Groundbreaking $1.25M Grant for Soil Integrity Evaluation of Runways

Black Swift Technologies,in collaboration with Orbital Micro Systems (OMS),has been awarded a contract too rapidly assess soil integrity for landing zones,specifically tailored for C-130 aircraft operations in non-customary environments.

Partnership Overview

OMS, a subsidiary of Weather Stream Inc., specializes in the design and manufacturing of instruments for weather data collection and analysis. Simultaneously occurring, Black Swift Technologies focuses on developing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for environmental monitoring in challenging conditions.This partnership has been recognized by AFWERX through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract.

Innovative Solutions for Soil Assessment

As part of this initiative, OMS and Black Swift will develop and showcase UAVs equipped with radiometer technology capable of assessing soil moisture and integrity across an entire runway in just minutes. This innovative approach aims to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of soil evaluations.

Importance of soil Integrity Mapping

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) has underscored the significance of soil integrity mapping for its personnel, particularly in unconventional settings were runways are frequently enough unpaved. Such conditions can lead to extended takeoff and landing distances, compromised aircraft handling, and heightened safety concerns.

Current Practices and Challenges

Traditionally, soil assessments involve labor-intensive manual sampling at various points along the runway, which can be both time-consuming and costly.

Streamlining the Innovation Process

In a bid to enhance the small business experience, the Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have collaborated to refine the SBIR and small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) processes. This partnership aims to expedite the transition from proposal to award,broaden the applicant pool,and reduce bureaucratic hurdles through ongoing improvements in contract execution.

Expanding Opportunities for Innovation

As the launch of the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018, the DAF has broadened its funding scope for innovative projects.As of October 11, 2023, OMS and Black swift Technologies are set to embark on their mission to develop cutting-edge capabilities that will bolster the national defense of the United States.

Leadership Insights

Michael Hurowitz, CEO of weather Stream, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the award, stating, “We are both honored and thrilled to receive this grant, which leverages established commercial technologies to enhance the data acquisition, analysis, and reporting processes essential for ensuring runway readiness.”

“Years of dedicated growth have culminated in a novel commercial solution for generating high-resolution soil moisture maps using our proprietary sensor and algorithm technologies. this method significantly reduces the dependency on expensive and time-consuming physical soil sampling, enabling a more precise and rapid assessment of soil integrity than ever before.”