Greater Wichita Region
Abstract
Wichita State University (WSU) is seeking Economic Adjustment Assistance under CFDA 12.611 to enhance its capacity to assist regional communities, businesses, and workers that may be affected by reductions in defense spending. Defense industry suppliers and original equipment manufacturers utilize the additional capacity and capabilities provided by the DoD OEA funding for extending industry competencies in support of the warfighter, reducing defense sustainment cost, minimizing equipment downtime, and, most importantly, increasing warfighter survivability and mission success. OEA investment yields direct outcomes for nuclear weapons platforms; all composite structures including but not limited to UAVs, warfighter and vehicle armoring, air frames such as F-18, F-35, etc.; USSOCCOM/Medical; USCENTCOM/Operations and Mission Support; USTRANSCOM/C2/C41/Cyber (Architecture and Components; and USPACOM/Force Protection & Medical. The Wichita Region project will do the following: • Enhance development and commercialization networks to support innovators and entrepreneurs engaged in technology-based economic development, focusing on the potential for expanding technology transfer and identifying methods to commercialize defense-related products. • Demonstrate, scale, and operate advanced manufacturing / Industry 4.0 / Smart Factory facilities and expertise that leverage and enhance regional advanced manufacturing strengths (aerospace manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, etc.) to pilot and commercialize new technologies that will enable and empower innovative small- and medium-sized companies to reduce the time to market of defense-related and marketable products and processes. Demonstrations, pilot projects, and feasibility studies will include the following technologies: o Automated fiber placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) technologies optimization to minimize manufacturing defects and increase production rates for building large-scale composite aerostructures. o Cold spray technologies for restoration of aircraft parts requiring high-quality repair and for advanced manufacturing of aerospace and automotive parts. o Robotic programming with a motion-tracking system to record and analyze the motions presented within the work envelope of the robotic cell in order to program a robotic path that allows for the efficient programming of collaborative robots. o Additively manufactured tooling systems to print agile tooling that allows new variants of defense and commercial aircraft as well as other complex equipment to be built quickly. o Hypersonic feasibility and market analysis to determine the feasibility and market gaps that may exist related to creating a new hypersonic materials testing and simulation facility that would support workforce development of subject matter experts, commercial industry, and DoD product development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 05, 2020
- Source ID
- HQ00051810044
Entities
People
- Debra Franklin
Organizations
- Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- Wichita State University