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| CSA Engineering, GrammaTech, Pikewerks Corporation, PRICE Systems, Radiance Technologies, Space Micro, and Starsys are featured in SBIR success stories | Seven new SBIR success stories have been posted to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders).
CSA Engineering, Inc., located in Mountain View, California, developed tools to simulate the coupling between gossamer space structures and spacecraft attitude control systems; also, a multiple secondary payload adapter was designed and fabricated for an Air Force flight experiment for use as a satellite bus. The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) ring used on the DSX experiment is a low-cost spacecraft bus alternative for multiple missions on a common launch vehicle. The Air Force needs a system to provide increased spacecraft vibration isolation while achieving rocking modal dynamics above the minimal values determined by the launch vehicle guidance, navigation, and control systems. The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project.
GrammaTech, Inc., located in Ithaca, New York, has developed new technology that alleviates the extra costs involved in constructing systems that incorporate reconfigurable hardware. The technology frees the developer from the burden of joint software/hardware design and development, allowing system prototyping to be performed completely within the software domain. GrammaTech’s software partitioning tool can be used to automatically partition the software into separate components that will either be targeted at reconfigurable hardware or remain within the software domain. The AFRL Sensors Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Pikewerks Corporation, located in Alexandria, Virginia, developed Electronic Armor®, which is an operating system kernel-based software protection technology that prevents piracy, reverse engineering, and tampering of critical software applications on Linux, Windows, VxWorks, Red Hawk Linux, and Solaris. The kernel-based protections are supplemented by programmable commercial off-the-shelf hardware that stores and executes critical information and data out-of-band to the adversary. Applications that can be protected include desktop and workstation software applications, real-time embedded system software, high performance computing applications, and sensor systems. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Sensors Directorate.
PRICE Systems, L.L.C., located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, is developing a new cost modeling framework based on Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) which allows easier integration of cost models to other modeling environments. Known as the Life Cycle Interoperability Framework (LCIF), this information technology allows an analyst to establish a cost basis for a program or project and carry that basis throughout the life of the project seamlessly based on SOA concepts. The LCIF should be of interest to system designers, system engineers, and cost estimators who are interested in cost and effort as an output or a constraint. The AFRL Materials & Manufacturing Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Radiance Technologies Inc., located in Huntsville, Alabama, developed a way to sense vibrational reverse engineering attacks, such as non-invasive Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM)-enabled attacks, and invasive attacks such as milling and grinding. Micro-cantilever beams were utilized in a Dual Inline Package (DIP) implementation, and the integrative approach for Micro-Electro Mechanical System (MEMS)-based anti-tamper sensors incorporated scintillation technology to detect radiological stimuli for a true multi-mode sensor. The micro-beams are rugged, require little to no maintenance, and are well suited to hostile or difficult-to-access environments. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Sensors Directorate.
Space Micro Inc., located in San Diego, California, developed a radiation-hardened star tracker that has broad range applications due to its radiation hardness, improved performance during space craft slew, small size and weight, and affordability. It uses an advanced complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel sensor (APS) rather than a charge-coupled device (CCD), as well as an advanced, high performance space computer, providing radiation hardness that makes it ideal for high orbit, longer duration missions. This star tracker’s small size and weight make it ideal for smaller satellites, Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) class satellites, and nanosatellites. The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Starsys, Inc., located in Louisville, Colorado, developed the Three-Dimensional Deployable Articulated Boom System (3DABS). This is an innovative new technology that will enable Air Force mission planners and instrument designers to provide space-based capabilities. The 3DABS structure expands in width, height, and length as it deploys, providing a large area system that is structurally deeper than traditional systems. At the heart of the 3DABS lies the Starsys Jackscrew Deployed Boom, the applications of which include the deployment of antenna systems, blanket type solar arrays, gravity gradient masses, attitude control thrusters, and optical instruments. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate. | 9/1/2010 | View |
| SBIR successes by CleverSet, Firehole Technologies, MZA Associates Corporation, Ontar Corporation, and X-COM Systems | Five new SBIR success stories have been posted to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders).
CleverSet, Inc., located in Corvallis, Oregon, designed a Level 2 Case-Based Reasoner (L2CBR) plug-in to software developed by The Design Knowledge Company, which allows the user to build a specific view of a situation as a User Definable Operational Picture (UDOP) using an Eclipse plug-in. The objectivel is to integrate Mixed-Initiative, User-Driven Data Fusion and other problem support approaches to enhance Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and warfighter capability. The CleverSet L2CBR allows users to perform case-based reasoning using incoming data, allowing analysts to make sense of these data and to identify developing situations. The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Air and space-borne systems require the storage, transport, and dispensing of large amounts of cryogenic fluids. Firehole Technologies, Inc., located in Laramie, Wyoming, developed an innovative analysis procedure to predict deformation and failure of unlined composite tanks containing cryogenic fluids. The analysis focuses on identifying the development of cracks in the composite matrix material, as these cracks can cause leakage of the cryogenic fluid. The Firehole Technologies analysis procedure allows an optimal design to be developed while avoiding a costly empirical (“make and break”) approach. This project is managed by the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate.
Adaptive optics (AO) beam control is required for aircraft-based laser directed energy systems to maintain laser optical quality while traversing the path from aircraft to target. The system degradation associated with AO latency can be reduced by use of adaptive control, which implements a predictive adjustment to the current update of the deformable mirror. MZA Associates Corporation, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, developed an adaptive control method that can be incorporated into any wavefront control processor, thereby doubling the laser irradiance delivered to targets from the laser system as compared to conventional control methods. The AFRL Directed Energy Directorate manages this SBIR project.
The Department of Defense is aggressively pursuing unified Force Health Protection and Deployment Health strategies to protect service members and their families from health hazards associated with military service. Ontar Corporation, located in North Andover, Massachusetts, developed a system, called Training and Education Network on Request (TENOR), that will provide advanced distributed learning, simulation-based training, and computer game technologies to support proactive preventative medicine. TENOR allows an author to create and integrate two and three dimensional (2D/3D) flash and 3D simulation microgames, including performance metrics, and then to distribute the training for student completion. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Human Effectiveness Directorate.
There is a need for a data acquisition system capable of sampling and recording radio frequency (RF) emissions with high fidelity and capable of reproducing captured RF signals with an instantaneous RF bandwidth up to 6 GHz. X-COM Systems, LLC, located in Reston, Virginia, developed a comprehensive system for acquisition, storage, and playback of wideband RF signals known as the Wideband Acquisition, Record and Playback (WARP™) system. The WARP system consists of ultra-high speed RF to digital converters and miniature memory controllers capable of handling 12 GSPS with compact size and low power. WARP makes it possible to capture a virtually unlimited variety of very precise RF signals simply and quickly, resulting in both cost and time savings when developing advanced electronic warfare and communication systems. The AFRL Sensors Directorate manages this SBIR project. | 8/3/2010 | View |
| 3rd Quarter 2010 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter | The 3rd Quarter 2010 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter is posted to the Electronic Library (see the SBIR/STTR Advantage folder). The feature article highlights PC Krause and Associates' accomplishments in developing a variable-fidelity, multi-physics modeling, simulation, and analysis capability. The Air Force Research Laboratory's Propulsion Directorate manages this SBIR project.
The AFRL Directed Energy Directorate (AFRL/RD) is featured in the SBIR Perspectives section. Ms. Cynthia H. Kaiser, Chief Engineer, and Dr. David W. Price, Senior Research Physicist, provide insights concerning AFRL/RD's SBIR topic identification, technology transition, and small business workshops and networking events. In the SBIR Spotlight section, Stellar Science Ltd is recognized for its developmental work in extracting three-dimensional measurements from two-dimensional imagery. | 7/7/2010 | View |
| Alliance Spacesystems, Space Micro, and sysRAND Corporation highlighted in SBIR success stories | Three new SBIR success stories have been posted to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders).
Alliance Spacesystems, LLC, located in Pasadena, California, developed a man-portable automated dynamic cone penetrometer, called the “Mosquito," which uses a feedback-controlled linear actuator that provides a consistent driving impact to a specially designed penetrometer. The Mosquito produces measurements of soil hardness and outputs California Bearing Ratio (CBR) versus depth to a light-emitting diode (LED) display and to a Cursor on Target (CoT) schema Extensible Markup Language (XML) file and a tab-delimited file. The AFRL Materials & Manufacturing Directorate manages this SBIR project. In January 2010, Alliance Spacesystems became part of MDA Information Systems, Inc.
Space Micro Inc., located in San Diego, California, developed a forward error correction integrated circuit (FEC IC) that is radiation hardened without sacrificing significant performance, which is ideal for space based high data rate laser and radio frequency (RF) communication links. The FEC IC technology displays extremely low bit error rates, and utilizes a fully synchronous logic design with global clock enabled and either synchronous or asynchronous global reset for flexible clocking, interfacing, and system integration. This technology is particularly flexible due to its programmability and low-power needs, making it ideal for large satellites as well as the increasing number of small and nano satellites. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Information Directorate.
sysRAND Corporation, located in Parker, Colorado, developed a Space Plug and Play Avionics (SPA) interface which elaborates Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocols with an out-of-band maintenance bus, avionics power, a systolic pulse-per-second, and other features. sysRAND applied commercial, industrial, and avionics standards and best practices to extend and enhance the existing SPA-U Plug and Play serial bus. The company enhanced the SPA concept with a clean-sheet Debug Monitor based on prior sysRAND remote servicing experience. When coupled with workstation-based tools, the Debug Monitor can support the entire life cycle of a spacecraft from concept through decommissioning. The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project. | 7/6/2010 | View |
| SBIR success stories feature Farr Research, HYTEC, Lite Machines Corporation, Space Micro Inc., and Variation Reduction Solutions, Inc. | Five new SBIR success stories now appear within the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders).
Farr Research, Inc., located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, developed a Microwave Pulse Compressor (MPC) system, which is a method of concentrating and amplifying the power of a microwave pulse by reducing its duration. The compressed pulse has a higher peak power and smaller pulse width than the original pulse from the magnetron, successfully emulating a much higher power source. The system will be used to test the response of electronic systems to microwaves. The AFRL Directed Energy Directorate manages this SBIR project.
HYTEC, Inc., located in Los Alamos, New Mexico, responded to an Air Force SBIR requirement for a bonded warhead fragment concept that has desired penetration and other weapons effects, such as high energy release and pyrophoricity. HYTEC selected Tantalum (Ta) for high density and penetration ability, Zirconium (Zr) for pyrophoricity/weapons effects, and Niobium (Nb) to bridge between the Ta and Zr – an "interlayer." The ability to routinely produce, at low cost and in high volume. weapon subsystems which have high penetrability and high energy release could readily complement new weapon designs. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Munitions Directorate.
Lite Machines Corporation, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, worked on an Air Force SBIR project focused on obtaining enabling technologies to develop and design a micro air platform for Bomb Impact Assessment (BIA) and reconnaissance in a cluttered urban environment. Lite Machines developed the electric powered Voyeur unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for BIA use. Voyeur's coaxial rotor system allows the UAV to hover and maneuver in the same way as a helicopter. The AFRL Munitions Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Space Micro Inc., located in San Diego, California, developed the Proton200k™ Command, Power, and Data Handling (P200k CP&DH) system, which is a highly modular, radiation hardened avionics suite that can provide central power distribution and payload management functions. The primary purpose of Space Micro’s P200k CP&DH avionics suite is to support a flight mission incorporating a target simulation payload that will transmit data where errors are unacceptable. Due to its modularity, small size, low power consumption, and radiation hardness, it is ideal for the growing number of nano, micro, and small satellite systems that have very specific mission needs. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate.
Variation Reduction Solutions, Inc. (VRSI), located in Plymouth, Michigan, teamed with other companies to design, build, and demonstrate a production prototype Inlet Duct Robotic Drilling (IDRD) cell that was able to robotically drill an F-35 Carrier Variant (CV) left hand inlet duct. As a direct result of the work accomplished creating the inlet duct drilling cell, the Air Force Research Laboratory's Manufacturing Technology Division and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) have started two Phase III SBIR spin-offs from this technology. Three F-35 Inlet Duct Robotic Drilling (IDRD) cells are being transitioned to the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program. The AFRL Materials & Manufacturing Directorate manages this SBIR project. | 6/11/2010 | View |
| 2nd Quarter 2010 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter | The 2nd Quarter 2010 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter is posted to the Electronic Library (see the SBIR/STTR Advantage folder). The feature article highlights Trident Systems Incorporated which deigned a Collaboration Gateway system for use by the defense and intelligence communities, thereby enabling secure cross-domain information sharing and
real-time collaboration. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Information Directorate.
