Innovation Combine

The U.S. Army would like to invite interested companies to participate in the Innovation Combine is now scheduled to take place virtually from July 14-15, 2020 and will provide a forum to collaborate with the Army, earn prize money, and provide potential funding opportunities to tackle Army challenges with scalable power and energy solutions and novel materials for weight reduction and survivability.

WINNER
FPH USA
Novel Materials for Weight Reduction and SurvivabilityTopic B: Novel Materials for Weight Reduction and Survivability Visit Website
WINNER
TexPower, Inc.
Cobalt-free High-Energy Lithium Batteries for Military ApplicationsTopic A: Scalable Power and Energy Solutions Visit Website
FINALIST
Black Diamond Structures
Discrete Carbon Nanotube Additive for Enhanced Performance and Safety of Army Lithium Ion BatteriesTopic A: Scalable Power and Energy Solutions Visit Website
FINALIST
LiquidPiston
400W X-engine Micro Generator (XMG)Topic A: Scalable Power and Energy Solutions Visit Website
FINALIST
Mafic USA
First U.S. Produced BASALT Fiber for Advancement of Ballistic Developments of Military Vehicles, Support Systems and InfrastructureTopic B: Novel Materials for Weight Reduction and Survivability Visit Website
FINALIST
Spark Thermonics, Inc.
Small Form Factor, Fuel Flexible Thermionic GeneratorsTopic A: Scalable Power and Energy Solutions Visit Website
FINALIST
Maynard Steel Casting Company
Development of Lightweight All Steel Precision Engineered, Low Density Prototype Panels for use in Military Ground Vehicles using Patented Sand Cast ProcessTopic B: Novel Materials for Weight Reduction and Survivability Visit Website
FINALIST
UHV Technology, Inc.
Affordable Manufacturing of Military Grade Lightweight Metal Alloys from Domestic Automotive ScrapTopic B: Novel Materials for Weight Reduction and Survivability Visit Website

DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Army would like to invite interested companies to participate in the Innovation Combine is now scheduled to take place virtually from July 14-15, 2020, and will provide a forum to collaborate with the Army, earn prize money, and provide potential funding opportunities to tackle Army challenges with scalable power and energy solutions and novel materials for weight reduction and survivability. Prize money will be awarded to selected projects and funding opportunities will be available through the Ground Vehicle Systems Other Transaction Agreement (GVS OTA), W15QKN-17-9-1025 as described below.

The efforts described in this Notice are being pursued under the authorities of 10 USC 2374a and 10 USC 2371b.

Problem Statements

The purpose of the Innovation Combine is to deliver an innovative approach to compete for an award in the accelerating military technology ecosystem. Submissions will be open to prototype projects that may considerably improve Army platforms, Army weapons systems, or Army support systems. Topic areas and associated problem statements are listed below. Only U.S.-based companies or organizations are considered eligible to participate in this effort. White papers that do not address the problem statements below or submitted from non U.S.-based companies or organizations will not be considered for this effort.

Topic A: Scalable power and energy solutions.

Problem Statement A: The Army has a need for lighter, energy dense, safe, rechargeable batteries that can be demonstrated at the battery prototype level of 400Whr/kg (cell level 500Whr/kg) -or- a small form factor power generation system that could include fuel cells or small engine technologies to recharge batteries while on the move that is light weight, (< 5-6 lbs., including fuel).

Topic B: Novel materials for weight reduction and survivability.

Problem Statement B: For military ground vehicle structures, ballistic and blast load requirements often trump structural requirements, leading to very thick structures. Contrary to aerostructures, for thick ground vehicle structures, materials with high strength and elongation capabilities are better than ultra-high stiffness materials. To enable lightweight military ground vehicles, there is a need for affordable materials that are resilient to high loading rate events and are able to absorb large amounts of energy without breaking.

Partner Agency: Army Futures Command (AFC); Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC); CCDC Soldier Center (SC)