1995 NASA SBIR & STTR Abstract Archives

NASA 1995 SBIR Phase 1 SOLICITATION

PROJECT SUMMARY

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27722

Proposal Number:

01.01-0003

Project Title:

TURBINE EXHAUST PARTICULATE DETECTION BY LASER-INDUCED INCANDESCENCE

Technical Abstract:

PSI proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of laser-induced incandescence as a practical, affordable instrument package for detection of soot particles in test stand gas turbine exhausts. The basic method utilizes a pulsed laser to radiatively heat particles, and an imaging detection system to observe spatial distributions of the time-resolved incandescence from the hot particles as they cool following cessation of the laser pulse. Demonstration experiments will observe spatially resolved incandescence as a function of wavelength and time for various laser wavelengths and fluences. A key part of the proposed effort will focus on quantification of the diagnostic for particle number density and size distribution by comparison to light scattering and extinction measurements for flame-generated soot particles. The Phase I effort will also include prototype design considerations such as ruggedness, component packaging and cost, and operating characteristics.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed instrument will be useful to the Federal government and the private sector for all diagnostic and process control applications requiring the non-intrusive detection of submicron particulates for environmental, tactical, or operational purposes. In particular, the device will find applications in the aviation, transportation, power generation, environmental, and semiconductor manufacturing industries.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27731

Proposal Number:

01.01-0333A

Project Title:

PLANAR IMAGING AND LIF FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF MIXING OF JETS ISSUING INTO A CROSSFLOW

Technical Abstract:

An innovative program using Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) and planar imaging to examine passive scalar concentration field (indicative of thermal field) is proposed. One of the IHPTET (Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology) goals is to operate turbines at 2200-2500 K inlet temperatures, maintain efficiencies in the 88-94% range and require total cooling flows of only 5% of the engine air flow rate. To attain these goals, a thorough understanding of the factors which control the attachment of film jets to the wall is mandatory. Effusion cooling offers a relatively simple technique for the efficient cooling of gas turbine combustor and turbine blade walls. Effusion cooling is strongly influenced by the number of holes, hole size, coolant flow rate, injection angle and pressure drop across the holes. The ability to evaluate the effectiveness of a design can improve design and reduce design cycle time. A fluores- cence dye will be seeded in the coolant flow. The flow configuration tested will be of direct practical relevance to state-of-the-art designs. In Phase I, passive scalar characteristics will be obtained to establish feasibility. Phase II will use the technique to evaluate the effectiveness of various designs.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Planar imaging and LIF provide a quantitative assessment of mixing of jets issuing into a crossflow, which is of primary relevance in many engineering applications. Examples include chemical processing, gas injection in combustors, film cooling for turbine and combustor, V/STOL transition flight aerodynamics, pollutant dispersion. The technique can trace several jet paths simultaneously and efficiently, and would find application in many industries. The design of a more effective film cooling system for turbines and combustors presents a second potential commercial product.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27739

Proposal Number:

01.02-0017

Project Title:

HEAT TRANSFER ENHANCEMENT IN TURBINE BLADES WITH ASYMMETRIC RIBS

Technical Abstract:

Gas turbines are required to operate with gas flows at temperatures more than 1400oC, much higher than the melting temperatures of the blade material. The Coriolis force, induced by rotation of turbine blades, results in highly non-uniform heat transfer distribution on leading and trailing sides, leading to premature failure and unreliable thermal operation of the blade. This is mainly due to the distortion of mainstream velocity profile by cross-stream secondary flows. To combat this problem, use of Asymmetric ribs are proposed for heat transfer augmentation, namely, thicker ribs on trailing side and thinner ribs on leading side. It is anticipated that higher shear stress along the leading wall and lower shear stress on the leading wall, enforced by asymmetric ribs, will yield enhanced and more uniform heat transfer. The proposed investigation aims at obtaining uniform distributions of regional and local heat transfer coefficients through mass transfer experiments and by using the analogy between heat and mass transfer. Extensive experiments will be conducted with transverse and angled, asymmetric ribs in a two-pass, square rotating channel. The local distributions obtained will determine the extent of uniformity and enhancement of heat transfer with asymmetric ribs. A wide number of operating and geometrical parameters will be examined. The proposed Phase I project will identify the best rib configuration that can yield enhanced and more uniform heat transfer in turbine blades.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The for asymmetric ribs include gas turbine blades for aircraft engines and rotors of electrical rotating machinery. It will lead to higher power output, higher thermal efficiency, and increased life cycle of gas turbine engines and turbomachinery.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27733

Proposal Number:

01.02-2321

Project Title:

DYNAMIC CLEARANCE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR AXIAL COMPRESSORS

Technical Abstract:

The ability to control compressor running clearances under all gas turbine operating conditions is crucial to improving future aircraft propulsion capability, particularly as overall compressor pressure ratios increase. Existing Active Clearance Control schemes are successful in controlling steady-state cruise clearances. Current advancement in sensor, actuator, and control technologies make the idea of controlling transient compressor and engine clearances viable. This project will develop and evaluate innovative compressor dynamic clearance control (DCC) concepts and will provide hardware for demonstrating the preferred DCC configuration in a compressor development rig. Phase I will establish DCC system requirements, screen several competitive systems (including thermal, mechanical, magnetic and electromagnetic approaches) and integrate results from ongoing P&W sensor and control technology programs. Detailed technical analyses (including bench testing) of the most promising configurations will be conducted in Phase II, followed by detailed design and fabrication of preferred actuation systems. The preferred system hardware may be installed in the Advanced Concepts Evaluation (ACE) compressor rig and its effectiveness demonstrated over various operating conditions. The project is complementary (and will be coordinated) with ongoing Advanced Technology projects and goals for the IHPTET initiative.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Implementation of a compressor DCC system will provide dramatic improvements in gas turbine performance, including reduced SFC, reduced parts count (fewer stages and elimination of abradable seals), reduced engine weight, increased engine durability and decreased maintenance and operating costs. Also, the technology developed will lead to dual-use applications, due to teaming with P&W. The proposed project is complementary to several ongoing P&W advanced technology programs, is compatible with the goals of the IHPTET initiative, and will be coordinated with ongoing Advanced Technology programs.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27682

Proposal Number:

01.02-5215B

Project Title:

FLASHBACK AND PREIGNITION PREVENTION IN LEAN, PREMIXED LOW NOX COMBUSTORS

Technical Abstract:

Lean premixed, prevaporized (LPP) high temperature combustor designs as explored for the Advanced Subsonic Initiative, High Speed Research combustor and other aerospace programs can achieve very low NOx emission levels; however, these designs may have problems with flashback and preignition at high power conditions and during surge and rapid spool down. A solution to these problems would remove a major barrier to acceptance in aircraft applications. Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) has developed a novel system solution to this problem. A proof of concept demonstration and evaluation is proposed in the Phase I followed by high pressure testing in Phase II.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This proposal offers a critical enabling technology for a successful premixed High Speed Research combustor and other aerospace low NOx combustor designs. Spinoff of the technology for ground based systems will improve the safety of lean premixed prevaporized gas turbine power generation units.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27681

Proposal Number:

01.03-0092

Project Title:

NONLINEAR REAL-TIME HIGH RELIABILITY ENGINE CONTROL

Technical Abstract:

Robust nonlinear control strategies will be developed for turbine engine real-time controls This effort will accommodates an integrated nonlinear control approach for the design of a high reliability control system based on advanced sensor processing, robust and nonlinear control, and neural fuzzy control integration. Several enabling advanced control technologies ranging from robust control, analytic gain scheduling, and feedback linearization approaches will be studied to demonstrate the effectiveness of the advanced control technology to the aeropropulsion control system design. Real-time implementation of high reliability engine control system will be conducted. The ultimate goal aims to broaden the engine operating envelop, and at the same time, to ensure stability, flying quality and safety, cost reduction, graceful degradation and reoptimization in the case of failures, malfunctions and damage.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The technique of integrated control and health monitoring for turbine engines directly benefits the militarty/civilian aviation and space areas. Such a system will lead to improved performance, enhanced safety, and increased reliability, availability, and durability. The developed hardware-in-the-loop real-time simulation system can be applied to industrial manufacturing and processing plants .

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27831

Proposal Number:

01.03-1100

Project Title:

CVD OF SEMI-INSULATING SILICON CARBIDE

Technical Abstract:

Interest is rapidly increasing in wide bandgap semiconductors for superior high frequency and high power electronics. Although silicon carbide (SiC) is the most advanced wide bandgap semiconductor from a materials and device processing point of view, extension to high frequency and high circuit density applications has been hindered by the lack of insulating or semi-insulating substrates. We propose to develop a thin film technology to grow semi-insulating SiC whose structure will be analogous to that of silicon on insulator (SOI). Instead of silicon dioxide, we will use vanadium-doped SiC, grown by chemical vapor deposition, as the insulator. Semi-insulating SiC epitaxial layers will enable the development of improved high frequency SiC devices, novel sensor passivation schemes for corrosive environments, and three dimensional integration of multiple devices. In Phase I we will investigate the CVD growth of vanadium-doped SiC films to achieve semi-insulating layers. In Phase II we will optimize the growth of semi-insulating SiC thin films and promote development of a SOI device technology through fabrication of prototype devices at ATMI and in collaboration with commercial and government laboratories.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The availability of semi-insulating SiC layers will enable not only the substrate isolation but a variety of novel device structures that will exploit SiC's broad range of exceptional physical and electronic properties. Applications include integration of high power, high frequency discrete devices and circuits and sensors and electronics designed for high temperature operation.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27685

Proposal Number:

01.03-7909A

Project Title:

ACTIVE STABILITY CONTROL OF TURBINE ENGINE COMBUSTER AND COMPRESSOR

Technical Abstract:

The firm proposes to design, develop, and test an innovative combustion control actuator, which can control pattern factor and combustion instability. The firm also proposes to investigate the coupling between active compressor stall/surge control and active combustor stability/pattern factor control. The motivation for the proposed work is three-fold: 1) a need to control the combustor pattern factor to improve efficiency and prolong life; 2) an interest to control compressor surge and rotating stall (surge/stall) to enhance operability and performance; and 3) a general lack of attention to the coupling between compressor and combustor with regard to active stabilization of either component. The innovations of the proposed program are: 1) a wide-band fuel actuator for combustion control, 2) a methodology for pattern factor and stability controls, and 3) an integrated model of compressor and combustor for analyzing their coupling and for designing active control systems.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The benefits will be to: 1) reduce development time and cost for active control systems, 2) prolong turbine stator life through pattern factor control, 3) reduce operational costs of turbine engines through increased fuel economy by active surge/stall control, and 4) enhance operability through surge and combustor control (light-off limit). The proposed technologies has great potential for future commercial turbine engines as illustrated in a market analysis.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20635

Proposal Number:

02.01-0818A

Project Title:

HYBRID LAMINAR FLOW CONTROL TECHNIQUE FOR ENGINE NACELLES

Technical Abstract:

We propose to develop a new hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC) technique that utilizes localized heating and wall shaping to maintain large regions of laminar flow on engine nacelles. The strong stabilizing effect of localized heating in two- dimensional and axisymmetric flows has been demonstrated in computations performed at High Technology Corporation and NASA Langley Research Center as well as in Russian and U.S. wind-tunnel experiments. In phase I, a technical and economical feasibility evaluation of using localized heating and wall shaping as a HLFC technique for compressible flow past an engine nacelle will be made. The technique is very attractive because it avoids the use of suction. Furthermore, heating the leading edge region can serve as a deicing tool.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The development of a hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC) technique that utilizes localized heating and wall shaping and its application to laminarize the flow past engine nacelles avoids the problem associated with using suction on this configuration. Maintaining large regions of laminar flow past engine nacelles amounts to about 2% reduction in drag on the whole aircraft which results in fuel-cost savings.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14326

Proposal Number:

02.01-1960

Project Title:

OPTIMAL DESIGN OF LAMINAR FLOW WINGS

Technical Abstract:

We propose to develop an innovative product that will be used to design natural laminar flow (NLF) and hybrid laminar flow control (HLFC) airfoils. The objective is to delay the transition to turbulence for the purposes of drag reduction. A unique feature of this product is the application of a systematic procedure for the design of optimal three-dimensional wing geometry and control system configurations. The explicit identification of constraining factors that inhibit design improvement is also unique. Optimizing the stability characteristics for boundary layer instabilities using inverse methods is unprecedented. This development is achieved by an innovative combination of parabolised stability equation (PSE) methodology and recent developments in adjoint methods. Non-parallel flow and wall-curvature effects are incorporated. Bonus features include rapid computation, a receptivity analysis, and a complete analysis of the most effective control strategies. There is a demand for this product in laminar wing design for commercial and military vehicles and in particular for the high speed civil transport (HSCT). It will reduce design cycle times for laminar flow wings by providing trial designs more quickly and with accurate modelling. Costly wind tunnel testing will be reduced, as will very costly flight testing.

Potential Commercial Applications:

There is a universal demand for drag reduction on aerospace vehicles. This tool will find application with aircraft designers and manufacturers aiming at efficient wing, nacelle, and control surface design. Development of a high speed civil transport (HSCT) as a commercially viable vehicle requires laminar flow wings. This product will find application with the HSCT design project.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20639

Proposal Number:

02.01-4367

Project Title:

A TOOL FOR ANALYSIS & OPTIMIZATION OF THE DYNAMICS OF HIGH LIFT CONTROL DEVICES

Technical Abstract:

We will develop a tool which will allow NASA Langley to study the dynamical effects of control (using vortex generators) on high lift airfoils. It is crucial to further our present understanding of these control devices and their influence on the dynamics of the turbulent boundary layer if we hope to improve performance. At the present time the effects of vortex generators (VG) are examined using LDV. This provides insight into the influence of these control devices on the structure of the mean flow, but the time dependent features are lost. The proposed tool will allow the reconstruction of the dynamics of the flow and the design of control schemes based on these models. The tool will advance flow-physics modeling and control of high lift flows.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed tool will provide new capabilities for design of flow control devices using experimental data. The tool will be applicable to: Flows in high lift configurations, Leading edge vortex control for maneuverabilty, Combustion instabilities, and Flows in industrial applications. The tool will be a module in a widely used instrumentation package, assuring a ready commercial market.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

Proposal Number:

02.01-4700

Project Title:

A SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR EFFICIENT VISUALIZATION OF LARGE, UNSTEADY CFD RESULTS

Technical Abstract:

Modern Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solutions routinely generate 3D grid and solution data sets that exceed many hundreds of megabytes. This problem is further exacerbated when the flow under study is transient (time-varying), in which case they may exceed 100 gigabytes in size. Visualization of these results can be very difficult and time consuming, due to limitations in (a) processing power, memory and graphics speeds of workstations and computers and (b) current software tools used for post-processing. The offeror proposes herein to create and utilize innovative software techniques to provide significant improvements in the speed and convenience of visualizing these large CFD data sets. The approach is based on the use of Data Pre-processing, a Database Access Model and Subfield Extraction to create an access methodology that makes tradeoffs between time and space, to optimize the usage of computing and visualization hardware. Such an access methodology is applicable to both structured and unstructured grid data and can be subsequently integrated into existing and future visualization environments so that the benefits may be widely utilized. High performance, convenient visualization of such data will allow NASA to increase the pace at which transient, complex aerodynamic, aerothermodynamic and aeroacoustic phenomena are understood. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

Development of software toolkits and workbenches for the visualization of large, transient field data such as CFD and structural analysis solutions and remote sensor data. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14327

Proposal Number:

02.01-6346

Project Title:

ROBUST PNS CODE FOR FLOWS ABOUT COMPLEX VEHICLES WITH EMBEDDED SUBSONIC REGIONS

Technical Abstract:

The goal of this research is to produce a new,robust,parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) code which will significantly reduce computer time required to calculate flows about complex vehicles with embedded subsonic regions. One of the major drawbacks of "current day" PNS codes is that they cannot be used to compute inviscid subsonic/separated regions which occur near canopies, wing-body junctures, etc. The current practice is to use a full Navier-Stokes(N-S) code in these regions and use a PNS code for the remainder. Because of the difficulties associated with interfacing two different codes, many investigators have resorted to using a N-S code for the entire flowfield. This is in spite of the fact that a PNS code is at least one order of magnitude faster than a N-S code. In the proposed research, innovative techniques will be developed to detect and measure the extent of embedded subsonic regions. In these "elliptic" regions, the PNS equations will be solved "globally" in an iterative fashion to duplicate the results obtained with a N-S code. During Phase I, a 2-D version of the code will be developed using NASA's UPS code as a framework. During Phase II, a fully three- dimensional code will be produced.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The new PNS code developed in this study will significantly reduce the computer time required to calculate flows about supersonic/hypersonic vehicles such as the proposed high-speed civil transport(HSCT). The code will accurately predict surface pressures, heat transfer rates, and aerodynamic coefficients for the entire vehicle. Designers throughout the aerospace industry will be able to utilize the efficiency of the new code to incorporate viscous effects in their trade-off studies of future flight vehicles.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20619

Proposal Number:

02.02-0818A

Project Title:

LAMINAR-TURBULENT TRANSITION PREDICTION OF REACTING FLOWS IN HYPERSONIC VEHICLES APPLICATION

Technical Abstract:

Hypersonic boundary-layer stability of chemically reacting flows is of fundamental importance in the design of future space transportation vehicles. Capability to analyze and predict disturbance evolution in reacting flows is crucial for the improvement of aerothermodynamic performance of the vehicle. We propose to apply the state-of-the-art Parabolized Stability Equations (PSE) method to tackle the problem. The PSE method includes the global history and nonlinear effects and is particularly suited for handling the supersonic-mode disturbances that are relevant in hypersonic boundary layers. Real gas effects with equilibrium or finite- rate chemistry will be studied within the framework of both linear and nonlinear PSE based upon the absolute amplitude concept. The tool developed can then be used for future aerodynamic design of hypersonic vehicles.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Aerodynamic design of hypersonic vehicles is an important element in the aerospace industry. In particular, when designing the next-generation SSTO launch system which is crucial for the competitiveness of U.S. aerospace industry, engineers are often faced with the lack of proper tools to analyze and predict the aerothermodynamic performance related to laminar-turbulent transition at hypersonic speed. The computational tool developed in this study will greatly enhance the design capability and thus provide guidelines for future development. Furthermore, the stability code for reacting flows can also be used for component designs in the inlet and combustion chamber to study the effect of mixing.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20620

Proposal Number:

02.02-1769

Project Title:

FLUID-STRUCTURE-THERMAL INTERACTION FOR HYPERSONIC VEHICLE ANALYSIS/DESIGN

Technical Abstract:

ResearchSouth, Inc. proposes to develop computer software for analysis / design of advanced hypersonic vehicles using methods for general fluid-structure-thermal interaction. Specifically, the airframe forebody thermoelastic effects on the bow shock, and the engine cowl thermoelastic effects on the engine inlet lip shock are addressed. Using the new software,the optimum airframe-engine stiffness can be computed which provides the appropriate compromise between reduced aero / propulsion performance and added weight. In the long term, a coupled analysis will allow a smart structures capability to be developed which provides increased propulsive performance over current designs by maximizing mass capture over a range of mach numbers. The Phase I effort will treat the fluid-structure-thermal interaction problem by a loosely coupled algorithm using the Computational Fluid Dynamics code, SAM3D, and the Computational Structural Dynamics code DYNA3D. We will formulate the algorithms, code the mesh interface routines and then perform an analysis of a 3D interaction for an advanced hypersonic vehicle test problem. Phase II will extend the software to a production package with adaptive meshing in 3D, interfaces to CAD data bases, and extensive verification and validation. This software will enable NASA to perform efficient and rapid design assessment of advanced hypersonic airbreathing concepts.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Important commercial problems that require fluid-structure-thermal interaction are:Deformation or inflation of fabrics such as parachutes, airbags, parasails, and tents: Aeroelasticity of flexible structures such as thin high-aspect ratio wings, missiles and drones: Shock/Structure interaction caused by blast waves on buildings from explosions inside and outside the building: Commercial airplane design, where the deformation of the structure due to aerodynamic and aerothermal loads is large: Weather related problems such as winds from hurricanes and tornadoes impacting cars, planes, buildings, and bridges : Sea-going craft design, such as ships and boats, to withstand high speed wave impacts. This software will represent a major improvement in the power and quality of analysis / design tools available to world industries.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20618

Proposal Number:

02.02-6100

Project Title:

WATER VAPOR SENSOR FOR HYPERSONIC WIND TUNNELS

Technical Abstract:

Knowledge of the efficiency of combustion, which can be gained through absorption spectroscopy of water vapor, is crucial to the interpretation of test results in hypersonic test facilities at Langley Research Center. Our innovation is a tunable infrared laser source, based on the nonlinear frequency conversion of diode lasers, which can be tuned onto strong absorption lines of the hot water vapor produced in the combustion process. Using this laser source, rapid measurements of water vapor temperature and concentration, from which the combustion efficiency can be derived, will be made possible for the first time. Our innovation incorporates a new material (which we are developing at Deacon Research) as the nonlinear medium in the light source. In Phase I we will prove experimentally that our light source is capable of producing useful amounts of infrared radiation at the best infrared wavelengths for water vapor detection in hypersonic wind tunnels. During Phase II we will build an optimized device, measure its performance, develop strategies for tuning the device, and deliver a working prototype to Langley Research Center for use in quantitative measurements of combustion efficiency.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Our water vapor sensor will be used for process monitoring in the semiconductor and food industries.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14328

Proposal Number:

02.03-3473

Project Title:

ACOUSTIC PROBES FOR SOUND MEASUREMENTS IN FLOW

Technical Abstract:

This innovation consists of developing in-flow microphone enclosures (acoustic probes) that will have negligible self-noise over a wide range of free-stream and operational conditions. The goals are to provide probes that are superior to any existing ones because they are (1) less sensitive to free-stream turbulence, (2) easy to manufacture, (3) effective over a wide range of Reynolds numbers and Mach numbers, and (4) insensitive to angle of attack and yaw. The acoustic probes will be useful for measuring acoustic signals and determining noise-source locations in wind tunnels, on aircraft, in engine inlets, and in air-conditioning ducts. The probe designs will rely on a knowledge of aeroacoustic principles that relate probe self noise to probe aerodynamic characteristics. The aerodynamic design of the probes will be carried out by modifying an existing computer program for solving the full Navier-Stokes equations to serve as an iterative design-tool.

Potential Commercial Applications:

There is a wide range of opportunities for pursuing the commercial development of the probes after the completion of Phase IIwhen there will be a well validated design. There are both government and non-government markets for quiet acoustic probes that are effective in high-speed turbulent flows. Manufacturers of acoustical testing and measuring equipment have, for a number of years, marketed special microphone "nose cones" and "slit probes" that decrease turbulence-induced noise in high- speed flows. However, the quiet microphone enclosures to be developed in Phases I and II of this project should provide much better performance than the commercially available probes. In addition, the simpler designs of the new probes should make them less costly to manufacture. With those advantages there is a good opportunity to break into the special market niche. In addition to a large civilian market, there is potentially a large market for the probes for use on military weapons systems, such as the Army BAT, if the probes turn out to be significantly better than existing ones.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20622

Proposal Number:

02.04-2416

Project Title:

DYNAMIC TESTING AND HIGH FIDELITY MODELING OF NONLINEAR UNSTEADY AERODYNAMICS

Technical Abstract:

Traditional forced oscillation and rotary wind tunnel tests produce separate sets of aerodynamic data for oscillations about the body axis and rotations about the velocity vector, respectively. However, large-amplitude maneuvers such as departure and falling leaf often subject the aircraft to complex combined motions that significantly deviate from those seen in the typical dynamic wind tunnel tests. Due to the non-linear aerodynamic phenomenon, it is often difficult to accurately predict the aerodynamic characteristics with vector addition of rotary and forced oscillation data. An innovative approach of acquiring unsteady wind tunnel data by augmenting the current rotary balance rig at NASA Langley's 20 ft wind tunnel with forced oscillation capability is proposed. Such combined- motion rig capable of superpositioning body-axis oscillations over a steady velocity-axis rotation will be used to acquiring unsteady aerodynamic data under conditions closely matching what aircraft may encounter. Further, an improved approach will be formulated to utilize such combined-motion data for accurate simulation of aircraft motions. This effort will pioneer dynamic wind tunnel testing techniques for complex, unsteady motions as well as the utilization of such data in simulations to predict aircraft characteristics under dynamic conditions. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

The successful completion of the development envisioned will provide Bihrle Applied Research with the capability to expand its current data acquisition, analysis and simulation support services to include methods for collecting and implementing all the required dynamic terms needed to simulate large angle motions in a single test environment. This singularly unique test capability will be made available to all aviation concerns, and will be particularly useful to: civil markets in their attempts to improve the fidelity of their engineering and training simulations; and military manufacturers and agencies as they attempt to improve the maneuverability of their current configurations, and all parties as they attempt to increase the safety and productivity of their flight test programs. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14329

Proposal Number:

02.05-0819

Project Title:

HIGH-INERTIA ROTOR & HIGH-SPEED HIGH-ATTITUDE LONG-RANGE CRUISE GYROPLANE

Technical Abstract:

A next-generation high-speed rotorcraft is achieved by combining the best qualities of the autogyro for take-off and landing with the best qualities of the airplane. The resulting high-inertia rotor gyroplane with a low disk loading of less than 4 lb/sq ft, can make vertical jump take-offs to clear 50 feet and cruise for long ranges efficiently at high altitudes to 45,000 feet and high-speeds to 300 knots. The wing allows the rotor to be unloaded and slowed in high-speed cruise flight. The objective of this SBIR is to use theory and full scale test data to demonstrate that a gyroplane can be designed to have efficient high-speed high- altitude cruise greatly exceeding that available with helicopters, and equaling or exceeding the performance of airplanes. Theoretical predictions will be made for the CarterCopters Gyroplane which is now under construction. Ground test data will be obtained using CarterCopters high-inertia rotor which is now in ground tie-down testing. Phase I will establish the feasibility of the gyroplane and the readiness and merit for using CarterCopters Gyroplane for flight research in Phase II. The commercialization plan in the final report will show an early entry into the five place pressurized or non-pressurized market and how the gyroplane will help revive general aviation.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The decreasing number of available airfields in the United States is hurting the already declining general aviation business. The gyroplane has the potential for reviving general aviation by virtue of its ability to take-off and land where there are no airfields, and its high-speed, high-altitude, long- range economical cruise. These features are also advantages in other markets including law and drug enforcement, utility use, news coverage, corporate, agriculture, emergency medical service, and military in foreign markets as well as the U.S.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14330

Proposal Number:

02.06-4434

Project Title:

INTERACTIVE FLOW MEARSUREMENT (IFM) SYSTEM FOR HIGH REYNOLDS NUMBER WIND TUNNEL TESTING

Technical Abstract:

An Interactive Flow Measurement (IFM) system will be developed for conventional and cryogenic high-Reynolds number wind-tunnel testing. The IFM system will be the first interactive flow diagnostics tool for on-line detection and display of boundary-layer transition and flow separation. Such a system will allow the test engineer to change flow conditions and instantaneously observe the effects of these changes on the boundary layer characteristics and aerodynamic design performance of the test model without interrupting the tunnel operation. IFM will provide designers the freedom to effortlessly fine tune model configurations and try "what-if" scenarios. The innovative, hands-off instrumentation approach has become possible thanks to recent advances made by Tao Systems in multi-channel constant voltage anemometers and quantitative flow diagnostic techniques for boundary-layer measurements using multi-element, surface hot-film sensors. IFM will make design work and CFD code validation efforts faster, will increase productivity by an order of magnitude with corresponding savings in tunnel-test- hours and cost. A proof-of-concept instrumentation and flow diagnostics system will be built in Phase I to detect and display the instantaneous spatial location of boundary-layer transition.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed innovation meets the critical need for real-time detection of critical boundary-layer phenomena in high Reynolds number wind-tunnel testing. The proposed system will be a useful tool for CFD code validation testing, evaluation of new design configurations, as well as for routine wind-tunnel testing of complete aircraft and their components. The proposed interactive flow diagnostics tool has the potential to revolutionize active flow control technology.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20624

Proposal Number:

02.06-4844A

Project Title:

HIGH BANDWIDTH PRESSURE SENSOR

Technical Abstract:

_ Physitron (with support from Vanderbilt University) proposes the development of an innovative microelectronic solid state pressure sensor using a doped diamond membrane as a piezoresistive sensor. This sensor development will take advantage of and commercialize intellectual property developed at Vanderbilt University. Diamond offers extremely high values of strength, stiffness, and hardness which makes feasible its use under extreme conditions not possible with other materials. Piezoresistive sensors have precedent in pressure measurement applications, most of them being derived from silicon-based technology. The material properties of diamond, six times stiffer and 500 times stronger than silicon, will provide considerably enhanced performance (more than 10X) in high pressure environments. Diamond sensors offer the potential to meet test requirements using the same instrumentation and sensor techniques which are presently in place. Phase I of the proposed work will design, build, and test a diamond-based pressure sensor with a bandwidth greater than 250 kHz. Testing/analysis during Phase I will determine the sensitivity and temperature tolerance. The Phase II program will then develop a full-scale pressure sensor which can be applied to field testing.

Potential Commercial Applications:

_ A diamond technology sensor using a diamond membrane will allow dynamic measurements at pressures, temperatures, and environmental conditions well beyond current technology. This can be applied not only to wind tunnel tests, but also, with slight modification, it could be used for solid state testing, high explosive testing, high energy physics research, and commercially for robotics control and biosensing.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20623

Proposal Number:

02.06-7273

Project Title:

A NEW APPROACH TO HOT-WIRE/HOT-FILM CALIBRATION IN SUPERSONIC/HYPERSONIC FLOWS

Technical Abstract:

A new approach for calibration of hot-wires is proposed, which simplifies the calibration procedure and reduces the tunnel run-time by an order of magnitude. In supersonic and hypersonic flows it is generally accepted that the velocity and density sensitivities are equal. Thus the direct measurable quantities are only mass flow, m, and total temperature, To. Very few supersonic facilities have the capability of varying To over an adequate range. However, if overheat parameter aw is used to calibrate the hot-wire, then directly measurable quantity, voltage, will be a function of mass flow, overheat parameter and wire temperature i.e., , where aw contains the needed total temperature information. In this innovation, the feasibility of calibrating 2-wire probe using CTA with functional relationship in supersonic/hypersonic flows will be shown. The advantage of using aw instead of To is that it is not necessary to know the recovery factor, , and coefficients in wire resistance to temperature relationship, and , for a given probe during calibration. This technique will provide the most accurate calibration procedure for hot wire probes and it will be possible to obtain accurate temperature fluctuation information. Other conventional methods would require additional measurements to get the required information. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

The technique simplifies the calibration process of hot-wires, significantly reducing the run- time and test matrix required to conduct calibration tests. The proposed innovation has potential application in atmospheric wind tunnels, where there is no ability to obtain any temperature sensitivity information at present. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20621

Proposal Number:

02.07-1000

Project Title:

NUMERICAL STRUCTURAL-ACOUSTIC ANALYSIS METHODS FOR THE MID- FREQUENCY RANGE

Technical Abstract:

In the proposed work, the first numerical analysis technique that combines both deterministic and statistical methodologies will be developed. The eventual goal is that this technique can be used for the prediction of the sound field (e.g. noise) in aircraft cabins. This technique will be initially developed and evaluated for beams (Phase I) and then extended to other types of structural components (Phase II). Furthermore, the feasibility of implementing the technique in a commercially viable finite element analysis program will be investigated. The deterministic and statistical approaches will be used for the components of beam structures that are "short" and "long," respectively, compared to a wavelength. The technique for coupling these two approaches together where short and long members join will be developed and evaluated. Evaluation will be accomplished by numerically predicting the response of a three-beam system and comparing the numerical results with known analytical solutions. The technique will be implemented in an existing finite element program and its commercial feasibility will be determined by examining such things as ease of use and execution speed. The work will be performed over a period of six months by Automated Analysis Corporation personnel with assistance from personnel at Purdue University.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The numerical analysis technique developed in Phase I will form the basis for further development of an energy finite element program currently being developed by Automated Analysis Corporation for commercial distribution. This program will be useful to noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) engineers in the aerospace, automotive, and defense industries.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

Proposal Number:

02.08-0886

Project Title:

EFFICIENT PARALLEL IMPLEMENTATION OF FLOW SOLVER INS3D-UP

Technical Abstract:

We will demonstrate feasibility of an efficient parallel implementation of the incompressible 3-dimensional Navier-Stokes solver INS3D-UP on distributed-memory MIMD computers. The work will include a relatively limited solver implementation, without turbulence model, complex boundary conditions, extensive I/O, or multi- ple-zone capabilities. Initially only point-relaxation will be provided. The target architecture is an IBM SP2 computer, but use of the Message Passing Interface standard will ensure portability to other platforms. Efficiency will be demonstrated by comparison with a single-processor version of the code, to be ported to the IBM SP2 as well. Both absolute performance and scalability will be examined. The resulting parallel code will be extended in Phase II to include a 1-equation turbulence model, realistic boundary conditions, I/O for restarts and visualization, Chimera multiple-zone capabilities, and line-relaxation. More advanced solution techniques like GMRES will also be investigated. INS3D-UP is one of the three NASA Ames production flow solvers (the others are CNSFV and OVERFLOW) for overset structured grids. Availability of an efficient parallel version will greatly enhance the usefulness of the code and increases the range of flow problems that can be solved cost-effectively.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The two main target areas in the aircraft industry for use of a parallel version of INS3D-UP are that of the Advanced Subsonic Transport (AST) and of propulsion systems. Within AST, incompressible 3-dimensional flow solvers are used, among others, for the simulation of high-lift and laminar-flow-control devices. Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas would be the main beneficiaries of the parallel program. In propulsion systems Pratt\&Whitney, Rocketdyne and Aerojet constitute the most important users of high-performance incompressible-flow codes. However, paral- lelization of INS3D-UP will increase the cost-effectiveness of the program to such an extent that it will also become attractive for more traditional types of engineering computations, such as construction (wind noise around buildings) and automotive engineering (wind drag of cars).

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14332

Proposal Number:

02.08-6576

Project Title:

AN INTERFACE PROTOCOL & GENERIC REMESHING ENVIRONMENT FOR DEFORMABLE & MOVING BODY SIMULATIONS USING ANY FLOW SOLVER SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

The difficulty in performing CFD simulations for deformable or moving bodies is primarily due to the lack of available mechanisms to link data and functionality of flow solver, grid generation and CAD systems. The development of an interface protocol and generic remeshing environment is proposed to alleviate such difficulties and allow for any flow solver system to be used for deforming and moving body flow simulations. This approach eliminates the high costs associated with developing and maintaining individual remeshing capabilities for each CFD flow solver. The proposed interface protocol and remeshing environment facilitates access to the data and functionality of each module of the multi-disciplinary analysis system by providing bi-directional data associativity between modules. All information necessary during remeshing and needed for the analysis codes will be provided for in the interface protocol. The remeshing functionality and integrated CAD and grid generation database will be provided for by a commercial geometry modeling and grid generation software system, CFD-GEOM. The remeshing environment will be user programmable through a Visual Computing Environment which will be used to control the flow of information between the remeshing environment and analysis codes using the developed interface protocol across a networked workstation system.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The remeshing environment will be commercialized by CFDRC for use in performing multi-disciplinary analysis problems involving deforming or moving bodies or for adaptive remeshing purposes. Two modes of commercialization are feasible. The first is to incorporate CFDRC Computational Fluid Dynamics products into the remeshing environment and market as a package. The second is to market just the remeshing environment and allow customers to incorporate their analysis tools of choice into the environment.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27835

Proposal Number:

03.01-0200

Project Title:

AN ECONOMICAL HYBRID ANTI-ICING SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

An effective and efficient hybrid ice protection system is proposed to maintain a clean leading edge (LE) surface on roughness sensitive airfoils with minimum power requirements. The innovation utilizes the best features of two systems: thermal anti-icing and mechanical de-icing. A thermal system located at the leading edge will supply the energy required only to maintain the impinging supercooled water droplets in a liquid state (running-wet operation). The LE is kept free of ice contamination with a small fraction of the power that would be required for total evaporation. Eventually, the runback water will freeze downstream of the heated zone where any thermal system would be inefficient due to the low surface wetness factor. A Low Power De-Icing (LPDI) system will be used at those locations to remove the ice accumulation periodically due to frozen runback while maintaining its thickness below 0.1". This arrangement has never been explored to the best of our knowledge. The combined system shall be capable of operating at a low power budget to meet the limitations of Regional Airliners and modern aircraft with advanced wing designs while maintaining effective lifting capabilities during icing encounters.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The commercial potential application of the proposed SBIR project covers a broad range of aircraft categories and classes. This includes turboprop, turbofan, and turbojet powered aircraft of all categories. Regional Airliners will benefit most from the innovation due to their relatively limited power budget. This innovation is particularly beneficial to new and future generation of airfoils that are sensitive to LE roughness. The hybrid system could be applied to either or both of the wing and horizontal stabilizer surfaces. Core flow is becoming more scarce in turbofan engines of large transport category airplanes which could also benefit if this trend continues. The technology could also be applied to engine inlet nacelles except where FOD is a major concern; although, the thickness of ice shed is small and could be safely ingested by the engine without damage to its rotating components. It is also possible that an electro-thermal or hot air system which is already in place but whose operation results in unacceptable runback refreeze might be retrofitted and made to perform satisfactorily. This is accomplished by reducing the heating power just enough to prevent freezing at the LE, and adding a LPDI system downstream to shatter the frozen runback.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27683

Proposal Number:

03.01-0533

Project Title:

A LOW POWER HYBRID ICE PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR AGATE CATEGORY AIRCRAFT

Technical Abstract:

While larger turbojet and turbofan powered aircraft are typically de-iced using bleed air, electrothermal or a combination of those two technologies, lower powered aircraft are typically de-iced using pneumatic de-icers. The primary reasons for using pneumatic de-icing systems are low weight and low power requirements. However pneumatic de-icers typically impose a performance penalty wich will become even more significant on future laminar flow and AGATE category aircraft operating at over 200 kts. Pneumatic de-icers were invented prior to world war II and while they are still being incorporated into new aircraft designs they have many design limitations. Based on recent breakthroughs in low power de-icing technologies at IDI, we propose to design and build a hybrid ice protection system based on Shape Memory Alloy and electro- magnetic de-icing actuators, which are suitable for incorporation into todays high performance laminar flow wings. This approach combines the recently proven Shape Memory Alloy de-icing system which efficiently de-bonds accreted ices, and an efficient electromagnetic system which sheds the debonded ice into the free stream air. A system of the type proposed would enable the efficient de-icing of large surface areas with a very low power requirement. Such a system could be needed to meet future requirements by the FAA for large droplet ice protection. The Phase I effort will emphasize the development of a functional demonstrator. Phase II will center around designing and building a full scale wing cuff system, then testing the wing cuff both in an icing wind tunnel and in flight.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed de-icing system could potentially be offered as a retrofit system to all general aviation aircraft currently equipped with pneumatic de-icing boots. Additionally, resulting improvements in thin-layer ice removal provide substantial enhancements to safety when considering the sensitivity of modern airfoils to thin layers of ice. The market for such a device in lower powered turboprop and general aviation aircraft is substantial. IDI will be teaming with Cox & Company, Inc. and Bell Helicopter Textron for commercialization of the Low Power De-Icing technology during the Phase II and III program (see enclosed letters) .

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

Proposal Number:

03.02-4180

Project Title:

PREDICTABLE REAL-TIME MULTIPROCESSING IN AIRBORNE SYSTEMS

Technical Abstract:

The purpose of the proposed research is to incorporate predictability into the performance of embedded aircraft data systems implemented by multiprocessor artchitectures. Several characteristics required in aircraft control and associated signal processing include repeated execution of the same algorithm, highly predictable and reliable performance, and the ability to meet hard deadlines for outputs. Dataflow computational models are used to create a real-time multiprocessing design methodology which can achieve performace bounds given sufficient processors. A key approach to achieving predictable performace is to control injection rate of input data and to modify the dataflow graph precedence so that a processor is always available to execute an enabled graph node. In the proposed research effort, investigations will be carried out to achieve predictability under variable task execution times and a scheduling software tool will be developed. Computational times of tasks in aircraft data systems can vary due to cache miss in the processor, data dependent processing, or sharing of common resources such as memory. Predictability of aircraft control algorithms will be absolutely essential for safety and efficiency.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The schedulting software tool developed will be directly impacting the aircraft industry's cockpit control systems. Commercially available digital signal processing software COMDISCO can license the software from UniSoft and incorporate into their system. Aircraft data system manufacturers like Westinghouse, Loral, Harris and Allied Signal will be able to use and incorporate this tool into their systems. These systems will add value to commercial aircraft companies like Boeing, McDonnel Douglas and Lockheed and aid the pilot in making the right decision.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20617

Proposal Number:

03.03-0818A

Project Title:

A PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE SCIENTIFIC SYSTEMS ON A DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING NETWORK

Technical Abstract:

Large, scientific systems composed of several application codes coupled together to execute on a distributed computer network can be complex to develop. Multi-disciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) and Systems Analysis (SA) are examples of such systems. The proposed programming environment will be designed to facilitate the building of such systems. The environment will consist of the following: a graphical and template-based programming language; an integrated debugging and code verification strategy; and a modular design with interface protocols. The high-level language is proposed to reduce the programming effort. Because of the resulting complex execution systems, the environment will provide assistance in verifying the correctness of a computation. A modular design based on appropriate standards is necessary to adapt the environment to ever improving software tools. The environment will be capable of generating execution systems with the following features: a GUI-based control and monitoring system; execution on heterogeneous networks including workstations, vector and parallel supercomputers; a distributed database management strategy; and configurable to include tools for data display and analysis.

