Army 8. Small Business Innovation Research (sbir) Proposal Submission Instructions

PHASE I: Explore and design routing and scheduling algorithms as to their applicability in an FD wireless tactical networks. The MAC protocols TDMA, CSMA, and CDMA should be assessed as to their applicability in satisfying the requirements as described above. Formulate the capabilities of the routing and MAC scheduling in the context of a decision engine that allows simultaneous EW and communication functions on a single radio platform. This decision engine primarily will select the nodes in the wireless network that are to function as jammers. The performance and scalability properties of the chosen approach and the algorithms should be substantiated by means of modeling and quantitative analysis.

PHASE II: Refine the design of the decision engine and the algorithms and develop specification of the networking protocols which make use of the algorithms from phase I. Provide software implementation of the proposed protocols and algorithms, and devise demonstration of capabilities using a network of wireless mobile nodes under a military relevant scenario. Demonstrate the simultaneous EW and communication functions based on the proposed solution using a combination of wireless mobile nodes and network simulation/emulation tools.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The proposed research can be used to improve the network capacity and EW capabilities of Army tactical networks, as well as improving situational awareness. The proposed solution can be incorporated in future tactical radios so that the EW coordination issue is resolved more effectively. In addition to military applications, full-duplex could be used extensively in First Responder and Homeland Security communication systems. Commercial cellular service providers are expected to introduce full-duplex capabilities to handheld devices and relay devices in the near future. Envisioned improvements resulting from this research can also be inserted in these commercial applications and thus enable broader use of their capabilities.

REFERENCES:

1. J. I. Choi, M. Jain, K. Srinivasan, P. Levis, and S. Katti. Achieving Single Channel, Full Duplex Wireless Communication. In Proceedings of the 16th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking, MobiCom’10. ACM, 2010

2. S. S. Hong, J. Mehlman, and S. Katti. Picasso: flexible rf and spectrum slicing. In Proceedings of the ACM SIGCOMM 2012 conference on Applications, technologies, architectures, and protocols for computer communication, pages 37–48. ACM, 2012.

3. M. Jain, J. Choi, T. Kim, D. Bharadia, S. Seth, K. Srinivasan, P. Levis, S. Katti, and P. Sinha. Practical, Real-time, Full duplex Wireless. In Proceedings of the 17th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking, MobiCom’11, pages 301–312. ACM, 2011.

4. A. Sahai, G. Patel, and A. Sabharwal. Pushing the Limits of Full-duplex: Design and Real-time Implementation. arXiv: 1107.0607, 2011.

5. N. Singh, D. Gunawardena, A. Proutiere, B. Radunovic, H. Balan, and P. Key. Efficient and Fair MAC for Wireless Networks with Self-interference Cancellation. In Modeling and Optimization in Mobile, Ad Hoc and Wireless Networks (WiOpt), 2011 International Symposium on, pages 94–101. IEEE, 2011.

6. K. M. Thilina, H. Tabassum, E. Hossain, D. I. Kim. Medium access control design for full duplex wireless systems: challenges and approaches, IEEE Communications Magazine Year: 2015

7. X. Fang, D. Yang, G. 2673512Xue. Distributed Algorithms for Multipath Routing in Full-Duplex Wireless Networks, 2011 Eighth IEEE International Conference on Mobile Ad-Hoc and Sensor Systems

8. Y. Yang and N.B. Shroff. Scheduling in Wireless Networks with Full Duplex Cut-through Transmission, Computer Communications (INFOCOM) 2015.

KEYWORDS: Full-Duplex, MAC, Wireless, Ad-hoc, cross-layer, tactical wireless network

A18-054

TITLE: Data-Driven Authorship Feature Extraction and Comparative Analysis using Machine Learning

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Electronics

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 5.4.c.(8) of the Announcement.

