OBJECTIVE: Develop a field-level capability to inspect coating thickness in high temperature exhaust components. The technology must be applicable to complex geometry surfaces as well as over varying substrates and thermal barrier coating materials.
DESCRIPTION: Current Air Force aircraft have thick thermal barrier coatings that require precise thickness deposition along the exhaust features. To maximize the service life of the high temperature exhaust systems, the coatings are required to provide a thermal barrier and must meet minimum thickness requirements for effective protection. Over applying coatings will add weight to the aircraft and provide no additional benefit. Therefore, accurate coating thickness is critical for peak mission performance. Maintaining the thicknesses of these coatings during the service life of the exhaust is critical for performance. Currently, there is no field-level thickness measurement capability. A capability gap exists to be able to accurately and repeatedly measure and maintain the coating thickness while in service. Consequently, a need exists for a handheld, lightweight probe that provides a localized measurement of coating thickness.
Capability must be either man-portable (objective of no more than 7 lbs. and threshold of no more than 5 lbs.) or able to be attached to an autonomous delivery system. Technology must meet an threshold accuracy of +/- 20% of nominal value, or objective accuracy of +/- 10% of nominal value. Technology must scan defects up to a size of 12 in. x 12 in. in area at a resolution of .10 inches. Collection time should not exceed 1 minute. Rigorous technology demonstrations using representative targets shall be performed. To that end, correlations between current baseline systems and the new technologies shall be carried out. Specifically, an optimized hardware and software system solution to provide capability to an unsophisticated maintainer or technician (AF 5-level) that is reliable, repeatable, and easy to use. This strategy is centered on developing a robust tool with advanced algorithms and processing for production, depot- and field-maintenance crews that only require “entry level” user training and knowledge to be successfully used and operated. New equipment and technology shall meet Class1/Div2 certifications for use around a fueled aircraft, and integrate with existing aircraft health assessment systems. System must also be ruggedized for use in an operational environment including exposure to light dust, moisture, humidity, low and high temperatures, and salt fog conditions. In-depth investigations shall be conducted to create confidence on new approaches and methods. These in-depth validation and verification activities shall address user requirements including, but not limited to, human safety, reliability, operator fatigue, reparability, and robustness of the equipment to survive in a high tempo maintenance environment.
PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of the prototype sensor system in a surrogate exhaust component environment. It must be able to operate on the specific types of high temperature thermal barrier coatings with relevant coating thicknesses. Any prototype sensor must meet field-level design requirements intended for a maintainer in the field (to include operation around a fueled aircraft, ergonomic, and safety requirements).
PHASE II: Building on Phase I demonstrated feasibility, the Phase II task will be to optimize the technology to advance the TRL/MRL. The Phase II prototype will be required to be demonstrated on a relevant scaled exhaust system with real or surrogate exhaust high temperature barrier coatings which will be provided by the Government. Spiral development will require development and feedback of usability of the sensor to meet field-level requirements for sensor ergonomics, software user interface, data analysis, and processing.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Determine a commercialization plan to demonstrate the technology for other applications or commercialize the product for other platforms and customers.
REFERENCES:
1. http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19910006077.pdf
2. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/tee.22255/pdf
KEYWORDS: cavity, coating, exhaust system, tailpipe, thermal barrier, thickness
AF171-104
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TITLE: Portable, Localized Low Observable (LO) Coating Removal Tool
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TECHNOLOGY AREA(S):
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the solicitation and within the AF Component-specific instructions. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. Please direct questions to the AF SBIR/STTR Contracting Officer, Ms. Gail Nyikon, gail.nyikon@us.af.mil.
OBJECTIVE: Develop a small, portable hand tool to measure outer mold line (OML) coating thickness and accordingly cut/score between 90%-95% of total coating thickness.
DESCRIPTION: To achieve the required performance metrics, OML coating systems contain material stack ups that are difficult to remove. When maintenance is required in areas where elastomeric coatings are present, the coatings must first be removed. The current process for OML coating removal in a localized area is scoring the outer layers by hand with a non-metallic scraper and pealing them away. This scoring process is labor and time intensive. There is a need to develop a handheld coating cutting/scoring process that can quickly and efficiently complete this process. Since the coating thickness varies, the tool must be capable of measuring the coating thickness in the area and cutting/scoring the coatings accordingly. It is not desirable to cut/score through the full coating thickness. The tool should penetrate between 90-95% of the material thickness to ensure no damage is incurred on the aircraft structure.
