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AVID LLC Wins Air Force Contract For Micro Munition Technologies

AVID LLC Wins Air Force Contract for Micro Munition Technologies

AVID LLC Press Release: October 25, 2006

Conceptual Vehicle Design for Enhanced U.S. Air Force Bomb Damage Information (BDI) Capabilities.

Blacksburg, Virginia, October 25, 2006 - AVID LLC (www.avidaerospace.com), a leading research and development firm for unconventional concepts in aircraft design, has won a Phase I SBIR award from the U.S. Air Force. The project, entitled Micro Munition Technologies: Smart Material-Enabled Hovering Ducted-Fan MAV, Optimized for BDI Mission, is for the development of a vehicle that will enhance the bomb damage information (BDI) capabilities of the U.S. Air Force. The project will investigate the potential for a revolutionary solution to the need for accurate surveillance at close proximity. The concept of operations includes storing the MAV in a small volume and releasing it in conjunction with a weapon. To achieve the required size, the project will encompass assessing the feasibility of the development and innovative utilization of smart materials to create morphing aircraft components.

"We are investigating a highly effective application of micro-air-vehicles through this research project. This vehicle must be effective in flight performance, reliability and cost, but meet packaging and weight constraints. The application of smart materials is being considered as a means to meet these objectives," said AVID LLC CTO Paul Gelhausen. Conceptual designs of a ducted fan and fixed wing micro air vehicle (MAV) will be compared in trade studies using AVID OAV and AVID ACS design tools to show the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Dynamic models of each vehicle will be integrated with simulated sensor output in AVID SPOT software to evaluate the quality of the sensor performance during a BDI mission.

"AVID proposes a very innovative approach that includes investigating smart materials. AVID will investigate four innovative approaches using morphing and smart material to optimize MAV capability. Each one of these technologies could greatly enhance ducted-fan platform technology," said the Air Force proposal review team. "The proposal shows an excellent understanding of the aerodynamic challenges inherent with a ducted-fan MAV design along with concepts to address those challenges. The trade study is very thorough with the inclusion of aerodynamic issues, propulsion challenges, and preliminary consideration of flight controls and deployment concepts. There is an excellent use of applicable tools developed in-house (AVID OAV-PAGE-ACS-SPOT). The direct correlation to the quality of sensor data is an excellent consideration for system engineering."

The purpose of Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is to harness the innovative talents of the nation's small technology companies for U.S. military and economic strength. The program funds early-stage R&D projects, which serve a DoD need and have the potential for commercialization in private sector and military markets. The Phase I SBIR award is intended to establish project feasibility and leads to a Phase II SBIR project for full implementation.

AVID LLC specializes in aircraft design and produces several aircraft design and analysis software tools. AVID LLC provides aerodynamic design expertise and software support for both military and commercial sectors. Current projects focus on unconventional concepts, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs), manned aircraft, fan blades and wind turbines. Founded in 2001, AVID LLC has offices in Blacksburg and Yorktown, Virginia. Customers include Honeywell, Boeing, AAI, DARPA, NASA, DRS, Orbital, U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force. Software design tools include AVID OAV for modeling and simulation of ducted fan vehicles, AVID ACS for modeling and simulation of fixed wing vehicles, AVID PAGE for rapid geometry definition, and AVID SPOT for evaluating sensor and aircraft performance.

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