Potential Commercial Applications:

A current trend in computing is the increased use of heterogeneous computer environments especially for large tasks. Also, parallel computing is considered to offer the best potential for performance improvements today. Both require a greater programming effort than has been historically needed. An environment which efficiently brings these programming techniques to a wider group of programmers will be very beneficial. The proposed programming environment will reduce the programming overhead and thus expand the high performance computing arena.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20616

Proposal Number:

03.03-6471

Project Title:

MATERIAL OPTIMIZATION FOR USE WITH IN-SITU PROCESSING TECHNIQUE

Technical Abstract:

Automated Dynamics Corporation (ADC) proposes to implement a systems analysis approach to identify the relationship between key aerospace grade prepreg characterisitics and the effectiveness of composite in-situ consolidation processing. The manufacture of high perfromance composite materials systems necessitates optimization of numerous processing parameters, many of which are mutually interactive. In addition to these initial material fabrication process parameters, there are also a number of final material characteristics which affect part processing with these high perfromance materials, especially when using advanced fabrication techniques such as in-situ tape placement. Optimization of material properties has long been the focus of prepreg manufacturers. The significance of this work will concentrate on optimization of prepreg characterisitics for favorable material properties of manufactured components as well as attractive throughput rates with this in-situ processing technique. By optimizing the material for the overall manufacturing system, we hope to be able to offer the significant improvements in both final part quality and material processing rate. With these improvements will come associated cost savings over existing material / manufacturing systems.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Piping, oil field downhole applications, recreational uses, rolls and shafts, paper machine doctor blades, plastic bearings and commercial airplane structure.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14333

Proposal Number:

03.04-7569

Project Title:

ADVANCED ALGORITMS FOR AIR-TRAFFIC CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Technical Abstract:

Projected growth in air traffic over the next decade can result in increased instances of trajectory conflicts in the nations airspace. Due to the potential for involvement of more than two aircraft in a conflict scenario, air traffic controllers will require advanced automation tools to effectively resolve the conflicts. This proposal advances the development of conflict resolution algorithms that can systematically generate advisories for multiple aircraft conflicts. Proposed methods are based on optimal control and differential game theories. The conflict resolution task is formulated as a multi-objective trajectory optimization problem, and solutions are obtained using singular perturbations theory. Phase I research will demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method in a simulation of a multi-aircraft air traffic control environment. Phase II research will produce a software package that can be integrated with the air traffic management software system currently under development at NASA.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Conflict resolution methods are an integral part of every air traffic management system. The algorithms and software developed under the proposed research will find widespread applications in air traffic management systems in US and around the world. The conflict resolution algorithms also have applications in the intelligent vehicle/highway systems (IVHS) program.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14334

Proposal Number:

03.04-9166

Project Title:

AIRPORT VISUALIZATION AND OPERATIONS SYSTEM TM (AVOS TM)

Technical Abstract:

The "Airport Visualization and Operations SystemTM" (AVOSTM) concept is an application of virtual reality display to aircraft operations in the vicinity and on the surface of airports under poor and zero visibility conditions. Aircraft identification, position and attitude are down-linked to the AVOSTM control center in the airport tower. A 3-D view of the airport, all aircraft and surface vehicles, exactly as would be seen by the pilot in good visibility, is computer generated in the AVOSTM control center and up-linked to the aircraft. The up-linked video signal is projected onto a pilot "Personal Display ViewerTM" (PDVTM), similar to helmet mounted displays. The pilot would use this virtual reality display to monitor the landing, guide the aircraft to the gate and back to the runway for take-off, with no other aids. The system concept supports operations of airport surface vehicles required to service aircraft. The primary innovations are the display and distributed airborne/ground system concept using data-links that could provide this capability at an affordable price. It is an important new pilot display system that can increase airport capacity in reduced and zero visibility conditions in a more natural and safer manner than map-type displays that are currently under development.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The applications are for commercial and other aircraft that require flight operations in poor and zero airport visibility conditions. Potential commercial products include: the AVOSTM airborne system, including interfaces to aircraft systems and datalinks; the Personal Display ViewerTM; the AVOSTM ground control center, including the interfaces to a D-GPS-based ground vehicle positioning system, the airport surface traffic surveillance system and data/video up-links; and, the overall system integration at each airport. It is premature to decide on commercialization strategies for the various products, until feasibility is established. Paradigm 2000 plans to apply for patents on the AVOSTM system and elements mentioned above, if feasibility is established with the SBIR effort, to obtain a competitive advantage. Strategic alliances for commercialization will be negotiated during Phase II, when Paradigm 2000 is in a stronger negotiating position.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20634

Proposal Number:

03.05-0778

Project Title:

MATRIX ADDRESSABLE VIBRATION SENSING ARRAY

Technical Abstract:

This proposal presents a new and novel approach to fabricating a sensor array. The direct application will be vibration sensing with an array of sensors but the basic approach is compatible with virtually any physical property that can be converted to a stress, such as pressure, strain, etc. Virtually all existing transducers, whether measuring pressure, stress, acceleration, etc., are incompatible with array addressing and arrays are fabricated by individually wiring many transducers. This becomes unwieldy at high resolution and large areas. The proposed approach fabricates a vibration sensor using a magnetoelectric element for both vibration sensing and as the matrix forming element. The vibration is sensed from the acceleration on a cantilevered beam accelerometer formed from a piezoelectric magnetostrictive film. The resulting device can be matrix addressed to drastically reduce the number of leads and produce low cost sensor suitable for large area arrays. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

A new and novel method of measuring vibration using a matrix addressed array of sensors is proposed. It can be used to measure vibration, acceleration along with other physical properties _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20633

Proposal Number:

03.05-3268

Project Title:

LOW-COST DIODE-LASER SENSOR FOR VELOCITY AND VIBRATION MEASUREMENTS

Technical Abstract:

We have experimentally demonstrated that remote optical radial velocity measurements can be made using off-the-shelf equipment costing about $300 in single quantity, far below the cost of typical LDVs, coherent lidar, and optical vibrometer systems. The sensor consists of a diode, a focusing lens, and a photo-diode. It is completely self-aligning and is easy to modify for multi-point sensing/imaging applications. With a small (6 mm) collection aperture, we have demonstrated high-accuracy measurements to ranges of several meters without the use of cooperative hard-targets, such as retro- reflectors. We propose to investigate these sensors with a several-fold aim. A good analytical model describing the sensor operation is essential in order to optimize performance. The analytical modeling will be supported by experiments to demonstrate significantly improved range and SNR performance. Successful demonstrations are expected to result in low-cost units with potential performance improvements of 10-20 dB. Such optimized sensors, when coupled with extreme compactness and array formats, makes them well suited for a number of NASA applications, including multi-point vibration/mode surveys, flow mapping, and turbulence characterization. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

Compact, rugged, reliable, and low cost velocity sensors are expected to find uses in a large number of areas, including flow measurements/visualization, traffic monitoring, collision avoidance, flow measurements, law enforcement, and vibration sensing. At low enough production cost consumer products can benefit as well. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 4 50075

Proposal Number:

03.05-4434

Project Title:

AUTOMATED HOT-WIRE ANEMOMETER INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM FOR IN- FLIGHT VELOCITY FLOW FIELD MEASUREMENTS

Technical Abstract:

An automated hot-wire anemometer instrumentation system will be developed for in-flight measurements of three-dimensional boundary-layer velocity flowfields on aircraft wing surfaces. The proposed system automatically adjusts to changes in flight environment, be relatively immune to Radio Frequency Interference, with capability to measure mean and fluctuating components and resolving mass-flow and temperature components as well. The proposed system will be particularly suitable for conducting high-speed flight tests to establish bench mark data for CFD code validation. Such an instrument will be invaluable for flow diagnostics for transition detection, investigation of boundary-layer instability, flow separation, shock, and other critical aerodynamic flow characteristics.

Potential Commercial Applications:

A routine flight test instrument will be available for validating CFD codes. Such an instrument will enhance understanding the flowfields for design of better performance aircraft which is continuously sought which in turn will produce safer and economical flight vehicles. The instrument can also be used for atmospheric turbulence measurements in addition to highly productive ground based tests like in wind tunnels as well.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 4 50073

Proposal Number:

03.05-7273

Project Title:

PIEZOELECTRIC FILM SENSOR ARRAYS FOR WIND-TUNNEL & FLIGHT MEASUREMENTS

Technical Abstract:

The proposed innovation is to develop piezoelectric film sensor arrays to simultaneously measure fluctuating pressure, separation, presence of shock wave, buffeting, boundary layer disturbance, and vibration of wing and/or fuselage surface. A thin piezoelectric film can be directly mounted on wing/fuselage surface on which any type and size sensor array configuration can be formed. A miniature charge amplifier, which will be located close to the sensing area to obtain maximum signal-to-noise ratio, will be developed. The piezoelectric foil sensors register, both vibration and pressure fluctuation, which will be separated in real time using a new signal processing technique. The piezoelectric film sensors are non-intrusive and many sensors can be spaced very closely for multi-point measurements. They offer distinct size and weight advantage over conventional sensors/transducers, are very inexpensive and require no power. Control of structure-borne noise is an important problem in aerospace and marine applications. The piezoelectric foil sensors will make an active vibration control systems in future airplane possible. The proposed innovation will develop piezoelectric film sensor arrays and associated instrumentation in wind tunnel tests to measure fluctuating pressure, transition, flow separation, boundary layer disturbances and vibrations on wing surfaces. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed innovation will be first to provide simultaneous measurements of flow, structural and noise characteristics in real time. Diagnostic tools could be developed based on this innovation to determine, potentially hazardous influence of environmental factors like gusts, wind shear, shock, which result in a decrease in the lift to drag ratio due to flow separation. It will also be useful as a diagnostic tool during the design and testing phase of an aircraft, and will cut down the development costs. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20638

Proposal Number:

03.05-7772

Project Title:

SINGLE POINT 3-AXIS STRAIN AND TEMPERATURE FIBER OPTIC GRATING SENSOR

Technical Abstract:

Dual overlaid fiber optic gratings are written onto polarization preserving optical fiber to form four effective fiber gratings. A broadband light source is used to illuminate the resulting 3 axis strain plus temperature fiber grating sensor resulting in four wavelength outputs. The result of demodulation using a tunable spectral filter such as the tunable etalon proposed in this project is four equations involving the four output wavelengths and the unknowns corresponding to each axis of strain and temperature. The equations can be solved to determine all three axes of strain and temperature at a single point.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Health monitoring systems for aircraft and spacecraft to perform maintenance and flight readiness checks, civil structures including buildings, bridges and highways, manufacturing process control and measurements of residual stress induced during manufacture, and new markets where a cost effective, environmentally rugged, EMI immune 3 axis strain plus temperature sensor does not exist.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14335

Proposal Number:

03.06-9447

Project Title:

AN ACTIVE CONTROL STICK WITH PILOT FORCE CUEING FOR AGILE HELICOPTERS

Technical Abstract:

The proposed SBIR program is to develop an active control stick with specific applications relevant to NASA flight simulator studies and research helicopter programs. The system proposed is an innovative new helicopter control stick system which can actively cue the pilot with information concerning the onset of flight envelope limitations by changing the feel characteristics on command from the flight control computer. The new stick will be moved by electric motors controlled by a computer system which will calculate the stick movement based upon the force applied by the pilot, a programmable force-feel characteristic and commands from the flight control computer. The system will be designed as a side-stick and will be suitable for fitting in flight simulator systems and test aircraft. The stick will be designed from the outset to be usable left or right handed. Phase I will be completed within six months, with six man months of effort. Anticipated results are a demonstrator unit and specification for NASA applications and subsequent test and evaluation. It is relevant to subtopic 03.06 because it introduces the function of a status monitoring system that informs and advises the crew within an existing device. Innovative active landing gear concepts are to be evaluated, with objectives of ride improvement and structural load reduction for very large subsonic and supersonic transport aircraft. Multi-disciplinary design integration procedures will be developed and applied to the high-order complex assembly of structural, aerodynamic, flight control system and landing gear system models for design optimization of the active landing gear control systems. The modeling and design integration analysis will be carried out using a software package developed by Stirling Dynamics for the evaluation of landing gear systems. The software package will be extended to provide a unique capability for integrated analysis of active landing gear systems including the interaction with the aircraft structural dynamics. The project addresses the subtopic requirements by the analysis of complex physical models and provision of an efficient software tool for facilitating the building of complex multi- disciplinary system models. Phase I will be completed within six months, with eight man-months of effort. Anticipated results are improved understanding of active landing gear systems and enhanced analysis procedures, with benefits to NASA in future aircraft programs, particularly HSCT, where the long slender fuselage can produce large amplitude ground response at the pilot's position.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Commercial applications include not only the NASA helicopter and simulator applications to be addressed by the proposed SBIR project but also civil aircraft, ASTOVL thrust vector control, fixed wing carefree handling systems and non-aerospace specialized control systems. Initial applications will be non-safety-critical with flightworthy systems being developed as interest is simulated by the research and evaluation systems.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 4 50071

Proposal Number:

03.07-3800

Project Title:

ON-BOARD REAL-TIME DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

We propose an advanced portable data acquisition and analysis Flyscan system for on-board flight testing and other demanding telemetry-based field applications. The Flyscan system integrates on-board real-time data acquisition with real-time analysis of analog and digital telemetry data. It will greatly enhance the productivity and safety of researchers by providing processed test information directly to the personnel closest to the systems under test. Existing computing and instrumentation systems typically address the acquisition and analysis of data separately; test data is first collected then later analyzed as a separate data reduction task. But many flight test and other applications demand combined real-time data acquisition and analysis, such as those involving great risk and expense, or human-in-the-loop data evaluation and verification. Creare currently has a foundation technology in its Scanalyzer system which integrates real-time data acquisition and analysis tasks in a benchtop workstation configuration. By adapting this state-of-the-art software to new-generation portable computing hardware, and developing a full set of acquisition and analysis features within the constraints imposed by this hardware, we will provide an innovative solution to this pressing need for on-board test data assimilation.

Potential Commercial Applications:

In addition to flight testing, the Flyscan system will have commercial applications in vehicle testing, factory floor equipment diagnostics, as a shared portable laboratory tool, at-home medical health monitoring, and field test and equipment diagnostics. The Flyscan system will also be competitive with existing fixed non-portable data acquisition systems.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 4 50074

Proposal Number:

03.07-7212

Project Title:

A FLIGHT TEST PLANNER FOR THE VFRC SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

The innovative concept proposed herein involves the development of a flight test planning software package for the NASA Virtual Flight Research Center (VFRC) program. The VFRC flight test planning package we propose to develop will be a separate package from TEST_PLAN, our commercial flight test planning software program for computer workstations. As the only flight test planning package commercially available, TEST_PLAN meets most production and experimental flight test planning requirements: it does not meet VFRC and NASA unique requirements concerning data access, remote operations, platform independence, sub-orbital vehicle testing and research oriented testing. The proposed VFRC-Planner will support these VFRC and NASA unique requirements. Our concept is innovative because coupled with the VFRC system, it allows off-site as well as on-site (but remotely located), flight test planning and data access, across a wide area network using a variety of workstations and personal computers. Thus, a wide variety of customers including engineers from government agencies, US industry participants and academic institutions can plan and participate in the execution of flight tests almost as if they were in mission control.

Potential Commercial Applications:

As the near-real-time flight test planning and documentation tool in the VFRC, the VFRC- Planner will be commercially marketable to all users of the VFRC. Users who have a VFRC_Planner license will be able to plan flight tests in detail at their own location, monitor flight tests in progress and replan as necesssary using all of the tools available within the program. Users will be able to access flight and/or simulation data through the VFRC-Planner's flight card facility and generate flight trajectories for planning purposes using the VFRC-Planner's performance simulation facility.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 4 50072

Proposal Number:

03.08-3800

Project Title:

ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW-DRAG HEAT EXCHANGER FOR HIGH-ALTITUDE AIRCRAFT

Technical Abstract:

We propose to develop an extremely compact and lightweight, low drag heat exchanger for engine cooling on high altitude aircraft. The heat exchanger uses an innovative flow configuration to make highly efficient use of heat transfer area and reduce air flow requirements. Frontal area is reduced by a factor of three compared to conventional heat exchangers. Because of the flow arrangement, low-density nonmetallic materials can be used to fabricate the heat exchanger, resulting in a factor of five reduction in weight compared to aluminum tube-fin radiators. In Phase I we show the feasibility of the innovative heat exchanger by (1) demonstrating the key fabrication processes required to construct the heat exchanger, and (2) designing a liquid-to-air heat exchanger to meet the specifications of a particular high-altitude aircraft. In Phase II, we will build and test full-scale prototype heat exchangers on the ground and in aircraft.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The heat exchanger is lightweight, compact, and extremely resistant to corrosion. The heat exchanger is ideal for small unmanned aircraft, including drones for military and civilian surveillance applications. The heat exchanger is also ideal for heat rejection from oil and engine coolant in general aviation aircraft. The compact, lightweight radiator will also be applied to vehicular applications, such as radiators for engines in automobiles, trucks, and marine vessels. The heat exchanger can also be used for electronics enclosures and heat rejection for air conditioning systems.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 4 50068

Proposal Number:

03.08-8457

Project Title:

EXHAUST GAS PARTICULATE INSTRUMENT FOR FACULTATIVE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE CONTROL

Technical Abstract:

An exploratory investigation is proposed which seeks to establish the technical feasibility of a novel instrumentation approach for the continuous measurement of particle density in the exhaust of a compression ignition engine. The proposed instrument is required to satisfy the critical sensing function of a certain full-authority fuel injection and engine control system now under development for very-high-altitude, subsonic, unmanned aircraft propulsion. The proposed instrument is comprised of a single, self-contained, rugged unit that can be mounted remotely from the engine to provide a robust indication of the concentration of exhaust particulate matter. Such a system facilitates a facultative compression ignition engine that is capable of effectively utilizing highly variable amounts of air with a combination of two cylinder-injected fuels under computer control, one fuel of high energy content, the other highly oxygenated. By such means, fuel consumption can be minimized during the protracted climb phase anticipated for very high altitude vehicles thereby allowing greater cruise / loiter fuel reserves. The proposed investigation combines analytical studies with breadboard instrument testing to establish feasibility for the intended application. Correlations with established photopic and particulate methods will also be undertaken.

Potential Commercial Applications:

A highly portable and easily operated "smokemeter" has wide-spread commercial potential. All diesel engines are prone to emit excessive particulate matter under prominent operating conditions. Virtually all such engines now manufactured are sold and operated subject to compliance with stringent state and federal particulate emission criteria. However, the emission regulations are not yet fully effective because there are no completely satisfactorily and valid particulate instruments available for field use. The proposed instrumentation technology offers such prospects.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 4 50069

Proposal Number:

03.09-1992A

Project Title:

ROTATING SHAFT STABILITY ANALYSIS MODEL (SHASAM)

Technical Abstract:

ORBITEC proposes to develop a new tool for condition monitoring and design of rotating machinery. The ultimate objective of this research is to develop a PC and microprocessor based expert system for determining and evaluating the dynamic and stability characteristics of elastic shaft/disc/bearing systems. The approach is based on previous research using Liapunov's direct method for calculating critical speeds and employing the variation of parameters technique for vibrational analysis. This research has shown repeatedly that continuum models of elastic shafts and discs can be accurately modeled by very assumed mode terms, greatly reducing the computational burden for obtaining key information. The proposed Phase I project will develop, test, and evaluate a PC based program for a two bearing elastic shaft/disc system supported on anisotropic elastic bearings with cross-coupled stiffness and sampling included as a preliminary model.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The Rotating Shaft Stability Analysis Model (SHASAM) provides a powerful new tool to quickly analyze shaft stability for monitoring and/or design purposes. Potential applications include aircraft and helicopter engines, rocket engines, and power generation machinery. ORBITEC plans to market SHASAM as a software package and analysis service, and to produce and sell a microprocessor based rotating machinery device.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 4 50079

Proposal Number:

03.10-6821

Project Title:

NEW HIGH-ORDER ELEMENTS FOR EFFICIENT MULTIDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS

Technical Abstract:

A new family of plate/shell finite elements has been conceived. Versions with 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10 nodes are possible. More efficient and more accurate calculation is expected for deflection, stress, thermal stress, buckling, and for vibration which is influenced by all of these. Interlaminar shear stress calculation should be especially improved. Shear deformation is included, which is essential for analysis of composite and sandwich structures. All constant strain states are represented exactly in the new elements. In contrast, the shear-deformable plate/shell elements in current commercial use have spurious shear energy in (what should be) pure bending, and frequently require arbitrary reduction of shear moduli or under-integration to avoid "locking," which can in turn cause zero-energy deformation modes or "mechanisms." The LU71 element in the STARS program used at DFRF is equivalent to the 3-node version of the new family. Safety-critical calculations such as predicting flutter in flight tests requires a higher standard of reliability than most applications. The new family of elements can provide an independent verification based on a different theoretical formulation as well as improve efficiency and accuracy.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Incorporation in the STARS code used at DFRF may be the first application. It is expected that these superior-quality finite elements will be incorporated in a package of isoparametric elements and licensed for use in one or several of the major American commercial finite element programs. Finite element analysis is a multi-billion- dollar-per-year worldwide industry.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 5 33242

Proposal Number:

03.11-3330

Project Title:

RAPTOR-RAPID APPLICATION PRODUCTION TOOL USING OBJECT RELATIONSHIPS

Technical Abstract:

The RAPTOR tool will provide an effective mechanism for building correct software by: a) simplifying the process of defining relationships between application objects, b) providing automated mechanisms for test scenario generation and regression testing, and c) reducing the risks of system modifications that inadvertently violate earlier design decisions. RAPTOR is built on top of an underlying spreadsheet engine that associates object attributes with cells in a spreadsheet. RAPTORs attribute-based assertions and Test Generator facilitate the automation of program verification and regression testing, and its living memory feature provides a mechanism for recording object-specific design decisions and rationale for automatic notification should a future developer attempt to override the design decision. Its Relationship Builder provides an intuitive, interactive approach for defining complex object-to-object relationships. The proposed Phase I effort focuses on developing effective approaches for RAPTOR assertions, living memory, automatic test script generation, triggering of the spreadsheet engine, the addition of new RAPTOR objects, and relationship definitions at the object class-level as well as the object instance level. A related Phase II effort would complete the features for a full commercial product, focusing particularly on RAPTOR as an integrated adjunct to other commercial GUI builders.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The RAPTOR tool will provide software development organizations with a powerful adjunct to existing need software development tools, allowing much more of the development of applications to be done without the for direct programming, and by providing efficient, effective, and integrated tools for automatic verification and regression testing, thus contributing significantly to the ability to develop correct safety-critical and mission- critical applications. RAPTOR will be easily integrated with commercial GUI builders, adding substantial new capability for a large number of installed users of these tools.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 1 20625

Proposal Number:

03.11-8018

Project Title:

SAFETY-CRITICAL SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENT

Technical Abstract:

Our company proposes to research and develop the first engineering environment specifically supporting software safety analysis at the requirements stage. For Phase I we plan to (1) improve and extend RSML, a successful graphical requirements language, (2) research and prototype a graphical simulator for RSML, (3) research and prototype an extended completeness and consistency analysis based on the improved RSML, (4) research and prototype a commercially-viable version of a new hazard analysis method called deviation analysis, and (5) evaluate the research results and prototype for feasibility. These innovations will provide the software and systems engineers with ``formal mathematical methods for specification, design, and analysis of digital systems.'' Many of the largest NASA programs contain safety-critical software, so the Administration should especially benefit from our proposed innovations.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The ideas presented in this proposal are part of our long-term goal to develop a flexible, extensible, and customizable systems development environment in the form of commercial software. We intend to develop and market our software and services for a wide range of companies that write safety-critical software.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 8 40675

Proposal Number:

04.01-1354

Project Title:

RAPID DENSIFICATION OF CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES

Technical Abstract:

Low-cost, reliable densification of ceramic matrix composites is of critical importance to NASA and many commercial applications. Present densification technologies are slow, need very high temperatures and use densification aids which leave reliability-crippling impurities after densification. The proposed innovation can enable densification at rates that are orders of magnitude faster and at temperatures that are more than 500 C lower the best available technology today; furthermore, the innovation can lead to a densification technology that works without expensive and impurity inducing densification aids. In cursory investigations, NRC has obtained encouraging results supporting the proposed innovation. The Phase I seeks to systematically establish the proof-of-concept; Phase II will optimize, scale-up and produce prototype components for NASA and lead commercial customers; Phase III will commercialize the technology.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Potential applications of low temperature, rapid densification technology extends to many industries. The enormous savings in energy consumed to form useful ceramic components with associated reduction in pollutant (NOx) formation in kilns is of interest not only to ceramic- matrix composite manufacturers but also for cleaner environment.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 8 40686

Proposal Number:

04.01-6100

Project Title:

PROPOSAL FOR AN INK-JET RAPID PROTOTYPING MACHINE

Technical Abstract:

Sander's Design International is proposing an ink-jet rapid prototyping machine (IRPM) that can shorten the development time for many of NASA's new projects and programs. The proposed IRPM provides NASA with the capability to make models and tool patterns accurately, with a wider variety of materials than is currently available with any other rapid prototyping machine. The proposed IRPM will be accurate enough to make master tool patterns by transforming 3-D CAD files into models with an accuracy of 0.001" per inch or better. The major tasks to be accomplished under Phase I of the proposed program will be to design a fine and bulk jetting system for a thermal ink-jet printing mechanism to provide both accuracy and speed when building prototype models. The fine jetting system provides for an extremely good surface finish, while the bulk jetting system speeds up the building of models by an order of magnitude. The bulk jetting system allows the jetting of a wider range of materials than is currently available from other rapid prototyping machines. To provide high accuracy patterns, a servomechanism with continuous position feedback from the jet-heads will be designed.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The potential applications for the proposed Ink-jet Rapid Prototyping Machine include the following industries: automotive manufacturers, rapid prototyping service bureaus, electronics/electrical manufacturers, appliances/toys/consumer products manufacturers, industrial machine manufacturers, aerospace companies, and medical equipment manufacturers. All of these industries can achieve faster speed to market at a competitively lower cost with the proposed IRPM.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 8 40658

Proposal Number:

04.01-9351

Project Title:

RAPID, E-BEAM CURABLE, FILAMENT WOUND, OXYGEN RESISTANT POLYMERIC COMPOSITES FOR STRESS FREE ROCKET MOTOR CASES, CRYOGENIC STORAGE & SPACECRAFT PRESSURE VESSELS

Technical Abstract:

The objective of the proposed program is to demonstrate the superiority of an innovative, cost- effective, rapid E-Beam Cured, filament wound rocket motor, cryogenic tank or spacecraft structure processing technique that minimizes molded in stresses (typical in thermally cured composites) therefore providing more optimal specific strength and stiffness characteristics as well as oxygen resistance, for polymeric composite structures. Aeroplas Corporation International (ACI) proposes to demonstrate and further expand their line of atomic oxygen resistant(AOR), E-Beam curable composites developed for NASA LaRC for use by spacecraft manufacturers that use the new highly penetrating, 10 MeV E-Beam rapid curing technique which can cure up to one inch laminated in seconds as the Winding passes the wide scanning beam. This series of AOR and newly developed low cost resins are expected to exhibit outstanding processability and a low stable filament winding processing viscosity. After a major discovery and recent formulation optimization work, they are now suitable for high specific strength and stiffness applications using other composite manufacturing methods such as vacuum assisted-resin transfer molding, wet-layup, pultrusion and thick (solid) versions that are appropriate for constant-tack automated prepreg tape/tow lay- up.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed process is cost effective (does away with the costs associated with oven curing or autoclaving); rapid (minutes versus hours); environmentally friendly; is a low, ambient temperature process (for less molded in thermal stresses); is less expensive and less complicated; is amenable to scale up. The impact of the proposed concept is tremendous. The rapid E-Beam cure technologies will find immediate application in Infrastructural, Automotive, Aerospace and other industries where rapidly produced filament wound vessels are required.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14378

Proposal Number:

04.02-0236

Project Title:

REUSABLE LIGHTWEIGHT THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

In this Phase I project, Ultramet proposes to develop a reusable lightweight, environmentally robust thermal protection system that is able to survive single- and multiple-use reentry conditions at a weight of 1.0-1.5 lb/ft2 and at low operational costs. This system will utilize the low-cost alumina-enhanced thermal barrier (AETB-12) felt, currently being developed by Rockwell under contract to NASA, as the insulator, combined with Ultramet's highly oxidation- and erosion-resistant facesheet materials to withstand the high temperature and gas erosion. These facesheet materials are composed of either carbon or silicon carbide fiber-reinforced SiC overcoated with a refractory ceramic composite consisting of alternating hafnium carbide and silicon carbide layers. These materials have been tested successfully in the 60-MW arcjet facility at NASA Ames Research Center, demonstrating excellent results (no erosion) at heat flux levels up to 300 Btu/ft2sec and temperatures exceeding 4500F. In addition, this material has been shown to have structural capabilities to temperatures exceeding 5000F. By utilizing the low-density, extremely low thermal conductivity, and low-cost rigid AETB ceramic felt as a core structure and insulator to support the oxidation/erosion-resistant facesheet, an extremely efficient lightweight structure with optimal performance in terms of mechanical, thermal, and ablative properties, can be achieved. Issues to be addressed during the course of the project include facesheet/insulator attachment, interfacial adhesion bonding, and the effect of cyclic oxidation or torch testing on facesheet/insulator bonding. Thermostructural performance across the panel will be evaluated as well, through techniques such as bend testing and thermal conductivity measurement.

Potential Commercial Applications:

In addition to thermal protection systems for reentry and hypersonic vehicles, the technology to be developed in this project can be applied to the space shuttle orbiter, single stage-to-orbit (SSTO) vehicles, leading edges, rocket nozzle throats, aerobraking structures, missile radomes, turbine and ramjet engine components, jet vanes, low mass heat engine components, filtration media, exhaust aftertreatment materials, and high temperature furnace materials.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

Proposal Number:

04.02-2056

Project Title:

A LOW-DENSITY HIGH-TEMPERATURE FLEXIBLE INSULATION FOR SPACECRAFT THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Technical Abstract:

This project will ivestigate a unique flexible insulation blanket suitable for the thermal protection system (TPS) of future spacecraft during atmospheric entry. Its temperature range is expected to be up to at least 1000OC (1800OF) and its density will be about 60% that of AFRSI (Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation) which is currently used in the Shuttle. This low density can be achieved by using a special, light weight barrier in a high temperature MultiLayer Insulation to inhibit convective and radiative heat transfer. Several configurations are described in the proposal. Prototypes of these designs will be made and tested according to ASTM methods. Data from the tests will be used to develop correlation curves that predict performance under a variety of conditions. TPS performance will be calculated for a particular NASA mission.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The next generation of commercial aircraft require improvements in the thermal insulation systems. The X33, and other transatmospheric vehicles, require special high temperature insulations on the fuselage. Current aircraft designs can be made more efficient by reducing the weight of the insulation system such as that used on the engine nacelle. Commercial aircraft will benefit greatly through improvements in insulation efficiency and reductions in insulation weight.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 2 14357

Proposal Number:

04.02-2525

Project Title:

HIGH-TEMPERATURE GRADATED FIBROUS AEROGEL THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

This proposal describes an innovative material design concept for a high-temperature, high-strength thermal protection material by engineering the microstructures of the composite. This advance material is a fiber-reinforced aerogel composite which contains a gradation of fiber type and volume fraction. The type and concentration of fibers in each region of the composite are tailored to optimize the heat transfer and mechanical properties. The resulting advanced thermal insulation is expected to accommodate very high temperatures and heat fluxes for meeting NASA's future mission requirements. Phase I consists of modeling, analysis, and prototype fabrication. The feasibility of the proposed concept will be demonstrated in Phase I. Advanced modeling, performance optimization, and fabrication of optimized material configurations will be the focus of Phase II.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The design methodology and material fabrication technology from this research can be applied to develop various types of advance thermal insulations for many commercial and industrial applications over a wide temperature range. These include high- performance insulations for refrigerators, ovens, aircraft cabins,load-bearing and non-load bearing combustion engine components, etc.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27816

Proposal Number:

04.03-0110

Project Title:

FUZZY AND PROBABILISTIC DESIGN TOOL FOR ACTIVELY CONTROLLED SMART COMPOSITE STRUCTURE

Technical Abstract:

The present proposal suggests a novel research and development study to provide a fuzzy and probabilistic-based computational tool that can be readily applied for integrated design, optimization and tailoring of actively controlled, smart composite structures. The innovative aspects of the methodology are: (i) integrated material/structural/control systems approach to design and optimization (ii) unified set of material/structural/control/sensor/ actuator design parameters for optimization and tailoring (iii) systematic accounting for all categories of uncertainties present in the problem using both fuzzy theory and probabilistic approaches New active "smart" or "intelligent" composite structural systems with integrated sensors, actuators and control capabilities appear to be promising candidates for the next generation high-performance structural and mechanical systems used in aeropropulsion, aircraft and space structures. One of the major attractions for the use of composite materials in structural applications is the ability to optimize and tailor their performance to desired response characteristics. Strategies and methodologies that have been employed to achieve this objective are not directly applicable to actively controlled smart structures because the structural, control, and materials aspects of this class of structures have unique characteristics that must be simultaneously considered in order to achieve the best overall performance.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The computational design tool product envisaged has a tremendous commercial potential. The technology of "smart" or "intelligent" structures is growing rapidly, and their applications are spreading. We believe that the application of smart materials in engineering structure will become a routine practice for effective monitoring of the "state-of-health" and for the control of response. It is expected that the design tool to be produced in Phases I and II will be a most valuable software package that would be of interest to designs/owners of aircraft, vibrating structures and machinery (whose noise and vibration control are of vital importance), ground transportation vehicles, and even home appliances.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27741

Proposal Number:

04.03-0540

Project Title:

IN-SERVICE DIAGNOSTIC AND DAMAGE-LIMITING STRATEGIES FOR COMPOSITE FLYWHEELS

Technical Abstract:

This proposal describes the development of an in-service diagnostic system for high speed composite flywheels which combines cost-effective non-contact sensors with appropriate software algorithms to: 1. determine the current state of integrity of the composite flywheel 2. estimate the remaining life at current or modified operating conditions 3. modify operating conditions at selected thresholds to guarantee either continued safe operation or benign shutdown. The key innovation here is the use of non-contact sensors to measure attributes of the composite flywheel related to its fatigue integrity, and to modify flywheel operating conditions as required to avoid catastrophic failures. The measurement and flywheel control functions occur in real time during operational service, and are based upon a model of fatigue damage growth. The proposed system will redress the most significant barrier to composite flywheel acceptance. This barrier is the lack of compelling evidence to substantiate predictions of service life and integrity, and the exorbitant cost of using test data alone to provide such evidence. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

The use of this system in spin pit testing will allow test personnel to stop tests prior to rotor burst, thus saving the test article for comprehensive post mortem. As a key component of safety-critical commercial flywheel systems, the diagnostic system will monitor rotor performance in service and modify operating conditions to avoid failure and/or extend service life. It is anticipated that in the industrial UPS market alone, a market considerably in excess of 10,000 units exists. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27837

Proposal Number:

04.03-5005C

Project Title:

LIFE PREDICTION SOFTWARE & METHODOLOGY FOR TITANIUM MATRIX COMPOSITES

Technical Abstract:

The primary objective of the proposed program is to develop a product in the form of a software and methodology to predict response and life of titanium matrix composites (TMCs) under isothermal creep-fatigue loading, using a combination of critical experiments and modeling. The approach proposed to achieve these objectives involves detailed mechanics modeling, characterization testing, and mechanism studies. Our research team consists of outstanding researchers from Research Applications, Inc. (a minority owned small business) and UES ( a small business). The proposed staff has been directly involved in engine component design and life prediction issues by working with engine manufacturers. Thus, we offer not only a fundamentally sound, but also a pragmatic approach which addresses the most critical design issues related to MMC components.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The US commercial aircraft industry will increasingly be in need of advanced modeling and design tools which can exploit the use MMCs. Also, in the automotive industry metal matrix composites are being considered for several engine components. Therefore the proposed product has an immediate and growing market in the commercial aerospace as well as automotive industries.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27737

Proposal Number:

04.03-7780

Project Title:

NONDESTRUCTIVE TOMOGRAPHIC ACQUISITION OF STIFFNESS & DENSITY INFORMATION

Technical Abstract:

Finite element analyses of aeropropulsion components typically need input on material stiffness and density. The proposed program will address the feasibility of combining X-ray computed tomography (CT) and acoustic tomography to produce three-dimensional images of density and stiffness. The density and stiffness information can then be incorporated into finite element analyses of structures allowing actual components to be modeled. The Phase I technical objectives are to determine the feasibility of using a priori information from X-ray CT to reconstruct acoustic tomography data and the feasibility of combining the X-ray CT data and the acoustic tomography data to produce a 2-D stiffness map of an object. The effort will consist of acquiring X-ray CT and acoustic data of a test object and applying iterative reconstruction methods to the data. A conceptual design will also be developed of an acoustic tomography system which can acquire acoustic data that will be compatible with existing X-ray CT equipment. This technique will provide a nondestructive approach to predicting failure modes and life of aerospace propulsion and power components including those made from composite materials.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The commercial products resulting from this work will be X-ray CT and acoustic tomography data acquisition systems and software. Once feasibility of the technique is established, demand for this equipment should increase. The equipment and associated software will allow actual components to be fully characterized nondestructively which will reduce the need for extensive destructive characterization of new material systems and structural configurations to obtain statistically significant databases of performance.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27734

Proposal Number:

04.03-8547A

Project Title:

PROGESSIVE FRACTURE OF BRAIDED COMPOSITE TURBOMACHINERY STRUCTURES

Technical Abstract:

Alpha STAR proposes to develop a computational tool to assess progressive fracture and durability of 3D braided fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite (PMC) rotor and rotor blade structures. Effects of aging., manufacturing defects, residual stresses, thermal and hygral environments, cyclic and monotonically increasing mechanical loading, thermomechanical loading and fiber patterns will be taken into account. The progressive fracture simulation computational tool will be developed by extension of an existing software code, CODSTRAN, which integrates the ICAN composites mechanics code module with a finite element analyzer. The ICAN module will be extended to assess 3D braided fiber composite properties and stress limits according to the local braiding configuration at each finite element node. Simulation of progressive fracture will be accomplished by iterative re-assembly and re-evaluation of generalized service load stresses and an assessment made of damage progression caused by additional load cycles. This proposed extension of CODSTRAN will allow detailed damage tracking of braided composite rotors and blades by computer simulation. The military and commercial aerospace industries stand to gain substantial benefits from use of the developed software in the form of design and manufacturing cost reductions, accurate life cycle predictions, and improved durability and reliability of braided fiber PMC structure.

Potential Commercial Applications:

(1) -significant reduction of design time for the turbomachinary developer, and air vehicle (2)-reduction of full scale prototype testing by use of computational simulation to extend subscale experimental results to full scale prototype structures. (3)-improved braided composite durability and performance in end user applications (4)-accurate establishment of performance and useful life limits of braided PMC turbomachinary, aircraft components

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27836

Proposal Number:

04.04-2374

Project Title:

RELIABLE, ECONOMICAL BEARING CARTRIDGE FOR SPACE APPLICATION

Technical Abstract:

Current knowledge of the lubrication requirements of ball bearings operating in the EHD regime coupled with the fact that, for such operation ball separation is unnecessary makes possible, for the first time, a fully coherent analytical bearing design. This bearing design requires only a reliable lubricant delivery /storage system able to deliver a continuous low flow directly to the ball race contacts. The thin films of fresh lubricant required for healthy contacts can be provided, for a given life time requirement, from a centrifugally pressurized reservoir controlled by flow restrictors. The innovation embodied in this proposal will expand on the development of flow restrictors. The elaborate machining and difficult characterization of the previous method render the process non- reproducible. Various fabrication methods to produce interfacial surface conditions together with the possible use of controlled porosity media will be examined. Flow tests with restrictors will be performed and evaluated for simplicity and repeatability. A straw set of performance requirements, including flow rate and life, will be generated for a typical space application and a cartridge design will generated to meet these requirements.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Space mechanisms, which require stable performance and long term reliability, such as, momentum and reaction wheel assemblies; scanners; control moment gyros; and filter wheels.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27833

Proposal Number:

04.04-2666

Project Title:

ADVANCED SPACE LUBRICATION SYSTEMS

Technical Abstract:

The objective of the proposed investigation is the development of advanced space lubrication systems to replace the currently employed perfluoropolyalkylethers which promote metal corrosion and undergo degradation under boundary lubrication conditions. The lubricants use novel, to be synthesized, polysilahydrocarbon base fluids and are formulated with novel antioxidant and lubricity enhancing additives. The base fluids are expected to be involatile, to exhibit high viscosity indexes and to possess viscosity/temperature profiles approximating those of the perfluoropolyalkylethers. The to be prepared additives are expected to have volatility characteristics comparable to those of the base fluids and to function in any hydrocarbon based lubricant.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The successful execution of the proposed investigation should result in the development of an involatile, wide temperature fluid range lubricant to be used in long term operations such as space instrumentation and any other device where uninterrupted lifetime performance at extremes of temperature is mandatory.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Contract Id:

NAS 3 27745

Proposal Number:

04.04-5178

Project Title:

LOW-COST MANUFACTURE OF TITANIUM ALUMINIDE COMPONENTS FOR AIRCRAFT ENGINES

Technical Abstract:

This Phase I project seeks to develop a low-cost manufacturing technology for gamma titanium aluminide components for aircraft engines. The main goal of Phase I work is to demonstrate the feasibility of investment cast net-shape retaining plates for the PW 7000 first stage high pressure turbine blades. The retaining plate is a rotating component located between the turbine blade root attachment and the disk slot. Its function is to prevent gas leakage. The current bill-of-material is IN 100, a nickel-base superalloy. The lower coefficient of thermal expansion, lower density (half that of nikel-base superalloy), and excellent oxidation resistance of titanium aluminides are attractive properties for this particular application. The following are the technical objectives for Phase I: Experimentally demonstrate that the selected turbine blade retaining plate can be manufactured by net-shape casting. Modify the selected titanium aluminide alloy to enhance mechanical properties. Develop a manufacturing cost model, based on Technical Cost Modeling methodology, to project the potential manufacturing costs of cast titanium aluminide aerospace components. It is anticipated that replacing IN 100 by cast gamma titanium aluminide will increase the cyclic life of the retaining plate, as a result of reduction in centrifugal loads on the component.

