Product Development
Now a National Instruments Alliance Partner. Supporting Metal Fiber Brush activities, SBIR Phase II and III R&D, and regional SETA contracts
Since its founding, DHi has won praise from the defense community for the quality of its R&D support, particularly in naval engineering. From deckplates and shop floors to the sometimes more difficult terrain of policy and finance, our engineering professionals have long supported DoD with an impressive range of field and management experience, backed by the company’s vast network of technical resources acquired through strong and successful industry partnerships.
One example: DHi was recently approved as a National Instruments Alliance partner. This allows us to provide support to our customers ranging from writing software to program management for entire tasks, including design, engineering, programming, CAD modeling, apparatus design, and construction.
Metal Fiber Brushes: Charlottesville, Virginia Research Facility
In spring 2007, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded a significant fleet integration contract to DHi for procuring and installing the company’s unique metal fiber brushes on Navy submarines as part of the Fleet Modernization Process (FMP). Our metal fiber brush (MFB) technologies—which significantly reduce motor-generator maintenance requirements—were largely developed through the SBIR program with HiPerCon, LLC.
Replacing conventional, monolithic carbon brushes with MFBs will improve the performance of the Navy's existing electrical rotating machinery while reducing its cost to maintain electrical motors and generators. MFB technologies will also improve operational availability while serving as a stepping stone toward future innovations in advanced motor technologies. MFBs can achieve significantly less heating at the brush, dramatically less mechanical wear, and an order of magnitude less wear debris formed. Furthermore, MFB wear debris does not conduct electricity nor does it react with lubricants or other compounds in the machinery, unlike carbon brushes.
Our MFBs were largely developed through the SBIR program with our partner, HiPerCon, LLC. Our Charlottesville, Virginia research facility, where MFB work is currently being supported, boasts cutting-edge capabilities in many areas, including:
- Design of electrical and electro-mechanical test equipment
- Electronic circuit design
- Data acquisition system design
- Sensor selection, integration and data handling
- Test and production apparatus design and construction
- Microcontroller development
- Programming stand-alone applications in LabVIEW
- Machine Vision QA of objects
- Solidworks CAD/PDMWorks
- Optical and Scanning electron microscopy analysis of materials
- Mechanical and electrical material property analysis and development
- Controlled mechanical and thermal materials processing
- Wet-etching of silicon and metal films
- Deposition of thin metal films
- Tribological research S&T involved with interactive surfaces in relative motion)
Our substantial SBIR program has led to numerous non-SBIR R&D projects funded by Government and industry as well as projects funded internally. Since 1996, our engineering experts have performed a variety of R&D efforts with a total value of over $48M. Many of DHi’s SBIR awards have involved the company’s efforts in innovative Photoluminescent Safety Solutions® and in breakthrough metal fiber brush (MFB) technologies. Both have significant potential for saving lives and significantly reducing maintenance costs in their respective applications. To date, DHi’s SBIR efforts include:
- Nine Phase I SBIRs
- Six Phase II SBIRs
- Seven Phase III SBIRs
- $26M in follow-on contracts for our Phase III metal fiber brush programs
- $25M IDIQ SBIR Phase III contract with NAVAIR for Aviation Safety, focusing on improved propeller visibility and improved propeller de-icing systems
- $11.6M in non-SBIR Government R&D projects
Since too many great technologies fail to emerge from the lab and into the hands of the warfighter, DHi has developed a keen understanding of what it takes to transition such technologies. DHi’s innovative methodology for focusing technology transition (FT2) has helped successfully transition our own technologies into the fleet and force. In addition, we actively engage in teaming arrangements with other technology innovators to assist them in identifying opportunities for their technologies. We can apply the same successful strategies to help you transition your breakthrough technologies.
Before you hire someone else to assist you in the SBIR process, ask them how many Phase III SBIRs they’ve actually done. We provide excellent SBIR support because WE ACTUALLY DO PHASE III SBIRs. We can apply the same successful strategies to your technologies to help you win a Phase III.
Regional Systems Engineering Technical Assistance (SETA) Support
DHi enjoys an enviable track record of providing support to key Government customers at DoD agencies and military and naval facilities across the Nation. Operating out of DHi’s Dover, New Hampshire offices, the R&D Group’s staff of highly-skilled engineers and analysts, with significant prior experience in the Government and the military, is ready to support your regional SETA needs today.
For details on how DHi’s R&D group can help, contact
Marcel Piet Vice-President, Product Development 207-651-3476. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