The SBIR Perspectives section focuses on the Air Vehicles Directorate. Dr. José Camberos and Mr. Larry Byram provide information about the directorate's SBIR-related business practices. The SBIR Spotlight section recognizes the accomplishments of four Air Force SBIR small business firms: Michigan Aerospace Corporation; Nanohmics, Inc.; Nokomis, Inc.; and Star Technologies Corporation.
| 5/14/2010 | View |
| Cornerstone Research Group, Impact Technologies, MACH I, Polatin Corporation, and Real-Time Innovations featured in SBIR/STTR success stories | Five SBIR success stories have been posted to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders).
Cornerstone Research Group, Inc., located in Dayton, Ohio, developed and optimized shape memory polymer (SMP) mandrel materials and processes for rapid fabrication of complex and trapped geometry composites, including high-temperature materials for aerospace applications. CRG has contracts with several commercial companies, including a prime defense contractor, and CRG’s Smart Tooling is also the sole tooling system used in production of an eight-foot fuselage in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) application. For CRG’s customers, the Smart Tooling product line averages more than 75% cost savings over conventional tooling systems. The AFRL Materials & Manufacturing Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Impact Technologies, LLC, located in Rochester, New York, developed the Automated Contingency and Life Management (ACLM) for integrated propulsion and power systems. This technology uses propulsion health management (PHM) diagnoses and prognoses as input to the Adaptive Intelligent Control (AIC) module which, in turn, provides supervisory level commands to the propulsion system to optimize performance and mitigate the effects of anomalous operation. This ACLM technology is being targeted for the growing unmanned air vehicle (UAV) market as well as manned aircraft propulsion and power systems. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Propulsion Directorate.
MACH I, Inc., located in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, responded to an AFRL Propulsion Directorate - West requirement for higher performing solid propellants for use on space access and strategic and tactical missile systems. MACH I improved the ignition and combustion characteristics of boron by employing the company’s proprietary magnesium-boron composites (MgB). The research results show that adding magnesium to boron to form a MgxBy composite (via MACH I’s proprietary process) improves ignition by reducing ignition temperature from ~2000 to ~1100 K, improves combustion rate (by 46%), and maintains ultimate delivered energy. MgB is ideally suited for use as a fuel in thermobaric explosives.
Polatin Corporation, located in New Hartford, New York, developed a fast, first-principles radar simulator capable of generating coherent returns from virtually any terrain clutter environment. The processing speed is orders of magnitudes faster than currently available simulators, and the run times are achieved using inexpensive, commercial off-the-shelf computers. This technology could readily be incorporated into sensor simulators for use in training pilots and other key operational personnel as well as for fast radar signature simulation software in the commercial sensor and avionics manufacturing communities. The AFRL Munitions Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Real-Time Innovations (RTI), located in Sunnyvale, California, developed the RTI Data Distribution Service (DDS), Safety-Critical Edition, which is a small-footprint implementation of the Object Management Group (OMG) DDS standard to meet the Air Force’s requirements for a middleware that can run on small hardware. This middleware provides a static discovery of components, allowing new components to be configured in the system and discovered when they run. The Safety-Critical Edition provides a high performance, application-layer messaging infrastructure that enables easy integration between distributed components of avionics systems, including sensors, actuators, displays, and ground-control stations. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate. | 5/6/2010 | View |
| SBIR success stories highlight Barron Associates, Imagination Engines, and QUEST Integrated | Three SBIR success stories have been posted to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders).
Barron Associates, Inc., located in Charlottesville, Virginia, responded to a SBIR project, managed by the AFRL Air Vehicles Directorate, to utilize morphing technologies to expand aircraft flight envelopes and achieve mission-level benefits through the resulting large-scale geometrical changes. Barron Associates addressed these needs by developing a control architecture consisting of (1) adaptive wing-shape control, (2) adaptive flight control, and (3) integrated command generation. This dual-use technology can address military performance objectives of extended range, maneuver envelope expansion, stealth, and multi-role capability from a single aircraft.
Imagination Engines, Inc., (IEI) located in St. Charles, Missouri, completed a SBIR project, managed by the AFRL Munitions Directorate, aimed at helping provide creative terrain sensing and multi-valued behavior fusion algorithms for mobile autonomous robots. IEI developed a graphical programming tool in LabVIEW that allows the rapid development and refinement of robotic control systems based upon the company's extensive patent suite. In the course of this SBIR project, the feed forward speed of these neural network objects has been increased by as much as a factor of ten through the use of General Purpose Graphical Programming Units (GPGPUs).
QUEST Integrated, Inc., located in Kent, Washington, completed a SBIR project managed by Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. QUEST developed the Induction Thermography System (ITSTM), which operates by inductively heating the aluminum honeycomb at the bond interface with a radio frequency (RF) wand. The ITSTM technology has been credited with saving an F-15 vertical stabilizer that had been condemned by a tap test. NASA has purchased two systems, and two major contractors have purchased units for testing the next generation of composite-based commercial aircraft. | 4/15/2010 | View |
| Aerius Photonics, Anasphere, FMW Composite Systems, Impact Technologies, and KaZaK Composites recognized in SBIR success stories | Five new SBIR success stories have been added to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders).
Aerius Photonics, LLC, located in Ventura, California, successfully applied a new semiconductor laser technology, named Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL), to pulsed laser radar and rangefinders and demonstrated high continuous-wave laser output powers for pumping applications. By leveraging the Phase II VCSEL technology in a follow-on Phase III project, Aerius Photonics was able to develop a short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) laser illuminator system that is now used in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program. The AFRL Munitions Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Military planners need accurate specification and prediction of meteorological conditions. The balloon-borne payload releases dropsondes based on Anasphere’s AnaSonde-2G radiosondes, which return pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction data. Data from the dropsondes is received by the launcher payload and relayed via satellite to a remote server. The Anasphere (Bozeman, Montana) SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate.
The AFRL Propulsion Directorate - West manages a SBIR project to reduce the inert weight of missile systems in order to raise the mass fraction for propulsion and, in turn, increase both missile range and payloads. FMW Composite Systems, located in Bridgeport, West Virginia, developed a new class of nano-enhanced titanium alloys, via an innovative powder metallurgy process, that has much improved mechanical properties. The specific bearing strength of the new nano-enhanced Ti-6Al-4V alloy was shown to be 90% greater than the baseline aluminum alloy and 40% greater than the baseline titanium alloy.
The Air Force has a requirement to improve turbine engine vibration monitoring in order to provide more accurate health assessments of their engines. The system developed by Impact Technologies, LLC (Rochester, New York) predicts the current health of a critical set of aircraft engine and accessory components, namely bearings, gears and shafts. This Phase II SBIR, originally sponsored by JSF (F-35), is being targeted for implementation on maintenance test cells, as well as at-wing and on-board applications. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Propulsion Directorate.
Lattice fin technology provides the Air Force with enhanced ability to compactly package deployable control surfaces used on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and weapons. KaZaK Composites, Inc., located in Woburn, Massachusetts, developed a new manufacturing approach for both metallic and metal/composite hybrid fins that meets both structural and aerodynamic requirements. KaZaK's manufacturing technology demonstrated a factor of 10X cost reduction compared to pre-SBIR industry baselines. The AFRL Munitions Directorate manages this SBIR project. | 3/27/2010 | View |
| SBIR success stories feature Blue Wave Semiconductors, LRK Associates Incorporated, Optical Physics Company, and Photodigm | Four new SBIR success stories have been added to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders):
The Air Force requires high performance, broadband coatings on satellite solar arrays to protect the coverglass and the underlying solar cell in high radiation orbits. In response to this need, Blue Wave Semiconductors, Inc., located in Columbia, Maryland, developed a combinatorial library of radiation resistant materials and compatible processes for coating on the coverglass as well as directly on the solar cell. This technology can reduce darkening of solar cell coverglasses, thus potentially lengthening the lifetime of the solar cell, allowing for longer space missions. Being optically transparent, this technology can also be applied to space-based optics, windows, and optoelectronic components. The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project.
The Air Force solicited ideas for speeding up light simulation calculations to break the limitations imposed by use of Fourier propagation techniques. Under a SBIR project managed by the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate, LRK Associates Incorporated, located in West Linn, Oregon, developed such an algorithm, demonstrating comparable accuracy combined with speed-ups that range from 4 to 10, dependent upon problem size. Although the speed advantage of the new propagator is important on existing problems, the new propagator completely breaks with the boundary condition structure of the Fourier techniques, and this opens the door to investigation of propagation in new scenarios. A new computational framework for parabolized light propagation has been established by this research with its potential yet to be fully realized.
The Air Force needs to develop compensation techniques to correct High Energy Laser (HEL) wavefronts for phase distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence. Optical Physics
Company, located in Calabasas, California, developed a technique to measure the Green’s Function Inversion (GFI) and apply it to deep turbulence conditions to achieve high quality hit spots on the target. The process provides for high quality wavefront correction, as well as aim point selection and maintenance, through GFI Imaging; GFI imaging is a breakthrough in itself, supporting Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and intelligence activity. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate.
The Air Force needs a versatile laser target simulator (LTS) to be integrated into the test loop to make sure that seeker systems, used in laser guided weapons, perform according to specifications. Photodigm Inc., located in Richardson, Texas, developed a LTS system which was built around the firm’s proprietary high-power, single-frequency Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) lasers. This improved LTS system has several advantages over the neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) Q-switch lasers currently used in the field. The development of the LTS system under this SBIR program led to the successful transition of similar systems being sold to several manufacturers of seeker systems. The AFRL Munitions Directorate manages this SBIR project. | 2/27/2010 | View |
| 1st Quarter 2010 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter | The 1st Quarter 2010 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter is posted to the Electronic Library (see the SBIR/STTR Advantage folder). Third Wave Systems, Inc., is featured for its improved titanium machining process, which was developed under a SBIR project managed by the AFRL Materials & Manufacturing Directorate.
The AFRL Sensors Directorate is highlighed in the SBIR Perspectives section. Dr. Brian M. Kent, ST, Chief Scientist, and other Sensors Directorate members provide insights into SBIR-related business practices. The SBIR Spotlight section focuses on the accomplishments of four Air Force SBIR small business firms: Acree Technologies Incorporated; Aerodyne Research, Inc.; Aptima, Inc.; and Boston Applied Technologies, Inc. | 1/11/2010 | View |
| GATR Technologies and Photon-X highlighted in SBIR success stories | Two SBIR success stories have been posted to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders):
GATR Technologies Inc., located in Huntsville, Alabama, developed an antenna system (ground-based inflatable antenna) that supports high-bandwidth satellite communications at equivalent transfer rates to rigid dish systems at 1/16th the package's volume and orders of magnitude less in weight. The GATR antenna is the world’s first Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensed inflatable satellite antenna. With over 30 units deployed, GATR continues to field units which enable high-bandwidth Internet, phone and data access for deployments and projects in Afghanistan, South Africa, South America, Haiti, and Korea, as well as assisting in humanitarian efforts (hurricane disaster recovery) in the United States. The AFRL Materials & Manufacturing Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Photon-X, LLC, located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, developed a compact radiation-hardened, high-power optical amplifier under a SBIR project managed by the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate. Techniques were engineered by Photon-X to further harden and shield the commercial off-the-shelf rare earth doped fibers for space-based applications, with the radiation-hardened modules providing 2X improvement over commercially available counterparts without any shielding. As a result of the SBIR program, Photon-X now offers a wide range of unique radiation-hardened optical modules for a variety of applications to be deployed in both natural and man-made radiation environments.
| 1/11/2010 | View |
| SBIR Successes by Appareo Systems, Barron Associates, CAP Wireless, Nokomis, and Space Micro | The following SBIR success stories have been posted to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders):
Appareo Systems LLC, located in Fargo, North Dakota, developed the Head Attitude Tracking System (HATS), a head-mounted system based on an ultrashort baseline Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and a miniaturized tightly coupled GPS inertial navigation system. HATS provides the first viable solution for measuring the dismounted warfighter’s head position and attitude and avoids implementation challenges and technical shortfalls of earlier systems. Appareo has been able to use several of the technology components derived from the HATS system in other projects, including a lightweight Flight Data Management device for light and legacy aircraft as well as for products being developed for the U.S. Army and Ultra Electronics (UK). The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Human Effectiveness Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Barron Associates, Inc., located in Charlottesville, Virginia, developed the safety-assurance Run-Time Verification and Validation (RTVV) system which continually monitors advanced components and, if necessary, switches to a simpler, reversionary mode to provide a “graceful degradation” capability. Other potential applications include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operating in Federal Aviation Administration designated airspace, automated aerial refueling of swarms of UAVs, and automated ground and collision avoidance systems. This SBIR led to several teaming opportunities between Barron Associates and Lockheed Martin in support of AFRL’s overarching Flight Critical System Software Initiative (FCSSI). This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Air Vehicles Directorate.
