate I.D. and system wide correlation.
2) Provide a measure of confidence with all detection and correlation decisions, at the local and network level, similar to covariance metrics and covariance consistency metrics used in kinematic track processing. The computed covariance of the state estimation error is used in the computations of the data association processing function; consequently, degraded consistency causes misassociations (correlation errors) that can substantially degrade system level performance. The computed covariance of the state estimation error is also used by downstream functions, such as the network-level resource management functions. Hence, degraded covariance consistency or bias errors can mislead the warfighter about the accuracy of an event.
3) Provide metrics to identify groups or classes of events, along with confidence in classification assessment (i.e., low thrust propulsive maneuvers, RSO component articulation or attitude change, impulsive maneuvers for orbit plane changes or resizing, conjunction analyses, new foreign launches, on-orbit deployments of secondary payloads, clustered objects, etc.); in addition, the system should classify events that are otherwise indistinguishable.
4) Address use of algorithms that allow non-traditional information (such as multi-band photometry, radiometry, etc.) to augment real-time metric data toward refining overall event assessment and recommended sensor tasking course of actions (COA) for improving assessment confidence further.
It is desired that the proposed method can be implemented in both a centralized or distributed architecture.
PHASE I: Develop the mathematical basis for and provide a feasibility assessment of near real-time data/track association, sensor exploitation, and state/parameter recovery concepts using simulated data and key metrics. Demonstrate what could be achieved given the current Space Surveillance Network (SSN).
PHASE II: Develop/update the technology based on Phase I to provide a prototype demonstration of the technology in a realistic environment using realistic data with errors and biases, as well as, realistic processing speeds in complex scenarios. The use of high performance computing and parallelization should be investigated and assessed.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Integrate algorithm enhancement technology into a Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) of record such as Integrated SSA (ISSA).
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The technology is applicable across DoD, as well as in non-DoD sensor network environments such as air traffic control, medical imaging, meteorology, communications, and security applications.
REFERENCES:
1. Chaer, W.S.; Bishop, R.H.; Ghosh, J., "Hierarchical Adaptive Kalman Filtering for Interplanetary Orbit Determination," Aerospace and Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on, Vol.34, No.3, pp.883-896, Jul 1998.
2. Kirubarajan, T.; Bar-Shalom, Y.; Blair, W.D.; Watson, G.A., "IMMPDAF for Radar Management and Tracking Benchmark with ECM," Aerospace and Electronic Systems, IEEE Transactions on, Vol.34, No.4, pp.1115-1134, Oct 1998.
3. Terejanu, G., Singla, P., Singh, T., Scott, P., (2008), "Uncertainty Propagation for Nonlinear Dynamical Systems using Gaussian Mixture Models," Journal of Guidance, Controls, and Dynamics Vol.31, No.6, pp. 1623-1633.
4. Crassidis, J.L., and Cheng, Y., "Generalized Multiple-Model Adaptive Estimation Using an Autocorrelation Approach," 9th International Conference on Information Fusion, Florence, Italy, July 2006, paper 223.
5. DeMars, K., Jah, M.K., (2009), "Passive Multi-Target Tracking with Application to Orbit Determination for Geosynchronous Objects," AAS Paper 09-108, 19th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting, Savannah, Georgia, February 8-12.
KEYWORDS: Kalman filtering, orbit determination, attitude determination, data fusion, data association, track association, space object identification
AF093-013 TITLE: Autonomous and Adaptive Technique to Collect and Analyze RF Effects Data
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Weapons
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop an automated and adaptive methodology that smartly assesses the coupling and effects of high power radio frequencies (RF) on various electronic systems.
DESCRIPTION: Researching the effectiveness of high power microwaves on electronic systems is slow and tedious. Time constraints don't allow for a thorough analysis of multiple parameters, let alone a combination of parameters. Thorough testing would require scientists to intelligently select from a matrix of numerous test conditions. Expensive high power RF sources would have to be developed.
The current test methodology collects good data for a limited set of parameters. The space of test parameters is often limited by the flexibility of the high power RF source. The high power RF devices normally have a very limited range of tenability. They have a very low pulse repetition frequency (a few Hertz, at best). Oftentimes, their power is fixed, so test assets have to be moved in order to study the variations in power density. Thus, the variations in power density are limited to the size of the anechoic chamber.
This topic does not develop innovative physics, but instead investigates an innovative test technique that efficiently finds "ideal" parameters. The test technique is not limited by the size of the anechoic chamber or the output parameters of a unique RF device. Instead, these experiments could be performed using standard waveform generators, amplifiers, and high gain antennas. Using a computer controlled system, the test methodology can be automated. Using iterative data analysis processes, testing could hone in on numerous optimum parameters.
This test technique could develop a "smart waveform" for a variety of test assets and classes of test assets. A "smart waveform" is a waveform that can increase the probability of causing an effect because it combines a series of ideal parameters. Instead of using the "bigger hammer" approach currently being employed to collect effects data, this topic proposes a technique to more thoroughly explore the parameter space. It will ask the question "Can similar effects be caused with a 'smaller hammer'?"
If successful, a large database of effects can be constructed. War fighters and law enforcement officials, to name a few, could efficiently use a compact, portable RF weapon. In addition, because this test technique can look at a wide variety of parameters, people who harden electronics can gain additional confidence that their methods are effective.
PHASE I: Develop and demonstrate an autonomous test methodology and associated support hardware. Demonstrate this capability on a limited set of test assets. Produce representative susceptibility data.
PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate an autonomous susceptibility system with the following representative parameters:
- Carrier frequencies between 100 MHz through 3 GHz
- Pulse widths can be between nanoseconds to microseconds
- Pulse repetition 0.1 Hz through 1.0 kHz
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: This autonomous and adaptive test technique can more thoroughly assess issues like electromagnetic interference (EMI) and effectiveness of high power microwaves.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Wireless communications companies, as well as any company concerned about radiated RF power, can benefit from using this test technique for its EMI testing.
REFERENCES:
1. D. T. Edmonds, "A Frequency Modulated Nuclear Resonance Search Oscillator," Journal of Scientific Instrumentation, Vol. 43, pp 63-65, 1966.
2. United States Patent 4667151, "Calibrated Radio Frequency Sweep."
KEYWORDS: HPM, radio frequency, RF coupling, EMI, electromagnetic interference
AF093-014 TITLE: Advanced Dielectric Insulation Techniques for High Voltage Pulsed Power Systems
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Electronics, Weapons
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop advanced dielectric insulation techniques and/or field grading techniques to significantly reduce the size of high voltage pulsed power systems.
DESCRIPTION: The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has been developing compact, repetitively pulsed, high voltage pulsed power systems to drive high power microwave (HPM) sources for several years [1]. Typically these are Marx generator [2] based systems using either high dielectric strength oil or sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) as the insulating medium. The dielectric strength of the insulating medium determines the minimum size of the tank housing the Marx generator in that it determines the maximum voltage standoff between the fully erected Marx output voltage and the tank wall. For example, an eight-stage Marx generator employing 100 kilovolt capacitors in a linear configuration with a fully erected voltage of 800 kilovolts has been found by AFRL to require nearly 50 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) of SF6 to insulate a six centimeter distance between the capacitors and the tank wall. The objective of this SBIR topic is to develop advanced dielectric insulation techniques using gas, liquid, and/or solid dielectrics that will significantly decrease the required standoff distance between the Marx capacitors and the tank wall for a pulser equivalent to the eight-stage Marx generator discussed above. In addition, using modeling and simulation techniques to develop advanced electric field grading methods to reduce the overall electric field stress around the Marx generator, hence reducing the dielectric strength required by the insulating medium, is highly encouraged.
PHASE I: Develop advanced dielectric insulation techniques, including possible field grading methods, that will significantly reduce the size of high voltage pulsed power systems.
PHASE II: Implement the advanced dielectric insulation techniques and/or field grading techniques on the AFRL eight-stage Marx generator or on an AFRL-approved surrogate pulser.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: These include air platform missions requiring high voltage pulsers, HPM effects testing where portable HPM systems require compact high voltage pulsers, and compact pulsers for excimer laser systems.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: These include commercial table-top, megavolt-class pulsers suitable and affordable for university research in intense relativistic beam physics, HPM source development, and excimer laser research.
REFERENCES:
1. R. Barker and E. Schamiloglu, "High-Power Microwave Sources and Technologies." New York: IEEE Press, 2001.
2. S. Pai and Q. Zhang, "Introduction to High Power Pulse Technology." Singapore: World Scientific, 1995.
KEYWORDS: high voltage insulation, dielectric insulation, electric field grading, Marx generators, high voltage pulsers, compact pulsed power systems
AF093-017 TITLE: Holographic Waveguide Visor Display (HWVD)
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems
OBJECTIVE: Develop a transparent holographic optical waveguide visor for helmet-mounted display (HMD) applications that provides 100X more eye-movement freedom with 10X less space and weight of near-eye pieces.
DESCRIPTION: Recent developments in the fabrication of holographic waveguide optics systems make it possible to replace bulky, expensive, multi-element classical projection optics systems with light-weight, thin see-through diffractive optics. This effort is aimed at leveraging this optics revolution for next-generation aviation helmet visualization systems. The classical optics now in use result in excessive weight and bulk on the head and poor ergonomics, with massive helmet clip-ons for night or day vision being cantilevered in front of the eyes. Even so, the classical systems do NOT provide the high acuity and large fields-of-view desired by warfighters. Current HMD systems, such as the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), are based on a bulky, expensive, large classical optics to relay a miniature display image to the eye via reflection off the inner surface of the helmet visor and produce a small field of view (FOV, e.g. 20-deg.), which requires much head scanning to maintain situational awareness, and a small eyebox (e.g. 9x9-mm), which requires custom helmet fit and may cause image loss during maneuver. A compounding problem is the need to address laser eye protection, where proposed solutions based on classical optics would add even more weight and bulk, making them non-solutions. "Optical magic" is needed to re-set the stage for a new generation of lightweight, yet more capable, HMD systems. Recent advances in holographic optics by researchers in several institutions have demonstrated the potential for the optical image magnification function to be implemented within thin waveguide structures. The potential exists to integrate the projection optics into the structure of the HMD visor itself, including curved visors. Threshold optical performance sought includes, simultaneously, binocular green HMD system with at least 1280x1024/eye (1.3 Mpx) resolution, a 40-deg. FOV, an eye box of over 30x30-mm, a pathway to color, and 10X less space, 5X less weight, and 2X less cost than current helmet projection optics. Power efficiency must be addressed and shown to be consistent with integration into a pilot HMD system. Objective performance includes a binocular color panoramic FOV of 120x80-deg with near 20/20 acuity (requires 5 Mpx for each 40-deg-cone of the FOV). The miniature display is not the focus of this topic and may be a flat panel, cathode ray tube, or microelectromechanical image generation device in the design and prototyping of a holographic waveguide visor display (HWVD).
PHASE I: Design a binocular HWVD system for a combat pilot HMD capable of presenting 1280x1024 monochrome imagery from a flat panel microdisplay in 40-deg. field-of-view (FOV) to the same quality as currently done with the micro-CRT and classical optics. Develop pathways to color and curved visors.
PHASE II: Fabricate a day/night HWVD system that provides, at a minimum, binocular monochrome 1280x1024 imagery in a 40-deg. FOV on flat, transparent, holographic optical waveguides integrated into a visor. Demonstrate capability of waveguide to support higher resolution displays (5 Mpx in 40-deg FOV). Demonstrate viability of color. Develop second version of visor in which waveguide portions are curved.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Military applications include the replacement of classical optics in HMD systems with thin, light, ergonomic diffractive optics and the enabling the design of far more capable digital vision systems.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercial applications include homeland security for coastal and border patrol, aerial firefighting, highway patrol, and entertainment systems.
REFERENCES:
1. Paul Wisely et al., "Visor Display System," AFRL-HE-WP-TR-2006-0055 (April 2006). Distribution limited to US Government Agencies until 29 September 2009; abstract available. Direct requests to 711HPW/RHCV, WPAFB OH 45433.
2. Leon Eisen, Michael Meyklyar, Micael Golub, Asher A. Friesem, Ioseph Gurwich, and Victor Weiss, "Planar configuration for image projection," Applied Optics, Volume 45, Issue 17, pp. 4005-4011 (10 June 2006), http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ao/abstract.cfm?&uri=ao-45-17-4005 (accessed 1 March 2009).