Potential Commercial Applications:

If gamma titanium aluminide aircraft engine components can be manufactured in a cost-effective way, it is anticipated that widespread replacement of steel and nickel-based superalloys will occur for compressor and low pressure turbine components, combustor swirlers, transition duct hangers, and nozzle tile liners.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.04-6000A

Project Title:

CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION OF TURBINE THERMAL BARRIER COATINGS

Technical Abstract:

Ceramic thermal barrier coatings extend the operating temperature range of actively cooled gas turbine components, increasing thermal efficiency. Performance and lifetime of existing ceramic coatings are limited by spallation during heating and cooling cycles. Spallation of the ceramic is a function of its microstructure, which is determined by deposition method. The proposed research will determine whether metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings, by varying their microstructure, meet NASA's need for thermal barrier coatings which perform better and are more affordable than those now applied by electron beam evaporators. Spire Corporation will use MOCVD, not previously evaluated for this application, to deposit YSZ coatings on coupons of turbine blade materials provided by a jet engine manufacturer. Spire will characterize the coatings' composition and crystal structure, while the manufacturer characterizes their response to thermal cycling in the turbine environment. In Phase II of the proposed research program, actual engine components will be coated and tested.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Existing coating techniques now used in jet engine manufacture would be replaced by MOCVD of YSZ if the material demonstrates improved performance or lower cost.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.04-7345

Project Title:

HEAT TRANSFER OF TURBINE DISKS IN LIQUID QUENCH

Technical Abstract:

Predicting liquid quenched superalloy microstructure requires an understanding of surface heat transfer. However, the state-of-the-art relies on experience and cut and try methods to predict whether the microstructure is achievable for a given shaped specimen. This program will develop an understanding of the convective film coefficient variation around a disk shaped specimen using existing data and a finite element analysis. The Phase I goal is to demonstrate the approach and define a subsequent program of analytical and experimental work to define and verify a complete theory of predicting the coefficients based on specimen shape, quenchant type, and heat transfer enhancements. This meets a goal of Subtopic 04.04 by modeling a critical manufacturing process to permit maximum hardness quenching of near net shape superalloy materials for gas turbines leading to lower design-to-production time and cost. Completion of both program phases will increase the envelope of shapes and sizes of superalloy turbine disks that can be fully and uniformly hardened. This knowledge, equally applicable to military or commercial uses, increases the value of previously developed superalloys. Additionally, many heat transfer enhancements developed in other disciplines such as steam boilers, may become available to the quench problem.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The results of this program will lead to larger disks and complicated near net shape disks achieving maximum hardness throughout their mass, thus fully exploiting the advantages of new superalloys for both military and commercial gas turbines.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.04-9186

Project Title:

HIGH-TEMPERATURE FINISH FOR AMB-21 MATRIX COMPOSITES

Technical Abstract:

The integrity of the interface is a controlling factor in the performance of high temperature polymer matrix composites (PMC). Commercially available sizings or finishes have been shown to be inadequate for achieving the 30,000 hour lifetime goals for composite engine components. To improve the interface, an ideal finish for these systems will uniformly coat the carbon fibers, have good thermo-oxidative stability (TOS), and chemically bond to the reinforcing fibers. Adherent Technologies, Inc. has been developming such a finish for carbon-reinforced PMR-II-50 polyimide matrix composites using reactive coupling agents. Intial results show that the finish provides a uniform coating on the individual fibers, has excellent thermophysical properties, bonds well to carbon fibers, and dramatically improves the thermo-oxidative stability of PMR- II-50 matrix composites aged at 400 C. This proposal is to extend that work to a finish formulation for midrange temperature, lower cost composite systems such as the AMB-21 matrix chemistry or a derivative thereof. The Phase I program will develop a custom finish formulation for the AMB-21 chemistry, and fabricate, thermally age, test, and characterize composites with the custom finish and a commercially available UC309 sizing.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Almost all areas of composite technology can benefit from versions of this chemistry, including transportation, aerospace, sporting goods, chemical processing, and building materials applications. Components operating in critical applications such as aircraft engines, rotary wing aircraft blades, ship hulls, marine ordnance, deep sea submersibles and other structures that are life or cost driven are of particular importance. It should be emphasized that the proposed chemistry can be implemented at very low add-on costs (only a smal amount of finish is used) and that normal composite manufacturing operations are not affected.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.05-0404

Project Title:

INJECTION MOLDED, HIGH PERFORMANCE PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATORS

Technical Abstract:

Materials Systems Inc. (MSI) proposes to adapt its net shape ceramics injection molding technology to fabricate a new family of reliable, high performance piezoelectric actuators. The new family of actuators is based on a monolithic, multi-element PZT component, shown schematically in Figure 1. Several different actuator variations can be produced from this PZT component utilizing different poling and electroding arrangements, including: (a) large-scale (50 mm or more long) multilayer "stacks" (d33 actuation) and (b) large displacement piezoelectric "springs" (d33, d31, or d15 actuation). These new actuator configurations offer enhanced force-displacement characteristics compared with currently available devices and will extend the capabilities of smart materials and structures in aerospace, automotive, machine tool, and many other applications. These actuators will also be able to operate over wider frequency and temperature ranges than current devices. Furthermore, these innovations will be achieved using fabrication technologies that have already been demonstrated by MSI to be inherently low cost in production.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Applications include: active vibration damping (struts and engine mounts), noise suppression (interior and engine noises), acoustic camouflage, actuated structures, precision pointing (optical and radio frequency payloads), reconfigurable surfaces (flutter suppression), and structural health monitoring.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.05-0533

Project Title:

AN ELECTROMAGNETIC "SMART WASHER" FOR DETECTING BOLT-HOLE CRACKING

Technical Abstract:

Bolt-hole cracking is a common problem to both new and older aluminum aircraft. Traditional manual ultrasonic and eddy current inspections are costly and slow, and cannot inspect key structures (such as wing spars) without disassembling the plane. In the latter case, the cost of disassembling the plane far exceeds the cost of inspection, and also risks inducing new damage during the disassembly/re-assembly process. Innovative Dynamics proposes to address this problem by developing a "smart washer" for electromagnetically detecting bolt-hole cracking. We will build the eddy current coil and ferrite materials into a high-strength washer, then use eddy current techniques to detect the onset & progress of bolt-hole cracks. The sensor electronics would then be wired into the plane's avionics, or brought out to an inspection port. IDI will demonstrate this technology by designing washers containing eddy-current sensors. We will test these "smart washers" by mechanically inducing bolt-hole cracks in aluminum specimens containing the bolt-"smart washer"-nut combination. The "before & after" sensor readings will be validated with measurements taken with a hand-held eddy current probe, as well as visual bolt- hole inspection. Finally, we will then develop a fuzzy-logic classification scheme for detecting the onset & severity of bolt-hole cracking.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Commercial and military aircraft manufacturers worldwide could incorporate such a system into their new and upgraded designs. In addition, it would have a ready market among owners of GA (General Aviation) aircraft that are susceptible to bolt-hole cracking in wing spars. This same technology could be applied to any application involving a critical, hard-to-access bolt holes - such as those found in cranes, heavy machinery, bridges, and the nuclear industry.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.05-0700

Project Title:

PIEZOCERAMIC BASED ACTUATOR/SENSOR ARRAYS FOR VIBRATION CONTROL OF MACHINERY

Technical Abstract:

Active Control eXperts (ACX), Inc. proposes to develop and demonstrate design methodologies for applying piezoceramic based active structural control to the problem of noise reduction of machinery. Quieter machinery would improve the ride quality of aircraft, and lengthen the lifetime of acoustically excited panels. These design methodologies will include sensor and actuator spacing and placement in an interlocated pattern to yield collocated transfer functions over a limited frequency range with minimal feedthrough. Controllers will be designed for a sample structure, such as a motor casing, to be provided by our commercial partner. Actuator and sensor arrays will be based on ACX's QuickPack actuator, a piezoceramic encapsulated in flexible circuit material for easy connectability and bonding. ACX's proprietary techniques will be used to produce a test article for demonstration. The use of piezoceramic sensor and actuator arrays integral to the structure for reducing noise radiating from machinery will be demonstrated in Phase I. The results of the testing and an analysis of the methodologies developed will be performed to determine a Phase II plan. The Phase II effort would refine the arrays, integrate the actuators, sensors, and electronics into QuickPack-like packages, and field test the system with our commercial partner.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The ability to control radiated noise via an actuator and sensor array integral to the structure opens up a host of potential applications for piezoceramics. These end user applications include motors, compressors, enclosures, transformers, aircraft cabins and automobiles.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.05-1980

Project Title:

ACTIVE VIBRATION STABILIZATION BY SMART LEAD-FREE PIEZO CERAMIC/POLYMER HYBRID MATERIALS

Technical Abstract:

Over the past several years interest in adaptive structure development for active vibration stabilization in aerospace structures has gained momentum. However, the smart structures frequently use independent polymeric sensors and piezoceramic actuators. The proposed approach will attempt to develop a unique hybrid smart material which will have the benefits of both i.e. voltage sensitivity of polymer and actuation capability of the ceramic. The piezoceramic material will be developed from the leadfree perovskite ferroelectric layer structure of the A2B2O7; piezo electric polymer from PVDF and Polyimide. Thus the development of these hybrid smart materials can lead to a single component system which will perform multiple tasks as opposed to the present system. The ability to perform multiple tasks by a single component system will be demonstrated by constructing active panels for vibration stabilization of aerospace composite structures. Random vibrations will be generated on one side of the active structure by Acoustic Impact tester or by radiated pressure. The LMS adaptive algorithm will be used to optimize the control transfer functions. The effectiveness of vibration stabilization of composite structures will be addressed with respect to the geometry, configuration and composition of these smart hybrid materials.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Applications include space structures, rapid retargetting weapon system, high precision pointing and positioning of machines, robotic arms, aircraft cabins, automobile and truck cabins, transformer enclosures, fuselage panels, submarine hulls, helicopter rotors and air ducts

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.05-5128

Project Title:

SMART MATERIAL PRODUCTS FOR COMMUNICATION, SENSING AND ACTUATION

Technical Abstract:

Fiber and Sensor Technologies, Inc. (F&S) proposes to incorporate materials recently developed at NASA-LaRC, specifically microcomposites, THUNDER and related actuator technology, for applications in fiber optic communication and sensor devices, optical component packaging, and embeddable connectors for sensors and actuators. F&S has extensive experience in embedding sensors and actuators into a variety of materials including PMC, MMC, CMC and NASA aerogels. The fundamental problem with all embedding procedures is the ingress/egress point of the leads to the sensors and actuators. F&S will use the microcomposite materials to develop embeddable connectors that are compatible with the host material and will allow easy connections for embedded fiber optic sensor and actuator leads. Other applications will be flight-worthy ruggedized, miniaturized optical spectrum analyzers and other optical components including fiber optic couplers, switches, and source/detector couplings. The novel actuation materials will be used for active optical fiber devices and larger-scale adaptable structures. F&S believes that this proposed program will allow the thorough examination of the basic characteristics of the NASA- LaRC materials with applications in a wide variety of potential products that fit well within the F&S short- and long-term business plan.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This proposed program has many short- and long-term commercial applications in communications, sensing, and actuation. Phase III product funding is already committed by Fiber Core Technologies which currently supports similar NASA-LaRC and ARPA "smart materials" SBIR product development and commercialization at F&S.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.05-8013A

Project Title:

NEW PROCESSING, MATERIALS, AND FUNDAMENTAL STRUCTURES FOR PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICES

Technical Abstract:

There is a continuing need for increased sensitivity in acoustic sensors and senders and an increasing need for lower cost devices. Of particular importance is acoustic impedance matching in underwater and medical applications. Recent efforts have demonstrated that polymer/ceramic composites have specific advantages including the hydrophone figure-of-merit (ghdh). Sigma Labs has developed thin and thick film polymer technology into a high rate, industrially oriented process that can utilize composite materials as well. Therefore we propose to evaluate newly developed, process compatible polymers and polymer/ceramic composites for piezoelectric activity. A particular advantage of the transition to this relatively new processing technology is the ability to pole monomeric or ceramic particle dipoles while the monomers are in a liquid phase. Subsequently, the monomers can be cured into a polymer matrix with the poling intact. Monomers can be specifically designed and tailored to have a maximum piezoelectric response by themselves or to maximize compatibility with the more piezoelectrically active ceramic powders. Acoustic impedance matching with water can be maximized by manipulating the glass transition temperature of the polymer. Compatibility with the Sigma Labs processing technology ensures low cost processing of large scale products including heretofore unavailable geometries based on multilayer technology. We propose an initial feasibility study to demonstrate liquid phase poling in monomers or monomer/ceramic slurries.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The end result of a successful program will be low cost but highly sensitive piezoelectric materials that are acoustically matched to a particular medium. include acoustic sensors and transmitters for underwater surveillance and active noise suppression. Commercial markets include medical technology, vibration, acceleration and stress sensing, pyroelectric applications, and switches including keypads.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.06-1980

Project Title:

LOW COST, HIGH THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY C-C COMPOSITES VIA ONE-STEP MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Technical Abstract:

Carbon-carbon composites exhibit unique physical and mechanical properties including high thermal conductivity. Lengthy and costly manufacturing processes greatly limit the applications of C-C composites to price insensitive applications such as rocket nozzles and aircraft brakes. Lowering the manufacturing cost of C-C composites would inevitably open an entirely new perspective for these materials. This proposal offers a unique, well-balanced approach that has the potential to reduce the cost of high thermal conductivity C-C composites to less than $100/lb. The P.I. and MER Corporation have extensive experience in the area of C-C composites providing a solid base to achieve the objectives of this project.

Potential Commercial Applications:

include heat sinks, automotive brakes, and pistons in IC engines.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.06-2235

Project Title:

PLASMA SPRAY APPLICATION OF HIGH PERFORMANCE POLYMERS

Technical Abstract:

The goal of this project is to design abrasion resistant coatings which can be applied to the substrate using environmentally acceptable method. The method that we propose is Plasma ionization technique where the impact of the particles of the binder have sufficient velocity to coalesce the coating. The system is designed to be low VOC (volatile organic components) and as a consequence be relatively environmentally friendly. The plasma ionization technique in bulk. The salient feature of this approach is the polymide coating can be applied to the beds of the damp trucks with extensive facilities for solvent containment and recovery.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Survey's in a 16 state area shows a strong interest with a high temperature resistant polymide technology. The polymide with high volume application capabilities are need as bonding agent, and surface coating with manufacturers of small Grain handling equipment, Dirt hand handling equipment, irrigation districts and manufacturers of equipment used in high temperature applications.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.06-3887

Project Title:

BRAZIING OF REFRACTORY COMPOSITES FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE

Technical Abstract:

\par }{\f3 (LIMIT 200 WRODS): \par \par Materials Resources Inc. will demonstrate the use of WideGap\'aa brazing technology to join refractory composite (C/C and C/SiC) materials to metals is for electronics and spacecraft thermal management and propulsion duct systems for reusable launch vehicles . CTE mismatches between these dissimilar materials result in high thermal joining stresses that create a weak brazed joint. Our novel WideGap\'aa brazing technique to join dissimilar materials uses a braze consisting of a filler braze metal and an additive m aterial with melting temperature higher than braze temperature. Proper selection of the braze filler and the additive materials will tailor the CTE gradient and thickness of the braze, and eliminates formation of unstable compounds and minimize the therm al stresses. \par \par Using this innovative brazing technique, In Phase I program, we will develop C/C to aluminum and SiC to C/C joints for electronic packaging and spacecraft thermal management, and C/SiC to refractory metals for propulsion system components in reusable launch vehicles. Lockheed Martin and Rocketdyne will support MRI with guidance on joint design and testing and assist in commercialization of the technology. In addition we will develop apply the technology for repair of tubes used in power pl ants and petrochemical industry.}{\f3\fs20 \par

Potential Commercial Applications:

\par \par \par }\pard \qj\widctlpar {\f3 The commercial applications for WideGap\'aa brazing are in areas of joining dissimilar materials for electronics packaging, thermal management, propulsion systems in launch vehicles, actively cooled structures and heat exchangers. In addition commercial application also exist in bio-medical x-ray tubes (over $800 million/per year), fabrication and repair of tubes for chemical and power industry (over $ 1.5 billion per year). Other major app lications include braze healing of turbine blades for jet engines and dissimilar materials joining of turbine components. \par }\pard \widctlpar {\f3

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.06-6868

Project Title:

LIGHTWEIGHT, DIMENSIONALLY STABLE, POLYMER-CERAMIC COMPOSITES FOR SPACE SYSTEMS & COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS

Technical Abstract:

Materials performance criteria are highly demanding for the space airframe structures, spacecrafts, small satellites and its associated subsystems such as optical components. One of the most critical requirement is near zero coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and low density. Materials such as Invar or Zerodur have several limitations such as small temperature range over which the CTE is low, higher density and limited machinability. C-C composites, despite of their superior properties, do not have low enough cost to benefit ratio. A relatively unexplored family of materials called NZP ceramics (NaZr2P3O12 and its isostructural analogs such as CaZr4P6O24) provides compositions with near zero (and if needed, negative) CTE (<0.5 ppm/C), low thermal expansion anisotropy, and good machinability. Combining such NZP ceramics with NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) developed polymer called LaRC-SI, can yield a superior composite that has near zero CTE, low density, machinability and high toughness. LoTEC, Inc. proposes to develop new, ultra-low thermal expansion, light weight NZP Ceramics - LaRC SI polymer (NCLS) microcomposites for space airframe structures and associated subsystems. Development of such microcomposites are expected to lead to commercially viable components such as optical benches, lens holders and optical metering rods.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The potential applications of high toughness, near zero CTE, lightweight NCLS microcomposites encompass optics, dimensionally stable airframes, metering rods, housings for spectroscopic instrumentation and others. The specific optical applications include diode lens mounts, lightweight mirrors and telescope components. Some of the commercial applications include dimensional gages, substrates for high density data storage systems, reflective and confocal mirrors for halogen lamps, optical benches.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.07-1100

Project Title:

MINIATURIZED FIBER OPTIC DISTRIBUTED TEMPERATURE SENSOR

Technical Abstract:

Systems & Processes Engineering Corporation (SPEC) proposes to develop a miniaturized fiber optic distributed temperature sensor. The distributed temperature sensor is based on SPECs Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR) Multi-Chip Module (MCM) technology. SPEC and 3M are jointly developing and marketing this OTDR product. This SPEC technology foundation supports the development and fabrication of a low-cost, space flight qualified, light weight distributed temperature sensor. The distributed sensor is based on Raman scattering which produces frequency shifted wavelengths known as the anti-Stokes and Stokes lines. The Stokes intensities are related to the temperature of the scattering media. When applied with pulsed laser the anti-Stokes/Stokes ratio provide a direct measurement of the temperature along the entire optical fiber length. In Phase I, SPEC will (1) Investigate and evaluate distributed temperature measurement approaches, (2) Reconfigure and redesign SPECs OTDR electronics, (3) Develop an optical design, (4) Develop and design an MCM temperature sensor system, and (5) Develop a Phase II prototype plan. In Phase II, the MCM distributed temperature sensor prototype system will be fabricated, tested, evaluated, and certified by NASA.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This development program will significantly advance the state-of-the-art in intelligent, miniaturized fiber optic sensor technology, while providing NASA with a low-cost, light weight distributed temperature sensor based on the SPEC OTDR MCM technology. The use of a compact, miniaturized distributed temperature sensor system has both aerospace and commercial applications providing monitoring of composite materials, chemical tanks and container systems, civil structures, spacecraft fuel tanks, and engine health monitoring.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.07-1416

Project Title:

HIGH SPEED NDE USING SHEARING INTERFEROMETER & GENETIC ALGORITHM

Technical Abstract:

Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to demonstrate that high speed quantitative non-destructive evaluation (NDE) can be realized by combining the sensitivity and large area capability of shearographic systems with the tremendous optimization speed of the genetic algorithm for data fitting and image analysis. In the Phase I effort, POC will apply the genetic algorithm (GA) to the analysis of data obtained from a shearing interferometer for the non-destructive evaluation of laminates and structures. To achieve this, POC will adapt its in-house GA technology to data fitting, and will select the most appropriate and effective fitting function. POC will also assemble an experimental shearing interferometer that uses a CCD camera to capture the fringe images. The interferometer will be used to show that the GA can quickly quantify and classify flaws in test objects. In Phase II, a compact prototype device will be constructed and field tested.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The resulting NDE system can be used to quickly and quantitatively evaluate laminates and structures. It is useful for a broad array of applications; in particular, for product inspection in automotive, aerospace, pharmaceutical, and microcomputer production lines.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.07-4015

Project Title:

SQUID NMR IMAGING FOR MATERIALS NDE

Technical Abstract:

This project will exploit the properties of a SQUID in developing a single-sided NMR Imaging system for materials nondestructive evaluation (NDE). Unlike conventional NMR detectors, SQUIDs offer a combination of high sensitivity and broad bandwidth at low and relatively inhomogenous fields. Since the geometry of many test objects may require single-sided imaging, where one is constrained to use low and relatively inhomogenous fields, a SQUIDs NMR imaging system will be much superior to a conventional NMR imaging system in providing the required level of imaging sensitivity. In Phase I we propose to demonstrate the feasibility of using a high temperature (HTS) SQUID to detect NMR signals. We will also address through a detailed analysis, issues important to single-sided NMR imaging. In Phase II we will design and construct a prototype SQUID NMR imaging system for practical NDE. Since the imaging will be done at low fields, the system is expected to be much less expensive than present day medical NMR imagers.

Potential Commercial Applications:

A HTS SQUID-based NMR imaging system will find immediate applications in practical NDE, including applications important to the aerospace industry. Specifically, such a system will have the potential to determine the structure of composite and polymer materials, spatial distribution of moisture in composites and the curing of adhesive bonds. The systems commercial attractiveness will come from its combination of sensitivity and flexibility to accommodate arbitrarily sized samples.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.08-3887

Project Title:

BRAZING FOR FURNACE COMPONENTS

Technical Abstract:

In this program Materials Resources Inc. will demonstrate brazing of graphite to alumina, graphite to TZM, and TZM to alumina using our propritary WideGap technique for experimental furnace fabrication. CTE mismatches between these dissimilar materials result in high thermal joining stresses that create a weak brazed joint. Most common braze alloys also contain active elements which are very reactive and form a unstable compound which can limit the joint life. Our innovative WideGap uses a braze material (without any active transition elements) consisting of a filler braze metal and an additive material with melting temperature higher than the braze temperature. Proper selection of the braze filler and the additive materials will tailor the CTE gradient and thickness of the braze, and eliminate formation of unstable compounds and therefore minimize the thermal stresses. We will also investigate diffusion barrier coatings on graphite (e.g. TiN, Ti(CN), HfN and B4C) stable upto 1273 K to enhance wetting of the braze. In the Phase I program, we will develop graphite to alumina, graphite to TZM, and TZM to alumina joints. The joints will be characterized for strength, thermal cycling and electrical resistivity.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The commercial applications for WideGap brazing are in areas of joining dissimilar materials for electronics packaging, thermal management, propulsion systems in launch vehicles, actively cooled structures and heat exchangers. In addition commercial application also exist in bio-medical x-ray tubes (over $800 million/per year), fabrication and repair of tubes for chemical and power industry (over $ 1.5 billion per year). Other major applications include braze healing of turbine blades for jet engines and dissimilar materials joining of turbine components.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.08-4091

Project Title:

DIAMOND-LIKE NANOCOMPOSITES AS ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE, FLEXIBLE COATINGS FOR SPACE APPLICATIONS

Technical Abstract:

A new class of thin film materials, diamond-like nanocomposites (DLN), has been developed. These materials have properties making them excellent candidates for electrostatic discharge control in space applications. The DLN consists of two self-stabilized random networks, one network of carbon stabilized by hydrogen, the second network of Silicon stabilized by oxygen. Into this network metal atoms can be added to control the resistivity of the coatings. The electrical resistivity can be varied from 10-4 to 1014 *-cm. The coatings have excellent thermal stability, being stable at temperatures up to 1600K in non-oxidizing environments. They have excellent adhesion and high flexibility. For Phase I of this program we propose to deposit the coatings on various substrates including those used by NASA. A series of coating depositions will be performed to optimize the deposition parameters for the specific substrates. Coatings will be tested at Texas Tech University for electrical conductivity at temperatures ranging down to 75K. Other tests will measure adhesion, thermal properties, hardness, flexibility, outgassing and stability under temperature variations. Coating properties will be compared to other conducting coatings used for electrostatic discharge.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Wear-resistant electrical contacts, rollers for copiers and printers, ultra-capacitors, ink-jet heads, electrosurgical knives. Other applications requiring combination of electrical conductivity with high wear-resistance and/or low friction. Applications requiring controllable electrical conductivity. Applications requiring electrically conductive coatings on a flexible substrate.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.08-5552

Project Title:

HIGH VELOCITY WIRE ARC SPRAY

Technical Abstract:

The quality of coatings produced by virtually all thermal spray techniques could be improved by, among other things, increasing the velocity with which coating particles impact the coated surface. A new and innovative approach to thermal spraying is proposed that has the potential to substantially increase the gas flow velocities of thermal spray devices. This process deliberately uses a repetitively pulsed high temperature gas jet. Such jets can be used in a variety of ways to melt and accelerate coating materials. We propose here to improve the effectiveness of traditional wire-arc spraying by replacing the usual atomizing air stream with a rapidly pulsed high velocity gas stream. Higher coating particle velocities are thereby expected, leading to improved coatings. Phase I objectives include demonstration of wire-arc stability in the presence of the gas jet, and demonstration that coatings can be formed with the technique. Primary anticipated result is operational data for gas jet/wire- arc interaction. Successful demonstration of proposed approach is expected to provide higher quality coatings from wire-arc spray process.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Higher quality corrosion and wear protection coatings produced by wire-arc spray.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

04.08-8400

Project Title:

PORTABLE VISION SYSTEM FOR WELD QUALITY MONITORING & NDE APPLICATIONS

Technical Abstract:

During the fabrication of complex welded structures like the space shuttle external fuel tank, extensive measurements are performed to validate the quality of the weldments and their fitness for purpose. Many of these measurements are performed manually and require considerable amounts of effort to complete. In particular, measurements of weld deformation and of weld bead dimensions can be quite painstaking to collect. Acuity Imaging proposes to design a portable vision system which would be used to perform non- contact dimensional measurements of key weld characteristics such as bead width and height, weld mismatch, joint angle, and weld deformation. The vision system will consist of a hand-held sensor for weld dimensional measurements, a vision processor which could be strapped to a belt or carried in a back pack, and a hand held operator display. The proposed portable vision system will improve the speed and accuracy with which such critical weld joint measurements can be performed and provide a means of automating the collection and archiving of weld dimensional data. The basic design of the portable vision processor will be relevant to solving a wide range of other non-contact dimensional measurement problems with the implementation of appropriate software and sensors.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed portable vision system for weld quality measurement will be useful in a wide range of commercial welding and thermal spraying operations in which parts must meet high quality standards. This includes critical aerospace weldments, pressure vessels, pipelines, and wide variety of other weldments. The fundamental design of the portable vision system is relevent to a wide variety of other dimensional measurement applications which would be explored after completion of the initial weld measurement system.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.01-0540

Project Title:

MAGNETOSTRICTIVE MOTOR FOR ROBOTIC APPLICATIONS

Technical Abstract:

A high torque motor is proposed that is based on the dimensional change of magnetostrictive materials when exposed to magnetic fields. Shear forces at the air gap of the motor on the order of 1000 PSI, rather than the 10 PSI possible with conventional torque motors, produces corresponding light weight and small size. This motor eliminates the need for gear reducers and bearings, thus producing a simple, reliable design that avoids low temperature lubrication problems. Perhaps more importantly, the magnetostrictive motor dissipates far less heat than conventional motors at high torque levels, reducing the cooling demands. Phase I will develop a space-qualifiable design capable of operating over the range of output speeds and torques required by the NASA robotic applications. In additin to emphasis placed on the highly developmental motor, a modular system design including control and drive electronics will be defined. Phase I will provide a full description of the theory of operation, a motor design with performance specifications, a system design including electronics, analysis supporting the performance estimates, a representative laboratory demonstration, and a detailed plan for development of a form, fit and function prototype. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

The extremely high torque/moderate speed capability of the magnetostrictive actuator suits it as an economic alternative to commercially available integrated motor/gear reducers, especially where elimination of bearings, lubrication and gear backlash is desirable. Areas of potential commercial development include actuation for the automotive industry and robotics. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.01-0661

Project Title:

A MINIATURE PLANETARY SUBSURFACE SAMPLE ACQUISITION AND SAMPLE TRANSFER SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

A miniature planetary surface and subsurface sample acquisition and sample to instrument transfer system is proposed to facilitate the surface and subsurface acquisition and transfer of solid phase samples from numerous planetary bodies to in-situ instruments or sample return canisters. The innovation meets the specific subtopic interest in low mass and low power surface and subsurface sampling devices. The objectives of the research are to analytically support the sample acquisition and sample transfer system design and to determine the feasibility of the penetration subsystems. The bulk of the Phase I effort will focus on penetration subsystem breadboard feasibility testing. The results anticipated include a positive feasibility determination for the solid phase material penetration subsystems and a comprehensive sample acquisition and sample to instrument transfer system conceptual design. NASA can apply this innovation to future Discovery type missions to comets, Mars, the moon, asteroids and other similar planetary bodies. Analysis of acquired samples will significantly deepen the solid phase material understanding of targeted planetary bodies. Additionally, the multiple planetary body applicability of the system or parts of the system (with modest changes for a particular body) will reduce mission life cycle costs.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Potential applications for commercial derivatives of the innovation include: (1) characterizing and safe clean up of hazardous waste sites, (2) automated agricultural soil monitoring systems (3) remote area oil and mineral prospecting and (4) obtaining samples below bodies of water

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.01-4836

Project Title:

HYBRID DIFFERENTIAL DRIVE ANTHROPOMORPHIC MANIPULATOR

Technical Abstract:

MAR Co. proposes the development of a 7 degree-of-freedom (DOF) anthropomorphic manipulator utilizing a 2 DOF hybrid differential power transmission. Phase I will concentrate on transmission concept development through design, analysis, and prototype testing. The hybrid differential combines planetary gearing and cable drive to produce a dual load path power transmission. Joint motion is coupled and output torque is a variable sum of the dual inputs based on orientation. When correlated with the performance of the human arm as a function of orientation, the hybrid differential allows extremely efficient anthropomorphic manipulator design. In addition, the hybrid differential has an open center providing a large internal cable passage. Phase I is anticipated to demonstrate anthropomorphic joint packaging and performance previously unattainable. Phase II utilizes the hybrid differential drive in the development of a 7 DOF anthropomorphic manipulator. Phase II will also investigate the limits of scaleability and application hybrid differential technology to other robotic systems.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Commercial applications are available for anthropomorphic manipulators anywhere humans are exposed to hazardous or repetitive motions. Hybrid differential technology reduces the manipulator size and cost, opening new markets currently unavailable.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.01-4991

Project Title:

HIGH FREQUENCY MAGNETOSTRICTIVE MOTOR

Technical Abstract:

The availability of high force, compact actuators and motors are of extreme significance to space flight systems where volume and weight are mission critical. The objective of this project is to integrate Terfenol-D into a new high frequency rotary motor applicable to digitally controlled high precision high force mechanical actuation for robotic systems. These motors can be designed to maintain maximum force in a locked position when power is off and can provide micro step precision motion. Phase I will design, fabricate and test prototypes of these new small magnetostrictive actuator mechanisms. The new motor actuator will be scaled for dexterous anthropomorphic robotic joints. Phase II will optimize the design and implement the motors into dexterous robotic joints.

Potential Commercial Applications:

These small motors will find wide commercial application in varied mechanical systems requiring small, high force, high precision joints, latches and position control. Applications include: optics, adaptive structures, robotics, machine tools, and other electromechanical systems of utility in space, and private sector systems.

Name and Address of Offeror:

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Proposal Number:

05.01-8988

Project Title:

TWO-ARMED, MOBILE, SENSATE, RESEARCH ROBOT

Technical Abstract:

It has been argued that without intelligent robot support, a space station or a space exploration human complement will not be able to cope with both tasks and self-preservation. The "anthropomorphic system" proposed would provide a balanced research platform with which NASA researchers could demonstrate intelligent robot capability over a range of IVA/EVA activities. The hardware would be terrestrial, but the researchers employing it would be able to reduce the time and cost of developing robot technology for human space exploration. The R&D effort is not trivial, as witness the plethora of failed attempts at creating "personal robots." What is needed is a balance of physical structure, mobility, appropriate sensory perception, compatible control hardware and user-friendly communications. With this innovative platform researchers will be able to create application specific software and end-effectors appropriate to robotics for various space applications such as lunar outposts and crewed Mars spacecraft. In more specific terms this robot platform will employ two arms with an anthropomorphic sphere of influence, LIDAR navigation, binocular vision, tactility, voice communication and open architecture control. It would remain for NASA and other researchers to breathe life into a dormant entity, having broad inherent potential.

Potential Commercial Applications:

After supplying a Phase II prototype TRC would, in Phase III, offer the research robot to NASA and to other researchers worldwide. Most significant is the prospect for volume production of such a robot, originally with astronaut support capability, to support mobility impaired elderly people. Extension of independent living is a most desirable and cost effective alternative to nursing home incarceration.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.02-4222

Project Title:

ROBOTIC ONLINE LEARNING OF PERCEPTUAL MODELS FOR NAVIGATION AND GRASPING

Technical Abstract:

A crew helper robot must be able to observe new places and objects, construct models automatically, and then use those models to enact instructions requiring autonomous navigation and grasping. The proposed innovation is a software module which: can encode the shape of any 3-D place or object to limited or extreme accuracy, as desired; can learn shapes incrementally from sensor data; supports sensor-based navigation and real-time object recognition and tracking; is fully explicit so that represented volumes and points can be identified, thus facilitating Artificial Intelligence reasoning about the represented volumes; and supports route/trajectory planning in 2-D, 3-D, and on orbit. Also solved is how the robot can retrieve the newly learned place and object models by means of newly learned names. Therefore, our representation is the essential glue between a) sensor data obtained online, b) sensor-based robotic task performance, c) Artificial Intelligence spatial reasoning, and d) Natural Language instructions, even when the instructions involve places and objects not known to the robot's programmer. NASA requires such a capability for robots serving as astronaut assistants and as instructible maintainers of spacecraft and lunar/planetary equipment.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Vendors of autonomous mobile robots for cleaning, sentry duty, mail delivery, mowing, etc need a means of simplifying robot installation despite the variability of floor plans and lawn areas. The proposed representation of space will allow a robot to learn a floor/yard plan (in stages, if desired), navigate robustly using learned landmarks, and obey instructions containing user-selected names for the newly learned areas. We are also considering applying the object recognition technology proposed herein to parts sorting for industrial automation.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.02-5530

Project Title:

AN INTELLIGENT PERCEPTION SYSTEM FOR AN AUTONOMOUS PLANETARY LANDER

Technical Abstract:

_ Recent advances in real-time image processing hardware and software provide opportunities for design of low-weight and low-power perception systems for autonomous planetary landers. ORINCON proposes a design study of such a system by conducting an extensive investigation into the available multiprocessor architectures and the related image processing algorithms. A set of parallel texture feature estimation algorithms and crater/rock recognition algorithms will be developed and tested using ORINCONs Real-Time Interactive Programming and Processing Environment (RIPPEN) and Programmable Real-Time Information, Image and Signal Multiprocessor (PRIISM) systems. A proof-of-concept demonstration to ensure cost-effective prototype system development is scheduled at the end of this Phase I effort. We are able to offer such substantial progress in Phase I because of the extensive library of RIPPEN image processing tools we have already developed under internal research and development (IR&D) funding.

Potential Commercial Applications:

_ In addition to the stated application to unmanned planetary landers, the other obvious applications of the intelligent perception system are in airport security, vehicle license monitoring, fruit inspection, and military unmanned vehicles, the real-time image processing software developed for the proposed intelligent perception system implemented on a multiprocessor accelerator can also be used as a software testbed for software development for PC-based image processors.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.02-6601B

Project Title:

REAL-TIME STEREO VISION FOR ESTIMATION OF SHAPE/SIZE/POSE OF FREE-FLOATING OBJECTS

Technical Abstract:

This is a proposal to develop a specialized stereo vision system that can achieve real-time (i.e., frame-rate) pose (position and orientation) estimation of moving as well as stationary objects. The proposed system utilizes an innovative active vision strategy developed by Metrica researchers. This strategy, called the "proximity space" method, concentrates stereo and motion measurements on and about three-dimensional features of real-world objects. This method is innovative in that it does not require a model of the object in order to provide information about the object's shape, angular velocity or pose. The proposed system is particularly robust due to the fact that it takes advantage of the natural texture, clutter, and dynamic nature of the environment rather than being overwhelmed by it. The abundance of measurements made possible through dedicated hardware developed in Phase II of this proposal will provide sufficient information to robustly acquire and track complex objects in 6-DOF as they move (or float) about real-world environments. This ability is a requirement for robots acting in dynamic and uncertain environments such as space or the factory floor.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This proposal has in: - automated bin-picking and assembly - automated packing and shipping - warehouse operations automation - hazardous or nuclear waste clean-up - video teleconferencing - television studio automation - service robots

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.03-3155

Project Title:

AGENT BASED TASK DECOMPOSITION PLANNING

Technical Abstract:

One of the big challenges of today's technology is to build planning and control systems that can produce high quality solutions, that can monitor the execution of those solutions, and respond to unexpected events (failures or opportunities). These systems must be also be easy to modify to adapt to the changes in the demands from the applications. This proposal is focused on a new planning architecture that can incorporate expertise and data from a variety of sources to deliver high quality solutions. but yet be flexible enough to adapt to the changes in the demands on the system. It will support planning and execution simultaneously, recover from failures and exploit opportunities, and also support on-line job requests from multiple users. Our proposed architecture is based on autonomous agents, and it employs hierarchical task network (HTN) planning techniques for handling the interactions and resolving the conflicts among the agents. Our architecture will combine the advantages of both domain-specific and domain-independent planning by capturing specialized expertise in the agents but keeping the architecture domain-independent to facilitate implementation and incremental modification to adapt to the changing conditions.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Our proposed architecture has direct applications in the mission control, factory automation and military logistics by reducing planning time and effort, increasing the quality of plans and reducing the execution cost.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.03-4717

Project Title:

INTELLIGENT & VIRTUAL REALITY AGENTS FOR ROBOTICS PLANNING

Technical Abstract:

This research facilitates on-line planning of robotics and teleoperation tasks for NASA space missions. It accomplishes this by software agent technology which provides multimodal and intelligent interactions in a virtual reality environment over the World-Wide Web. The technology will be suitable for many other planning and near-realtime operations that use World-Wide Web. The combined behavior of the resulting software agents will meet the needs of NASA telescience applications for multiple investigators to visualize scientific data and control planetary autonomous systems. The following capabilities will be developed: (1) generating 3D models of the remote environment based on camera images and other sensory data, (2) sharing and visualizing the collected data and motion of a remote autonomous system, (3) coordinated planning with requests from multiple investigators for controlling the planetary autonomous system, and (4) detecting erroneous inputs and requests and recovering from these errors. The Phase I effort includes demonstrating the feasibility of employing two emerging and promising Web technologies: 1) the Virtual Reality Modeling Language and 2) the Java programming language, for modeling and visualizing 3D objects and creating distributed software agents.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Commercial benefits are related to (a) facilitating the performance of complex tasks that require intelligence and virtual reality, (b) allowing multiple individuals to work together, and (c) providing sophisticated user interfaces for teleoperation and telepresence, over the Internet. The first benefit will spawn a new generation of Web Browsers and Home Page authoring tools. The commercial impact of the second benefit will be in a new type of remote learning and teleconferencing. The final benefit will have significant value in medicine and entertainment.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.04-5777

Project Title:

SURFACE NAVIGATION AND SIMULATION SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

The objective of the Surface Navigation and Simulation System project is to develop and demonstrate an advanced planetary rover command, control, and simulation system that will assist in the development of future lunar and planetary missions and provide a near term commercial product with educational and entertainment applications. Phase I research will continue rover teleoperations work initiated by International Space Enterprises in 1995 under a Technology Cooperation Agreement with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The Phase I focus will be on developing a prototype SNSS rover control station capable of delivering basic control commands to a remotely located rover prototype while displaying real time video images from a rover-mounted camera. The control station will be a direct derivative of the station built by ISE during its 1995 project with JPL. Phase I will emphasize evaluation of alternative data compression and transmission techniques to enable low cost acquisition of high quality video with the same data link used to uplink the rover commands. During Phase II the rover and control station will be upgraded to provide expanded rover mobility, control, and viewing capabilities, including virtual environment elements, and a six month series of laboratory and field tests will be performed.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The SNSS has commercial potential as an exciting attraction for schools, science centers, and location-based entertainment venues. Students and visitors will be able to access an SNSS network to view and control rovers at other network nodes worldwide. This will help build public support for future space exploration missions as well as providing near term educational and entertainment value. Ultimately, commercial participation in robotic lunar and planetary missions may be enabled.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

05.05-6601

Project Title:

AN INTELLIGENT SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR SEMI-AUTONOMOUS ROBOT CONTROL

Technical Abstract:

This is a proposal to develop an intelligent software architecture that will enable humans and robots to form effective teams for servicing on-orbit space systems. In particular, the proposed software architecture allows for greatly simplified traded control between a robot and a human. A significant problem in traded control situations is that the robot doesn't know how the environment has been changed or what parts of the task have been accomplished when the human has been in control. Because of this, errors can occur when the human relinquishes control back to the robot; these errors can cause potentially dangerous situations. Our solution is to use an intelligent software architecture designed for {\em autonomous} robot control and modify it to work in concert with human control. Starting with an autonomous control architecture allows us to use the same task planning and executing structures and the same sensor-based monitoring techniques to perform both autonomous robot tasks and to update the robot's world model and task agenda in teleoperated tasks. Such an architecture will greatly increase the safety and speed of semi-autonomous robotic activities in which the robot is controlled by a human either from the ground or from space.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This proposal has in: - flexible manufacturing - silicon wafer fabrication plant automation - micro-electronics assembly automation - biomedical clean room automation - hazardous or nuclear waste clean-up - service robots

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

06.01-1226

Project Title:

UHF AIR TO GROUND VOICE/DATA LINK & DSC BASED ADS NETWORK SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

ROSS Engineering Company (REC) is planning a low cost automated airspace system and Voice/data link to the cockpit. The innovation is a complete system that consists of integrating the technology of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) with a current land- mobile wireless voice/data terminal product (MRT 450), while enabling an existing air-to-ground infrastructure with a new interstitial frequency technique that ROSS is presently under license with the FCC and the NTIA to develop, demonstrate, and operate. By applying to the two key elements of DSC and the interstitial frequencies, the innovation will include Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) for data at 9600b on narrow band, and will operate without interference of the existing conventional infrastructure. The system proposed will be a low cost system (product and infrastructure) that will have the capabilities of air-to-ground phone, fax, on-line services (i.e., real-time weather access), location plotting, and Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS) / Collision Avoidance. This data-link system will have the capability to serve as the cornerstone of the free flight philosophy and may play an important role in revitalizing General Aviation due to a plethora of capabilities and a very low cost structure.

