Award Data

ABSTRACT: Space solar power systems range in size from the International Space Station with 8 solar arrays producing 84,000 watts all the way down to body-mounted single wafers on individual cubesats. The current state-of-the-art relies on multi-junction gallium arsenide or inverted metamorphic cells affixed to rigid structural panels. The need for a low-mass, high energy output solar array for ...

ABSTRACT: Solar arrays play a key role in the operation of spacecrafts and unmanned aerial vehicles. Traditionally, inorganic semiconductor based solar arrays have been used for space applications because of their highest efficiencies. However, these solar arrays have several major limitations like extremely high cost, low specific power and large stowage volume. Organic photovoltaic (OPV) module ...

The goal of the proposed research is to develop self-healing embedded communication antennas to be used in transparent armori.e., ground vehicle windows. Embedded antennas are known to delaminate from their host structures after impact; this allows an empty space to form around the antenna and as a result detunes the antenna. A sandwich structure will be designed, fabricated, and tested whereby th ...

Physical Sciences Inc. and Colorado State University will develop an innovative sensor that enables low-cost infrared hyperspectral imaging though the use of novel sampling algorithms which provide real-world chemical plume detection capability with compressed data and a hardware configuration which enables high frame rate capture of full 2D spatial and 1D spectral data. Compressive sensing techn ...

SI2 Technologies, Inc. (SI2) proposes to develop printed, high-performance ultracapacitors to meet the Army"s need for lightweight energy storage. SI2 will leverage its demonstrated expertise in ink jet printing and our partner"s expertise with carbon nanoparticle synthesis to develop low-cost, flexible, printed ultracapacitors. SI2 has considerable experience in the roll-to-roll deposition of ...

Agiltron will develop robust and affordable anti-icing and ice-phobic surfaces that are also transparent (>%80) in visible spectrum for superstructures of surface ships in Arctic and cold region operation. Leveraging Agiltron"s previous experiences in mechanically durable superhydrophibic nanocomposite coatings and optically transparent fluoropolymer resins, in collaboration with the Ice Research ...

SI2 Technologies, Inc. (SI2) proposes to develop printed, high-efficiency phased arrays operating at Navy-relevant frequencies. The proposed development effort will include trade studies identifying the best printing technique or combination of techniques to meet the Navys phased array performance goals. The printed array will incorporate both printed radiating elements and an innovative printed p ...

Digital equalizers have been the major enablers in RF communications in terms of managing component imperfections and channel impairments. Specifically, the ever increasing processing power of the dedicating computing processors has availed a steady increase in the ability of complex communication systems to deal with impairments as well as allowing higher capacities in the information transfer. O ...

ABSTRACT: We propose a new fiber WDM fabrication method for single mode high power fiber laser. Our new approach will enable kW operation for both single mode fiber WDM and PCF WDM. At the end of Phase I, a proof of concept experiment will be demonstrated. In phase II, we will target at delivery of a reliable prototypes for both step index fiber WDM and PCF WDM. BENEFIT: The WDM is a key compon ...

ABSTRACT: High power and low insertion loss WDM components will be developed. In manufacturing WDM components, solid core fibers in both polarization insensitive and polarization maintaining, will be pursued, along with photonics crystal fiber components. A range of fiber sizes and device specifications will be developed and commercially offered by Q-Peak. The component that we propose to develo ...