FLC Business Search Labs Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Dept. of Defense
AFRL/XPTT
2275 D Street
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-5540
Laboratory Representative
Keith Quinn
Air Force Technology Transfer Program Manager
keith.quinn.3@us.af.mil
Lab Profile
Tech Transfer Website:
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp
The Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) mission is to discover, develop, and integrate affordable warfighting technologies for air and space forces. AFRL accomplishes this through nine technology directorates, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and Headquarters staff. AFRL Headquarters and five directorates are co-located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. AFRL is a full-spectrum laboratory, responsible for planning and executing the Air Force's entire science and technology budget, basic and applied research, and advanced technology development.
Leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air and space force.
Technology Disciplines
Abradable thermal barrier coating for CMC structures
A bond coating is applied between a ceramic matrix composite and a insulative and abradable top coat layer. The bond coating is a slurry layer of fine particles of silicon nitride and silicon carbide suspended in a colloidal silica or zircon binder. The ratio of these materials in the bond coating should match the ratio of these in the CMC. If the CMC is SiC fibers in a SiC matrix, the slurry should be composed of SiC particles with a colloidal silica binder. High surface roughness is achieved by entrapping coarse ceramic particles into the wet bond coating slurry. Thereafter the product is heat treated to maximize bond strength and verify oxidation resistance.
Thomas E. Strangman, Chen-Wei Li
Patent Issue Date
Aircraft weapons bay acoustic resonance suppression system
A aircraft weapons bay acoustic resonance suppression system for reducing undesirable acoustic resonances within an open weapons bay of an aircraft in flight is described. The system includes a rod mounted upon and spaced a distance from an extensible aircraft spoiler. The rod has a hollow core and includes a multiplicity of apertures axially aligned into two groups, placed at the point of fluid separation. A multiplicity of synthetic jets are received within the rod, each jet in fluid communication with a corresponding aperture. The jets combine to form first and second perturbation elements. The perturbation elements are sinusoidally driven out of phase at high frequencies by an actuator. This effectively creates a high frequency forcing of the airstream which is amplified by the airflow, creating a violent shedding. Advantageously, this violent shedding dramatically reduces acoustic resonance within the weapons bay of the aircraft.
Michael J. Stanek
Aircraft weapons bay high frequency acoustic suppression apparatus
An aircraft weapons bay high frequency acoustic suppression apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes an extendable spoiler retractably received within an aircraft weapons bay. An injector unit is received within the spoiler for injecting high frequency pulses of pressurized gas into the airstream. The injector unit includes a resonance tube in outlet fluid communication with an nozzle. The pulsating output of the resonance tube perturbs the flow of pressurized gas in the nozzle, effectively breaking it up into discrete slugs or pulses which then exit the nozzle and enter the airstream. The high frequency perturbation of the airflow across the weapons bay, created by the aircraft weapons bay high frequency acoustic suppression apparatus of the present invention effectively suppresses undesirable acoustic resonance within the open weapons bay.
Airframe structure-integrated capacitor
An energy storage arrangement wherein electrical charge is stored in capacitor elements dispersed throughout, for example, surface structural components of an aircraft. The electrical capacitor elements may involve dielectric material-separated electrical plates comprising the aircraft skin or preferably may involve numerous wire-like cylindrical capacitor elements dispersed within the weaving of the hardened fabric materials used to fabricate the aircraft. Other elements of the aircraft including internal structure and divider members may also be included in the energy storage function. Pulsed use of the stored energy in, for example, directed energy weapons devices are a contemplated application of the invention. The invention may be viewed as a combined employment of aircraft components in both structural and energy storing functions thus enabling a reduction in aircraft payload utilization and space consumption.
Sandra J. Fries-Carr
Maxwell Blair
William G. Baron
Algorithm for rapid endmembers determination (ALRED) in hyperspectral data
A method for rapid processing of large sets of hyperspectral data. A hyperspectral image, with hundreds of thousands to millions of pixels measured at hundreds of wavelengths, can contain over a gigabyte of data. Even modern computers can be quite slow when performing involved calculations on data sets of this size. An algorithm requiring a minimal amount of floating point calculations that still yielded useful results is disclosed.