3. Alexander A. Cameron, "Displaying the Night--A Revolutionary Concept for Helmet Mounted Displays," Sheppard 2007 Night Vision Conference (30 October 2007); "The application of holographic optical waveguide technology to the Q-Sight family of helmet-mounted displays," in Head- and Helmet-Mounted Displays XIV: Design and Applications, Proceedings of SPIE Volume 7326, Paper 7326-16 (16 April 2009), available from www.spie.org (in press).
4. "The Q-Sight family of helmet display Products," BAE Systems product brochure, accessed 1 March 2009:
http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/bae_publication/bae_pdf_eis_q-sight.pdf
5. "Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) Overview," http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/jhmcs/index.html and http://www.vsi-hmcs.com/pages_hmcs/02_jhm.html (accessed 1 March 2009).
KEYWORDS: Visor Display, Holographic Waveguide, Diffractive Optics, Large Eyebox, See-Through Near-Eye Display Optics, Helmet-Mounted Displays, HMD, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, JHMCS, Laser Protection, Lightweight Day/Night Vision System
AF093-018 TITLE: Dichoptic Vision System (DiVS)
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems, Human Systems
OBJECTIVE: Determine capability of pilots/operators to use dichoptic vision system comprising wide field-of-view (WFOV) in one eye and narrow field-of-view (NFOV) in the other to perform normal and combat tasks.
DESCRIPTION: Helmet mounted vision systems cannot simultaneously provide the large fields-of-view with high acuity desired by operators and achieve operationally acceptable head supported weight. A potential solution path is to use the human vision system (HVS) to fuse different fields of view presented to either eye. Placing a different image in each eye is called dichoptic vision, but no evidence exists to establish the viability of this approach. The performance of normal sighted persons being presented with a high-resolution binocular dichoptic vision system (DiVS) to address the conundrum of wide-field-of-view vs. acuity dictated by classical optics in helmet/head-mounted display systems (HMDS) is unknown. The "dichoptic hypothesis" is that normal sighted humans can adapt to dissimilar left/right eye visual input in terms of FOVs and acuities, yet function effectively in any environment, let alone an operational environment. This topic is to perform and document research to test the dichoptic hypothesis for HMDS, addressing cognitive adaptation, subjective usability, and perceived comfort. A binocular DiVS might comprise, for example, two sensors mounted on a helmet either in-line with, or just above, the eyes, with two microdisplay systems (opaque or see-through) in front of either eye. Both sensors, and both displays, would have the same native pixel resolution (threshold 1280x1024, objective 5260x2048), but the objective optics and eyepiece optics for one eye would be WFOV (e.g. 100-deg.), while the other, NFOV (e.g. 40-deg). Breadboards and wearable, mobile prototypes of such a DiVS must first be constructed to enable testing of the hypothesis that persons with normal vision can use such a system to perform seated tasks (analogous to those performed by pilots) or simple navigation tasks (walk around a building, up/down stairs); no one has built such a research tool. A non-dichoptic, reference binocular system (RBS) needs to be built as well, with both eyes having the same FOV (e.g. NFOV objective optics and NFOV eyepiece optics) for comparison purposes during human subject evaluations. The sensors must be digital and may detect visible (threshold) or infrared (objective) wavelengths. The displays may be transparent or opaque but must be viewable either in normal office illumination (threshold) or outdoors in day/night illumination (objective). The DiVS and RBS prototypes built for evaluation in Phase II must be completely contained in a comfortably wearable system, for the duration of the tests, by an un-tethered user (threshold) or users (objective). The performing institution must address human use issues, provide evidence of a plan for review by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), and gain approval prior to undertaking any experiments involving human test subjects.
PHASE I: Design experiments with a representative subject pool to evaluate the dichoptic hypothesis. Address human subject issues. Define seated tasks representative of pilot workload and ground navigation tasks for dismounts. Demonstrate a benchtop DiVS. Design wearable DiVS and RBS prototypes.
PHASE II: Fabricate and demonstrate wearable prototypes of a DiVS and RBS. Perform human subject experiments for (a) pilot tasks and (b) dismounted warfighter tasks to determine effectiveness of the DiVS vs. the RBS. Analyze results in terms of operation of various stages of the HVS, including retinal processing, brain processing (dorsal and ventral streams), and cognitive perpetual situational awareness.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Military applications include advanced day/night helmet mounted display systems for pilots and for dismounts.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercial applications include commercial aviation, wearable electronics, and entertainment (TV, games).
REFERENCES:
1. David C. Curry, Lawrence K. Harrington, and Darrel G. Hopper, "Dichoptic image fusion in human visual system," Invited Paper, in Head- and Helmet-Mounted Display Systems and Technology, Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 6224, Article Number 622401, Pages 1-11 (2006).
2. Jeroen J.A. van Boxtel, Raymond van Ee, and Casper J. Erkelens, "Dichoptic masking and binocular rivalry share common perceptual dynamics," Journal of Vision, Volume 7, Number 14, Article 3, pages 1-11 (2007).
3. Stephen L. Macknik and Susana Martinez-conde, "Dichoptic visual masking reveals that early binocular neurons exhibit weak interocular suppression: implications for binocular vision and visual awareness," Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, Volume 16, Issue 6, pages 1049-1059 (July 2004).
4. Alexander Kadyrov and Maria Petrou, "Reverse engineering the human vision system: a possible explanation for the role of microsccades," IEEE Computer Society Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Pattern Recognition (ICPR-04), Volume 4, pages 64-67 (2004).
5. R. F. Hess, C. V. Hutchinson, T. Ledgeway, and B. Mansouri, "Binocular influences on global motion processing in the human visual system," Vision Research, Volume 47, Number 12, pp 1682-92 (June 2007).
KEYWORDS: Dichoptic vision system, image fusion, human visual system, helmet mounted display system, wide field-of-view, narrow field-of-view
AF093-020 TITLE: Eye Tracker for Avionics Helmet Systems (ETAHS)
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Human Systems
OBJECTIVE: Develop eye (gaze) tracker for pilot helmet mounted display system integrated into a visor or lenses. The eye tracking and display image relay functions must both be within one visor or lenses.
DESCRIPTION: Fighter pilot head-mounted avionics systems provide targeting cues in just a narrow field-of-view (NFOV) and weapon cueing is accomplished strictly by helmet tracking. Furthermore, a fixed line-of-sight is assumed, thus limiting the precise weapon targeting symbol to a straight ahead position. A tracked eye position, fed to aircraft mounted weapons or sensors, would enable eye position driven weapon cueing. The addition of eye tracking, in conjunction with head position measurement, would allow pilots to move the weapon targeting symbol around the effective instantaneous field-of-view of a wide field-of-view (WFOV) helmet-mounted display system (HMDS). Targeting could then be accomplished beyond the fixed location look-up reticules now used in the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), which do not allow for absolute confirmation of weapon line of sight as they are not displayed in conjunction with visible weapon symbology. There are many head tracking programs from both DoD and other agencies, but none have proven capable of addressing the size, weight, ergonomics, power, and integration (SWEPI) and performance factors that must be met for use in an avionics helmet for fighter pilots in tactical combat. A review of the literature shows virtually all eye tracker efforts focus on ground-based applications such as consumer electronics, medical, training, and simulators. Incorporation of eye tracking into an HMDS for tactical pilots or dismounted operators in combat remains an unmet technology challenge. However, recent developments in several key component technologies, including especially optics (e.g. waveguide, substrate-guided, etc.), processors (e.g. compact supercomputer chips like Acadia II), image processing algorithms (e.g. visual odometry), and novel sensors (e.g. brain waves) have enabled SWEPI and performance issues to be addressed. The purpose of this topic is to leverage these recent components to enable eyetracking in a WFOV tactical avionics helmet system. The size challenges derive from designing to keep the tracking hardware from blocking the pilot's visual field and from integration issues (fitting the device into a head mounted display module along with other electronics with a low profile). Mass properties challenges of weight and center of gravity control are required for limiting aircrew fatigue during high-g maneuvering and for safety in the event of emergency ejection from the cockpit. Ergonomic considerations include minimizing fatigue and comfort while maximizing safety and effectiveness. Limited power availability is always a challenge in designing cockpit equipment and keeping the needed power to a minimum is an inevitable challenge. Recent advances in near-to-eye (NTE) display technologies for both warfighter helmets and dual-use eyewear have established an opportunity to address, for the first time; technology barriers have heretofore prevented realization of a low profile, embedded eye (gaze) tracker for avionics helmet systems (ETAHS).
PHASE I: Design NTE gaze tracker for use with a diffractive-optics-enabled waveguide helmet-mounted display, substrate guided relay optic eyewear display, or other similar technology. Demonstrate via modeling the viability to build a functional prototype. Eyebox must be at least 10 mm and preferably 30 mm.
PHASE II: Fabricate and demonstrate a prototype gaze tracker integrated into a NTE eye display based on holographic waveguide optics (HWO) , substrate-guided optic (SGO), or other similar technology. Optics must transmit and expand a real image from a microdisplay into a perceived large FOV virtual image. Gaze tracker must operate on an eye-safe but invisible wavelength and must use the same HWO or SGO.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Military applications include HMD systems for pilots and eyewear (goggles, glasses) for dismounts and command center interfaces.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercial applications include entertainment (TV, internet, computer games), industrial human-system interfaces, and commercial aviation.
REFERENCES:
1. Review of eye tracking research, technologies, and applications is available at "Eyetracking," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_tracking (accessed 10 Jun 09).
2. "Soldier Mounted Eye-Tracking and Control Systems," USAMRMC Congressional Special Interest Program, www.momrp.org/csi_programs_index.html, is a typical example of government tracking programs, which are focused mostly on medical and training applications; the USAMRMC effort attempts to monitor fatigue and cognitive performance using Eye-com Corp technology, www.eyecomworld.com, which is an example of the current state of the art in hardware and software.
3. Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technologies developed by NeuroSky, Inc., www.neurosky.com, as shown in a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQWBfCg91CU is an example of novel technology with potential to add brain-wave sensing to traditional eye-tracking sensing technologies in helmets.
4. Toni Jarvenpaa, "Developing Gaze Tracker for Diffractive-Optics-Enabled Near-to-Eye Displays," Information Display, Vol. 28 No.10, pp. 22-25 (Society for Information Display, San Jose CA, 2008) is an example of commercial developments that might be leveraged for defense applications.
5. Alex Cameron, "Application of holographic optical waveguide technology to the Q-Sight family of helmet mounted displays," Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 7326, paper 732616 (16 Apr 09), is an example of the optics revolution just begun that will enable a space and weight solution acceptable in a combat helmet for warfighters.
KEYWORDS: Eyetracker, gaze tracker, HMD, holographic waveguide, diffractive optics, substrate guided relay, visualization, head-mounted displays, HMD, transparent display
AF093-021 TITLE: Ultrahigh Definition Microdisplay (UDM)
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems
OBJECTIVE: Ultrahigh definition microdisplay with 8 Mpx (3840x2048) image resolution and 12-bit dynamic range (greyscale) running at 72 Hz for application in day/night pilot helmet mounted display (HMD) systems
DESCRIPTION: Current helmet-mounted display (HMD) systems can NOT provide the threshold visual acuity (e.g. Snellen 20/20) over the threshold (minimum desired) 40x32-deg field-of-view (FOV). The Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) uses a micro-cathode ray tube (uCRT) to provide see-through symbology with an image resolution of about SVGA (800x600, or 0.5 Mpx) over a 20-deg. conical field-of-view (FOV), which approaches, but is less than, 20/20 acuity. Unfortunately, state-of-the-art digital flat panel HMD systems now in development provide just SXGA (1.3Mpx) resolution over about a 40-deg. FOV, which means warfighters must come twice as close to targets to see what they would have seen if provided with a 20/20 acuity battlespace visualization system (e.g. 1 km vs. 2 km, or 100 vs. 200 m). And a 40-deg. FOV is NOT large enough (120x80-deg. is desired), but is just the minimum needed to avoid excessive head scanning to maintain situational awareness. A spatial image resolution of about 8 Mpx (3840x2048) is required to provide 20/20 acuity for each 40-deg. conical portion of the FOV, vs. 1.3 Mpx state-of-the-art for several microdisplay technologies, including emissive active matrix organic light emitting diode on silicon substrate (AMOLED), transmissive active matrix liquid crystal display on glass substrate (AMLCD), reflective active matrix liquid crystal display on silicon substrate (LCOS), and reflective and interferometric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). And for avionics applications helmet integration volume requirements require the display to be in a 12-mm (0.5-in) diagonal form factor, which requires pixels to be reduced in size from 12-um to 4-um, which is now within the fabrication state-of-the-art. Separately, current displays support a dynamic range of just 8-bit (256 grey levels) compared to the perceived real-world 'display' dynamic range of 18-bit, and to new solid-state sensors that are demonstrating dynamic range of over 12-bit. New, ultrahigh definition microdisplays are needed for HMD applications with an octave higher (4X) resolution, or 5 Mpx (threshold) to 8 Mpx (objective) (e.g. formats of 2560x2048 threshold to 3840x2048 objective) and with a dynamic range (grayscale) of at least 12-bit. The frame rates need to be increased from the 30-to-60 Hz in available miniature flat panel displays to 72 Hz (threshold) and 96 Hz (objective) for avionics applications due the motion of pilots through the sky and rapid head movements within the cockpit. Approaches to the imaging device (microdisplay) range from traditional (miniature AMLCD, AMOLED, LCOS, MEMS) to novel (hologram projectors). Approaches to the optics that relay the miniature real image from the microdisplay and magnify it to the large-FOV large-eyebox virtual image perceived by the eye may range from classical (refractive/diffractive) to novel (e.g. waveguide, holographic waveguide). Efforts that can make credible progress towards these threshold and objective goals are sought.