Under a SBIR project managed by the AFRL Sensors Directorate, CAP Wireless, Inc., located in Newbury Park, California, produced an innovative prototype, successfully demonstrating a Gallium Nitride (GaN) Solid-State Power Amplifier (SSPA) with 150W continuous wave power and 35% power added efficiency covering the X-Band. This technology has high potential to meet an established requirement for the B-1B Bomber Defensive Self-Protection Avionics Subsystem (the AN/ALQ-161A Radio Frequency Surveillance/Electronic Countermeasures Subsystem, or RFS/ECMS). The planned and ongoing transition program is a four-year multi-million dollar effort involving CAP Wireless, AFRL, and the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center.
Nokomis, Inc., located in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, has developed technology to aid in the improved detection of electronic targets used in Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks. The Remote-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Detection Identification and Classification Algorithms (RADICAL) program is a unique approach to IED defeat that enhances Nokomis’ patented Advanced Electromagnetic Location of Electronic Devices (AELED) technology by adding phenomenologically based plug-in modules for detection and geo-location. The primary objective of the RADICAL program is to provide ground forces operating in urban and complex terrain with information concerning the presence, type, and location of IED associated electronics in real-time. Nokomis has transitioned this technology into SBIR Phase II and Phase III contracts with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), the Navy, and the Air Force. The AFRL Sensors Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Space Micro Inc., located in San Diego, California, designed and developed a Radiation Hardened Internet Protocol Encryptor (RH-IPE) that is capable of encryption rates beyond 10Gbps and will have a flight lifetime greater than 10 years. The technology is based on a highly redundant architecture, where all critical functions are performed in parallel using similar logic that operate independently, with all critical decisions compared by redundant check functions to assure 100% consistency of results. It is ideal for any advanced space-based communication system, particularly laser communication, which has high data rates and requires encryption for transmitting sensitive information. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Information Directorate. | 12/10/2009 | View |
| LPA Systems, Physical Optics Corporation, Star Technologies Corporation, and Stellar Science featured in Success Stories | Four SBIR success stories have been added to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders).
LPA Systems, Inc., located in Fairport, New York, developed the Hyperspectral Visualization and Spectral Exploitation (HyperVISE) suite which provides the warfighter and other primarily non-scientific users with the capability to effectively and simply use hyperspectral imagery. LPA Eco-View™, a HyperVISE derivative product, is now being utilized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Environmental Protection Agency in a number of current and prospective applications. The AFRL Information Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Physical Optics Corporation, located in Torrance, California, developed a Solid-State Mini-Marx (SSMM) lightweight pulsed-power generator. This technology will have a significant potential impact on the Air Force’s development of airborne and ground-based radar systems and high-power microwave systems. This project is managed by the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate.
Star Technologies Corporation, located in Great Falls, Virginia, developed the Mission Design and Analysis Tool (MDAAT), which is a collection of software and utilities designed for automation to foster quick development of Plug-N-Play (PnP) Satellite hardware and software such as attitude control system design, hardware placement and orientation, and ground systems. MDAAT makes a new “concept to launch” paradigm possible, as it allows for the automation of different analyses required for quick satellite creation and launch. The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Stellar Science Ltd Co., located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, developed a software prototype tool that computes three-dimensional (3D) measurements of satellite geometry from a series of two-dimensional (2D) images. This new capability can out-perform the existing Space Situational Awareness image mensuration techniques, and Stellar Science is working with the Air Force to transition this technology into operational use. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate. | 11/18/2009 | View |
| SBIR/STTR Success Stories highlight LPA Systems, Luna Innovations, Michigan Aerospace Corporation, PC Krause and Associates, and Physical Sciences | Five new success stories have been added to the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders).
LPA Systems, Inc., located in Fairport, New York, developed a simple, easy-to-use Intelligence Analyst Collaboration Tool designed to aid an image analyst in the detection, characterization, and monitoring of information. The Hardened or Deeply-Buried Target Optimization Techniques for Detecting Obscure Geomorphic States (HOTDOGS) tool encourages consistency and efficiency through analyst collaboration within a common intelligence picture. With the inclusion of HOTDOGS, the Broad-Area Multi-Intelligence Ubiquitous Surveillance Enterprise (BMUSE) solution, now under development with LPA Systems serving in a subcontractor capacity, can correlate and store intelligence derived from multiple, complementary ISR data streams. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Information Directorate.
Luna Innovations Incorporated, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, produced ultrahydrophobic coatings by incorporating hierarchical particulate additives and using sol-gel chemistries to produce corrosion protective coatings for metal surfaces. Ultrahydrophobic coatings could reduce maintenance, decrease life cycle costs, and increase readiness by limiting equipment down-time. Other potential uses include corrosion protection for metal components, anti-graffiti coatings, moisture and stain-resistant fabrics, microelectromechanical systems, and marine biofouling. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research manages this STTR project.
Michigan Aerospace Corporation, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, developed a Threat Assessment and Validation Toolset. VigiLens, Michigan Aerospace Corporations’s pattern recognition software toolset, is based on ensembles of decision trees, and it performs anomaly detection in telemetry collected from satellites and many other monitoring devices. The underlying machine learning technology is automatable and highly data-agnostic, making it cost effective for use across multiple application domains that produce telemetry. Potential additional applications include NASA telemetry, chemical plant monitoring, bioinformatics novelty detection, biomedical monitoring, water quality monitoring, industrial process control, and crew fatigue detection. The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project.
PC Krause and Associates, Inc. (PCKA), located in West Lafayette, Indiana, responded to an Air Force requirement for a variable-fidelity multi-physics modeling, simulation, and analysis capability. PCKA developed two key technologies – a partitioned finite-element (FE) technique and a variable-fidelity multi-physics simulation infrastructure – to facilitate modeling, simulation, and analysis for support of the design and optimization of large-scale systems. These technologies were selected for use in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Integrated Vehicle Energy Technology (INVENT) Demonstration Program involving 12 companies and two government facilities. In addition, the state of Indiana awarded PCKA a grant to enhance these technology capabilities from engineering tools to commercial software. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Propulsion Directorate.
Physical Sciences Inc., located in Andover, Massachusetts, demonstrated the feasibility for a fabrication method of Orientation-Patterned Gallium Arsenide (OP-GaAs) which exclusively utilizes processes available from commercial vendors. Aircraft defense against heat-seeking missiles will be considerably strengthened with high-power lasers converted into the midinfrared band. PSI is employing the technology for fabrication of OP-GaAs crystals to provide early prototype commercial production for a major U.S. aerospace prime contractor. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research manages this STTR project. | 10/21/2009 | View |
| 4th Quarter 2009 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter | The 4th Quarter 2009 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter is posted to the Electronic Library (see the SBIR/STTR Advantage folder). The feature article highlights ITCN, Inc. (Dayton, OH) for its successful SBIR project in which it developed the B-2 Avionics Bus Characterization and Integrity Toolset.
In the SBIR Perspectives section, Dr. Paul Barnes, a research physicist within the AFRL Propulsion Directorate, provides his observations with respect the Air Force SBIR program. The SBIR Spotlight section focuses on the accomplishments of three Air Force SBIR small business firms: Barron Associates, Inc. (Charlottesville, VA), SpaceWorks, Inc. (Scottsdale, AZ), and Stottler Henke Associates, Inc. (San Mateo, CA). | 10/16/2009 | View |
| MAK Technologies, Nanohmics, and Stottler Henke Associates featured in SBIR Success Stories | Please visit the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders) to view three new SBIR success stories.
MAK Technologies, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, developed QuickStrike – a realistic, deployable simulation environment that can be used to support more effective individual skill and team process training. MAK was awarded a contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory to further develop and field a simulation supported training capability at Air Support Operations Center (ASOC) squadrons. The institutional adoption of QuickStrike for ASOC training represents a major shift away from heavyweight wargaming systems that require large staffs to execute expensive and infrequent exercises, towards a lightweight, user-driven, deployable system. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Human Effectiveness Directorate, Warfighter Readiness Research Division, Mesa, Arizona.
Nanohmics, Inc., located in Austin, Texas, developed and tested hardware and algorithms for determination and discrimination of different target materials under coherent illumination in the near IR, over Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL)-relevant atmospheric propagation paths, and designed a target identification system that can be utilized in experiments. The data obtained during this program led to the design of an Optical Target Identification System (OTIS) for both the Airborne Laser and Advanced Tactical Laser programs. This instrument exceeds the performance of the Air Force Research Laboratory scatter instrument at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and is presently being used to provide scatter measurement and surface analysis services to industry and academia. The AFRL Directed Energy Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Stottler Henke Associates, Inc., located in San Mateo, California, developed WARCON (a WARgame CONstruction toolset for military simulations) which has a set of software authoring components that enables developers to quickly synthesize wargames for present-day Air Force curricula needs. WARCON enables subject matter experts to fine tune entity behaviors using a simplified authoring interface. WARCON’s features include visual authoring, a collaborative authoring assistant, and intelligent entity simulation. WARCON is currently used at the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) for teaching logistics mobility planning. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Information
Directorate. | 9/11/2009 | View |
| Success stories highlight accomplishments of American Semiconductor, Boston Applied Technologies, Physical Optics Corporation, Technology for Energy Corporation, and Trident Systems | We invite you to visit the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders) to view five new SBIR success stories.
American Semiconductor, Inc., located in Boise, Idaho, developed the Commercial Rad-Hard Advanced Digital Library (CRADL) which enables advanced satellite and spacecraft requirements for high chip density, low power, high speed, and inherent radiation tolerance. CRADL libraries are designed on American Semiconductor’s Flexfet™ advanced Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate.
In another SBIR project managed by he AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate, Boston Applied Technologies, Inc., located in Woburn, Massachusetts, developed, built, and tested a composite focal plane array (FPA) device with an arbitrary tunable spectral response, which is capable of covering the whole midwave infrared (MWIR) range. The developed device, with its capability of arbitrary tunable spectral response, can be used for target detection and reduced false alarm rate.
Physical Optics Corporation, located in Torrance, California, developed the Dual Optical Ultrawide Band Laser Eyewear Transmission (DOUBLET) Device that provides the capability to evaluate the protection levels of Laser Eye Protection (LEP) eyewear in deployed field conditions. The DOUBLET is a user-friendly graphical user interface provides step-by-step instructions for making an optical density measurement on spectacles, goggles, or visors. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Human Effectiveness Directorate (AFRL 711 HPW/RHDO, Brooks City-Base, Texas).
Technology for Energy Corporation (TEC), located in Knoxville, Tennessee, worked on a SBIR project for the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. The thrust of the project is to measure stresses in hard-to-access aircraft locations. TEC's miniaturized portable x-ray diffraction system (MAX) makes such measurements while fitting within a six-inch diameter space. With measuring times as short as 2-3 minutes, rapid and appropriate decisions can be made regarding component assessment, rework or replacement.
Trident Systems Incorporated, located in Fairfax, Virginia, was successful in accomplishing a commercialization transition on a SBIR project managed by the AFRL Information Directorate. The SBIR technology, know as Collaboration Gateway (CG), has multiple capabilities, including Secure Cross-Domain Real-time Chat and Whiteboard, support for language translation enhancing coalition operations, full National Security Agency Certification Test and Evaluation for Cross-Domain Chat, and full logging of all chat sessions. CG is being used to provide secure real-time chat capability between CENTRIX and NATO networks as well as for use by the Defense Information Systems Agency, the UK Ministry of Defence, the U.S. intelligence community, and in support of other planned deployments. | 8/14/2009 | View |
| Aptima, Starsys, and Third Wave Systems Have Successful SBIR Projects | Three new success stories are posted in the Electronic Library (see Innovation and Transition success story folders).
Aptima, Inc., located in Woburn, Massachusetts, developed the Simulation of Cultural Identities for Prediction of Reactions (SCIPR) tool to allow planners to predict how attitudes may change in response to certain events. SCIPR enables users to ask what-if questions in order to gauge the effects of alternative courses of action on the identities and belief systems of friends, foes, and those in between. The SCIPR prototype is currently being evaluated by a Joint operational command. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Human Effectiveness Directorate.
Starsys, Inc., located in Louisville, Colorado, developed a state-of-the-art canisterless articulated boom system that provides full load and stiffness capacity throughout deployment. The SBIR-developed Jackscrew boom successfully demonstrated the system’s robustness and high-strength capability, while significantly reducing manufacturing costs. Potential applications include the deployment of antenna systems, blanket type solar arrays, magnetometers, gravity gradient masses, attitude control thrusters, and optical instruments. Starsys merged with SpaceDev in 2006, and in 2008 SpaceDev became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra Nevada Corporation. The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Third Wave Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, enhanced a non-commercial version of its Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) software, AdvantEdge FEM, to simulate various cutter geometries and process conditions, ultimately identifying high-opportunity operating envelopes for titanium machining. AdvantEdge FEM allows users to increase material removal rates, improve tool life, predict chip shape, shorten product design cycles, reduce trial and error testing, and improve part quality through residual stress prediction. TWS’s customers include Department of Defense prime contractors such as airframe builders and jet engine manufacturers as well as automotive companies, major cutting tool suppliers, and metals suppliers. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Materials & Manufacturing Directorate. | 7/29/2009 | View |
| Success Stories focus on Aerodyne Research, FMW Composite Systems, and Stottler Henke Associates | The Electronic Library has three new stories posted within the Innovation success story folder.
