Six research areas were identified within the umbrella of Future Aerospace Platforms. Traditional pre-competitive product improvements as well as cross-cutting technical solutions to new A&D platforms such as unmanned aerial and autonomous ground vehicles and cubesats are encouraged. Below are six research areas with a brief description of the background and constraints of each, with a focus on pre-competitive research.

 

• Future Aerospace Platform Component Systems (collision avoidance and navigation)

• Composite Materials and Advanced Materials (biodegradables, eco-friendly, etc.)

• Battery Technology (solar, long-duration, re-chargeable, new materials, etc.)

• Sensors (imaging, signatures such as chemical, embedded, undetectable by radar)

• Advanced Manufacturing 

• Coatings and High Temperature Alloys (corrosion resistance, new properties, etc.)