The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking proposals for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I program. The specific topic of the solicitation is "Automated Performance Monitoring for Rotorcraft Turboshaft Engines Using a Multimodel Approach". The Navy branch is responsible for this topic, and the solicitation number is N24A-T004.
The objective of this research is to develop and integrate multiple models using machine learning and artificial intelligence to continuously and accurately estimate and predict power available for rotorcraft turboshaft engines across all aircraft operating conditions. Accurate estimates of engine health are crucial for ensuring safe operation of helicopters supporting heavy-lift operations. The development of algorithms that utilize existing aircraft data parameters and have the potential for real-time performance is of considerable interest.
The Phase I effort involves designing and demonstrating multiple approaches for engine health and power available estimation using Navy datasets and commercially available, open-source computing languages and packages. The Phase II effort focuses on developing and demonstrating a multimodel approach for accurately estimating and predicting engine health and power available over a wide range of operating conditions. The Phase III effort involves demonstrating scenarios involving model re-training, updating, and incorporation of new models within the Navy data environment.
The potential impacts of this research include improved engine performance monitoring, maintenance planning, and operational efficiencies. The developed software capability could be broadly applicable to aerospace and turboshaft engines and could be commercialized as an engine management tool for commercial operators.
The solicitation was released on November 29, 2023, and the application due date was February 21, 2024. More information about the solicitation can be found on the grants.gov website (https://www.sbir.gov/node/2479571) and the Defense SBIR/STTR Opportunities website (https://www.defensesbirsttr.mil/SBIR-STTR/Opportunities/).