Low Cost Innovative Projects (Projects less than one million dollars each)
Abstract
Emerging Capabilities Technology Development (ECTD) funds rapid prototyping projects requiring less than one million dollars for execution. ECTD selected, executed, and transitioned low cost projects in the areas of: electronic warfare; fully networked command, control and communications; microelectronics; artificial intelligence/machine learning; autonomy and other DoD Modernization Priorities or Joint Mission Capability areas. These projects delivered conceptual and proof-of-principle prototypes for evaluation or assessment by warfighters and other interagency users. In FY 2019, ECTD selected, executed, and transitioned multiple low cost projects, including: • Cognitive Tools for Target Detection: This project leveraged machine learning, mixed reality, and heads-up-display technologies to demonstrate enhanced situational awareness for semi-autonomous to fully-autonomous vehicles with human supervisory control. This project successfully transitioned to the U.S. Army for further development. • Additive Manufacturing for Low-Cost Unmanned Air Systems: This project demonstrated novel additive manufacturing processes to rapidly produce parts that are 3-dimensionally complex at low cost. This project successfully transitioned to the U.S. Air Force for further development. • Air-Launched Effects: This conceptual prototyping project explored novel designs for a multi-mission small-unmanned aerial system that can be deployed from a variety of fixed-wing aircraft. This project successfully transitioned to the U.S. Air Force. • Hydrodynamic Energy Efficiency: Numerical simulation and experimentation to explore various designs for energy efficiency though conceptual prototyping. This project successfully transitioned to the U.S. Navy. • Advanced Thermoelectric Power Generator and Cooler: This project prototyped and tested multiple designs to identify low-cost, enhanced efficiency waste-heat recovering designs to generate power and on-board cooling of electronics and sensors. This project successfully transitioned to the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force for further development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2021
- Source ID
- 7bdc0cf84f6bb4c5a93279dc9b0f53d6