Clark L. Allred
Apparatus and method employing autonomous vehicles to reduce risk
Apparatus and method for employing autonomous air vehicles to perform high risk observation, interaction, and interrogation with individuals. Invention comprises an autonomously controlled air vehicle with mounting and transporting means being attachable to automobiles and other first responder vehicle types. Mounting and transporting means serves also as a base station for commanding autonomous air vehicle and relaying communications to and from autonomous air vehicle to and from remote data base sources. Autonomously controlled air vehicle is equipped with a variety of sensors which air in observation and detection of suspects, their vehicles and possessions therein, and any documentation produced during the interrogation.
Brian Abbe
Gennady Staskevich
Erik P. Blasch
Apparatus and method for a multiple aperture coherent ladar
A multi-function, range-Doppler, synthetic aperture and micro-Doppler, coherent laser radar system having improved spatial resolution and immunity to undesired platform motion utilizing two or more simultaneous, spatially offset transceiver apertures.
William Seisler
APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT SEPARATIONS INCLUDING REFINING OF FUEL PRODUCTS
In various aspects, methods and apparatuses for liquid-liquid extraction are provided. In certain aspects, an emulsion can be formed by combining a feed stream, an extractant, and a surfactant. The feed stream comprises a plurality of distinct components including a first component to be removed therefrom. The feed stream may be selected from a group consisting of: a hydrocarbon feed stream and an azeotrope. Then, a portion of the first component is extracted from the feed stream (or emulsion) by contact with a superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter that facilitates passage of the first component and extractant through the superoleophobic and hygroscopic membrane filter. A purified product is collected having the portion of the first component removed. Such methods are particularly useful for refining fuels and oils and separating azeotropes and other miscible component systems. Energy-efficient, continuous single unit operation apparatuses for conducting such separation techniques are also provided.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US2018134970
US2018134970
Josiah T. REAMS, Andrew GUENTHNER, Joseph MABRY, Kevin LAMISON, Anish TUTEJA, Arun K. KOTA
ATR trajectory tracking system (A-Track)
A-Track is a tracking process that is driven by automatic target recognition techniques (ATR), mobility analysis using digital maps and exploitation of other constraining information. It is structured as an optimization problem amenable to the formalism from classical relaxation labeling algorithm. The novel combination of techniques in A-Track provides a new approach to the temporal problem of establishing and extending target tracks through a sliding time window involving a sequence of multiple data frames. A data frame is a collection of sensor reports taken from one scan of a predetermined surveillance area that is being systematically and repeatedly scanned over time. The relative time differences between reports within a frame are generally much smaller than the time difference between different frames. A-Track is especially designed to handle cases having relatively large time intervals between frames that cause problems for conventional tracking algorithms based on predictive models.
Louis A. Tamburino
Augmented propulsion system with boundary layer suction and wake blowing
A system to improve jet engine powered aircraft performance and efficiency includes a jet engine having a pressurized air port configured to convey a pressurized airflow from a compressor or a bypass fan disposed in the jet engine. A primary airfoil has a trailing edge, a top surface, and a boundary region. The system further includes a secondary airfoil disposed at a distance from the top surface of the primary airfoil. The secondary airfoil has a bottom surface and a trailing edge. An exhaust region is formed by the trailing edge of the primary airfoil and the trailing edge of the secondary airfoil. A primary airfoil ejector port and a secondary airfoil ejector port are pneumatically coupled to the pressurized air port. The primary airfoil ejector port is disposed proximate the boundary region and the secondary airfoil ejector port is disposed on the bottom surface.
August J Rolling
William H Heiser
Charles F Wisniewski
2006 Overall Achievement Midwest Overall Achievement 2006
2007 Award of Appreciation Midwest Award of Appreciation 2007
2007 Excellence in Technology Transfer Midwest Excellence in Technology Transfer 2007
2008 Outstanding Laboratory Representative Midwest Outstanding Laboratory Representative 2008
2009 Oustanding STEM Mentorship Midwest Oustanding STEM Mentorship 2009
AFRL Collaborates with Michigan Tech to Develop Maritime Rescue TechnologiesT2 NewsDefense, Intellectual Property Feb 18, 2019
AFRL Collaboration Advances Testing Capability for Additive Manufactured Heat ExchangersT2 NewsDefense, Manufacturing, Space Nov 27, 2019
AFRL Commander Introduces New AF Science and Technology StrategyT2 NewsDefense Apr 29, 2019
AFRL Looks for Commercial Techs to Benefit Market and WarfighterMember Labs May 28, 2018
AFRL Shares AgilePod Data With Industry to Further DevelopmentMember LabsDefense Dec 06, 2017
AFRL Partners with Entrepreneurs to Light the Way for the Warfighter
Nearly everyone has used a common glow stick to light up the night sky, or even as part of a highway emergency kit. But these handy devices are also useful in the battlefield, and AFRL researchers have discovered a way to make this useful tool even better.
