This is the confirmation email that was sent to the Prime Contractor (Orbital Research, Inc.) on March 25th, 2004. Below the confirmation letter is a summary of the Request for Proposal, and the efforts to be executed under Phase I of this SBIR Program.
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Date: 03/25/2004
Subject: Notice to Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR ) Offerors Selected for Phase I Funding

1. Your proposal submitted under Topic AF04-177, entitled "Multi-Mode Mobility MAV", has been selected as one the Air Vehicles Directorate expects to contract, subject to successful negotiations between the Air Vehicles Technical Contracting Division (AFRL/VAK) and yourselves.

2. The process of entering into a contract with your firm has been initiated. You may expect to be contacted by the assigned buyer at AFRL/VAK who will negotiate the specific terms of the contract. The time is currently estimated at 30 to 60 days from the date of this letter.

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AF04-177 TITLE: Multi-Mode Mobility

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Weapons


OBJECTIVE: Develop and advance enabling technologies to allow a small device to transition between air and land mobility.


DESCRIPTION: In the ever changing battlespace environment, the ability to have a Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) change its physical shape by collapsing its wings on to its airframe could enable its new geometry to take advantage of an alternate mode of mobility and thus enhance its operational utility. This technology would allow a single vehicle the ability to perform multiple missions. An example would be to have a MAV fly to the top of a building, land, and then change geometry, and then move to the edge of the roof (rolling, crawling, hopping, etc.) and collect video imagery. Following mission completion, the device would reconfigure its geometric shape, fly off the building, and then return to its home base or continue its mission. This ability to change physical shape or "morph" will require innovative technologies such as miniature smart structures, power miniaturization and management, micro conformal sensors, and MEMS technologies. The major technical risks will be in the development of a small power system, and in the miniaturization of required components. It is envisioned that this technology will be applied to an MAV with a maximum wingspan of 12 in and weighing less than 1.0 lb, and will have the ability to maximize mission effectiveness to support the warfighter.


PHASE I: Define the proposed concept, identify key technologies, and predict the performance of the proposed design of a multi-mode mobility device using simulation techniques. Identification of critical parameters and application to Concept of Operations (CONOPS) are key.



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