Low Cost Innovative Projects

Abstract

Emerging Capabilities Technology Development (ECTD) funding supports projects requiring less than one million dollars for execution. In FY 2017, ECTD selected, executed, and transitioned low cost innovative projects including: • Advanced Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM): A coherent countermeasure (CoCM) prototype using photonic technology to achieve a wide operational bandwidth, fast frequency tuning, and wide instantaneous bandwidth. Additionally, the prototype provided sophisticated digital signal processing and generation of advanced CoCM waveforms and techniques. The advanced DRFM transitioned to Naval Air Systems Command for further development. • Persistics Software Enhancement: This project developed and delivered systems that automatically integrate and analyze open source imagery data to predict adversary behavior and track weapons of mass destruction in denied areas. The capability transitioned to U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. Further project details are classified. • Multi-Thread Experiment (MTX): Enabled concept experimentation with autonomous unmanned vehicles (UxVs) in an operationally-relevant, multi-domain environment. Efforts focused on collaboration via a distributed control network, which parses sensing, control, navigation, and communication information through a network to achieve mission objectives. • Robust Airworthy Optical Systems: This project integrated government-developed optical subsystems to inform design of a sub-scale operationally representative solid state laser (SSL) weapon system. Related efforts will validate and test design performance in a simulated airborne flight environment. • Low-Cost Precision Intercept: This project developed and demonstrated an ultra-low size, weight, power, and cost terminal guidance seeker. The seeker was paired with a small unmanned aerial system to demonstrate a low-cost, long-range, terminally guided platform. The capability transitioned to U.S. Special Operations Command for further development. • United Nations (U.N.) Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) Technology: A pilot project demonstrated the utility of integrating proven Department of Defense (DoD) technologies to enhance multilateral peacekeeping operations and improved DoD collaboration with the U.N. and other peacekeeping stakeholders. U.N. PKO prototypes transitioned to deployed forces in the U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility.

Document Details

Document Type
Accomplishment
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2019
Source ID
3c2442177fe9a7e79e2ed5ed6a9107e5

Tags

Readers

  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
  • Radio communications and signal processing.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Directed Energy

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