Materials Engineer Dr. Larry Brott of the AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate recently led an effort to improve glow stick technology for use in military applications. More commonly referred to as "chemlights" in military circles, these handy devices can be used for a variety of applications. They can be used as a wand for directing vehicles or providing emergency lighting, or the fluid inside can be splashed onto a surface to mark routes or positions.
These lights work through chemiluminescence, a reaction that produces light through the combining of chemical substances. In chemlights, this reaction is typically triggered by breaking or snapping an inner chamber to allow two substances to mix together. Depending on the mixture ratio, these devices can provide light for anywhere from a few minutes up to several hours. Chemlights can be dyed various colors or even made with dyes invisible to the naked eye.
While useful for a multitude of purposes, a problem with traditional chemlights is that they are single-use, meaning that users in the field may have to carry hundreds of them to accomplish a singular task. It is also somewhat awkward to use the chemiluminescent fluid to write messages or draw complex figures.
The AFRL team sought to address these issues through an innovative solution: microencapsulate the chemical substances and encase those capsules in a medium that can be used for writing or applying the material, much like a crayon or a lip balm applicator. The pressure of writing easily breaks the tiny capsules, creating the glowing effect. By packaging the materials in this fashion, a single stick can be used precisely and accurately many times, resulting in numerous benefits for the military.
Brott was inspired to investigate microencapsulation of chemiluminescent materials through his previous work in the automotive adhesives industry, where he became an expert in the technique. After coming to AFRL, he began to research ways to use microencapsulation to benefit the warfighter.
"This is such an intuitive use for this technology," Brott said. "By packaging these materials in this form, we're saving three things for the warfighter: volume, weight, and cost." Brott and his team were awarded a patent for their work in 2012.
To further advance its development and use, the AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate Technology Transfer office, led by Sunita Chavan, identified the researchers' work to the Technology Acceleration Project, or TAP. TAP is a pilot project of the Entrepreneurs Center, a Dayton-based technology incubator that seeks to bring together researchers and entrepreneurs who are interested in taking technologies to the next level.
"We strive to make the most of our technologies. If the breakthroughs we achieve within AFRL can go forward into the commercial sector, we can better advance them to the benefit of everyone," said Chavan. "This benefits the entrepreneur, that can apply and use the technology for commercial products, and the military, that benefits from the resulting technology maturation and reduced production costs."
Battle Sight Technologies LLC, a Dayton, Ohio-based startup company founded by military veterans, seized the opportunity to partner with AFRL to bring improved chemiluminescent materials to the warfighter.
"As a former US Army soldier and warfighter, I instantly saw the impact this technology could have for the end users," said Nick Ripplinger, company president. "After looking at it from a business standpoint it made sense to bring it to market."
Ripplinger explained that when he became aware of the material breakthrough through TAP, he and partner Bennett Tanton became excited about the possibility of harnessing AFRL technologies and accessing the knowledge and expertise of project researchers.
After entering into a licensing agreement giving the company exclusive rights to use the AFRL technology for military and first responder use, Ripplinger says Battle Sight Technologies began product development. With the help of project partners, they are currently producing a prototype infrared writing device called the MARC, which stands for Marking Appliance Reusable Chemiluminescent. Once the initial prototype production run is complete, the product will go directly into the hands of the warfighter for field test and evaluation, possibly as early as Spring 2018. If all goes well, their goal is to have a fieldable product by late summer.
The company can foreseeably market their product for consumer use and use the AFRL technology to develop other products as well, but Ripplinger says the company's current focus is on military applications.
"Right now, we are 100 percent focused on providing the warfighter the MARC in the most efficient and timely manner possible," he said.
"This agreement is another example of the power of partnerships through AFRL," Chavan said. "Through the combined efforts of our innovative researchers and our commercial partners, this technology will soon be used for the good of our people in the field."
To view a video about AFRL's chemlight replacement partnership, click here.
The AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate Technology Transfer office recently licensed in-house developed microencapsulated chemiluminescent materials to startup company Battle Sight Technologies LLC. These materials can be used in glow stick "crayons" to write messages or mark items in the field. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Holly Jordan)