PHASE I: Design ultrahigh definition microdisplay system with threshold image resolution of 5 Mpx for 40x32-deg FOV. Demonstrate manufacturability of design that leverages commercial product trends in terms of pixel density: 4-um monochrome pixel pitch for manageable avionics 12-mm die image size.
PHASE II: Fabricate ultrahigh definition demonstration device and perform characterization testing for uniformity, dynamic range, and frame rate. Deliver at least three microdisplay demonstration devices that provide usable imagery for evaluation for HMD application. Develop a roadmap for ultrahigh definition microdisplays with off-ramps for specific products leveraging commercial fabrication facilities.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Military applications include HMD systems for pilots (all aircraft), tankers, and dismounted combatants.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercial applications include homeland security, police, and entertainment (TV games).
REFERENCES:
1. Darrel G. Hopper, "The 1000X Difference Between Current Displays and Capability of Human Visual System: Payoff Potential for Affordable Defense Systems," in Cockpit Displays VII: Displays for Defense Applications, Proc. SPIE 4022, 378-389 (2000); David G. Curry, Gary Martinsen, and Darrel G. Hopper, "Capability of the human visual system," in Cockpit Displays X, Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 5080, 58-69 (2003).
2. Darrel G. Hopper, Hextomegapixel Aerospace Cockpit Displays, in Countering the Directed Energy Threat: Are Closed Cockpits the Ultimate Answer?, NATO Research and Technology Organization Proceedings 30, pages 11-1 to 11-13 (2000).
3. Darrel G. Hopper, "Examining Night Vision Capabilities Across the Air Force," Presentation at Worldwide Business Research (WBR) Night Vision Summit and Soldier Technology USA 2008, The Premier North American Soldier Modernization Conference, in Arlington VA, 14-16 Jan (2008).
4. Kopin Awarded U.S. Military Program to Develop World's Highest Resolution Microdisplay, $3.1M/3-yr contract awarded December 2008 to develop a miniature active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) with 2048x2048 monochrome pixel resolution in a 0.99-in. form factor. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=93548&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1231990&highlight= (accessed 1 March 2009).
5. Microdisplays based on eMagin's active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) approach with 800x600 11.1-um color triad pixels may indicate fabrication potential enabling potential 2400x1800 4-um green pixels device with an 8x8x6.6 mm viewing area and 19.8x15.2x5.0 mm (0.44-in form factor) mechanical dimension, http://www.emagin.com/products/OLEDMD/OLED_microdisplays.php (accessed 1 March 2009).
KEYWORDS: Microdisplay, HMD, ultrahigh definition, spatial image resolution, dynamic range, field-of-view, angular visual acuity, AMLCD, AMOLED, LCOS, Q-Sight
AF093-023 TITLE: Kinetic Power Technologies for the Dismounted Warrior
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Materials/Processes
OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative concepts for electrical power generation using body worn systems for the dismounted warrior in the field.
DESCRIPTION: Dismounted warriors must carry electrical power in the form of batteries, fuel cells, or electrical harvesting devices to enable field operations away from reliable electrical power sources. Electrical/electronic tools carried by the dismounted warrior may include a computer, a head mounted display (for more convenient viewing of the computer display), short range radios, satellite communication radios, global positioning system (GPS) receivers, laser range finders, laser designator systems (to mark a target for laser guided weapon delivery), friendly force identification systems, physiological monitoring systems, micro unmanned air vehicle systems, night vision systems, and electrically heated clothing (for cold weather operations). One factor in limiting mission time is the amount of electrical power the warrior can carry. Planned mission times vary from a few minutes to many days in duration. Missions can be extended beyond the planned duration by varying battlefield conditions. Currently either disposable or rechargeable batteries are the preferred power source for many of the devices. All batteries are typically removed from the battle mission area to minimize evidence of operational tactics and avoid environmental contamination.
New sources of electrical energy could be utilized by the dismounted warrior to lighten the load of the dismounted warrior by reducing the number of batteries required. If enough electrical power can be harvested, then battery life could be eliminated as a mission limiting factor. For this SBIR, the Air Force is interested in investigating potential sources of electrical power such as fabrics or mechanical systems which could harvest power from the kinetic motions of the dismounted warrior or from physical phenomena present in the dismounted warrior's environment.
PHASE I: Develop innovative concepts for harvesting kinetic power from a dismounted warrior which could be stored in typical Air Force energy storage devices (i.e. BA-5590 batteries).
PHASE II: Validate the solution(s) identified in Phase I to include modeling, testing, prototypes, and initial operational assessment with dismounted warrior equipment (i.e. wearable computer technologies and radio systems).
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: This technology could be used by dismounted warriors of other services (i.e. Army Rangers, Navy Seals).
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercial application: Anyone who carries electronic devices (i.e. portable computer, cell phones, portable music devices, two-way radios.)
REFERENCES:
1. Dr. Z-Y Cheng, "Biomechanical Energy Conversion", unpublished presentation, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, Auburn University
2. http://www.itnews.com.au/News/64125,csiro-electrical-shirt-to-give-soldiers-a-buzz-on-the-battlefield.aspx
3. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,241561,00.html
4. http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/19777/?a=f
KEYWORDS: Dismounted power, body power, kinetic energy, power harvesting
AF093-025 TITLE: Visualization of Cross-Domain C2ISR Operations
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Human Systems
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop visualization algorithms and methods for coordinated planning and execution of complex cross-domain Command and Control (C2) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
DESCRIPTION: Human factors and display algorithms are needed to provide planners and commanders with flexible and understandable views of coordinated Command and Control (C2) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. There is no current way to visualize planning, operations, retasking, etc. that coordinates information from operations and intelligence sources and across warfighting domains.
The commanders of the 21st Century must effectively deliver air, space and cyberspace effects across the full range of military operations and spectrum of conflict in a joint and combined environment. As the Air Force continues to implement the Component Numbered Air Force (C-NAF) organizational structure and distributed operations concepts, fewer AOC functions will be forward deployed. Other equipment, manpower and functions are expected to be centralized at an operations support facility.
Geographically separated team members will need an extension of the user defined operational picture (UDOP) concept into a collaborative working space where they can generate shared understanding and synchronize collective C2 and ISR activities. These team members will need a decision centric team space which supports individual and group work flows and processes. The system should automatically gather and present desired information to the individual user according to predefined triggers. Individual team members will frame their input according to the role they play in the collaborative process, and then contribute applicable information to the shared decision centric visualization environment for a shared common representation.
A single tool is needed which serves the entire strategy, planning, operations and assessment cycle across all domains and allows for real-time replanning during execution. Operations during the execution phase require rapid response to unexpected events and replanning in real time. The current state of the art utilizes advanced planning algorithms to determine efficient routes and asset-target pairing; however, these provide insufficient flexibility for user input and constraints during execution. In addition, these systems do not provide awareness of other potentially available assets. Visualization and coordination of assets across all domains is a key to this research. Algorithms and visualization tools, including but not limited to geo-temporal visualization technologies, will be needed to assist planners in making best resource allocations and deconfliction of asset tasking.
Coordination of all actions in both time and space will be critical. For example, (1) it may be necessary to plan to affect adversary cyber assets for a very specific period of time while other operations are being conducted, (2) they may need to plan to conduct clandestine operations when adversary ISR assets are least effective due to weather or orbit locations/cycles, (3) they may need to plan missions based on availability and capability of our own ISR assets in order to foil adversary clandestine operations.
PHASE I: Define and evaluate strategies that demonstrate how data handling and operator aiding algorithms and visualizations can support situation awareness and decision-making for distributed, coordinated cross-domain strategy, planning, execution and assessments.
PHASE II: Construct a working prototype that demonstrates how data handling and operator aiding algorithms and visualizations can support situation awareness and decision-making for distributed, coordinated cross-domain strategy, planning, execution and assessments.
PHASE III:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Military applications include Air Operations Centers and other distributed command and control environments where allocation of assets and coordination of operations is critical.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Civilian applications include any activity where coordination of operations and allocation of assets is essential. This includes industry, crisis support or humanitarian support agencies.
REFERENCES:
1. David S. Alberts. Agility, Focus, and Convergence: The Future of Command and Control (OASD-NII, USA) THE INTERNATIONAL C2 JOURNAL Vol 1, No 1 | "The Future of C2"
2. Berndt Brehmer. Understanding the Functions of C2 Is the Key to Progress (Swedish National Defense College, SWE) THE INTERNATIONAL C2 JOURNAL Vol 1, No 1 | "The Future of C2"
3. Lt Col Nicole Blatt, USAF. The Command and Control Joint Integrating Concept (C2 JIC) "Spreading the Word." US Joint Forces Command, J-9. Briefing available at: http://www.dodccrp.org/events/11th_ICCRTS/html/presentations/Blatt_C2_JIC.pdf
KEYWORDS: Visualization, Human Factors, Planning, C2, ISR, C2ISR, Cross-Domain
AF093-026 TITLE: C2-ISR Capability-Need Pairing Framework to Support Resource-Task Pairing such as Sensing-Target Pairing and Weapon-Target Pairing
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Weapons
OBJECTIVE: A mapping framework that can support the Plan/Re-plan Mission activity in which resources are mapped to tasks based on the "needs" of the task and the "capabilities" of the resource.
DESCRIPTION: Within the Air Operations Center (AOC) and each of the Command and Control (C2) elements of the TACS, there are functional teams that focus on some aspect of planning and execution such as Master Air Attack Plan (MAAP), Air Tasking Order (ATO) Production, and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) Operations. Each of these teams may plan/re-plan missions by mapping available resources to achieve desired effects by fulfilling requested tasks at a certain time and location. Today, this mapping is performed by various domain-specific mission planners experienced in weapon-target pairing or sensor-target pairing, etc. As we acquire more multi-role aircraft (i.e., that are capable of performing multiple types of tasks (e.g., direct attack and reconnaissance)), capturing the domain-specific knowledge of resource capabilities and task needs and how they may be mapped will enable teams of planners to collaboratively plan missions that span these domains, leveraging all the capabilities of available resources.
The contractor will design a mapping framework that can support the Plan/Re-plan Mission activity in which resources are mapped to tasks based on the "needs" associated with the type of task and the "capabilities" associated with the type of resource. This framework will capture and integrate current domain-specific knowledge, be easily updated with new knowledge and requirements, present optimal and alternative resource allocation plans and support real time replanning. The framework must support interaction with multiple operators for collaboration and support operator queries and "what if" analyses. It must be scalable in time and space to support short-and long-term planning and tactical to operational to strategic planning.
The framework should be generic to accommodate various resource types. The framework should provide the capability to identify types of "resources" such as aircraft or unmanned air vehicles, etc., (potentially as configured with configuration items such as sensors or weapons), and capture (or create) the association between these resources and their "capabilities". In addition, the framework should provide the capability to identify "types of mission tasks" and the "needs" associated with these task types. The contractor is encouraged to collaborate with the Air Operations Community of Interest to develop schemas for sharing "resources" and "types of mission tasks", "needs", and "capabilities". The framework should enable sharing of the information via information services.
