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A Survey of Barriers/Challenges to Improve SBIR Participation & Commercialization Success
Get PDFThe composition of the U.S. Defense Industrial Base (DIB) is changing. Within the last decade we have witnessed a decline in the percentage of new entrants, especially among Small Businesses. The Department of Defense’s base of small business participants experienced a drop of 23% from 2015-2021. New entrants provide novel capabilities and increase competition, spurring innovation essential for continued economic and military advantage. Small Businesses represent well over 40% of the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product and have vastly outpaced large firms at a magnitude of 16.5 times as many patents per small firm.
The Air Force deliberately targets funding for Small Business R&D through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program; currently managed by AFRL/AFWERX. This research identifies the prevalence of challenges to Air Force Small Business contracts. We surveyed approximately 1200 small businesses who completed AF SBIR efforts. Based on our survey data, we were able to gauge the perceptions on a list of 26 challenges from former Air Force SBIR Phase II and III (FY2015-FY2021) participants. In obtaining current information on small business perceptions, this research found areas of concern that, once addressed, may help expand the pool of relevant and willing SBIR participants
Topological Variability in Water Distribution Networks
Get PDFWater distribution networks are critical infrastructure characterized by difficulties in their assessment and deteriorating performance due to aging components. Resilience analysis of networked infrastructure has replaced traditional risk analysis to focus on performance. Global Resilience Analysis can provide useful information to decision makers and system managers regarding repair and expansion of networks. Network performance has been found to be directly informed by network structure. This work leverages graph theory to assess network qualities that correlate with resiliency characteristics across 69 real world water networks. These networks are then grouped by their structural properties through k-means clustering and compared using parametric and nonparametric tests to assess network profiles and trends. Data for the analysis included shapefiles of water distribution networks converted to simple undirected graphs. The results of the analysis showed three distinct clusters of WDNs, identified conflicts between metrics of efficiency and modularity, and discovered shortfalls of using central point dominance in asset management strategies
Effects of Level of Effort Measurement in the Application of Earned Value Management
Get PDFMajor Air Force contracts are subject to overview utilizing Earned Value Management (EVM). EVM is flexible in its application through the adherence of guidelines rather than strict rules. Due to this method, there is concern for potential abuse of application through overuse of Level of Effort (LOE) as a measurement technique. There are current recommended practices and rules of thumb that suggest LOE should be limited to 15% of a program’s budget with no quantitative research to support this claim. This study examines how LOE is currently employed in ACAT I Air Force programs and what LOE’s impact is on a program’s performance. This is done using data from integrated program management reports (IPMRs) found within the EVM Central Repository (EVM-CR) database and employing descriptive analysis with bivariate and multivariate inferential analysis. Results show there is likely slight influence from the 15% guideline, but LOE application varies widely from 0% to 100%. The actual effect from LOE on a program is found to be nonexistent showing no performance-based reason to be concerned with the amount of LOE utilized. This finding would call for reexamination of recommended guidelines concerning LOE and potentially removing unnecessary limitations of EVM applicatio
U.S. Army Force Structure Optimization and Sufficiency Analysis
Get PDFThe United States Army perpetually deploys rotational forces across the globe in support of the National Security Strategy. These forces meet a set of discrete mission demands over an extended time period before redeploying, modernizing, and preparing for the next deployment. The U.S. Army now utilizes the Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model to execute these cyclical stages for unit deployments. Specific emphasis is placed on aligning forces against a Geographic Combatant Command, which allows units to build readiness and lethality oriented towards the same series of threats, physical terrain, and civilian considerations. This research provides an Integer Programming model that offers the U.S. Army an optimal solution outlining how many units by Modification Table of Organizational Equipment, Active or Reserve Component Status, and Geographic Combatant Command location alignment, needed to meet every mission demand, for a prescribed set of time periods, at the battalion level echelon
Overall Effectiveness Superposition Theory for a Film Cooled Leading Edge
Get PDFFilm cooling experimentation traditionally reports on the cooling performance of specialty-crafted cooling holes at various angles and array patterns. This is repeated across a variety of model geometries in an effort to provide as much information to the turbine blade designer. While this extensive database of cooling performance is helpful, its true value is found in the designer’s ability to effectively superpose the results on top of each other. One technique for predicting the performance of multiple coolant sources is film cooling superposition theory. This analytical model was employed classically by characterizing the adiabatic effectiveness across a model’s surface; however, adiabatic effectiveness neglects internal cooling effects. The present work seeks to renew film cooling superposition theory such that the actual surface temperature distribution across a model can be effectively calculated: a theory that properly characterizes the effects of internal and external cooling alike. The results show that it is possible to superpose overall effectiveness results from running each plenum independently and develop a more complete prediction of the cooling configuration’s performance
Effects of Calibration Errors on Dropped-Channel Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar
Get PDFCompressed Sensing (CS) is a mathematical technique that can be applied to sparse data sets to allow for sub-Nyquist sampling. DCPCS is a CS technique that recovers the signal from unmeasured polarisation channels due to antenna crosstalk coupling the information onto the remaining channels. DCPCS reduces data storage/transmission and receiver hardware requirements. This thesis examines the robustness of DCPCS to calibration errors on the antenna crosstalk matrix. Although the antenna design problem is relaxed to a large region of acceptable crosstalk values, very accurate calibration may be required in a monostatic radar. This thesis also looks at the importance of properly setting the BPDN threshold ϵ in accordance with the expected clutter and calibration error levels, showing that without any model mismatches it is possible to accurately set ϵ using the estimated scene clutter. Finally, the validity of using a simplified Point Spread Function (PSF) imaging operator to reduce the computational complexity of simulations is shown
Detection and Identification of Covert Devices using Infrared and Stacked Optics Detection
Get PDFThis work investigates stacked optics detection methodologies to successfully detect and identify observational systems with a cyber-physical sensing tool, ODIN (Observational Device Identification Network). ODIN successfully detected the presence of stacked optics and LiDAR systems using night-vision devices with a 96.32% average accuracy rating, both overt and covertly placed, with objective lens diameters ranging from 17 mm to 50 mm at distances between 1 m to 5 m with and without commonly employed anti-reflective countermeasures. ODIN provides a foundation for counter- measure capabilities of NIR devices and stacked optical systems in stationary environments. Additionally, a pilot study on smartphone LiDAR emission was conducted to demonstrate an asymmetric threat capable of defeating traditional concealment TTPs. This work concludes by stressing the current vulnerabilities presented by modern smartphones which can be used as an adversarial espionage device or may cause inadvertent exposure in expeditionary environments. Lastly, research and technology recommendations are provided to defend against surveillance efforts, conduct counter- surveillance, obfuscate night vision capabilities, and reduce the risk of friendly fire incidents in the field
Developing and Assessing a Generalized Serious Game that Supports Customized Joint All-Domain Operations Related Learning Objectives
Get PDFAs the threat of near-peer adversaries has increased, the DoD has increased its emphasis on Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO). This emphasis on JADO highlights the need for hands-on training that can engage military members at all levels. The serious game Battlespace Next (BSN) was designed to teach high-level JADO concepts by modeling real-world military assets in the context of a strategic card game. To keep pace with the evolving landscape of warfare as well as fit the needs of a variety of Department of Defense (DoD) communities, this research introduces the Battlespace Next Education Framework (BSNEF). The BSNEF allows JADO instructors to create their own versions of BSN based on their unique learning objectives (LOs). The framework and supporting web application were developed to provide a flexible and engaging tool for instructors to design games that effectively teach JADO concepts. The framework was evaluated through surveys and case studies to determine its flexibility and usefulness. The survey responses and case studies suggested the BSNEF could significantly reduce the time required for creating customized JADO games
Detonation Confinement in a Second-Generation Radial Rotating Engine
Get PDFIn recent years, Rotating Detonation Engines (RDEs) have been coupled with turbomachinery to harness the benefits of detonative combustion. A novel type of RDE, referred to as the disk or Radial RDE (RRDE), has been developed in pursuit of length and weight savings compared to a traditional annular flow RDE. This design includes a disk-shaped device within which reactants flow from the outer radius, detonate, and exit the inner radius. In this paper several modifications have been made to a previously tested RRDE to address issues that arose with the original design. The combustion chamber diameter has been increased to maintain area convergence within the combustion channel while forcing the detonation radially outboard, thus enabling a higher efficiency. New fuel and air entry schemes were devised with computational fluid dynamics. This device was tested as a standalone combustor. Although persistent leakage issues have been observed, preliminary results have shown detonation wavespeeds near that of the first-generation, constant-area RRDE, but with higher pressure recovery
Critical Infrastructure System Resiliency Modeling Using Multi-Layer Network Optimization
Get PDFccurately modeling the interdependent operation of critical infrastructure systems is an effective and efficient way of proactively evaluating system vulnerabilities and resiliency. Infrastructure systems are designed to transport essential commodities from where they are produced to where they are consumed and network flow-based models are one of the most effective ways to simulate and quantify infrastructure performance. The literature is populated with proposed models that must balance accuracy of interdependent operations, capability to include real-world considerations, and computational cost. This research proposes an alternative network-flow based model called the Critical Infrastructure System Resiliency Model (CISRM) that focuses on modeling a subset of operational interdependencies and allows user-input damage scenarios to include partial functionality of components, restrict the available repair resources, and limit the number of work crews available to make repairs. Due to the difficulties associated with obtaining real-world infrastructure data, this research demonstrated CISRM capabilities on a notional test network. The damage scenario simulations demonstrated the superiority of CISRM in quickly restoring infrastructure services when compared to alternative restoration prioritization heuristics. The simulations also show CISRM could be a powerful decision-making tool for weighing the costs and benefits of different levels of recovery investment and the potential impact on overall system resiliency