Acumen Engineering/Analysis, Inc.

Past Projects

New Product Development

acumen completed a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) project to develop a child restraint system for automobiles that detected improper use of the restraint. The device detected the presence of a child in an automobile safety seat and motion of the vehicle. It also monitored the proper connection of the restraint straps and, when not properly connected, sounded an alarm to alert the driver of an unsafe condition. The program, sponsored by the US Department of Transportation, included researching available sensors and developing algorithms for processing the sensor data. The system was first developed and tested on a laptop computer before it was reduced to a custom-designed printed circuit. The final product was installed in a commercial child restraint seat and demonstrated the reliability of all intended functions.

For a British client, acumen developed a solar voltaic powered food storage refrigerator. The system used commercial refrigeration components, power conditioning and a phase change thermal storage device. The system was successfully tested using both R-22 and R-290 (propane) for refrigerants.

acumen developed a direct drive system for the Army’s 600 GPH (gallons per hour) reverse osmosis water purification unit (ROWPU). The standard ROWPU included a 30 kW engine-driven electric generator on-board to power the high pressure pumps and other equipment. This conversion of fuel energy to electrical energy and then to mechanical (pump) energy is inefficient and, to conserve energy, acumen designed a power transmission system that drove all necessary pumps from the drive shaft of a diesel engine. We provided detailed design drawings to the Army and directed Army personnel who fabricated the parts and converted a production ROWPU to the acumen design. The prototype system was successfully tested, demonstrating improved fuel efficiency and significant weight savings over the production unit.

acumen designed a modular general purpose tent for the US Army. The tent is a large multi-use pole or frame supported structure and meets very stringent requirements for light weight, minimum erection time and durability. The two-year effort began with a conceptual design phase and proceeded through two full design iterations, ending with the delivery of several prototypes for Army field testing. The final configuration included a number of novel design concepts such as welded seams to eliminate leakage and reinforced plastic frame components to reduce cost. The design was ultimately type classified and entered production in 1998.

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Last Updated: March 6, 2006