The framework will enable "learning" the associations between capability and needs based on how planners map resources to tasks using existing planning tools such as Master Air Attack Planning Toolkit. The SBIR contractor is encouraged to create innovative learning techniques. The framework should include the ability for users to validate the associations that have been "learned" - thus building the trust of the users. Finally, the framework should provide suggested resource-task mapping based on capability-need mappings that have been learned and potentially validated...another opportunity for innovative techniques. Given one or more tasks to be performed, the framework should provide a service to suggest resources that can be assigned to the mission to accomplish these tasks.
PHASE I: Define and evaluate strategies for creating a framework to express Mission Needs, Resource Capabilities, and Capabilities associated with Needs. Address capture of user knowledge through planning activities using current systems and show how user knowledge can be used for Resource-Task pairing.
PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate a prototype system in a realistic environment. Conduct testing to prove effectiveness of the mapping framework to acquire knowledge based on mapping decisions made by planners and apply that knowledge in the suggestion of Resource-Task pairings that spans domains.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Air Operations planning and resource allocation.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Any activity where asset capabilities must be matched to mission needs. This includes industry, crisis support or humanitarian support agencies.
REFERENCES:
1. AO COI Collaboration Site. The AO COI collaboration site is located at:
https://partners.mitre.org/sites/ao_coi/default.aspx
You can apply for an account using the following procedures: Request an account at: https://partners.mitre.org/accountsetup/new/default.html. Complete the simple request form and you should have access in a few days. Please use edkera@mitre.org as the person inviting you and Air Operations Community of Interest as the name of the community your are joining. Please note that currently, the AO COI Collaboration Site is limited to U.S. Citizens. Account Management Web Page (for password help and management): https://partners.mitre.org/useraccounts/logon.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fuseraccounts%2fdefault.aspx
2. AO COI Mailing List -- Subscribe to this list to receive AO COI meeting announcements. * TO JOIN THE LIST * Write to LISTSERV@LISTS.MITRE.ORG and, in the text of your message (not the subject line), write: SUBSCRIBE AIR-OPERATIONS-COI-LIST
3. Simon, H. (1956) "Rational Choice and the Structure of the Environment," Psychological Review, Vol. 63, pages 129-138.
4. David S. Alberts. Agility, Focus, and Convergence: The Future of Command and Control (OASD-NII, USA) THE INTERNATIONAL C2 JOURNAL Vol 1, No 1 | "The Future of C2"
KEYWORDS: Weapon-Target, Sensor-Target, Pairing, Mission, Planning, command and control
AF093-027 TITLE: Voice-Interactive Training Environment for Tactical Exercise Familiarization
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Human Systems
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Explore development of a high fidelity, voice-enabled environment for familiarizing participants to participate in major tactical exercises.
DESCRIPTION: Over the past eight years, there has been a significant increase in the number of non-US air force participants in the premier tactical exercise known as Red Flag. Red Flag exercises, which occur at Nellis AFB, NV and Eielson AFB, AK several times each year, involve two weeks of live flight integrated combat operations. A goal of each exercise is to better integrate USAF flight operations with those of other services and nations. There are a number of critical safety-of-flight considerations as well as a variety of training rules and rules of engagement for each exercise. These must be trained and applied during the event to ensure a safe and valid combat-like environment. With the involvement of a greater variety of multination players, it has become increasingly important to provide specific guidance and spin-up to these players prior to their arrival at the exercise location, and certify that the rules and regulations are understood and can be followed. USAF squadrons have historically been tasked to deploy to the participating nations to help them prepare with actual live flying at the host nation and interaction amongst USAF and national participants. The costs to do these familiarization visits and flights, while great opportunities for information exchanges, are expensive and demanding at a time when US forces are committed to several theaters around the world and flying hours are a precious commodity needed for home base training. Our goal in this topic is to develop a high fidelity integrated environment to help familiarize exercise participants with air traffic procedures, tactical airspace operations, communication standards, and rules of engagement of the exercise in advance of their exercise participation. The following capabilities of the environment are desired:
(1) accurate representation of the exercise environment, players and their general capabilities, air tasking orders and scenarios developed according to exercise objectives;
(2) special instructions;
(3) flying rules to include noise sensitive and no-fly areas;
(4) communications protocols and FAA and USAF-approved pilot/controller terminology used to control air traffic and weapons employment;
(5) and appropriate timelines and locations for taxi, takeoff, ingress, marshal, push, execution, egress, refuel and returning to base.
While many of the component technologies and tools exist in current state-of the-art applications, a critical challenge for this effort is to bring research and applications together in an integrated and dynamic training environment that supports the objectives of this topic. The enabling concept here is the integration, extension, refinement, and eventual validation of the components, their integration, and the functionality of the integrated training environment. Integrating voice-enabled agents, aircraft models, and developing plug-ins to permit other entities both in the air and on the ground to support the training, are critical activities in this effort. Examples of these other entities include friendly forces, adversary forces, non-participating civil air traffic, Nellis air traffic control, and Nellis Range control using Nellis Test & Training Range (NTTR) and Class B airspace rules and communications protocols. For Red Flag Alaska, the same requirements would apply for the operating bases and the Pacific-Alaska Range Complex IFR/VFR traffic procedures and communications protocols. The integrated environment needs to be easily authorable and updateable in a PC-based architecture operated as a stand-alone trainer or networked to other players from the nation to permit them to work through their package operations realistically and to actually "fly" them out in a spatially, temporally, and visually accurate IFR and VFR environment which reinforces procedural and visual departure, recovery, and marshalling reference points used in Red Flag exercises. Each participating nation would acquire the environment and as part of the planning documents and tools provided to each nation for preparation, would get a set of files for scenarios specific to the Red Flag objectives inclusive of flying timelines, communication standards, and constraints envisioned for the actual exercise.
PHASE I: This phase will identify content for the development effort. In addition, Phase I will develop a proof-of-concept desktop exemplar of the training and rehearsal concept to be fully developed in the Phase II effort.
PHASE II: Prioritize missions for scenario and content development. Develop, and evaluate the scenarios in the environment for Red Flag familiarization and spin-up training rehearsal for Red Flag exercises in NV and AK. Evaluations will quantify training effectiveness and mission readiness enhancement resulting from the environment. Training transfer to live Red Flag exercises will be assessed.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Provides a uniquely capable and cost-effective training and rehearsal capability that can be included as part of a broader continuum of live and virtual training and rehearsal.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The results of this effort have high value for commercialization as the scenarios represent a complex and difficult activity.
REFERENCES:
1. Bradley, D. R., & Abelson, S. B. Desktop flight simulators: Simulation fidelity and pilot performance. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 27(2), 152-159. (1995).
2. Burgeson, J.C., et al., Natural effects in military models and simulations: Part III Analysis of requirements versus capabilities. Report No., STC-TR-2970, PL-TR-96-2039, (AD-A317 289), 48 p., Aug. (1996).
3. Defense Modeling and Simulation Office homepage: www.dmso.mil
4. Clarke, T. L., ED. Distributed interactive simulation systems for simulation and training in the aerospace environment. Proceedings of the Conference, Orlando, Fl, Apr 19-20, 1995. Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (Critical Reviews of Optical Science and Technology, vol. CR 58) 338p.
5. Mattoon, J. S. Designing instructional
simulations: Effects of instructional control and type of training task on
developing display-interpretation skills. The International Journal of Aviation
Psychology, 4(3), 189-209. (1994).
6. Additional information from TPOC in response to FAQs for Topic AF093-027. (30 sets of Q&A)
KEYWORDS: radio procedures trainer, intelligent instructional systems, flight visualization, flight training, desktop flight training
AF093-028 TITLE: Network-Centric Supervisory Control of Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems, Human Systems
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop decision aiding algorithms and their respective/collective intuitive interface depictions for assisting an operator in monitoring and controlling multiple UAVs.
DESCRIPTION: Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operations in theater often contain many types of UAVs which interface with various Ground Control Stations (e.g., Launch and Recovery Element (LRE), Mission Control Element (MCE)), and Air Operational Centers (AOC). UAV systems currently in theater include everything from the Predator and Global Hawk to small and micro UAVs. Handoff of UAV control to one of these UAS components often occurs for ingress to and egress from a region of interest. The ability of one operator to exert supervisory control over one or many UAVs enables economies of scale in operational efficiency, air asset utilization, and coordination of UAVs within the battlespace. This is one of the primary goals of UAS interoperability. Regardless of vehicle platform, the ability to monitor and control a single UAV involves the processing and filtering of vast amounts of network-centric data from the Global Information Grid (GIG) in relation to the UAV's current route, area of interest, and mission goal(s). Additionally, the cognitive demands associated with this task are exacerbated when monitoring and control are extended to multiple UAVs. An added layer of complexity involves cross-platform interoperability. To support the goals of interoperability, the NATO STANAG 4586 was designed to provide a common message format for multiple UAV platforms. However, this STANAG is limited in that it provides a methodology to communicate information but it does not perform the underlying work to determine what information needs to be transmitted and how it should be portrayed. What is needed are decision aids and their associated operator interfaces that are key to determining what information needs to be presented to the operator (machine to human communication) as well as the various heterogeneous UAV platforms (machine to machine communication). Currently, no composite technologies exist to address the coordination, monitoring, and control of multiple UAVs for mission execution and Course of Actions (COA). To perform this task successfully, operators need decision aids based on advanced reasoning and processing algorithms to assist a supervising operator in the allocation of mission tasks across a set of UAVs under his/her immediate control. These aids should organize net-centric data from multiple C2 sources to enable the supervisor to coordinate and prioritize tasks. Intuitive interfaces are needed to accurately portray decision aid outcomes. These interfaces should also represent a shared vocabulary for the understanding and meaning of entities on the battlefield in relation to the UAV's objectives. We seek novel decision aids which will combine pertinent information for multiple heterogeneous UAVs in meaningful ways while filtering out unnecessary data. Complimentary to the decision aids are their respective/collective intuitive interface depictions for assisting an operator in monitoring and controlling multiple UAVs.
PHASE I: Develop and design innovative concepts and algorithms with advanced reasoning. Identify critical technological challenges and design multiple UAV C2 architectures. Perform a risk reduction software demonstration. Develop metrics by which to evaluate the display design concepts and algorithms.
PHASE II: Implement an application service and toolset for multi-UAS control in a research control station provided by AFRL for use in human-in-the-loop evaluations. Develop scenarios for demonstrations of the developed technology. Develop a plan for integration / adaptation into the Global Information Grid.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Applications to DoD multiple UAS Command and Control operations and persistent Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Border Patrol and Emergency first responders.
REFERENCES:
1. Department of Defense. Network-Centric Warfare. Washington, DC: Director, Force Transformation, OSD, 2004.
2. Cummings, M. L., A. S. Brzezinski, and J. D. Lee. "The Impact of Intelligent Aiding for Multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Schedule Management." IEEE Intelligent Systems: Special issue on Interacting with Autonomy 22 (2007): 52-59.
3. Osborn, Kris. "DoD To Set UAV Standards by Summer." Defense News 19 Jan. 2009. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3907656>.
KEYWORDS: Network-centric, cognitive workload reduction, multi-UAV, operator interfaces, supervisory control, Intelligent Algorithms, Advanced Reasoning, Interoperability
AF093-029 TITLE: Short Pulse Radio Frequency (RF) Field Measurement System
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Biomedical, Sensors
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop a field transportable measurement system to characterize electric and magnetic field strength from short pulse RF emitters
DESCRIPTION: Short pulsed RF sources are increasingly being developed for counter electronics, imaging, and medical applications.[Campbell et al, James et al] Sources with pulse widths as short as a nanosecond are becoming readily commercially available with development systems available with pulse widths as short as 100 picoseconds. Measurement of field strengths from these systems is a requirement for ensuring safety of operators, bystanders, and persons associated with the target zone. [Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES)]. Current field portable measurement systems are not able to measure peak electric or magnetic field strength for fields with short pulse width and high peak power.
Scientists, researchers, and medical support personnel require field portable measurement systems with capability to measure RF pulses with frequency components from 3 kHz to 100 GHz. The system should be able to measure peak field strengths of 2 MV/m or 5 kA/m, pulse widths as short as 100 picoseconds, and capable of real time performance to capture single pulse or non-periodic waveforms. The probes should be non-perturbing of the RF field so they can be used for high resolution dosimetry over the volume of small animal test subjects. The associated electronics should be capable of multiple input channels so an array of detectors can be used if high field gradients are expected as in near field scenarios. The devices should be rugged, field transportable, and capable of being shipped by standard shipping companies.
The design should utilize non-perturbing probes so near field measurements can be made without significantly changing the field pattern. A breadboard system should be demonstrated as proof that development of the system is feasible.
