• AFRL Leads Falcon HTV-1 Model Tests

    AFRL researchers led the first Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV-1) model wind tunnel tests. They conducted these tests to investigate localized aerodynamic heating and validate the accuracy of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions. HTV-1 represents the first of three vehicle

  • AFRL Conducts Successful TacSat-2 Propulsion Tests

    AFRL engineers successfully fired the 200 W Hall Effect Thruster during spacecraft-level thermal vacuum testing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The thermal vacuum test verifies the thermal design of the TacSat-2 spacecraft, and it represents the only opportunity prior to launch to verify the

  • Patent Granted for Improved Infrared Thermography Techniques

    Drs. Shichuan Ou and Richard B. Rivir, of AFRL's Propulsion Directorate, and Dr. Srinath V. Ekkad, of Louisiana State University, were granted a patent titled "Method of Infrared Thermography." The patent describes an invention that uses a high-resolution infrared thermography system to determine

  • Joint Targeting Toolbox Successfully Integrated at JEFX 2006

    AFRL installed and integrated its Joint Targeting Toolbox (JTT) version 3.0.2 into the baseline software architecture at the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment (JEFX) 2006 Spiral 3 exercise, conducted at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Over 170 exercise participants and operators received training

  • AFRL Transitions CVT3 to Help Facilitate Accident Investigations

    AFRL engineers transitioned their cockpit voice recorder transcription and timing tool (known as CVT3) to both the Air Force Safety Center and the Army Combat Readiness Center. The audio processing technology is designed to facilitate accident investigations that involve audio recordings and

  • AFRL Fields Web-Based Tool for Evaluating

    AFRL engineers conceived, designed, and developed an online image-quality evaluation tool to fulfill a critical need associated with the creation of an autonomous approach and landing capability (AALC). The AALC encompasses sensor, human, and air vehicle considerations and thus employs an

  • Virtual Mannequins Help Improve Ergonomic Design of Future Automobiles

    Ford Motor Company has adopted an AFRL-developed multivariate case method to establish an automotive-industry first--a set of nine computer-aided design (CAD)-created virtual mannequins modeled after representative human body characteristics. Ford is using the virtual human mannequins to assist its

  • AFRL Simulates Air-to-Air Combat With Directed Energy Weapon

    In an effort to investigate the effect of a high-energy laser in air-to-air combat, AFRL is performing a Tactical High-Energy Laser Utility Study (THELUS) in a virtual simulation environment. As a follow-on to a previous test, AFRL scientists performed simulated tests of air-to-air engagement

  • Bright Onyx Sensor Designed for UAV Homeland Security Missions

    AFRL scientists are tailoring a Bright Onyx sensor, an active multispectral chemical, to be in sync with unmanned air vehicle (UAV) performance standards (such as weight, size, and power requirements). The sensor's design enables remote detection of chemicals associated with weapons of mass

  • AFRL Completes Successful Dual-Use Science and Technology Initiative

    AFRL, in partnership with Williams International and Hood Technology Corporation, managed a Dual-Use Science and Technology initiative to advance Nonintrusive Stress Measurement System (NSMS) technology for small turbine engines. Exploiting initial NSMS research conducted by the Arnold Engineering