small business advocate u.s. army natick soldier research...
TRANSCRIPT
A Federal Buyer’s Perspective –
Forecast Opportunities
Philip R. Varney
Small Business Advocate
U.S. Army
Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center
Environmental Business Council of New England
Energy Environment Economy
Army Laboratory Assessment Group (ALAG) Visit
Dr. Ken Oscar (ALAG Visit Lead), Vice President of Strategy, Fluor Government Group
Mr. Philip Brandler, Director (Ret), NSRDEC
Dr. C. William Gear, President Emeritus, NEC Research Institute
Dr. W. Dave Sincoskie, Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Delaware
Ms. Carolyn Nash, Executive Secretary ALAG & Deputy Director for Army Laboratory Management, ASAALT
Mr. Philip Varney
Natick Soldier
Research,
Development and
Engineering
Center
December 12, 2013
NSRDEC
Overview
UNCLASSIFIED / FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 2
UNCLASSIFIED / FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY 3
Natick Soldier Systems Center Natick, MA
In operation since 1954
~ 1200 employees
Organizations at the
Natick Soldier Systems Center
Science &
Technology
Sustainment
& Support
Development
& Engineering
NSRDEC Army’s R&D Organization of the Year 2001, 2003 thru 2006,
2008 & 2009
Natick Soldier RD&E Center
Focused on the Soldier Domain
Mission:
– RD&E To Maximize the Warfighter’s
Survivability, Sustainability, Mobility,
Combat Effectiveness and Field
Quality of Life by Treating the
Warfighter as a System
– Adding Value Through:
• Technology Generation,
Application, and Transition
Enabling Rapid Fielding of the
Right Equipment
• Soldier Systems Technology
Integration and Transition
• Solving Field Problems Rapidly
Vision:
– To be the Recognized Center for
Warfighter and Homeland Defender
Related Research, Technologies
and Systems
Clothing & Protective Equipment
Transformation to the Future Force and Supporting
the Current Fight with the Warfighter
as the Centerpiece of the Formation
Airdrop/ Aerial Delivery
Expeditionary Base Camps
Soldier/SCU Technology Maturation
and Demonstration
Human Systems Integration Sciences
Joint Service Combat Feeding
Supporting Sciences
5 UNCLASSIFIED / FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Human Systems Integration
Sciences
• Anthropometry
• Biomechanics
• Behavioral & Cognitive Sciences
• Human Factors/ MANPRINT
• Sensory & Consumer Research
• Modeling & Analysis
• Soldier and Small Combat Unit Performance
Expanded knowledge
base on how
nutritional status and
affective state impact
cognitive
performance,
training, leadership,
and system design
recommendations for
mitigating cognitive
decrements due to
contextual factors
Developed first-generation
software tool for design and
prototype assessment of
extremity body armor using a
physics-based, biomechanical
model to predict Soldier
performance on a select set of
output measures
Conducted a series
of studies
examining effects of
Soldier states,
cognitive heuristics,
mental imagery
formation, and
motivations on the
ability to generate
and use spatial
memory of complex
environments
Determined the
quantifiable impact of the
biomechanical,
physiological, physical,
and cognitive performance
effects of a Soldier Load
(SL) configuration
comprised of clothing and
equipment in current use
and a lighter Modified
Soldier Load (ML)
configuration with the
same functionality
Leveraging to conduct large scale Army
anthropometric survey (ANSUR II) in
conjunction with Marine Corps survey
(MC-ANSUR) to generate data supporting
design, sizing, and tariffing of clothing
and equipment; computer aided design of
workstations, workspaces, and vehicles;
and 3D solid modeling of body curvatures
and shapes for enhanced personnel
protective equipment.
