Low Cost Innovative Projects (Projects less than one million dollars each)
Abstract
Typical Rapid Reaction Fund (RRF) projects are completed with a single year of funding and at a cost less than $1.000 million to deliver conceptual prototypes for evaluation or assessment by warfighters and interagency users. In FY 2019, RRF selected, executed, and transitioned multiple low cost projects, including: • Compact Expendable Payload: A project that developed off-board expendable countermeasures for High Value Assets (HVA). The resulting prototypes successfully transitioned to the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command and the U.S. Air National Guard. • BiAS for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs): UUV prototypes, which successfully transitioned to USINDOPACOM and U.S. Pacific Fleet. • Modular Multi-Platform Intrusion Detection System (MMIDS): Government-owned open systems architecture that combats cyber threats in air and surface vehicles in addition to monitoring networks for malicious activities. This technology transitioned to the U.S. Navy Exploratory Development Lab, the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) program, and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory. • SPRINT: This technology provides a novel approach to enable detection and geolocation of targets of interest. It successfully transitioned to USINDOPACOM and USEUCOM. • BANSHEE: A machine learning technique that provides improved topological models. This product is transitioning successfully to end users. • Ion Electrospray Micro Propulsion: A novel nanoscale propulsion system that allows for high thrust, enabling needed agility in space. This program successfully transitioned to multiple U.S. government agencies. • Pathfinder: A special purpose High Frequency Radar (HFR) to advance capabilities against targets of interest. The capability is used by multiple CCMDs. • Quicksilver: A non-traditional technology application that provides capability to the warfighter against remote controlled improvised explosive device (RCIED). This capability transitioned to Navy PMS-408, Unmanned Ground Vehicles. • Response for Tactical Logistics: A platform that uses weapon sensors to improve decision making and reduce logistic response times. Further development is being performed by the U.S. Army Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center. • Project 422: A technology application that provides the end user the ability to use alternate antenna and processing systems. This project successfully transitioned to a classified U.S. government customer. • Impulsive: A novel propellant additive, which drastically improves missile range. The U.S. Air Force is currently using the system. • Compact Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR): A compact MEMS switching LiDAR for all combat conditions. This LiDAR successfully transitioned to the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD). • Multi-Static Distributed Radar: A high-resolution target tracking system for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and manned aircraft. The radar successfully transitioned to USSOUTHCOM. • SmartFog: Computing software that leverages existing sensors and provides advanced computing power at the battlefield edge. This software transitioned to USSOCOM. • Differential Segmented Aperture: A new technology that provides full spectrum radio frequency (RF) capabilities and increased antenna efficiency. This product transitioned to the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. • Gray Zone Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR): This cyber technology allows for the early detection, characterization, and warning of Gray Zone intelligence operations. The cyber tool transitioned to the Joint Warfare Analysis Center (JWAC). • Joint AVAA Workflows (JAWs) Phase 2: An autonomous solution designed to help analysts exploit motion imagery data. Phase 2 focused on implementing changes based on user feedback. JAWs is being used by the U.S. Africa Command, the National Geospatial Agency, and other agencies. • Virtual Raptor: A data fusion tool to generate timely visualizations using machine learning algorithms. Virtual Raptor allow users to analyze and interact with seemingly unrelated data to extract vital mission information. U.S. Special Operations Command is using this software. • Canine Head Mounted Display: A tactically relevant head mounted display (HMD) for military working dogs. The Canine Head Mounted Display allows the handler to remotely and covertly identify objects of interest during covert operations. This technology transitioned to Naval Special Warfare Command. • Adaptive Precision Navigation and Timing (PNT) Hub: A novel precision timing hardware fusion engine that enables plug-and-play integration across a wide spectrum of electronics and PNT solutions. This capability deployed to a classified transition partner. • Modular Air Dropped Package (MAD PACK): A novel rotorcraft unmanned aerial system (UAS) that can be deployed from a common launch tube (CLT). The technology transitioned to, and is in use by, the U.S. Air Force. • Pebble: This project developed a wire free, unobtrusive mouthpiece communication device. This technology is currently in use by U.S. Special Operations Command. • Single Tag: A data triage tool that uses classical data processing algorithms to rapidly clean, sort, and label data. This technology enables convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to be trained much more quickly with minimal analyst input. This technology is currently in use by the National Geospatial Agency. • Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Discrimination: This LiDAR project provides the capability to quickly and accurately discriminate between biologicals and UAS. This product is being used by multiple DoD installations. • Digital EOD: A project that used artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) to quickly deliver pertinent information regarding unexploded ordnance. This project transitioned to Joint Service EOD. • ARM-ANTS: A project that used the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) as a non-traditional sensor. This project transitioned to the U.S. Air Force. • High Performance Solid Rocket Propellant: A project that developed a novel aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) alloy fuel that, in addition to significantly increasing performance and munition range, removes a dangerous emission common in current state-of-the-art formulations. This project successfully transitioned to the U.S. Army. • ALICE: This project demonstrated a software tool that can assess deficiencies in AI/ML trained algorithms. It provides a method to evaluate and efficiently re-train the performance of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). This project technology successfully transitioned to the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC). • HLX Drive: The Helix crankshaft combined with variable power on demand (VPOD) allows for much greater power with reduced weight. The HLX Drive project demonstrated a 3kW generator that weighs 80 percent less than the current generator while increasing power output by 33 percent. This technology transitioned to the U.S. Marine Corps. • RF Gatekeeper: A system that automatically identifies and suppresses interference in congested radio frequency environments, maintaining performance of mission critical communication systems. This technology transitioned to United States Special Operations Command. • Intelligent Power Distribution System: This project embeds AI/ML capability into Intelligent Power Distribution Units (IPDUs), so that these units can react if there are signs of imminent system failure. This project successfully transitioned to the U.S. Army.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2021
- Source ID
- 1dfd3693bc8abf1f018c831d89035dbf