Award Data

We have recently demonstrated that high power densities can be achieved for SOFC using liquid hydrocarbon fuels via direct internal reforming. This approach can provide solutions for the highly power-dense applications required by Air Force (e.g. auxiliary power units for aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles) and many portable and transportation applications in commercial sector. Because the sta ...

Self-healing composites and adhesives would alleviate longstanding problems in aerospace structures associated with multiple types of damage mechanisms such as mechanical/thermal fatigue, microcracking, and debonding. A composite cryogenic tank based on self-healing technology would prevent leakage by sealing microcracks throughout the lifetime of the tank and enable the use of composites in this ...

HAMAC is an innovative aircraft design that combines solar cells for power, fuel cells for energy storage, a high-altitude prop and electric motor with thrust vector control, and a morphing structural design that fits compactly into an aircraft, rocket or balloon package for reaching altitude reliably. HAMAC will provide an aerodynamically stable, long-endurance, responsive instrument platform th ...

Electromagnetic propulsion using compact toroidal plasmas is ideal for high-thrust, high-Isp missions since velocities and densities are not space charge limited, the self-field structure does not suffer magnetic detachment problems and the inductive electrode-less nature has superior lifetime. This STTR builds on a long history of research by integrating an annular helicon source with a conical ...

We propose to examine the necessary ingredients for the development of marketable codes which will: model the morphology of heterogeneous propellants (a packing code); calculate the thermal and mechancial properties of such a morphology or pack; simulate the combustion of the pack; predict the statistics of aluminum agglomeration on the burning pack surface; simulate the flight of these agglomera ...

In this proposal we exploit the remote sensing attributes of ultrasound to measure temperature, transient temperature and heat flux in liquid rocket combustion chambers. In previous work, we have demonstrated the capability to measure the local temperature at the inner surface of large caliber Navy guns using sensors attached to the external gun barrel surface (2.5” from the measurement point). ...

A fully monolithically-integrated X-band T/R module using InGaP/GaAs-based HBTs (heterojunction bipolar transistors) for both the transmit and receive functions is proposed. A single device structure designed for both the transmit and receive function is proposed to simplify the design and to lower the cost. The focus in phase I is to realize a low noise figure in InGaP HBT technology.

NuCrypt is developing the technology for physical-layer optical encryption that exploits the intrinsic, irreducible noise of light. Our method, called AlphaEta, has fundamental and practical security benefits and the technology performs similarly as standard optical communications equipment. We have demonstrated AlphaEta in installed fiber-optic networks and have also built encrypted free-space op ...

In Phase I, we propose to develop novel electromagnetic software that can model the complex requirements of modern electronically scanned array (ESA). We will focus on fast algorithms for rapid analyses of ESA using parallel computers, allowing the efficient analyses of multimode character of an ESA. The efficient algorithm will be achieved by using thin-dielectric sheet for perfect electric c ...

The goal of this SBIR project will be to test the feasibility of using composite materials with a unique combination of low dielectric constant and loss, high bending modulus, and high tensile strength for use in tri band radomes for airborne antennas.