National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Small Business Innovation Research & Technology Transfer 2003 Program Solicitations

TOPIC A2 Vehicle Systems

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A2.01 Propulsion System Emissions and Noise Prediction and Reduction
A2.02 Electric and Intelligent Propulsion Techn ologies for Environmentally Harmonious Aircraft
A2.03 Revolutionary Technologies and Components for Propulsion Systems
A2.04 Airframe Systems Noise Prediction and Reduction
A2.05 Revolutionary Propulsion Research for Core Technologies
A2.06 Modeling and Control of Complex Flows Over Aerospace Vehicles and Propulsion Systems


The Vehicle Systems Program is about Outcomes for the Public Good: Environmentally Friendly Aircraft, Air Vehicles for Public Mobility, Superior Air Power, and New Aeronautical Missions. Vehicle Systems does this by looking at three Objectives: Transportation System Concepts, Vehicle Capabilities and Enabling Technologies. The Vehicle Systems Program is developing revolutionary technologies at the laboratory, component or subsystem level. The majority of the resources are allocated for fundamental research to find breakthrough technologies through three projects: Tailored Lightweight Structures, Robust Reliability, and Electric Hybrid Propulsion. These projects develop the fundamental technologies needed to enable the change state in aeronautics. Existing and newfound knowledge is refined through field tests through three more projects: Efficient Aerodynamic Configurations, Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology, and Quiet Aircraft Technology. These projects focus on the integration of these technologies into subsystems and systems that can be developed with industry partners into highly leveraged products. To measure the overall progress, Vehicle Systems accelerates the technology integration and maturation through two Vehicle Sector Integration Projects: Strategic Vehicle Architectures and Flight and System Demonstrations. The Strategic Vehicle Architectures Project conducts system level integration studies, and the Flight and Systems Demonstrations Project conducts concept development and research flight testing.

A2.01 Propulsion System Emissions and Noise Prediction and Reduction
Lead Center: GRC

Emissions: Current environmental concerns with subsonic and supersonic aircraft center around the impact of emissions on the Earth's climate. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are the major emittants of concern coming from commercial aircraft engines. Current state-of-the-art engines and com- bustors in most subsonic aircraft are fuel efficient and meet the 1996 ICAO nitrogen oxide (NOx) limits. Recent observations of aircraft exhaust contrails (from both subsonic and supersonic flights) have resulted in growing concern over aerosol, particulate, and sulfur levels in the fuel. In particular, aerosols and par- ticulates from aircraft are suspected of producing high altitude clouds which could adversely affect the Earth's climatology. Advanced concepts research for reducing CO2 and NOx, and analytical and experimental research in characterization (intrusive and non-intrusive) and control (through component design, controls, and/or fuel additives) of gaseous, liquid and particulates of aircraft exhaust emissions is sought. Specific aircraft operating conditions of interest include the landing-takeoff cycle as well as the in-flight portion of the mission. Areas of particular interest include:


Noise: Engine noise reduction technologies are required in the areas of propulsion source noise, nacelle aeroacoustics, and engine/airframe integration. Some of the key technologies needed to achieve these goals are revolutionary propulsion systems for reduced noise without significant increases in cost and emissions. Noise reduction concepts need to be identified that provide economical alternatives to conventional propul- sion systems. NASA is soliciting proposals in one or more of the following areas for propulsion system noise reduction:


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A2.02 Electric and Intelligent Propulsion Technologies for Environmentally Harmonious Aircraft
Lead Center: GRC

With the increased emphasis on safety, enhanced performance and affordability, and the need to reduce the environmental impact of aircraft, there are many new challenges being faced by the designers of aerospace propulsion systems.

Electric aircraft propulsion & power systems have the potential to completely eliminate harmful emissions from aircraft while at the same time doubling fuel efficiency. Major strides have been achieved in the development of electrical systems and components, especially in the automotive field. We now appear to be on the threshold of viable electric flight. There are still major technical advances required to make commercially viable electric aircraft a reality, but the goal does now appear to be achievable, possibly even in the nearer term for smaller family-sized air vehicles. To achieve the implementation of environmentally harmonious twenty-first century air vehicles, innovations are needed to enable highly efficient, low-cost, power-dense (weight and volume) electric aircraft propulsions & power systems.

Intelligent propulsion technologies have the potential to enable the design of extremely safe, high performance propulsion systems that will also meet the stringent affordability and environmental requirements of the future. For turbomachinery-based propulsion systems, the approach has been to design engine components such as combustors, fans and compressors, inlets, nozzles, etc., for optimum component performance within some overall system constraints, the control problem was to transition the operating point of the engine from one set point to another in the most expedient manner without compromising safety. With the advancements in information technologies and various disciplines relevant to aeropropulsion, the component designers are beginning to realize the potential of "Intelligent Engines" in helping them meet more stringent design requirements.

