Intelligent Automation, Inc. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A20-068

Description

The Army Aviation Ground Support Equipment (AGSE) is interested in innovative manufacturing/repair technologies to be installed in The Aviation Shop Sets for field maintenance support and improved aircraft readiness by a capability to manufacture/repair tools, support equipment, and aviation grade spare parts. This capability would enable the mission continuity until the traditional logistics’ response. To this end, the Army requests the proposer to “identify and characterize the advantages and benefits of utilizing AM technologies to include areas such as cost, technical, training, readiness, logistics, technology limitations, and weight.”  Intelligent Automation, Inc. (IAI) proposes to develop an additive manufacturing (AM) capability for the Army by looking into metal and composite AM technologies with respect to logistics and cost saving opportunities together with meeting the required mechanical properties. This capability will be a component of the Aviation Shop Sets and will be capable to replicate and repair tooling and parts used to maintain Army Aviation assets. Hence, the maintainers will have any needed tool on-time and on-demand. A thorough investigation of the logistics and cost effectiveness of the AM capability will justify the AM technology for the Aviation Shop Sets.