PHASE I: Determine the feasibility and the design of a measurement system that can measure pulsed RF with frequency components from 3 kHz to 100 GHz, peak electric field strengths up to 2 MV/m or 5 kA/m, and pulse widths as short as 100 picoseconds.
PHASE II: Develop, demonstrate, and validate an operational measurement system that was designed during Phase I.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Air Force installations are required to measure RF field strengths for comparison to safety standards. The Short Pulse Radio Frequency (RF) Field Measurement System, will meet this requirement.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Can be used by bioeffects researchers, RF engineers, and medical support personnel to characterize field strengths from very short pulse emitters.
REFERENCES:
1. Campbell, D., Harper, J., Natham, V., Xiao, F., Sundararajan, R.; "A Compact High Voltage Nanosecond Pulse Generator" Proc. ESA Annual Meeting on Electrostatics, 2008
2. James, R., Rinehart, H., Singh, H., Creedon, J.; "Compact, High Voltage modulator for Direct Radiation of Ultrawideband RF Pulses", SPIE Vol 1631 Ultrawideband Radar, 1992
3. Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) (SCC39), IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz, IEEE Std C95.1-2005, Oct 2005
KEYWORDS: Pulsed Radio Frequency Radiation, Directed Energy, Radio Frequency Radiation, Dosimetry
AF093-030 TITLE: Automated Analysis and Classification of Anomalous 3-D Human Shapes and Hostile Actions
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Human Systems
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop software tools to achieve automated classification of anomalous 3-D human shapes and hostile actions from 3-D shape and motion data.
DESCRIPTION: Recently, there has been an increased need for persistent surveillance to detect terrorist activities both in populated urban environments and remote terrains. Monitoring humans and interpreting their behaviors is a particularly important part of effectively detecting suspicious and hostile activities and human-borne threats. Sensor development for persistent surveillance has grown exponentially, but the cognitive burden of processing and analyzing sensor information is overwhelming. To assist the decision-making operators, software automation of hostile behavior detection and classification will be critical for the effectiveness of surveillance operations. With the advancement of computer vision technologies, significant progress has been made to automatically detect and track overall human movements and basic human activities using 2-D video surveillance systems. However, much still remains to be done in the areas of system robustness as well as automated understanding of individual human behaviors. This is partially due to the limitations inherent in 2-D surveillance data, such as motion ambiguity, self-occlusion, viewing angle, and other input variance in an unstructured environment. Emerging 3-D sensors and virtual models provide potential solutions to these problems. Furthermore, working in the 3-D domain allows easy integration of different modalities of data, such as body shape and motion. Because of the increase in content richness, this integrated multi-modality 3-D approach will better address the challenge of behavior and intent recognition. In anticipation of the coming availability of 3-D technologies, AFRL seeks to develop innovative software that works directly on integrated 3-D data or models to automatically recognize and classify anomalous 3-D human shapes and hostile actions for intent prediction. The types of anomalous 3-D human shapes and hostile actions under consideration may include, but are not limited to: carrying weapons, backpacks, or concealed explosives; disguising gender appearance; acting in irregular postures such as digging, or any other abnormal behaviors given the surrounding context. The types of 3-D data for this effort may include: 3-D laser scans, motion captures, motion-synchronized volumetric animations, and 3-D camera images, etc. The overall effectiveness of the software tool will be demonstrated through laboratory experiments simulating some of the anomalous shapes and actions mentioned above. Although the software tool will not be expected to cover every conceivable anomalous human shape and hostile action, it is important that the software has the architecture, data structure, and interface design to provide scalability for future extensions of additional irregularities and integration with other data modalities. In addition, the software should demonstrate the capability of handling large volumes of high-dimensional dynamic data and efficient statistical learning and classification.
PHASE I: Develop technology and software concepts for automated analysis and classification of anomalous 3-D human shapes and hostile actions. Demonstrate an understanding of the challenges behind human-centric surveillance, the innovation of the concepts, and the ability to design and implement the technology through proof of concept.
PHASE II: Develop all aspects of the technology into a fully functional prototype software tool. Integrate all components into the prototype via a user-friendly GUI. Validate the software's effectiveness and accuracy through laboratory experiments.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS:
MILITARY APPLICATION: The technology can be integrated into surveillance networks to allow persistent, unmanned monitoring of humans and automatically alert suspicious actions and behaviors to security personnel.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The technology provides homeland security operations a new capability of persistent unmanned monitoring in points of entry, checkpoints, and other critical security infrastructures. It also has potential applications in intelligent robots.
REFERENCES:
1. de Aguiar, E., Stoll, C., Theobalt, C., Ahmed, N., Seidel, HP, Thrun, S., Performance capture from sparse multi-view video, ACM Transactions on Graphics, 2008
2. Carnegie Mellon University Motion Capture Database, http://mocap.cs.cmu.edu/
3. Dee, H. M. and Velastin, S. A., How close are we to solving the problem of automated visual surveillance? A review of real-world surveillance, scientific progress and evaluative mechanisms, Journal of Machine Vision and Applications, Volume 19, pp. 329-343, 2008
4. Robinette, K., Blackwell, S., Daanen, H., Fleming, S., Boehmer, M., Brill, T., Hoeferlin, D., and Burnsides, D., Civilian American and European Surface Anthropometry Resource (CAESAR), Final Report, Volume I: Summary, Technical Report AFRL-HE-WP-TR-2002-0169, National Technical Information Service Accession No. ADA406704, United States Air Force Research Laboratory, 2002
KEYWORDS: Computer Vision, Motion Analysis, Anthropometry, Patterson Recognition, Action Recognition, Data Mining, Digital Human Modeling
AF093-031 TITLE: Intuitive Interfaces for "Layered Sensing"
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Battlespace, Human Systems
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
TOPIC: Intuitive Interfaces for "Layered Sensing"
OBJECTIVE:
To conduct exploratory development leading to the conceptual design, evaluation and refinement of intuitive man-machine interfaces for "Layered Sensing."
DESCRIPTION:
The Air Force Research Laboratory has adopted the Layered Sensing (LS) concept as an overarching approach toward achieving universal battlespace awareness. While this construct is framed in the context of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, it has broader implications with regard to "systems of systems" approaches in general. It is generally accepted that the human interaction with modern complex systems is dominated by the cognitive component of the tasks being accomplished. Little is understood, however, about these demands in a Layered Sensing environment. Theory-driven, cognitive approaches to understanding these implications are needed to support the design of effective interfaces. As one example, because of the complexity of the man-machine interaction implicit in Layered Sensing, operator-aiding technologies will probably be required in order to ameliorate data overload. Hence, trust in automation theory may be required to be applied in order to establish operator confidence in the automated functions. Similarly, research is required to better understand the operator-automation interactions in order to design the training support system content and desired cognitive competency outcomes of training. Cognitive hierarchy theory may provide insight into understanding the implications of the LS concept. Again, little is understood regarding how the LS approach will provide or support the information management capabilities required to achieve battlespace understanding (from alphanumerics and raw imagery/signals).
The complexity of the data exploitation and information extraction tasks to be supported by the LS concept may well be increased when it is applied in the context of irregular warfare where data are less certain and adversary intent is less obvious. Similarly, complexity may increase in the cognitive (as opposed to the physical or information) domains of warfighting.
A cognitive systems engineering-based research approach to the design of the user interface with the LS construct is required. Some of the research areas to be addressed include the depiction of uncertainty, the depiction of risk associated with alternative kinetic and non-kinetic based courses of action, and the depiction of friendly and adversary capabilities. Further research challenge is represented by interactions between these layers. Measures of effectiveness (MOEs) are required which are capability-based and which are traceable to the cognitive demands. Interface conceptual designs must be derived from sound cognitive engineering principles and must be appropriate the specific decision making echelons.
PHASE I:
Conduct cognitive systems engineering research to identify human-machine interface requirements and conceptual design approaches appropriate to the cognitive demands of decision makers within a "Layered Sensing" operational environment.
PHASE II:
Develop and demonstrate human-machine interfaces to support the planning, monitoring, assessment and adjustment of ISR collections. Conduct an example of capability evaluation by applying appropriate capability-based measures of effectiveness.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: This research is highly feasible especially to the military intelligence community.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: This research has extremely important commercial applications in the security and homeland defense industries.
REFERENCES: 1. Air Force Doctrine Document (AFDD) 2-9. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations. July 17, 2007
http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/service_pubs/afdd2_9.pdf
2. LAYERED SENSING: Its Definition, Attributes, and Guiding Principles for AFRL Strategic Technology Development http://www.wpafb.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-080820-005.pdf
3. Irregular Warfare (IW): Joint Operating Concept (JOC), Version 1.0, 11 September 2007 http://www.dtic.mil/futurejointwarfare/concepts/iw_joc1_0.pdf
4. Cognitive Systems Engineering (Definition)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_engineering
5. Cognitive Hierarchy (Definition)
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/6-0/appb.htm
KEYWORDS: cognitive systems engineering, human-computer interface, measures of effectiveness, situational awareness, irregular warefare, trust in automation, cognitive hierarchy
AF093-033 TITLE: Countering Cyber Terrorism through Internet Media
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Human Systems
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: To assess blog/internet media behavior of terrorists and measure respondent behavior.
DESCRIPTION:
Many cultures use religious doctrine out of context as a methodology to sway personal opinion and support terrorist actions. We know that terrorist/extremist actions are used to incite fear in people to force them into willing or unwilling support. We also know that terrorists are good at bringing people into their philosophical fold by playing on their feelings of inadequacy in a multicultural environment, i.e. Muslims living in Western countries. They use whatever means is at their disposal to manipulate people into a set of beliefs. One of these means is via utilization of the internet. This aspect of cyber terrorism can be defined as a methodology to recruit persons to a belief or ideology that gives them justification for their terrorist actions. Previous research in this area has not considered measures of effectiveness relative to the use of the internet and other media to recruit supporters.
We cannot research the entirety of terrorist methods of behavioral manipulations in this one project but we can portion off one concept of influence, that being the cyber world of the internet. The intent of this research project is to identify Web site media''s role in influencing terrorist behavior. Terrorist groups use the internet to create blogs and other types of Web sites in their recruitment campaigns. The development of these Web sites profess group propaganda integrating audio-visual and phraseology (speech acts) intensified by religious rhetoric.
The study will use an established baseline of Web sites that have been identified as extremist Web sites and parse out readily available demographic information (gender, ethnicity, country, etc.). The information sought is what is given freely on the "open" internet. One other aspect of the research is to measure the effectiveness of the Web sites to drawing potential supporters by analyzing "open" internet site responses in the public domain. Use of analytical software tools using intelligent schemas to parse data is necessary.
This effort will focus on media impacts on terrorist activities in the following ways:
- Assess the psychological, social, and cultural norms through the expertise of cultural professionals within specific cultures.
-Develop measures that will validate behavioral changes relative to a communication model.
-Determine through analysis if cyber recruiting can determine terrorist movements and predict attacks.
PHASE I: Identify and define behavioral and communication models used in marketing and advertising within cultures. Design a metric of terrorist audio/visual Web site development commonalities that will help determine potential terrorist methodologies for recruiting supporters. Design analytical software tools using intelligent schemas to parse data. Proof of concept software tool with data analysis and quantitative and qualitative measures is required.
PHASE II: Using the results from Phase I; model, design, develop, demonstrate and validate fully functional software tool(s) with quantitative measures of data.
PHASE III /DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Application is applicable to the intelligence, security i.e. psychological operations, influence operations, counter insurgency, cultural communications.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercialization of this research is applicable to the Department of State, business intelligence and security programs, as well as the Department of Homeland Security. The marketing research models into the Islamic and Muslim communities could also provide insight into commercial advertising and marketing campaigns.
REFERENCES:
1. Bunt, Gary R. 2009. iMuslims, Rewiring the House of Islam. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.
2. Berman, K.A., and J.L. Paul. 2002. Verifiable Broadcasting and Gossiping in Communication networks. Discrete Applied Mathematics 118: 293-98.
3. Chintagunat, P., and S. Gupta. 1994. On Using Demographic Variables to Determine Segment Membership in Logit Mixture Models. Journal of Marketing Research 31:128-36.
4. Jones, J., and F. Zufryden. 1980. Adding Explanatory Variables to a Consumer Purchase Behavior Model: An Exploratory Study. Journal of Marketing Research 17:323-34.
5. Landahl, H.H. 1953. On the Spread of Information with Time and Distance. Bulletin of Mathematical Biophysics 15: 367-81.