MANPRINT and Human
Factors field
evaluations conducted
with common goal of
providing Warfighters
with the best gear
possible
Identifying neuro-cognitive
processes and states in
mounted and dismounted
operational environments,
techniques for adapting navigation
display technologies to account for
changes in Soldier status and a
predictive model of spatial cognition
Clothing and Protective Equipment
• Body Armor
• Combat Clothing
• Microclimate Conditioning
• Chemical Protective Gear
• Load Carriage
• Handwear
• Footwear
• Eyewear
• Environmental Clothing
• S&T Thrust Areas
– Chemical/Biological Barrier Materials
– Ballistic Protective Materials
– Directed Energy (Eye) Protection
– Environmental Protection
– Camouflage
– Multifunctional Materials
Demonstrated
capability to produce a
ballistic helmet shell
that exhibits an average
of 25% improved
ballistic protection as
compared to the
current state-of-the-art
Army Combat Helmet
(ACH)
Rapidly developed & implemented a
revolutionary computerized pattern-in-picture
(PIP) camouflage testing methodology to
objectively assess 57 digitally produced
uniform / personal protective equipment
combos in relevant terrains
Developed prototypes of
Chemical/Biological Self-
Decontaminating
Membranes; transition to
FY10 Future CB
Ensemble/ Ground Solider
System and FY11 Uniform
Integrated Protective
Ensemble (UIPE)
Designed improved Yoke/Collar (in support
of PM-SPE) to be used with the Improved
Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV); Improvements
made to shape, comfort, materials, and
method of attachment to keep system in
correct protective position
Developed a
fundamentally new type
of optical element that
has outstanding
properties and the
ability to react both
actively and passively
Completed Phase I
concept development,
design, fabrication,
evaluation and
technology assessments
for fourteen garment
prototypes based on two
general garment concepts for the highly
collaborative, NSRDED-led Future CB Ensemble
Technology Demonstration
• Technology Integration
• Systems Integration
• Human Systems Integration
• S&T Thrust Areas:
– Unmanned Systems & Warfighter Technology
– National Protection Center
– Soldier Systems Integration & Experimentation
– Modeling & Analysis
– Soldier Mobility & Mission Effectiveness
– Soldier C4 Interfaces, Power & Lethality
– Soldier Integrated Protection
◘
Providing an increase in
the number of available
channels, increased
range, improved video
quality, relay capability,
and encryption for the
Digital Data Link (DDL) for
the Raven Small
Unmanned Aerial System
and the Class I Block 0
Micro Air Vehicle
IWARS Version 2.0 Upgrade
provides representation of a
local Common Operational
Picture (COP) and User
Defined Operational Picture
(UDOP) & linked with other
simulations
Partnering with
NSA and CERDEC
to develop an NSA
approved wireless
Personal Area
Network (WPAN)
Providing Small Combat
Unit Commanders and
Soldiers with real time
network fires, planning,
accurate target location
and identification, and
target handoff
Developing an
optimized integrated
headgear system for
Mounted and
Dismounted
Soldiers to provide
tailored protection,
functionalities and
capabilities for the
Small Combat Unit
Participated in the following FY09
Experiments:
• Command, Control, Communications,
Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance,
and Reconnaissance on The Move (PM
C4ISR-OTM 09)
• Joint Forces Experiments (JFEX)
• Air Assault Expeditionary Force (AAEF)
• MBL and AEWE Soldier Assessments
• Future Combat Systems (FCS)
• Follow-on Assessment of Soldier
Systems Technology Maturity
product and Application Module platform
under Soldier Planning Interfaces &
Networked Electronics (SPINE) ATO
Soldier / Small Combat Unit Technology Maturation & Demonstration
Airdrop/Aerial Delivery • Personnel Parachuting Systems
• Cargo Airdrop Systems
• S&T Thrust Areas:
– Precision Airdrop (sensors, guidance & control systems)
– Integrated Logistics Aerial Resupply
– Modeling and Simulation
– Parachutist Safety
– Test Instrumentation
– Materials Research
At the end of FY09, the
number of supplies
airdropped in
Afghanistan nearly
doubled to more than
32.3 million lbs. by
JPADS and ICDS using
JPADS-Mission Planner
Low Cost Low Altitude Airdrop System
800 missions / 3,200 bundles per year
120,000 lbs. per month of supplies
delivered at 80% reduced cost
Successfully demonstrated
Joint Improvised Explosive
Device Defeat Organization
(JIEDDO) Improved Container
Delivery System (ICDS) which
provides a low cost, one-time
use 10K lbs airdrop system
as an IED defeat mechanism Use of Fluid-Structure
Interaction (FSI) analysis
software to simulate the
dynamics of experimental
drop test parachutes and
inventory systems
LCADS production
rates surged from
75 to 3,000 per
month; taught five
non-conventional
parachute
manufacturers to
manufacture,
inspect and pack
LCADS high
velocity and low
velocity parachutes
to maintain on-
schedule, rapid
responses.