Potential Commercial Applications:

A product and service will be developed for the target market of General Aviation that will be within the price range of nearly every General Aviation pilot. Beyond being affordable to the entirety of General Aviation the product and system will fully integrate the functionality of phone, data, voice, on-line services, flight planning, weather information and Automatic Dependent Surveillance into a single housing. This product will take up less room and weight than comparable equipment and will offer to the entire aviation community air-to-ground convenient communications, and safety in the air. Furthermore, much progress will be gained in meeting the FAA's "free-flight " philosophy and NASA AGATE's "highways in the sky". Although priced affordably to the pilots of general aviation, there is still lucrative incentive for service providers, system integrators, and network investors.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

06.01-2135

Project Title:

ENABLING TECHNOLOGY FOR PROTECTING ADVANCED GA COCKPITS AGAINST LIGHTNING AND HIRF

Technical Abstract:

The advent of high performance of GA airplanes such as Glasair III, Lancair IV, Mooney TLS, etc., provides GA with far more cross-country travel capable airplanes. Many of these airplanes are equipped with state of the art avionics that rival business jet cockpits. Consequently, their owners/users often look upon them as on demand almost all weather travel airplanes. This usage pattern as well as their performance capability for high altitude cruise will expose them to a greater variety and possibly duration of adverse atmospheric electromagnetic environment, atmospheric conditions such as rain, icing, lightning, etc. The advantage offered by LTI is integrating HIRF & LEMP protection along with lightning protection at the cockpit systems level. High cost avionics and other airplane flight critical and essential systems will be protected and transient effects due to P-static are also minimized providing a more reliable IMC GA cockpit environment and avoiding expensive repair or replacement costs. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

LTI will commercialize a testing, installation and certification service for emerging digital avionics systems in the GA industry. Industry manufacturers can take advantage of the system integration design documentation created for FAA Part 23 certificationm thereby overcoming present cost obstacles for protection of IFR/IMC capable avionics. Current aircraft refurbishers and avionics installers as well as new aircraft and avionics manufacturers will constitute the potential customer base. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

06.01-7341

Project Title:

LOW COST HIGH QUALITY COMPOSITE FABRICATION FOR THE GENERAL AVIATION INDUSTRY

Technical Abstract:

A process for building high performance composite parts has been developed and used to construct high quality, low-cost, high fiber volume parts for the US Navy, and many other commercial interest. These parts have been tested and have proven to be comparable in properties with other parts which were built using the much more expensive prepreg autoclave parts. This process, called SCRIMP, is a variation of the vacuum assisted resin transfer molding processes and has been awarded a US patent. This process has proven to be extremely cost effective and has been utilized to build parts up to 80 feet long. E glass/vinyl-ester parts as well as carbon fiber/epoxy parts have been made without the use of a autoclave and fiber volumes of 55-60% have been achieved with very low void contents(less than 1%). It is proposed that the SCRIMP process can be adapted for use in the general aircraft industry to produce low cost FAA certifiable parts. The goal of this proposal is to demonstrate that these parts can be built using low cost molds to standards and consistency that will warrant FAA certification. Low cost molds will be built, integral mold heating systems will be tested and demonstration parts with epoxy and vinyl-ester matrices will be built.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Composite parts produced with this process have proven to be much less costly than parts made using autoclave techniques and RTM techniques. These approaches, while clearly valid, entail high mold building costs and are limited in the size part which can be built because of the molding pressures which are encountered. The techniques which are used in SCRIMP molding use inexpensive, single sided tooling and compliant bags for the second side mold face. These parts exhibit the same quality (i.e.: high fiber volume, low void content) that was until now only achievable in autoclaves. Scrimp has already been proven in the marine industry by producing high strength, constantly high quality, low cost composite parts. It is the intention of SCI to move towards commercialization of low cost composite parts built using these processes by developing alliances with general aviation manufacturers.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

06.01-8383B

Project Title:

P3: A PILOT-CENTERED FLIGHT DISPLAY AND TRAINING SYSTEM FOR INSTRUMENT FLYING

Technical Abstract:

Mod Works, Inc., proposes to develop and market a pilot-centered flight display and training system, called P3, to significantly reduce the time, cost, and difficulty for general aviation pilots to acquire and maintain proficiency in instrument flight operations. The true utility of general aviation transportation is greatly enhanced by the ability to fly in near all-weather conditions, but often the cost, time and "hassle" of maintaining the requisite skills is a discouragement to prospective pilots. Any revival of general aviation, as NASA desires to foster, must deal squarely with this issue. The system envisioned to respond to this is drawn from two research areas: (1) controlling the aircraft's path and energy state using flight situation displays which blend predicition and quickening properties for ease of interpretation and improved human performance; and (2) applying the elements of cockpit resource management and judgement in a systematic way to evaluate the risks and possible outcomes associated with a current or proposed flight path or mission. The end product would be an integrated flight display (including a computer-based training program) appropriate for both retrofit and newer-technology aircraft by which pilots could conveniently reach and maintain proficiency in instrument flying skills.

Potential Commercial Applications:

There are three primary commercial applications and related markets for the P3 system. First, as one major component of the system is a cockpit display certified for instrument flight operations, there is a sizeable market of well over 100,000 current and new-technology general aviation aircraft whose owners/operators could increase the utility of their aircraft with such a display (the P3 system's usefulness and intuitive nature is applicable for both current-generation and new-technology aircraft). Second, because the system effectively addresses both initial and recurrent training requirements, there is the market of the pilot population - now numbering over 600,000, and expected to expand considerably. While the majority of pilots do not own airplanes, all active pilots have a need to maintain proficiency in an affordable, convenient manner. The third market would be fixed-based operators and flight schools - core providers of flight training services - who could offer integrated instrument flight training and certification packages. With such an offering, these organizations could see both volume and profit margins rise as more people are attracted to flight training, and the cost to provide these services goes down.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

06.01-8533

Project Title:

LOW COST RTM FOR LARGE COMPOSITE AIRCRAFT PRIMARY STRUCTURE

Technical Abstract:

Stoddard-Hamilton Air, Inc. (SHAI) proposes a low cost Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) process adaptable for making large monolithic General Aviation (GA) structural parts. The innovation shall use low cost tools, materials and resin injection or infusion techniques for component production under an FAA production certification requirements. SHAI will bring these cost advantages to its aircraft production line for volume production. SHAI proposes developing a single sided (outer side of part) RTM process that uses a vacuum bag type medium which also incorporates lightning protection materials into the composite structural components. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

RTM processes provide advantages in production economy, assembly economy, and aircraft performance. SHAI needs the ability to capitalize on those advantages to meet the goals it has set for itself. For example, the fuselage components on future GlaStar aircraft could all be resin transfer molded. \

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

06.02-2354

Project Title:

A NEW COMBINED NOISE AND EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE GENERAL AVIATION INDUSTRY

Technical Abstract:

The General Aviation Industry is experiencing increasingly stringent environmental (noise and emissions) regulations. Routine maintenance testing of aircraft engines at airports, for example, results in large quantities of pollution, in terms of noise and emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons, and other undesirable pollutants. Westinghouse Electric Corporation recently developed a new test cell design that significantly reduces noise. Separately, Sorbent Technologies Corporation (Sorbtech) has developed a filter that effectively reduces NOx, CO, particulates and other pollutants from exhaust gases. It has been suggested by NASA and others that a combination of the two technologies would be highly attractive to the General Aviation Industry. This project addresses the possible combination of the two technologies. More specifically, in Phase I, Sorbtech will perform studies to determine the effectiveness of its new sorbents in removing toxic organic pollutants from jet-engine exhaust gases and to specify structural materials that should be used in constructing a prototype. In Phase II, the prototype system would be constructed and demonstrated at an airport site. The SBIR project is intended to complement a planned parallel effort by Sorbtech, Pennsylvania State University and Westinghouse to design and model the prototype.

Potential Commercial Applications:

A goal of the proposed overall project is a low-cost noise and emissions control system that is useful for all commercial aircraft.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

06.02-2800

Project Title:

THE DEVLPMT OF A NOVEL GENRL AVIATION PROPELLER/COWL COMBINATION OR AERO-COWL TO REDUCE CABIN NOISE, ENHANCE ENGINE COOLING & IMPROVE AERODYNAMIC PERFRMNC

Technical Abstract:

The proposed project would develop and certify a novel propeller/cowl combination which could be used on any new general aviation aircraft. This project would result in a complete, FAA-certified propeller/cowl combination. The objective of this project would be to design and test this system on an existing modern general aviation trainer aircraft. This propeller/cowl combination would emphasize a modern low-noise installation which would also have enhanced aerodynamic performance and improved engine cooling. Two engines will be considered for proof-of-concept tests in Phase II; the primary engine is a currently available 160-horsepower engine, and the secondary is a new engine design which will be capable of burning JET-A instead of Aviation Fuel. This new engine is proposed under a separate SBIR proposal. The overall results of the successful completion of these two projects would be a complete, integrated, FAA-certified power system featuring greatly reduced cabin noise, enhanced aerodynamic performance and improved engine cooling. The installation would emphasize a low-noise, efficient installation and if the second engine development were successful, the aircraft would be able to burn unleaded JET-A fuel, thus avoiding the problems associated with leaded fuels. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed innovation would furnish a complete, FAA-certified propeller/cowl combination for use on any general aviation aircraft. This unit will reduce the cabin noise, improve the aerodynamic performance and enhance the engine cooling for any new general aviation aircraft design. Global Aircraft is very interested in the concept. If the general aviation aircraft market were rejuvenated to the levels of annual sales achieved in the late 1970s, and this concept captured 10% of the 2-4 place market, there would be a market for approximately one thousand units per year. If the price of each propulsion unit was $35,000, the market for this product would approximate $35,000,000 per year.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

06.03-8133

Project Title:

A 3D MOVING MAP FOR GA COCKPITS

Technical Abstract:

Vision Micro Design (VmD) proposes to create an affordable and certifiable 3D geography based moving map (3DMM) product that can also provide attitude indication. The aim of the innovation is to respond to the GA markets' need for an Electronic VFR always display - by depicting what the pilot sees outside the cockpit on a clear VFR day. The human factors engineered software will provide a richer, more intuitive, easier to understand terrain display compared to existing moving maps (MMs). This product will blend fault tolerant computer technology with light, ruggedized micro-computer hardware, GPS position data, flat panel displays, and intuitive pilot interface software. The goal is to provide the pilot with landmarks, geography and attitude perception: where the aircraft is, what is its attitude, where it is going and what geography lies ahead; thereby maximizing situational awareness and minimizing pilot workload and confusion.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The initial commercial market for this moving map platform covers over 50,000 GA aircraft actively involved in cross country flight domestically. Marketing will then address the other 150,000 domestic GA aircraft, and the international market of 100,000 GA aircraft. A key feature of this product development that benefits marketing is its modularity.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

06.03-9090

Project Title:

A METHOD TO PREDICT SEPARATION DELAY ON AIRFOILS DUE TO VORTEX GENERATORS

Technical Abstract:

A novel method is proposed to predict the delay in boundary layer separation due to vortex generators (VGs) on two-dimensional airfoils. The approach is to couple a simple method for predicting the boundary layer thinning due to VGs with an existing Euler code (MSES). The objective is to provide a VG design tool that is verified by comparison with wind tunnel data for airfoils near separation. Such a method would shorten the experimental development process for these devices. It also offers the potential to design airfoils which have higher maximum lift at low speeds or higher buffet onset Mach numbers. The proposed effort is to add equations to the MSES formulation which account for the motion of the vortices near the surface and the crossflow velocity gradient which thins the boundary layer. In addition to verifying the code against wind tunnel data, a VG system will be designed to delay the onset of shock induced separation on a modern high speed airfoil. The main benefit to NASA and the industry is to provide a tool which enables a designer to take advantage of the boundary layer control function of VGs. The method will be extended to multi-element airfoils and three-dimensional configurations in Phase II.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Successful completion of the proposed effort will result in improved airfoil technology with direct application to any quasi-two-dimensional subsonic design such as wings, tails, propellers or wind turbines. The gains in maximum lift or Mach number will translate into improved vehicle performance either directly or through better optimized configurations.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.01-0092

Project Title:

HIGH PRECISION CONTROL AND HEALTH MONITORING OF ADVANCE SPACECRAFT

Technical Abstract:

This Phase I project proposes an integrated high precision control and health monitoring system for advanced spacecraft. In this effort, a high precision control will be configured for enhancing the tracking and pointing performance of spacecraft systems. Fault tolerance, health monitoring and reconfigurable control strategies will also be developed to ensure stability, flying quality and safety, cost reduction, graceful degradation and reoptimization in the case of failures, malfunctions and damage in terms of advanced estimation/decision and neural network techniques. To test and evaluate the applications of these technologies in spacecraft, a software environment will be developed with current software design and programming techniques. In Phase I, the system concept and its subsystems will be developed and the preliminary design for high precision control and health monitoring will be conducted and evaluated. In Phase II, the design will be refined under extensive simulations and verified in a hardware-in-the-loop simulation environment. The deliverables of Phase I are a commercial product entitled ACS (Autonomous Control Synthesis) and a software environment for high precision control and health monitoring to test and evaluate the applications of new technologies in modern control, health monitoring, failure detection and isolation (FDI), and neural networks to spacecraft systems.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The high precision control and health monitoring system directly benefits the military/civilian aviation and space areas. The advanced high precision control system will lead to improved pointing performance, enhanced safety, and increased reliability, availability, and durability. The health monitoring and reconfiguration schemes can be applied to industrial manufacturing and processing plants. The ACS toolbox can be used for general industrial process control systems design. The marketability of this product is high due to the vital importance of this technology to both commercial industries and government applications.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.01-1231

Project Title:

SPACECRAFT OPERATIONAL AUTONOMOUS REASONING SYSTEM (SOARS)

Technical Abstract:

This project will develop an innovative Spacecraft Operational Autonomous Reasoning System (SOARS) as a generic approach to spacecraft autonomy which can be applied to a broad range of satellite designs and functions. The project will develop both a generic architecture for spacecraft autonomy as well as a series of specific implementations for autonomy of the most common and highest payoff spacecraft functions. The architecture provides a general synergistic reasoning and decision making capability which employs the full range of reasoning modalities and decision making strategies. The architecture includes a standardized interface to spacecraft systems and functions, making it adaptable to many spacecraft and payload designs. The architecture provides for human controller intervention as a natural element in the decision making and control process, rather than as an extraordinary and emergency situation. We believe a synergistic approach to reasoning is an effective and robust problem-solving model that allows a system to employ historical, experiential, procedural, structural, and causal knowledge. With proper control, such a system is capable of solving all problems solvable by any of the individual reasoning methodologies. By making spacecraft increasingly automated, human operators can be freed to direct their efforts thereby reducing space operations costs.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The creation of SOARS will provide the basis for a whole new way to provide satellite maintenance whose impact will be felt in many different programs. By its very nature, autonomous satellite control is adaptable to systems operating in other environments such as underwater, hostile, and remote. In addition, the flexibility designed into SOARS will provide a natural testbed for new autonomous reasoning efforts currently underway in this country. It is applicable to the development by NASA of remote systems for space station assembly and repair, and to systems for the exploration of the Earth, Moon, Mars, and the other planets; to the research going on in the DoE laboratories for ways to remotely handle hazardous wastes; and to the research being conducted in remotely piloted vehicles used for long range surveillance and weapon delivery.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.01-4717

Project Title:

ADAPTIVE FAULT TOLERANCE FOR AUTONOMOUS SPACECRAFT

Technical Abstract:

Spacecraft autonomy requires the ability to perform in a variety of normal and degraded states. As complexity of on-board functions increases, there will not be a single fault tolerance approach which is suitable for all spacecraft payload, communications, and vehicle management functions. Hence, multiple fault tolerance schemes are needed. Moreover, as the autonomous spacecraft transitions among multiple modes and experiences multiple failures, it is desirable to adapt the fault tolerance services to the changed configuration and environment. This research will investigate the feasibility of (1) integrating multiple fault tolerance approaches into a single "middleware" layer, and (2) providing adaptation mechanisms to tradition among fault tolerance services in response to changing environmental and computational conditions. The schemes that will be integrated include distributed recovery block and N-self-checking processors. The phase I research will define the reliability, recovery, and response time requirements for this middleware layer. We will establish technical feasibility through an experimental testbed running on POSIX compliant workstations.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed adaptive fault tolerance scheme is applicable to many critical real-time applications. The flexibility of multiple fault tolerance schemes which can be adapted in response to a changed environment is an important advantage. Designers of real-time applications will be able to incorporate this middleware layer into their critical applications and configure them to their requirements much as they now incorporate real-time kernels and schedules. Potential applications include robotics, vehicle control, IVHS, medical applications, and process control.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.02-0633

Project Title:

CASE AND SEMANTIC MODEL BASED INTELLIGENT SEARCH ENGINE FOR AUTOMATED INFORMATION PROCESSING

Technical Abstract:

This proposal presents the concept of a Case and Semantic Model Based Intelligent Search Engine (CASISE) to facilitate the ability of users to automatically capture, manipulate, and explore data from distributed data sets organized using diverse formats. Automating the capturing of data is only the first step; techniques for expediting users' ability to assimilate the data for their specific needs are also needed. Analysis of real-world data is problematic because doing so usually requires examining many dimensions to detect and investigate patterns not readily revealed by traditional methods. Although significant strides have been made in data management tools, most of the effort focuses on 2-D tabular data and is based on arcane languages, such as SQL, that require knowledge of the data structure. CASISE integrates case- based reasoning, semantic modeling, and supervised learning into a user- oriented tool that allows data management utilizing meaning independent of the underlying dataset structure. This approach is innovative because it modifies the case-based approach to identify data similarities through context-dependent rather than context-free mechanisms. In addition to its primary focus as a search engine, CASISE can be used for data discovery and developing and maintaining data and knowledge bases.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This research has wide applicability to complex, multi-dimensional data applications employed by government and commercial users. These include accident investigation to determine contributing factors and similarities to previous accidents, cost-benefit analysis by hospitals and health maintenance organizations, forecasting the volume of claims and costs of medical coverage, predicting stock and overall market fluctuations, etc.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.02-1692

Project Title:

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNIQUES FOR MISSION PLANNING AND SCHEDULING AUTOMATION

Technical Abstract:

JPL and GSFC have requested, through topic 7.02, ground-based mission planning and scheduling automation. In order to support NASA's vision of Better, Cheaper, Faster, each mission will have fewer personnel with each having a broader range of responsibilities. An important aspect of mission operations is planning missions and scheduling available resources. This is typically time consuming and requires a high degree of expertise. An automatic, intelligent planning and scheduling system could allow dramatically fewer man-hours to perform the scheduling function and it could be performed by more varied personnel. By using an innovative combination of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, techniques we have used with much success for KSC's high-level manifest planning and JSC's crew activity planning, we will produce a planning system with capabilities well beyond current methods. The goals of the Phase I research are to thoroughly define the mission planning and scheduling domain, elaborate the artificial intelligence techniques useful for automating the planning and scheduling problem, prove the feasibility of these techniques through the development of a prototype, and develop a complete system specification for an automated NASA scheduler. Phase I research and prototype development will lay the groundwork for the Phase II implementation of an automated planning and scheduling system and eventual commercialization of the system.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The commercial applications of an automated mission planning tool include factory/manufacturing scheduling, facility construction scheduling, maintenance scheduling, business project scheduling, delivery scheduling, and other large-scale planning and scheduling applications.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.02-1721

Project Title:

AN OBJECT-ORIENTED METHODOLOGY FOR AUTHORING ADAPTIVE COMPUTER- BASED LESSONS

Technical Abstract:

Most existing authoring tools for computer-assisted instruction do not facilitate reuse, do not provide mechanisms for adapting the lesson to the student, and require authors to program low-level details of a lesson. Recent research has suggested that the object-oriented (OO) paradigm can benefit lesson authoring. However, the absence of a formal OO lesson authoring methodology is hindering the success of the OO approach to lesson authoring. To address this problem, we propose an innovative OO methodology for authoring adaptive computer-based lessons. The methodology will facilitate reuse between and among lessons and will provide specific support for adapting lessons based on student feedback. An innovative tool for authoring adaptive computer-based lessons using the methodology is also proposed. The proposed work will benefit NASA's mission-operations support in the area of training, by facilitating the rapid development of adaptive tutoring and training systems and by decreasing the effort necessary to develop such systems. We believe that a tool based on a robust OO lesson authoring methodology has the potential to produce order-of-magnitude productivity gains for those involved in the development of computer-based training and tutoring systems.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The application areas for computer-assisted instruction developed using the proposed methodology-based OO lesson authoring tool include: 1) employee training and re-training in industries which are down-sizing, 2) training and education in computer programming, hardware troubleshooting, etc. 3) primary and secondary education for home-based schooling 4) "virtual" higher education courses, and 5) military training dealing with aviation, health care, weapons systems, equipment maintenance, etc.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.02-2035

Project Title:

A NEW APPROACH FOR VIDEO MULTICAST ON WIDE AREA NETWORKS

Technical Abstract:

This SBIR Phase I effort proposes an approach for extending the Internet infrastructure to support real-time, video transport. This extension addresses the need for wide area network (WAN) based collaborative environments for efficiently sharing information as well as the growing requirement for telepresence and telecommuting. Our approach for video multicast over wide area networks is unique in that it does not require the network to reserve link bandwidth on each link associated with the path of a video flow. This is in contrast to existing approaches that impose resource reservation requirements on every link of a path. The flexibility provided by our approach allows it to accommodate a more heterogeneous network that existing approaches. The proposed approach for video multicast is based on an innovative technique for video packetizing and traffic control called spectral selection. The objective of this Phase I SBIR effort is to establish the feasibility of proposed approach for video multicast. To achieve this goal, this effort will develop the design of the network software required to implement the proposed video multicast approach and assess the performance of the approach using a combination of analytical and simulation techniques.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The commercial application of the results of this research would be network software that would allow the Internet to accommodate video-enabled applications such as telepresence, multimedia-conferencing, remote learning, visualization and computer supported collaborative work on a more heterogeneous wide area platform than is currently possible. It would thereby extend the capability of the NII to serve various sectors of the national economy ranging from health care to manufacturing and distance learning.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.02-5090

Project Title:

HUMAN FACTORS SAFETY TESTING FOR VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT MISSION- OPERATIONS TRAINING

Technical Abstract:

This proposal develops a test system to aid mission-operations in implementing technology, safely and efficiently, in its redefined role. NASA's vision of Better, Cheaper, Faster necessitates advanced trainers and tutoring systems utilization, possibly incorporating virtual environment technology (VET). VET has advantages but brings with it undesirable human factors side effects which must be minimized to fully utilize this technique. These side effects undermine NASA's vision in terms of time and efficiency and could impact safety and health. The proposed test system will be demonstratably sensitive to side effects of exposure to simulations and/or demonstrations involving real or depicted motion of the individual and will possess psychometric stability and reliability characteristics requisite for such instruments. By recognizing side effects, this system aids in identifying VET equipment improvements during manufacture, reduces individual's training time, and identifies potential at-risk users in mission operations. The journal Presence (1992), special edition, documented these side effects including motion sickness symptoms, disorientation, occasional significant disruption of perceptual-motor activity, and prolonged fatigue and lethargy ("sopite syndrome") following exposure (Kennedy, 1994). The occurrence of these side effects pose a significant threat to the well-being of susceptible users and an impediment to NASA's vision. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

Manufacturers and developers of virtual environment devices used for entertainment, simulation and/or training could identify improvements or modifications to equipment to minimize side effects. Any training program, including DoD and other federal agencies, could utilize this device for protection of individuals. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.02-5700A

Project Title:

INTELLIGENT COLLABORATIVE TEAM TRAINING

Technical Abstract:

LinCom Corporation is proposing to develop an Intelligent Collaborative Team Training (ICTT) architecture which supports the real-time, team training paradigm. LinCom will leverage its years of experience using the award-winning NASA Intelligent Computer- Aided Training (ICAT) architecture to model the new ICTT architecture. The current ICAT technology only supports the training of a single student at a time. The proposed innovation lies in developing a training system in which a group of individuals, each with their own role, can train together as a team. A number of complex technical issues are associated with moving from a single student system to a multi-student system where student interaction, multiple student models, and multiple simulations are involved. This innovation is important for mission-operations support since it provides a low cost, high fidelity, mechanism for training Shuttle/Space Station crew members, flight controllers, and ground support personnel for both manned and un-manned missions. With this new capability, an entire Shuttle crew, a flight operations team, or students in a classroom, etc., could take part in a collaborative training exercise.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Medical diagnosis and team approach to healthcare training Clinical training in medical schools Computer chip fabrication processes Flight controller console operations Safety instruction Military training in operation of advanced communication devices

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.02-5810

Project Title:

REUSABLE SOFTWARE COMPONENTS FOR SCIENCE PLANNING AND SPACECRAFT SEQUENCING

Technical Abstract:

The scheduling problem-allocating scarce resources to individual tasks to achieve high-level objectives without violating operational constraints-is of great practical importance to industry and government. NASA has responded to the difficulty of its scheduling problems by developing world-class leadership in scheduling, through significant investment in research and applied development. As a result, it is now routine, but still expensive, to solve complex scheduling problems for space mission operations. Custom software for each mission makes it difficult to develop a generic scheduler for reuse across missions. One mission requires an ad hoc constraint checker; another requires an interface to science opportunity analyzers; a third requires contingent planning capabilities. It is impossible to anticipate these requirements in advance. Instead, we should populate our toolboxes with intermediate-level components that can be combined as needed for specific missions. We propose to design and develop a C++ toolbox, named SchedKit, of reusable software components for science planning and spacecraft sequencing. Example components include a schedule database; efficient data structures for use by search algorithms; basic preprocessing and constraint-checking modules; and facilities for building secure, distributed scheduling applications.

Potential Commercial Applications:

With software components to address common tasks, development of scheduling applications will evolve toward the emerging model of ``mass customization.'' End-users, e.g., the developers of mission software, will be able to plug together the pieces of a mission-specific scheduler from a library of components. The industrial scheduling market is dominated by expensive vertical market applications and custom software developers. SchedKit reduces the risk and cost of such custom software development efforts: we plan to license and use SchedKit to create ``just-for-you'' scheduling applications.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.02-9723

Project Title:

INTELLIGENT AGENTS AND AGENT COMMUNICATION LANGUAGES FOR OPERATIONS

Technical Abstract:

NASA space mission operations utilize a large number of distributed computer systems performing a multitude of complex tasks. There exists a large number of legacy systems that contain extensive information and provide important processing capabilities. As new mission operations concepts such as MOCA, SuperMOCA, LoCoMOCA are developed it becomes even more important to be able to reuse these existing systems, databases and knowledge bases whenever possible. However, new systems architectures are based on the use of industry standards and open systems concepts. In many cases this makes it extremely difficult or impossible to utilize legacy systems. This proposal describes the use of intelligent agent technology and an intelligent agent communications language for solving these problems. We propose the utilization of a high performance general purpose intelligent agent architecture coupled with the Knowledge Query and Manipulation Language (KQML). The intelligent agent architecture is based on previous work we have done for both NASA/JPL and the Air Force Philips Laboratories. The KQML language was originally developed by ARPA as part of the Knowledge Sharing Effort. The focus of this research effort is on application of these two technologies to development of next generation mission control architectures.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The technology developed in this research effort will be useful in a number of commercial products. These include general purpose intelligent software agents, as well as special purpose intelligent interface agents. This technology will also be useful in a new class of middleware software for interfacing with legacy computer systems. The KQML software developed for this project can also be marketed as a commercial software product.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.02-9877

Project Title:

COST-EFFECTIVE INTERNET APPLICATION FOR GROUND CONTROL OF PAYLOADS

Technical Abstract:

The proposed innovation is development of a cost-effective Internet approach which supports remote operation of in-flight payloads from Principal Investigator (PI) ground sites. Partial shift of responsibility for control of scientific instruments to the investigator site will allow fewer crew and operations support personnel per mission with less need for payload training. Interactive payload operations will enhance PI experimentation, especially for long duration missions. The project objective is to evaluate the feasibility of distributed payload operations utilizing the Internet. Issues to be addressed are both organizational and technical. Organizational issues include distribution of authority and resources and how these may be varied based on mission phase and spacecraft mode. Technical issues include safety, security, time-criticality, and reliability. Phase I will select a NASA mission (e.g., Mission to Planet Earth, International Space Station Alpha), review procedures and systems, and identify viable payload types. A distributed architecture, operations concept, and payload message protocol will be designed. The design will be evaluated using the Optical Properties Monitor (OPM) experiment developed by AZ Technology for a 1997 Mir mission. The long-term benefit to NASA of new payload operations methods will be reduced support costs and more effective communications among PI's, mission personnel, and payloads. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

There is a potential market within NASA control centers and investigator sites for cost-effective Internet teleoperations products based on common standards and applicable to multiple missions, spacecraft, centers, and ground systems. Techniques developed for interfacing the Internet to NASA networks will be applied to Internet gateways to commercial technologies such as the Consumer Electronics Bus, an open standard for home automation, and the Manufacturing Message Specification, the ISO standard communications protocol for manufacturing. Integration of these networks and protocols promises substantial gains in productivity. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.03-3194

Project Title:

HOLOGRAPHIC DATA STROAGE SYSTEM WITH MASSIVELY PARALLELE ARCHITECTURE

Technical Abstract:

We propose to build and test a novel, compact, and robust holographic data storage system, utilizing monolithic architecture recently developed by Optitek, which has the capability for massively parallel readout of image based or page formatted digitally encoded information. Holographic data storage systems (HDSS) can provide large information capacity, high transfer rates, and short access times which are not available simultaneously with any other storage technology. The new architecture described here allows an additional 10-fold increase in parallelism compared with conventional HDSS architectures, thereby offering a unique solution to the problem of large data base storage and management. A major step was made recently in a benchtop demonstration of HDSS technology at Stanford University by storing, archiving, and retrieving the first digital data in a HDSS. Color images, sound, compressed video, and computer programs were stored, demonstrating that digital HDSS is feasible with very attractive performance chaaracteristics using currentlyavailable materials and components. The proposed Phase I program will, in addition to proving the feasibility of the new HDSS architecture, also lay the groundwork for development of software encoding techniques needed to exploit its unique features for image-based storage and the handling of large data bases.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Currently established storage technologies that rely on mechanical motion for access possess fundamental limitations which make them unable to respond to more demanding requirements of large databases. The holographic data storage system described here, having large capacity, access times less than milliseconds, and a multiple page or image oriented format, provides a unique capability for such applications as video servers, large data repositories, and air/space applications.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.03-5509

Project Title:

WAN DBMS SEARCH ENGINE INTERFACE TO SCIENTIFIC DATA FORMATS

Technical Abstract:

SARA proposes to develop a universal search engine for implementing a new, expanded capability for Wide Area Network (WAN) database management systems (DBMSs) which will enable comprehensive remote searches of popular scientific data formats (SDFs) such as netCDF and JPLs PDS, on both the data dictionary and data values. This extension will provide a seamless WAN DBMS interface to multidimensional data which use SDFs. SDFs, which include many of NASAs bulkiest data sets, are internally self describing. Thus, searching the data dictionary of SDFs is a key innovation - users ignorant of a librarys structure gain access to that structure, empowering them to judge a data products value. Marrying a WAN DBMS to SDFs is a second innovation. Allowing remote users to search SDFs on data element names, types, and values simplifies access to complex databases, empowering users to explore data intuitively, enhancing the data's value by increasing its usefulness to the scientific community and public at large. This proposed new capability addresses the NASAs needs for seamless access systems, information management across geographically distributed libraries, representation and manipulation of multi-dimensional data, and data retrieval based on content. It also will satisfy the same needs expressed by other organizations using SDFs.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The result of the proposed Phase I and II research will be a fully functional, flexible universal WAN DBMS Search Engine, that searches on both data dictionary and data values, which can be directly offered as a commercial product to industry, university, and government SDF users. Research computing environments which analyze natural or man made processes cannot rely on traditional off-the-shelf solutions to data management, because the processes to be modeled are ever-changing. Therefore, traditional static data dictionary approaches will not suffice. Furthermore, off-the-shelf DBMSs require exorbitant licensing fees, and typically require much maintenance. Also, they do not benefit immediately from the university and government sponsored improvements which a WAN based solution is likely to enjoy. The need, therefore, clearly exists for a flexible system which can manage model data, with the features of a DBMS, but neither burdens the scientist with implementation details nor restricts creativity with a small selection of data types.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

07.03-5810

Project Title:

A PROBABILITY NETWORK METHODOLOGY FOR DEVELOPING ANALYSIS TOOLS FOR SCIENCE MISSION DATA LIBRARIES

Technical Abstract:

Digital libraries of science mission data have improved tremendously in recent years. Hardware developments (affordable CD jukeboxes), together with software advances (the World-Wide Web), have made it possible for space scientists to browse and retrieve relevant raw science data and data products from their offices. At this point, a need exists for automated, trainable analysis tools to catalog, retrieve and combine raw data from multiple missions into useful information products. Our recent research suggests that it is possible to apply a Probability Network Analysis (PNA) methodology to develop future digital library cataloging and search tools with far greater efficiency and flexibility. Probability networks have been recently proposed as a general specification and prototyping tool for data analysis applications: we expect they will become for data analysis what data-flow graphs are for compiler design, or state-charts are for controllers. As one sign of their generality, we conjecture that tools such as AUTOCLASS and JARTOOL can be completely specified and reproduced using this methodology, with far less development time and expense. In this Phase I SBIR we will test the feasibility and generality of the PNA methodology using science data analysis problems from one or more NASA missions.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Statistical data analysis remains a small consulting industry, requiring the expensive time of highly-trained experts. If this effort is successful, the Phase II deliverable will be a software ``CASE'' tool which supports the PNA methodology, and can be used to allow domain experts, not statisticians, to rapidly develop data analysis tools for their organization. Such a tool reduces development costs while improving the effectiveness and fidelity of statistical models. The potential increases in model fidelity have untold benefits in product quality and operational safety. Data analysis tools developed with PNA will be implemented as extensions to existing database or data analysis environments (e.g., IDL/PV-WAVE, Khoros, IRAF, TicShell, FAME) ensuring ease of integration with existing software.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.01-4393

Project Title:

LARGE FORMAT CAMERA ON A CHIP

Technical Abstract:

It is proposed to develop a large format (> 1K x 1K) camera-on-a-chip for electronic still photography applications. The large format camera-on-a-chip will use the emerging JPL/NASA-developed active pixel sensor (APS) imaging technology to achieve a highly integrated image sensor. The camera-on-a-chip will consist of an APS imaging detector array, on-chip timing and control electronics, signal chain electronics, and analog to digital converter (ADC). The camera-on-a-chip acts like a digital chip in that all input and output to the chip is digital. The X-Y addressable nature of APS allows easy implementation of electronic panning, motion stabilization, and electronic zoom. Very high dynamic range for high contrast scenes is also easily obtainable. The camera system is greatly simplified by the camera-on-a-chip technology which results in a significant reduction in cost, mass, and volume. Such a hand held camera system will be highly beneficial to NASA as it will reduce the size of the system to that of an "instamatic" compact camera. In Phase I, technical feasibility of developing the large format camera-on-a-chip will be established and a design ready for fabrication will be completed. In Phase II, the large format camera-on-a-chip will be implemented and characterized, and a prototype camera demonstrated.

