SBIR-STTR Award

Physical Sciences Inc., together with its STTR partner, New Mexico State University proposes, to develop the design of a prototype microwave measurement facility for dispersed radio frequency (RF) chaff materials in this Phase I STTR effort. The resulting design would be built and tested in Phase II establishing a unique, compact testbed for quick, relatively low-cost screening of laboratory-scale quantities of new/novel chaff materials designed for the 2 – 40 GHz (Threshold), 2 – 150 GHz (Objective) frequency range. The proposed program includes tasks to: 1) test/optimize a high efficiency chaff dispersal approach capable of uniformly dispersing unagglomerated chaff throughout the testbed volume, 2) designing the microwave measurement system, 3) designing the testbed enclosure, and 4) developing an integrated testbed design that incorporates the dispersal method with the test enclosure and microwave measurement designs to address key performance parameters for the testbed established with input from Army representatives. The resulting design will be reviewed with Army representatives and optimized based upon their feedba

Physical Sciences Inc. and the New Mexico State University propose to refine and implement the design of a Microwave Obscurant Measurement Facility (MOMF) testbed developed in the Phase I STTR program that addresses Key Performance Parameters developed (KPPs) with input from Army representatives. The successful Phase II STTR program will establish a unique, compact testbed for quick, low-cost screening of laboratory-scale quantities of new/novel obscurant materials designed for the 2 – 40 GHz (Threshold), 2 – 150 GHz (Objective) frequency range. The proposed program includes tasks to: 1) review and update the KPPs and the preliminary Phase II prototype design based upon Army feedback and requirements, 2) finalize the design and procure/test the components of the microwave measurement system, 3) design and fabricate a continuous feed obscurant injector based upon a successful mechanism demonstrated in Phase I, 4) build and test the obscurant enclosure that integrates the microwave measurement capability with the obscurant injector and a multi-zone air recirculation system, and 5) develop and implement laptop-based software control for the system. The assembled system will be validated by testing obscurant materials of interest to the Army. The validated system will then be delivered to the Ar