OBJECTIVE: Extract and compare unique human authorship identifiers from a broad array of digital data sets. A software system will be developed implementing artificial general intelligence to perform an automated analysis that will associate these unique identifiers to single individuals, small groups, organizations or virtual personas from digital data sets that can source from written text (e.g. – social/dark web media, emails, SMS text, manuscripts, articles, music compositions, software programs, hand written letters/notes) and artwork (e.g. – pictures, graffiti and tattoos).

DESCRIPTION: Develop the analytical and pattern recognition capability to automatically detect and decipher unique identifying signatures within the style of the written script to identify characterization attributes such as the first language of the author education level, personality type, self-esteem, mental state, and gender. Analysis should also reveal certain biographical traits such as nationality, place of origin, and current location; reveal political, religious, or extremist orientation; and intent. Categorize the author or group by training the machine learning model to recognize different languages and anticipate future written style changes (due to maturity, potential mental and emotional state, and physical handicap) via adaptive learning. Machine learning will aid in identifying key attributes of authorship on targeted networks or social media sites and search for particular identifiers to discern particular authors of interest. This capability should also have the ability to persistently monitor targeted networks and search for additional attributable artifacts that can be associated to the author of interest. This capability will derive relevant information from various types of multi-domain information to identify, locate, and associate person(s) of interest or organization to inform intelligence and support cyberspace operations.

PHASE I: Research and draft a white paper that lists the types of development approaches, algorithms, software, risks, schedule, and costs to automatically decipher a particular identifier through multiple data sets. Utilizing machine and adaptive learning techniques identify authorship via typed and written language on documents, artwork, and social media. The research shall be able to determine the traits of a person or group native origin, intent, and behavior.

PHASE II: Develop and demonstrate capabilities/functions via software prototype on non-government PC or PC laptop connected to a non-attributed IP address to test against a controlled data on a nongovernmental network.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The technology shall be transitioned to PEO IEW&S Program of Records by ensuring that the software or algorithms meet DoD Information Assurance practices. The Contractor shall assist PEO IEW&S to test, troubleshoot, and assess the integration of developed capability into a designated Program of Record.

REFERENCES:

1. Nurfadhina Mohd Sharef, and Shahrul Azman Mohd Noah, “Linguistic Patterns-Based Translation for Natural Language Interface” 2014 International Conference on Information Science and Applications (ICISA), 6-9 May 2014 INSPEC Accession Number: 14431762, IEEE Xplore: 8 July 2014 DOI 10.1109/ICISA2014.6847424

2. Ahmen M. Mohsen, Nagwa N. El-Makky and Nagia Ghanem, “Author Identification Using Deep Learning” 2016 15th IEEE International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (ICMLA), Number: 16651340, IEEE Xplore: 18-20 Dec 2016 DOI 10.1109/ICMLA.2016.0161

3. Jun Yu, Yong Rui, Yuan Yan Tang, and Dacheng Tao, “High-Order Distance-Based Multiview Stochastic Learning in Image Classification” 2014 IEEE Transactions on Cybernetics, Number 14759317, IEEE: 17 Mar 2014 DOI 10.1109/TCYB.2014.2307862

4. Powell, John E, David Brannan, and Anders Strindberg "Creating a Learning Organization for State, Local, and Tribal Law Enforcement to Combat Violent Extremism", NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA MONTEREY United States, Defense Technical Information Center site Accession Number AD1029903, 01 Sep 2016

KEYWORDS: author(ship), artificial intelligence, belief, comparative analysis, composition, computer vision, data-set small-scale, de-noising auto-encoder, deterministic, discriminative training, document processing, feature extraction, identification, identity, language, nationality, machine learning, media, neural nets, pattern recognition, Support Vector Machine (SVM), written scripts

A18-055

TITLE: Novel Flame Inhibiting Materials to Increase Red Phosphorus Obscurant Safety

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials/Processes

OBJECTIVE: To develop safe, non-toxic flame inhibiting materials or retardants and associated application processes that will significantly reduce the flame size and flame temperature of red phosphorus obscurants while not reducing burn rates, obscurant cloud yield, screening performance, or contributing to phosphine production.