Potential Commercial Applications:

There is enormous commercial applications potential of the technology. Electronic imaging is projected to be the fastest growing area of consumer and commercial electronics over the next five years, according to the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association. The innovative large format camera-on-a-chip technology proposed in this effort will be applicable to a broad spectrum of electronic imaging products and applications, just as the CCD is ubiquitously used today. A few of the major applications include electronic still photography for the graphics arts, electronic motion picture cameras, home security, personal computer visual communications, and remote traffic monitoring.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.01-9717

Project Title:

CHARGE WELL PER PIXEL DIGITAL CONVERSION ON THE FOCAL PLANE

Technical Abstract:

The ability to exploit the full sensitivity capability of two-dimensional detector arrays is compromised by the offset variation, nonlinearity and broadband noise of existing analog sampling and multiplexing technologies. Amain Electronics proposes an innovative readout approach which uses an on focal plane multiplexed oversample analog to digital (MOSAD) conversion process to solve the noise floor, linearity and offset problems of the present analog approaches. In our approach an oversample analog to digital converter is placed at each pixel where it operates at the pixel data bandwidth. All nonlinearities and noise associated with reading out the pixel are eliminated. In principle, this approach can be used to replace analog multiplexing for a variety of sensors and has been shown to be implementable in charge well or CMOS switched capacitor technologies that are now in production. Investments in new or complex semiconductor processing is not required. The readout can be built in monolithic form in active pixel sensors (APS), CCD or CID type charge well sensors. Systems with larger array sizes and greater sensitivity will be practical and economical with an on focal plane digital conversion that eliminates all broadband analog mux noise. All NASA sensor missions can benefit from this improvement with very little investment.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed project will have potential for a wide range of Federal Government, commercial and consumer applications, including IR sensors for surveillance, tactical system guidance, remote video sensing, video and still camera products for consumer and commercial use, as well as new applications where extremely low cost and high sensitivity are needed, such as automobile rear view systems, manpack IR sensors, field scattered sensors. Still camera imaging and HDTV will use these larger low noise digital visible light arrays.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.02-1354

Project Title:

MINIATURIZED ENVIRONMENTAL SENSORS

Technical Abstract:

Existing and future space and planetary missions need instrument systems that are significantly smaller, lighter, and consume less power. One of the key technical hurdles that restrains the development of such instruments is the unavailability of miniaturized environmental sensors that are sensitive, selective, stable, rapidly equilibrating and robust. Nanomaterials Research Corporation (NRC) seeks to address this need and demonstrate and commercially develop novel sensors from proprietary materials. During Phase I, NRC will demonstrate the proof- of-concept; Phase II will understand, optimize and prepare prototype sensors; while Phase III will commercialize the breakthrough sensors.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Miniaturization of instruments is critical to NASA missions into space and the proposed program will help develop environmental sensors that can enable miniaturized instruments. Spin-off applications include pollution remediation industry, and intelligent processing to eliminate or reduce pollution at source.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-0400

Project Title:

GAINASSB AND INASSBP INFRARED DETECTORS

Technical Abstract:

AstroPower proposes to develop high performance, room temperature, mass- producible, low-cost infrared detectors and detector arrays using liquid-phase heteroepitaxy of lattice-matched GaInAsSb and InAsSbP on GaSb substrates. With proper composition these quaternary alloy systems can be prepared with band gaps adjustable in wavelength from 1.7 to 4.5 mm. The major advantage of using a quaternary system over binary and ternary compounds is the ability to vary the band gap while still providing lattice matched growth to the substrate material. Another expected advantage is that this detector structure will have good detectivity at room temperature while most commercially available detectors need cooling to liquid nitrogen temperatures. With proper device design both the cut-on and cut-off wavelengths can be varied over the range of the quaternary system. AstroPower has previous experience in the growth of these material systems. Liquid phase epitaxy has routinely provided quality III-V detectors and photovoltaic cells with the highest optical-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency, and has significant cost advantages over other forms of epitaxy. Feasibility of this approach will be demonstrated by working IR detetors by the end of the Phase I program. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

These photodetectors will be useful in space and terrestrial infrared imaging systems. Photodetectors operating in the mid-IR range have potential use in gas sensors since the basic absorption bands of water and many industrial gases belong in this range. The new sensor will have a variety of commercial applications in air pollution monitoring, industrial process control, and automobile emission monitoring. The 2-4 mm wavelength range is also of potential importance to future lightwave communication systems since novel fiber materials offer extremely low transmission losses in this region. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-0610

Project Title:

A MONOLITHIC, ACTIVE PIXEL INGAAS NEAR INFRARED FOCAL PLANE ARRAY

Technical Abstract:

SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION FORM 9.B - PROJECT SUMMARY Subtopic Last 4 digits Change Number of Firm's Letter Phone # PROPOSAL NUMBER 95-1 08.03 0610 _ (Inst. on Reverse Side) PROJECT TITLE "A Monolithic, Active Pixel InGaAs Near Infrared Focal Plane Array" TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS) We propose to develop a monolithic near-infrared (NIR) focal plane array (FPA) based on the InGaAsP alloy system. Major innovations include development of an active pixel architecture to improve the performance of lattice-mismatched InGaAs, sensitivity over the 1.0 - 2.5 m NIR wavelength band, and monolithic integration of the photodiodes, active pixel circuitry, pixel-selection switches, and self-scanning shift registers. These are highly ambitious goals and draw upon the progress of earlier NASA and DOD programs in which we demonstrated a hybrid FPA with an InGaAs photodiode array mated to a silicon CMOS readout multiplexer and, more recently, monolithically integrated InGaAs photodiodes with InP switching FETs in a 16x16 pixel direct detector injection FPA. In Phase I, we will fabricate and characterize InP FETs for analog performance, model and select an active pixel architecture, and design a monolithic device to be fabricated during Phase II. The Phase II device will be a 16x16 pixel FPA with monolithically integrated active pixels and readout switches, hybrid integrated to silicon CMOS shift registers. Professor Stephen Forrest of Princeton University's ATC/POEM will play an important role in this Program.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The near-infrared is an important wavelength band for imaging applications such as astronomical observations, spectroscopy, industrial thermal imaging, and remote sensing. All of these would benefit in performance, manufacturability, and cost reduction from the advances emerging from this Program. An NIR Camera with a price tag below $5,000 would be a distinct possibility.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-0867

Project Title:

ULTRAVIOLET ACOUSTO-OPTIC TUNABLE FILTER

Technical Abstract:

Electronically programmable imaging spectrometers suited to space environments are required for future plenary exploration missions. The system must meet the mission requirements under severe power, weight and other environmental constraints. A promising solution is to use the acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) as the wavelength tuning device. The AOTF offers the advantages of electronic tunability over a wide spectral range, large optical throughput, small size and weight, and low drive power. Present AOTF technology has been well developed for use in the visible and near-infrared. A number of prototype AOTF-based spectrometers have been developed and used for the collection of spectral imaging and polarization data. Extension of the operating wavelength into the ultraviolet has been hindered by the performance limitations that include low optical throughput, high acoustic frequency and power, and the required use of polarizers. A novel design concept is proposed that provides greater flexibility in the choice of material and designs. The Phase I project is a risk reduction effort to prove the feasibility of the new AOTF concept. Performance goals of the feasibility model include: tuning range: 200 - 400 nm, drive power: less than 1 watt, and a bandwidth of 0.5 to 0.05 nm.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Due to the unique features of electronic programmability, small size, and potentially low cost, the AOTF can be used in a variety of commercial applications. Some of these are (a) remote sensing for environmental and agricultural monitoring, and (b) spectroscopic microscope for medical research.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-1644

Project Title:

A PHOTON COUNTING MEGAPIXEL IMAGING DETECTOR FOR THE ULTRAVIOLET

Technical Abstract:

We propose to develop an imaging, high resolution, photon counting detector system with sensitivity in the ultraviolet from 50 to >3000. Many current and future NASA missions require such detectors, usually custom built and expensive. Our objective is to develop a versatile, high performance photon counting detector combining recent technical advances in all aspects of microchannel plate (MCP) detector development in a low cost, commercially viable package that can support a variety of applications. The detector concept consists of a set of MCP's whose output electron pulses are readout with a crossed delay line anode and associated high speed event encoding electronics. The delay line anode will allow high resolution photon event centroiding (<25 microns FWHM) at very high event rates (>100,000 cts/sec) and can be scaled to large formats (>40 mm) while maintaining good linearity and high temporal stability. Also the potential of solar blind opaque UV photocathodes (>2000), and non-outgassing delay line anodes for sealed-tube UV detectors with the above characteristics, could meet the requirements of many NASA missions while foregoing power and weight penalties of vacuum systems.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The main goal of this SBIR proposal is to develop a versatile, commercially viable high performance photon counting detector for a wide variety of applications. These devices are the detectors of choice whenever low light-level detection coupled with low read-out noise is required. At present the main market for UV photon counting array detectors is that of scientific research, specifically for space astrophysics, space physics or atmospheric remote sensing applications. In addition to space science applications, we envisage a potential commercial market in the field of high resolution real time imaging of biological samples, soft X-ray microscopy, protein crystallography, and high resolution UV spectroscopy of gas discharges. With extension into the regime >3000 applications in ground based astronomy such as speckle imaging and other fast varying phenomena can be addressed. The high resolution - high count rate capability coupled with large detection area are clear advantages for our proposed detector. This is also particularly suitable for the development of detection devices for advanced mass spectroscopic laboratory analysis.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-2820

Project Title:

OPTICAL LINKS FOR CRYOGENIC FOCAL PLANE ARRAY READOUT

Technical Abstract:

Visidyne proposes to demonstrate an innovative design for transporting and converting wide dynamic range, large bandwidth FPA signals into a digitized data stream by using a unique combination of an optical phase modulator, fiber optics, and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) tools. The proposal addresses NASA's stated interest in techniques for readout of cryogenic sensors by optical means. Link distance can be large, heat losses are expected to be minimal, and operating temperatures down to 5 K should ultimately be attain- able. The objective of the Phase I effort is to prove the feasibility of the concept by designing and building a breadboard device and making performance measurements to characterize its performance. A Bandwidth of 10 MHz with a signal-to-noise ratio of 104, and < 1 mW loading into the dewar is the anticipated result. Once fully developed, the designers of cryogenic infrared sensors will be able replace many of the metal wires which must penetrate the dewar in present systems with a pair of fused silica optical fibers, thus dramatically reducing the thermal loading. Space based infrared systems will consume less cryogen and therefore last longer and be cheaper to launch, a sizable benefit to NASA.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This technology may find application anywhere wide dynamic range, large bandwidth signals need to be transported in environments that are difficult for electrical signals carried over ohmic conductors, i.e. severe EMI, very high or low temperatures, corrosive or explosive atmospheres, etc. In addition to space-based cryogenic sensors for scientific, military, and commercial use, it will be valuable in difficult industrial environments, such as chemical processing.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-5540B

Project Title:

ULTRAVIOLET NARROWBAND FILTERS FOR SPACE BORNE OBSERVATIONAL SYSTEMS

Technical Abstract:

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will develop compact, low cost, sub-Angstrom bandwidth volume holographic filters with electric field tuning for space borne observational systems in the ultra-violet (UV) region. This program addresses a key requirement for narrow bandwidth, high throughput filters in the UV because of the difficulty of fabricating Fabry-Perot etalons and dielectric interference filters with sufficient spectral resolution and optical quality in this wavelength region. During this phase of research, the feasibility of fabricating high efficiency (50~80%), narrow bandwidth (0.1~1 Ansgtrom, FWHM) and large field-of-view (1~2 degrees) holographic filters using improved LiNbO3 crystals will be demonstrated in the near UV. Recording high efficiency grating filters at other UV wavelengths, including solar-blind UV, in processed LiNbO3 and LiTaO3 will also be investigated. This research program is expected to provide data on sub-Angstrom bandpass filters based on the novel volume holographic filter technology, and reveal the limits of currently available photorefractive materials in the UV region.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Anticipated commercial applications of this technology include UV narrowband filters for laser remote sensing, atmospheric monitoring, solar and stellar observation, free-space optical communications, high resolution spectroscopy, high density optical data storage, and biomedical diagnosis and imaging.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-6000

Project Title:

3-5 UM INTLAS DETECTOR ARRAYS WITH MINIMUM COOLING REQUIREMENTS

Technical Abstract:

Spire proposes to demonstrate a new III-V ternary material for high performance, medium wavelength infrared (MWIR 3 to 5 m) detector arrays which can operate under thermo-electric (TE) cooling. Spire proposes to fabricate InTlAs MWIR detectors as an alternative to HgCdTe for TE-cooled infrared focal plane applications. Theoretical calculations suggest that addition of only 5% Tl in InAs can increase the cut-off wavelength from 3.3 m to 4 m at approximately 195K. Spire has already demonstrated that InTlSb films can be grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and addition of Tl in InSb can reduce the bandgap to 8 m at 300K. For InTlAs, only a very small amount of Tl is required to shift the band edge of InAs to the required spectral response. In addition, InTlAs nearly lattice matches InAs or GaSb, and offers the potential to integrate detector array and read-out circuitry. InTlAs offers many potential advantages over HgCdTe; it has higher mechanical strength, higher quality substrates at lower substrate cost, and better compositional uniformity than HgCdTe. Phase I will establish growth conditions for InTlAs and demonstrate 4 m, photoconductive, IR detectors at 195K. In Phase II, we will fabricate photodiode arrays with Tl-base alloys to demonstrate their potential for MWIR focal plane detectors.

Potential Commercial Applications:

TE-cooled detector arrays based on InTlAs alloys will provide a high performance, yet low cost, replacement for HgCdTe infrared focal plane arrays. In addition to yielding a new class of IR detectors for space-based, industrial, biomedical, and military thermal imaging, this material system will be useful for LEDs or Lasers operating in the mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long- wavelength infrared (LWIR) regions.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-6000C

Project Title:

2 TO 3 MICRON INGAAS DETECTOR ARRAYS

Technical Abstract:

The 1.5 to 2.5 m spectral range is important for differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) measurements of various atmospheric gases. Indium gallium arsenide (InXGa1-XAs) is an ideal optoelectronic material for this spectral range. The InXGa1-XAs bandgap can be varied from 1.42 eV (0.87 m cutoff wavelength) to 0.36 eV (3.4 m) at the time of epitaxial material growth by changing indium composition in the InxGa1-xAs compound, so that the cells can be "tuned" to various emission spectra. Without special techniques, the lowest dark current (lowest noise) is achieved only at the 0.74 eV (1.7 m) In0.53Ga0.47As composition that is lattice-matched to the InP substrate wafer. However, Spire has sold thousands of high-performance, lattice-mismatched, 2.3 m InxGa1-xAs photovoltaic cells for use in thermophotovoltaic power conversion by using grading layer techniques to accommodate the lattice mismatch between the InXGa1-XAs and InP. Although these power converter cells have low dark currents, low series resistance (~0.05_) and quantum efficiencies of 90% at 2.3 m, photodiodes require lower doping levels to minimize capacitance and enhance the frequency response (speed). This program seeks to apply Spire_s very successful commercial InXGa1-XAs power converter technology to InGaAs photodiodes and arrays.

Potential Commercial Applications:

InGaAs photodiodes operating at 2 to 3 m will be useful as single element detectors for radiometric and heterodyne applications. Long linear arrays could be used for sensors in grating spectroscopy instruments, and two dimensional focal plane arrays would be useful for near IR imaging.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-6736

Project Title:

A PORTABLE MULTIBAND SPECTROMETER FROM UV TO FAR IR

Technical Abstract:

The proposed innovation addresses the tunable filter subtopic of the main topic. This will be done by extending the wavelength range of a miniature Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) using two different beamsplitter coatings in the interferometer and two detectors matched to the two coatings. The FTS itself is small, lightweight, and rugged enough for deployment on both ground and space platforms. This would result in a sensor for the UV to Far IR that would yield broad spectral coverage at medium spectral resolution. It could be built at very low cost compared to present air and spaceborne instruments. The proposed project will accomplish this by designing, building, and testing a man-portable ground based instrument. In Phase I, the sponsor's requirements will be transferred into system specifications. In Phase II, a prototype unit covering the UV to Far IR spectral regions will be designed, built, tested, and delivered to NASA. This can be used for sattelite and aircraft ground truth, geologic research, volcanic studies, and Earth resource assessment.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Airborne and ground truth remote sensing for Earth resource protection, prospecting, and management. Indoor air quality monitoring and pre-fire warning in large buildings, both office and industrial. Site monitoring of refineries, power stations, large manufacturing plants. Remote sensing in hostile environments. Surface analysis and process control.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-9090

Project Title:

GAN BASED HIGH TEMPERATURE ULTRAVIOLET PHOTODETECTORS

Technical Abstract:

There has been a strong demand for compact solid-state ultraviolet (UV) photodetectors for high temperature operations in both private sectors and government. The use of III-V nitrides for photodetector applications is expected to yield high responsivities with low dark currents over a wide range of temperature operation due to the wide band gap of the nitride alloys. The temperature and chemical stability of the nitrides, coupled with their high resistance to radiation damage, makes devices fabricated from them highly attractive for space and/or high temperature applications. In this proposal, we will investigate the feasibility of developing high responsivity, high temperature, solar blind UV photodetectors utilizing GaN and its alloys. The objective is to develop novel MOCVD processes for the growth of GaN and AlGaN, and investigate the critical aspects such as heterojunction and Shottky type photodetectors utilizing GaN/AlGaN heterostructures and refractory metal contacts. At the end of the Phase I program, we will demonstrate the feasibility of UV photodetector prototype for operation in extremes of temperature and radiation, as well as in space.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Success in this proposal will provide solar blind UV photodetectors for commercial and space applications: 1) detection of gasses in high temperature environments such as furnaces or reactors, in which Si based detectors are limited in this area due to their degradation at these high temperatures; 2) detection of emissions from flames in the presence of a hot background due to their low wavelength cutoff. This would allow for a flame ON/OFF system to be utilized for furnaces as a flame safety or control; 3) quantification of UV exposure to personnel.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-9717

Project Title:

CMOS ON-FOCAL-PLANE DIGITAL READOUT

Technical Abstract:

AMAIN Electronics has recently patented an entirely new focal-plane readout method which directly digitized the photo-response at each pixel within a monolithic or hybrid focal-plane. This delta-modulation approach is broadly applicable, and offers an opportunity to significantly advance sensor technology across the spectrum from visible to VLWIR, and in a very wide range of space, military, commercial, and even consumer applications. Under Phase I of this proposed SBIR program AMAIN will derive optimized architectures for two CMOS implementations of the technology, suitable for reading out arrays of HgCdTe photodiodes and extrinsic photoconductors respectively. Work will include preliminary integrated circuit design and detailed analysis of significant performance parameters, such as dynamic range, noise, and power dissipation. Direct digital readout eliminates need for separate analog processing, including wide dynamic range A/D conversion at video rates. In space and military sensors, elimination of the analog processor will generally achieve significant power, weight, and size reduction. The invention therefore supports two of the trends in space sensor development for the next centuryutilization of large two-dimensional focal-planes in staring sensors, and reduction of the complexity, power, size, weight, and ultimately the cost of such systems through the so-called "smallsat" of "lightsat" approach.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed project will have the potential for a wide range of commercial and consumer products involving remote electro-optical sensing, including (e.g.) video telephony, low light level and IR imaging for law-enforcement, security, and industrial controls applications, and digital video and still camera products for consumer and commercial use, as well as new applications where extremely low cost is a requirement, such as automobile rear view and collision avoidance systems.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.03-9932

Project Title:

DEVELOPMENT OF A RESONANT INFRARED PHOTOCONDUCTOR WITH UNIT QUANTUM EFFICIENCY

Technical Abstract:

This proposal is intended to explore the feasibility of an innovative concept for an infrared photoconductor with enhanced characteristics, such as unit quantum efficiency, high photoconductive gain, and very low noise-equivalent-power at selected frequencies. The idea is based on establishing a relatively high finesse absorption-cavity internal to the detector element and adjusting the various parameters of the detector to achieve improved performance. A theoretical analysis demonstrates this concept and provides the relevant design parameters. This approach offers many other advantages over conventional photoconductors as well as impurity-band-conduction approach. Among those are suitability for array format and better immunity against ionizing radiation. The proposed project is a pioneering effort and addresses many of the problems associated with the development of integrated infrared detector arrays. This effort is directly applicable to many of NASA's projects for both space and ground-based observatories, laboratory spectroscopy, and air-borne astronomy and fits well within the scope of the activities outlined in the subtopic.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed concept has a potential for a broad range of applications. Should the approach prove successful, it can be extended to a variety of infrared and far-infrared detectors and can be used in a number of different systems. This concept can easily be implemented on a large scale for fabrication of integrated detector arrays which is the focal point of the space-based observatories. The basic idea can be expended to cover more complex ideas such as frequency selective tunable detection or can conceivably used instead of a grating in an interferometer or a spectrograph.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.04-5300

Project Title:

CDZNTE POSITION-SENSITIVE X-RAY/GAMMA RAY DETECTORS

Technical Abstract:

Digirad proposes to develop a new class of solid-state detector arrays with microelectronics readout circuitry for two-dimensional imaging of x-ray and gamma ray fields in support of next-generation Earth and space science mission requirements. The approach uses cadmium zinc telluride (CZT), a new room temperature detector material first developed by Digirad. Recent results show that CZT detector arrays can exhibit high detection efficiencies and superior energy resolution from below 1 kev to above 600 kev. CZT detectors are robust and lightweight; and can be patterned in a variety of array structures, with pixel dimensions to well below 100 m. The innovation of producing CZT imagers suitable for space applications has not yet been accomplished, although at least three proposals accepted by NASA'S recent New Mission Concepts for Astrophysics program recommended their use. Thus CZT imager development responds directly to Section 8.04 of the SBIR solicitation, and particularly to the needs of NASA small missions initiatives. Phase I goals are to demonstrate the feasibility of achieving performance goals by analyzing the performance of specific array structures and studying their tolerances to the vibration, temperature variation and radiation conditions of launch and space environments.

Potential Commercial Applications:

CZT imager technology improvements developed in this project should directly benefit Digirad's new gamma camera for nuclear medicine and other imaging products under development by providing improved performance and reliability, and lower manufacturing costs.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.04-8300

Project Title:

IMPROVED ROOM TEMPERATURE HGI2 AND CDTE DETECTORS FOR ENERGIES FROM 1 KEV TO 1 MEV

Technical Abstract:

Current detectors for x-ray and gamma-ray measurements in the 1 keV to 1 MeV range are inadequate. New detectors with greatly improved resolution, efficiency, and room-temperature performance are needed. New approaches for vastly improved performance with CdTe, Cd1-xZnxTe and HgI2 are proposed. Specific innovations are introduced for detectors to be used in the x-ray, hard x-ray and gamma-ray spectral regions. Development leading to an "off-the- shelf" x-ray detector for XRF are proposed. The introduction of new structures such as drift structures are proposed in the hard x-ray and gamma region. Using this approach hole collection is eliminated and spectral shape will be vastly improved. Additionally, electronic noise reduction is possible due to specific proposed implementation of the devices. A further innovation proposed is a new type of scintillator detector based on small CsI(Tl) scintillation crystals (10 mm2 by up to 10mm thick) coupled with HgI2 photodetectors. Significant advantages in efficiency and performance over current CdTe and HgI2 detectors are possible. The research team at Xsirius are established leaders in this field and are uniquely able to offer detector developments using all of the proposed materials. The potential market for these new room temperature x-ray and gamma-ray detectors is over $1-billion.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This project will lead to a new generation of high-resolution, high-efficiency HgI2, CdTe, and CdZnTe detectors for 1 keV to 1 MeV x-rays and gamma rays. The potential markets for new room-temperature x-ray and gamma-ray detectors with the projected improvements in performance are in the billion dollar range including instrumentation for environmental, medical and space applications where they would replace existing detectors.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.05-2100B

Project Title:

INTEGRATED SUBMILLIMETER-WAVE RECEIVERS UTILIZING RESONANT TUNNEL DIODES

Technical Abstract:

We propose research leading to the development of an integrated sub millimeter wave downconvertor utilizing Resonant Tunnel Diodes(RTD's) as the local oscillator. RTD's have already been demonstrated at Superior Vacuum Systems Associates (SVTA). Phase I research will develop the MBE growth and processing to integrate these RTD's together with mixer diodes and passive devices. These RTD's are fabricated in the InAs/AlSb material system, similar devices have achieved operation at 712GHz*. The designs will be further optimized for the MBE growth technology and process monitoring at SVTA. Phase I design tasks will address the need for tuning, and frequency control. We will design a submillimeter wave downconvertors will incorporate an on-chip antenna for coupling to free space or to waveguide, to be tested under phase II. *"Oscillations up to 712 GHz in InAs /AlSb resonant tunneling diodes", E. R. Brown, J. R. Soderstrom, C. D Parker, L. J. Mahoney, K. M. Molvar, and T. C. McGill, Appl. Phys. Lett. 58 (20)pp. 2291-3, 20-May-1991

Potential Commercial Applications:

Near term applications include Radio Astronomy, and a component in Instruments for use in Solid State Physics, Chemical Spectroscopy, and very high speed electronics. Ultimately, millimeter wave integrated circuits may be used in communications systems, in the interconnect for massively parallel computers anti-terrorist surveillance and military surveillance.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.05-9557

Project Title:

TUNABLE LASER FOR GROUND-BASED & AIRBORNE SUBMILLIMETER RADIOMETERS

Technical Abstract:

The proposed program will perform R&D leading to a highly integrated, frequency selectable, far-infrared (FIR) laser local oscillator. This system will contain, within a single compact housing, a novel absolute-frequency-locked 50-100W CO2 pump laser and a compact FIR cell emitting approximately 100mW at 118.8m. The program is directed toward NASAs FIR local-oscillator laser needs for ground-based and airborne THz radiometers. The system will utilize an autonomous stabilization concept for the CO2 pump laser combined with a novel FIR cavity design (optimized for efficiency and long- term stability). The pioneering concept for a Stabilized Integrated FIR (SIFIR) laser will lead to an order of magnitude reduction in volume (~6"W x 6"H x 24"L) and weight (~35 lbs) over present technologies. These innovations are key to meeting the deployability requirements of ground- based/airborne THz radiometers discussed in subtopic 08.05. The SFIR laser will: optimize LO-demanding receivers (such as Schottky-diodes), permit pumping of arrays of receivers, and drive sideband-generators-based LOs for widely-tunable receivers. The key innovations will be demonstrated in Phase I and a complete system realized in Phase II.

Potential Commercial Applications:

FIR Lasers Transceivers have applications in inspecting/quality control of bubble sizes within plastic foams, voids within structural plastics, remote monitoring of molecules within the atmosphere, as non-contacting probing instrumentation in plasma experiments, and in scale modeling of lower frequency EM antenna radiation scatter from obscales (i.e. cellular communication in downtown locations), etc. The 50W plus CO2 laser developed under the program can also find commercial use in desktop manufacturing, product marking, engraving, etc. type applications. DEOS strategic plan calls for addressing these markets. Consequently, DEOS is interested in participating in a Phase III cost sharing follow-on to this program after successfully completing the Phase II directed toward satisfying NASA needs.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.05-9557A

Project Title:

EFFICIENT SUBMILLIMETER WAVE LOCAL OSCILLATOR LASER FOR SPACE- BASED RADIOMETERS

Technical Abstract:

The proposed program is directed at satisfying NASAs space mission local oscillator needs at 2.5 THz. The innovation will lead to an optically pump submillimeter wave (SMMW) laser, consuming less than 100 watts of prime power while emitting 10mW of frequency stable 2.5 THz output. The highly integrated, conductively cooled SMMW local oscillator to be realized in the Phase II program is expected to measure only 3H x 8W x 18L and weigh 20 lbs.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Market surveys indicate that approximately 50% of the commercial market for sealed-off waveguide CO2 lasers is at 10W and lower. These commercial lasers sell for about $225.00 per Watt with the power supply accounting for over 50% of the cost. The power supply cost scales linearly with power. The CO2 laser technology developed under the proposed high efficient, conductively cooled CO2 lasers for space based application can be utilized to develop a low cost CO2 laser for the low power commercial market. DEOS strategic plan calls for addressing these markets. Consequently DEOS's interest is in participating in a Phase III cost sharing follow-on to this program after successfully completing a Phase II program that satisfies NASA needs.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.06-9040

Project Title:

WIDE SPECTRUM HIGH PERFORMANCE SENSOR CALIBRATORS

Technical Abstract:

Filament, discharge, and cathode luminescent lamps, widely used at the present time as wide spectrum sources for sensor calibration in photo-spectrometry, are large, slow, unstable, high power consumers, and short-lived. Furthermore, they are thermally and mechanically dependent on the media. We propose developing highly stable, wide spectrum, solid state light emitting diodes (LEDs) based on silicon carbide that can be used as calibrators for any solar- related sensing system. The device action is based on "hot" electron electroluminescence that occurs in a reverse biased Schottky diode working in a pre-breakdown mode. The advantages of this process over the process occurring in thermally dependent injective LEDs with narrow band spectrums include an unusually wide spectrum of optical emission, radiation resistance, quantum yield to the current magnitude and temperature of the media, high temporal stability, high operation speed, mechanical strength, and miniature size. The proposed devices meet several military and space applications for sky-luminary and target simulations, are precise and accurate continuous and pulsed-unpolarized calibration sources of wide spectrum radiation, and improve the performance of sensing systems and signal acquisition. SI Diamond Technology has the necessary equipment and expertise for the successful development and fabrication of these advanced devices.

Potential Commercial Applications:

will include universal precise high stability optical sources for laboratory, field, and on-orbit calibration of various sensors and sensing systems, spectrophotometers, solar and sky-luminary radiation simulation, and point source imitators. Developed solid state wide spectrum LEDs will replace filament and discharge lamps from a great number of commercial applications in the fields of space exploration, military, geophysics, meteorology, and astronomy.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.07-1726

Project Title:

MULTI-BY-PASS CONCENTRIC PULSE TUBE COOLER

Technical Abstract:

We propose to analyze and manufacture a 60K, 1W, multi-by- pass pulse tube cooler with a novel regenerator design for space applications. The pulse tube is to be constructed in a concentric configuration. The regenerator consists of thin stainless steel foil wound spirally around the pulse tube as a jellyroll. It is spliced into short sections, distributed along the length of the pulse tube, with gaps separating the adjacent sections. The spacing between the windings of each foil is uniform. This geometry is similar to that of a parallel-plate regenerator, which has the best theoretical performance compared to other regenerator geometries. By splicing the regenerator both the axial thermal conduction and flow concentration (the two potential drawbacks of this geometry) are reduced. In the gaps between the sections by- passes can be introduced from the regenerator to the pulse tube allowing for optimization of the cooler efficiency. Since pulse tube coolers are inherently more reliable than stirling coolers (no moving part at the cold end) the proposed cooler can be employed in NASA missions baselined to use stirling coolers.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Pulse tube coolers can be employed in a wide variety of commercial applications from civilian to military some of which are listed below: 1. Cryopumping in semiconductor industry. 2. Cooling of Hi-Tc superconductors for communication. 3. Cooling of infrared sensors used in environmental studies and night vision. 4. Storing of biological specimens. 5. Cooling of superconducting magnets for MRI medical systems. 6. Cooling of high speed computers.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.07-3800

Project Title:

LOW WEIGHT, HIGH PERFORMANCE CRYOGENIC HEAT EXCHANGER

Technical Abstract:

Spaceborne surveillance satellites require cryogenic cooling of infrared sensors. Turbomachinery- based reverse-Brayton cryocooling is an ideal candidate to provide this cooling because of its high reliability, long life, and negligible vibration. To operate within available power constraints, reverse- Brayton coolers need heat exchangers with effectiveness greater than 99%. Creare has developed such a heat exchanger and integrated it into a successful cryocooler system. We propose an innovative heat exchanger concept that has the potential to meet the same performance requirements while reducing weight of this component by a factor of 3 or more. The new heat exchanger is fabricated from silicon wafers using silicon micromachining technology. This approach has several key advantages: (1) it is a simple extension of proven heat exchanger technology; (2) the low density of silicon results in a substantial weight reduction; and (3) the required micromachining methods have already been well developed by the semiconductor industry, promising to significantly reduce the cost of fabrication. In Phase I, we will demonstrate the feasibility of the key manufacturing steps of the silicon-based heat exchanger. In Phase II, we will build a full-scale heat exchanger optimized for a suitable application of reverse-Brayton cryocooling.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed heat exchanger will reduce the cost and lower the weight of reverse-Brayton cryocoolers. Potential applications exist for earth-bound as well as spaceborne needs for cryogenic cooling. These include communication satellites, cryopumping, magnetic resonance imaging systems, cryosurgery, cryocooled computer systems, and small-scale superconducting energy storage, and ultra-high speed optoelectronic communication.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.07-3800B

Project Title:

DIAMOND COATING FOR LONG-LIFE MECHANICAL INTERFACES

Technical Abstract:

Long-life, ultra-reliable cryogenic refrigerator systems for space-borne and earth-bound applications require extended-life components. For example, all space-worthy cryogenic refrigerator systems contain sliding, metal-to-metal surfaces with very close tolerances that serve dual purposes: sealing and friction reduction. Current methods for protecting these surfaces cannot guarantee the required 5 to 15 year operational lifetime. We propose to develop a diamond deposition process that can be used to increase the wear resistance and thermal conductivity of bearings and bushings used in long-life cryocoolers. The deposition process is based on a two-step procedure: application of a dense, oriented nucleation layer using plasma-enhanced physical vapor deposition and combustion-based diamond film growth. The proposed process is unique in that it offers the capability to diamond coat internal and external rubbing surfaces of metallic bearings and bushings, thereby extending their operational lifetime. During Phase I, we will build proof-of-concept hardware by adapting our in-house sputtering facility and we will demonstrate diamond coating for metallic surfaces. In Phase II, we will design and build hardware to implement the diamond coating process for complex geometry parts and optimize the process parameters to achieve a commercially viable diamond deposition procedure.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed two-step diamond deposition process can be used in wide ranging applications. Diamond thin films are characterized by high thermal conductivity and tremendous hardness. These properties make diamond coatings attractive for thermal control applications and as mechanical surface treatments.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.07-7800

Project Title:

CRYOGENIC PERMANENT MAGNET RELIEF VALVE

Technical Abstract:

The Permanent Magnet Relief Valve (PMRV) is ideally suited for overpressurization relief of upstream volumes and can also be tailored for in-line installations. The inclusion of a permanent magnet provides a negative spring rate which forces the relief valve to operate in a "snap" or binary mode; open or closed. Because there are no springs in the valve, contamination generation is significantly reduced, sensitivity to vibration is essentially eliminated, and the envelope is substantially reduced. In a conventional spring actuated relief valve, the spring stores and returns energy to the moving mass resulting in "chatter". The negative spring rate of the permanent magnet yields a force imbalance at all times and therefore does not experience the storage/release phenomenon. With regard to the present application, the PMRV envelope can also be considerably smaller because of the high energy output of the small rare-earth magnet and its ability to seal at cryogenic temperatures is excellent because of the magnetic force imbalance in the seated position. A teflon seat insert along with the substantial magnetic force imbalance acheives adequate seat stress at the leakage pressure. In addition, the PMRV has no sliding seals and a minimal part count which reduces the manufacturing cost.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The commercial applications of this valve include scientific satellites, and smallsats, where compact size and low weight are extremely beneficial on cryogenic cooling systems. Additionally, simplification, miniaturization, increased performance, reliability and low weight represent significant benefits over existing cryogenic relief valve technology.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.08-0146

Project Title:

LARGE AREA APD'S WITH HIGH QUANTUM EFFICIENCY AT 1.06 MICRONS

Technical Abstract:

Advanced Photonix manufactures the largest avalanche photodiodes (> 200 mm2) available in production quantities. Operating gain is 200, with the lowest noise per unit area of any silicon APD. Prototype monolithic 2D arrays have been fabricated from these large devices. However, the junction is located relatively close to the optical surface, and infrared photons are converted in the deeper N-type region where the carriers experience no or little gain. Although these Large Area APDs (LAAPDs) collect more light and are more sensitive from 300 to 800 nm than other APDs, quantum efficiency at 1.06 mm is only 5%. Advanced Photonix proposes an innovative LAAPD design to create a deeper junction and longer drift region. The QE is expected to approach 20%, with response times of about 1 ns, without sacrificing the high gain or low noise presently achieved. This improved QE at longer wavelengths is critical to advanced lidar systems requiring better detectivity at 1.06 microns, such as in airborne or space-based mapping, ranging and altimetry applications. LAAPD arrays fabricated with this "infrared" design will achieve higher QE and faster speed, and still offer imaging capability, high dynamic range, no dead time, ruggedness, and magnetic field immunity.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Exciting dual-use applications now emerging that employ infrared sources are also expected to benefit from the innovation. These include pollution monitoring, meteorological lidar, and atmospheric chemical analysis. And because the proposed design increases infrared response while preserving ultraviolet and visible sensitivity, the new LAAPD is expected to attract commercial applications that require broadband, multiple wavelength detection, such as fluorescent and absorption spectroscopy, and chemical analysis instrumentation.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.08-1112

Project Title:

INTEGRATED PULSE CHARACTERIZATION MODULE (Q-DOT RESEARCH PROPOSAL 1471)

Technical Abstract:

Q-DOT proposes to develop a monolithic, charge-mode, pulse characterization module with a high-speed data acquisition system and on-chip pulse timing circuitry suitable for measuring the time interval of lidar signals. With this module signals may be timed from low airborne altitude to synchronous orbit altitudes. The data acquisition system will acquire samples of data to 8-bit resolution at 250 megasamples/second (Ms/s). The data acquisition system, in conjunction with a trigger/timing system, will be capable of resolving pulse timing to better than 0.25 nanosecond. Higher precision and higher sampling rates are feasible for more stringent applications. Charge-mode circuitry inherently requires dramatically less (e.g., 10x to 100x) power and chip area than conventional CMOS circuitry. Yet cost remains low because it is built with a conventional silicon process. Q-DOT has been building unique charge-mode circuitry for 18 years. During Phase I, Q-DOT will develop the pulse timing and digitization design and simulation which meets or exceeds all requirements. A complete prototype integrated pulse characterization module will be built during Phase II leading to flight recorders in Phase III.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The pulse timing and digitization module will serve commercial single-shot time interval measurement applications, radar, lidar, and range determination, for which counter/timers are not suitable, due to the single- shot nature of the signals, and at a fraction of the cost of digitizing oscilloscopes.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.08-1667A

Project Title:

AVALANCHE PHOTODIODE ARRAY MULTI-CHANNEL DETECTION FOR ALTIMETRY LIDAR

Technical Abstract:

OCA proposes to develop the electronics design to support an existing two dimensional avalanche photodiode (APD) array suitable for a multi-channel imaging and ranging Lidar system. Teaming with OCA, EG&G Optoelectronics Canada will act as sensor consultant for their 6 by 8 pixel APD array which they designed and fabricated for the recently declassified Coronet Prince program. OCA proposes to develop an electronics system that will read out all 48 sensors, preserving the individual time relationships of the laser return to each APD pixel. The resulting data provides a three dimensional image of the target which has very desireable application to lidar altimetry. The preliminary design of the sensor signal processing, range measurement, and data acquisition and control system electronics is the subject of this Phase I proposal. Highlights of the Phase I effort include radiometric analysis based upon a typical altimetry optics design, preparation of a Sensor System Requirements Specification, preliminary designs of a compact analog signal processing front end, individual ranging electronics, and a design for the data acquisition and control of the multi-channel receiver. Schematics, parts lists, Spice analyses, and preliminary mechanical layouts will be provided, along with a plan for fabricating a phase II prototype and concept demonstration.

Potential Commercial Applications:

OCA has organized a group of private industries who are now working with the US Environmental Protection Agency, Cal EPA, NIST and other interested parties in a concerted effort to commercialize lidars for remote environmental monitoring of multi-stack industrial emissions. OCA has recently been awarded a Technology Reinvestment Program contract sponsored by DoT to develop a dual use environmental lidar for these applications. OCA anticipates that our lidar research and development programs such as this may eventually result in business opportunities that exceed tens of millions of dollars in annual sales. Both private industries and private "watchdog" agencies will have interest in such remote sensing applications.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.09-0092

Project Title:

CRYSTAL GROWTH OF CESIUM LITHIUM BORATE FOR GENERATION OF TUNABLE ULTRAVIOLET WAVELENGTHS

Technical Abstract:

This project is intended to study the viability of growing single crystals of cesium lithium borate for nonlinear laser frequency conversion into the UV region for applications such as ozone DIAL. As with any new nonlinear material, the key qualities sought are high damage threshold, large nonlinear coefficients, good trans-parency in the region of interest, and better crystal growth char-acteristics than current commercially available materials. This new material, cesium lithium borate, exhibits such properties, making it a potentially better frequency converter into the ultraviolet than other well-known borates, such as LBO and BBO. Recent reports from university researchers in the US and Japan indicate that large pieces of high quality material can be readily grown from either stoichiometric of self-fluxing melts when proper thermal gradients are established. Important objectives for this proposed project include the modification of a production Czochralski furnace to establish such a gradient, development of seeding and growth techniques to yield high-quality, large-size single crystals, the design of new coating techniques for this material, and measurement of UV conversion efficiencies using fabricated and coated slabs. The anticipated result of this research will be the availability of consistently high optical quality, economically-priced pieces of a new nonlinear material with superior characteristics.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The development of a process for the growth of high quality cesium lithium borate will result in the intro-duction of a new nonlinear material into the commercial, industrial, aerospace and military laser markets. This material can easily be phase-matched and frequency converted below 200 nm into the ultraviolet. With the prevalence of visible and near-infrared laser systems currently in the market, many laser manufacturers will show a genuine interest in a crystal that will allow them to access the commercially promising ultraviolet region of the spectrum.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.09-1896

Project Title:

A HIGH SPECTRAL PURITY REGENERATIVE LIFSAF AMPLIFIER FOR WATER VAPOR LIDAR

Technical Abstract:

Remote measurements of atmospheric water vapor mixing ratio addresses one of the important science goals of NASA. The differential absorption lidar (DIAL) operating in the 940nm water absorption band is the preferred method for this. We propose to develop and demonstrate a high energy, tunable (780-1000nm), Cr:LiSAF laser source capable of 200 mJ pulses at 10 Hz for water vapor DIAL. The key to the laser is a regenerative LiSAF amplifier that will produce spectrally pure and narrow linewidth pulses. It will be seeded with a unique broadly tunable, single longitudinal mode, diode-pumped Cr:LiSAF laser with narrowband ~0.085pm (10-3 cm-1), stable and spectrally pure (>99%) output that is under development at SESI. The efficiently flashlamp pumped Cr:LiSAF regenerative amplifier will be seeded by low energy pulses ( 1 J) to provide 50mJ at 940 nm with excellent spectral fidelity. An additional two pass flashlamp pumped LiSAF amplifier will provide a further amplification of four. In phase I, a flashlamp pumped regenerative amplifier will be built and seeded with pulses from our narrowband diode-pumped laser to demonstrate narrow linewidth operation. In phase II, the high energy high spectral purity laser unit will be fabricated and tested.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Some of the anticipated commercial applications are: differential absorption and other lidars for meteorological and environmental applications, medical applications, hydrocarbon detection and petroleum exploration. Other major applications are the amplification of ultra-short pulses, and tunable and broad band amplifiers for communications and optical fiber networks. The tunable narrow band laser also finds use in high resolution spectroscopy, and chemistry.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.09-7671

Project Title:

TUNABLE SOLID-STATE UV FREQUENCY CONVERTER FOR OZONE DIAL INSTRUMENTATION

Technical Abstract:

This program will develop all solid-state tunable UV laser sources for use in remote sensing of atmospheric ozone. The sources developed will be based on nonlinear optical frequency conversion of the output of a Nd:YAG solid-state laser with output wavelength near 1.06 m. Efficient, non-linear frequency conversion techniques including optical parametric conversion, second harmonic conversion and frequency mixing will be used to generate laser output tunable between approximately 290 nm and 320 nm. The proposed frequency converter will replace liquid-phase dye lasers currently in use for atmospheric ozone DIAL measurements. The proposed all solid-state laser system provides significant advantage over the laser presently in use. These advantages include significantly increased reliability, reduced maintenance, reduced size and weight, and increased efficiency. All of these improvements will enable the resulting lidar sensors to be located on platforms including spacecraft and UAVs where previously this has not been practical. This extended capability will enhance NASAs ability to perform critical remote sensing missions. The tunable laser sources developed will be capable of being scaled to output energies greater than 100 mJ/pulse and repetition rates greater than 30 pps, at conversion efficiencies of > 15%.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Commercial remote sensing systems including UAV and space-based sensors, autonomous pollution monitoring stations, biological agent standoff detection systems,photolithographic sources and medical laser systems.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.09-7744

Project Title:

VERSATILE TUNABLE, SINGLE FREQUENCY LASER FOR NEAR INFRARED LIDAR APPLICATIONS

Technical Abstract:

NASA has identified a need for efficient, tunable, narrow linewidth lasers for lidar applications - both continuous wave devices for injection seeding and microjoule per pulse, high repetition rate sources for eye-safe lidar. We propose an innovative, diode pumped Cr:LiSrAlF6 ring laser capable of both modes of operation, in which either continuous wave (CW) or Q-switched single frequency output is enforced via a single acousto-optic modulator. Based on our previous experience with applying this technique to Nd:YAG and with diode pumped modelocked Cr:LiSAF lasers, we anticipate single frequency CW output powers > 150mW, and Q-switched pulse energies of tens of microjoules at >7kHz repetition rate. The wide tuning range of Cr:LiSAF6 from ~750 to ~940nm will also access almost the entire wavelength band of interest to NASA for water vapor/temperature profile measurements.

Potential Commercial Applications:

At the end of Phase I, we aim to have a fully productized, 'turn-key' tunable single frequency laser, capable of either CW or Q-switched operation. This laser will be capable of continuous,programmable scans. Commercially, this laser will face direct competition from both argon-pumped Ti:Sapphire single frequency systems and external cavity tunable diode lasers. However, while Ti:S systems offer ~1W of output power, they require highly inefficient argon pump lasers with gluttonous utilities consumption, making operation in remote locations difficult. External cavity diode devices are compact and efficient, but tunability is limited to <30nm per diode emitter across ~0.7 - 1m and output powers are low (typically <30mW). Given the superior blend of features of the highly efficient, compact, widely tunable Cr:LiSAF laser, we expect to capture a significant share of the tunable, single frequency market. This laser will attract customers from the fields of laser spectroscopy, process monitoring and control, mobile remote sensing and holography.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.09-8442

Project Title:

A HIGH SPEED, HIGH QUANTUM EFFICIENTY, INTEGRATED, APD PHOTON COUNTING DETECTOR

Technical Abstract:

Recent advances in the integration of bare silicon die into Multi-Chip Modules (MCM), combined with advanced cooling methods, and innovative circuit design, will be utilized for the development and construction of a high speed (>20MHz), high quantum efficiency (>30%), dynamically linear, low noise, photon counting detector. The results will be achieved by integrating off-the-shelf high performance avalanche photo-diode (APD) silicon die with innovative support circuitry die, to produce a miniaturized high performance APD detector. Special attention will be paid to minimizing thermal resistance by utilizing diamond film substrates and Peltier cooling devices. The Phase I design and development will be achieved in several stages. First, the best support circuit design to increase the photon count rate, reduce dead-time, and increase the quantum efficiency of a state-of-the-art APD in the Geiger counting configuration will be selected. Second, an investigation will be made into facilities to custom manufacture MCMs for the circuit integration and manufacture. The final report will include a final circuit design, a preliminary MCM design, and recommendations for facilities to be used for MCM development and manufacture.

