USA flag logo/image

An Official Website of the United States Government

Ion Propulsion for MEMS Flight Vehicles (rev 7-1)

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 		Award ID:
32481 		Program Year/Program:
1996 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
32481 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Daedalus Research Inc.
P.O. Box 6067 Logan, UT 84341
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 1996
Title: Ion Propulsion for MEMS Flight Vehicles (rev 7-1)
Agency / Branch: DOD / DARPA
Contract: N/A
Award Amount: $97,426.00
 

Abstract:

A novel approach to the propulsion of very small, micro air vehicles is proposed in which electrostatic forces acting between an ion gas cloud and an appropriate anode are harnessed for thrust or lift. A means is proposed for the generation and maintenance of the ion gas from ambient air and for the regulation of the propulsor. Preliminary study indicates the new concept is valid only for air vehicles weighing a few grams or less operating at very low Reynolds numbers. Analysis shows that the proposed propulsor when applied appropriately can be many times more efficient than similarly-sized actuator disk propulsor like propellers or jets on such miniature air vehicles. Moreover, the design is simple, robust, reliable, and has exceptionally wide flight envelope. In this Phase I effort mathematical modeling and basic experimentation will be done to validate the concept. In addition, preliminary studies will be made of its manufacturability and its mission-effectiveness. In Phase II, working propulsor(s) will be designed, manufactured and tested.

Principal Investigator:

Edward Allen
8017521010

Business Contact:

Small Business Information at Submission:

Daedalus Research Inc.
P.O. Box 6067 Logan, UT 84341

EIN/Tax ID:
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No