Aerodyne Research, Inc., located in Billerica, Massachusetts, developed a gas sampling probe that quenches chemical reactions by using supersonic expansion and helium dilution. The Chemical Quick-Quench (CQQ) probe has demonstrated its potential to be employed as a standard method for the Air Force to measure the performance of afterburning military engines. Moreover, the enhanced capability of the CQQ probe to accurately characterize engine emissions will enable the Air Force to better determine the emissions performance of operational aircraft. This SBIR project is managed by the Arnold Engineering Development Center.
FMW Composite Systems, Inc., located in Bridgeport, West Virginia, developed technology that involves small additions of Boron and Carbon to conventional titanium alloys via a powder metallurgy process to create a new Nano-Phase Titanium class of materials with superior mechanical properties. Potential benefits include reducing the use of costly insulating tiles and blankets and shrinking structural mass fraction of global range vehicles to permit carriage of more fuel and payload. Possible additional applications include rocket motor cases on missile programs, hydraulic cylinders made by several actuator manufacturers, and spacecraft heat shields. The AFRL Air Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project.
FutureFusion™, a web-based collaborative modeling system which builds predictive awareness, was developed by Stottler Henke Associates, Inc., located in San Mateo, California. This modeling technology captures both popular consensus as well as high-risk outliers, thereby reducing the potential for surprise. FutureFusion can benefit military and commercial users by providing early warning and analysis capabilities. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Information Directorate. | 7/10/2009 | View |
| SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter for 2nd & 3rd Quarters 2009 | The 2nd & 3rd Quarters 2009 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter is available for viewing within the Electronic Library (see the SBIR/STTR Advantage folder). The feature article highlights a successful SBIR project accomplished by Impact Technologies, LLC (Rochester, NY) relating to its Work Scope Optimization Tool.
In the SBIR Update section, Augustine "Gus" Vu, the new Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Manager, is introduced to the readership. Just prior to becoming the SBIR/STTR Program Manager, he was the Air Force Technology Transfer Program Manager.
The SBIR Spotlight section follows with discussions of selected small business firms which have added to the success of the Air Force SBIR/STTR program. These include CFD Research Corporation (Huntsville, AL), RT Logic (Colorado Springs, CO), SpaceDev (Poway, CA), Touchstone Research Laboratory (Triadelphia, WV), and VidaCare Corporation (San Antonio, TX).
Steve Guilfoos, the previous Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Manager, is recognized for his longstanding federal government career which culminated in his receiving the Department of the Air Force Outstanding Civilian Career Service Award upon his retirement in March 2009. | 7/10/2009 | View |
| Acree Technologies, Impact Technologies, SpaceWorks, and Stottler Henke Associates Have SBIR Project Successes | Visit the Electronic Library to view four new success stories (see the Transition and Innovation success story folders).
Acree Technologies Incorporated, located in Concord, California, explored methods to benefit from the resiliency and ease of fabrication of plastic insulators which still have the toughness and resistance to surface flashover damage of a ceramic by coating the plastic insulator with a ceramic surface treatment. Using this technology, high voltage insulators reap the benefit of inexpensive fabrication costs and ease-of-use of plastic insulators while having electrical performance equivalent to more expensive ceramic insulators. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate.
Impact Technologies, LLC, located in Rochester, New York, responded to a Warner Robins Air Logistics Center (WR-ALC) requirement for an innovative solution to employ Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) technologies to continuously monitor the health of critical systems and improve maintenance practices. The SBIR-developed Smart CBMi™ monitoring and analysis system is capable of detecting machine incipient failures and predicting the remaining useful life of failing components. The CBMi system was installed in 2008 on a profiler at WR-ALC and has been operating with documented success in terms of increased machine uptime and maintenance cost savings.
SpaceWorks, Inc., located in Scottsdale, Arizona, developed and demonstrated an approach for recessing the plug-and-play (PnP) electronics and harnessing within the structural panels to increase the footprint and volume for spacecraft. The spacecraft panels incorporated hinged joints to enable easy access to interior and exterior components. Responsive space structures, modular PnP-compatible space electronics packaging, and new approaches for rapid assembly, integration, and test should enable the Air Force to produce new space systems in days and at significantly reduced costs when compared to traditional systems. The AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Stottler Henke Associates, Inc. located in San Mateo, California, worked on an Air Force SBIR project to develop a computer-based means of comparing Information Warfare (IW) requirements to the database collection of relevant solutions. Stottler Henke developed an innovative software system that assists in the matching of documented requirements with existing or proposed solutions as described in white papers, proposals, and briefings. The system increases practical search precision by improving ability of users to identify documents of high utility. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Information Directorate. | 5/11/2009 | View |
| SBIR Project Successes for Advanced Fuel Research, Barron Associates, Defense Holdings, and ITCN | Four SBIR success stories have been added to the Electronic Library (see the Transition and Innovation success story folders).
Advanced Fuel Research, Inc., located in East Hartford, Connecticut, developed a real-time optical smoke monitoring system that helps minimize exhaust signatures in jet engines. This technology utilizes a low-power visible laser beam in a new, fast, and efficient method for monitoring exhaust gas smoke. The monitoring system will assist in advanced engine development programs such as the F135, F119, the Versatile Affordable Advanced Turbine Engines (VAATE) program, and the Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology (IHPTET) program. This SBIR project is managed by the Arnold Engineering Development Center.
Barron Associates, Inc., located in Charlottesville, Virginia, developed an adaptive guidance system for hypersonic vehicles with reconfigurable inner-loop control. The guidance and trajectory reshaping algorithms have been flight-tested to demonstrate their ability to recover the mission following several simulated failures. Other potential applications include “smart” munitions, reconfigurable satellite formations, manned aircraft systems, air traffic control, and battle management and asset allocation planning. The AFRL Air Vehicles Directorate manages this SBIR project.
Defense Holdings, Inc. (DHi), located in Arlington, Virginia, developed an improved propeller de-icing system. The Air Force needed an improved alternative to the use of carbon brushes in propeller de-icing systems in the C-130 aircraft fleet. DHi uses patented metal fiber brushes which have much higher current carrying capability and much lower resistances than carbon brushes. Transitioning from carbon brushes to metal fiber brushes will result in cost savings in spare parts costs as well as fewer maintenance inspections and increased operational availability of the platform. Warner Robins Air Logistics Center manages this SBIR project.
ITCN, Inc., located in Dayton, Ohio, responded to an Air Force requirement to perform integrated diagnostic testing of multiple MIL-STD-1553 avionics databuses embedded in perational B-2 aircraft. ITCN developed the BCIT network analyzer to locate 1553 cabling and wiring faults to within six inches, thus minimizing removal of stealth access panels. Other potential BCIT applications include all Air Force and Navy aircraft, Navy surface ships and submarines, Army helicopters and tanks, and many commercial uses. | 4/7/2009 | View |
| VidaCare and Intelligent Automation Corporation Featured in SBIR Success Stories | Two new SBIR success stories are available for viewing in the Electronic Library (see the Transition and Innovation success story folders). VidaCare Corporation, located in San Antonio, Texas, developed the EZ-IO® intraosseous (IO) infusion system which quickly penetrates adult bone to establish an IO port in a person’s shoulder, shin or ankle, allowing medical personnel to deliver lifesaving fluids. The EZ-IO® is currently in use in many hospitals and emergency medical services around the world, and has been used to save soldiers’ lives in Iraq. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Human Effectiveness Directorate.
The second success story highlights Intelligent Automation Corporation (IAC), located in Poway, California. IAC developed a generic hardware and software system to support the creation and fielding of low cost, integrated EHM/control systems. A prototype EHM system was configured for the C-17’s F117 engine and a ground run demonstration was performed in August 2008. The generic nature of the EHM system also allows for application to monitoring of aircraft subsystems and for commercial application to land-based gas and wind turbine components. The AFRL Propulsion Directorate manages this SBIR project. | 3/16/2009 | View |
| SBIR Successes by AgilOptics and Space Computer Corporation | Two new SBIR success stories have been posted to the Electronic Library. The first transition story relates to AgilOptics Inc., located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. AgilOptics' SBIR project was in response to an Air Force requirement for a closed-loop adaptive optics system for wide-dynamic range aberration control with high-resolution Micromachined Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) mirrors. AgilOptics developed the Analog Beam Control System (ABCS), which is now used in a military facility, and is a first-of-a-kind adaptive optics system that employs analog (as opposed to digital) controls, permitting very fast operation. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate.
In the second SBIR transition success story, Space Computer Corporation, located in Los Angeles, California, developed a real-time processing system for hyperspectral imaging (HSI) sensors. The Airborne Real-time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced Reconnaissance (ARCHER) system contributed to a successful search and rescue mission by the Civil Air Patrol. Moreover, this SBIR-developed technology is used in several other applications, including the AFRL Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer (ARTEMIS) program. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Sensors Directorate. | 2/19/2009 | View |
| AF SBIR/STTR Program Management Changes | After more than 38 years of government service, with the last 10 as the Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Manager, Steve Guilfoos will be taking on the role as Advisor to the Air Force SBIR/STTR Program. Steve will remain in this role until his retirement on 3 Mar 2009.
Augustine "Gus" Vu has been named the new AF SBIR/STTER Program Manager. Gus comes to the program after successfully serving as the Air Force Tech Transfer Program Manager. | 2/2/2009 | View |
| 1st Quarter 2009 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter Now Available | The 1st Quarter 2009 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter is now posted to the Electronic Library (see the SBIR/STTR Advantage folder). Sonalysts, Inc. (Waterford, CT) is featured in the front-page article, titled "Standard Space Trainer (SST) Offers Expanded Simulation Features."
Stephen Guilfoos, Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Manager, authored "Business Readiness – Customer Readiness" in the SBIR Update section. This update constitutes Part 3 of a series of articles that collectively discuss readiness concepts associated with SBIR technology transition.
The SBIR Spotlight section provides profiles of two companies. CSA Engineering, Inc. (Mountain View, CA), a longstanding participant in the Air Force SBIR and STTR programs, reached a point of business achievement where it was acquired by a larger firm. The second profile relates to Scalable Network Technologies, Inc. (Los Angeles, CA) and how the AFRL Commercialization Pilot Program (CPP) assisted a sister service in a SBIR technology transition. | 1/22/2009 | View |
| CFD Research Corporation, Innovative Power Solutions, Kinetic BEI, and Real Time Logic Success Stories | Four new success stories involving SBIR projects have been added to the Electronic Library.
CFD Research Corporation (Huntsville, AL) is highlighted in a SBIR innovation success story titled "New Method for Automation and Optimization of the Curve Fit Kinetics Generating Process." CFDRC developed the software package, called Firefly, to efficiently and accurately generate global mechanisms from detailed mechanisms. The Firefly software has an intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI), allowing the user to generate reduced global kinetic mechanisms with speed and accuracy. The AFRL Propulsion Directorate manages this SBIR project.
In the second success story, Innovative Power Solutions, LLC (Eatontown, NJ) is featured. IPS worked with the AFRL Propulsion Directorate to develop a brushless starter/generator (BS/G) that combined both start and power generation functions, thus eliminating traditional air turbine or other dedicated engine start systems. The BS/G tests demonstrated that this technology could meet the Global Hawk’s operational in-flight restart needs. This transition story is titled "Electric Starter/Generator Meets In-Flight Restart Needs."
The third success story, titled "Innovative Engine Technology Offers Significant Power Density Advantages," relates to Kinetic BEI, LLC (South Elgin, IL). In this SBIR project managed by the AFRL Propulsion Directorate, Kinetic BEI developed a second-generation prototype for the Meyer Nutating Disk Engine. This engine is twice as power dense as a conventional two-stroke engine and four times as power dense as a four-stroke piston engine.
The fourth success story relates to a SBIR project managed by the AFRL Information Directorate. Real Time Logic, Inc. (Colorado Springs, CO) developed the Portable Universal Ground Processing Unit (PUGPU) system, which supports the full set of Telemetry, Tracking and Commanding (TT&C) ground processing functions. The PUGPU has further been upgraded to include Advanced Data Communications Control Protocol (ADCCP) support. This transition story is titled "Portable Universal Ground Processing Unit Supports Data Communications." | 1/12/2009 | View |
| SBIR Project Successes for CMSoft, Kestrel Corporation, Knowledge Based Systems, Inc., and Schafer Corporation | Success stories relating to CMSoft, Inc. (Palo Alto. California), Kestrel Corporation (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Knowledge Based Systems, Inc. (College Station, Texas), and Schafer Corporation (Chelmsford, Massachusetts) are now posted to the Electronic Library.