6. Additional Information provided by TPOC.
KEYWORDS: Information Ops, InfluenceOps, marketing, cultural, behavior, modeling, cyber terrorism, quantitative analysis
AF093-034 TITLE: Innovative Methods for Increasing Data Link Capability
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative approaches to deliver airborne Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensor data to air and ground users without increasing bandwidth.
DESCRIPTION: The continued growth in the number of ISR Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) and associated sensors are taxing the capabilities of current data links and the available Radio-Frequency (RF) Bandwidth. Platform sensor suites are migrating towards high definition cameras, multispectral suites, and collaborative collection with other embedded and external sensors. These new sensors and platforms with multiple sensors are producing data rates which exceed the data rate capacity of the current UAS beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) and line-of-sight (LOS) data links. The RF Bandwidth required as the logical trade-off for increasing data link data rates is also becoming a significant limiting factor. These limitations impact the number of platforms and sensors that can operate in a given area per a given time.
The USAF seeks to increase the capability of UASs to transport ISR data from the sensor to the user with low latency, while minimizing size, weight, and power (SWaP) impacts to the platform, and without increasing the bandwidth.
The USAF is not having a problem with one or a few specific technical areas from all of the examples mentioned in the following paragraphs. Nor are they having a single or limited problem with techniques or a small part of the communications methods spectrum from all of the examples listed in the following paragraphs. The problems and issues are multi-faceted and complex and solutions will require innovative ideas that may address one or more aspects. The USAF is open to all possible solutions from a focused solution to a broad solution as long as the offerer considers the entire solution set and can show how and where they fit and what benefits they offer as well as they limitations imposed by any design trades that they make.
The effort should focus on sensor data provided to the onboard data link for communication to both air and ground sites. The solutions offered can include but are not limited to, advanced data compression techniques, on-board data post processing prior to transmission, data link waveforms, Forward Error Correction techniques, dynamic bandwidth allocation, foveal /BW agile sensors, etc. A solution approach may synergistically integrate these techniques to achieve the desired outcome. Solutions which reduce the bandwidth required to deliver or transport ISR data are also of interest. Solutions need to be aware of SSWaP issues, especially for UASs and their impacts.
In their proposals, offerers should demonstrate sufficient knowledge and skill in all facets of digital communication including phase modulation, error correction techniques, spectral efficiencies and spectral filtering, link budgets, data and video compression as well as current hardware and software technologies used to implement data link communications because all of these issues contribute to an understanding of and influence the decisions about the possible solutions space. The proposals should demonstrate an understanding of the synergies and relationships of these issues to that solution trade space.
Examples and explanations of "state of the art" can be found in the reference documents. Offerers ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the "state of the art" will be used as a criteria in proposal evaluation.
Though the primary focus is ISR data throughput capabilities, all data types, in the military as well as the commercial realms, could benefit from the products and capabilities developed through this effort.
PHASE I: Develop and assess an approach that improves the capability to deliver various ISR data products to users, while respecting considerations of spectral occupancy, latency, and SWAP.
PHASE II: Further refine the approach. Demonstrate proof of concept. Build and deliver two prototype systems. Show that the prototypes meet the effort''''s design goals in a simulated operational environment.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Military applications include any air or ground-based system that uses RF transmitted data to generate ISR information, including manned and unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercial applications include air and ground-based systems that use RF transmitted data to generate situational awareness, including law enforcement, drug interdiction, and search and rescue applications as examples.
REFERENCES:
1. Bernard Sklar, "Digital Communications: Fundamentals and Applications, 2nd edition", Prentice Hall PTR, 2001 (ISBN 0130847887, 9780130847881)
2. L. Hanzo, P.J. Cehrriman, and J. Streit, "Video Compression and Communications, Second Edition", John Wiley and Sons, 2007.
3. Alister Burr, "Modulation and Coding for Wireless Communications", Prentice Hall, 2001.
KEYWORDS: Data Links, Band width, Compression, UAS, ISR, Data Links, Modulation, Forward Error Correction, Spectral Occupancy, Video encoding and compression, Synthetic Aperture RADAR encoding
AF093-035 TITLE: High Speed Digital Video on Legacy Aircraft Wiring
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Increase bandwidth throughput on existing aircraft wiring (signal or power, deterministic or non-deterministic). Provide high definition video capability to JHMCS, enable ultraresolution systems.
DESCRIPTION: Bandwidth on legacy aircraft does not permit planned avionics upgrades, but retrofitting with fiber optic or adding additional cables is absolutely NOT an option due to cost, depot time, or space, weight and power. Wired deterministic data on MIL-STD-1553B is 1 Mbps per bus, but needs to be orders of magnitude higher. Non-deterministic video cables were designed for low resolution sensors and displays, limiting upgrades planned for Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) and other programs. Troops and crew in cabins have low or, usually, no connectivity, limiting their situational awareness during ingress/egress and upon arriving at destinations. Innovative technologies need to be developed to dramatically increase (10x-to-1000X) aircraft data bandwidth throughput on installed, legacy wiring, cables, and via powerlines, to explore wireless links for cockpit & cabin uses, and to enable affordable digital avionics upgrades requiring the additional bandwidth, including cockpit controls & displays, imaging sensors, processors, software-waveform radios, and synthetic vision. Approaches are sought at both the threshold and objective levels. The JHMCS technology need represents a threshold for bandwidth throughput increase in this topic. The JHMCS helmet-mounted display (HMD) for legacy aircraft, could be upgraded to facilitate a change from a vector scan miniature cathode ray tube (CRT) to a raster scan miniature flat panel display (FPD). To utilize the digital video portion of a new alternate display interface being purchased for JHMCS under an electronics unit (EU) upgrade, aircraft wiring (cathode triax line connection) between the EU and the HMD wiring must support a 16 Mbps non-deterministic data rate. Some fighter platforms have good to marginal capability at a reduced bandwidth (12 Mbps) necessary to drive a future FPD, e.g. miniature active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD), image source solution with sufficient resolution. Sufficient FPD resolution currently comprises, for example, 1280 x 1024 pixel (SXGA) monochrome 1-bit images updated at 72 Hz sent with 8:1 compression/decompression (12 Mbps). Other legacy fighters, however, have insufficient capability with reduced bandwidths down to 8 Mbps. Without such an improved interface the quality of a displayed image may suffer dynamic degradation (blanked lines, blanked frames, or possibly no display at all) that scales with the density of the symbology. Threshold SXGA video capability is desired with growth in all platforms to at least 16 Mbps for the monochrome symbology currently shown, The technology must work on existing aircraft wiring between the EU in the avionics bay and the HMD cockpit interface unit (CU) in the cockpit, and be in the form of transceiver cards installed in the EU and CU. The technology should have the potential to expand towards objective higher bandwidths needed to enable color symbology, complex imagery, higher resolution (5 Mpx), and binocular systems. The effort should leverage commercial trends in signal encoding, microelectronics,multimedia and over coax and powerlines, and should build on prior research towards high speed MS1553B, to achieve over 100 Mbps over installed wiring.
PHASE I: A high speed interface design for installed wiring is to be designed for avionics that takes into account reliability & maintainability issues. A roadmap is required describing the threshold and objective performance anticipated from the proposed approach, with product spirals shown as off-ramps.
PHASE II: Prototype boards demonstrating the technology are to be demonstrated and delivered along with a revised roadmap for Phase III commercialization and transition. The Phase II prototypes should be sufficient to evaluate the potential to develop products to meet the needs for bandwidth growth in a range of military and civil applications. A logistics plan must be provided for the JHMCS application.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Military applications include all defense aircraft, battle tanks, and many shipboard electronics. An infrastructure accessible by defense integrators to obtain COTS-based interface boards is needed.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: High speed digital transceivers are dual use and it is anticipated that civil applications will be developed for video distribution markets including aircraft, trains, and homes/buildings.
REFERENCES:
1. Entropic c.LINK-270 chipsets and associated software for broadband multimedia distribution at 270 Mbps over installed/traditional coax (and, potentially other channels); data available at www.entropic.com (accessed 28 February 2009).
2. Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), www.mocalliance.org (accessed 28 February 2009).
3. Homeplug Powerline Alliance, multimedia up to 200 Mbps over powerlines, http://www.homeplug.org/products (accessed 28 February 2009).
4. Michael G. Hegarty, 'High Performance 1553," Proc. SPIE 5801, 97-104 (2005), available at www.spie.org.
5. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INTERFACE STANDARD, DIGITAL TIME DIVISION COMMAND/RESPONSE MULTIPLEX DATA BUS, MILSTD-001553B Notice 4 (15 January 1996); Changes 5 and 6 were canceled without replacement by Notice 7 (22 October 2008), http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/basic_profile.cfm?ident_number=275874 ; details on MIL-STD-1553B are available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIL-STD-1553 (updated 23 February 2009).
KEYWORDS: Bandwidth, legacy aircraft wiring, high speed interface, digital video, Broadband Multimedia Distribution, coax cable, triax line, twisted-pair, powerlines, stochastic signal processing, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), MIL-STD-1553B, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, JHMCS
AF093-036 TITLE: Automated Fiber Optic Interconnect Cleaning and Inspection Involving Aerospace Platforms
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems, Materials/Processes
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Establish and demonstrate novel automated fiber optic interconnect component inspection and cleaning capabilities.
DESCRIPTION: Many modern aircraft avionics suites employ fiber optic interconnects, which require cleaning and inspection any time a line replaceable unit (LRU) is removed or replaced. Aircraft availability requirements demand quick and accurate repairs in order to meet mission needs. High-velocity military aircraft maintenance, involving integrated combat surge operations, must not be held hostage by trial-and-error manual fiber optic cleaning processes involving intensive touch labor. Current avionic repair times are increased by more than 30 minutes per interface connection surface, due to lengthy manual cleaning and inspection processes. In addition to wasted repair time, fiber optic cleaning effectiveness and inspection require high levels of technician proficiency and training. Manual inspection and cleaning processes must be replaced with an integrated or automated approach that facilitates a reduction in cleaning and inspection cycle time to 5 minutes or less.
The goals of this project are developing and deploying a self-contained, agile, efficient, and reliable fiber optic interconnect maintenance support unit which can perform automated inspection and cleaning tasks. The unit must be of a design that supports use in isolated avionics bays and on bulkhead connectors, regardless of physical orientation and/or access constraints. The unit must also comply with explosive atmosphere, ground safety requirements and MIL-PRF-28800F. Demonstrated capabilities must support field and depot requirements and accommodate diverse interconnect configurations. Embedded maintenance unit inspection capabilities should possess the inherent ability to perform automated in-situ defect characterization, aligning the required cleaning task with actual physical condition, and readily assure competitive efficiency over existing manual hand-swab processes. The technology must support legacy and future aerospace platform fiber optic cable plants, be applicable to diverse commercial applications, and be agile enough to adjust to evolving fiber optic technology at the physical layer. The advocated investment is a joint collaboration, involving the Joint Fiber Optic Working Group (JFOWG)http://www.navair.navy.mil/jswag/.
PHASE I: Identify and model an ideal automated fiber optic interconnect cleaning and inspection capability aligned with installed combat avionics systems and associated maintenance approaches, emphasizing defect characterization, integrated performance, efficiency, touch labor reduction and packaging.
PHASE II: Demonstrate and qualify an automated fiber optic cable interconnect cleaning and inspection prototype capability packaged in a mobile self-contained unit. Required performance shall support field and depot maintenance applications, emphasizing cycle time and first-attempt performance metrics, and shall support diverse aerospace platform fiber optic avionics networks (legacy and emerging).
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Flight-critical and mission-critical air vehicle fiber optic interface components, including cable connectors, line replaceable unit connectors, and alternate munitions release equipment connectors.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: High-bandwidth civil communication networks, emerging passenger avionics architectures, embedded building networks, air traffic control network grids, and land based transportation network systems.
REFERENCES:
1. DOD-STD-1678, Standardized Fiber Optic Design Requirements
2. MIL-PRF-29504, General Specification for Removable Fiber Optic Connector/Termini
3. MIL-PRF-28800F, General Specification for Test Equipment for Use with Electrical and Electronic Equipment
4. MIL-STD-810F, Environment Test Methods for Aerospace and Ground Equipment
5. T.O. 1-1A-14-4, Installation and Testing Practices: Fiber Optic Cabling (AF)
KEYWORDS: fiber optic, inspection, avionics, characterization, cleaning, portable, automated, interconnect, network, inspection, in-situ, termini, ferule, defect, cross-cutter
AF093-038 TITLE: Enabling End User Computing Environments
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems
OBJECTIVE: Develop an End User Computing Environment that allows warfighters to aggregate content from multiple Department of Defense (DoD) sources using Web 2.0 technologies in a provably assured manner.