JPADS technologies
successful in the Ultra
Light Weight (200-700
lbs.) and Micro Light
Weight (10-150 lbs.)
weight classes for
medical, sensor, robot
and other payloads under
the Joint Medical Distance
Support & Evacuation
(JMDSE) Joint Capability
Technology
Demonstration (JCTD)
• Softwall Shelters
• Rigidwall Shelters
• Integrated Expeditionary
Base Camp Systems
• S&T Thrust Areas
– Barrier Materials
– Structures
– Thermal Management
– Energy Management
– Finite Element Analysis
– Ballistics
Supported deployment
of Large Area
Maintenance
Shelters (LAMS) for
helicopter and
vehicle maintenance
• 26 missions
• 25 new LAMS
• 11 RESET
• on 4 continents
Modular Ballistic Protective
Shelter (MBPS) received
Safety Confirmation and
Capabilities and
Limitations Records
Developed single and
three-phase mircro-grid
for shelter systems to
accommodate battery
storage, generator
power and renewable
energy sources in a
smart grid
Partnered with Marine
Corps, PM Force
Sustainment Systems and
industry to develop and
evaluate shelter systems
with integral renewable
energy technologies for
base camp applications
Analyzed baseline Force
Provider system
performance and leveraged
technology to develop
system upgrades for
enhanced energy efficiency
and system effectiveness
Developed prototypes to replace
existing Marine Corps
Communications Electronics
Equipment Maintenance Complex
utilizing One-Side and Two-Side
Expandable Army Standard Family
ISO Shelters
Expeditionary Base Camps
PARTNERS:
• All Services
• Combat Rations
• Field Food Service Equipment
• Combat Feeding Systems
• S&T Thrust Areas:
– Energy & Equipment
– Food Safety/Biosensors
– Novel Preservation & Stabilization
– Novel Nutrient Delivery
– Revolutionary Packaging
– M&S/Logistics
Joint Service Combat Feeding
Self-Powered Tray Ration
Heater provides first full
scale application of water
cooled thermoelectric
cogeneration
New COMMZ Kitchen
Layout completed for
food preparation,
serving, and
sanitation capabilities
for a Navy Field
Hospital
Continuous Product Improvement:
Utilizing 400 Warfighters per day, 7
test menus with 27 new items were
evaluated for potential use in future
MRE™ procurements
Modular
Operational Ration
Enhancement
(MORE) High-
Altitude: Approved
in Feb 09 to meet
the needs of the
surge of troops in
Afghanistan
Hospital
NSRDEC led consortium
developed innovative
microwave sterilization
process that was accepted
by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) and
will have a major impact
on food safety and quality
Developed novel , Advanced
Secondary Packaging for Military
Rations that provides same level of
compressive resistance and
protection , an added water
resistance coating, and 13-40%
reduction in weight
Basic & Early Applied Research
• Nanotechnology
• Biotechnology
• Polymer Science & Engineering
• Modeling & Analysis
Developed D-FENS, an
innovative, lightweight,
energy-independent
technology for sanitizing
surfaces such as Army
Field Kitchens or for Bio-
threat Decontamination
Demonstrated the
ability to
effectively
immobilize
antimicrobial
peptides and
retain
antimicrobial
behavior
Developed an innovative “Green
Chemistry” synthetic technique to
produce substances occurring in
natural flavonoids such as green tea,
that have high antioxidant properties
as well as greater thermal stability
Synthesized novel,
eco-friendly flame
retardant (FR)
polymers and
polymer blends
Conducted novel power
generation research
using novel
nanotechnology
approaches for the
conversion of light into
electrical currents, and
for protecting
Warfighters
Applied a layer-by-layer electrostatic assembly
technique to electrospun nanofibers and used to
fabricate novel, highly breathable electrospun
fiber-based chemical and biological detoxifying