The CMSoft innovation story is titled "Improved Technology for Buffet and Dynamic Loads Analysis." The story explains how the firm matured the coupling of a Navier-Stokes flow solver and turbulence modeling capabilities, with a nonlinear finite element structural analyzer capable of detailed modeling and simulation of aircraft structures. This SBIR project is managed by the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC).
Another innovation story, titled "Ultra High Speed Aero-Optics Compensation," discusses how Kestrel Corporation developed an ultra high-speed adaptive optics system for the compensation of aero-optic aberrations. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate.
We also have two transition success stories. The first story, titled "Software Tool Enhances Airspace Management," addresses the Knowledge Based Systems, Inc. (KBSI) development of the Software Tool for Efficient Airspace Management (STEAM), a versatile and powerful tool that can be used for airspace analysis and management. This SBIR project is managed by AFFTC.
The second transition story, titled "Lightweight Optics for High Energy Applications," discusses how Schafer Corporation used its proven Silicon Lightweight Mirror Systems (SLMS™) technology to design and manufacture a prototype mirror in the configuration and form factor of a beam director primary mirror (PM). Further, silicon carbide SiC-SLMS™ technology was applied toward developing a fast steering mirror (FSM) instrument. This project is managed by the AFRL Directed Energy Directorate. | 12/10/2008 | View |
| Impact Technologies and 21st Century Technologies Have SBIR Success Stories | Success stories relating to Impact Technologies, LLC (Rochester, New York) and 21st Century Technologies, Inc. (Austin, Texas) have been posted to the Electronic Library.
The transition story relating to Impact Technologies is titled "Work Scope Optimization Tool Contributes to Lower Maintenance Costs and Higher Reliability in Aircraft Engines." The Workscope Optimizer is currently being used at Dyess AFB, Little Rock AFB, and Hurlburt Field on the Rolls Royce T56 Engines for the C-130 fleet. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Propulsion Directorate.
The innovation story concerning 21st Century Technologies, Inc. is titled "Innovative Information Extraction and Graph Pattern Matching Technology." The company developed Tego, which enables effective and secure communication by automatically detecting violations in information disclosure. Tego monitors chat communication sessions and alerts a Foreign Disclosure Officer when the information disclosure boundary has been crossed. This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Information Directorate.
| 11/4/2008 | View |
| Prime Contractor Storefront Feature Now Active | We have added a new link to the Shopping Mall menu – Prime Contractor Storefront.
The intent of the storefront concept is to facilitate cooperation among prime contractors, Air Force organizations (e.g., SPOs, product centers, AFRL laboratories), and small businesses with an objective of facilitating SBIR/STTR project transitions.
Each storefront contains selected information concerning a given prime contractor, e.g., special website hyperlinks, point(s) of contact for SBIR/STTR programs. At this point, only those prime contractors which participated in prototype testing have a presence under the storefront link. The number of storefronts is expected to increase as more prime contractors take advantage of this communication opportunity. | 10/29/2008 | View |
| Sonalysts Develops Standard Space Trainer | The Air Force has a need for an integrated simulation-based operator training and rehearsal capability for satellite system ground control. Sonalysts, Inc., located in Waterford, Connecticut, developed a Standard Space Trainer (SST) for use as a satellite operator proof-of-concept instructional simulation that supports multiple systems.
Advantages of using the SST include flexible instructor control features, increased instructor and student productivity, quick setup, and lower training costs. Due to the success of the prototype, the planned Air Force Phase III acquisition deliverables include the SST hardware and software architecture, two satellite training software applications, and the sustainment of these products.
This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Human Effectiveness Directorate, Warfighter Readiness Research Division, Mesa, Arizona. The complete transition success story, titled "Standard Space Trainer (SST) Offers Expanded Simulation Features," can be found in the Electronic Library. | 10/20/2008 | View |
| Surface Optics Corporation Featured in SBIR Success Story | Visit the Electronic Library to review a new SBIR innovation success story, titled "Compact Multispectral Measurement System (CMMS)." This technology application was developed by Surface Optics Corporation located in San Diego, California.
This SBIR project was in response to an Air Force need for a cost-effective, man-portable, high-quality, zero-range, ground-truthing data collection tool for capturing three-dimensional (3-D) shape, hyperspectral, and bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) data. Surface Optics Corporation developed the CMMS for measuring the 3-D shape and contours of measured objects, and for simultaneously characterizing the hyperspectral reflectance properties of the component surfaces.
The CMMS will be used by the Department of Defense as a tool for generating realistic models of automobile-sized objects. Sales of the hyperspectral image (HSI) camera component of the CMMS occurred while the SBIR Phase II project was in process.
This SBIR project is managed in the AFRL Sensors Directorate. | 10/8/2008 | View |
| 4th Quarter 2008 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter Now in Electronic Library | Visit the Electronic Library to view the 4th Quarter 2008 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter (see the SBIR/STTR Advantage folder). The front-page article highlights the accomplishments of Boundless Corporation (Boulder, Colorado), which developed a highly successful advanced lithium-ion battery pack technology.
The SBIR Update section contains an article by Stephen Guilfoos, Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Manager, titled, "Technology Transition – the Story Behind the Story." This Update article, which is Part 2 of a series, focuses on "Manufacturing Readiness."
Within the SBIR Spotlight section, Cyber SPK, LLC (Nashua, New Hampshire) and MeroLaser, Inc. (Irvine, California) are recognized for their recent SBIR successes. Also, Sabrina Davis, SBIR Program Manager in the AFRL Human Effectiveness Directorate, is shown receiving the "Gung Ho" SBIR citation for her outstanding dedication and service. Finally, "SBIR Sally" appears at the bottom of page 3, highlighting SBIR and STTR success stories that are posted to the Air Force SBIR/STTR Virtual Shopping Mall. | 10/2/2008 | View |
| Sensortex, Touchstone Research Laboratory, and Haleakala Research and Development Have SBIR Successes | Three new SBIR success stories have been posted to the Electronic Library in the Transition and Innovation folders.
1. Sensortex, Inc., located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, developed an Electrostatic Switched Radiator (ESR), which is an advanced spacecraft thermal control device that uses electrostatic holddown of a high emissivity composite film to control spacecraft skin temperature. The AFRL Materials & Manufacturing Directorate paired Sensortex’s ESR technology with another separate SBIR-developed technology (Advanced Thermal and Environmental Concepts, Inc., College Park, Maryland) to develop an integrated thermal emission management system. The integrated device was installed in the MISSE-6 package at NASA Langley and deployed on the exterior of the International Space Station in 2008.
2. Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd., located in Triadelphia, West Virginia, developed a filament winding process for producing Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) pressure vessels using techniques analogous to those used for composite manufacture without any postproduction curing requirements. This process can be used to produce storage tanks that are affordable, impermeable, tough, and easy to repair and maintain. Potential applications include the containment of corrosive fluids, solid rocket motor cases for tactical missiles, and munitions.
3. Haleakala Research and Development, Inc., located in Brookfield, Massachusetts, is advancing state-of-the-art innovations in antenna radomes as an electronic and radio frequency protection for space-borne phased array antennas. Plasma FSS radome technology can provide protection against netcentric warfare and direct radio frequency attacks. Potential private sector uses include Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) applications, satellite receiver antennas for Low Earth Orbits (LEO),
and commercial last-mile antennas. | 9/29/2008 | View |
| Impact Indicator Paint Developed by Luna Innovations | In response to an Air Force SBIR requirement for an improved graphite fiber composite damage detection method for use at field and/or depot maintenance levels, Luna Innovations Inc. (Roanoke, Virginia) developed impact indicator paints for polymer matrix composites (PMCs) used as structural components in military aircraft. Other potential applications include commercial aircraft, missile casings, marine craft, vehicle power trains, armor, and off-shore drilling platforms. Luna has extended this technology, under a Navy-funded SBIR project, to include damage detection from thermal events as well as impact events.
Visit the Electronic Library to review the full innovation success story, titled "Impact Indicator Paint for Composites." This SBIR project is managed by the AFRL Materials & Manufacturing Directorate. | 9/22/2008 | View |
| Voss Scientific Develops Integrated Anechoic Chamber Simulation | The Electronic Library has a new SBIR innovation success story, titled "Integrated Anechoic Chamber Simulation." This technology application was developed by Voss Scientific, LLC, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Responding to an Air Force need to find a way of predicting the electromagnetic (EM) environment in an anechoic chamber to improve test data quality, Voss Scientific developed software designed to statistically and deterministically model the radio frequency (RF) environment inside an anechoic chamber.
The integrated simulation capability produces accurate simulation of the total EM field in the chamber, including the direct field, and the EM field scattered from test assets and other electrically large equipment in the chamber. The simulation saves chamber time during set-up and characterization of the test range in the chamber, making the chamber more productive and increasing the number of tests completed in the chamber.
This SBIR project is managed by the Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, California.
| 9/19/2008 | View |
| ATEC Develops Heat Flux Based Emissivity Measuring Method | Advanced Thermal and Environmental Concepts, Inc. (ATEC), located in College Park, Maryland, developed a heat flux based emissivity (HFBE) measuring method that provides direct measurements of the heat flows through the emitting surfaces of several coatings or surfaces simultaneously. This was in response to an Air Force need for a space-ready instrument that can accurately measure the emissivities, absorptivities, and long-term stabilities of passive and active coatings and thermal structures.
The Air Force Research Laboratory paired the HFBE technology with another separate SBIR-developed technology (Sensortex Inc.’s electrostatic radiator device) to develop an integrated thermal emission management system. The integrated device was installed in the Materials on the International Space Station Experiment-6 (MISSE-6) package at NASA Langley and deployed on the exterior of the International Space Station in 2008.
Visit the Electronic Library to read the full SBIR transition success story, titled "Heat Flux Based Emissivity Measuring Method Breakthrough."
| 8/24/2008 | View |
| CodeSourcery, Inc. Innovation Success Story in Electronic Library | Visit the Electronic Library to read the SBIR innovation success story, titled "Software Toolkit for Developing High-Performance Signal and Image Processing Applications," This technology application was developed by CodeSourcery, Inc., located in Granite Bay, California.
CodeSourcery completed an Air Force SBIR project to address the challenges in reusing high performance signal and image processing software. Rapid changes in hardware technology can make existing software obsolete. The Sourcery VSIPL++™ software library implements the open-standard VSIPL++ Application Programming Interface (API). CodeSourcery demonstrated that its Sourcery VSIPL++ product can deliver the same levels of performance as lower-level programming techniques, but with dramatically less code and full portability across systems. The technology can be used in a broad range of defense and commercial fields, including medical imaging. | 8/1/2008 | View |
| Kinetics Inc. Develops Dynamic Real-Time Infrared Image Generation Capability | Kinetics, Inc., located in Stevenson, Washington, responded to an Air Force SBIR requirement to simulate dynamic, detailed scenes of short range targets to test pseudoimaging and imaging seekers. Kinetics developed infrared scene generation (IRSG) using commercial off-the-shelf, high-volume, commodity-based personal computer (PC) components. This SBIR effort has significantly advanced the utilization of low-cost commodity-based graphics hardware to support radiometrically accurate generation of infrared images in real time. Kinetics has delivered copies of this IRSG capability to the Air Force Flight Test Center and other DoD units, and has also sold copies to prime defense contractors.
Go to the Electronic Library to read the full SBIR transition success story, titled "Dynamic Real-Time Infrared Image Generation Capability." | 7/24/2008 | View |
| Now Available – 3rd Quarter 2008 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter | The Electronic Library now features the 3rd Quarter 2008 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter (see the SBIR/STTR Advantage folder). The front-page article relates to Space Photonics Inc., located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Responding to an Air Force SBIR requirement for high-speed interconnects for space, Space Photonics developed fiber optics technology that supported the International Space Station mission.
In the SBIR Update section, Stephen Guilfoos, Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Manager, has provided an article titled, "Bottom Line on SBIR Technology Transition – It is much more than just the technology!"
The SBIR Spotlight section focuses on two firms with SBIR accomplishments. Anautics, Inc., located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was recognized at the 2008 SBIR/STTR National Spring Conference in Orlando, Florida, as the Air Force SBIR Phase II Showcase winner. Ceramatec, Inc., located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and a longstanding SBIR and STTR participant, is highlighted for reaching the point in experience and expertise where it had the opportunity to expand its business enterprise. Ceramatec was acquired by the Coors Family, also owner of CoorsTek, Inc.