Potential Commercial Applications:

High performance photon counting applications such as: optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR), optical interferometry, absorption and emission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, densitometry, optical communications, imaging, scintillation counting, Lidar receivers, laser metrology, laser velocimeters, laser altimeters, optical pulse timing, wave-front detection, biological measurements, low-level luminescence measurements, etc.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.10-0092B

Project Title:

CRYSTAL GROWTH FO TM AND HO DOPED SCHEELITE FLUORIDES FOR 2 UM WIND LIDAR APPLICATIONS

Technical Abstract:

Lightning Optical Corporation proposes to develop the materials refinement and crystal growth of Tm and Ho doped scheelite fluoride crystals for diode-pumped 2 m solid state laser systems. After months of refinement and optimization of the commercial growth of Nd:LiYF4 at Lightning Optical, it is our desire to test the versatility of our proprietary growth techniques with other fluoride-based laser host materials. A systematic optimization of the parameters utilized in the Czochralski growth of Tm and Ho doped scheelite isomorphs, such as LiLuF4 and LiGdF4, is proposed here in hopes of leading to 2 m laser materials that have superior performance to those materials currently being used. Preliminary laser results indicate that this is indeed the case. We are proposing to grow and spectroscopically evaluate eight boules with preselected Tm and Ho dopant densities that should produce efficient 2 m laser operation. Once these materials become commercially available, alternative solid state laser sources operating in the 2m region can be marketed. Since preliminary data supports claims that fluoride hosts, such as LiLuF4, can be more efficient than those currently being packaged for various NASA programs (LiYF4), we believe that a steady, reliable source of these materials will improve NASA's 2 m wind lidar technologies.

Potential Commercial Applications:

If the goals of this research are achieved, LiYF4 isomorph materials doped with Tm and Ho will be commercially available for the first time for various 2 m laser systems. These 2m lasers have applications in military countermeasures, minimally invasive surgical techniques, and as pump sources for nonlinear materials, such as OPO's. Wind shear lidar and differential absorption lidar applications exist for both commercial products and for researchers at NASA.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.10-2000

Project Title:

50 MJ-200 HZ 2 MICRON LIDAR TRANSMITTER USING NOVEL COOLING METHODS FOR IMPROVED SYSTEM EFFICIENCY

Technical Abstract:

Innovative and efficient closed-cycle cooling techniques will be implemented in the design of a diode-pumped 50 mJ-200 Hz 2 micron lidar transmitter with greater than 2% overall prime power efficiency. Cooling the laser medium will allow a given laser pulse energy to be achieved with reduced pump power. As a consequence, the required number of pump diodes is reduced, leading to a more compact and less massive laser design. The prime power budget is also reduced provided heat removal is performed efficiently. Coherent Technologies, Inc. (CTI) has recently conceptualized novel approaches to the development of efficient 2 micron lasers, and proposes to extend these concepts to develop a 10 W average power laser while improving the overall system efficiency by incorporating novel refrigerant mechanisms in the laser pump module design. Key features of the design are described in the proposal. During Phase I, CTI will make detailed model calculations of laser performance and cooling system efficiency at various operating temperatures, in order to establish a baseline laser design for the development of an efficient lidar transmitter during Phase II. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

Efficient high power lasers will find uses as transmitters in lidar systems and as free-standing units. Lidar applications (ground-based and airborne wind mapping, remote hard target imaging, etc.) exist for reduced eye hazard, high energy, high efficiency laser sources. The proposed laser will also be well suited for medical and industrial applications. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.10-6000

Project Title:

IMPROVED, NEAR-INFRARED SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS BASED ON INDIUM THALLIUM PHOSPHIDE

Technical Abstract:

Spire proposes an innovative approach to semiconductor diode laser operation in the increasingly important near- to mid-infrared wavelength range. Using indium thallium phosphide (InTlP) in conjunction with well-developed InGaAsP-on-InP substrates, high performance lasers capable of room or near-room temperature operation in the 1.5 to 3.5 m range (and beyond) should result. These lasers will provide enabling technology eventually leading to high performance lidar systems needed by NASA. The objective of Phase I will be to determine whether InTlP has properties suitable for this important application. InTlP will be grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), a process with which Spire has had extensive experience. Electrical and optical properties of the materials will be characterized, simple light- emitting diodes (LEDs) will be fabricated, and preliminary laser structures will be designed. Phase II will be directed toward fabrication, characterization, and optimization of laser structures for a multitude of critical applications. Basic information necessary to develop and, ultimately, to produce high-performance, tunable, single-mode, mid-infrared lasers by MOCVD will be available. Lasers operating in the 1.8 to 3.5 m region are important to NASA as single-frequency sources in advanced lidar systems.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Highly reliable, low cost diode lasers, capable of room temperature operation in the important 1.5 to 5 m wavelength range, will impact many technological areas. These areas include environmental pollution monitoring, wind shear sensing, manufacturing process control, communications, military countermeasures, and infrared molecular spectroscopy.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.10-9095

Project Title:

LOW COST LIGHTWEIGHT OPTICS FOR LIDAR

Technical Abstract:

An innovative r-theta flying spot scanner incorporating diffractive optics designed with odd-order phase polynomials is proposed for conically scanned Lidar systems. (Since we investigated these polynomials under a previous NASA SBIR, this device is a spinoff of previous effort.) We also propose to develop designs for innovative off-axis unobscured hybrid catadioptric lens systems using only low cost spherical surface elements corrected with nonsymmetric diffractive optical elements etched on the curved surfaces. Objectives are to increase scan efficiency, reduce cost and weight, and increase performance of Lidar systems. These devices are proposed under subtopic 08.10 to meet the need for "low mass, compact optics for deflecting the polarized laser beam." These designs provide simple solutions to "lag-angle compensation optics technology." It also has application to subtopic 08.08 for "large aperture lidar receivers...including diffractive optical elements," and operation at "multiplexed wavelengths." These designs anticipate emerging developments in diffractive optic fabrication technologies and thus provide NASA with state-of-the-art solutions for next-generation Lidar systems.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Commercial applications for the scanner device include display devices, and ophthalmological instrumentation. In addition to direct benefits to NASA, lightweight, low cost Lidar systems have have application in airport safety, environmental monitoring, robot assisted manufacturing, and law enforcement.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-0204

Project Title:

SILICON CARBIDE, LARGE APERTURE, PHASE ARRAY MIRROR TECHNOLOGY

Technical Abstract:

Large aperture, actively controllable optical mirrors have numerous space-based and ground-based applications: beam control for directed energy systems and high resolution atmospheric measurements. One application is for a phased array mirror, extendible large aperture (PAMELA) system for spatial interferometry. SSG proposes an innovative SiC, large aperture, phased array mirror technology with three enabling technologies: (1) ultra-lightweight and thermally stable SiC for mirrors; (2) continuous fiber reinforced composite (CRFC) SiC for telescope structural assembly; and (3) high-precision, optical fringe counting encoders as the mirror read-out mechanism. The proposed concept offers several advantages, including significantly decreased launch costs and power requirements; superior thermal stability which reduces optical effects from earth albedo and emissions; and low material and fabrication costs. Three milestones required are (1) cryogenic stability of an inexpensive pressure cast SiC; (2) dimensional verification of CFRC SiC structures; and (3) operation at temperature of an optical fringe counting encoder. SSG has shown preliminary feasibility in each of these areas. The objective of the proposed effort is to integrate these technologies in a demo of a large aperture, controlled system. The Phase I effort will trade-off material options; define producibility and cost; develop a conceptual design of the concept; and demonstrate the cryogenic stability of a pressure cast SiC mirror substrate and CFRC structure.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed ultra-lightweight segmented mirror assembly has many NASA and DoD applications, including atmospheric turbulence correction and high resolution astronomy. The key technologies, microchip optical fringe counting encoder, ultra-lightweight CFRC SiC and pressure cast SiC have numerous commercial applications. The microchip encoder has applications in computer hard drives. CFRC SiC has applications in ultra-lightweight aircraft and spacecraft structures. Pressure cast SiC offers applications in high-temperature engine components, fuel nozzles and the optics industry.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-0204B

Project Title:

ADVANCED, WIDE FIELD-OF-REGARD, POINTING/STABILIZATION MIRROR WITH ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT, AFOCAL TELESCOPE FOR SPACE-BASED INTERFEROMETRY

Technical Abstract:

System characteristics on which the validity of a space-based interferometer concept rely include: microradian pointing control over wide angular coverage; thermal stability to diffraction-limited near-IR levels in the presence of severe gradients; low optics/ structures mass at 0.3-0.5 m sizes; and vibration control. The core innovation proposed incudes the following elements: a pointing/ stabilization mirror which provides sub-microradian control and near hemispherical field of regard; ultra-lightweight and thermally stable silicon carbide (SiC) optics; continuous fiber reinforced ceramic (CFRC) SiC for telescope structures; and the combination of all these technologies to provide a viable, athermalized, low mass, power efficient space-based interferometer concept. the high-precision pointing/stabilization mirror concept proposed is based on the development of a "smart bearing" technology, which measures runout and provides servo control correction. The smart bearing represents a low-cost replacement for traditional magnetic bearing systems, enabling the mirror to provide ultra-precise stabilization control and wide field-of-regard. the concept utilizes a sub-nanometer resolution, optical encoder-on-a-chip; ultra-precise low cost smart bearing technology; and a fully developed space-based interferometer concept. During Phase I, a 40-cm scanner/28-cm afocal telescope concept will be developed, and the feasibility of the "smart bearing" established via a hardware demonstration. Under Phase II activity, the chip encoder will be developed and an integrated demo of the innovative lightweight, wide FOR, sub-microradian pointing/afocal subsystem will be performed.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The smart bearing concept developed here is scalable to a wide range of NASA, DoD, DoE, and commercial applications including wide FOR pointing mirror and gimbaled sensor applications; miniature machine components; microlithography stages; CNC machine stages; robotic machines; and automotive, computer, and medical products. The microchip optical encoder also has a huge commercial market including laser disks, computer drives, and storage device technologies.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-0236

Project Title:

FINE GRID FABRICATION FOR X-RAY COLLIMATORS

Technical Abstract:

Space exploration and observation require the quantification of radiation of different wavelengths. The observation of celestial bodies emitting in the X-ray and gamma-ray wavelengths puts stringent requirements on both the design and materials of construction of the imaging instruments. In order to effect this imaging with high angular resolution, it is necessary to fabricate fine collimating grids to an extraordinary degree of precision using high-Z materials. To date, methods of fabrication to meet slit width requirements between 15 and 50 m, with tolerances on the order of 1.0 m, have not been very successful. Although Ultramet has demonstrated the feasibility of filling a "negative mold" of these dimensions with tungsten by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), to date it has not been possible to fabricate the negative mold substrate itself to the required dimensional precision. In this Phase I project, Ultramet proposes to fabricate subscale negative collimating grids (1.0" square) using state-of-the- art jet-plotting and plasma-assisted preferential etching technologies, then backfill the resulting negatives with tungsten or tungsten/rhenium (W/Re) alloys, using CVD parameters and methods developed in previous work. Subsequent selective etching of the negative grid substrates will result in free-standing tungsten or W/Re collimator grid structures. It is expected that the proposed techniques will be able to meet the required dimensional tolerances. Ultramet will team with Sanders Inc. (Wilton, NH) and SRI International (Menlo Park, CA) for the microfabrication of the negative grids.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The development of a technology capable of producing fine collimating grids with superior dimensional tolerances would find extensive use in the medical and electronics industries, a market projected to reach over $100 million by the end of the decade.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-0501

Project Title:

A COMPACT WAVEFRONT DIVIDING ROD-INTERFEROMETER FOR FT-IR SPECTROSCOPY FROM 1 TO 1000 MICRONS

Technical Abstract:

It is proposed to test the feasibility of a novel Fourier Transform Spectrometer for the entire infrared spectral region. This invention draws upon the optical principles previously demonstrated in the Ring Interferometer, which is a successful device for the far-infrared spectral region. However, the unique geometrical arrangement of the proposed Rod Interferometer permits fabrication of the mirrored surfaces to much smaller dimension, which will enable use of this device for significantly shorter infrared wavelengths, i.e. down to 1 micron. The Rod Interferometer concept will be tested and proven using a laboratory-scale interferometer which can be set to a fixed number of optical path differences and specific source wavelengths. Phase I experiments will confirm that the proposed Rod Interferometer can produce useful intensity modulations for mid- and near-IR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the data will be used to obtain a preliminatry prototype design which is optimized in modulation and throughput, for a given wavelength range, resolution, source and detector area. This will lead to construction of a unique FT-IR spectrometer in Phase II, tailored to weight and size requirements for space applications.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Various spectrometers based on the rod-interferometer concept will be commercialized, including a light-weight space-based telescope-mirror interferometer, a portable fast-scanning FT-IR spectrometer, and a portable spectrometer for fiber optics-based chemical sensors.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-0766

Project Title:

INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE FOR END-TO-END ELECTRO-OPTICAL SYSTEM MODELING

Technical Abstract:

Potential Commercial Applications:

Software for end-to-end modeling, simulation and performance evaluation of electro-optical systems including remote sensing systems, machine vision systems, and lidar systems.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-1290

Project Title:

LOW DISTORTION HIGH PERFORMANCE SUPERMIRROR COATINGS FOR HARD X- RAY TELESCOPES

Technical Abstract:

Graded multilayer coatings substantially enhance the X-ray reflectivity of optical surfaces above the critical angle for incident energies up to approximately 100 keV, enabling the use of focusing optics well beyond the traditional .1 - 10 keV band. The proposers at Osmic, Inc. have successfully deposited graded multilayers of desired quality on thick, flat surfaces. We propose the deposition of continuously-graded multilayers, or 'supermirrors' on thin, large-area, flat substrates and thick, curved substrates. The innovation of deposition on thin, and curved substrates is critical for astrophysical telescopes, which employ thin paraboloid/hyperboloid or conical mirror shells. The goals of this research effort are to (1) determine the compatibility of multilayer coatings with various candidate substrate materials appropriate for use as x-ray mirror shells, (2) to study and minimize the mechanical stresses introduced in the multilayer coatings, and (3) to establish a deposition procedure for coating multilayers onto curved surfaces. The proposed phase I research is the first step required for the production of a hard x-ray optic appropriate for astrophysical telescopes.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The successful completion of phase II will result in the production of a prototype Wolter x-ray optic capable of focusing hard x-ray energies up to 100 keV. This advancement would be directly applicable to balloon and satellite hard x-ray instruments. Hard x-ray focusing optics employing multilayers will also find use in synchrotron applicatinos and in medicine as a tool for the treatment of cancer.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-1667

Project Title:

ULTRA-LIGHTWEIGHT MIRROR USING C/SIC SUBSTRATE

Technical Abstract:

OCA proposes a research program into methods for producing ultra-lightweight, high quality mirrors using the carbon/silicon carbide (C/SiC) process, with an appropriate cladding to reduce scattering at the surface. C/SiC is non-toxic, unlike beryllium, and can be shaped more easily than CVD SiC. It does require cladding with a homogeneous material, such as CVD silicon, to provide a good optical surface. OCA's Plasma Assisted Chemical Etching (PACE) process is ideally suited to the final figuring of silicon-clad C/SiC. The overall program will investigate: the practical limits of lightweighting C/SiC; methods of mounting an ultralight C/SiC mirror; methods of damping C/SiC mirrors under launch vibration; and use of PACE for final figuring of silicon-clad C/SiC. Success will allow a significant reduction in the cost of ultra-lightweight, high quality mirrors.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Ultra-lightweight mirrors have a large number of potential applications throughout industry and government. While weight is most critical for space applications, any reduction in weight that is not accompanied by a loss is performance or an increase in cost is always welcome, even for ground-based system. For example, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LLNL) is seeking a large number of light-weighted mirrors for the National Ignition Facility (NIF).

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-1667D

Project Title:

LOW-SCATTER SILICON CARBIDE OPTICAL SURFACING USING PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL ETCHING

Technical Abstract:

OCA proposes a research program into an improved, automated technology for the finishing of precision aspheric optical surfaces employing an innovative PhotoElectroChemical Etching (PECE) process. Automated fabrication using the PECE process offers significant cost and performance benefits for the generation and finishing of low scatter, low subsurface damage optical surfaces on lightweight silicon carbide (SiC) mirrors and infrared transmissive lenses and windows. This technique will be capable of producing surfaces figured to precise tolerances with no physical surface contact and completely under computer numerical control. As part of this Phase I program, we will investigate the influence of fundamental operating parameters of a photoelectrochemical etching process on the resulting surface characteristics of SiC; evaluate pre-PECE surface preparation techniques; define candidate photoelectrochemical parameter regimes for use in an automated PECE process; complete a preliminary design for an automated PECE aspheric finishing machine, identifying mechanical and materials issues to be addressed in Phase II; demonstrate process stability and resulting surface characteristics on beta- SiC-overcoated silicon substrates. Achieving these goals will prove the feasibility of the PECE process and will set the stage for development of a useful manufacturing process for SiC and other important substrate materials in Phase II.

Potential Commercial Applications:

OCA envisions several optical applications where the processes resulting from the proposed research can yield significant cost and performance advantages. These areas include silicon carbide mirrors; inexpensive silicon, germanium and compound semiconductor aspheres; ultra-low scatter components and zero sub-surface damage optics.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-5200

Project Title:

TUNABLE NARROWBAND MULTIPLE QUANTUM WELL OPTICAL FILTERS WITH WIDE ANGLE OF ACCEPTANCE

Technical Abstract:

Several designs are available to fabricate narrow bandwidth and wide angle of acceptance filters operating over a wide spectral regime for under-sea water communications, solar studies, high density color displays and other applications. These include Solc, Lyot, and interference filters. Conventional filters use birefringent bulk materials with and without polarizers. Once fabricated, they cannot be tuned by external fields. In addition, they are bulky, heavy and very often not suitable for compact systems. Innovative optical filters are needed which can be tuned to an arbitrary wavelength over a broad spectral bandwidth. This proposal describes a novel approach of designing multiple quantum well (MQW) Lyot and index-compensated Fabry-Perot (F-P) filters. For Lyot filters, we propose to implement wide-angle devices utilizing field-dependent birefringence in multiple quantum wells (e.g., ZnCdSe-ZnSSe for blue-green regime). In the case of the Fabry-Perot optical filters, high finesse will be obtained by using ZnCdSe-ZnSSe multiple quantum well cavity sandwiched between two quarter wave ( /4) ZnSe-ZnSSe or ZnSe-ZnMgSSe dielectric mirrors. The filter will be externally tuned using enhanced electro-refractive changes in the MQW cavity due to the Quantum Confined Stark Effect (QCSE). In addition, the wide angle of acceptance is achieved by compensating the red shift due to QCSE and blue shift due to oblique incidence. The proposed filter concept is applicable for a wide spectral range. To demonstrate feasibility, we plan to develop the blue-green filters using ZnSe-based metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) grown structures. Our design will focus on the demostration of a passband of 0.5-5 , contrast ratio of 50:1, and a tuning range of 5-10 nm. The acceptance angle in index compensated F-P filters will be in excess of 15 degrees (for 5 nm shift).

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed short wavelength modulator technology will find applications in the following commercial areas: i. Remote sensing; ii. Astrological observations; iii. Advanced undersea water optical communication system applications; iv. Optical computing and high contrast signal processing; and v. High speed, high density compact color display.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-6357

Project Title:

DIFFRACTIVE OPTICS DESIGN TOOL

Technical Abstract:

Diffractive optics is an emerging technology that is capable of producing extremely small and light-weight optical systems that are ideally suited for space-based applications and electro- optics. The manufacturing technology is constantly improving and thereby rapidly reducing the component cost. Presently, the design of diffractive optical elements is done mainly by the manufacturers of the elements, and not the end users. One reason for this is that the system design and optimization requires relatively complicated computations. In order to realize the immense commercial potential, the bulk of the design must shift to the customer (just as with refractive optics). Recent advances in optics analysis technology based on functional calculus and loop-space wavefront fitting finally make it possible to create a desktop design tool for diffractive optics that is fast and simple enough for wide spread use. We will apply the new functional technology to the propagation physics associated with diffractive optics to develop noniterative optimization algorithms and constructive solutions to the diffractive optics inverse problem. The results will be implemented as a general purpose PC-based design tool.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Diffractive optics can naturally be used anywhere light-weight, flexible, and miniture optical systems are required. Applications include: space-based optics and sensors, integrated optics (replacing electrons with photons in integrated circuits), optical communication, switching and multiplexing, optical signal processing, beam splitters and couplers, laptop displays, beam shaping (e.g. for diode lasers), etc.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-8653C

Project Title:

AN ABSOLUTE DISTANCE INTERFEROMETER

Technical Abstract:

Many important optical systems will be constructed from segmented mirrors or telescopes arrays. Segmented mirrors are used to construct a large primary from more manageable smaller mirrors. While this approach is important on the ground, in space, it is even more critical as large diameter mirrors cannot be carried aloft. Telescope arrays are key for long- baseline interferometry. These systems have seen extensive development on the ground and substantial systems are being contemplated for space. These systems provide for effective diameters of hundreds of meters. A key component of all of these systems is an absolute distance interferometer (ADI). An ADI is an interferometer which does not suffer from the "Nl" problem of conventional interferometers but which has the same resolution. We propose to develop an ADI with advanced characteristics suitable for space or ground based operation. In particular, it would feature the use of small and compact tunable laser diode sources. Substantial applications in the commercial market for control of translation stages for photomasks, machine tools, and robotics is forecast.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This system can be used for control of space based imaging arrays, space structures, and segmented mirrors. It can be used in the machine shop as a replacement for the popular but limited straightness interferometer. It can also be used to augment mask making equipment for the semiconductor industry. In the space area, such a technology is required to implement various important systems and in the commercial arena a substantial business could be based on this technology.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.11-9411

Project Title:

HIGH POWER NARROW LINEWIDTH SEMICONDUCTOR LASER FOR PRECISION METROLOGY

Technical Abstract:

SDL proposes to develop a high power narrow linewidth semiconductor laser source for optical interferometer range sensor applications. The stability of proposed laser and the wide tuning range of semiconductor sources enable a precise measurement of relative and absolute optical path lengths by using a multi-wavelength measurement technique. A novel cavity design will provide both a narrow spectral linewidth and high optical powers. The laser will be packaged in a rugged space qualifiable temperature-controlled package. This scheme offers a low power consumption, compact, light weight, and low cost source for both terrestrial and flight mission application.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The completion of this proposed effort will also enable the commercial introduction of high power lasers for WDM optical networks, community access television (CATV) systems,and sensor applications. The high power aspect of the proposed laser will spur the practical and cost effective deployment of the emerging broadband fiber delivery systems.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.12-0507

Project Title:

A MICROLITER-SIZED METASTABLE IONIZATION DETECTOR

Technical Abstract:

Chemical analysis of extraterrestrial matter with robotic vehicles requires flight equipment using minimum utilities and mass. A metastable rare gas ionization detector with an active volume down to a fraction of a microliter is proposed for use with microbore and microchemical gas chromatographs. NO radioactivity is needed for operation. A novel electrode geometry and gas flow pattern is used to obtain the small active volume. For development purposes during Phase I, an existing quadrupole mass spectrometer can be coupled for mass identification of the ion reactions. This test fixture has adjustable electrode and gas flow parameters to observe the behavior of water, oxygen, nitrogen and organic chemicals down to parts-per-billion and less using an available microsized gas chromatograph. A theoretical model for detector operation can be based in part on results obtained on Contracts NAS2-12997 and NAS2-13276. These contracts dealt with the Ion Mobility Spectrometer ion molecular behavior both with a radioactive source and with a helium ionization source using NASA supplied gas chromatograph column. Some related work has already been on Subcontract SETI 565-9203. For NASA space flight instrumentation, the reduction in detector size leads to a useful reduction in both instrument gas utility requirements and mass.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This detector is useable with the new generation of micro- sized gas chromatographs (GCs). The source of ionization is electronic, not radioactive, an important advantage reducing the time and effort spent in leak testing and record keeping. The rapid appearance of well-separated peaks requires this detector, effectively microliter-sized, to efficiently resolve the chemical species. This is a further step towards a more portable chemical analyzer, possibly hand portable. This concept could also replace the radioactive source in existing commercial devices such as the electron capture detector and the Ion Mobility Spectrometer. NAME AND ADDRESES OF OFFEROR PCP, INC. 2155 INDIAN ROAD WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33409-3287

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.12-0930

Project Title:

A LOW POWER, HIGH INTENSITY X-RAY POINT SOURCE

Technical Abstract:

This SBIR project will determine the feasibility of developing a compact, inexpensive, efficient source of x rays that is low power, but bright with high luminosity and can be modulated spatially and temporally. The proposed source is rugged and can be used in harsh, remote environments. The source consists of a field emission cathode array and a metallic target. Electrons are accelerated toward and focussed to a small spot on the target, producing high brightness x-rays at low power. The use of field emission cathodes allows changing targets to obtain different characteristic x-ray lines without worrying about cathode contamination. It also allows targets made of several metals allowing spectral modulation. Field emission cathode arrays produce high current densities at higher efficiencies than thermionic cathodes. Filament cathodes produce light and heat, limiting their efficiency. Field emission cathodes developed for flat panel displays are electronically addressable. Thus, electron sources that can be scanned and pulsed are commercially available. The research objective is to show the feasibility by testing and characterizing these field emitter arrays. The source will then be breadboarded and characterized.

Potential Commercial Applications:

A versatile x-ray point source will enable development of a new class of x-ray analytical instruments inexpensive, reliable, compact and high performance ideal for environmental testing, quality control, x-ray imaging, space flight and planetary exploration vehicles. Advanced x-ray optics and detectors could lead to a portable medical x-ray diagnostic system. Commercial applications include evaluating gemstones and forensic analysis. MOXTEK will have an immediate market with OEM customers who sell analytical instruments.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.13-0094

Project Title:

AUTOMATED GEO-RECTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR SPACEBORNE SAR DATA USING INTERFEROMETRY

Technical Abstract:

The objective of this proposal is to evaluate the feasibility of developing an automated system for geo-rectification of spaceborne SAR data. The proposed system development would provide for the first time a tool that NASA scientists could use to import standard products from the NASA Alaska SAR Facility (ASF) and export geo-rectified map projected image products directly to a GIS for multi-sensor analysis. Since the production of geo- rectified images requires a high resolution digital terrain model (DTM) for removal of the terrain distortions inherent in the standard ASF SAR image products, a capability for creation of DTMs will be included in the package using interferometric SAR techniques. The proposed geo-rectification system would be model using the SAR image range/Doppler information to produce a high fidelity image product. The system will have the capability to geo-rectify ERS-1, ERS-2 and Radarsat data, including the capability to generate DTMs from these data using interferometry. Additionally, a SAR processor will be included in the system for scientists who wish to use raw data from stations other than the ASF where the processors have not been characterized. The software package would also include quality assurance tools and an X/Motif graphical user interface. All application code would be written in C and C++ to operate on any UNIX workstation or larger UNIX based computer system. The system would have the capability to output data in ARC/INFO and other GIS formats.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The commercial application of SAR data has yet to be realized. One key reason is due to the difficulty of managing SAR data and correcting its inherent distortions. The Radarsat mission will create a new set of commercial users of the data that require tools for data analysis. The proposed package will be integral for this user group. We also anticipate a sizable commercial interest in the package from users interested in the DTM production capability. Radarsat as well as the ERS-1, ERS-2 tandem orbit will create a sizable data set for low cost creation of DTMs using the proposed software package.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.13-4010

Project Title:

LOW-COST X-BAND SATELLITE DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR RADARSAT, EOS, AND BEYOND

Technical Abstract:

SeaSpace proposes to develop a complete integrated system for directly receiving, processing, analyzing, and archiving data from the next generation of high rate (100 mbps) remote sensing satellites. Existing systems, such as the Alaskan SAR Facility, employ 10 m tracking antennas and cost approximately $10M. Our innovation will be to produce and demonstrate a commercially viable system using 5 m (or less) antenna size, that will reduce the cost by at least a factor of ten. RADARSAT, EOS and other upcoming satellites will transmit high resolution sensor telemetry, including synthetic aperture radar and multi-spectral optical data, via X-band links. Low-cost commercially offered systems, not available now, will be required to receive, archive, and analyze these data, if their fullest commercial remote sensing capabilities are to be attained. During Phase I we propose a three person-month effort to create a design for implementation in Phase II, covering all aspects of the system: antenna, RF, computer and interfaces, control and sensor processing software. NASA will benefit, by having commercial systems available at substantially lower cost, to satisfy many of its remote sensing program needs. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

There is a world-wide need developing for these systems, for both research and operational use. SeaSpace anticipates that significant numbers of these systems can be sold, and that profits from commercial sales will support further enhancements and extensions of the initial product. Applications areas include land-use management, marine pollution, polar science and operations. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.13-5262

Project Title:

AN INTEGRATED ACTIVE/PASSIVE FLUORESCENCE AND HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

This proposal is to develop an integrated passive hyperspectral/active fluorescence imaging sensor system for airborne applications. These two remote sensing techniques have demonstrated major capability to identify, discriminated and map a wide variety of materials and properties on land and on/in water. A side variety of applications exist in the commercial and government markets for both civil/environmental and defense/intelligence. SETS will develop the integrated HSI-DFI sensor system at first for a small airborne platform to operate at low-cost and with flexibility. SETS has major experience in applying both these techniques and in the development and implementation of electro- optical sensors and the software and algorithms to extract information from the data sets. SETS will build upon its capabilities, including 1) its prototype HSI airborne system, currently operating, 2) its prototype active/passive dual-mode fluorescence imaging system, currently being built, and 3) its extensive spectral image processing software and algorithms such as spectral mixing analysis (SMA) tools for subpixel analysis. In Phase I, SETS will review the requirements and develop a detailed conceptual design, the system and performance models, and a design the preliminary test plan.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Potential applications involve the detection and mapping of a wide variety of objects and materials. Commercial applications include: management of coastal zones, wetlands, forests, agriculture, urban planning, municipal zoning and management, reef assessment, pollution monitoring, ocean productivity, support of commercial satellite systems in calibration, algorithm development and testing, and product quality assurance.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.13-9737

Project Title:

GROUND TRUTH PHYTOPLANKTON SENSOR

Technical Abstract:

A novel oceanographic sensor for in situ determination of the vertical structure of phytoplankton photosynthetic capacity for ground thruthing of remote sensing determinations of primary production will be developed. This information is needed to support physiological models used to convert biomass measurements into maps of water column production. Operation of the sensor is based on a phase fluorometer employing a laser diode or a LED as a light source. This will enable simultaneous measurement of cholorophyll fluorescence intensity and lifetimes, and hence real-time assessment of phytoplankton physiological status in situ with high spatial resolution. Phase fluorometry offers a new approach to in situ investigation of phytoplankton physiological status. Sensors may be implemented with a shipboard diode laser fiber-optically coupled to a sensor head which could be mounted on a variety of platforms including a "slack-line" fast sampling profiler or a towed sensor. Alternatively, they could be implemented as battery-operated stand-alone sensors equipped with data storage/telemetry for deployment in a mooring (or from a ship without need for fiber- optics). No instrumentation exists with the capabilities of the proposed sensor; to our knowledge this would be the first oceanographic phytoplankton analyzer to exploit fluorescence lifetime sensing.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Instrumentation for in situ oceanographic research, to environmental monitoring, to laboratory research. Potential markets include marine environmental analysis, aquaculture, fish farming, plant genetic engineering, on-line process-analysis in bioreactors, and more generally to horticulture, agriculture, and forestry.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.14-0003B

Project Title:

AIRBORNE MULTISPECTRAL FIRE SENSOR

Technical Abstract:

The management of forest fires requires the rapid and accurate knowledge of fire location, intensity, and direction of propagation. PSI proposes to develop an innovative multispectral imaging system for the airborne or space-based mapping of forest fires. The concept is based on a novel Adaptive Infrared Imaging Spectroradiometer (AIRIS). AIRIS mates a tunable IR filter with a InSb IR camera to create a system which can selectively tune the wavelengths viewed by the camera. This capability is used to select wavelengths characteristic of ongoing combustion and differentiate them from regions previously burned but at elevated temperature. AIRIS can be randomly positioned in wavelength at framing rates approaching 1 Khz. Thus, it can frame at rates commensurate with rapidly moving platforms while limiting the data volume to that required for identification. AIRIS allows primary survey bands to be imaged routinely with secondary bands acquired only if further confirmation of data analysis is needed. This capability allows for 1) the selection of bands which minimize data volume, 2) on-board data analysis and acquisition of additional bands if required, and 3) the telemetry of data processed only when fire is detected. The system is coupled with GPS and image mapping routines.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The instrument would have commercial applications in remote monitoring of manufacturing plants for hazardous chemical emissions. PSI is currently engaged in a joint development effort with Lockheed Idaho National Engineering Laboratories in which the AIRIS imaging sensor will be configured to detect volatile organic compounds emitted from a remediation site during the retrieval of buried waste drums. Through its environmental products subsidiary, Spectrum Diagnostix (SDx), PSI will focus the development of the sensor for fenceline monitoring of manufacturing facilities, such as petrochemical plants.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.14-1322

Project Title:

INNOVATIVE OPEN PATH DIODE LASER SENSOR FOR TRACE GASES

Technical Abstract:

Trace gases produced in the biosphere affect the radiative balance of the planet. Sensitive, fast response instrumentation is needed for measuring the flux of trace gases from the biosphere to the troposphere. To avoid systematic errors, existing instruments sample air into a cell at fixed temperature and pressure. We propose to measure trace gas fluxes using an open path fast response diode laser sensor coupled with the eddy correlation method. The open path design is small and light weight. A new, customized digital signal processing method will be used to recover the trace gas signal without introducing systematic errors in the flux measurement. A novel multiple-pass optical system that uses inexpensive mirrors will boost the measurement sensitivity. The proposed sensor will permit measurement of the flux of various species, including CO2, CH4, NH3, and N2O. A rugged and compact sensor design will allow the instrument to be located remotely or aboard a research aircraft.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Commercial markets for this research include improved diagnostics for industrial process and stack gas monitoring, atmospheric research instrumentation, and leak detectors for the natural gas industry.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.14-2200

Project Title:

ULTRA-SENSITIVE AIRBORNE DETECTION OF TRACE GAS CHEMICAL SPECIES USING RING INTERFEROMETRIC PHASE-SENSITIVE SPECTROSCOPY

Technical Abstract:

We propose a new trace gas sensing spectroscopic technique which we call Ring Interferometric Phase-Sensitive Spectroscopy. Unlike present conventional spectroscopic methods which utilize molecular absorption (based on the imaginary part of the complex index of refraction), our method relies on the anomalous dispersion which is also associated with every molecular resonance line (based on the real part of the complex index of refraction). We thus sense gas concentration using optical beam phase and fringe shifts in an ultra-stable ring interferometer rather than by total beam attenuation. Using this new technique, our proposed instrument theoretically provides sensitivities approaching the quantum noise limit and about 2 orders of magnitude better than presently available molecular absorption measuring instruments. We anticipate that trace chemical species can be selectively sensed in air at the parts per trillion level. The instrument is conceptually small, robust and vibration-insensitive, making it ideal for airborne sensing. Any trace gas with a molecular absorption line in the visible, near-IR or infrared can theoretically be sensed. This includes virtually every chemical compound. The sensor is also capable of monitoring hazardous vapors and measuring atmospheric pollution at the parts per trillion level.

Potential Commercial Applications:

We anticipate that Ring Interferometric Phase-Sensitive Spectroscopy will yield trace-gas sensitivities 2 orders of magnitude better than traditionally used absorption approaches. This instrument promises to be reliable, stable, tunable to a host of chemical compounds, and thus able to provide improved industrial safety monitoring, pollution monitoring, and increased sensitivity for measurements of trace gas pollutants and chemical tracers.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

08.14-7606

Project Title:

DIGITAL-ARRAY SCANNED INTERFEROMETRY DATA PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

Technical Abstract:

We will define and prototype four algorithms essential to efficient storage and extraction of information from Digital Array Scanned Interferometers (DASIs) to determine the feasibility of operating DASIs in "real-time." These algorithms, integral to DASIs, will ensure low cost, size, and weight for aircraft and spacecraft operations. "real-time" operation is a key aspect to research and commercialization. The four algorithms map into these broad categories: 1. Loss-less spectral/spatial data compression. 2. "Real-time" data preprocessing. 3. Post processing algorithms that quickly extract and present relevant information. We intend for these algorithms to support "real-time" operations of DASI instruments, be implemented compactly and efficiently, and process without error. We intend to demonstrate how 2:1 loss-less data compression; data encoding at 200 Megabits/sec; and post-processing within minutes can be achieved. The algorithms will support the high throughput and high spectral fidelity and response typical of DASI instruments, where spectral resolutions of a few nanometers and spatial resolutions of high order have been achieved.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Without high performance algorithms, essential for compressing DASI data, encoding in "real-time", and enhancing signal-to-noise, long collection integration times and a minimum of several hours and perhaps even days of laborious data processing is now required. Viable commercial applications (and efficient research) will only be realized once "real-time" data processing is achieved. Commercial applications include monitoring contaminants and bacteria found in our food; detecting and measuring contaminants in human blood; detecting algal blooms which deplete our fish supplies; and ensuring compliance with regulatory policy and environmental laws. To cite an example using "real-time" data processing with a DASI instrument, the canning industry would monitor bacteria content to ascertain the effectiveness of their sterilization cooking process and eliminate unnecessary retorting, thereby providing shorter production times, tastier products and lower prices to consumers.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.01-0204

Project Title:

CFRC SILICON CARBIDE MONOLITHIC SENSORCRAFT FOR NEXT GENERATION MICROSPACECRAFT APPLICATION

Technical Abstract:

A low life-cycle-cost, virtual presence in space concept is enhanced by the use of lightweight, thermally stable, passively damped component materials for microspacecraft/payload elements. However, maximum mass utility is realized by a top-down system architecture which permits the integration of multiple functions into components and subsystems. The proposed innovation marries remote sensing energy collection, communications, spacecraft bus and thermal management into a <10kg package. Multiple functionality features include: the optical system performs as a 30:1 optical communica- tions beam expander/compressor and visible imager 0.3m afocal; the bus serves as a spacecraft subsystem support and a monococque structure for the optical system; and tubes embedded in the bus panels provide structural rigidity and thermal management heat pipes. Combined with silicon carbide in its bulk (optical compo- nents) and ceramic fiber reinforced composite (CFRC structure) forms, this sensorcraft innovation provides lightweight, passive athermalization and extends the benefits of material selection an additional order-of-magnitude in life cycle cost reduction. Phase I will produce a tested, 0.35m optical bench/bus assembly based on a remote body reconnaissance mission. After this feasibility demo., Phase II will produce a monolithic optical system/spacecraft bus demonstration, including embedded heat pipes. The new design para- digm as embodied in this sensorcraft will be positioned for Phase III flight qualification to enable a virtual presence in space.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The sensorcraft architecture innovation will permit an order-of- magnitude savings in mission life cycle costs based on direct and indirect mass savings. It is applicable to all spacebased pri- mary mission applications including earth monitoring (both science and commercial), communications and remote body lander or flyby/reconnaissance uses. The specific hardware concept used to demonstrate feasibility and validate the new methodology is directly applicable to the latter class of missions.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.01-2160

Project Title:

MICROTHRUSTER

Technical Abstract:

A 0.001 lbf (0.0044 Newton) cold gas Microthruster using Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) design and fabrication methods will be designed and analyzed. MEMS technologies, applied for the first time in this type of device, provides a Microthruster that is smaller, lighter, faster, and lower power than ever before used in the space program. Extremely fast valve response and miniature nozzle size provide extremely small impulse bit and excellent repeatability characteristics. Microsize propulsion systems, using Microthrusters, will be needed for orbital propulsion (3 axis stabilization, etc.) of microspacecraft. Present thrusters are larger and more expensive than needed for microspacecraft. Traditional thrusters generally use solenoid on- off valves and nozzles comprised of many different parts, with the parts individually made by traditional machine shop cutting tools. Parts are individually assembled using conventional attachment and sealing methods. Silicon is most familiar as the material used to make micro-size, inexpensive multi-million element electronic microprocessors. The miniaturization, precision, low cost/high volume benefits of silicon batch processing have revolutionized the electronics industry. A derivative technology called micromachining allows precision MEMS to be inexpensively batch processed from silicon that possess excellent producibility and low cost attributes.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Marotta envisions several commercial market opportunities for the Microthruster (which includes Microvalve, Microactuator and Micronozzle design technologies). Micro- Micro- Micro- Micro- Thruster Actuator Valve Nozzle 1. Commercial Satellite Propuls X X X (Fluid Controls - Gas, Liquid and Electric) 2. Commercial Satellite Microactuators X 3. Robot Microactuators X 4. Drug Infusion Devices X 5. Ventilators (breathing assist devices) X X 6. Gas Analysis Instruments X X 7. Liquid Analysis Instruments X 8. Biotechnology Processing X

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.01-5667

Project Title:

LIGHTWEIGHT HEAT PIPES INTEGRATED INTO MICROSPACECRAFT STRUCTURES

Technical Abstract:

As satellite payloads and solar arrays continue to become smaller and/or lighter, the weight and volume contributions of the satellite structure and thermal bus become more critical. Reductions in payload volumes also lead to higher waste heat densities, aggravating the heat transport/rejection requirements of the thermal bus. The combination of these factors complicates the bus design, necessitating development of more capable, more compact thermal bus concepts. New microspacecraft buses must therefore seek to eliminate parasitic weights and volumes by combining thermal, structural and electrical functions into a seamless unit. Saddleback Aerospace has generated two innovative concepts to meet the needs of low-cost microspacecraft. These concepts minimize system weight and volume, while providing robust thermal management capability throughout the satellite structure. The concepts are: 1) a laminated foil heat pipe honeycomb to replace current low-conductivity honeycomb wall panels, and 2) a laminated foil honeycomb propellant/pressurant storage concept which eliminates the parasitic weight/volume of conventional propellant tankage by providing storage in the satellite walls. In the proposed effort prototypes for each of these concepts will be fabricated and tested to demonstrate the feasibility of these approaches.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed study will directly support the growing market for improved satellite services and supporting satellite technology. The results can also be used for the compact, thermally isolated electronics and actuators of the More Electric Aircraft. More generally, the cooling techniques proposed here will have application throughout the electronics and communications industries.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.01-9450

Project Title:

LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES FOR MICROSPACECRAFTS

Technical Abstract:

It is desirable that rechargeable batteries for microspacecrafts have a specific energy approaching 200 Wh/Kg, an energy density greater than 300 Wh/l, and a cycle life exceeding 1000 cycles. To this end, we propose to develop a Li-ion battery based on graphite as the anode and lithiated manganese oxide (LiMn2O4) as the cathode. The energy density and cycle life of this battery can be significantly improved from the present values and made to approach those cited above the mitigating or compensating for the parasitic reactions involving the electrolyte at the graphite electrode. The Phase I effort is aimed at demonstrating a graphite/LiMn2O4 battery having significantly higher energy by using improved electrode materials prepared as proposed here. The graphite/LiMn2O4 battery uses environmentally friendly materials and, therefore, would be of considerable interest for consumer applications.

