Award Data

The proposed program will design a microwave interferometer for the purpose of measuring the electron density and other fundamental parameters of Diode-Pumped Alkali Laser (DPAL) gain media. Although several models of the collisional chemistry of DPALs exist, benchmarking such models with experimental measurements has been hampered by the absence of experimental measurements of the electron densit ...

Viable Gear will provide proof-of-concept for a seaweed-based bioplastic to be used in manufacturing a compostable biotwine for marine equipment, designed to replace petroleum-based plastics. This addresses NOM-SBIR research topic area 9.3, The Changing Ocean - specifically to "support increased protection and restoration of marine and coastal habitats to enhance vital ecosystems", by helping decr ...

The long endurance “StratoSonde” lighter-than-air, uncrewed system combines a low-cost, 5day endurance StratoSonde supports up to 10 micro-dropsondes, which when released from the HAB, descend safely through the entire atmospheric column under a ribbon drogue while reporting observations directly back to the HAB. This project will assess the feasibility of integrating a disposable miniature ae ...

We will investigate the radiation effects on microelectronics due to gamma-rays and beta-rays and compare the effects on electrical and material properties between the two radiation types to formulate a quantitative mapping of radiation types (gamma and beta) and effects. The purpose is to: 1) Develop an overall physics-based strategy; 2) Define the experimental design, guided by analytical calcul ...

Sivananthan Laboratories, Inc. with the University of Iowa proposes two major improvements to superlattice (SL) detector technology which are predicated to enhance the LWIR imaging performance comparable or better than HgCdTe-based detector performance. The performance of the current SL detectors is limited by the prevalence of native point defects (NPDs), thicker SL absorber region as required by ...

The marine microalgae Crypthecodinium cohnii (C. cohnii) contains high levels of DHA and DHA synthase enzyme (DSe) both of which may provide nutritional benefits to finfish for human consumption. Field Phyto-Nutrients LLC has developed a process for algae-based feed preparation where the algae is dried under low temperature (

Demand for seaweed products has dramatically increased in the U.S.; however, only 1% is met with domestic production. Expansion of seaweed aquaculture is crucial to protect wild populations from extinction by overharvesting, which impacts entire marine ecosystems. Current kelp aquaculture methods rely on harvested reproductive tissue, which is not sustainable. In response to NOAA Topic 9.3, Health ...

Many municipalities in the United States have begun to use impermeability measurements to incentivize storm water retention as part of the architectural and landscaping design process. These measurements are performed through analysis of high-resolution aerial photography and updated on an annual or semi-annual basis. The practice of using high resolution aerial or even satellite photography is pr ...

Sivananthan Laboratories, Inc. (Sivananthan Labs) will create a multiscale model capable of predicting the immediate and long-term effects of radiation events in operating and dormant infrared (IR) photodetector devices. Although extensible to any IR gap semiconductor and device architecture, the model will initially be developed for and applied to mid-wavelength IR (MWIR) and long-wavelength IR ( ...

Remote areas, particularly over the oceans, represent regions with the least observation coverage and contribute significantly to reducing the potential accuracy of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models. In addition to space-based observations, dropsondes are possibly the only viable meteorological sensors for use over remote areas, where there is no cost-effective approach to permit regular r ...