DESCRIPTION: The defense industry frequently leverages commercially-available materials for use in military applications. These materials as-packaged or prepared for the commercial or industrial sectors may not be in the best configuration for use in military-unique items. Some of these dual-use materials, such as those frequently used in high-performance visible and infrared obscurants, may produce large flames or high heat when burned to generate obscurant clouds. Military end items utilizing Red Phosphorus (RP) for obscuration, such as the KM03 manufactured by Diehl BGT Defence GmbH (Uberlingen, Germany), can produce flames during function that exceed one-foot in height.1 Large flames and high flame temperatures generated by burning RP create incendiary effects that may ignite dry vegetation, buildings or other materials in densely populated areas with unintended consequences. Traditional flame inhibitors have primarily focused on using halide salts or halogenated gases to modulate ion and free radical formation in the gas phase, materials to promote char layer creation when applied to polymers, or transition metal complexes to promote inhibition.2-6 The National Institute of Standards and Technology maintains an extensive online library of publications detailing traditional and other approaches to flame chemistry and inhibition.7 A novel approach is sought to reduce flaming since traditional approaches, such as formation of a char layer, may interfere with the burn rate or not offer a direct solution. The proposed approach may include novel coatings, additives, and the associated application processes to reduce flame size and resulting incendiary effects of burning RP. The rapid oxidation of hot, vaporized phosphorus in air is the primary flame component, this combustion mechanism may reduce the applicability of some traditional flame-suppressing materials. Slowing this vapor-phase reaction may lower flame size and temperature while not affecting burn rates or performance characteristics. Candidate materials and application processes must eliminate flaming and high flame temperatures generated in both the bulk material and pyrotechnic formulations, while maintaining the same compatibility and performance characteristics, e.g. oxidizer compatibility, burn rates, obscurant cloud yield, and mass extinction coefficients for visible (>=2.9 m2/g), near IR (>=1.4 m2/g), mid IR (>=0.27 m2/g) and far IR (>=0.32 m2/g), when compared to untreated red phosphorus.

PHASE I: Develop materials and application techniques to reduce flaming and high flame temperatures created by burning RP. Candidate material coatings shall not affect RP burn rates, reduce the yield, optical (e.g. visible or infrared) screening performance or adversely affect mechanical properties when pressed into pellets.8 Care must be taken to select chemicals and formulations that are compatible with RP and oxidizers, such as NaNO3, CsNO3, SrNO3, and KNO3. 9-11 Candidate materials and application processes shall not create additional hazards such as degrading RP or increasing the formation of phosphine gas while in storage, and both the materiel solution and combustion byproducts shall not increase the toxicity of RP.11 The materials and process developed under Phase I shall result in two pounds of bulk, treated RP. Materials developed under Phase I shall be delivered to the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center for material testing and further study. An extensive review of candidate materials and application technologies shall be presented along with an analysis of alternatives for the top three candidate materials. The analysis of alternatives shall address issues such as: technological barriers and factors affecting application, material and process costs, material performance, durability, feasibility to scale up and cost. The decision path to select the top alternative material and process solution shall be presented. Highly-rated proposals are anticipated to provide the necessary details and mechanism of operation for evaluators to fully understand the proposed approach, including any literature references and similar or preliminary work that would demonstrate a successful application. The materials and processes developed under Phase I shall result in two pounds of bulk, treated RP.

PHASE II: Scale up the process to produce batches of one-hundred pound increments or greater within a 24-hour period, or as a continuous process producing one-hundred pounds within a 24-hour period, while maintaining the same or better performances and efficiencies developed and demonstrated in Phase I. A successful Phase II will demonstrate scale-up to production of the processes and materials that were proven in Phase I. This phase shall produce as a deliverable a minimum of one-hundred pounds of treated, bulk RP. This production process must be representative of the final industrial process.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The techniques developed in this program can be integrated into current and future military obscurant applications. Inhibitors to reduce flame and incendiary effects of RP munitions will improve safe deployment, reduce potential personnel hazards and increase the locations where RP obscurants may be used. RP flame inhibitors will further reduce hazards related to handling, transportation and manufacture of this necessary obscurant. This technology could have application in other DoD interest areas including high explosives, fuel/air explosives and decontamination. Industrial applications are immediately realizable to improve the safety of bulk RP used in the manufacture of flame retardant plastics, chemical processes, flame inhibitors for electronics, and others.