"SBIR Sally" again appears on page 3, this time providing information about the SBIR Commercialization Pilot Program (CPP). | 7/16/2008 | View |
| Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Technology highlighted in Boundless Corporation Success Story | The Air Force has a growing need for clean, high quality ground power to operate electric vehicles, hybrid-electric vehicles, and electric equipment. In response to this SBIR need, Boundless Corporation (Boulder, Colorado) developed lithium-ion battery modules which can support a wide variety of vehicles and promise dramatic increases in performance, reliability, and life-cycle cost. In January 2008, Boundless delivered a lithium-ion battery pack for an electric munitions loader used at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center is the technical project office for this SBIR contract. The full success story may be viewed in the Electronic Library. Look for the Transition Folder success story titled "Advanced Lithium-Ion Battery Pack Technology." | 7/9/2008 | View |
| Toyon Research Corporation develops Tri-Band, Global Positioning System (GPS)-Friendly Telemetry Antenna | Responding to a SBIR requirement managed by the Air Force Flight Test Center, Toyon Research Corporation, located in Goleta, California, developed an antenna that enables “shift on the fly” between three telemetry bands. The antenna is capable of operation at lower L-band, upper L-band, and S-band telemetry frequencies simultaneously. This allows greater flexibility in placement of telemetry antennas on flight test aircraft.
Visit the Electronic Library to read the full SBIR innovation success story, titled "Tri-Band, Global Positioning System (GPS)-Friendly Telemetry Antenna." The Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, California, is the technical project office for this SBIR contract. | 7/3/2008 | View |
| United Solar Ovonic Success Story on Lightweight and High-Efficiency Solar Cells | United Solar Ovonic, LLC, located in Auburn Hills, Michigan, has developed UNI-SOLAR® space photovoltaic (PV) products that offer an ultralight, low-cost alternative to conventional space PV modules made of crystalline silicon or gallium arsenide. The next generation solar arrays for Air Force missions need to be less expensive, lighter, and more stowable than those earlier used. The United Solar Ovonic solar cell technology will be incorporated into Air Force space and airship vehicles.
Go to the Electronic Library to read the full SBIR transition success story, titled "Lightweight and High-Efficiency Solar Cells for Airship and Space Applications." | 5/10/2008 | View |
| Cyber SPK, LLC, Develops Computer Code Inter-Host Intrusion Protection System | Cyber SPK, LLC, located in Nashua, New Hampshire, developed the Cyber SPK System Protection Kit, the first Inter-Host Intrusion Prevention System™ (IHIPS™). Cyber SPK Host Agents prevent attacks by blocking and terminating malicious computer code behavior, thereby preventing that code from running again at a later time. While this technology has now been proven for Windows desktops, servers, and other host systems, Cyber SPK can be ported to other environments, including secure embedded systems for the cockpit.
You may read the full SBIR innovation success story, titled "Defending Against Zero-Day Cyber Attacks with Inter-Host Intrusion Prevention System™," in the Electronic Library. | 4/25/2008 | View |
| Space Photonics Inc. Develops Components for International Space Station | The Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) need improved technologies for high-speed optical interconnects for space. Space Photonics Inc., located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, used the SBIR program to develop the fiber optics technology that was instrumental to its winning a contract to supply fiber optic components to the International Space Station (ISS). Space Photonics’ fiber optic transceivers provide the data link platforms’ backbone electronics and the ISS’s embedded fiber optic network.
The complete transition success story, titled "Fiber Optic Components Support International Space Station Mission," is posted in the Electronic Library. | 4/17/2008 | View |
| Composite Technology Development, Inc., Develops Linerless Composite Fuel Tanks | Composite Technology Development, Inc. (CTD), located in Lafayette, Colorado, used the Air Force SBIR program to develop the linerless composite fuel tanks that resolved a critical problem for a nanosatellite research satellite launch. The fuel tanks weighed 40% less, had 18% more volume, and 12 times the pressure capability of the aluminum tanks that they replaced. Markets such as space and aerospace, where weight is paramount, are embracing CTD’s tanks as an exciting new alternative.
This SBIR transition success story, titled "Linerless Composite Tanks Enable Nanosatellite Flight Launch Schedule," is posted in the Electronic Library. | 4/9/2008 | View |
| SBIR Innovation Success Story Highlights Advanced Science and Novel Technology Company | A SBIR Innovation Success Story concerning Advanced Science and Novel Technology Company (ADSANTEC), located in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, is now posted in
the Electronic Library. The story's title is "User-Programmable, Radiation Hardened, High-Speed Voltage Level Converter." As indicated in the story narrative, the Air Force had a requirement for universal programmable interfaces that can provide robust interconnect with a number of different input/output (I/O) devices. The ADSANTEC technology involves a novel concept for a single-chip universal electronic voltage level converter implemented in a radiation hardened-by-design SiGe process. These concepts, particularly the universal I/O devices, are being used to develop radiation tolerant (RT) products for NASA. | 4/7/2008 | View |
| Newly-Added MetroLaser and Space Mirco SBIR Innovation Stories | We recently added two SBIR innovation success stories to the Electronic Library. MetroLaser, Inc., located in Irvine, California, developed technology that is contained in the success story, "Flow Control for Enhanced Sensor Beam/Directed Energy (DE) Beam Quality." This technology includes a powerful aero-optical diagnostics tool that will enable AFRL to model, test, and analyze the effectiveness of flow control and adaptive optics techniques to correct for these effects. Potential Air Force applications exist in all forms of optical propagation through the atmosphere including communication, target designation, tracking, astronomy, and weather.
A second innovation story relates to Space Micro Inc., located in San Diego, California, titled "Improved Temperature Sensitive Paint (TSP) Successfully Used in Wind Tunnel Models." Space Micro’s newly-developed TSP process can eliminate low operating temperature limits associated with other paints. In addition to the use of TSP in high speed wind tunnels, it can benefit other defense agencies, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and aerospace companies in the development of high speed aircraft and spacecraft.
| 4/2/2008 | View |
| 2nd Quarter 2008 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter in Electronic Library | The Electronic Library now features the 2nd Quarter 2008 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter (see the SBIR/STTR Advantage folder). The front-page article is a success story concerning Knowledge Based Systems, Inc. (KBSI), College Station, Texas. Using SBIR funding, KBSI developed RampMap™, which is today the Air Force Materiel Command’s standard system for depot aircraft visualization and movement.
Two other small business firms appear in the SBIR Spotlight section: (1) Streamline Automation, LLC, Huntsville, Alabama, which focused its R&D talent on delivering a bushing assembly that significantly reduces the vibrational loads on the shaft of the angular displacement transducers located within a wind tunnel at the Aeropropulsion Systems Test Facility; and (2) UQM Technologies, Inc., Frederick, Colorado, which developed a drive motor featuring regenerative braking, advanced drive electronics and controls, and parking brake technologies.
On page 3 of the newsletter, "SBIR Sally" asks, "Do you know the purpose of SBIR/STTR Summary Reports? Do you know where to find these reports?"
| 3/29/2008 | View |
| Knowledge Based Systems, Inc. and UQM Technologies, Inc. Success Stories in Electronic Library | Visit the Electronic Library to view transition success stories relating to SBIR projects completed by Knowledge Based Systems, Inc. (KBSI), College Station, Texas, and UQM Technologies, Inc., Frederick, Colorado. The KBSI story is titled, "Real-Time Visibility of Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Assets." KBSI has developed RampMap™, a scaleable computer-based replacement for the manual methods commonly used to track and manage aircraft, ground support equipment, and other MRO assets.
The UQM story is titled, "Advanced Electric Vehicle Propulsion Technology." The demand for vehicles powered by electric drive technology is growing due to today’s more stringent requirements dealing with emissions, energy efficiency, and economics. The UQM SBIR project resulted in the development of a high power and low electromagnetic interference propulsion motor, a parking brake mounted to the output of the electric machine, electric vehicle control algorithms, and a lithium battery pack.
| 2/25/2008 | View |
| Streamline Automation Success Story on Vibration Control | The Electronic Library contains a SBIR transition success story concerning Streamline Automation, LLC, Huntsville, AL. The story title is "Improved Vibration Control for AEDC Wind Tunnel Testing" and relates to SBIR topic number AF04-291. Streamline Automation’s bushing device helps isolate the Angular Displacement Transducers (ADTs) from wind tunnel structural vibrations. | 2/12/2008 | View |
| 1st Quarter 2008 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter Available | Visit the Electronic Library to view the 1st Quarter 2008 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter. This issue has as its feature article a success story relating to Advanced Fuel Research's "Innovative Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) Imaging System." The SBIR Update section contains a discussion of "SBIR Workshops and Commercialization Pilot Program (CPP) Transition Agents." An innovative SBIR technology produced by Janya Inc. and selected 2007 Tibbetts Awards' winners constitute the scope of the SBIR Spotlight. | 1/9/2008 | View |
| Janya Inc. Success Story on Event Extraction Technology | The Electronic Library has a success story concerning SBIR technology developed by Janya Inc. The technological innovation supports the automatic or semi-automatic analysis of large volumes of electronic information. Using machine learning, Semantex™ has been extended to detect nominal events, thereby greatly increasing the accuracy of event detection and enabling visualization of information from free text. | 11/21/2007 | View |
| ISTL, Inc. Success Story on Intelligent Agent Architecture (IAA) in Electronic Library | Visit the A Electronic Library to read a transition success story concerning ISTL's Intelligent Agent Architecture (IAA). The IAA tool enables users to quickly search gigabytes of data and generate electronic reports. Moreover, the tool will help with the inspection and maintenance of Air Force turbine engines. | 11/5/2007 | View |
| Guide for Writing Final Technical Reports | Posted in the Electronic Library is a "Guide for Writing Final Technical Reports" for use by all Small Businesses as a baseline for final report formats and writing techniques. | 10/26/2007 | View |
| 2007 SBIR/STTR Tibbetts Award Winners | Congratulations are in order for the 2007 Tibbetts Award winners. Named for Roland Tibbetts, the person acknowledged as the father of the SBIR program, these prestigious, national awards are made annually to those small firms, projects, organizations and individuals judged to exemplify the very best in SBIR achievement.
The following twenty small business firms, out of the fifty companies receiving Tibbetts organizational awards, have received Air Force SBIR/STTR contracts: Advanced Acoustics Concepts, Aptima Inc., Architecture Technology Corporation, Decisive Analytics Corporation, Intelligent Automation Inc., Kigre Inc., Minnesota Wire and Cable Company, NAVSYS Corporation, NVE Corporation, Optical Air Data Systems LLC, Orbital Research Inc., QED Technologies International Inc., Southwest Sciences Inc., The Design Knowledge Company, Touchstone Research Laboratory Inc., Trident Systems Inc., TRS Technologies, Vidacare Inc., WetStone Technologies, and Wright Materials Research Company.
