IMPROVED CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS INFLATION SYSTEMS AND DESIGNS FOR NAVY LIFE RAFTS

THIS PHASE I EFFORT WILL INVESTIGATE THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE, IMPROVED METHODS OF: ENCAPSULATING LIFE RAFTS TO PREVENT DAMAGE DURING STOWAGE AND TRANSPORT; PROVIDING A COMPLETELYRELIABLE INFLATION SYSTEM FOR INFLATABLES; AND INCORPORATING MODERN MATERIALS ADVANCES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF LIFE RAFTS. THE EFFORT WILL ALSO DETAIL PRELIMINARY DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS TO LIFE RAFTS. RECENTLY DEVELOPED PACKAGING MATERIALS WILL BE TESTED FOR THEIR ABILITY TO STABILIZE AND PROTECT LIFE RAFTS FROM DAMAGE THAT CAUSES INFLATION FAILURE. NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN INFLATION SYSTEMS FOR AIRBAG CRASH PROTECTION SYSTEMS WILL BE EXAMINED AS POTENTIAL SOURCES OF MORE RELIABLE INFLATION SYSTEMS FOR RAFTS. COMPONENTS OF THE MARK 6 LIFE RAFT WILL BE REVIEWED FOR REPLACEMENT WITH NEWER DESIGNS AND MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE COATED CLOTH CURRENTLY USED. THE OVERALL DESIGN OF THE LIFE RAFTS WILL BE REVIEWED TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY, STABILITY, AND RIGHTABILITY, AND PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS PREPARED.