The objective of this project is to develop colloidal thrusters capable of producing the thrust levels required to overcome drift and maintain individual microsatellites at their assigned positions. In the Phase I research on this project, we showed that the use of capillarity driven flow of… More

The objective of this project is to develop colloidal thrusters capable of producing the thrust levels required to overcome drift and maintain individual microsatellites at their assigned positions. In the Phase I research on this project, we showed that the use of capillarity driven flow of… More

An Electrospray Collector of Aerosol Contaminants or ECAC is proposed. The ability of electrospray ionization to perform as a getter of airborne contaminants offers a new means of CBW agent collection for widespread battlefield use. Sampler is capable ofcollecting all polar species, including spores… More

In the field of electric space propulsion, specifically colloidal propulsion, there has been significant improvements of recent date in the development of small micro-fabricated arrays operating in the single Taylor Cone per emitter regime. To increase thrust, the density of 2-D arrays must be… More

In colloidal propulsion, there have been significant improvements in 1-D micro-fabricated arrays operating in the single Taylor cone per emitter regime. Unfortunately, this arrangement necessitates the construction of very large colloidal thrusters inefficiently utilizing a limited amount of area… More

The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in warfare, reconnaissance, and surveillance activities has increased dramatically over the past decade and, for the first time, offers cost effective, intelligence-gathering capabilities without placing soldiers and sailors at unnecessary risk. Current UAV… More

A growing number of electronic devices are being implanted in patients to treat a wide range of maladies. While these devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex, they are powered by conventional chemical batteries with limited operating life and power output. These conventional… More

In stark contrast to current stagnation-based methods for capturing airborne particulates and biological aerosols, our demonstrated, cost-effective electrospray technology employs an entirely different approach based on the remarkable effectiveness of small, highly charged liquid droplets formed… More

In stark contrast to current stagnation-based methods for capturing airborne particulates and biological aerosols, our demonstrated, cost-effective electrospray technology employs an entirely different approach based on the remarkable effectiveness of small, highly charged liquid droplets formed… More

Mass spectrometers necessitate a partial pressure zone to allow for the process of mass characterization of the analyte under consideration. The reasons for transforming neutral molecules into charged ions include (1) the ability to control the trajectories and destinations of charged species by… More

  To detect and identify vapors of contraband currency, not to mention a selection mode for explosives, narcotics, chemical warfare agents, biological threats or other analyte species at trace levels in air, is an important problem with many ramifications. One widely used approach is based on… More

The proposed research is in response to the In-flight Biological Sample Preservation and Analysis topic and offers a non-invasive, proven, space and cost and time effective approach to biological sample collection and preservation. Our proposal is to collect capillary whole blood from the fingertip… More

Due to increased complexity of spacecraft and longer expected life, more sophisticated and complex thermal management schemes are needed that will be capable of dissipating a wide variety of heat loads under harsh operating conditions. An optimal thermal control system must effectively vary the… More

Dried blood spot (DBS) analysis has gained recognition in recent years in basic science and clinical diagnostics. This impetus relies upon its numerous advantages over the collection, transport and storage of blood samples obtained by conventional venipuncture. Although there is wide-spread interest… More