Latest Stories
Briefs Electronics & Computers
Use of a Heat Pipe to Cool Aircraft Electronics
The first steps have been taken in a continuing project to study the suitability of dissipating heat from electronic and electric-actuator equipment aboard an aircraft by using a loop heat pipe, containing water as the working fluid, that delivers the heat to the exterior aircraft skin. The first...
Briefs Electronics & Computers
Microscale Electrical Contacts for Self-Assembly
An experimental study of self-assembly processes in which small, heterogeneous components become spontaneously aligned with each other and bonded through soldering of mating electrical contacts...
Briefs Photonics/Optics
Electrical Filters Containing Multistage PBG Resonators
Electrical filters of a recently invented type are designed and constructed as transmission lines into which multistage photonic-band-gap (PBG) structures are incorporated. As used here,...
Briefs Photonics/Optics
BC VCSELs for RF/Photonic Links
Bipolar cascade (BC) vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) of a type intended specifically for use in radio-frequency (RF)/photonic links have been demonstrated. As used here, "RF/photonic link"...
Briefs Test & Measurement
Effect of Laser Noise on an Analog RF/Photonic Link
Aset of equations has been formulated to enable quantification of several aspects of the performance of an analog photonic communication link as affected by laser noise. A procedure for...
Briefs Information Technology
C++ Architecture for Simulating UAVs
A conference paper describes the use of the CADAC++ software system for simulating operations of uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) in conjunction with moving ground targets while interacting with other UAVs and with satellites that assist in targeting. CADAC++ was developed by rewriting the prior...
Briefs Information Technology
Overcoming Obstacles to DoD Software Technology Transition
The term "Software Wind Tunnel" (SWiT) denotes an institution proposed to be established as a means of overcoming obstacles that, heretofore, have impeded technology transition in...
Briefs Information Technology
Magneto-Fluid Dynamics Calculations for Aerodynamics
Governing differential equations, and algorithms to solve the equations numerically, have been developed to enable computational simulation of weakly ionized aerodynamic flows in the presence of electromagnetic fields. The equations and algorithms are intended mainly for application to airflows...
Briefs Materials
GOx/CNT/Silica Composites for Bioelectrodes
Composites of glucose oxidase (GOx), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and biologically synthesized silica have been synthesized and tested. These composites are prototypes of biological/electrical interfacial...
Briefs Information Technology
Planning Observations by Unmanned Surface Vessels
Three algorithms, and software that implements the algorithms, have been conceived and analyzed as means of effecting automated planning of scientific observations by a fleet of unmanned surface...
Briefs Materials
Progress in Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Materials
A five-and-a-half-year integrated multidisciplinary research project has been characterized by three themes pertinent to the development of advanced materials having tailorable...
Briefs Physical Sciences
Mixing and Combustion in Turbulent, High-Speed Flows
A collection of reports presents a detailed description of a research program that focused on fundamental investigations of mixing and combustion in turbulent subsonic and supersonic flows like those encountered in high-speed air-breathing aircraft engines. The research included close...
Briefs Physical Sciences
Microcompression Tests of a BMG and a Tungsten/BMG Composite
Uniaxial-compression tests of micron-scale specimens (microcompression tests) of a bulk metallic glass (BMG) and of a tungsten/BMG composite have been performed to contribute to...
Articles Defense
Thermal Trends and Improvements for Rugged COTS Cards
Thermal management of rugged COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) cards destined for defense applications has always been a challenge due to the high operating temperatures and other harsh...
Articles Software
Data-Based Paradigm for Rapid Development of Advanced Avionics Displays
The database concepts, tools, and runtime software described in this article provide a methodology for creating advanced avionics human-machine interfaces (HMIs), such as...
Tech Transfer Reports
Novel Tooling Technique Cuts Cost and Time of Manufacturing Parts
Imagine being able to mold and manufacture parts the size of a bedroom in just two days. A system for composite fabrication, based on a material that has been nicknamed...
Tech Transfer Reports
Pultrusion Process Simplifies Manufacture of Composite Structures
A simple pultrusion technique is being adapted to lend its simplicity, efficiency, and cost savings to the production of complex composite structures for high-performance...