The current coating removal process cuts the outline of the area needed to be removed, then the coatings in that area are peeled away by hand. The intent of this tool is to follow the same coating removal process and simply accelerate the cutting/scoring process. The new cutting/scoring process must be capable of demonstrating cutting/scoring of elastomeric materials more efficiently when compared to current tools.
Past attempts to accelerate the cutting/scoring process have utilized metallic scrapers with a device to restrict the blade protrusion length to ensure that the coatings are not completely penetrated. However, this solution is unsatisfactory as the coating thickness varies. As a result, it is desired that a new tool be developed that can accurately measure the coating thickness and index the cutting/scoring device accordingly in real time. The coating thickness measurement portion must not damage the remaining coating material or the aircraft structure. The measurement device must be capable of identifying the interface of the aircraft structure and external coatings accurately to ensure that the cutting/scoring device will reliably penetrate 90- 95% of the coating thickness. Under no circumstances may the cutting/scoring device penetrate more than 95% of the coating thickness. The assumed coating thickness will be between 0.005 inches and 0.3 inches. The coatings will be of multiple layers with varying thicknesses.
The goal of the end tool would be a handheld device easily used on the aircraft, including inside of engine inlet areas. There are no Government Furnished Equipment/Government Furnished Products (GFE/GFP) for Phase I or Phase II demonstration. Rather, demonstration can be conducted in the laboratory environment at the contractor's facility.
PHASE I: Compile a solution strategy documenting the complete proposed solution. Document and demonstrate the current capability of the proposed measurement method to determine the thickness of the OML coating system. The new process must be capable of determining thickness of various OML coatings.
PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate the capability to identify the interface between aircraft structure and the coating system to permit cutting/scoring 90-95% of the coating thickness. Under no circumstance may the tool penetrate more than 95% of the coating thickness. Demonstrate the feedback capability for various OML coatings and substructure types.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Demonstrate a stand-alone, handheld system capable of cutting/scoring 90-95% of OML coating system thickness where the thickness varies from 0.005 inches to 0.3 inches thick. The system must be portable and easily used on aircraft while demonstrating greater efficiency compared to current tools.
REFERENCES:
1. Technical Order (TO) 1-1-8, Technical Manual, Application and Removal of Organic Coatings, Aerospace and Non-Aerospace Equipment, 23 April 2001.
2. Technical Order (TO) 1-1-691, Technical Manual, Cleaning and Corrosion Prevention and Control, Aerospace and Non-Aerospace Equipment, 2 Nov 2009.
KEYWORDS: maintenance, coatings, coating removal
AF171-105
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TITLE: High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) Protection for Nuclear Command and Control Communications (NC3) Systems
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TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Nuclear Technology
The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the solicitation and within the AF Component-specific instructions. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. Please direct questions to the AF SBIR/STTR Contracting Officer, Ms. Gail Nyikon, gail.nyikon@us.af.mil.
OBJECTIVE: Develop and demo capability to provide HEMP protection for C2 systems and power sources within Wing Command Posts (WCPs) or used by Mobile Support Teams (MSTs). This shield or barrier should prevent/limit HEMP fields & conducted transients from damaging Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication (NC3) systems.
DESCRIPTION: WCPs and MSTs are critical NC3 nodes that utilize fixed and mobile NC3 systems used for emergency action messaging (EAM). These systems require HEMP protection along with HEMP protection for their power sources in order to operate in a HEMP environment. The solution options may include shielding for systems/operations, penetration protection technologies for electrically conductive structures (building materials such as composites, concrete/stucco, conducting metals etc.), and special protective measures for non-conducting areas like ventilation routes.
PHASE I: Phase I shall produce a prototype to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept described above. Offerors may propose against the topic areas of (1) shielding for systems/operations, (2) penetration protection technologies for electrically conductive structures (building materials such as composites, concrete/stucco, conducting metals etc.), (3) special protective measures for non-conducting areas like ventilation routes.
For shielded systems focus area the offeror shall propose structural materials for HEMP shielding in accordance with the requirements referenced in MIL-STD-188-125 or MIL-STD-2169C. The Phase I effort should produce samples of sufficient size for testing against these standards (typically 14 x 14 in. or 26 x 26 in.). Testing can be accomplished by methods such as TEM cell measurements to mitigate costs.
For the penetration protection technologies for electrically conductive structures, the offeror shall propose material based sealing solutions to complete the electrical pathway around the penetration and maintain the same level of shielding performance as the baseline wall from HEMP. Demonstration of this should be accomplished by before and after testing as defined in the MIL-STD-188-125.
