US Government Perspective on Smart Fabrics · US Government Perspective on Smart Fabrics A...
Transcript of US Government Perspective on Smart Fabrics · US Government Perspective on Smart Fabrics A...
US Government Perspective on Smart FabricsA Presentation to the Greater Philadelphia Smart Fabrics ConferenceMay 9, 2017
Stephen LuckowskiUS Army ARDECGovernment Program Manager, AFFOA
[email protected], 973-724-3373
Background
• Manufacturing is a matter of national security – as a driver of the US economy and as a source of critical technology for the military
• Government’s overarching objective: Unleash new US advanced manufacturing capabilities and industries for stronger global competitiveness and US economic and national security
• Manufacturing innovation institutes enable the Government to leverage the effectiveness of regional and national public‐private partnerships to spur domestic manufacturing innovation and competitiveness in key technology areas
• There are 14 manufacturing innovation institutes between the Departments of Defense (8), Energy (5) and Commerce (1)
• Federal investment of $75‐110M each (DoD)
• Each institute serves as a regional hub of manufacturing excellence to:• Bring together industry, academia and federal, state agencies• Accelerate manufacturing innovation; bridge gap between basic research and product development
(applied R&D)• Invest in manufacturing technologies important to both industry and Government• Educate and train students and workers in advanced manufacturing skills
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Role of Government in this Public/Private Partnership
• OSD Leadership and Support: Tracy Frost, Director DoD ManufacturingUSA institutes
• Institute Leadership: Army‐led government team Government Program Manager: Steve Luckowski, US Army Armaments Research Development and Engineering Center
Contracting: Travis Clemons, Lauren McDermott, Army Contracting Command‐NJ
• Team of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from across the government whose role is identifying market potential, project planning and advisory role during project execution
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Government Interest in Smart Fabrics
• In 2014, the Government surveyed industry on six technology areas to determine the prospect of a Manufacturing Innovation Institute (MII)― Based on positive feedback from industry and academia, Revolutionary Fibers
and Textiles was chosen to move forward
• In April, 2016, the contract was awarded to Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) and announced to the public
• The Government, particularly the Department of Defense (DoD), sees the value in smart fabrics in helping to reduce weight and enhance capability
• Advanced fabrics can transform soldier survivability, situational awareness, and protection and mobility by incorporating chemical/biological detection, friend/foe identification, energy harvesting, and health monitoring
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• Personnel Parachuting and Cargo Airdrop Systems – Ex. Sensors for detecting strain/wear
• Integrated Soldier Power and Data System • Softwall/Rigidwall Shelters and Base Camp Systems• Undersea optical communications network• Uniform and Vehicle Identification of Friend/Foe (IFF‐passive/active)• Soldier Uniforms – Thermal management, Chemical/Biological/
Radiological/Nuclear protection, etc.• Reinforced Structures – Ex. Mechanically stabilized earth walls
Government Example Applications
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AFFOA At‐A‐Glance
The Fabric Revolution: From Fiber Devices to Fabric Systems
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AFFOA Leadership: Industry, Academia, and Government
All Stakeholders Council (ASC)
+ + Steve LuckowskiGovt PM
Phil Singerman
Assoc Director, NIST
Tracy FrostDirector, DoD
MfgUSA Institutes
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AFFOA Membership
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Technical Strategy
Technical Strategy
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Technical Execution: First Project Call
Project Call 1 Timeline:November, 2016 – Request for white papers releasedDecember, 2016 – AFFOA Project Call Day heldJanuary – White papers due March – Down‐select/full proposal guidance sentApril – Final full proposals dueMay – Proposers notified of proposal funding/state cost share (if applicable) 12
Technical Execution
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Education and Workforce Development Process
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Fabric Discovery Centers (FDCs)
End-to-End Prototyping Facilities
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Each FDC has its own distinct capability• Massachusetts• Pennsylvania• North Carolina• Georgia
• The FDCs’ provide startup incubation space and other support to accelerate the formation of advanced functional fabric start‐up companies
• The network of FDCs is expected to promote product innovation for the textile industry and thus, transition institute‐developed technologies into commercial products 17
Why Participate with AFFOA
• Participation in institute allows for project planning and leveraging Federal Investment of $75M
• AFFOA has secured nearly 3:1 cost share from industry, universities, and state/Federal government
• Opportunity to partner with non‐traditional industry members and access supply chain
• Opportunity to develop new domestic sources and capabilities• Access to new technology, rapid prototyping network (FIN), and start‐up
assistance (FDCs)• Provide shared assets and knowledge to help companies access cutting‐edge
capabilities and equipment
• Affords opportunities beyond typical government contracts
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