Potential Commercial Applications:

By virtue of its high energy density the lithium-ion battery will be an ideal power source for use in the microspacecraft technology. It would also find use in NASA's various other space applications such as the Mars Rover, planetary space probes and geosynchronous spacecraft where space availability is at a premium. are in consumer products such as portable telephones, laptop computers, camcorders, and hand-held tools.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.02-1667

Project Title:

ADAPTIVE-PIXEL SENSORS FOR AUTONOMOUS OPTICAL NAVIGATION

Technical Abstract:

Autonomous navigation has been identified as a key element of NASA's initiative to launch large numbers of low cost, high capability, autonomous, spacecraft. Pursuant to this goal, NASA has proposed a concept for autonomous navigation which substitutes on-board star tracking, feature tracking, and asteroid triangulation for ground-based guidance. The concept has been extensively evaluated and validated by simulation. This work has established the need for development of an innovative electro-optical sensor which will provide the tracking and triangulation functions at high precision, at low cost, low power, and low mass. OCA proposes a research effort directed toward satisfying this need. Phase I efforts will address the required extensions in the state-of-the-art, including the simultaneous need for large aperture and wide field-of-view as well as accommodation of a large dynamic range caused by simultaneous viewing of a star field and a close-up planetary body. The active pixel sensor array currently under development at JPL and various commercial suppliers will accommodate such a large dynamic range, though at the expense of sub-pixel centroiding accuracy due to its comparatively low fill factor. During Phase 1 we will pursue potential solutions to this problem, such as the use of micro-lens arrays to improve fill-factor.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Beyond the obvious extension of broadly capable autonomous navigation to commercial spacecraft in support of their ability to autonomously determine and maintain their own operational orbits, the general commercial potential of applied active pixel imaging array technology is enormous. With its ability to read-out bright areas of an image while continuing to integrate charge in faint areas, the dramatically extended dynamic range capability of intelligently managed active pixel arrays is revolutionary and promises solutions to a wide range of commercial imaging and optical flux measurement problems including astrophotography, spectroscopy, robotic vision, and commercial still and video imaging for science, industry and the communications media. This next generation of cameras incorporating active pixel arrays will, with appropriate calibration and output signal encoding, establish a new standard of imaging and quantitative photometric performance that will revolutionize every existing commercial camera application.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.02-2666

Project Title:

GPS-BASED GN&C SYSTEM FOR PROXIMITY OPERATIONS AND ATTITUDE CONTROL

Technical Abstract:

The proposal responds to NASA requirement for a GPS-based guidance and navigation system for proximity operations and for in-flight sensor alignment and calibration method for an attitude determination and control system (ADACS). We propose a GPS-based ADACS that incorporates in-flight sensor alignment and calibration methods and alleviates the limitations of current GPS receivers to provide accurate attitude in the presence of antenna misalignments. The proposed GPS ADACS also addresses the GPS availability and reliability concerns and provides cm-level relative navigation accuracy for guidance and navigation during the critical terminal proximity operations. The Phase I study will develop techniques and will determine the feasibility of GPS ADACS as the primary GN&C sensor to meet the above NASA requirements. Implementation of these techniques in the Mayflower RGR receiver and its demonstration as a primary attitude control system will be carried out under the Phase II program. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

A GPS ADACS system offers a significant reduction (a factor of 3 to 5) in the cost and size, power, weight of current GN&C sensor suite for comparable navigation and attitude performance. The GPS ADACS will serve as the primary GN&C sensor for lightsat class of satellites including LEO communication satellites currently planned to provide mobile satellite service. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.02-4393

Project Title:

ACTIVE PIXEL SENSOR STAR TRACKER

Technical Abstract:

It is proposed to develop a 512x512 element complementary metal-oxide- semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel sensor (APS) array with individual pixel reset for star tracker applications. The 512x512 array permits a reasonable field of view for initial acquisition of stars. Once the stars have been selected, only the small neighborhood surrounding each needs to be read out, improving tracker response rate and reducing data handling. Unlike a charge-coupled device (CCD) tracker, the APS star tracker has the unique capability to have variable integration times for different stars in the field of view. This permits tracking of stars of quite different magnitudes without compromising centroiding ability. Since the CMOS APS technology requires only 5V power and is transistor-transistor logic (TTL) compatible, system design is greatly simplified, and tracker mass, volume and power can be significantly reduced. The innovation of the APS star tracker permits miniaturization of star trackers, reduces star tracker cost, and increases star tracker reliability. In Phase I, the technical feasibility of developing the APS star tracker will be established. In Phase II, the APS star tracker will be implemented.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The innovative APS star tracker proposed in this effort will be useful for tracking terrestrial objects for robotics and machine vision. Feature tracking, using small windows in a large array will be useful for monitoring traffic flow. Such tracking is also useful in many man-machine systems, such as virtual reality and telerobotics, where tracking eye movements and hand movements is critical to the control loop. Free space optical communications require high speed trackers for locking on to optical beacons.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.02-4498

Project Title:

MULTI-HYPOTHESIS TRACKING ALGORITHM FOR STAR IDENTIFICATION

Technical Abstract:

Multi-hypothesis tracking (MHT) is an algorithmic technique currently being utilized in military surveillance systems (e.g., Joint STARS). In that application, data reported by surveillance sensors (called reports) must be correlated with existing or new target tracks, and the MHT technique is used to maintain a data base of possible report/track assignments over a designated time period. The MHT technique will usually use a Kalman filter to determine the probabilities of correct report/track correlation, and in this way the most likely report/track assignments are determined. With a few modifications or extensions, the MHT technique can be applied to the problem of star identification posed in a typical star tracker based attitude determination system. Here, star positions reported by one or more star trackers must be correlated with the positions of known stars in a star catalog. The proposed Phase I effort is to define the top level design of the MHT algorithm for this problem, and to demonstrate its viability through analysis and simulation.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed design concept would have wide applicability in the commercial satellite market.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.02-5355

Project Title:

AUTONOMOUS CONTOL OF MINIATURE SPACECRAFT USING ADAPTIVE NONLINEAR MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL (MPC)

Technical Abstract:

Spacecraft attitude control during propulsive maneuvers is complicated due to several factors, some of which are: (i) nonlinear dynamics with time delays (ii) modeling and parameter uncertainties (iii) flexible modes due to fuel sloshing and appendages (iv) constraints on propulsive force and torque inputs (v) constraints on acceptable angular rates and attitudes and (vi) autonomous reconfiguration requirements under failure conditions. The current control approaches are based on frequency domain methods which assume linear time invariant system dynamics. The advantages of these approaches are simplicity and ease of stability and robustness analysis. However, the decreased performance and poor efficiency translates to additional payload. Model Predictive Control (MPC) has been used successfully in a number of industrial applications involving complex nonlinear processes with hard safety and actuator constraints. The remarkable stability and robustness properties of MPC observed in practice have been proven analytically in a number of recent publications. Based on this experience and the availability of Megaflop chips and Gigaflop boards, MPC implementation for spacecraft attitude control using micro thrusters is both feasible and practical. The optimality of Nonlinear MPC design and its flexibility for reconfiguration make it an ideal candidate for future spacecraft missions. Furthermore, suboptimal designs based on current methods and approximations to MPC can be evaluated for performance tradeoffs, once the maximum achievable performance using optimal MPC is known. Prof. John Wen, RPI will act as a consultant on the project. Prof Wen has been closely associated with the Spacecraft Attitude Control problem at JPL and RPI.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Model Predictive Control (MPC) supported by special coprocessors for implementation can be applied across the board to a large number of aerospace and industrial applications. Potential applications exist in chemical, automotive, electric power, pulp and paper, manufacturing and metal processing industries, in addition to the defense market (tanks, ships, submarines, missiles, aircraft, satellites etc.).

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.03-6551

Project Title:

LOOP HEAT PIPE FOR HIGH POWER DENSITY SMALL SATELLITE THERMAL CONTROL

Technical Abstract:

Although Loop Heat Pipes can transport high thermal power levels, they have been very limited in the peak heat flux which they can absorb through their evaporators. This limitation is due to the conditions necessary to ensure self-priming of the device. The proposed innovation would utilize bidisperse porous wick technology to maintain the self-priming feature while demonstrating a one-order-of-magnitude increase in evaporator heat flux capacity. High power semiconductors such as MOS-controlled thyristors and RF-power FETs can generate 400 watts over a 2 square centimeter footprint. While LHPs can easily transport the total power, a thermal spreader must be installed between the semiconductor and the LHP's evaporator to reduce the the heat flux to within the capability of the evaporator. With the proposed innovation, a Loop Heat Pipe could interface directly with high power semiconductors, remove waste heat, transport it to the exterior of the craft, and radiate it to the ultimate heat sink, all within a single device. This would allow great flexibility on the location of high power semiconductors within compact satellites, and would protect other components from the waste heat generated from those components.

Potential Commercial Applications:

In a small satellite, each high power component could have a dedicated LHP which would radiate its waste heat to space. Components would be thermally isolated from other components in the vicinity, while still being mounted close together. Commercially, the proposed innovation would allow the direct cooling of microprocessors or high power components, without the need for spreaders or substrates. Components could be mounted closer together without compromising thermal limits, and the flexible leads of LHPs allows access for assembly or maintenance.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.04-0204

Project Title:

HIGH-PRECISION, LOW COST, SMART BEARING CONCEPT FOR ADVANCED CONTROL APPLICATIONS

Technical Abstract:

SSG proposes an innovative, high precision smart bearing advanced control concept as a low cost replacement for expensive and complex magnetic and air bearing systems (cost savings >100X). The smart bearing concept represents an innovative control technology which is adaptable and scalable to a number of technologies ranging from minia- ture machine components to large scale pump systems. SSG proposes the development of a wide FOR 2-axis meridional pointer assembly based on the smart bearing concept. The pointer has applications for many DoD missions, including advanced AWACS; advanced missile seekers; inter- ceptors and surveillance systems; cruise missile guidance and control; and photo-reconnaissance. The smart bearing continuously measures wobble and runout and provides servo control correction at <0.5 rad using piezo-electric actuators. The smart bearing avoids the angular limitations of traditional flex pivots and is robust, reliable, very affordable, and uses low power. An optical microchip encoder, based on the newly demonstrated optical fringe counting encoder patented by MicroE Corp., is the enabling technology. The encoder can revolu- tionize advanced positioning control systems in a similar manner that the microprocessor revolutionized the computer. This opto-electronic device is being planned for integration into next generation high volume computer disk drives and laser disks at <$5 per device. Phase I will fully develop the precision pointer assembly and demonstrate the performance of the smart bearing concept with a single axis, linear slide bearing. Phase II will be a hardware demonstration of the smart bearing and meridional pointer assembly in a "flight worthy" configuration and technology transfer of the smart bearing and optional microchip encoder to commercial prototype products. SSG has already received strong support potential (>$150K) from Maxtor and MicroE Corp. for Phase II microchip encoder development.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The smart bearing concept is scalable to a wide range of NASA, DoD, DoE, and commercial applications including wide field-of-regard point- ing mirror and gimbaled sensor applications; miniature machine compo- nents; microlithography stages; CNC machine stages; robotic machines; and automotive, computer, and medical products. The micro-chip optical encoder also has a huge commercial market including laser disks, computer drives/storage devices, and positional sensors for office products.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.04-0540

Project Title:

LIGHTWEIGHT, COMPACT REACTION SPHERE FOR THREE-AXIS SPACECRAFT STABILIZATION

Technical Abstract:

The push towards low-cost, lightweight satellites in the military and commercial markets has highlighted an unfulfilled product niche for compact control moment gyroscopes. This has created an opportunity to introduce a novel three-axis control moment gyroscope for this new class of spacecraft. Existing technologies center around storing momentum in a spinning disk with a single- or two-degree-of-freedom gimbal mount. A set of such devices is necessary for three-axis stabilization of a spacecraft. This proposal outlines the design of a reaction sphere which, by virtue of its spherical symmetry, offers three- axis stabilization capability in a single device. The device consists of a sphere magnetically suspended and driven by three motors orthogonally located. The spherical symmetry and the freedom from mechanical mounts allows the spin axis of the sphere to be arbitrarily oriented in the body coordinates of the spacecraft. A momentum vector of magnitude 20 foot-pounds/second appropriately oriented corresponds to a momentum bias of 10 foot- pounds along the three orthogonal axes of the spacecraft. The motors generate the torques for attitude control. A complete design of a reaction sphere will be completed in a Phase I program, followed by a prototype fabrication and test Phase II program. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

The commercial telecommunications field is rapidly expanding in terms of data transfer rates and global coverage via satellites. The development proposed here is tailor-made for the growing market in small, robust satellites. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.04-2786

Project Title:

COMBINED FAST-STEERING AND ALIGNMENT MIRROR FOR SPACE-BASED INTERFEROMETRY

Technical Abstract:

The proposed product development will create a higher performance 80 by 60 mm fast-steering mechanism (FSM) that combines the functions of fast-steering and alignment at the cost of each unit alone. High-bandwidth operation is combined with large angular travel and increased load capability. This is accomplished by two innovations: the first is a simpler, more robust flexure suspension with additional angular travel and less fixturing. The second is an actuator modification that allows a highly efficient actuator concept, formerly used only on smaller FSMs, to be used on larger mirrors, resulting in improved acceleration, mass and power. Direct benefits include: * fewer mechanisms and control electronics, * increased lateral load capability allows launch without mechanical caging, * simplified design reduces fabrication cost, * lignter mechanism consumes less power. Phase I objectives are to verify mirror surface figure accuracy and actuator performance by analysis and engineering model fabrication. A FEM stress analysis of the mirror with attachements will predict the effects of magnet and flexure attachment. Flexure stress analysis will verify lateral load capability predictions. Engineering model fabrication and testing will validate the FEM mirror model, verify performance of the actuator concept, and verify flexure fabrication, assembly techniques, and attachment distortion.

Potential Commercial Applications:

include ophthalmic imaging, ophthalmic surgery, optical communications, ground-based astronomy, hand-held, shoulder- and vehicle-mounted cameras for movie and broadcast television, rapid IR inspection of electric utility equipment from moving trucks or helicopters, Coast Guard surveillance, hand-held or helicopter police cameras and photo-lithography.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.04-7351

Project Title:

ADAPTIVE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ACTIVE VIBRATION ISOLATION

Technical Abstract:

The proposed research extends the current capabilities of active isolation systems by making them adaptive. Active vibration isolation is a promising technology, but changes in payload dynamics, sensor or actuator failure, and variations in disturbance spectra can cause performance degradation for any fixed-structure controller. The innovation of the proposed work is the development of a modular, DSP-based adaptive control package suitable for mating and integration with nearly every type of active vibration isolation system. A modular adaptive control package sold as a value-added item for numerous systems would reduce costs associated with active vibration isolation by allowing the use of low precision, lower cost transducers and components. The Phase I research will assess the feasibility of a modular adaptive control system by evaluating the limitations of state-of-the-art active vibration isolation systems and determining adaptive control algorithms that improve performance. Representative examples will be used to decide which algorithms are feasible for efficient online implementation. The most effective algorithms will be demonstrated on an in-house six-axis isolation system. The final product of the Phase I effort will be a prototype DSP-based adaptive control system that has been evaluated experimentally.

Potential Commercial Applications:

A modular adaptive control system for vibration isolation is both a standalone product and an enabling technology for other applications. In addition to benefiting space missions such as remote sensing and laser communication, it will enhance existing systems for semiconductor manufacturing, precision machining, fiber alignment and placement, and biomedical applications. It will also be incorporated into CSA's vibration cancellation systems for cryocoolers.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.04-9217

Project Title:

PRECISION GMR PROXIMITY SENSORS

Technical Abstract:

This SBIR Phase I program proposal demonstrates the feasibility of a high-precision GMR proximity sensor capable of sensing nanometer positional fluctuations of ferromagnetic bodies. This sensor makes use of state-of-the-art GMR materials and integrated thin film permanent magnets to give enhanced performance to linear and rotational controls, vibration detectors, positioning controls, and proximity sensing systems. This program has four primary objectives: modeling and design of a high-precision GMR proximity sensor; building consistent GMR spin-valve material exhibiting highly linear operating regions with sensitivities of > 1.5%/Oe; developing a process for integrating thin film permanent magnets with current integrated circuit and GMR technology; and building and packaging the functional sensor device. The six month program to research and develop this high- precision sensor will encompass modeling, design. and layout; material determination and preparation; processing and packaging; functionality testing; and a final demonstration of the end product's capability.

Potential Commercial Applications:

GMR sensors offer the controls industry improvements over competing Hall effect and anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensors through increased signal swing, improved sensitivity, and greater variety of field range. They also offer potential alternatives to industry standard laser-based optical sensor systems by significantly reducing complexity, environmental sensitivity, and cost.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.05-2447

Project Title:

POWER SYSTEMS FOR LONG DURATION BALLOON MISSIONS

Technical Abstract:

Development is proposed of an innovative power system for long duration balloon missions. This small lightweight compact power system utilizes solar energy input and is provided with a thermal storage system to allow continuity of output in the dark hours. The solar collector/concentrator is an inflated stretched membrane parabolic dish focussed on a Helmholtz cavity absorber. Thermal energy is transferred from the absorber by sodium heat pipe to the lithium hydride storage reservoirs and the cylinder head/heater of the thermal converter, a single cylinder Stirling engine driving an electric generator. During the dark hours heat is drawn from the energy storage system to maintain operation of the Stirling engine generator. The solar collector is equipped with an elementary tracking system to maintain the collector in the optimum altitude with regard to the Sun. Helium is used as the working fluid in the engine with hydrogen as an option for high performance versions operating at higher speeds and pressures. Contemporary materials development allow the possibility of much higher maximum cycle temperatures. This offers increased power density and conversion efficiency with a decreased cooling requirement.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed unit will provide a self contained solar power system capable of continuous operation including the dark hours. It would find application for some military applications and as a space power system. Civil use would include recreational use and general use where electric power grid distribution systems are not available with very high potential in developing countries.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.05-4045A

Project Title:

ATTITUDE CONTROL OF A TETHERED END MASS IN THE EARTH'S UPPER ATMOSPHERE

Technical Abstract:

AIRSEDS-S, Atmospheric/Ionospheric Research Small Expendable Deployer System (Shuttle Based), and TSS-2, Tethered Satellite System, are tethered systems that will provide a means for NASA to explore the Earth's upper atmosphere and conduct aerothermodynamic research in the altitude range between 250-105 km, altitudes which cannot currently be explored using balloons or aircraft. The proposed innovation is to develop a robust yet smaller and modular attitude control system for a tethered end mass for support during deployment, steady-state operations and retrieval. The design calls for three-axis control utilizing the existing gravity gradient, a NOMEX jacket along the lower two meters of the tether, and a single variable speed reaction wheel. A boom/wing system will be connected to the probe capsule to provide stiffness and control system desaturation in the yaw direction below an altitude of 180 km.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Direct applications of the NASA SBIR research include the AIRSEDS-S tethered end mass, the TSS-2 satellite and future proposed SMEX based tethered systems. It is also planned to spin off the developed technologies to several other areas including small satellite systems, automotive systems, manufacturing and marine navigation. The commercialization program for the SBIR research will be conducted in conjunction with the AIRSEDS-S mission commericalization program and the AIRSEDS K-12 program, our education program to support the K-12 market place. In addition, the results and experience from the SBIR research will be used towards growing The Michigan Technic Corporation's opportunities in the commercialization of tethers in space.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.05-8755

Project Title:

IN SITU MARTIAN ROCKET AND "AIR BREATHING" JET ENGINES

Technical Abstract:

The burning of the Martian atmosphere with a new in situ fuel is an innovative power source for rocket and jet engines on Mars. This new source of power can also be used to drive turboshaft engines for power generation and providing land vehicle locomotion. This concept is innovative and unique because it uses the Martian atmosphere in its natural form in the combustion process. Because of this, it is possible to make Martian "air breathing" engines for power and transportation. This innovation is relevant to the subtopic since it utilizes extraterrestrial resources on Mars to reduce the amount of mass required to be sent from earth to Mars. It is significant, because new engine concepts become possible that are not feasible with current Martian in situ propellant concepts. Phase I will identify the best method of mixing the fuel with carbon dioxide through a series of combustion tests. The Phase I test results and design analysis results will also be used as the foundation for Phase II tests of a rocket engine and the burner section of a Martian jet engine.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Our commercialization of this technology will be used to develop a hybrid rocket engine suitable for use by rocket amateurs and educational institutions in the United States. This new rocket engine technology will fill the niche of providing a safe, low cost rocket for this market. The fulfillment of this goal will enable the creation of thousands of high school rocket clubs for training future aerospace engineers and to make the general public more aware of the excitement and benefits of rocketry to the United States. The commercialization to the government sector will include NASA, NASDA and potentially ESA to fulfill plans for the establishment of a Martian base. The application of the technology will be in Martian jet engines, rocket engines and turboshaft engines for powering electrical generators and land vehicles.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.05-9067

Project Title:

HIGH STRENGTH-TO-WEIGHT TAPERED HOYTETHER FOR LEO TO GEO PAYLOAD TRANSPORT

Technical Abstract:

We propose the design, development, fabrication, and test of a high strength-to- weight tapered Hoytether to be used in a rotating high delta-V tether transfer terminal for transport of payloads from LEO to GEO and beyond. The proposed Tapered Hoytether would utilize the unique features of the interconnected multiline Hoytether presently under development by Tethers Unlimited. The generic Hoytether is a tubular tether structure of 6 or more primary lines interconnected at intervals with smaller secondary lines. When a segment of a primary line is cut, the four secondary lines bridging the cut take up the load, pass the load around the cut segment, and place the load back on the uncut portions of the primary line. By optimizing the Hoytether design to concentrate more of the tether material in the primary lines, and adjusting the number and diameter of the lines from base to tip, it is possible to make a tapered Hoytether that can safely operate at stress levels of 60% of the ultimate load capacity of the tether material, while still having a probability of survival from meteoroid and orbital debris impactors of 99% at 70 years.

Potential Commercial Applications:

A rotating tether transfer terminal using a Tapered Hoytether can raise the altitude of a small satellite from a very low orbit to a mid-altitude orbit suitable for the proposed new type of commercial communication satellite networks, such as IRIDIUM, ODYSSEY, and INMARSAT-P, that involve mid-altitude constellations of a large number of small satellites. Tethers Unlimited has started confidential negotiations with a company that intends to serve that market. They will develop a low-cost proprietary design launcher that can reach the upper portions of the atmosphere. The tether transfer terminal would serve the role of an orbital transfer vehicle that would take spacecraft payloads from the launch vehicles when they reach the top of their trajectory, and lift the spacecraft into their operational orbits. There potentially exists a major non-space commercial market for high strength-to- weight Hoytethers. If a high strength-to-weight Tapered Hoytether is developed that can operate safely at stress levels very close to its ultimate load capability, then a non-tapered, collapsed (no attempt to maintain primary line separation) version of such a tether may outperform a braided or twisted cable in a suspension bridge, ship hawser, drag line, or construction rig.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.06-1700

Project Title:

CONTROL MODELING, ANALYSIS, DESIGN, SIMULTION AND IMPLEMENTATION TOOL

Technical Abstract:

Control engineers use mathematical modeling, systems analysis, design algorithms, simulation. and real-time hardware and software to complete a control system design. A wide range of commercially available tools address various subsets of this design process but none fully integrate all functions so that the necessary data transfers are transparent to the designer. Our innovation is a fully integrated control system design tool where the input data are the mathematical model of the system, an analysis method, a design algorithm, the design requirements, and a performance metric. Designers will manipulate design parameters that are determined by the choice of the design algorithm while watching how the performance changes, much like how one uses a standard spreadsheet program. Transfers of controller gains, and system time and frequency responses will happen as the design parameters are changed. This level of integration will give faster feedback to the designers of the effectiveness of their design parameter changes, increase the number of design iterations possible in a given time, and decrease the risk of error from repetitive data transfer operations.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This control system modeling, analysis, design, simulation and implementation capability will pro-vide a lab or shop floor instrument for system dynamical testing, empirical modeling, control system analysis, design and simulation, and real-time digital control implementation. We believe that two barriers to placing powerful computer-aided control engineering (CACE) modeling, analysis, design, and implementation tools on the lab or shop floor for use by non specialists are the lack of tools addressing the needs of non specialists and the lack of tools that can handle correctly the non-idealities present in all real world systems. Such a tool will be useful in robotics, motion control, and process control, as well aerospace vehicle control.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.06-2600

Project Title:

AN OBJECT-ORIENTED DESIGN ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR SPACECRAFT & SPACE TECHNOLOGY

Technical Abstract:

Cost Management Systems proposes to develop a methodology and working prototype for an analysis system that will allow NASA designers and technologists to analyze and evaluate space systems designs and technology programs. This system will be based on models and analogies as the primary design mechanisms. The proposed design analysis system will incorporate open-systems technology into a design environment that support multiple, geographically dispersed team members in an intuitive way. These team members will be able to communicate and share concepts, designs, analyses and other information seamlessly across LANs, WANs and the Internet. The information system that provides this design environment will be based on distributed object-oriented technology, allowing the scientists to control both phenomenological and methodological constructs in a straight-forward manner. The developed methodology will employ models, including engineering relationships, heuristics and simulations, coupled with analogies from existing hardware and technologies to assess the performance, cost, schedule and risk of spacecraft and subsystem designs. These methods will function both at the conceptual level, for early analysis of general missions, and at the level of specific designs. Transitions from the conceptual to the design level will be facilitated by the use of a hierarchical information structure.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed methodology and information system will be useful for any integrated group of designers and planners working collaboratively on a complex, engineering system. The current trend in the DoD and aerospace industry towards "integrated product teams" requires a system like the one proposed to operate effectively. In addition, great interest has been shown by commercial organizations, including Fortune 500 companies in the computer, auto, power and consumer electronics industries in integrated design tools that allow shortened design cycles and more complete life-cycle designs. Other government organizations, including the FAA and DOT have expressed interest in information technology systems for product design and analysis.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.07-2983

Project Title:

SOLAR ENERGETIC PROTONS (SEPS) AS FORECASTERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DISTURBANCES

Technical Abstract:

In response to NASA SBIR topic 9.07 Space Environmental Effects, calling for "innovative concepts that predict the environment experienced by spacecraft ..." Carmel Research Center (CRC) proposes to construct an optimum prediction algorithm for interplanetary shocks that cause geomagnetic storms and produce enhanced radiation belt fluxes, thereby endangering space-vulnerable technologies. The CRC algorithm, will be more accurate than current solar-based predictions and will extend the forecast horizon to about one day from the less than 1 hour now in use or achievable with data from a spacecraft located at the upstream Lagrangian point. The effort proposed is that of using currently avail- able data to evaluate the feasibility of an optimum prediction algorithm for predicting the environment experienced by spacecraft. The objective of the CRC project is, to use data to predict onset times and the intensity of shock-induced disturbances. This innovation will improve quantitative predictive capabilities, enabling NASA and other operators of space-vulnerable technologies, to take actions to mitigate disruptions resulting from these disturbances.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Our accurate and long-lead forecasts (of one day or more compared with current ones of less than 1 hour) have many potential customers and applications, including operators of NASA satellites, the International Space Station and shuttles, NOAA's Space Environment Services Center; operators of commercial and communication (e.g., AT&T) satellites; and the military since these technologies can be seriously damaged by environmental disturbances and satellite operators can take actions if given early and accurate warning. The CRC forecasts can be sold to these operators or licensed to current weather services, both government and commercial.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.07-3539

Project Title:

ADVANCED TECHNIQUE FOR ANALYSIS OF SPACECRAFT PROTECTIVE SHIELDS

Technical Abstract:

To better predict the environment experienced by spacecraft inside add- on protective shields, NASA has established a requirement for improved sim- ulation of hypervelocity impact of meteoroid and/or orbital debris upon (and through) the shields. Previously-reported simulation methods are cum- bersome, slow, and costly. By contrast, our method, adapted from the Lagrange node erosion algorithm developed for deep penetration, should be fast and efficient. The technique can deal with irregularly-shaped or porous meteoroids and orbital debris impacting shields incorporating thin layers and non-isotropic composite media, oriented at arbitrary angles of incidence. The objective of the project is to show the feasibility of the tech- nique by simulating tests of hypervelocity impact in two and three dimen- sions and to study the impact on protective shields of projectiles of vari- ous materials, shapes, velocities, and trajectories. The project consists of two tasks in which we will verify and apply the technique, and one in which we will prepare a Final Report. In the project we expect to show that our technique is more efficient than prior methods by approximately two orders of magnitude. Because of its efficiency and versatility, it will be of great practical value in screen- ing and designing protective shields for NASA spacecraft.

Potential Commercial Applications:

STI can market its ability to apply the technique developed in Phase I and Phase II of this project, but a more significant impact will result from the commercialization of this type of technology. As the methodologies of this project are proven, existing and future users of the programs Auto- dyn 2D and Autodyn 3D will benefit. We foresee applications not only in the shielding of spacecraft but also in other commercial, civilian and govern- ment applications such as lightweight armor concepts and advanced manufac- turing methods.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.07-4167

Project Title:

RADIATION HARDENING MICROELECTRONICS BY RAD-COAT CONFORMAL COATING

Technical Abstract:

This project is to develop an innovative material that can be applied to Microelectronic components to provide radiation shielding for space. The material combines a high-Z power in a scientifically optimized form with an adhesive component that is a viscous fluid during application. This form allows simple by precise and localized shielding to a wide variety of microelectronics. After curing or solidification, the material forms a rigid, permanent adherent radiation barrier at minimal cost and weight penalty, and with no degradation to operating characterstics of the microcircuit. The Phase I work will identify the corect particle size ratios, surface treatments, and loadings for maximum density and performance requirements and select the optimum adhesive chemistry, rheology, and application techniques. Phase II will test and screen shielded microcircuits costed with the most promising materials developed in Phase I. This innovative research will determine the feasibility of space radiation hardening commercial microelectronics by application of a dense (high-A) conformal coatingRad-Coat TM. When combined with other technologies to eliminate Single Event Latch-up (SEL), the cost of space hardened microcircuits can be dramatically reduced. If successful, this technology would vastly expand the number of microcircuits available to meet natural space radiation environments for military, NASA, and commercial space programs.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This product will provide low cost, efficient shielding to sensitive microelectronic components which are currently no available in radiation hardened forms for both commercial and governmental space flight equipment manufacturers. This will greatly broaden the availability of components and circuitry which would then be suitable for deep space and orbital programs.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.08-0200

Project Title:

HIGHLY SURVIVABLE MULTI-FIBER OPTIC INTERCONNECTION NETWORKS

Technical Abstract:

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will investigate architectures and control schemes for the next generation multi-fiber optic interconnection networks. The primary objective is to achieve a high level of network survivability which is critical to NASA's future highly automatic space missions. Our innovative approach is to utilize off-the-shelf electronic components that implement state-of-the-art networking standards and to integrate them with advanced technology of multi-chip module (MCM) multi-fiber transceivers. MCM is a feasible technology for the production of small and lightweight modules needed for spaceborne networks. The capability to interface with multiple optical fibers at low cost provides an opportunity to construct an interconnection network that has enhanced system capacity and survivability. Our proposed innovation is extremely important for new advanced but exceedingly small satellites, by today's standards, that are destined to overtake virtually every on-orbit function during the next two decades.

Potential Commercial Applications:

A wide range of applications requiring reliable and high-speed interconnections exist for our highly survivable multi-fiber optic interconnection networks, such as workstation clustering, distributed computing, and spacecraft data networks.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.08-2911

Project Title:

ADAPTIVE COMPRESSION NETWORK

Technical Abstract:

An adaptive optical interconnect network is proposed for data and image compression. The network features counterpropagating light through a single lens. The Fourier optical system uses a deformable grating modulator, CCD detector, and an analog CCD processing section in a monolithic chip as the interface device. The compression of data/images uses a new alogrithm that is a generalization of the wavelet transform. A dual space representation of the data is formed and is output through an electronic interface. The module is a 3D integrated optical/analog electronic hybrid module that is lowpower, lightweight, and small.

Potential Commercial Applications:

signal/ data compression for TV transmission, pattern recognition for medical imaging and analysis, and real-time industrial inspection.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.08-4100

Project Title:

RECONFIGURABLE OPTICAL INTERCONNECTS

Technical Abstract:

Because of the need by both NASA and the domestic sector to process larger volumes of data at greater speeds, it is becoming increasingly important to use optical methods to transfer data in new all-optical or hybrid opto- electronic computer architectures. New interconnects to transfer data are needed to minimize size, cost, and complexity and to increase redundancy of these computer architectures. This program addresses this need through development of new reconfigurable interconnects based on polymeric waveguide structures in which the index of refraction of the waveguide is dynamically and reconfigurably controlled with light. The goal of this Phase I program is to demonstrate the feasibility of using light to reversibly impress holographic gratings in an optical waveguide composed of a novel polymer. These waveguides will exhibit directional characteristics, fanout capability, and switching characteristics that can be dynamically controlled with light. The Phase I program comprises preparing waveguides from these novel polymers and then determining how waveguided light can be controlled with an external light source. The waveguides will be characterized by determining the reconfiguration time and the effects on diffraction efficiency of key variables such as hologram interaction length, wavelength, writing exposure, and waveguide composition.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The ability to dynamically control key optical characteristics of optical waveguides will lead to dense computing capability and flexibility not currently available. These devices could be used as hybrid optically and electronically controlled optical interconnects and switches for a variety of demanding optical-processing and memory applications, such as virtual reality and supercomputing. These devices could be used as reconfigurable interconnects for two-dimensional clock distribution, dynamic holographic waveguide couplers, multiple reconfigurable optical taps, and all- optical switches. The subject materials are also highly optically nonlinear and could be configured as electro- optic waveguides.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.08-8140

Project Title:

IMPROVED THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF MICROWAVE AND MULTICHIP MODULES

Technical Abstract:

The marriage of industrial CVD diamond film wafer, the low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) and the MMIC technologies will improve the thermal efficiencies of transmit/receive modules, high speed integrated circuits and power supplies and will allow greater packaging efficiency, without increasing in size, weight and power consumption of the module; making them more attractive in space, airborne and commercial communications markets. Industrial CVD diamond will be used as substrates with thin film technology in conjunction with MMIC technologies and three dimensional packaging using diamond heat sinks will lead to excellent reliability. Thermal issues of high dissipation devices, such as microwave devices, have always been critical to system designers. This proposal addresses the design of packages that will be useful for high frequency applications. In addition derivatives of the packaging will be addressed towards the low frequency end where fast microprocessors can use the product without sacrificing any performance. Large volume applications exist in Phase Array Radar, Personal communications and Computer products. In Commercial applications, such as cellular telephones, Efficient thermal packages prolong the life of the MMIC amplifier. This package will have a universal applications market.

Potential Commercial Applications:

_ The development of the package, with the goal of low cost and high performance, will find high volume markets spanning from 50 Mhz to well over 20 Ghz .The markets addressed will consist of personal communications, computer chip and microwave T/R module.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

09.08-9302

Project Title:

HIGH CAPACITY FLIGHT/DATA PROCESSOR FOR SPACECRAFT HIGH SPEED NETWORKS

Technical Abstract:

The SEAKR innovation is to advance the state of the art in spacecraft data management by developing a high data rate, high storage capacity data system, similar to a solid state recorder, but with substantially greater capability and multi-tasking flight processor type operation. This "Flight/Data Processor" will handle data rates of multiple Gbits/sec, be capable of storing Terabits of data, support data compression, be fault tolerant, use a unique Error Detection and Correction System so as to provide memory array Bit Error Rates better than 1E-15, provide a radiation hardened 32 bit microprocessor with embedded OS supporting multitasking operation, have storage densities greater than 11 Gbits/kg, and support networking to other instruments. Most spacecraft today have a flight processor for performing spacecraft functions and a separate recorder for storing payload data. With the industry switch to solid state recorders which employ embedded processors, it becomes a natural evolution for the two to be combined into one, i.e. a Flight/Data Processor, thereby eliminating a separate unit. This will result in reduced size, weight, cost, and complexity, and at the same time provide added capability.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Today's technology is constantly demanding more memory capacity. New software needs additional memory, more advanced sensors need more memory, data bases are growing and need more memory. Spacecraft in particular are requiring more data storage and higher data rates. Commercial remote sensing satellites require large, dense memories with high data rates. The Lockheed CRSS, the Earthwatch satellite, the OSC Orbview satellite, to name a few. Interactive T.V., Engineering Work Stations, flight simulators are a few non-space applications that need high capacity, quick access memory.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

10.01-3800

Project Title:

PLASMA-SPRAYED THIN-FILM SELECTIVE EMITTER FOR THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC POWER CONVERSION

Technical Abstract:

Our innovation is a thin film, selective emitter for use in thermophotovoltaic (TPV) applications such as solar TPV (STPV). TPV systems couple photovoltaic (PV) cells, which absorb radiation at specific wavelengths to produce electricity, with a high temperature source that emits thermal radiation. A major impediment to achieving high conversion efficiency in these systems has been to create a low cost, highly durable emitter which is selectively tuned to match the narrow operating band of a PV cell. Most materials emit a broad spectrum of radiation, and only a portion of that is usable by the PV cell. Rare earth metal oxides have the useful characteristic of emitting thermal radiation in a narrow band, but a suitable thin film emitter of pure oxide has not been developed yet. Our innovative fabrication method is to produce rare earth oxide, selective emitter surfaces using plasma deposition. The technique offers the significant advantages of (1) mass production of films at the required thicknesses (50 to 150 mm) over large surface areas, and (2) allowing us to easily adjust the wavelength of the emitter surface to a particular thermal source temperature for maximum efficiency and power density. In Phase I of the project, we will target a concentrated STPV system under development by our commercial partner, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace. We expect to improve the demonstrated conversion efficiency from less than 15% to over 30%. Demonstrated conversion efficiency of 30% will surpass the most efficient solar to electric conversion system a concentrated Stirling dish system. The STPV system will also be more reliable, lighter, cheaper to produce and maintain, and would have no moving parts.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed program addresses the vital need for improvements in energy conversion efficiencies and will advance the state of the art in selective emitter technology for a variety of TPV systems. The result will be a process to mass produce low cost, highly durable, highly efficient selective emitters for a range of TPV applications including mobile power generation, deep space power systems, hybrid EVs, cogeneration of heat and electricity, self powered furnaces, and concentrated solar TPV (STPV) systems. We will demonstrate the emitter in an STPV application which by itself, if proven viable, has an estimated annual market of $100 million per year over the next five years.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

10.02-0655

Project Title:

HIGH ENERGY-DENSITY LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES WITH THIN FILM SOLID ELECTROLYTES

Technical Abstract:

American Research Corporation of Virginia proposes the development of a rechargeable solid electrolyte lithium-ion battery. The cell will use a lithium/graphite LiC6 intercalation anode, a LiCoO2 cathode, and a magnetron-sputtered oxide thin film electrolyte. The battery addresses the need of Subtopic 10.02 for energy-storage systems having high energy-density and cycle life. The project objectives include preparation of thin adherent oxide films for use as electrolytes, assembly of prototype cells using graphite/lithium anodes and LiCoO2 cathodes, chemical and electrochemical characterization, and extensive measurement of the cell charge/discharge characteristics. The proposed effort includes the expertise of ARCOVA personnel with advanced degrees and extensive experience in the field, a nationally known consultant in the field of solid electrolytes, and technical support to achieve the project objectives. The result anticipated from this effort is the demonstration of high energy-density and cycle life of a safe, rugged solid state lithium-ion battery. Expected NASA applications will initially occur for use as a rechargeable power supply for electronic equipment in space, where the benefits are derived from high power-density, cycle life, safety, and thermal and mechanical resilience.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed solid state lithium-ion battery will replace existing secondary battery systems as a high energy-density rechargeable power source in commercial applications in the areas of portable communications, remote sensors, computers, consumer electronics, and transportation equipment.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

10.02-1140C

Project Title:

HYDROTHERMALLY PREPARED LITHIUM METAL OXIDE CATHODE MATERIAL

Technical Abstract:

We propose the preparation of lithium metal oxides from aqueous solutions at elevated temperatures and pressures, with the objective of highly crystalline products exhibiting near-theoretical electrochemical capacities. Conventional manufacture of LiCoO2, LiNiO2, LiMn2O4, and related species involves high temperature solid-state reactions which inevitably result in inhomogenous products containing unreacted starting materials. Such products are susceptible to low capacity and rapid performance fade. It is our belief that the proposed research will culminate in ordered, stoichiometric LiMOx cathode materials for lithium rechargeable batteries with energy densities up to 55% greater than contemporary Li-ion technology and 3-5 times that of commercial nickel-cadmium and nickel-hydrogen systems. The envisioned batteries will power hand-held tools, instruments, and communication devices, and supply energy to larger systems,including life-support and robotic hardware.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The specific market addressed by this research involves compact, light weight power sources that will successfully compete with existing NiCd and NiMH technolgies. Achievement of our goals will improve the quality of portable power supplies for the private and miltary sectors. Such consumer devices as portable telephones, lap-top computers, video equipment, and remote power packs for a variety of hand-held equipment are potential products where applications will be found. Additionally, lithium metal oxide technology is a prime candidate for electric vehicles' power source.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

10.02-2544

Project Title:

OPEN CORE ROTATOR

Technical Abstract:

For space systems, the most important criteria for energy storage optimazation are high energy density and cycle life. FARE proposes the innovative design of a flywheel energy storage system, which we call the Open Core Rotator, which will achieve energy densities in excess of 225 Wh/kg and which will have infinite cyclical life. Additionally, the Open Core Rotator will have unlimited shelf-life, extreme long term reliability, and easy measurement of the state of the charge of the energy storage system. The Open Core Rotator is a unique geometry which eliminates the shaft connection by making the rotor a hollow graphite/epoxy cylinder. On the inside of the rotor a stationary support structure contains magnetic bearings, a single motor/generator armature, and mechanical bearings. Under normal operation the rotor is magnetically suspended and has no mechanical contact with the stationary support structure.

