Direct Kinetic Solutions Inc — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: AF193-022

Description

The Air Force is in need of lightweight, low power sensors for locating aerospace ground equipment and other maintenance assets over wide areas in an industrial environment. The sensor must have a range of at least three kilometers and operate indefinitely. Direct Kinetic Solutions (DKS) proposes to solve this problem by pairing an isotopic powered X-DK battery with a PTS-G1 label. The proposed design is a Ni63 based isotopic battery, with a 99 year half-life, powering a 5cm x 5cm x 2cm transmitter label connected to a GEO satellite to provide an area of coverage of at least 40 kilometers. This system will address all of the requirements with proven technologies. DKS believes that this application is perfect for its isotopic batteries, and has the opportunity to revolutionize the asset tracking market. The research goal will be to design a prototype ready system, with a deliverable of a single-chip battery demonstration by the end of Phase 1. Success of this Phase 1 will be evaluated with the creation of a functioning single chip battery and the first design of a prototype. Prototyping activities and testing ill be conducted in Phase 2 with the goal of commercialization by Phase 3.