protective fabrics and filters based on the
reactive polyanion, polyhydroxamic acid, and
antimicrobial polycation, poly(N-vinyl guanidine)
Discovered a novel class of encapsulated
metal oxide nanoparticles for sensing and
photovoltaic applications
ZnO DDT-ZnO NPT-ZnO
Constructed a fundamental
molecular scale theory to
predict conditions under which
single wall carbon nanotubes
can be stably dispersed in
aqueous solutions, based on the
phenomenon of micellar
solubilization
Unclassified / For Official Use Only
Support to Current Operations Supported Overseas Contingency
Operations by deploying 3 Soldiers for 6
month rotations serving as a Science and
Technology Assistance Team. Traveled
through Area Of Responsibility meeting
with Soldiers, Commanders, and staffs to
document technology gaps and link
those gaps to R&D centers providing
solutions to the Warfighter in the U.S.,
e.g., Improvised Explosive Device Detect,
Defeat, & Deter, waterproof boots, Army
Combat Uniform for medics
Current Operations - Quick
Reaction Cell (QRC)
• Quick Response to Capability
Shortfall Requests from
OIF/OEF units
• Oversee of funding
opportunities for immediate
solution development
• Create community of practice
for rapid solution development
• S&E Field Experience with
Soldiers Program
RDECOM FAST
Video Record Integration into EOD Bomb Suit
- Funded by NSRDEC QRC
- Collaborative effort with ARL / CERDEC /
ARDEC
- Prototype in OEF for assessment
Bomb Suit Cooling Project
- Funded by NSRDEC QRC
- Coordination with OEF STAT
for prototype refinement
- Demonstration of concept at
the National Training Center
July 2010
Enhancement of Real-
time Capability and
Post Mission
Assessment
Woodland
Terrain
Desert
Terrain
Transitional
Terrain
Blends
well
Does
not
blend
Blends
well
Does
not
blend
Responded rapidly to a
Congressional directive requesting a
better camouflage for Afghanistan
by creating a quick pattern
downselection process, then
building and conducting a test to
evaluate prime candidates in
relevant terrains
OEF Camouflage Assessment
- Planning and execution of data
collection
- Conducted direct coordination with
CJTF82 S&T Team for all in-theater
actions
- Coordination with AMSAA; RDECOM HQ
- Managed against aggressive HQDA
schedule (schedule met)
The Soldier Systems Integration Domain
Soldier SID is focused on Small Combat Units (SCU) and Individual Soldiers
NSRDEC forms Communities of Practice and sets up multi-disciplinary, task-
organized teams to understand challenges, identify solution sets, and pursue the
correct technology-enabled solutions across the Enterprise.
Top Soldier / SCU S&T Priorities:
– Soldier Load
– Expeditionary Base Camp (EBC)
– Force Application at the Small Combat Unit
– Soldier Situational Awareness & Human Dimension
– SSID Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T)
EMPOWER UNBURDEN PROTECT 4
Top Technical Challenge:
Soldier Ballistic and Blast Protection
UNCLASSIFIED/FOUO
Doriot Climatic Chambers – A Unique Asset • Designed specifically to test the limits of Human
Performance under extreme conditions
• Critical to Army’s ability to design equipment that both optimizes Soldier performance and accommodates the extreme environmental conditions experienced by Soldiers and Marines.
• Primarily used for Human Research – where a dedicated group of Soldiers perform as Human Research Volunteers.
– Academia/Industry Links
• Advertised to academia or industry for equipment testing/ human studies (IRB approval)
• Contracted to several private companies for unique testing conditions unavailable at other facilities
– Date Initiated
• Most valuable physical asset – in existence since 1955 - Renovated in 1996
• Proposed $20 M Military Construction Project for enhanced capabilities.