Implementation of intelligent propulsion concepts requires advancements in the area of robust control synthesis techniques and automated diagnostics, and development of advanced enabling technologies such as smart sensors and actuators. Attention will also need to be paid to integration of the active component control and diagnostics technologies with the control of the overall propulsion system. This will require moving from the current analog control systems to distributed control architectures.

Technical areas of interest in electric aircraft propulsion and power include, but are not limited to, fuel cells, power management, power conditioning, power distribution, actuators, motor drive systems, fuel storage (especially hydrogen). Highly integrated dual function components, and systems that have the potential to reduce overall weight are of special interest (e.g., power conductors that are integrated into the airframe structure, motors directly integrated into the fan/propeller structure, etc.). Both component and system level technologies are solicited. Also of interest are aviation Jet-A fuel reformers and desulfurizers that integrate with fuel cell systems. These must provide effluent hydrogen with target sulfur concentrations of 10 ppm or less, minimize the need for water or steam, operate without damaging coke formation, and be compact, lightweight, durable and long life.

Intelligent propulsion technologies that address electric, turbine, jet and/or hybrid aerospace propulsion systems are of interest. Proposals focusing on development of advanced diagnostics, health monitoring and control concepts, and smart sensors, electronics and actuators for enabling self-diagnostic and prognostic, and self-reconfiguration capabilities being sought. Concepts integrating distributed sensing and, actuation and control logic for micro-level control of parameters, such as propulsion system internal flows, that impact performance and environment, are of special interest. Novel instrumentation approaches that provide valuable information for development and validation of technologies for self-diagnosis, prognosis and reconfiguration are also of interest.

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A2.03 Revolutionary Technologies and Components for Propulsion Systems
Lead Center: GRC

NASA seeks highly innovative concepts for propulsion systems and components for advanced high-speed aerospace vehicles to support missions, such as access to space, global cruise, and high-speed transports. The main emphasis in this subtopic is on high-risk, breakthrough technologies in order to revolutionize aerospace propulsion over a broad flight spectrum, up to Mach 8. Proposals offering significant advancements in critical components and designs for propulsion systems and subsystems are sought. Specific technical areas include the following:


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A2.04 Airframe Systems Noise Prediction and Reduction
Lead Center: LaRC

Innovative technologies and methods are necessary for the design and development of efficient, environmentally acceptable airplanes, rotorcraft, and advanced aerospace vehicles. Improvements in noise prediction and control are needed for jet, propeller, rotor, fan, turbomachinery, and airframe noise sources to reduce the impact on community residents, aircraft passengers and crew, and launch vehicle payloads. Innovations in the following specific areas are solicited:


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A2.05 Revolutionary Propulsion Research for Core Technologies
Lead Center: GRC

This subtopic addresses structural and mechanical components and subsystems, and advanced materials for Aerospace Propulsion and Power Systems. Proposals are sought for innovative and commercially viable concepts which address objectives, depending on application, such as enable lighter weight, reduced operational costs, noise or emissions, higher temperature capability, increased efficiency or operational margin, greater safety and reliability, and more time on station for aircraft, satellites, and inflatable platforms.

One focus is on problems related to structural and mechanical components and subsystems that operate at high temperatures, in hostile aero-thermo-chemical environments or space environments, and at high stresses under cyclic loading conditions. Interests include tribological coatings, seals, bearings, gears and transmissions, and approaches to noise attenuation.

A second focus addresses advanced materials, their development, and their application to primary propulsion systems such as aircraft gas turbines, rocket and turbine-based combined cycle engines, and rocket engines as well as auxiliary power sources in aircraft and space vehicles. Materials of interest include any classes especially used in propulsion systems such as high-temperature polymers and composites, metals including titanium alloys and nickel-base superalloys, ceramics and ceramic matrix composites, and coatings for these, and processes for their economical and reliable preparation.

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A2.06 Modeling and Control of Complex Flows Over Aerospace Vehicles and Propulsion Systems
Lead Center: LaRC
Participating Center(s): ARC

This subtopic solicits innovative ideas, concepts, and methodologies for the measurement, prediction, modeling and control of unsteady aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic phenomena that may be encountered by aerospace vehicles. Biologically inspired approaches and/or ideas for flow control are also solicited in this subtopic. Also of interest are advanced measurement systems and ground-testing techniques to provide dynamic and global measuring capabilities, higher bandwidth, and improved resolution. Additionally, the subtopic is interested in innovative computational and experimental techniques that account for the complex aerothermodynamic, mixing, and combustion phenomena impacting the design and development of future space transportation vehicles, aero-assist orbital transfer vehicles, planetary entry probes, and hypersonic airbreathing propulsion systems. Unsteady phenomena of interest include, but are not limited to, active and passive flow-control mechanisms; vortical and separated flows; equilibrium and finiterate chemistry; thermodynamic and transport properties of multicomponent mixtures, gaseous radiation, gas-surface interactions, mixing and combustion, shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions; and laminar, transitional, and turbulent reacting and nonreacting flows. Specific areas of interest include:



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