FA864924P0451

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II

Maintenance Digital Data Viewer (MDDV)

The United States Department of the Air Force (DAF) has identified critical capability gaps in the mission readiness of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft that has proven its worth in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. These gaps revolve around sustainment and the need for effective maintenance technology to enhance aircraft availability, rapid deployment capabilities, and tactical and strategic readiness. The project instigators and end users, first led by Colonel Bart Kenerson, and now Colonel Marc Walker, Commander of the 57th Maintenance Group, oversee the maintenance of multiple combat airframes, including the F-16CJ. Fast, simple, and correct maintenance is crucial to ensuring that the 4th generation F-16 operates with 5th generation capabilities, making it the ideal environment for fielding MDDV (Multipurpose Digital Data Viewer) to meet these goals. The DAF has emphasized Digital Transformation, the importance of reducing maintenance downtime for the F-16CJ and increasing predictive maintenance capabilities. The F-16CJ source data is in SGML data format. Conversion of SGML to S1000D is one option but is a lengthy and expensive process. Current alternatives offered by competitors are limited to S1000D data only. Moreover, existing systems like SDL LiveContent lack the basic functions maintainers rely on to perform their duties and have proven insufficient due to software/cyber security issues, data format limitations, software compatibility, and long data load times and latency. The Air Force s key objective for Digital Transformation is building interconnected data systems that include fleet readiness, supply requisition, and condition-based maintenance plus (CBM+) systems to better maintain fleet readiness and lethality. Our proposed (MDDV) solution addresses the existing shortcomings by simplifying access and seamlessly integrating source data in S1000D, SGML, PDF, XPP, and/or DITA seamlessly and interchangeably without full conversion. MDDV automates the validation and verification of S1000D data formats (for example) using state-of-the-art software, reducing the processing time. Our solution has already been selected to replace the main competition (SDL) in airframes such as the MQ-9A. The strategic significance of MDDV lies in its ability to improve the operational readiness of the F-16CJ Fighting Falcon, which is essential for maintaining air superiority. By delivering end-users a true Class-6 IETM, MDDV, using existing SGML source data, the 57th Maintenance Group can ensure our critical F-16CJ fleet is not grounded for extended periods due to maintenance. MDDV s intuitive user interface with advanced GUI streamlines maintenance processes like part ordering, form completion, and workflow and improves troubleshooting effectiveness using integrated and hyperlinked illustrated parts breakdowns, general systems technical orders, checklists, work cards, and job guides.

The goal of phase II is to continue the R&D efforts initiated in Phase I. Funding is based on the results achieved in Phase I and the scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the project proposed in Phase II.

AFX244-DPCSO1

F2D-11272

X24.4

Meghan Scott