Unique Capabilities that Foster External Industrial/Academic Partnerships
Collaboratively funded & staffed
by NSRDEC & USARIEM
Center for Military Biomechanics Research
Unique Capabilities that Foster External Industrial/Academic Partnerships
• A 7,500 sq ft dedicated laboratory unique in DoD with state-of-the-art equipment: for: 3-D analysis of movement, measurement of external forces on the body, monitoring of muscle activity, assessment of oxygen consumption, and real- time mapping of pressure patterns
• Research focused on determining ways to avoid injury and enhance performance
• Results applied to designing Warfighter clothing and equipment, specifying the physical requirements of military occupational tasks, and developing methods to optimize military physical training program
– Academia/Industry Links
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Connecticut, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Massachusetts, University of Rhode Island
– Operational since 1994
NSRDEC Cognitive Performance Laboratory - Virtual Reality (MOVR)
• Full view (two 12 ft W x 9 ft H) projection displays • Displays any environment (MOUT, mountains, desert), full
surround sound • User interface via wide area motion tracking with weapon
simulation • Locomotion interface via self-propelled treadmill synched with
VR system - Mobile Cognitive Assessment Platform (MoCAP)
• Head-mounted display, headset/mic, wrist keyboard, instrumented M4, GPS tracking in outdoor environments, ruggedized PDA, laptop computer carried in custom harness
• Subject-worn laptop and PDA synched w/ experimenter base station via wireless peer-to-peer and VoIP
• Physiological monitoring, gait analysis • Custom software for experimental design and data acquisition
- Eye Tracker • Real-time tracker, can be used indoors or outdoors
- Academia/Industry Links • Institute for Creative Technologies to explore and collaborate on
embedding cognitive measures within same gaming software we use
• Post doctoral (NRC) research position - Operational since June 2007
Unique Capabilities that Foster External Industrial/Academic Partnerships
3D Laser Scanning Laboratory
• State-of-the-art whole body and head/face laser scanning systems
• Provides information about body shape critical for design and evaluation of clothing/equipment systems
• Enables measurement of body surface area and area of coverage for current and next generation armor and helmet systems
– Academia/Industry Links
• Support to creation of anthropometrically accurate human avatars for biomechanical models; Virtual Soldier Research, Un. Of Iowa
• Head and helmet models for helmet-mounted sensors; MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics Department
– Operational on-site since 1995
Unique Capabilities that Foster External Industrial/Academic Partnerships
Unique Capabilities that Foster External Industrial/Academic Partnerships
Polymer Film Center of Excellence
• R&D of new plastics and nanocomposites formulations at lab scale production level
• Co-extrusion of multi-layer films
• Film characterization
• Extrusion and Compounding
– Academia/Industry Links
• Three Test Services Agreements in place to conduct barrier testing and to process multi-layer films
• Collaborations with several large packaging companies, film manufacturers and material converters
– Operational sine June 2007
Thermal Test Facility • Propane Fire Cell – testing of clothing
systems, tents, kitchen burners. • Flame and Thermal Lab – bench scale test
equipment to test and evaluate novel polymers through finished textile materials.
• Laser Lab – test and evaluate materials for laser eye protection
– Academia/Industry Links • Establishing Joint-Service Flame & Thermal
Working Group • Working with UMass Center for Research
on Polymers to establish a regional FR Materials Research Collaborative
– Use and Occupancy Sep 07 leading to full operation in Sep 08
Unique Capabilities that Foster External Industrial/Academic Partnerships
Fiber Center of Excellence • One-of-a-kind bi/tri-component fiber
extrusion capability that will enable the exploration of multi-functional fibers that are lightweight and reactive/responsive.
• State-of-the-art analytical capabilities
–thermal analysis
–transmission and scanning electron microscopy
–nuclear magnetic resonance
–spectroscopy, liquid chromatography/ mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffractometry
– Academia/Industry Links • Advertised to industry for collaborations,
services and technology sharing
• Program Announcement seeking local partners is currently open.
– Operational on-site since April 08
Unique Capabilities that Foster External Industrial/Academic Partnerships
Providing Science and Engineering Support to Partners Who Field Equipment to Soldiers
Everyday Around the World
US Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center