Tech Transfer Reports
Work Cell Design Enhances Safety of Braiding/Filament Winding Process
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) successfully executed several phases of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract to develop an advanced multi-axis braiding/filament winding work cell. The technology work cell has proven its ability to cut costs and improve...
Briefs Electronics & Computers
FPGA-Based Communication Channel for Digital Signal Processor Chips
A method for networking, and a network of, digital signal processors (DSP) via at least one field-programmable gate array (FPGA) enables the simultaneous broadcast of data from a DSP to a number of DSPs. The apparatus comprises a host DSP, at least one FPGA in communication with...
Briefs Semiconductors & ICs
Applying Reconfigurable Computing to Acoustic Sensors Using FPGAs
A novel microsensor processing architecture allows a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to act as a reprogrammable preprocessor or coprocessor to a general-purpose processor...
Briefs Test & Measurement
Delta-Sigma UHF Digital Waveform Generator
A prototype Digital Waveform Generator (DWG) in the ultra-high-frequency (UHF) range uses Delta-Sigma (Δ−Σ) modulation techniques, which permit arbitrary and accurate waveform...
Briefs Electronics & Computers
Network-Enabled Resource Devices
Network Enabled Resource Devices (NERDs) combine the most common electronic components used in robotic applications into a standard electronics box with "plug-n-play" capabilities. Risk reduction efforts, systems testing and integration, and modifying the functionality of evolving systems becomes greatly simplified...
Briefs Photonics/Optics
Cleaning and Protecting Large Mirrors Using a Polymer Solution
Cleaning and protecting optics is a challenge — contamination must be removed without damaging the surface. Preventing recontamination for extended periods of time after...
Briefs Electronics & Computers
Software-Defined Radios for Urban and Indoor Navigation
Software-defined radios (SDRs) are being developed to provide positioning and communication (POSCOMM) services inside buildings and tunnels, under tree canopies, and in other environments...
Briefs Electronics & Computers
Conjugated Polymers Having High Charge-Carrier Mobilities
A three-year research project encompassed multiple studies of (1) polymer semiconductors that exhibit relatively high electric-charge- carrier mobilities and (2) applications of these...
Briefs Materials
Incorporating Functional Fillers into Silicone Elastomer Systems
Silicones can be developed into fluids, gels, adhesives, elastomers, and resins designed with unique properties that make them ideal for specific application uses in the defense...
Briefs Materials
Gold-Based Nanoparticle Liquids for Electronic Applications
Electrically conductive, solventless nanoparticle liquids, consisting of gold nanoparticles chemically functionalized with large organic molecular groups, have been investigated for...
Briefs Materials
Dimensional Stabilization of Composite Space Structures
A research project has yielded progress on several fronts toward the goal of minimizing thermal and aging distortions of composite-material (specifically, polymer- matrix/graphite-fiber)...
Briefs Physical Sciences
Adaptive Deblurring of Noisy Images
An algorithm for adaptive deblurring of images has been designed to be less adversely affected by image noise than are prior deblurring algorithms. The need for this or another noise-tolerant deblurring...
Top Stories
INSIDERManufacturing & Prototyping
How Airbus is Using w-DED to 3D Print Larger Titanium Airplane Parts
INSIDERManned Systems
FAA to Replace Aging Network of Ground-Based Radars
NewsTransportation
CES 2026: Bosch is Ready to Bring AI to Your (Likely ICE-powered) Vehicle
NewsSoftware
Accelerating Down the Road to Autonomy
EditorialDesign
DarkSky One Wants to Make the World a Darker Place
INSIDERMaterials
Can This Self-Healing Composite Make Airplane and Spacecraft Components Last...
Webcasts
Defense
How Sift's Unified Observability Platform Accelerates Drone Innovation
Automotive
E/E Architecture Redefined: Building Smarter, Safer, and Scalable...
Power
Hydrogen Engines Are Heating Up for Heavy Duty
Electronics & Computers
Advantages of Smart Power Distribution Unit Design for Automotive...
Unmanned Systems
Quiet, Please: NVH Improvement Opportunities in the Early Design...