DESCRIPTION: Existing and new DoD systems are exposing more and more information via web service techniques and technologies. However, usage of these services has not extended much beyond the developer community as the technical skills and tools needed to invoke these services have remained "out of reach" for the average end user, and the certification and accreditation of such tools discourages and/or prevents the average end user from modifying the manner the information reaches them due to concerns regarding confidentiality, integrity and availability.
On the internet, similar services are widely available for users to "mash up" or combine in novel manners that meets their needs. If we are to provide similar functionality to the average end user of DoD systems, we must first ease the difficulty of the combinations of these tools while increasing the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of these services.
The first problem is starting to be resolved by the existence of user friendly tools that facilitate the creation of user created applications from content aggregated from multiple sources or vendors sometimes called "commercial mash-up techniques". These tools include examples such as Yahoo Pipes, Microsoft Popfly, mySpace, etc. These new tools allow "non-technical" users to leverage technologies such as Really Simple Syndication (RSS), Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Representational State Transfer (REST) services, and eXtensible Markup Language (XML) among others. These technologies are intended to produce new information spaces and web applications commonly known as "mash-ups". This portion of the problem space is becoming well described in the commercial world.
The second problem can be eased by exploring and proving the validity of methods to evaluate the risks of specific mash-ups to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying services. This challenge is the desired goal of this SBIR: to provide automatable, predictive tools that indicate threats to the assurance of critical DoD services prior to their utilization within the DoD Enterprise.
As this effort envisions the work to be available to the warfighter and the enterprise, such mash-ups should be based on DoD services, such as those found as parts of or within the DoD Metadata Registry (MDR), Global Combat Support System (GCSS), and/or Net Centric Enterprise Services (NCES). (Links to these can be found below.) Any of the various commercial aggregation or mash-up type capabilities (such as Yahoo Pipes, Microsoft Popfly, Mozilla Ubiquity, and/or the Google Mashup Editor, among other examples listed in the Wikipedia article linked to below) should at least in theory be amenable to similar approaches.
PHASE I: Develop architecture to evaluate confidentiality/integrity/availability of 1 or more commercial mash-up technique(s) in a multiple security domain environment
- Develop reference architecture report and/or limited prototype capability
- Identify Phase II requirements
PHASE II: Implement/extend demonstration. Minimum capabilities:
- Aggregate from standard web-based services, RSS, search engines, web content, email
- Ability to browse service info in various DoD registries (NCES, GCSS, MDR)
- Visual ("drag & drop") capabilities for constructing rules and mash-ups
- Resolve confidentiality, integrity, availability issues of proposed mash-up(s) within cross-domain.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Secure mash-ups allow sharing for ad hoc coalitions & disaster response. Soldiers and operators need confidence in the integrity of capabilities that can adapt to quickly changing missions and data.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Securing mash-ups allow for greater collaboration while still maintaining commercial security requirements (such as HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, privacy regulations, etc)
REFERENCES:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashup_(web_application_hybrid)
2. http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/
3. http://www.disa.mil/nces/
KEYWORDS: mash-ups, net-centric, SOA, authoritative source,aggregation,identity brokering,web services
AF093-041 TITLE: Non-cooperative Target Detection/Identification (ID)
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Air Platform, Information Systems, Weapons
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop evolutionary fusion algorithms to improve the ability to detect and positively identify Non-Cooperative Targets using multiple-source and multiple-intelligent (INT), un-like sensor data.
DESCRIPTION: A number of friendly fire incidents in recent military operations provide the justification for the need of a target detection and identification (ID) capability in both the command-and-control system and the weapon fire-control system. Rapid and reliable detection and ID of targets at maximum surveillance systems range and maximum weapon system range is a challenging problem. Cooperative techniques, such as identification Friend or Foe (IFF) are already operational in the field. Although friendly targets may be identified by these techniques, positive identification of hostile or neutral targets is not possible. This void may be filled by Non-Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR) techniques.
A lack of a friendly indication alone is never sufficient to engage a target, therefore (NCTR) technologies are essential to gaining a robust Combat Identification (CID) capability while reducing or preventing fratricide. NCTR technology speeds target acquisition timelines and can be used to make appropriate decisions about the type of target that has been detected and identified. NCTR functions are usually performed with no cooperation from the target concerned and in most cases the target is not aware that is being identified.
Air Force reconnaissance platforms, like AWACS, and JSTARS, and Air Force combat systems like the F-16, F-22, and F-35 have NCTR requirements for their sensor systems to identify threatening targets with high reliability beyond visual ranges in order to perform their full potential and to achieve high levels of operational effectiveness.
Long-range CID capabilities are considered to be essential for future combat systems. Based on current conflicts, future conflicts will most definitely be a combination of friendly, hostile and neutral targets. These targets could be air, ground, or naval vehicles with a mix of civil or military targets. Therefore, target recognition functions will have to be effective in different environments with a significant variety of targets.
A major emphasis by the Air Force is on the maturation of NCTR technology that will improve the ability to positively detect and identify surface or air threats from air platforms. Many of these technologies are under development which include 1) Laser Vision, an electro-optical imaging system that significantly increases ID ranges and includes the Laser Target Imaging Program (LTIP) as well as other Advanced Laser System (ALS) imaging technologies, 2) Radar Vision, an air-to-ground radar imaging technique to identify objects using their radar signatures; and 3) the High Range Resolution (HRR) program that uses radar signal processing to increase ID range and confidence. These senor technologies are in addition to those already fielded having the ability to capture and exploit multiple intelligent data to achieve CID. However, crucial to the success of any of this sensor technology is the availability of advanced and evolutionary algorithms to fuse the data collected from these un-like, multi-sensors/sources in order to positively detect and identify the non-cooperative targets.
PHASE I: Research state-of-the-art in NCTR algorithms. Identify multi-intelligent data sources for optimum NCTR. Develop prototype algorithms needed to fuse the multi-source data to improve NCTR capabilities.
PHASE II: Develop fusion algorithms to improve NCTR, using optimum multiple source/sensor data. Insure the algorithms can operate in a net-centric environment and be easily integrated within a service oriented architecture. Demonstrate these algorithms in an operationally representative scenario, provide measures of performance and evaluation results with final recommendations.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Hostile time-critical targets need to be detected/identified quickly, at long distance, day or night and under all weather conditions to increase combat effectiveness and reduce fratricide.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Civil systems will be able to benefit for policing the entry of illegal immigrants, smugglers or terrorists into a country, emergency response applications such as firefighting and EMT situations.
REFERENCES:
1. Introduction to Radar Target Recognition by Peter Tait
2. How to Develop a Robust Automatic Target Recognition Capability- Major Dane F. Fuller, Air Command And Staff College, Air University April 2008
3. Classification of the non-cooperative targets, Jozsef Rohacs, Mathematical Problems in Engineering , Aerospace and Sciences, June 25-27, 2008, University of Genoa, Italy
4. Innovative testbed for developing and assessing air-to-air non-cooperative target identification algorithms, Proc. SPIE Vol. 1699
5. Database generation for Non-Cooperative Air Target Identification - IEEE Technology Seminar on High Resolution Imaging and Target Classification, 2006
KEYWORDS: Non-Cooperative Target Recognition, combat identification, multi-sensor/multi-source data fusion, algorithms, fratricide, Non-Cooperative Target Recognition (NCTR), Non-Cooperative Target Identification (NCTI)
AF093-042 TITLE: Persistent Queries for Evolving Situational Awareness of Organization Entities
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems
OBJECTIVE: Investigate and recommend automated tools to search, aggregate, manage data and profile qualifications for IT solutions to reduce lead time for acquisition professionals in the Market Research Phase and Source Selection Phase of the acquisition cycle.
DESCRIPTION: Researching and aggregating data to assess an organizational entity is labor intensive. The current state of the art involves manual search, manual aggregation, and the data must be constantly refreshed. A new type of web application is needed that can continuously search for information sources, and aggregate and rank the results in a persistent database to provide an up-to-date profile of organizational entities. For instance, CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration), the Air Force System Engineering Process (SEP), ISO 9000 and related data can be used to profile the qualifications of Small Business and Large Business Contractors for implementing IT solutions. CMMI is a process improvement approach to provide guidance and help integrate separate organizational functions. The SEP process is a process that is more rigid than the CMMI, and ISO 9000 is a set of standards for quality management systems that monitors all key business processes, keeps records, and reviews output for defects or anomalies. This web application shall continuously monitor entities of interest, and intelligently alert users who are interested in tracking those entities. This requires a variety of new technical advances. Information must be harvested from multiple heterogeneous sources, and subsequently collated and filtered so that information about the entities of interest can be identified and consolidated. In particular, continuous monitoring requires that the application identify relevant changes in status over time. This requires understanding about which changes are relevant and significant, as opposed to irrelevant and insignificant data (i.e., noise). This will require the research and development of machine learning algorithms to autonomously and intelligently extract targeted data from information sources. High f-measure (the weighted harmonic mean of precision and recall) results (>95%) are necessary to ensure applicability to this domain. In effect, the key is to demonstrate situational awareness as it applies to the entities of interest. With respect to organizations implementing IT solutions, there are variety of types of data that must be collected and consolidated, such as relevant business licenses and CMMI capabilities. Intelligent processing is required to identify these capabilities and characterize an organization's changes over time. Identifying organizational structures at the lowest and the highest ends of the CMMI framework will streamline the acquisition strategy and market research process, and avoid government over-commitment and abandonment of processes during an emergency, quick-response situation.
PHASE I: Research and develop an innovative approach to meet the SBIR Topic requirements, and assess its feasibility. Develop the initial design for a prototype and demonstrate its application. A proof of concept is required to demonstrate feasibility of approach.
PHASE II: Develop the required technologies and prototype, per the Phase I design. Develop and demonstrate prototype tools and techniques for monitoring activities and trends of entities in domains of interest for Air Force users using real-world data supplied by the AFMC Small Business Office. A working prototype is required.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Rapid customization of monitoring activities and trends to a warfighters specific domain (Area of Responsibility), enabling more dynamic situation awareness throughout DoD entities.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Applications in the business intelligence area to continuously monitor initiatives from various sources, competitors'' pricing, background screening, and DoD contractors.
REFERENCES:
1. Tuchinda, R., Szekely, P., and Knoblock, C. A. 2008. Building Mashups by example. In Proceedings of the 13th international Conference on intelligent User interfaces (Gran Canaria, Spain, January 13 - 16, 2008). IUI ''08. ACM, New York, NY, 139-148.
2. Jansen, B. J., Spink, A., and Saracevic, T. 2000. Real life, real users, and real needs: a study and analysis of user queries on the web. Inf. Process. Manage. 36, 2 (Jan. 2000), 207-227.
3. Barabasi, Albert-Laszlo. "Linked: How Everything is Connected to Everything Else and What it Means for Business, Science, and Everyday Life," New York: Plume, 2003.
4. Watts, Duncan. "Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age." New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2003.
KEYWORDS: CMMI LEVEL, SYSTEM ENGINEERING PROCESS, ISO 9000, 9001, SMALL BUSINESS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE, INTELLIGENCE, PERSISTENT WEB QUERIES
AF093-043 TITLE: Mult-access Optical Communications
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Space Platforms
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative components and/or algorithms leading to improved satellite laser communications.
DESCRIPTION: The performance benefits of laser communications (as compared with RF communications) include increased channel capacity, reduced cross-channel interference, the elimination of cumbersome high-gain antennas, lower terminal SWAP (size, weight and power), and reduced LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) / LPD (Low Probability of Detection). One of the biggest challenges facing the military's ability to leverage satellite optical communications for warfighter support lies in the ability to link multiple UAV (Unmanned Airborne Vehicle) terminals to a GEO (geosynchronous Earth Orbit) satellite in order to relay AISR (Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) data to one or more ground stations for review by analysts. Challenges include achieving required performance, including pointing and tracking accuracy, data rate, acquisition time, reliability, SWAP, radiation tolerance, and operating temperature range. The purpose of this topic is to support the development of components and/or algorithms that would lead to an on-orbit optical communications terminal capable of interfacing with multiple UAV platforms.The performance benefits of laser communications (as compared with RF communications) include increased channel capacity, reduced cross-channel interference, the elimination of cumbersome high-gain antennas, lower terminal SWAP (size, weight and power), and reduced LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) / LPD (Low Probability of Detection). One of the biggest challenges facing the military's ability to leverage satellite optical communications for warfighter support lies in the ability to link multiple UAV (Unmanned Airborne Vehicle) terminals to a GEO (geosynchronous Earth Orbit) satellite in order to relay AISR (Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) data to one or more ground stations for review by analysts. Challenges include achieving required performance including:
1) Pointing and tracking accuracy ~ 1 microradians
2) Data rate ~ 10 Gb/s threshold, 40+ Gb/s objective @1440-1500 nm
3) Acquisition time ~ seconds
4) Reliability: Mean Time to Failure (100% duty cycle and worst case environment) > 25 years
5) SWAP ~ To be determined; think compact light weight.