For the focus area of special protective measures for non-conducting areas like ventilation routes, the offeror shall demonstrate waveguide below cut-off or other standard airflow conditions. The offeror shall produce sections of ventilation at least 48 in. in length and 12 in. in diameter. Testing can be accomplished by free field testing methods.
Offerors must be capable of acquiring Secret and Critical Nuclear Weapon Design Information (CNWDI) access by the end of the Phase I effort in order to be eligible for a Phase II award. If all technology areas are not addressed by one proposal, associate contractor agreements will be required during the Phase II.
PHASE II: Phase II shall produce one full scale (approximately 4 ft w x 6 ft l x 6 ft h) HEMP protection barrier kit in a WCP and on a MST that demonstrates the ability to reliably protect NC3 systems and their power sources from damage or degradation by threat-relatable transients. The system shall incorporate the technologies developed in the Phase I effort and demonstrate that they function as a system and not just as individual components. MILSTD-2169C shall be used as the validation testing and will be performed in coordination with Air Force or Army test capabilities. The offeror is to produce the structures as the deliverable and the government will provide validation testing.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III shall analyze the solution set to ensure that the preventive maintenance, inspection, test, and repair activities to maintain HEMP hardness are feasibly retainable throughout its operational life cycle.
REFERENCES:
1. MIL-STD-464:http://everyspec.com/MIL-STD/MIL-STD-0300-0499/MIL-STD-464C_28312/.
2. Nuclear Survivability Overview, DTRA:http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2011CBRN/Franco.pdf.
3. DoD Nuclear Survivability Program (Kuspa):www.dtic.mil/ndia/2011CBRN/Kuspa.pdf.
4. Test Operations Procedure (TOP), 01-2-620 High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) Testing:www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a554607.pdf.
KEYWORDS: High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP), emergency action messaging (EAM), EAM, HEMP, Mobile Support Teams (MST), MST, Nuclear Command, Control and Communication (NC3) systems, NC3, Wing Command Posts (WCP), WCP
AF171-106
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TITLE: Improved manufacturing and design of liquid electrolyte delivery systems
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TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Nuclear Technology
OBJECTIVE: Develop manufacturing and design capabilities that reduce cost and improve quality/reliability of remotely activated batteries.
DESCRIPTION: The development of manufacturing and design capabilities that will reduce cost and also improve quality/reliability of remotely activated batteries is sought. The anticipated advantage of improved manufacturing capability would be reliable design and repeatable manufacture of liquid electrolyte delivery to remotely activated batteries, including their corresponding flow paths and wicking/wetting capability. Current liquid electrolyte reserve batteries are built by carefully crafting and matching components to ensure capability and high reliability. Research into and improvements in gas generator and electrolyte delivery design and manufacturability could greatly improve lot to lot reliability and may lead to reduction in cost of future design and manufacture. This could be achieved by innovations in manufacturing process and its repeatability.
Possible applications include but are not limited to reentry vehicle, flight control, and guidance battery power. Areas of research focus should be gas generator design and composition consistency, electrolyte storage and flow characterization, residual pressure retention, backflow and pressure relief, cell material wicking and wetting improvements, and the repeatable manufacture of such components and battery characteristics.
PHASE I: Demonstrate proof-of concept for improvements in reliable and repeatable electrolyte delivery and wetting. Analyze various battery requirements and key performance parameters (battery capacity, internal leakage, rate capability, shelf life, etc.) and how they are improved by new delivery methods and their manufacture. As part of phase I, carefully benchmark the current state-of development.
PHASE II: Demonstrate significant improvements in the cited metric(s) from Phase I. Demonstrate compatibility of the chosen process technology with volume manufacture. Demonstrate integration of the metric-enhanced battery with some product target as mutually agreed upon by the offeror and the Air Force. Provide cost projection data to substantiate the design, performance, operational range, acquisition, and life cycle costs. Refine transition plan and business case analysis.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Demonstrate large volume manufacturability of various battery capacity and performance goals. The military applications include aerospace & naval emergency power, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Commercial applications include emergency power and other non-power long storage life applications.
REFERENCES:
1. D. Linden and T.B. Reddy, eds., Handbook of Batteries, 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2002.
2. Y. Li, H. Zhan, S. Liu, K. Huang, and Y. Zhao, J. Power Sources, Vol. 195, p. 2945, 2010.
3. A. Himy, Silver-Zinc Battery: Best Practices, Facts and Reflections, Vantage Press, Inc., 1995.
KEYWORDS: anode, battery, cathode, electrolyte, gas generator, missile power, remotely activated, reserve battery
AF171-107
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TITLE: Continuously Self-Leveling Weapons-Storage Support Structure
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TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Nuclear Technology
OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate capability to continuously monitor and maintain an approximate 10 metric ton weapon support structure in a level state, while four (4) linear actuators cause it to ascend and descend. If not kept in a level state, binding and wear may result.
