SBIR-STTR Award

The Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are currently undertaking an initiative on Open Manufacturing for satellites and space systems, with the goal of improved reliability, faster development, and reduced cost. The present SBIR topic (AF141-106) is very much related to this effort as it seeks to develop technologies that provide game-changing responsiveness for spacecraft. Applied Minds, LLC (AMI) proposes to use this SBIR topic to fund the design of one specific aspect of the Open Manufacturing program the assurance of continuous custody of a satellite or space system during transport. We intend to adapt certain methods and designs that are part of the Open Manufacturing project to the needs of satellite transport.

Benefit:
Anticipated benefits include immediate application to the Open Manufacturing program, and benefits to the space program as a whole. The technologies and processes developed during the effort are likely to have wider applications in the transportation and shipping industries, as part of the fulfillment function.

Keywords:
Digital assurance, c

AMI shall build and test an installation of a Continuous Custody system during Transport of a satellite. Using a GFE shipping container, AMI would design and build a Continuous Custody during Transport (CCT) system based on the concepts from Phase I as well as our learnings from the Digital Assurance System project. The proposed CCT system would include video capture and environmental sensors to monitor and record the status of the satellite being transported. When the satellite arrives at the destination, the data that has been captured may be uploaded for analysis. The CCT system would be designed in Phase II based on GFE requirements and constraints as well as on discussions with the customer and partners. Sensors used in the final product would be selected from the list provided in the Phase I concept design. Output is routed to an on-board processor for threshold alerts and warnings, and offloaded when in communication to a recording and remote monitoring element. The system would be designed and built at AMIs facilities, and implemented and tested by using it to ship a satellite or other payload from partner facilities in Tucson, AZ to Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, NM.

Benefit:
There is very high latent demand in government agencies for effective Continuous Custody solutions, ranging from individual agency needs to the challenges of the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) which has a $13 billion budget and operates worldwide. Its procedures established for defense transportation and cargo movement are very complex: the requirements for foreign military sales are described in a 42-page document . The vision of Digital Assurance and Continuous Custody through video, sensors, and data systems is one with a promising future. The present SBIR Phase I effort and the proposed Phase II effort, along with AMIs contract with ORS, will help AMI build and demonstrate a compelling solution around the vision of Continuous Custody. Demand is likely to be very high in the commercial supply chain and cargo industry as well. Security of high value cargo is a serious problem for the supply chain industry. In the US alone, estimates of cargo theft incidents in 2012 range from 946 to 1197, in shipments ranging from electronics to corn to metal. Current technologies for security in transport are limited to temperature and vibration monitoring and GPS tracking of the vehicle . Continuous Custody would be a valuable tool for this large industry.