Potential Commercial Applications:

There are many , some of these applications include: electric power load leveling, uninterruptable power supplies, energy storage for electric vehicles, attitude control of spacecrafts, noise reduction in underwater vehicles, magnetic bearings in machinery, and vibration isolation.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

10.02-6744

Project Title:

CHEMICALLY MODIFIED ELECTRODES FOR IMPROVED CAPACITY AND LIFE IN RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES

Technical Abstract:

Oxides such as LiCoO2 have been used as the cathode in recently commercialized rechargeable lithium batteries. However, these highly oxidizing materials attack and decompose liquid electrolytes when fully charged, causing severely shortened cell life and safety hazards. Current designs avoid this problem using voltage limitation, which reduces the achievable energy density by a factor of two. Another solution would be to use an oxidation-resistant polymer electrolyte; however, polymer electrolytes have low conductivities, which limits the discharge rate unacceptably. State-of-the-art oxide cathode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries will be chemically modified to improve their energy density and cycle life. The innovation will combine the oxidation resistance of polymer electrolytes with the high conductivity of liquid electrolytes, by chemically attaching an ultrathin layer of polymer electrolyte to the oxide surface by silanization. This will protect the electrolyte from degradation while adding minimally to cell impedance, and enable a two-fold improvement in energy density. New modified electrodes will be tested in lithium cells and compared to the performance of conventional electrodes. The program will demonstrate that chemically modified electrodes can be incorporated in lithium batteries which are safe, have long cycle and shelf life, and energy density > 150 Whr/kg.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Reliable, high energy, high power rechargeable batteries would find a large market in portable consumer products such as telephones, televisions, video cameras, computers and hand-held tools.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

10.02-7270

Project Title:

AN ADVANCED PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL

Technical Abstract:

This Small Business Innovative Research Phase I project aims to reduce the weight and volume of proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks, thus increasing their gravimetric and volumetric power densities, important concepts for NASA applications, through the development of a unique water transport plate which simultaneously provides water to the PEM to maintain hydration, as well as stack cooling. Research objectives include evaluation of plate fabrication methods, evaluation of plate physical properties and demonstration of the plates in an operating PEMFC. When fully developed, the plates should reduce the weight and volume of state-of-the-art PEMFC stacks by approximately 30% and 25%, respectively. A reduction in stack cost is also projected.

Potential Commercial Applications:

PEMFC-powered vehicles have the potential for a very large market in California, the New England states and other states in the Northeast that have mandated the introduction of zero-emission vehicles by the end of the decade. Volume, weight and cost savings are essential for commercial development of PEMFC powered vehicles. Another potential commercial application is dispersed power generators. Military applications include standard vehicles, unmanned underwater and air vehicles, and person portable back-pack power supplies.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

10.03-0540

Project Title:

NEXT-GENERATION POWER ELECTRONICS MODULE FOR USE IN PMAD SYSTEMS

Technical Abstract:

SatCon Technology Corporation proposes to develop the next- generation power electronics module for use in Power Management and Distibution (PMAD) systems. Building on power hybrid technology advances achieved by SatCon during its direct participation in the Patriot Hybrid Race Car Program, SatCon proposes to reduce package size by an order of magnitude by fully integrating the power and control electronics into a single package. This objective will be accomplished by placing power semiconductors (IGBT, MOSFET and/or Diode), gate drive, low power electronics, and a fully programmable micro controller directly onto a single microelectronics package. SatCon's earlier efforts on the Patriot Hybrid Race Car Program resulted in a packaging density of 20 kilowatts per pound and 440 watts per cubic inch. In contrast, prior art designs had packaging density of 100 watts per cubic inch. The proposed approach for Phase I further simplifies power electronics design and results in a building block amenable to a wide variety of power levels and commercial applications. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

Anticipated benefits include significant reduction in power electronics and control package size and weight giving an increase in packaging density; and a lower total cost for manufacturing power electronics. This technology will improve overall system reliability by being able to monitor its own health as well as be able to respond to system level needs by incorporating "smarts" into the unit. Commercial applications include DC/DC converters and motor controllers, where the current trend is toward smaller packages, higher performance, lower weight, higher reliability, simpler interconnections and lower cost. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

10.03-5709

Project Title:

SILICON CARBIDE INSULATED GATE BIPOLAR TRANSISTOR

Technical Abstract:

Silicon carbide has been projected to have tremendous potential for high voltage solid-state power devices with very high voltage and current ratings because of its electrical and physical properties. The rapid development of the technology for producing high quality single crystal SiC wafers and thin films presents the opportunity to fabricate solid- state devices with power-temperature capability far greater than devices currently available. This capability is ideally suited to the applications of power conditioning in new more- electric or all-electric military and commercial vehicles. These applications require switches and amplifiers capable of large currents with relatively low voltage drops. One of the most pervasive power devices in silicon is the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). However, these devices are limited in their operating temperature and their achievable power ratings compared to that possible with SiC. Because of the nearly ideal combination of characteristics of these devices, we propose to demonstrate the first 4H-SiC Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor in this Phase I effort. Both n-channel and p-channel SiC IGBT devices will be investigated. The targeted current and voltage rating for the Phase I IGBT will be a >200 Volt, 200 mA device, that can operate at 350 C.

Potential Commercial Applications:

High power silicon carbide devices which operate at high temperatures are required for a variety of power conditioning applications on space-based power systems, more- electric airplanes, military electric vehicles, and turbine engine actuators. These applications require switches and amplifiers capable of blocking large voltages and conducting large currents, while operating at elevated temperatures. These devices would also have a large commercial market in the areas of power switching and conditioning, particularly for the motor controllers of electric vehicles.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

10.03-8825

Project Title:

LIGHTWEIGHT, DIMENSIONALLY STABLE PRINTED WIRING BOARDS

Technical Abstract:

This project will develop a constraining core product that can be used for design and production of multilayered printed wiring boards (PWB). The product to be developed will be one fifth the weight of a state of the art constraining core (Copper-Invar-Copper); it will have electrical characteristics that enable power or ground plane operation for high speed digital electronics; it will have a thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) that is matched to surface mount technology (SMT) integrated circuit components. The product is an advanced carbon-carbon composite that is partially metallized using either copper or aluminum. This product is a thin layer (approx. .006 - .012 inch) of material that is laminated into a printed wiring board at two locations. State of the art Copper-Invar-Copper (CIC) boards use one layer as a power plane and the other layer as a ground plane. Carbon-Carbon composites as fabricated do not have adequate electrical conductivity for power or ground plane, however, minor metallization will enable this feature. The TCE of CIC constrained boards is 6.7 ppm/oC which exceeds the TCE of advanced SMT components, i.e. leadless chip carriers or ball grid array components. This product will achieve a TCE of 4 to 5 ppm/oC and it will have approx. 20- 30% higher thermal conductivity compared to a CIC board.

Potential Commercial Applications:

This product will reduce the weight of SOA CIC boards by approx. 50% and it will enable the use of leadless chip carriers (LLCs) components. LLCs require 40% less surface area and hence the size of the boards and/or the total board count in an avionics package can be reduced by 40%. LCCs and BGAs are rapidly becoming the industry standard for commercial electronics. This project will produce PWBs that can be used for any electronics applications.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.01-0003

Project Title:

A NEW METHOD FOR ROCKET NOZZLE MATERIALS EVALUATION

Technical Abstract:

NASA and their contractors are currently limited in their ability to fabricate nozzle materials and design nozzles which are free of thermally induced material failures and excessive nozzle recession. Major improvements in nozzle designs will be difficult without cost effective nozzle material evaluation methods to verify acceptable material performance before building nozzles and firing rocket motors. Physical Sciences proposes a nozzle thermal environment simulation using high power laser radiation to screen candidate nozzle materials and quantify their response to the high heating rate environment. The successful development of this analog material evaluation testing method will provide a major improvement in NASA's capabilities for evaluating nozzle material performance at much lower cost than firing rocket motors.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Following the successful demonstration and proof that the laser heating simulation is a valuable test for evaluating nozzle material behavior, PSI will develop a material screening and material performance characterization testing service. We will offer this custom designed materials testing service to NASA and DoD contractors as a economical method of evaluating materials behavior and nozzle designs in support of their booster design and development programs.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.01-1992A

Project Title:

HIGH-ENERGY DENSITY CRYOGENIC MONOPROPELLANT

Technical Abstract:

ORBITEC proposes to investigate a new and innnovative appproach to the problem of propellant storage, handling, and higher performance for launch vegicle applications. The particular objective of this project is to develop a means of using the temperature of one cryogen to serve as a means to allow the safe storage and handling of the other. The specific objective is to determine the conditions under which one frozen cryogen can be safely mixed with another to farm a stable slurry that contains both fuel and oxidizer. It appears that with proper handling and control, such a mixture could be safely produced and maintained. ORBITEC has produced an experiment plan to test the feasibility of a high-energy density cryogenic monopropellant by investigating the issues of solidification, solid properties, slurry formation, and slurry stability among others. The Phase I work will result in a familiartiy with slurry formation and characteristics leading to a Phase II work effort investigating combustion behavior and rocket motor design applications.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The benefits of this apprach will be to: (1) provide a higher performance, lighter weight, launch vehicle propulsion system; (2) the ability to extend the on-orbit storage time; and (3) to increase the loading desity of this propellant combination. Commercial applications include: enabling of single-stage-to-orbit vehicle; use in satellite power systems, OTV's, space station power systems, future lunar/Mars missions; and other planetary missions.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.01-2490

Project Title:

REGENERATIVELY COOLED C/SIC ROCKET COMBUSTORS

Technical Abstract:

Refractory Composites, Inc. proposes to develop a regeneratively cooled C/SiC combustor subcomponent as a cooled ceramic composite technology demonstration article suitable for initial concept evaluation. The opportunity to operate a regeneratively cooled combustor wall at a wall temperature in excess of 2500 F. has great potential to radically reduce main stage engine weight by a factor on the order of 50%. In Phase I, RCI will demonstrate a planar section with axially oriented coolant channels. Fabrication technology, coolant flow and heat transfer behavior will be characterized in Phase I. Phase II will address further regenerative cooling development and larger scale components for main stage engines.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The ultimate objective for this technology is the manufacture of regeneratively cooled rocket engine components for both expendable and reusable launch vehicles in the early 21st Century. Other potential applications of this cooling technology are possible in regeneratively cooled combustors for hydrogen fueled high speed transport air-breathing engines.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.01-3940

Project Title:

LOW-COST DESIGN AND ANALYSIS METHOD FOR HYDROSTATIC BEARINGS

Technical Abstract:

This project will lower the design and analysis cost of hydro- static bearings through the development and verification of high Reynolds number modeling tools. IHPRPT objectives require smaller, lighter, and higher speed turbopumps. The rocket industry has turned to hydrostatic bearings to achieve these objectives. However, the high Reynolds number associated with these bearings, along with 3-D effects such as tangential injection, make past design assumptions obsolete. Industry is primarily using 2-D, bulk-flow design tools to predict the performance of hydrostatic bearings. The performance of these bearings is highly dependent upon the pressure in the recess. Current tools assume the pressure is uniform; however, research has shown the pressure to be highly non-uniform with variations in excess of an order-of-magnitude. The objective of this program is to measure the recess pressure field and use this data to improve current 2-D design codes and anchor future 3-D codes. During Phase I, AFAB Technologies will design, fabricate, and test a hydrostatic bearing/sensor configuration and demonstrate the capability to measure the pressure profile throughout the recess. In addition, AFAB will identify modifications necessary to its bearing design system, HYDROB, to incorporate non-uniform pressure variations within the recess into the solution of the bearing's performance.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Successful implementation of this program will provide valuable data needed to improve the accuracy of current 2-D design tools and anchor future 3-D design codes. The 2-D design tool HYDROB will be made available to the commercial industry as well as the data for those who wish to modify other design tools, such as HYDROSEALT. With these new design tools, the cost of designing and analyzing hydrostatic bearings will be significantly reduced.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.01-8629

Project Title:

AN INNOVATIVE CONCEPT FOR COOLING LIQUID PROPELLANT ROCKET COMBUSTION CHAMBERS

Technical Abstract:

Advancements in rocket propulsion technologies are needed to increase the performance, and therefore the payload capability, while reducing cost and complexity. Improved performance can be theoretically achieved by higher combustion chamber pressures. However, higher pressures could result in higher wall heating rates. This introduces the need for new wall cooling methods, such as transpiration cooling, that can yield much better results. The proposed effort covers the experimental demonstration of a method for producing sheets of perforated metal that can be rolled into a cylinder and spun into the required rocket throat shape. The metal sheet can have a variable porosity (open area) and hole size along the axis of the cylinder. This can allow for the optimization of the design. The proposed fabrication method has been used to produce uniform cross-section holes with diameters from 2 x 10-6 meter to 1 x 10-3 meter with porosities as high as 70% in pure copper. In order to demonstrate concept feasibility, a sheet of perforated copper, with appropriate hole size and porosity, will be produced in the Phase I program. This sheet will be mechanically deformed in order to demonstrate its formability. A design for a small scale chamber liner with optimized transpiration cooling will also be produced. This chamber liner will be fabricated and tested, in an existing NASA rocket facility, in a Phase II follow-on. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

The production of perforated material for rocket engines to be used by NASA, DOD and commercial producers could provide a very attractive, high value, niche market for Alabama Cryogenic Engineering, Inc. The innovative production method also has a number of potential markets in several fields such as heat transfer filtration, etc. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.02-0315

Project Title:

METHANOL EJECTOR RAMJET

Technical Abstract:

In the past the main storable fuel of interest for ejector ramjets has been kerosene. However, at flight speeds beyond Mach 4.5, kerosene fails because the high temperatures generated in the engine causes it to decompose into carbon and hydrogen and coke up the system. However, because methanol, CH3OH, contains one oxygen atom for every carbon atom, high temperatures will cause it to decompose into carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Thus, methanol fuel should not cause coking. Because the maximum flight velocity of a hydrocarbon fueled ejector ramjet is limited by cooling capacity, methanol may be a better option for fueling such systems than kerosene. We propose to examine the potential performance and develop a design of a methanol fueled ejector ramjet system in Phase I. This design shall be the basis for a brassboard engine build in Phase II, which shall be used as the basis of the propulsion system for a reusable sounding vehicle developed in Phase III. The benefit to NASA will be the development and flight demonstration of a hydrogen-free hypersonic airbreathing engine.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The of the proposed methanol ejector ramjet system are manifold. For example, it could be used as the propulsion system for a high speed civil aircraft. Alternatively, it could be used as the propulsion system for the first stage (either reusable or expendable) of a commercial launch vehicle, or as part of the propulsion system of a commercial single stage to orbit launch system. As a first step requiring limited initial capitalization the use of the methanol ejector ramjet as the primary propulsion system for a reusable sounding rocket suggests itself. Currently, about $120 million per year is spent in the United States alone on sounding rocket missions. The methanol ejector ramjet can achieve the DV required for a sounding mission with vehicle dry mass fractions exceeding 50%. This means that such a system could be designed robustly, as is needed for a reusable system, allowing the savings of millions of dollars per flight. Such demonstration of the ejector ramjet engine in action in an actual flight system will act as an "ice-breaker," encouraging much broader interest in possible applications for RBCC propulsion systems in the aerospace industry.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.02-1235

Project Title:

ENHANCED COMBUSTION PULSEJET ENGINES (ECPJ) FOR MACH 0 TO 3 APPLICATIONS

Technical Abstract:

This proposal describes a novel, high thrust density Enhanced Combustion Pulsejet Engine (ECPE) applicable in the Mach range of 0 to 3. The geometry of this novel engine concept naturally provides for integration into a new combined cycle engine with ramjets. The concept is an intermittent combustion jet engine that harnesses travelling gasdynamically enhanced combustion waves to accomplish compression and chemical reaction. The goal is to obtain an engine which operates in the Mach 0to 3 range, integrates well with ramjets to form a high performance combined cycle engine, and has low weight penalty. The ECPE through the controlled use of the stronggasdynamic waves can be configured to provide both engine aspiration (i.e. static thrust) and relatively high charge compression. These result in several potential benefits from ECPE's including 1) high thrust density, 2) high specific impulse, 3) significant static thrust, 4) natural geometry for integration into a combined cycle engine, and 5) low cost. In addition, the one-dimensional nature of the wave dynamicsleads to ease of scaling for different applications with fixed geometry. In Phase I, this project will conduct the design of a proof-of-concept demonstration with emphasis on establishing cyclic operation. APRI will provide the parts, instrumentation,and support structures that will be assembled and tested to demonstrate of this novel propulsion system.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The significance of the ECPE is to provide a low cost yet high performance and high reliability engine that readily scales for different thrust applications in the Mach0 to 3 range. Commercially, the ECPE may be considered as a replacement for small gas turbine engines that may be integrated into combined cycle engines that are effective and feasible for supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles and weapon systems.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.02-4646

Project Title:

NEUROCONTROL FOR AN AIR BREATHING ROCKET PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Technical Abstract:

It is proposed to verify the feasibility and estimate the performance of a neural propulsion control system for an air breathing rocket. A Decentralized / hierarchical control system will be developed with separate neural or classical controllers for the air liquefacation and enhancement system, the turborocket operating in its turbojet mode, and the turborocket operating in its rocket mode; and a hierarchical controller to coordinate the ALES and turbojet controllers. This system will be designed to maximize oxygen collection and turbojet performance while minimizing fuel usage and water vapor and carbon dioxide contaminants in the collected oxygen. Furthermore, neural/adaptive techniques will be employed to compensate for unknown atmosphere characteristics.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed research program is designed to lead into a Phase III flight test program in which an air liquefacation and enhancement system equipped with our neurocontrols, will be flight tested. Possible experimental testbeds include AAC LoFlyte neurocontrols testbed aircraft as well as experimental packages aboard X-33 and X-34 test flights.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.02-9014

Project Title:

SOLID HYDROGEN FUELING OF A AIR BREATHING SUPERSONIC COMBUSTOR

Technical Abstract:

Wall injection of solid hydrogen into the supersonic airstream of a combustor is proposed to provide ultrafast distributed fuel mixing for a practical large scramjet engine. The proposed Phase 1 program seeks to demonstrate through modeling and simple experiments using existing equipment that solid hydrogen can have an extremely large ablation rate while maintaining the integrity of the solid over a distance controlled by the size of the particle and its speed. Modeling of the complex and unique ablation process of solid hydrogen will be confirmed by high speed injection into nitrogen using a well developed nuclear fusion hydrogen pellet injector. The proposed solid hydrogen fuelling would improve mixing well beyond present concepts, eliminate injector drag, use the thrust of the high velocity fuel itself, and take advantage of the more standard benefits of a higher fuel density. Studies of solid hydrogen technology indicate that it is practical to pump and inject the solid as a 4 K slurry with a very low helium fraction; the helium is not expected to decrease combustion efficiency. The Phase I program seeks to show the feasibility of supersonic solid hydrogen mixing. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

Commercial Applications Potential : The development of a solid hydrogen scramjet fueling system would allow supersonic mixing without protruding injector structures. This system would decrease engine structure drag losses, increase combustion efficiency by increasing mixing, and take advantage of a higher density fuel. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.02-9368A

Project Title:

ESJ RBCC INTEGRATED INLET, INJECTION AND EXIT NOZZLE SYSTEM

Technical Abstract:

"Combined Cycle Engines" functionally and physically integrate more than one propulsion engine thermodynamic cycle into a single engine assembly. Airbreathing capable rocket based combined cycle (RBCC) engines utilize rocket engine driven air ejector compressors followed by fuel burning and expansion of the products of combustion to accelerate a vehicle from Mach 0 to the velocity required for effective and efficient ramjet propulsion. Such a vehicle may then carry out payload, range or velocity type missions through the use of various combinations of RBCC engine integrated ramjet, scramjet and all-rocket propulsion. The project focus is on the ejector mode operation of one type of RBCC engine. This is the Ejector Scramjet engine (ESJ). The mechanically variable inlet systems and propellant injection systems presently envisaged for ESJ RBCC engines are complex and heavy. The project Phase I objective is to establish the technical feasibility of an innovative approach to the design of an integrated ESJ inlet, propellant injection and exit nozzle system of significantly reduced weight and complexity. The Phase II objective will be to demonstrate technical practicality in a "proof-of-concept" engine system.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Unlike all-rocket propelled vehicle systems, airbreathing capable ESJ RBCC engines can function efficiently in supersonic and hypersonic atmospheric flight missions. Such propulsion systems are additionally capable of the ETO missions that have, to date, been the exclusive domain of all-rocket propulsion. Thus airbreathing capable ESJ RBCC powered vehicle systems can be considered for defense, civil and commercial applications in three different air transportation marketplaces: the supersonic flight, hypersonic flight and ETO flight transportation products marketplaces. This is contrasted to the single ETO marketplace opportunity available to all-rocket propelled vehicles. This larger market opportunity will decrease the financial risk of commercialization of very high speed air and ETO transportation systems in both the domestic and foreign marketplaces by significantly increasing the revenue/earnings base for the recovery of DDT&E, manufacturing and operating costs.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.03-2018O

Project Title:

PROPULSION SYSTEM HEALTH MANAGEMENT WORKBENCH

Technical Abstract:

Our integrated health management "workbench" reduces the time, manpower and costs for diagnostic data analysis and recertification of reusable launch vehicle propulsion systems. Over the last five years, NASA and its contractors have developed advanced algorithms and methods targeted for improved launch vehicle propulsion system health management. Lacking in this research has been the substantial development of an integrated framework within which operations-oriented users may capture, access, manipulate and annotate features and events observed in the data or detected by these health management algorithms and tools. We solve several significant research problems enabling these advanced methods for operational support of NASA flight systems through the development of an innovative set of software tools which: 1) provide graphical knowledge capture and user interface tools allowing non-programmers to quickly define significant features and events in operations data; 2) provide for integration of advanced propulsion system diagnostic algorithms, such as software-based sensor data validation; 3) provide a full suite of integrated data analysis and visualization tools; and 4) provide automated generation of code modules for feature and event detection. Our competitive analysis and NASA's development experience confirm that these innovations provide a new and original capability for system health management.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Our product strategy is centered around production and delivery of a user friendly software tool environment which enables engineers and scientists to rapidly construct and maintain system health management applications. It is our goal to complement this product with a comprehensive offering of engineering services ranging from user training to development and support of turnkey systems. Our targeted market niche is diagnostic and informed maintenance monitoring for aerospace, utility and chemical process industries.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.03-2160A

Project Title:

MICRO GAS RHEOSTAT

Technical Abstract:

A Micro Gas Rheostat using Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) design and fabrication methods will be designed, and critical parts will be fabricated. The Micro Gas Rheostat is a solid state electronic, no-moving-part, silicon chip that regulates the mass flow rate of a gas up to mass turn down ratios of 3:1. High specific impulse electrostatic ion propulsion Stationary Plasma Thrusters (SPTs) have been used by the Russians for station keeping and repositioning of GEO communication satellites. SPT and other electrostatic propulsion system technologies (Thruster with Anode Layer, 30-cm Ion Thruster, etc.), are in various stages of research, development, qualification and production throughout the world for GEO and interplanetary spacecraft. Electrostatic ion thrusters require Xenon gas storage and feed systems, and more gas controls are used at each thruster. Several independently controlled Xenon gas supplies are required at each thruster. Xenon feed systems and thruster controls using traditional control methods are very complex and heavy. Utilization of silicon Micro Gas Rheostats will simplify, reduce mass, minimize cost and improve reliability of Xenon propulsion systems.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Marotta envisions several commercial market opportunities for the Micro Gas Rheostat, and a variation without the heater element, called a Micro Flow Resistor. Some are listed below: Micro- Micro- Gas Rheostat Flow Resistor 1. GEO Satellite Propulsion X (Electrostatic Thrusters & Xe Feed Systems) 2. Ventilators (breathing assist devices & other medical devices) X X 3. Microsatellite Propulsion (Arcjet Thrusters & N2H4 Feed Systems) X 4. Drug Infusion Pumps & Devices X 5. Analysis Instruments X X 6. Aircraft & other Hydraulic Systems X 7. Drug & Biotechnology Processing X

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.03-4004

Project Title:

HELIUM-BUFFER SEAL

Technical Abstract:

Helium Buffer Seals are used in Liquid Oxygen (LOX) Pumps to separate hydrogen enriched steam from the cryogenic liquid oxygen. A prime example is the space shuttle main engine LOX pumps. Prior investigations have shown that advanced fluid-film seals can significantly improve performance and reduce leakage. The savings in helium storage requirements translate to an additional 1000 pounds of payload that could be carried aboard the shuttle. The proposed program is intended as a technology development program for potential application to future propulsion systems. Shuttle pump conditions are used for model purposes. Design and analysis of two circumferential sectored buffer seals are proposed. The first involves modifications to improve a T-shaped sector that had been previously investigated.. The second design employs opposed L- shaped sectors. The program will establish configurations, produce peformance predictions and design drawings.

Potential Commercial Applications:

These buffered seals can be utilized where ever a particular system contains a pressure generating device, such as a compressor, and where system fluids require absolute separation. An example is the prevention of high temperature gas from entering an oil lubricated bearing compartment and causing oil coking. Machinery examples include high temperature turbochargers , jet engines, gas turbines, gas generators and centrifugal compressors.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.03-6818

Project Title:

HIGH PERFORMANCE CERAMIC COMPOSITES FOR INSULATORS FOR ARCJET THRUSTERS FOR ON-ORBIT APPLICATIONS

Technical Abstract:

Operation conditions in high performance arcjets have pushed the limits of existing ceramic technology to be able to provide electrical insulators. Operation conditions are unique and require the development of unique materials. It is proposed to develop ceramic composite materials which will withstand the thermal and thermochemical environment in hydrazine or ammonia arcjets better than materials presently in use. Specimens shall be fabricated and evaluated in exposure tests at temperatures up to 2000C. After testing the ceramic composites shall be evaluated for microstructure and morphology changes and for thermochemical reactions between themselves and tungsten alloys. Barrier materials shall be identified and tested which will inhibit thermochemical reactions between the insulators and the metallic components of the arcjets.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Arcjets are currently in use in commercial communications satellites. Improved insulators will find and immediate market in both arcjets and other high specific impulse thrusters.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.03-7388

Project Title:

AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF PRODUCING RHENIUM COMBUSTION CHAMBERS

Technical Abstract:

There is a need to produce, on a repeatable basis, high quality powder metallurgy rhenium combustion chambers that are less expensive than the current units. The present method is to produce such units from solid ingots using various advanced machining methods that are both time consuming and expensive. We propose to develop one NASA standard 25 pounder by adapting metal spin-form techniques to meet the unique requirements and difficulties to shape rhenium. If successful, this project will greatly reduce the amount of material required to make such combustion chambers and give greater flexibility in designing larger units at a relatively low cost. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

Rhenium combustion chambers have been produced and tested for several years and have demonstrated their unique high temperature properties. The aerospace industry requires a lower cost alternative to the present method of making such chambers. Pure rhenium is the material of choice, as it has excellent low and high temperature mechanical properties, even in the recrystallized condition. As rhenium chambers can operate at very high temperatures, they can generate more thrust per unit of fuel used. This leads to a longer life in orbit for the same amount of fuel or more payload and less fuel for an unchanged time in orbit. The cost savings for operating satellites, be it for commercial or government applications, will be substantial. Once developed, the technique for spin-forming of rhenium can be applied to making other parts for high temperature applications such as missile components, solar power units, other energy generating units, and decontamination of hazardous waste. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.04-3887

Project Title:

REFRACTORY MATERIALS BRAZING FOR REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE PROPULSION SYSTEMS

Technical Abstract:

Materials Resources in co-operation with Rocketdyne will demonstrate joining of refractory and ceramic matrix composite (C/C and C/SiC) materials to metals for development of propulsion systems for reusable launch vehicles. Brazing of dissimilar materials result in high thermal stresses due to CTE mismatches between metals and composite materials and create a weak brazed joint. MRI proposes a novel technique, i.e., WideGap brazing to join metals to refractory composites. Our innovation uses a braze material consisting of a filler braze metal and an additive material with melting temperature higher than braze temperature. Proper selection of the braze filler and the additive materials will tailor the CTE gradient and thickness of the braze, and result in formation of stable joints with minimum thermal stresses. Using this innovative brazing technique, we will develop C/C and C/SiC to metal joints for high temperature propulsion system applications in reusable launch vehicles. The Phase I program will focus on development of good brazed joint. The joints will be characterized for strength, thermal cycling and thermal conductivity. Rocketdyne will support MRI in this program with guidance on joint design and testing and assist in commercialization of the technology.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The commercial applications for WideGap brazing are in areas of joining dissimilar materials for electronics packaging, thermal management, propulsion systems in launch vehicles, actively cooled structures and heat exchangers. In addition commercial application also exist in bio-medical x-ray tubes (over $800 million/per year), fabrication and repair of tubes for chemical and power industry (over $ 1.5 billion per year). Other major applications include braze healing of turbine blades for jet engines and dissimilar materials joining of turbine components.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.04-4449A

Project Title:

FRACTURE ANALYSIS OF MMCS PRODUCED BY THE APICTM PROCESS USING LASER MOIRE INTERFEROMETRY

Technical Abstract:

This proposed effort features two innovations: 1) Characterization of the fracture process of metal matrix composites (MMCs) by laser Moir interferometry and, 2) the application of that technique to microstructural improvement of a unique class of materials manufactured by the APIC (Advanced Pressure Infiltration Casting) process. This effort will characterize the fracture properties of selected MMCs that have potential use in launch structures. The primary objective is to characterize mode I fracture behavior of three highly loaded particulate Al matrix composites (Alumina, SiC, B4C reinforcements) and one continuous fiber reinforced (Nextel 610TM) Al alloy. Precracks will be placed in specimens and fractures will be analyzed using a fiber optic two-beam Moir interferometer. Phase shifting enhancements to this technique will be made which are unique to Idaho National Engineering Lab, APIC features near-absolute net-shape casting of composite components that require zero machining for most applications. As a result of this process and its efficiencies, APIC is lower in cost than any other MMC process. Design integration and database generation of MMCs are also featured. This program will increase the basic knowledge of fracture and life of structures made from MMCs, the lack of which has retarded their usage.

Potential Commercial Applications:

Launch vehicle and satellite structures, propulsion and structural components for commercial aerostructures, sporting goods, and automotive engine and suspension components. Connecting rods for a Ferrari Formula One engine, for example, have been cast by MMCC Inc. and reduced mass from 585g to 190g - a weight savings of 67.5%. Automotive braking system components alone could result in a $4B world wide business.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.04-6832

Project Title:

ROTORDYNAMIC SEAL AND BEARING TESTER

Technical Abstract:

Turbopump seals and bearings are key to achieving rotor stability, longevity, better maintenance, low leakage, simpler assembly, and low cost. Damping seal retrofits stabilize the rotors of high pressure turbopumps in the Space Shuttle Main Engine. The damping seals also function as long-life bearings and offer new turbopump design opportunities. Rotordynamic analyses and seal tests prominently contributed to the solution. Yet, key benefits remain dormant unless the turbopump design for reusable launchers follows a bolder approach. For example, a preliminary design that includes seal type bearings yields substantial savings, and superior safety. The bold approach requires a reliable and innovative low-cost Rotordynamic Seal and Bearing Tester as this Phase I design proposes. The preferred test fluid is water. The leak-free design readily adapts to cryogenic fluids. The Phase I testers fabrication phase is Phase II, while Phase III is the design and fabrication phase of the testers cryogenic version. The final phase is the data production by the customer. The Phase I design of the Rotordynamic Seal and Bearing Tester addresses the feasibility of reliably producing rotordynamic data and load limits. The feasibility goes into the details of instrumentation, data reduction, rotor stability, flow parameters, facility requirements, and structural loads.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The Rotordynamic Seal and Bearing Testers serve as a hands-on tool to familiarize industry with seal bearings. The testers selling points are the promotion of seal bearings via demonstration, rotordynamic testing at low-cost, and the prototyping of seal bearings in marketable sizes. The commercialization of the tester resembles the reinvestment of a space dividend by enabling the transfer of a NASA technology and expertise. The tester should attract entrepreneurs searching for new technology. Abroad, damping seals have found the attention of pump builders that led to a commercial application in Germany.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.04-8798

Project Title:

NEURAL NETWORK BASED FRF MEASUREMENT CHARACTERIZATION

Technical Abstract:

An artificial neural network approach is proposed to characterize frequency response functions (FRFs) obtained in structural dynamics testing of large systems including launch vehicles. A modal test of large structures often result in the measurement of thousands of FRFs. Currently, FRF measurement problems caused by accelerometer debonding, signal dropouts, etc. often must be detected by experienced analysts manually reviewing reams of test data. The neural network approach provides an automated mechanism well suited to screening FRF measurement data for patterns indicative of problems thus significantly reducing the labor in the review process while increasing the accuracy and reliability of the data. The technical objective of this Phase I activity is to establish the feasibility of this neural network approach and to determine what other FRF characteristics can be identified using this technique. This activity will develop and configure the neural network architecture including the number of inputs required, how many hidden layers of neurons are needed, and number of outputs requested. The FRF training data will be assembled and employed to support the neural network learning process. The developed architecture will be applied to several test cases to quantify system accuracy as a measure of innovation feasibility.

Potential Commercial Applications:

It is currently envisioned that a successful neural network based FRF char- acterization tool can be fashioned (and marketed) in such a way as to complement existing software tools in the experimental modal analysis market. While the current crop of modal analysis tools are quite effective for linear systems, it is the objective of this research to develop a user friendly tool that provides insight into systems that possess certain nonlinear characteristics. Additionally, it is anticipated that the FRF screen for sensor debonds, dropouts, etc. can significantly reduce the amount of effort required in determining if and when a sensor problem does arise. If this innovation proves reliable, the implementation flexibility of a neural network based FRF characterization tool provides a wide range of marketing alternatives. For example, current modal analysis software providers could be offered a software emulation of the network which would be exercised within their systems. Alternatively, by using dedicated neural computing boards, a hardware implementation of the network could be bundled with current signal analyzers for a relatively low price. This freedom of implementation (in software or hardware) will allow bd Systems the capability of pursuing both hardware and software portions of the experimental modal analysis market.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.04-9282

Project Title:

ADVANCED REUSABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY

Technical Abstract:

The ascent plume induced base heating environment is an important design consideration for the RLV. Significant TPS weight and vehicle turn-around costs can be reduced if the base heating environment is well-known. In the past, scale model ground tests have provided environments which were scaleable to flight conditions. Recent experience has relied on CFD to define the environment, but cost and complexity have limited their success. Model testing is still a requirement, but better test methods are needed. Qualis proposes to develop improved base heating test techniques and model designs which will enable RLV base heating tests to be more flexible, have quicker response time, and significantly lower costs. Qualis' approach utilizes an innovative external (to the test cell) coiled loop propellant delivery system which can accommodate various propellants and flow rate requirements. An integral mixer/igniter combustion chamber and innovative combustion gas distribution system will offer flexibility in the base geometry, number of engines, and gimbal limits. A cold flow mock-up system will be demonstrated in Phase I to establish feasibility, test flexibility, and preliminary costs. Tests parameters, model design and data requirements will be developed in cooperation with contractor(s) selected for the RLV flight demonstration program.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The base heating test improvements will be utilized by the NASA/RLV contractor/Qualis cooperative team to plan, implement, and conduct a low cost, quick response base heating test to assist the RLV design. The improved techniques and spin-off hardware such as the improved propellant delivery system will be commercially marketed to launch vehicle contractors worldwide.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.05-1992A

Project Title:

GAS-FED VORTEX COMBUSTION HYBRID ROCKET ENGINE

Technical Abstract:

An innovative hybrid rocket engine is proposed which offers increased regression rate of the fuel grain, more simple grain geometry and the prospect of cartridge loading, thereby resolving several known limitations of todays hybrids. We propose to exploit a little-known, recently encountered vortex flow field phenomenon in a radial inflow grain design. This project will lead to significant advancement in hybrid rocket engine technology. Improved performance, and better integration of the propulsion system into the vehicle are expected immediate results. Benefit to NASA will be a generic new option in the design of hybrid rocket engines. The objectives of the project are to demonstrate and mathematically define the flow field, and to test small scale combustion devices in Phase I. In Phase II the objective will be to design, build and fire a hybrid rocket in the 500 lbf thrust class. Phase III objectives include the demonstration and commercialization of the new hybrid in a prototype propulsion system configuration. NASA applications include hybrid boosters and upper stages. The benefits of this technology will be lower cost hybrids, with improved vehicle integration, having higher performance and better propellant mass fractions, while retaining the acknowledged hybrid advantages of safety, simplicity and reliability.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The development of an understanding of the unusual vortex flow field which is the basis for this proposal will possibly impact a wide variety of commercial combustion devices. Typical applications would be in the combustion chambers of fossil fuel central power stations, fired boilers and retorts, gas-fired home furnaces and possibly the combustion chambers of turbojet engines. The hybrid rocket engines resulting from the project will be reusable by virtue of enabling the cartridge loading feature, and could be integral with the air frame of vehicle. This would support a reusable booster stage for commercial launches.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.05-7500

Project Title:

A PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR AN UPPER STAGE OF A LAUNCH VEHICLE

Technical Abstract:

A magnetically confined plasma which utilizes fusion reactions is proposed as a propulsion system for an upper stage of a launch vehicle that could be employed in interplanetary travel. It makes use of a confinement scheme known as the magnetic mirror in which a hot plasma is radially contained in a solenoidal geometry by a magnetic field with a configuration that allows a certain fraction of the plasma to escape axially producing thrust. Unlike the ordinary mirror machine, the particle density in the proposed device will be sufficiently high to allow the plasma to behave like a continuous medium - a fluid with properties that render it especially suitable for advanced propulsion. Such a system can be constructed with almost present day or near-term technology drawing on relevant research that has accumulated over the past three decades. A detailed analytical and computational investigation of the confinement physics of the device as well as the propulsive capability of this Gas Dynamic Fusion Rocket (GDFR) will be carried out where it will be shown that it is capable of producing specific impulses well in excess of 100,000 seconds and thrusts in the tens of kilonewtons.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The very large specific impulse and thrust expected to be generated by the gas dynamic fusion rocket will allow this system to serve as a space transport vehicle that would enable manned interplanetary missions to be undertaken in relatively short times.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.06-0236

Project Title:

CORROSION-PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR IRON-BEARING ALLOY COMPONENTS

Technical Abstract:

Aqueous nitric acid exposure and high stress levels are common environmental conditions in which components of small chemical propulsion systems routinely operate. Iron-bearing alloys, in particular, suffer from preferential iron attack and loss, which not only degrades the component but also diminishes the function of other components as corrosion products deposit downstream. In this Phase I project, Ultramet proposes to develop and test cost-effective chemical vapor deposited (CVD) tantalum/niobium (Ta/Nb) alloy coatings and evaluate their performance as corrosion-protective barriers, to increase the operational life and reliability of small chemical propulsion system components. The thin (0.001- 0.002"), economical Ta/Nb coatings will have high strength and ductility and will be impervious to the corrosive agents present in virtually all propellant combustion environments. Preliminary chemical and mechanical testing will be conducted at Ultramet, and final testing of the optimized coating(s) will be performed in a cooperative effort with Kaiser Marquardt, a recognized leader in chemical rocket propulsion. In addition, the costs associated with process scale-up and production-scale coating will be determined, and the potential for retro-coating propulsion system components already in use will also be evaluated.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The successful completion of the proposed project will result in the development of economical Ta/Nb alloy coatings as protective barriers for applications requiring corrosion resistance. Potential applications include linings for tanks and piping used in storage and delivery of corrosive materials, as well as satellite propulsion systems.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Proposal Number:

11.06-7270

Project Title:

AN ADVANCED ELETROLYSIS CELL FOR THRUSTER SYSTEMS

Technical Abstract:

Advances are needed to achieve major reductions in the cost of placing and maintaining payloads in the desired orbit for advanced space military as well as commercial applications. To meet this need, Giner, Inc. proposes to develop a unique proton-exchange membrane (PEM) static water electrolysis system for use as a propulsion system in an advanced satellite orbit maintenance engine. The proposed hydrogen/oxygen fueled engine, the reactants being generated from water in a solar-powered electrolyzer, offers many advantages compared to the presently used hydrazine or monomethyl hydrazine/nitrogen tetroxide fueled rocket engine. To achieve the high reliability necessary for zero maintenance over 10 years, the water electrolyzer should have no moving parts. Giner, Inc. proposes to develop a water electrolyzer whereby water vapor is fed to the electrolysis cell through use of statically pressurized water chambers having unique self-contained water vapor transport membranes. By feeding water vapor to the hydrogen cathodes, the water vapor is automatically controlled with essentially no loss. Waste heat is removed by conduction to the satellite structure, providing a simple and reliable system. The key innovation and subject of this Phase I SBIR proposal is the development of an innovative water vapor transport membrane and its corresponding integration into a static PEM electrolyzer.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The use of Earth-orbiting satellites for commercial surveillance applications is increasing and would benefit from an electrolytic H2/O2 fueled orbit maintenance engine. Alternative applications include 1) oxygen generators for space and undersea life support, and 2) hydrogen generator for laboratory chromatographic applications, electrical generator cooling and