REFERENCES:

1. Anthony, J. Steven, et al. No. ECBC-TR-511. Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground MD, (2006).

2. Hastie, J. W. Molecular basis of flame inhibition. Journal of Research; 77, (1973), 733-754.

3. Brown, N. J. Halogen kinetics pertinent to flame inhibition: A Review. ACS Symposium Series; 16, (1975), 341-75.

4. Babushok, V. I., Deglmann, P., Krämer, R., & Linteris, G. T. Influence of Antimony-Halogen Additives on Flame Propagation. Combustion Science and Technology, (2016).

5. Morgan AB. A review of transition metal-based flame retardants: transition metal oxide/salts, and complexes. ACS Symposium; 1013, (2009), 312–28.

6. Weaver, David P., and T. Singh. Kinetic Mechanisms for Ionization and Afterburning Suppression. Ft. Belvoir: Defense Technical Information Center; (1987). http://handle.dtic.mil/100.2/ADA189219.

7. National Institute of Science and Technology, publications library: https://www.nist.gov/publications

8. Bohren, C.F.; Huffman, D.R.; Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles; Wiley-Interscience, New York, (1983).

9. Ramsey, R. S.; Moneyhun, J. H.; Holmberg, R. W.; Chemical and physical characterization of XM819 red phosphorus formulation and the aerosol produced by its combustion. ORNL/TM-9941; (1985), Order No. 86007079.

10. Zheng, Fu-xing; Wang, Xuan-yu; Song, Li; Wang, Xiao-yang; Effects of oxidants of RP smoke to anti-10.6 µm laser. Hanneng Cailiao; 15(2), (2007), 155-157.

11. Gautam, G. K.; Joshi, A. D.; Joshi, S. A.; Arya, P. R.; Somayajulu, M. R.; Radiometric screening of red phosphorus smoke for its obscuration characteristics. Defence Science Journal; 56(3), (2006), 377-381.

12. Marrs, T.C.; Colgrave, H.F.; Edginton, J.A.G.; Rice, P.; Cross, N.L.; The toxicity of a red phosphorus smoke after repeated inhalation; Journal of Hazardous Materials; 22 (3), (1989), 269-82.

KEYWORDS: Visible and Infrared obscuration, safety, phosphorus, obscurants, flame inhibition, flame retardation, incendiary

A18-056

TITLE: Metal Composite Flakes Containing Novel 2D Materials for Advanced Obscuration

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): 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 5.4.c.(8) of the Announcement.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a low-cost manufacturing process for the production of metal composite flakes/discs for use as visible and infrared obscurants. The composite flakes/discs shall incorporate a two-dimensional (2D) material that: 1) enhances/retains the conductivity of the metal flake/disc, 2) provides a degree of attenuation in the visible region, and 3) provides a means of enhancing deagglomeration, dispersion, and aerosolization. Potential 2D material candidates may include but are not limited to graphene, Xenes (phosphorene, silicene, borophene, germanene, stanene), MXenes (Ti2C, Ti3C2, Ti4C3, and others), MAX phases (conducting carbides and nitrides), and transition metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, MoSe2, WSe2, and MoTe2). These composite flake/disc materials shall have an electrical conductivity on the order of iron, although a conductivity on the order of copper is preferred. 2D materials have been extensively researched in the last decade due their excellent electronic properties. These properties are attributed to the electrons having confined movement in the lateral 2D plane, while movement in the z-direction is restricted. The inherent conductivity provided by the 2D material shall serve to enhance the infrared obscuring capabilities of the flake/disc. Additionally, the 2D material should be appropriately chosen so as to provide attenuation in the visible region of the spectrum, i.e. via absorption. Finally, the 2D material should provide a means of mitigating particle agglomeration, so that aerosolization is maximized during the dissemination process. Dissemination approaches for the newly developed material shall include pneumatic (e.g. smoke generator) or explosive (e.g. grenade) techniques. In terms of the flake/disc design, the 2D material shall be an integrated component with the metal flake/disc. There are two essential dimensional requirements for the flakes produced. First, the length requirement is vital for achieving the desired electromagnetic properties. The distribution must be relatively narrow with a major lateral dimension of about 3 µm (D50, with a D10 of 2 µm and D90 of 4 µm) in order to produce a strong resonance within the FIR atmospheric transmission window (8 to 12 µm). Second, flake thicknesses should be as thin as possible within the constraints of flake production. This may prove to be in the vicinity of 20-50 nm, although an ideal thickness of 1-2 nm is desired.

