Award Data

In this program, we aim to pioneer a chip-scale packaged platform to enable efficient coupling from single-mode photonic integrated circuits (PICs) to a large-area (several millimeters in diameter or larger), diffraction-limited beam in response to Topic T8.07 Photonic Integrated Circuits. We further aim to leverage this technology to realize a chip-scale optical engine for light detection and ran ...

Quantum Sensors have use in a wide variety of applications including microscopy, positioning systems, communication technology, electric and magnetic field sensors, as well as geophysical areas. Significant gains from Quantum Sensors include technologies important for a range of NASA missions including efficient photon detection, optical clocks, gravimetry, gravitational wave sensing, ranging, and ...

REACT-AAM seeks to improve standard collision avoidance approaches to accommodate the higher density utilization of mixed-use airspace envisioned in the Advanced Air Mobility concept. nbsp;To accomplish this, SSCI proposes to develop mission-aware rerouting so that the flight path is optimized for the mission and multiple intruders.This Detect and Avoid enhancement adds to a host of prior work in ...

We are proposing the development of a new miniaturized and low power stand-alone ldquo;nano-thrusterrdquo; instrument, the Precision Ion Nano-Thruster (PINT) to perform very fine thrusting in support of precision attitude and pointing control on space platforms.The miniature precision device development effort will be based on previous Ramp;D results and experience, and proven technologies develop ...

Exploring outer planets, their subsurface oceans, and Venus is crucial for understanding the origins of life and planetary evolution in our solar system. The scientific opportunity presented by these missions is challenged by extreme environmental conditions ranging from cryogenic temperatures to corrosive atmospheres. Survivability and mechanical failure are major concerns for operating in these ...

Future fuel-efficientnbsp;hybrid aircraft require high temperature superconducting (HTS) electric motors in order to achieve power densities well above 10 kW/kg while operating at temperatures above 20 K and locally up to 30K.nbsp; nbsp;However, the AC modes of stator coils makes it impossible to use available HTS tapes due to their large AC losses, requiring instead fine HTS wires made with the B ...

NASA relies heavily on the computational systems of spacecraft to perform missions in the harsh environment of space. Failures due to faults may interfere with mission-critical events, jeopardizing mission success and potentially resulting in the loss of expensive equipment and scientific data. To ensure mission success, space platforms must be equipped with onboard capabilities to autonomously de ...

Collaborative humanndash;robot teaming behaviors use the complementary strengths of humans and robots and are at their most successful when the human trusts in their robot companion. However, despite contemporary approaches to make robots more transparent in their behaviors and safer in their operation, humans still do not trust robots the same way they do a human partner.The inability of current ...

Radiation detectors are an invaluable tool for space applications that span planetary science, astrophysics, heliophysics, and dosimetry for human exploration.nbsp; A common technology used for radiation detection is the scintillator, where the material generates a light flash with an intensity that is proportional to the energy deposited by the incident radiation.nbsp; For planetary science, the ...

This proposal aims to make fundamental progress in one of NASArsquo;s core objectives: to explore Earth-like exo-planets using space-based Coronagraphs. One NASA-identified technology gap is the need for compact, ultraprecise, multi-thousand actuator deformable mirrors (DMs). Boston Micromachines Corporation is a leading producer of such DMs, which have been used in space-based applications and NA ...