Award Data

During the phase I program Northwestern and APS, Inc., have manufactured several different materials systems that are lighter than Beryllium and stiffer than Aluminum. These high specific strength materials are also easily fabricated into larger shapes or even net shape processed. The mechanical (tensile and modulus) and thermal physical (CTE, thermal conductivity) property data for several syste ...

This SBIR Phase II effort proposes the development and integration of a Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) into an all fiber-based seed laser system used in high spectral resolution aerosol and cloud lidar applications. The PLC integrates a frequency doubling element, a waveguide splitter, and phase modulator into a monolithic, waveguide-based device. This technology is important for lidar systems r ...

AdvR, Inc. proposes the development of a highly efficient, fiber pigtailed, waveguide-based UV frequency converter module. This UV module will be an important element in future NASA sponsored Doppler lidar and High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) aerosol missions. The key innovation is the use of dual-element periodically poled waveguides embedded in a nonlinear optical substrate. This innovat ...

Balcones Technologies, proposes to adapt actively controlled suspension technology developed for high performance off-road vehicles to address NASA's requirement for Active Vibration Control for Ground Support Equipment (GSE). This innovative approach to meeting NASA needs exploits approximately $23M of highly successful R&D since 1993 at the University of Texas Center for Electromechanics (CEM) ...

Based on previous research, this project develops and demonstrates the HearingCompanionwhich: (1) automatically recognizes specific sounds in the environment on a pocket-sized device; and(2) alerts the user on their mobile device via vibration, images, and captions that identify these recognizedsounds. This efficient, wearable system utilizes existing and developing technology, improvingthe abilit ...

This project researches, develops, and demonstrates the technical merit and feasibility of awearable device which (1) detects the direction of a sound source or motion, and (2) alerts the user viavibration, images, and captions to the direction of this sound source or movement relative to the currentposition of the individual. This provides the user with a sense of independence and personal safety ...

In integrating the following three significant components for its research/research and development (R/R&D) effort, the power of this candidate Phase II project will be demonstrated and developed the following 1. Software Application Development Toolkit for Simulation and Training 2. Physiological Hardware/Software Interface for Dynamic Balance Trainer. 3. A Data Glove and control system captures ...

Manned spacecraft are vulnerable to air leaks caused by micrometeoroid and space debris impact. The ability to detect and quickly locate and mitigate a pressure vessel breach is critical to the safety of any long duration spacecraft, such as the International Space Station or a proposed lunar base or mission to Mars. Current NASA protocol for finding a spacecraft leak uses a handheld ultrasonic ...

NASA aerocapture missions require an accurate evaluation of radiative thermal transport in order to simulate the aerothermal environment around space vehicles. However, present day computation of radiative transport in this complex multi-dimensional environment is frequently done using simple one-dimensional tangent-slab approximations or optically-thick approximations which compromise the accura ...

With the increasing demands placed on extravehicular activity (EVA) for the International Space Station assembly and maintenance, along with planned lunar and Martian missions, the need for increased human productivity and capability becomes ever more critical. This is most readily achieved by reduction in space suit weight and volume, and increased hardware reliability, durability, and operating ...