TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles, Materials/Processes

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PEO Ships, PMS 400D, Aegis New Construction Program, ACAT 1

OBJECTIVE: Explore the development and the application of advanced materials and/or technologies to provide an improved, affordable, self-cleaning, ice-resistant alternative bridge window system for surface ships.

DESCRIPTION: The current bridge window and wiper system does not provide a clear view during adverse weather conditions. The wiper system has a well documented history of malfunctioning, resulting in high maintenance costs. Wind, ice, and heavy rain conditions are inevitable during sea operations. The current configuration provides only one (in some cases two) small spinning window(s) with very limited visibility during adverse weather conditions. This configuration has been known to actually obscure visibility during clear weather as well.

This topic seeks to explore the development and application of improved materials and/or technology solutions for an advanced window system concept that will feature improvements such as; self-cleaning, anti-fogging, non-icing, scratch resistant, glare dampening, and will provide a Radar Cross Section (RCS). The advanced window system proposed shall meet or exceed all of the required ship specifications of the current bridge window system including; optical qualities, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), shock, vibration, and applied static pressures. Solutions proposed shall be Radar Cross Section (RCS) compliant, shall allow for the use of night vision goggles and shall integrate with existing ship service support systems. The system proposed shall fit into the existing footprint of the current DDG bridge window system.

PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of an advanced bridge window system. The study shall identify suitable candidate materials, equipment(s), and manufacturing processes and methods of installation anticipated to enable the developed and integration of the proposed system. Establish performance goals and metrics to analyze the feasibility of the proposed solution. Develop a test and evaluation plan that contains discrete milestones for product development for verifying performance and suitability.

PHASE II: Develop, demonstrate and fabricate a prototype as identified in Phase I. In a laboratory environment, demonstrate that the prototype meets the performance goals established in Phase I. Verify final prototype installation methodologies in a representative laboratory environment and provide results. Develop a cost benefit analysis and a Phase III testing and validation plan.

PHASE III: Construct a full-scale prototype based on the Phase II results for testing in a shipboard environment. Working with government and industry, install onboard a selected DDG 51 class hull and conduct extended shipboard testing.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Potential commercial applications include all classes of U.S. Naval and Commercial ships and aircraft, cars, trucks, buses, and construction equipment. Any window required to provide protection and visibility to people during adverse weather conditions.

REFERENCES:
1. http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/, MIL-STD-461, Requirements For The Control of Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems and Equipment

2. http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/, MIL-G-2857B Glass, Heat Treated, Glazed, Rectangular for Bridge Windows

3. http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/, MIL-G-3787, Class 1, Type 1 Glass, Laminated, Flat; (except aircraft) (s/s by ANSI-Z26.1)

4. http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/, MIL-W-18445 Windows, Non-Icing, Laminated Flat Glass, Electronically Heated, with Controls

5. http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/, ASTM C 1048 Heat-Treated Flat Glass-Kind HS, Kind FT Coated and Uncoated Glass

6. http://assist.daps.dla.mil/quicksearch/, ASTM C 1036 Glass, Flat

KEYWORDS: Window, Anti-fogging, Non-icing, Scratch-resistant, Bridge, Bridge Operations,

TPOC: Stephen Grasso
Phone: (215)897-8475
Fax: (215)897-1094
Email: [email protected]
2nd TPOC: David Simunov
Phone: (215)897-1470
Fax: (215)897-1094
Email: [email protected]

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between August 1 and September 13, 2006, you may talk directly with the Topic Author(s) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting September 13, 2006 , when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (06.3 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 06.3 topic under which they are proposing.

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