Research Capabilities

Topics include: additive manufacturing, added (built-in) functionality to structural materials, synthesis of functional surfaces, synthesis and process design of functional coatings, computationally-guided accelerated materials, and materials processing development. Capabilities include: novel materials development, including fabrication of multifunctional, graded, or tailored composites; development of structures for energy absorption in underwater applications; development of smart coatings and multi-layer composite heterostructures; metallurgy; and high-level monitoring of variations in stress, strain, and deformation.

Includes capabilities in sustainable manufacturing and sustainable product design, highly automated manufacturing systems, lean manufacturing, distributed manufacturing and rapid prototyping, quality assurance, computer aided design, robotics and automation, composite materials, and nanomaterials.

Includes research expertise in cryptography (theory and applied), quantum cryptography, network security, vulnerability analysis, counterfeit detection and protection, embedded systems security, formal methods, secure control algorithms, and secure system design. Services include embedded systems penetration testing, integrated circuit imaging and testing, and cybersecurity training and workshops.

Capabilities include: development of novel wearable sensors and devices, implantable sensor systems, and mobile/connected healthcare technologies to sense/process physiological signals for therapeutic/assistive devices, and disease diagnostics and management. Moreover, capabilities in occupational biomechanics and integrated sensor data processing involving machine learning algorithms for early prediction, human performance enhancements, monitoring, and management of occupation-related diseases that include musculoskeletal disorders, sleep disorders, and stress-related disorders. Development of human behavioral models that assess both individual and team differences and performance through cognition and metacognition, communication, human-computer interaction, user-experience, and macro-ergonomics in various domains, such as transportation (i.e., driving traditional and electric vehicles, eye-tracking and distraction), construction (i.e., collaborative workspaces, team cohesion, and organizational structure), sustainability (team behavior for high-performance outcomes), medicine (i.e., trans-theoretical model of change in hospitals) and military (i.e., human-computer interaction with anti-air warfare coordinators, measuring cognitive workload). Expertise in integrating operations research techniques and algorithms and advanced statistical methods with human factors and ergonomic problems for a holistic understanding and prediction of human behavior and performance.

Includes capabilities in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, experimental scale model testing, underwater autonomous vehicles, quantitative flow visualization, dynamic fluid-structure interactions, ocean signal processing, coastal modeling, nonlinear ocean wave mechanics, and ocean systems design.

To meet power and energy needs of future undersea vehicles with “frame” size constraints, propulsion-enabling technologies, such as high torque-density machine-drives, integrated power generation-distribution-storage systems, advanced controls, and protection. Advanced materials, devices (WBG), thermal management, and control algorithms will be investigated for high voltage, high-frequency propulsion systems with payload efficiency.

Includes theoretical, numerical, and experimental capabilities in structural vibration analysis and testing, considering a broad range structural systems and their excitations as well as the effective mitigation of unwanted and excessive vibration and noise through passive, active, and semi-active structural isolation and control strategies. Nonlinear dynamics and vibrations, including: nonlinear time series analysis; damage diagnosis and prognosis in engineered, geophysical, and biological systems; failure/damage mechanics; nonlinear system and parameter identification; modal testing and analysis; dynamics, stability and control of engineered systems.

Description: Includes the development of acausal, object-oriented, and physics-based libraries of models of undersea vehicle systems and components for design, simulation, and requirements formalization. Enables large-scale implementation of a repeatable design process for undersea vehicle systems; robustness analysis (robust design, uncertainty quantification and propagation, tolerance to faults, systems degradation tracking, prognostics, etc.); fault detection, isolation and prognosis algorithms, and fault-tolerant control architectures. Integration of principles of requirements formalization, robust design of tests, simulation, and optimization will target the reduction of cost and development time as well as uncertainty in the design and operation of undersea vehicle systems. Includes capabilities in systems modeling using deterministic and stochastic models. Proficiency with linear, non-linear, integer programming modeling and solution methodologies; heuristic and meta-heuristic methods; deployment on embedded to parallel processing systems; discrete event, agent based, and system dynamics simulation methodology, real-time data collection, processing, and response; and human-computer assisted decision support systems. Application areas include autonomous systems; supply chain, defense, and security applications; manufacturing operations; and scheduling applications. Workshops on lights-out operations and defining, monitoring, and responding to KPIs for systems optimization.

An integrated analytical, simulation, algorithmic, and experimental research program in autonomous and supervisory control of UUVs tasked with surveillance, search, interdiction and underwater manipulation of objects. Focus areas include, but are not limited to: autonomous perception; adaptive motion planning and control; intelligent robotic manipulation; proactive decision support for asset allocation, waterspace planning, multi-objective coordinated 3-D and 4-D asset routing under uncertain environments, EM spectrum allocation and scheduling, and battle management; failure prognostics and energy management for life-extension; and distributed intelligence. Includes research expertise in novel propulsion and station keeping mechanisms; underwater vehicle modeling, simulation, and control techniques; glider flow sensing transducers; full ocean depth soft and morphing bodies and mechanisms; multi-vehicle autonomy and collaboration algorithms; system design for underwater operations with low acoustic and electromagnetic footprints.

Capabilities include materials, components and systems-level expertise on design, and analysis and testing of underwater energy systems, including electrochemical power sources and energy storage devices. Thermal management, thermodynamic analysis, and experimental testing of underwater energy systems, including electrochemical power sources, undersea energy conversion and renewable energy storage devices, thermo-photovoltaic energy harnessing, thermal sensing and imaging devices, phonon-/photon-based cooling systems, infrared signature control of undersea vessels, and thermal management system of underwater vehicle engines. The study of underwater energy systems includes materials, components, and systems-level expertise on (1) classical, micro scale, and nanoscale thermal transport systems, (2) design and fabrication of conventional and novel nanostructured materials with unique physical, thermal and optical properties, and (3) undersea energy management, storage, and conversion for heating and cooling systems.