Among the individual award winners is Marvin L. Gale, then serving as the SBIR Program Manager in the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate. Marvin was recognized for "his unending program management commitment to make the SBIR program . . . a very credible acquisition alternative and an efficiently managed process during his ongoing tenure of ten years." Marvin is currently assigned to the Propulsion Directorate. | 10/9/2007 | View |
| 4th Quarter 2007 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter in Electronic Library | The Electronic Library now contains the 4th Quarter Advantage Newsletter. Within this issue is a feature article relating to how a CSA Engineering, Inc. technology supported a space vehicle launch from Cape Canaveral. The SBIR Spotlight section has highlights concerning a Flow Parametrics' design tool for fuel injections in turbine engines as well as Lumidigm's receipt of a "R&D 100 Award" for its work relative to biometric fingerprint sensors. The Air Force Update article on "SBIR and Technology Transition," together with the "SBIR Sally Says" bit of wisdom, round out the newsletter content. | 10/6/2007 | View |
| Dolphin Technology success story on electronic file inspection application | A success story concerning Dolphin Technology's innovation electronic file inspection application, known as PuriFile®, is now posted within the Electronic Library. PuriFile not only identifies critical metadata hidden within commonly used files, but also reveals other hidden information placed in applications either accidentally or maliciously. This product is highly configurable, allowing easy introduction into a variety of different environments. | 9/25/2007 | View |
| E-mail Alert - We recently discovered that our Air Force SBIR e-mail address is being used by a SPAMmer. We do not condone such activity and we want to assure you that whoever is mis-using our SBIR | We recently discovered that our Air Force SBIR e-mail address is being used by a SPAMmer. We do not condone such activity and we want to assure you that whoever is mis-using our SBIR office e-mail address is doing so without our permission. Please ignore any e-mails that appear to be SPAM from our e-mail address. | 9/20/2007 | View |
| Advanced Fuel Research's SBIR success story on Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) breakthrough | Contained within the Innovation Success Stories folder of the Electronic Library is a story titled "Innovative Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) Imaging System." Advanced Fuel Research, Inc. responded to an Air Force requirement by developing a long wavelength infrared (LWIR) optical system to capture on-engine thermal images of high-speed TBC turbine blades. Advanced fighter jet engines that implement TBC to protect metal turbine blades can run hotter for more thrust and improved performance. | 9/4/2007 | View |
| Meet "SBIR Sally" – Our Newest Team Member | When you click the SBIR Sally Says link, you will find the latest tip and bit of wisdom on a topic of general interest to small businesses. The current tip relates to Five Year SBIR Data Rights. SBIR Sally made an appearance in the current Air Force SBIR/STTR Advantage newsletter issue in the Electronic Library, where she provides a one-sentence tip with the rest of the story on the Shopping Mall. | 7/30/2007 | View |
| 2nd & 3rd Quarters 2007 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter now in Electronic Library | Visit the Electronic Library to review the combined 2nd & 3rd Quarters 2007 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter. The feature article is a SBIR transition success story, titled "Automated Cost and Risk Tools Developed for Satellite Electro-optical Sensors," that highlights the accomplishments of Galorath Inc. The SBIR Spotlight continues with SBIR/STTR summary report excerpts from APES Inc., Weidlinger Associates Inc., and 21st Century Technologies Inc. Within the SBIR Update article on "The Evolving SBIR Program," Steve Guilfoos discusses the importance accorded to Phase III and associated commercialization efforts, and further introduces a new type of topic – the "critical" topic that will typically be PEO generated. | 7/26/2007 | View |
| 1st Quarter 2007 SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter features small businesses and the STTR program | Read the latest AF SBIR/STTR news in the 1st Quarter SBIR/STTR Advantage Newsletter, now posted in the Electronic Library. The Newsletter opens with a success story about Total Quality Systems, Inc.'s use of SBIR contracts to isolate intermittent faults in avionics Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) circuit connections and wiring. Engineering Software Research and Development, Inc. (ESRD) and Radant Technologies, Inc. are also recognized for their SBIR-developed technologies. This quarter's update article focuses on the STTR program. | 3/13/2007 | View |
| Small businesses and Tibbetts Award winners recognized in 4th Quarter 2006 SBIR Advantage Newsletter | Take a look at the 4th Quarter 2006 SBIR Advantage Newsletter, now posted in the Electronic Library. There are stories about the innovative achievements of The Design Knowledge Company, NOVA Engineering Co., and Windmill International, Inc. The Air Force SBIR Update section announces the upcoming retirement of Len Moore, a stalwart of the AF SBIR/STTR program. Under the News of Note section, several small businesses and Steve Guilfoos, the Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Manager, are recognized for being Tibbetts Award winners. | 12/4/2006 | View |
| New SBIR program improvements and revised SBIR/STTR success story program in 3rd Quarter SBIR Advantage | The 3rd Quarter 2006 SBIR Advantage Newsletter is now posted in the Electronic Library. MetroLaser, Inc., Mission Research Corporation, and Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation are recognized for their SBIR accomplishments. Further, there are are articles on "A New and Improved SBIR Program" and the "Revised SBIR/STTR Success Story Program." | 8/25/2006 | View |
| Air Force SBIR 07.1 Topic Pre-Release Now Available | The Air Force SBIR 07.1 Topic Pre-Release is now available via this site. Selected topics from these draft tentative AF topics will appear in the Air Force portion of the DoD SBIR Solicitation SY07.1. The solicitation opens on 6 Dec 2006. The purpose of this document is to provide small businesses with an advanced copy of the AF SBIR requirements. We encourage all small businesses to take this opportunity to discuss the technical aspects of these requirements with the AF technical point of contact (POC) for the sponsoring organization. It is anticipated that the additional insight will assist your company in preparing more competitive technical proposal(s). All companies are cautioned to check the DoD SBIR Solicitation 07.1 when issued, as topics may have been added, deleted or modified after publication on this page. Disclaimer: These draft topics have not yet been approved and only the approved topics will appear in the SBIR DoD pre-solicitation published 6 Nov 2006 on the DoD website. The formal DoD SBIR solicitation will open on 6 Dec 2006.
You may view these draft tentative topics and the information related thereto under the SBIR Topic Pre-Release link on the home page. | 8/16/2006 | View |
| SBIR 06.3 DoD Solicitation issued for public release | The DoD SBIR 06.3 solicitation has been pre-released DoD SBIR. During the pre-release period, which ends on September 12, you may contact the topic authors directly (contact information is listed with the topic) to ask technical questions about specific solicitation topics. The DoD will begin accepting proposals on September 13, 2006 and will close to proposals on October 13, 2006 at 6am EST. Plan ahead and submit your proposal early to avoid the risk of website inaccessibility due to heavy usage on the final day. | 8/1/2006 | View |
| Air Force FY2006.3 SBIR Topic Pre-Release now available | The Air Force SBIR office will be participating in the FY 2006.3 solicitation with up to 11 topics. There will be special instructions for proposals for these 11 topics when they are published in the formal DOD FY2006.3 solicitation (see www.dodsbir.net web site in early August). Any of these topics may or may not be in the formal solicitation and we maintain the right to reword these topics as we deem necessary for the formal solicitation.
You may view these draft tentative topics and the information related thereto under the SBIR Topic Pre-Release link on the home page. | 6/21/2006 | View |
| The spotlight shines on small business firms in the 2nd Quarter 2006 SBIR Advantage | The 2nd Quarter 2006 SBIR Advantage Newsletter can now be viewed in the Electronic Library. Within this newsletter issue, four firms are in the spotlight because of their superlative achievements. They include: Impact Technologies, LLC; Caviton, Inc.; Bevilacqua Research Corporation; and Advanced Fuel Research. Complementing these firms' stories are articles on the Small Business Technology program, titled "STTR – A Closer Look," and some interesting technical features on the Air Force SBIR/STTR Virtual Shopping Mall. | 6/4/2006 | View |
| Read about "2006 – Building on Momentum" in the 1st Quarter 2006 SBIR Advantage | The 1st Quarter 2006 SBIR Advantage Newsletter is now available. The feature article, "2006 – Building on Momentum," addresses opportunities and challenges facing SBIR and STTR programs this year. Although the Air Force increased the number of SBIR topics in its FY2006 solicitation, inflation limits the amount of technology that can be bought per dollar. In addition to the feature article, "Optimizing the Use of SBIR/STTR Summary Reports" is the theme of the Tech Issues section. Look for this newsletter in the Electronic Library. | 3/4/2006 | View |
| 4th Quarter 2005 SBIR Advantage Newsletter now in Electronic Library | The 4th Quarter 2005 SBIR Advantage Newsletter is now posted within in the Electronic Library. The feature article, "Raising the Bar: The Air Force Phase II Enhancement Program – Revisited," discusses the modification of the enhancement process to bring it more in concert with the needs of the Air Force. In the Tech Issues article (p. 2), small businesses can read about the Shopping Mall's new look and the increased capabilities now available. | 12/1/2005 | View |
| 3rd Quarter 2005 SBIR Advantage Newsletter now in Electronic Library | The 3rd Quarter 2005 SBIR Advantage Newsletter is now posted within in the Electronic Library. The feature article, "SBIR and STTR Outreach to Small Businesses," discusses the payoff of years of outreach efforts (e.g., better proposals being submitted and a highly competitive proposal selection environment as a result). In the Tech Issues article (p. 2), small businesses can read about the recently added feature within the Small Business Area of the Shopping Mall which allows firms to submit draft Impact and Transition success stories online. Impact/Transition stories are a great way to publicize your SBIR/STTR accomplishments. | 9/29/2005 | View |
| Air Force SBIR 06.1 Topic Pre-Release Now Available | The Air Force SBIR 06.1 Topic Pre-Release is now available via this site.
Selected topics from these draft tentative AF topics will appear in the Air Force portion of the DoD SBIR Solicitation SY06.1. The solicitation opens on 13 Dec 2005. The purpose of this document is to provide small businesses with an advanced copy of the AF SBIR requirements. We encourage all small businesses to take this opportunity to discuss the technical aspects of these requirements with the AF technical point of contact (POC) for the sponsoring organization. It is anticipated that the additional insight will assist your company in preparing more competitive technical proposal(s). All companies are cautioned to check the DoD SBIR Solicitation 06.1 when issued, as topics may have been added, deleted or modified after publication on this page.
Disclaimer: These draft topics have not yet been approved and only the approved topics will appear in the SBIR DoD pre-solicitation published 1 Nov 2005 on the DoD website. The formal DoD SBIR solicitation will open on 13 Dec 2005. | 8/15/2005 | View |
| Fall National SBIR/STTR Conference November 14-17, 2005 | Registration is now open for the upcoming Fall National SBIR/STTR Conference
in Albany, NY, November 14 - 17, 2005. The registration site for the conference is:
http://www.SBIRworld.com/Albany
| 7/28/2005 | View |
| SBIR Workshop scheduled for the 2005 ML Roadmap Review | Your small business is invited to attend the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (AFRL/ML) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Day as part of 2005 ML Roadmap Review. The workshop will be held 14 July 2005, 8:30-4:00, at the Dayton Convention Center. From 8:30-11:30, the presentations are focused to assist small businesses in selling both research and products to the government. The day will culminate with an interaction session with AFRL/ML technical experts concerning the Draft FY06 SBIR Topics*. Technical experts will represent their topics at the ML Core Technology Area displays starting at 1:00.
The primary goal of this event is to enable technical interaction time between the topic authors and small businesses for the following list of FY06 SBIR topics. These topics should be included in the FY06.1 SBIR solicitation opening in early October, assuming approval through the DoD review process. During the entire Roadmap Review copies of the draft topics will be available in the lobby. Copies are not currently available due to security reviews.
Also invited to the afternoon interaction session are organizations such as other AFRL technical directorate SBIR Program Managers, the AFRL Small Business Office, the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) Dayton Office, the AF Technology Transfer Program, the Ohio Department of Development, and the Edison Materials Technology Center. These organizations, and possibly others, will be available to answer questions concurrently with the topic interactions from 1:00-4:00.
I encourage you to participate in this event. It is free of charge but registration is required. You can do this on-line at www.utcdayton.com or on-site. I also would encourage you to attend the entire Roadmap Review from 12-14 July to get a broader perspective of the core technology areas managed by the Materials & Manufacturing Directorate. Information regarding the entire Roadmap Review and SBIR Day agenda is available at the above web site. If you have any questions regarding the ML SBIR Day, please contact me at (937) 255-4839.
MARVIN GALE
AFRL/ML SBIR Program Manager
*NOTE: Until the final DoD Review is completed in late September, all topics are considered DRAFT. Small businesses must check the final solicitation, www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/ in October, to ensure that a particular topic was approved
| 7/14/2005 | View |
| Updated Report Submittals Section | Updated guidance (now contained in the Report Submittals section of the Air Force Shopping Mall) is especially pertinent to small businesses that have SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II awards with the Air Force. We recently made some substantive improvements to the way that small businesses make summary report submissions as well as Impact/Transition Story candidate submissions. In essence, we have advanced forward, using as full an electronic approach as possible. These enhancements are intended to improve and streamline administrative processing for all concerned.
Summary Reports. If you are a small business with a contractual requirement to submit a summary report on a Phase I or Phase II SBIR/STTR award, you must now initiate such submission within the Small Business Area under a newly designed ‘Summary Reports’ feature. In essence, whereas summary reports were previously submitted by using a ‘Summary Submittal’ feature (that is no longer active), these reports are now submitted by using the new ‘Summary Reports’ link in the Small Business Area. The new and improved electronic submission process resembles the previous process in many ways, except that we have now made it easier for you to prepare a draft and final summary report.
Here are some of the highlights of the new ‘Summary Reports’ feature. Once you select your SBIR/STTR topic, proposal number, and type of report (e.g., Phase II Final), the electronic form will have multiple fields populated with data imported from the award abstract database. For instance, directly above the Summation and Anticipated Benefits text boxes are the narratives from the Phase I or Phase II abstract, as applicable. Since a summary report is essentially an “updated proposal abstract,” you can easily copy-and-paste selected portions of the abstract narrative into the input text boxes for updating and editing. Then, on an optional basis, you may attach a digital photograph or graphic to enhance the appearance of your summary report. Along with improving the method by which summary reports are submitted, we have similarly streamlined the tracking and approval process for summary report management within the Air Force SBIR/STTR community. Notwithstanding these enhanced business practices, the overall objective of the summary report process remains the same – to enhance your ability to market your SBIR/STTR technology and thereby increase opportunities for Phase III commercialization.
Impact/Transition Stories. As it turned out, we got an earlier start on the Impact/Transition Story submission process and some of you may have already used this electronic feature. It is located within the Small Business Area under the ‘Impact/Transition Story Submittal’ link. Within the Report Submittals section, we have made a more complete explanation as to what is involved with the Impact/Transition Story submission process. Just as we discuss the various data input fields in the Summary Report instructions, we provide a similar level of detail concerning the data fields relative to an Impact/Transition Story submission. Since only a limited number of personnel in a small business firm normally have access to the password-protected Small Business Area, we decided to put a broader level of instructional detail within the publicly-accessible Report Submittals section of the Mall.