6) Radiation tolerance: 300krads total dose, heavy ions to linear energy transfer (LET) 60, and dose rate to 108 rads/sec.
7) Operating temperature range: Between 200 degrees C and + 150 degrees C
Proposals addressing the development of electro-optical components and/or communications protocol algorithms supporting an on-orbit optical communications terminal, capable of simultaneous interfacing with several AISR platforms, are welcome. A model scenario would be simultaneous optical connectivity with four UAVs, altitude 13 to 22 kilometers, separated laterally by roughly 370 kilometers, plus auxiliary link(s) to more spatially removed locations on the order of 500 to 1000 kilometers.
Please consider/evaluate multi-access protocols including Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), Time Division Multiplexing (TDM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and their hybridizations. Transceiver/PAT (Pointing, Acquisition, and tracking) system is not limited to non-mechanical, electronic steered arrays, though it is desired to push the envelope on such technology.
PHASE I: Phase I effort should address packaging issues (SWAP), and demonstrate the feasibility of proposed prototype design through modeling and simulation and/or, if capable, physical experiments to provide a convincing basis to proceed to Phase II.
PHASE II: Develop prototype of multi-access laser terminal consistent with evolving communication satellite payload requirements. Characterize for power consumption, output power, bandwidth, operating temperature range and radiation susceptibility from total dose and heavy ions.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Military satellite communications systems including Wideband Gapfiller System and it's successors. Transformational Satellite System could also benefit from this technology.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Terrestrial telecommunications could benefit from multi-access laser terminals for short range telecommunications.
REFERENCES:
1. S. Serati and J. Stockley, "Advanced Liquid Crystal on Silicon Optical Phased Arrays," IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, Montana, 2002.
2. S. DeWalt, K. Miller and J. Stockley, "Nematic liquid crystal spatial light modulator's response to total-dose irradiation," to be published in Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 5554 Photonics for Space Environments IX, 2004.
3. Gagliardi and Karp, "Optical Communications," John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1995.
KEYWORDS: Multi-access, optical communications, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, laser communication, AISR, communication satellites
AF093-044 TITLE: High Power Optical Transmitter for Satellite Communications
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Space Platforms
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop high power solid state IR (Infrared) optical transmitter suitable for satellite communications applications.
DESCRIPTION: The current state-of-the-art in laser transmitter technology is mainly directed at fiber optic applications. High data rate free space laser communications requires much higher powers levels (on the order of several watts minimum). The only readily available technology in this area has been developed primarily for terrestrial applications, where high reliability and radiation hardness are of minimal concern. High power optical transmitters are an enabling technology for laser communications and their availability promotes warfighter's mission effectiveness. Given that the useful operating lifetime communications satellites can exceed twenty years, the optical transmitter reliability is crucial to cost effective delivery of bandwidth to the warfighter. This topic seeks to advance the state of the art of optical transmitters that support satellite communications, particularly with respect to reliability and output power. Goals include wavelength between between 1400 and 1580 nm. CW source with either directly modulated Or external modulation capability, output power >10Watts, PAE (Power Added Efficiency) >60%, operating temperature range between +40 and +80 degrees Centigrade, total dose radiation tolerance > 1Mrad (Si), Single Event Effect tolerance from heavy ions >60MeV, and dose rate tolerance >1E9 rads/sec.
PHASE I: The goal of the SBIR Phase I will be to develop and evaluate high power optical transmitter technology concepts which are specifically optimized for very high reliability (on the order of 20 yrs MTBF) and radiation hardness to survive in low earth and geosynchronous orbit environments.
PHASE II: Fabricate one or more prototype optical transmitters. Characterize for power output, wavelength, mean time to failure, operating temperature range, and radiation tolerance.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Military applications include optical communications terminals aboard satellites for crosslinks and communications with UAV's (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles).
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercial applications include satellite-based and terrestrial-based optical terminals.
REFERENCES:
1. E. Nava, et. al. "Diode pumped Nd:YAG laser transmitter for free-space optical communications" SPIE Conference 1417 Proceedings, Jan. 1991.
2. B.Buxton and R. Vahldieck, "Noise and Intermodulation Distortion Reduction in an optical Transmitter," IEEE MTT-S, pp. 1105-1108, 1994.
3. Johnston, A.H.; Miyahira, T.F.;'Radiation degradation mechanisms in laser diodes' Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on Volume 51, Issue 6, Part 2, Dec. 2004 Page(s):3564 - 3571
KEYWORDS: Optical transmitter, power added efficiency, satellite communications, output power, laser communications, bandwidth
AF093-045 TITLE: High Power Optical Amplifier (HPOAs) for Free Space
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Space Platforms
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: Develop radiation tolerant, reliable, and power efficient High Power Optical Amplifier (HPOA) for SATCOM Laser Communications.
DESCRIPTION: Tomorrow's warfighters will require significantly greater battlefield bandwidth to access all of the information necessary to maximize mission effectiveness. Historically, SATCOM (Satellite Communications) has played a key role in providing bandwidth to remote battlefield locations and laser communications based SATCOM offers more than a three order of magnitude increase in communications capacity over existing RF (Radio Frequency) based SATCOM. Since High Power Optical Amplifiers (HPOAs) are an enabling technology for laser communications, the availability HPOA's promotes warfighter's mission effectiveness. Given that the useful operating lifetime communications satellites can exceed twenty years, HPOA reliability is crucial to cost effective delivery of bandwidth to the warfighter. This topic seeks to advance the state of the art of HPOA, particularly with respect to reliability and output power. Goals include optical bandwidth of 1450 to 1560 nm, minimum gain of 20 dBm, Mean Time to Failure (100% duty cycle and worst case environment) consistent with 20 year Geosynchronous Earth Orbit mission; minimum output power 500 mW, noise < 3 dB, output power variation < .5 dB, isolation > 30 dB, optical input power (typ) 4 dBm, operating temperature range between +40 degrees C and +80 degrees C, and weight < 2 lbs. The HPOA should be capable of withstanding >300krads total dose(Si), heavy ions to linear energy transfer (LET) 60 MEV, and dose rate to 1E8 rads/sec.
PHASE I: Evaluate HPOA design options leading to enhanced reliability. Design HPOA and simulate operation over a broad range of environmental and temperature ranges.
PHASE II: Fabricate one or more HPOA prototype(s) meeting objectives identified above. Characterize for power output, wavelength, mean time to failure, operating temperature range, and radiation tolerance.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: HPOA's support optical crosslinks and above the weather communications with UAV's (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles).
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: HPOA's also support commercial SATCOM and terrestrial fiberoptics.
REFERENCES:
1. S.G. Lambert and W.L. Casey, Laser Communications in Space, Norwood, MA: Artech House, Inc., 1995
2. J.A. Abate, J.R. Simpson, et al., "Reliability concerns for double clad fiber lasers for space based laser communications," IEEE Trans. MILCOM, vol. 2, pp. 936-942, (1997)
3. T. S. Rose, D. Gunn, and G. C. Valley, "Gamma and proton radiation effects in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers: active and passive measurements," J. Lightwave Tech., vol. 19, pp. 1918-1923, Dec. 2001.
KEYWORDS: High Powered Optical Amplifier, Satellite Communications, Wavelength, Bandpass, Laser Communications, Output Power
AF093-046 TITLE: Automated Adversarial Course of Action Model Generation and
Reasoning for Satellite Protection (commercial/military)
TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Space Platforms
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.
OBJECTIVE: To develop a prototype and novel algorithms to dynamically reason and generate adversarial Course of Action models/playbooks and graphical node and link analysis of intended adversary counterspace actions.
DESCRIPTION: Current adversarial Course of Action development and analysis of intended and/or plausible adversary counterspace actions against military, civil, and commercial satellites requires a significant amount of manual interaction and data mining. There is a need for innovative model-based automated capability that uses operator-assistive visual displays and can quickly focus the space intelligence analyst's and Commercial space operator's attention on the most critical adversarial counterspace Course of Actions in a timely manner. Innovative research is needed to investigate intelligent reasoning techniques for dynamic adversarial space Course of Action model development and combining relational adversarial counterspace force and equipment data; digital ground, air, space, and cyber geospatial data; doctrinal behavior and space control models; and other data to support dynamic defensive counterspace decision support for Space Intelligence analysts and Commercial space operator's. In addition, current Course of Action model generation capabilities used to protect commercial and military assets in other domains (such as airborne platforms and computer information systems), needs to be included in this automated Space Course of Action prototype development to ensure a fully integrated adversarial counterspace threat picture. Also novel reasoning capability needs to be developed to allow the analyst to assess adversary counterspace intentions and tactics, techniques, and procedures in a timely manner for optimum defensive counterspace measures to be successful. There are a variety of technical disciplines and risks that are applicable to building a successful prototype as part of this innovative research effort. Risks include developing effective course of action modeling techniques, devising new inferential/deductive/inductive reasoning methods, and incorporating the most optimum link and node analytical and statistical based modeling approaches including: Bayesian belief networks, artificial neural systems, graph theory, knowledge based system technologies, fuzzy theory, hidden markov models, and dempster-shafer theory. This innovative research needs to incorporate machine learning and reasoning techniques to model the current military, civil, and commercial space environment, describe and evaluate adversarial counterspace threat effects, and determination of plausible adversary counterspace courses of action that could threaten commercial and military space operations.
PHASE I: Develop prototype/algorithms to dynamically generate adversarial course of action models and graphical analysis of plausible adversary counterspace actions against commercial satellites. Conduct feasibility demo. Provide validated set of performance measures, tools for utility assessment.
PHASE II: Test/evaluate, characterize performance/utility, validate effectiveness of prototype/algorithms within a plausible adversarial counterspace scenario with potential threats to commercial satellites. Apply applications to support testing (eg. displays). Deliver prototype/algorithm description, procedures for use, test results, technology transition assessment.
PHASE III / DUAL USE:
MILITARY APPLICATION: Space Intelligence analysts need to be able to dynamically reason and generate adversarial Course of Action models/playbooks and graphical node and link analysis of intended adversary counterspace actions to be able to quickly focus their attention on the most critical adversarial counterspace Course of Actions in a timely manner to ensure that military, civil, and commercial satellites are protected from current and future counterspace threats and will assist them in making provide timely, accurate satellite anomaly and threat assessments for satellite protection, service restoration.
COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Commercial space operators will be able to dynamically reason and generate adversarial Course of Action models to be able to quickly focus their attention on the most critical adversarial counterspace Course of Actions in a timely manner to ensure to ensure that commercial satellites are protected from current and future counterspace threats. This innovative technology can be applied to a variety of commercial sectors such as corporate finance analytical decision making, actuarial science to access risk of events occurring, and the gaming industry.
REFERENCES:
1. Simon Banbury and Sebastien Tremblay, Situation Awareness: Theory and Application, 2004.
2. Loomis, E., Design Knowledge, Fairborn, OH; "STEED: satellite threat evaluation environment for defensive counterspace"; 2007 International Symposium on Collaborative Technologies and Systems (CTS), IEEE, Piscataway, NJ; May 2007.
3. Aleva, Denise L.; Miller, Janet E.; AFRL, WPAFB, OH; "Visualization of the battlespace: A cornerstone of modeling for anticipatory behavior"; Proceedings of the 2006 Winter Simulation Conference, WSC, Monterey, CA; Dec 2006.
4. Hilland, D.H.; Phipps, G.S.; Jingle, C.M.; Newton, G.; AFRL, Kirtland, NM; "Satellite threat warning and attack reporting"; 1998 IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings, Part vol.2 p. 207-17 vol.2; March 1998.
KEYWORDS: space, situation, awareness, threat, intelligence, preparation, battlespace, course of action, anticipate, anomalous, threat, automated, algorithm, predictive battlespace awareness, jamming, kinetic kill vehicle, directed energy, cyber attack, satellite anomaly