Thermally Tolerant Optical Fire Detectors - STTR Topic DON26TZ01-NV001
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This topic was temporarily posted by the Department of War SBIR Program on March 2nd 2026 and removed the following day.
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Funding Amount:
Est. $240,000
Deadline to Apply:
Est. April 29th, 2026.
Objective:
Development and demonstration of an optical fire detector capable of an artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)-enhanced Optical Fire Detector (OFD) capable of operating in temperatures up to 400°F, enabling deployment in high-performance engine nacelles without compromising responsiveness or coverage.
Description:
All aircraft engine nacelles require reliable and rapid-fire detection systems to ensure airworthiness and flight safety. OFDs are preferred over other technologies due to their fast response times and comprehensive coverage. However, existing OFDs are typically limited to operating in temperatures below 200°F, rendering them unsuitable for certain high-temperature nacelle environments that exceed this threshold.
Current Limitations of the Alternative (Thermally Robust Temperature-sensing Lines):
Slower detection response compared to optical methods
Limited coverage due to sensor placement constraints
Lack of non-destructive calibration, increasing maintenance complexity and downtime
AI/ML Integration for False Alarm Reduction:
Real-time signal classification to distinguish between genuine fire signatures and benign stimuli such as sunlight, engine exhaust, or infrared (IR) reflection
Adaptive filtering based on operational context, reducing nuisance alarms and increasing system confidence
Thermal Design Enhancements:
Material and packaging innovations to withstand prolonged exposure to 400°F (204°C) environments
Calibration methodologies resilient to the thermal cycling, vibration, and Electromagnetic Interference common to nacelle-mounted systems
Integration compatibility for both retrofit of legacy platforms and new platforms.
Expected Benefits:
Improved fire detection performance in thermally extreme zones
Increased aircraft survivability and mission readiness
Enhanced maintainability through non-invasive self-test and diagnostic capabilities
Improved fleet sustainability
Who will win?
If you can achieve the objective above better than any other company on the market, you have a very high-likelihood of success and should apply.
Who is eligible to apply?
Any company that meets the following criteria:
For-profit company
U.S.-owned and controlled.
500 or fewer employees (including affiliates)
How Can BW&CO Help?
1) End-to-end support including, strategy, writing of the full proposal, and administrative & compliance support.
2) Proposal strategy and review.
3) Administrative & compliance support.
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