DESCRIPTION: Smoke and obscurants play a crucial role in protecting the Warfighter by decreasing the electromagnetic signature that is detectable by various sensors, seekers, trackers, optical enhancement devices and the human eye. Recent advances in materials science now enable the production of precisely engineered obscurants with nanometer level control over particle size and shape. Numerical modeling and many measured results on metal flakes affirm that more than order of magnitude increases over current performance levels are possible if high aspect-ratio conductive flakes/discs can be effectively disseminated as an un-agglomerated aerosol cloud.

CURRENT STATUS: In spite of numerous publications, no one has yet demonstrated the IR optical attenuation efficiencies that would result from high conductivity coatings that are continuous along any metallic flake substrate having an appropriate narrow length distribution. Currently, the best obscurants for IR attenuation are comprised of brass flakes, which have an extinction cross-section/unit mass of 1.4 m2/g.

PHASE I: Demonstrate with samples an ability to produce metal composite flakes with major dimensions of 3 µm (D50, with a D10 of 2 µm and D90 of 4 µm) in length, thicknesses of 20-50 nm (though 1-2 nm would be ideal), and conductivity of iron or better (>10^5 mho/cm). Demonstrate that considerations have been made to effectively disseminated as an un-agglomerated aerosol cloud. No less than (5) 1-gm samples shall be provided to ECBC for evaluation.

PHASE II: Demonstrate that the process is scalable by providing 5 single manufacturing batches of 1-kg samples with no loss in performance, no increase in agglomeration, and no increase in dispersion capability from that achieved with the Phase I samples. Explore additional 2D materials that may enhance performance capabilities, using lessons learned from Phase I research. In Phase II, a design of manufacturing process to commercialize the concept should be developed. Cost considerations should be addressed to ensure that materials are competitive with or less expensive than existing Eckhart Richgold 4000 flakes.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The techniques developed in this program can be integrated into current and future military obscurant applications. Improved grenades and other munitions are needed to reduce the current logistics burden of countermeasures to protect the soldier and associated equipment. This technology could have application in other Department of Defense interest areas including high explosives, fuel/air explosives and decontamination. Improved separation techniques can be beneficial for all powdered materials in the metallurgy, ceramic, pharmaceutical and fuel industries. Industrial applications could include electronics, fuel cells/batteries, furnaces and others.

REFERENCES:

1. Bohren, C.F.; Huffman, D.R.; Absorption and Scattering of Light by Small Particles; Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1983.

2. Huang, Wenjuan, Lin Gan, Huiqiao Li, Ying Ma, and Tianyou Zhai. "2D layered group IIIA metal chalcogenides: synthesis, properties and applications in electronics and optoelectronics." CrystEngComm 18, no. 22 (2016): 3968-3984.

3. Embury, Janon; Maximizing Infrared Extinction Coefficients for Metal Discs, Rods, and Spheres, ECBC-TR-226, Feb 2002, ADA400404, 77 Page(s)

4. Obscurant Applications, S. Johnson, ISN Review, MIT, June 2012.

5. Carvalho, A., Wang, M., Zhu, X., Rodin, A.S., Su, H. Neto, “Phosphorene: from theory to applications”, Nature Reviews Materials 1, 16061, 2016.