Award Data

"This proposal is focused on enhancing and applying the trajectory generationalgorithms originally developed at Caltech to a small free-flight unmannedAero Utility Vehicle (AUV) that is under development with private funding.Our trajectory generation algorithms are based on a combination of nonlinearand optimal control theory, spline theory, and sequential quadraticprogramming. Furthermore, the a ...

"Nanoparticles are attracting increasing attention because of their unique properties. Applications based on particles down to nanometer size range are growing rapidly. The ability to coat high performance layers on nanoparticles would offer unsurpassedfunctionality and further broaden the range of technological opportunities. This proposal addresses a sequential chemical synthesis technique that ...

"Continuous fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are attractive candidate materials for structural components in military/commercial airframe or engine/turbine components due to their high-temperature mechanical properties. However, currentCMCs have two major limitations that have prevented replacement of current materials, namely (1) very high processing/materials costs and (2) insu ...

"This proposed research is to develop an in-situ formation of nanoparticles coated with a atomic layer controlled coating. A novel superparamagnetic particles with orders of higher magnetic moment than current market available magnetic particles and beadswill be developed for labeling used in biology and biotechnology, especially for high sensitive portable biosensor.The long-term goal of propose ...

"Ionfinity proposes to collaborate with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ane the Aerospace Corporation to design, develop, and demonstrate an innovative ion NANO-THRUSTER for nano-satellite propulsion. The approach is to use the JPL-invented Soft IonizationMembrane nanostructure to efficiently produce ions which are accelerated to high velocities in an electric field. The micromachined propellant t ...

"Recent advances in the microelectronics industry facilitate the manufacturing of structures with lateral dimensions on the order of 100 nm with high placement accuracy. Moreover, emerging material systems, such as silicon on insulator (SOI), have beendeveloped for efficient high-speed electronics. These materials are ideally suited for confinement and manipulation of light at telecommunications ...

"Omnidirectional reflectors, with nearly perfect reflectivity, have been demonstrated both in academic laboratories and in industrial applications. These designs are similar to multilayer radome designs in that either wide bandwidth or wide angle coverageis obtained by utilizing many layers of dielectric with differing dielectric constants. In radome design, the objective is to achieve nearly pe ...

We propose a set of numerical and analytical tools to address electromagnetic wave propagation in dielectric mirrors and waveguides designed on the principles of omnidirectional reflectivity. Design concepts of the broad frequency range of omnireflectivitywill be presented, as well as the deleterious role of imperfections in scattering to the surface and radiation states will be investigated. Om ...

"The proposed research will analyze the effect of radical production by non-equilibrium plasmas on the ignition characteristics of methane-air flows. We will develop a plasma ignition module using transverse radio frequency (RF) discharge. Previously,unique stable non-equilibrium RF plasmas have been generated in cold steady-state air and methane flows. Non-intrusive diagnostics including a Four ...

Light weight structures are improtant for many DoD applications. Currentresearch on Carbon/carbon at temerpatrues below 1200 F have been margiallysuccessful. More research is mneeded on identifying other methods for protectionof the carbon over this temperature range. The team of PSU and Powdermet will eexplore several unique methods for carbon/carbon protection. High temperature structures can ...