So, please take a few minutes to scan through the updated Report Submittals section. Please direct any questions to Dr. Larry Mortsolf, Shopping Mall Manager, at (937) 258-0217 x326 or e-mail Info@sbirsttrmall.com.
| 6/25/2005 | View |
| Shopping Mall's "New Look" | If you are a regular AF Shopping Mall customer, you probably notice something different about the website. We decided that it was time for a "new look," in terms of graphical design. However, with respect to user navigation, there is no learning curve. The menu layout is essentially the same, and the content is still where it was before. In fact, navigation among the various web pages should be easier since the left columnar menu appears with each of the web page features (e.g., Technology Mall). We hope that you like the new look and feel. | 3/22/2005 | View |
| Read about ongoing SBIR program initiatives in 1st Quarter 2005 SBIR Advantage | The 1st Quarter 2005 SBIR Advantage Newsletter is now available for viewing in the Electronic Library. In the feature article titled "2005, A New Year, a Year of Change, a Year of Growth...," you can read about the healthy state of Air Force SBIR and STTR programs. Further, this article highlights various changes and initiatives (e.g., web-based automated proposal evaluation) that are under development. Within the SBIR Tech Issues section, there is some good advice on how to find the right SBIR/STTR technology, principally by utilizing the many capabilities currently available in the keyword search routine. Finally, there is a chart relating to Phase I and II award statistics, and an Air Force SBIR Transition Story concerning a new coating process developed by Microphase Coatings Inc. | 2/5/2005 | View |
| STTR 05 Solicitation issued for public release | The DoD STTR 2005 solicitation has been pre-released at http://www.dodsbir.net/solicitation. During the pre-release period, which ends on March 14, you may contact the topic authors directly (contact information is listed with the topic) to ask technical questions about specific solicitation topics. The DoD will begin accepting proposals on March 15, 2005 and will close to proposals on April 15, 2005 at 6am EST. Plan ahead and submit your proposal early to avoid the risk of website inaccessibility due to heavy usage on the final day. | 2/1/2005 | View |
| Electronic Library contains Windmill International, Inc. SBIR Transition Story on Ultra-lite Satellite Receive System | Windmill International, Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire has recently developed an innovative SBIR technology. The company's success story is now posted in the SBIR Transition Stories folder within the Electronic Library. The title is "Ultra-lite Satellite Receive System Gives Special Forces Access to Battleground Intelligence." We invite you to read about this R&D technology which will decrease the size and increase the portablility of receiver units aimed at supporting fast moving front line combat units.
Success stories like this one represent examples of Air Force supported SBIR technologies that have transitioned into an Air Force or other DoD system or subsystem, or are used by Air Force test ranges and facilities or maintenance depots. In addition to Transition Stories, we further have an Impact Stories folder within the Electronic Library. | 12/16/2004 | View |
| 4th Quarter SBIR Advantage Newsletter Now in Electronic Library | Look in the Electronic Library for the recently published 4th Quarter 2004 SBIR Advantage Newsletter. This Newsletter's theme article is titled, "Technology Transition: the Who, the What, and the Why." The ensuing discussion highlights technology transition roles and issues, as well as the importance of a small business linkage with the prime contractor and its chain of suppliers. Further, within the SBIR Tech Issues section, there is a brief discussion and illustration of the Air Force Shopping Mall initiative of displaying AF SBIR and STTR pre-release topics prior to their being posted on the DoD SBIR/STTR solicitation website. | 11/19/2004 | View |
| Air Force 05 STTR Topic Pre-Release Available | The Air Force 05 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Topic Pre-Release is now available via this Shopping Mall site.
Selected topics from these draft tentative AF topics will appear in the Air Force portion of the DoD STTR Solicitation 05, which will open on 15 Mar 2005. The purpose of this pre-release document is to provide small businesses with an advanced copy of the AF STTR requirements. We encourage all small businesses to take this opportunity to discuss the technical aspects of these requirements with the AF technical point of contact (POC) for the sponsoring organization. It is anticipated that the additional insight will assist your company in preparing more competitive technical proposal(s). All companies are cautioned to check the DoD STTR Solicitation 05 when issued, as topics may have been added, deleted or modified after publication on this page.
Disclaimer: These draft topics have not yet been approved and only the approved topics will appear in the STTR DoD pre-solicitation published 1 Feb 2005 on the DoD SBIR/STTR website. The formal DoD STTR solicitation will open on 15 Mar 2005.
As a related matter, the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 05.1 topics (which were previously posted to this Shopping Mall site in pre-release format) now appear on the DoD SBIR/STTR website. | 11/1/2004 | View |
| 3rd Quarter 2004 SBIR Advantage Newsletter in Electronic Library | Visit the Electronic Library to view the recently published 3rd Quarter 2004 SBIR Advantage Newsletter. The primary feature is "Making the Connection?" -- a discussion of how the Air Force SBIR/STTR Virtual Shopping Mall can assist various stakeholders and facilitate the commercialization process. This quarter's SBIR Tech Issues section highlights the Small Business Profile, which provides a way for a small business to display its mission summary and company logo. Finally, there are some feedback statements from small businesses relating to how they benefited from SBIR opportunities. | 8/16/2004 | View |
| Air Force 05.1 Topic Pre-Release Now Available | The Air Force 05.1 Topic Pre-Release is now available via this site.
Selected topics from these draft tentative AF topics will appear in the Air Force portion of the DoD SBIR Solicitation SY05.1. The solicitation opens on 15 Dec 2004. The purpose of this document is to provide small businesses with an advanced copy of the AF SBIR requirements. We encourage all small businesses to take this opportunity to discuss the technical aspects of these requirements with the AF technical point of contact (POC) for the sponsoring organization. It is anticipated that the additional insight will assist your company in preparing more competitive technical proposal(s). All companies are cautioned to check the DoD SBIR Solicitation 05.1 when issued, as topics may have been added, deleted or modified after publication on this page.
Disclaimer: These draft topics have not yet been approved and only the approved topics will appear in the SBIR DoD pre-solicitation published 1 Nov 2004 on the DoD website. The formal DoD SBIR solicitation will open on 15 Dec 2004. | 8/5/2004 | View |
| New Feature -- Small Business Mission Summary and Logo | [NOTE: Due to procedural changes made since this news item was initially written, please follow the procedures on "Mission Summary Submissions" within the Report Submittals section of the Shopping Mall. The Shopping Mall Manager, 15 Sep 2005]
The Air Force announces the availability of a new informational feature that publicizes the corporate identity of SBIR/STTR firms within its Virtual Shopping Mall. The goal of the Shopping Mall, which initially opened for business in January 2004, is to increase the commercialization potential of technologies developed under SBIR/STTR programs.
We invite SBIR/STTR firms to submit a mission summary and company logo to be added to their Firm/Small Business Profile. Air Force SBIR/STTR award winners’ profile information is displayed in the Tech Mall portion of the site. Whenever a Shopping Mall customer views a firm’s SBIR/STTR award abstracts and summary reports, additional company profile information can be found by selecting the company name hyperlink (i.e., address, URL, summary, and logo). All firms registered on the DoD SBIR/STTR Submission website (including non-Air Force awardees) can opt to have their mission summary and company logo included in the "Small Business Listing" on the site.
Your firm’s mission summary should consist of a brief synopsis, with key words, that reflects your core competencies and major product categories. A well-written summary can effectively highlight your firm’s proficiencies to DoD acquisition offices, prime contractors, major subcontractors, and prospective partners. An example of a Firm Profile mission summary and logo may be found within the Report Submittals section of the Air Force Shopping Mall.
How to Submit a Mission Summary and Logo
Submission of a corporate mission and logo is an optional opportunity, not a requirement. If your firm is registered on the DoD SBIR/STTR Submission website (http://www.dodsbir.net/submission), you may participate in this opportunity through a simple electronic form on the Shopping Mall website. The following steps apply:
- Go to the Air Force SBIR/STTR Virtual Shopping Mall.
- Click on "tech mall". (Second choice from the list on the left side of the screen.)
- Click on "Firm Log-in" displayed in the upper right of the Tech Mall section. Enter the first few letters of your firm name to locate and select your company from the list of registered firm. Then use the same password you use for the DoD SBIR/STTR Submission website.
- The Firm Profile form displays your firm-related information that resides on the DoD SBIR/STTR Submission site. To add your mission summary and logo, click the "Edit" hyperlink. Then, type your 2-4-sentence mission summary in the text box provided. The text narrative is limited to 650 characters/spaces (or approximately 100 words). To attach your company logo, use the browse attachment feature to locate the jpg, gif, or tif file on your computer to upload. [Note: For best results, please use one of the following file formats when uploading a logo: (1) GIF (without transparency) or (2) JPEG (only RGB color mode). Users may upload other image formats (like PNG or BMP or TIF), but results are not guaranteed. Logos embedded in MS Word or PowerPoint documents will not display properly.]
- Select the appropriate option to indicate if your firm's mission summary and company logo will be included in the Small Business Listing.
- After clicking the "Save" hyperlink, your mission summary and logo will be displayed. You may return to the Firm Profile form for subsequent review/editing or Log Out (in upper right) to return to the Virtual Shopping Mall main page.
- To see the corporate mission and logo of firms like you who have provided one, select "Small Business Listing" from the "N" navigate menu in the lower left of the main page. Firms are listed in alphabetical order.
Questions/Further Information
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Larry Mortsolf, Shopping Mall Manager, at (937) 258-0217 x326 or Info@sbirsttrmall.com.
| 7/7/2004 | View |
| SBIR Workshop scheduled for the 2004 ML Roadmap Review | I would like to take this opportunity to invite your small business to attend the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (AFRL/ML) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Workshop as part of 2004 ML Roadmap Review. The workshop will be held 15 July 2004, 1:00-3:30, at the Dayton Convention Center. During this workshop, small businesses will be able to talk one on one with AFRL/ML technical experts concerning the Draft FY05 SBIR Topics*.
The purpose of the workshop is to provide technical information relating to the upcoming FY05 SBIR topics (titles following) that are currently proposed to be included in the FY05.1 SBIR solicitation opening in early October. During the first two days of the Roadmap Review draft topics will be available, and sign-up sheets to talk with the topic authors at the workshop are posted. Sign ups are also available the day of the workshop. Also invited are other AFRL technical directorate SBIR Program Managers, the AFRL Small Business Office, the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) Dayton Office, the AF SBIR/STTR Program Managers, the AF Technology Transfer Program, the Ohio Department of Development, and the Edison Materials Technology Center. These organizations will be available to answer questions regarding their programs concurrently during the one on one sessions.
I encourage you to participate in this event that is free of charge. I also would encourage you to attend the entire Roadmap Review from 13-15 July to get a broader perspective of the core technology areas within the Materials & Manufacturing Directorate. You may obtain information on registration, schedule, etc. by visiting www.mlroadmap.utcdayton.com. If you have any questions regarding the ML SBIR Workshop, please contact me at (937) 255-4839.
MARVIN GALE
AFRL/ML SBIR Program Manager
* NOTE: Until the final DoD Review is completed in late September, all topics are considered draft. Small businesses must check the final solicitation, www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/, to ensure that a particular topic was approved.
| 6/10/2004 | View |
| Air Force Virtual Mall Opens | The below announcement was sent by Steve Guilfoos, AF SBIR/STTR Program manager, to various e-mail distribution lists:
For the past two decades, the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs have stimulated research and development activity among small businesses, while providing the government innovative solutions to challenging technical and scientific problems. Thus, it is with great pride and honor that we announce a milestone event: the opening of the Air Force SBIR/STTR Virtual Shopping Mall on the World Wide Web.
www.sbirsttrmall.com
Our goal is to increase the commercialization potential of the technologies developed by our country’s small businesses under SBIR and STTR. We will increase the awareness for our military program offices, their prime contractors, and their chain of suppliers by providing ready access to basic information on our SBIR and STTR sponsored work.
The mall is a work in progress. This coming year, we will be adding “summary reports” on all of our active SBIR contracts. “Success stories” will also be encouraged whenever commercialization has been achieved. Next year, we will be adding information on our STTR contracts. Also in the future, we plan on providing “store fronts” for the military prime contractors so that the small businesses will be able to contact the right person the first time. And lastly, if the Air Force mall is successful in meeting your needs, we will be receptive to building new “mall concourses” for the other DOD components that manage SBIR and STTR programs.
Ultimately, the success of the shopping mall is dependent upon you, our customer. I would encourage you to book mark this web site and to provide your feedback on how we can make this mall more beneficial to you and your endeavors to find small business technologies.
Please feel free to submit comments and suggestions for improvements by e-mail (info@sbirsttrmall.com) or by calling 1-800-222-0336.
Your Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Management Team
| 1/21/2004 | View |
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