DESCRIPTION: The Weapons Storage and Security System (WS3) is capable of securely storing weapons in an underground vault. The weapon support structure is elevated by four linear actuators (jackscrews). During ascent and descent of the weapon support structure it is required that the weapon support structure remain level. A continuously self-leveling capability is required. As the WS3 vault operates to lift the weapons payload out of the underground vault, or to lower the weapons payload into the underground vault, the weapon support structure (~ 10 metric tons) is caused to ascend and descend by the action of four linear actuators (jackscrews) -- one on each corner of the support structure. During operation it is possible for the support structure to depart from a level state by more than the desired 1 mm, resulting in binding and excessive wear between the jack-lifting-bodies and the jack stems. The WS3 Program Office requires a project that will conduct research and development on a dynamic, real-time, distance measurement with precision on the order of 1mm over relatively short distances (1/2 meter to 3 meters). This shall be met by modeling (Phase I), and that will culminate in a demonstration full scale prototype of a vault-weapon-support-structure self-leveling capability, with precision no more than 5 mm difference between actuators and objective of no more than 1 mm difference (Phase II). The prototype shall be demonstrated in a WS3 vault.
PHASE I: Phase I shall produce a computer model that will demonstrate the approach and analyze the feasibility, precision, and sensitivity of the approach. The threshold for such a model is 5 mm difference in actuator level with an objective of 1 mm.
PHASE II: Phase II shall produce a full scale working self-leveling system that shall be demonstrated in a WS3 vault.
PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Commercial: Industrial condition that requires a self-leveling capability for massive loads supported and caused to ascend and descend via 4 linear actuators (jackscrews). Military: WS3 requires self-leveling capability for the massive structure that lifts and lowers the payload in and out of the underground vault.
REFERENCES:
1. Valeria Artale, Cristina L.R. Milazzo, Calogero Orlando, and Angela Ricciardello, Genetic algorithm applied to the stabilization control of a hexarotor, AIP Conference Proceedings 1648, 780003 (2015); DOI: 10.1063/1.4912983
View online:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4912983 and http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/proceeding/aipcp/1648?ver=pdfcov
2. Dmitry Bazylev, Konstantin Zimenko, Alexey Margun, Alexey Rubtsov, ITMO University, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Adaptive control system for quadrotor equiped with robotic arm, Published in: Methods and Models in Automation and Robotics (MMAR), 2014 19th International Conference, 2-5 Sept. 2014, Page(s):705 - 710 ISBN:978-1-4799-5082-9
KEYWORDS: jackscrew, linear actuator, self-leveling, weapon support structure, Weapons Storage and Security System (WS3), WS3
AF171-108
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TITLE: All-Fiber Optical Isolators for High Energy Lasers
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TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials/Processes
OBJECTIVE: Develop magneto-optic materials and associated device designs for all-fiber optical isolators for use with single-fiber laser amplifiers emitting >5kW. These devices are needed for operation at laser wavelengths near 1µm and near 2µm.
DESCRIPTION: High power fiber lasers have made significant progress in the last several years, and as a result, powerful fiber lasers are now common in industry for a number of applications such as laser welding, laser cutting, and laser drilling. However, these lasers are not sufficiently powerful for many industrial and military applications, and one reason is that an all-fiber optical isolator, is still not available with sufficient power handling. Optical isolators absorb harmful back traveling reflections within an optical fiber system, in this case high power back traveling reflections that can harm components on the back end of the high energy laser system. The specific type of isolator here is all-fiber that do not contain an air gap. These devices are constructed from a rare-Earth-containing Faraday rotating fiber and a fused fiber polarizer. Commercially available all-fiber optical isolators operating at a wavelength of approximately 1 µm can handle forward and backward power of 50 watts and provide 1.5 decibels of isolation loss, but much higher power handling and reduced isolation loss are necessary for use with fiber laser amplifiers generating in excess of 5 kilowatts of laser power. The three most important overall characteristics of the resulting all-fiber optical isolator are power handling, optical loss, and the degree of isolation (throughput/input). The required specification from a successful Phase II effort follow. For 1µm, throughput power =300W, backward power =100W, insertion loss =1dB, and isolation =20dB. For 2µm, throughput power =50W, backward power =50W, insertion loss =1.5dB or less, and isolation =20dB.
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