SBIR-STTR Award

Prognostic Real-Time Operation Machine Learning for Engine Health and Usage Supervision
Award last edited on: 4/22/2026

Sponsored Program
STTR
Awarding Agency
DOD : Navy
Total Award Amount
$1,646,321
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
N24A-T004
Principal Investigator
Catherine Ashley

Company Information

Cornerstone Research Group Inc (AKA: CRG)

8821 Washington Church Road
Miamisburg, OH 45342
   (937) 320-1877
   info@crgrp.com
   www.crgrp.com

Research Institution

University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Phase I

Contract Number: N68335-24-C-0428
Start Date: 7/3/2024    Completed: 1/7/2025
Phase I year
2024
Phase I Amount
$246,492
Navy Rotorcraft operate in harsh environments that pose unique wear on engine health. Saltwater from the ocean, sand from deserts, and other factors can cause buildup or erosion on the internal components of turboshaft engines. If not maintained, this can cause decreased power output and a multitude of other issues on the platform that could lead to the rotorcraft not being available for operations when needed. The objective of this project is to utilize advancements in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms to monitor various sensor outputs and determine when rotorcraft engines need maintenance. Currently, the Navy follows traditional predictive maintenance schedules to maintain engine health which may result in unnecessary vehicle downtime or catastrophic failures if issues are missed. CRG will develop the Prognostic Real-Time Operation Machine Learning for Engine Health and Usage Supervision (PROMETHEUS). PROMETHEUS will evaluate core engine health performance in real-time throughout all stages of flight and highlight and monitor degradation caused by corrosion and turbine and compressor blade erosion. PROMETHEUSs ensemble machine learning (ML) model will be trained on real-world Navy datasets combined with simulation data from our research partners 2-Spool Gas Engine Dynamics Model. This will generate training data for both healthy and damaged engines across a wide variety of operating and environmental conditions. CRGs expertise in machine learning for aerospace and our partners expertise in turbine engine modeling will form the basis for the PROMETHEUS solution.

Benefit:


Benefits:
Increased efficiency in maintenance/personnel scheduling Increased awareness of real-time engine health Targeted maintenance types Real-time data of engine health and power output Application: Military Rotorcraft engine health monitoring Military Fixed wing engine health monitoring Civilian Rotorcraft engine health monitoring Civilian Fixed wing engine health monitoring

Keywords:
Engine Health Monitoring, Engine Health Monitoring, turboshaft engine, Physics-Informed Neural Networks, Prognostic Health Management, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, ensemble learning

Phase II

Contract Number: N68335-26-C-0009
Start Date: 10/8/2025    Completed: 5/1/2028
Phase II year
2026
Phase II Amount
$1,399,829
Navy Rotorcraft operate in harsh environments that pose unique wear on engine health. Saltwater from the ocean, sand from deserts, and other factors can cause buildup or erosion on the internal components of turboshaft engines. If not maintained, this can cause decreased power output and a multitude of other issues on the platform that could lead to the rotorcraft not being available for operations when needed. The objective of this project is to utilize advancements in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms to monitor various sensor outputs and determine when rotorcraft engines need maintenance. Currently, the Navy follows traditional predictive maintenance schedules to maintain engine health which may result in unnecessary vehicle downtime or catastrophic failures if issues are missed. CRG is developing the Prognostic Real-Time Operation Machine Learning for Engine Health and Usage Supervision (PROMETHEUS). PROMETHEUS will evaluate core engine health performance in real-time throughout all stages of flight and highlight and monitor degradation caused by corrosion and turbine and compressor blade erosion. PROMETHEUSs ensemble machine learning (ML) model will be trained on real-world Navy datasets combined with simulation data from our research partners 2-Spool Gas Engine Dynamics Model. This will generate training data for both healthy and damaged engines across a wide variety of operating and environmental conditions. CRGs expertise in machine learning for aerospace and our partners expertise in turbine engine modeling will form the basis for the PROMETHEUS solution.

Benefit:


Benefits:
Increased efficiency in maintenance/personnel scheduling Increased awareness of real-time engine health Targeted maintenance types Real-time data of engine health and power output Application: Military Rotorcraft engine health monitoring Military Fixed wing engine health monitoring Civilian Rotorcraft engine health monitoring Civilian Fixed wing engine health monitoring

Keywords:
ensemble learning, Physics-Informed Neural Networks, Engine Health Monitoring, turboshaft engine, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Prognostic Health Management