• Alternative Jet Fuel Shows Reduced Emissions

    AFRL researchers completed successful engine emissions tests supporting the Department of Defense's Assured Fuels Initiative, an effort to develop secure domestic fuel sources for the military's energy needs. Under the program, researchers demonstrated the operation of a manned Air Force aircraft

  • Office of Naval Research Using AFRL SBIR-Developed Technologies

    Scientific Research Corporation (SRC) developed a trio of technologies under an AFRL Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Cave-Optimized Audio/Video-Enabled Network (CAVE-Net) program is now utilizing these technologies. CAVE-Net provides

  • AFRL Develops Plasma Actuator Computational Model

    Controlling subsonic aerodynamic flow by means of plasma actuators is an active area of research in both the Air Force (AF) and the general scientific community. A typical plasma actuator consists of two offset electrodes separated by a dielectric material. Plasma forms as the voltage difference

  • Alternative Approaches to 3-D Packaging

    AFRL and the University of Arkansas developed alternative approaches to three-dimensional (3-D) packaging under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. The work focused on the formation of silicon through-vias that allow vertical connections in a 3-D wafer stack. This process is becoming

  • AFRL Supports Falcon Stage Separation Test

    AFRL supported a successful full-scale stage separation test of the QuickReach™ small launch vehicle developed by AirLaunch, LLC, aiding the joint Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/Air Force Falcon program in completing milestone 2 of its Phase 2B contract. The test demonstrated an

  • New Telescope and Rocket Enhance Solar Flare Forecasts

    AFRL scientists engaged in Solar Disturbance program activities developed the Optical Solar Patrol Network (OSPaN), a state-of-the-art solar telescope that improves solar flare forecast accuracy and lead time for operational end users, such as the Air Force Space Command and Air Force Weather

  • Mars Rovers Mark 2-Year Anniversary

    AFRL-developed technology plays a key role in the remarkable longevity of the Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which recently marked their 2-year anniversary on the Red Planet. Spirit landed on Mars in January 2004, and Opportunity arrived 3 weeks later. Though scientists expected both rovers to

  • Plume Signature Research Enables Missile Defense

    Air Force (AF) and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) programs rely on accurate target or threat missile signature data for all stages of flight. The results of interceptor algorithm research and development activities conducted at AFRL and various universities transitioned to users of these programs.

  • AFRL Delivers Mosaicking Software

    AFRL delivered and transitioned the final software release of its mosaicking software to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. AFRL also plans to transition the software to the Global Command and Control System (GCCS) 4.X family of systems as part of the GCCS Integrated Imagery and