W911NF24C0069

Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II

A244-014 - Helicopter Expedited refueling operations (HERO)

Beacon Industries Inc. proposes an innovative centrifugal pump system, distinguished by its wedge-shaped blades, to revolutionize the efficiency and reliability of Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricants (POL) transfer within military Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARP). This system is meticulously engineered to halve aircraft refueling times, enabling an impressive refueling rate of 100 gallons per minute (GPM) at eight service points and 200 GPM at four points, thereby markedly reducing the downtime of helicopter squadrons and significantly boosting mission readiness. Our solution is an AI-driven Automated Control System, utilizing Reinforcement Learning (RL) to dynamically adjust flow rates and pressures within an unprecedented response time of under two seconds. This technological leap, supported by advanced protocols such as IFSF-LON and JSON over TCP/IP, alongside robust C#/.NET Core programming on a MariaDB database within a fog computing architecture, aims to reduce operational errors by 25%. Our system is designed to operate safely across a broad spectrum of ambient temperatures (-40 C to 140 C) and fuel temperatures (-20 C to 80 C), withstanding pressures ranging from 2 psi to 150 psi, thus mitigating the risk of fuel spills and accidents. Furthermore, the pump system is built for durability and minimal maintenance. This is projected to operate for up to 10,000 hours before requiring major maintenance, thereby reducing system downtime by more than 30%. It also promises seamless integration with over of existing Army refueling infrastructures, utilizing standard interfaces without necessitating significant modifications. This ensures unparalleled compatibility and interoperability, streamlining the logistics of military operations and setting a new standard for POL transfer efficiency.

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.

A244-014

A2D-1479

24.4

Zach Harrell