Award Data

The ultimate objective of this project is to develop an instrument capable of remote detection and location of tornadoes and/or storms containing tornadoes. There are many reports, both scientific and anecdotal, suggesting that tornadoes and tornadic thunderstorms emit anomalous electromagnetic (EM) radiation-both RF and luminous. This radiation is characterized by unusually high rates of EM pulse ...

We will develop technology, termed a Ruggedized Wind Measurement System (RWMS), to measure directly extreme winds with high space and time resolution, focusing on the winds that occur beneath hurricanes at land fall. This development effort will include design, fabrication of two prototype RWMS units, and a series of proof-of-concept demonstrations in strong mountain-induced downslope and severe t ...

This research will explore the use of a virtual polyhedron modeling environment which creates nets, or patterns, for a polyhedron created on the screen, in the teaching of geometry and spatial skills. When the net is printed, cut, folded, and glued together, a 3-dimensional model of the original polyhedron is created. We propose to examine the use of this tool in an instructional setting, to dete ...

Development of an optical water level sensor is proposed to solve some of the problems and limitations of current sounding tube/protective well acoustic sensors. By using light instead of sound, temperature gradient effects on the measurement are obviated. Furthermore, the proposed system eliminates the need for a sounding tube, protective well and associated temperature sensors, and does not requ ...

Today's extremely powerful, low-cost computer systems offer tremendous potential as learning tools. However, development of high quality educational software, particularly simulations, lags behind. This research will explore the issues in creating highly realistic, very detailed simulations directly targeted for educational purposes. The domain simulated will be a small retail business. This do ...

This proposal describes an effort to improve the education of at-risk youth through web-publishable, project-based activities. These activities might include electronic journalism on community issues, natural science projects, or digital art Galleries. Activities such as these are particularly appropriate for at-risk youth through their power to integrate school and home or street life, to give ...

OPTRA is proposing the development of an all-reflecting stationary Fourier transform spectrometer, based on the use of Fresnel mirrors and a linear uncooled amorphous silicon microbolometer array to produce spectra in the 1 to 5 micron region with resolution of 5nm. Concentration, temperature and soot volume fraction will be derived from the measured emission spectra of a flame. An amorphous silic ...

We propose a 6 month program during which we will develop and demonstrate an approach for generating well-characterized atomic and molecular beams of metastable species. Such beam sources are necessary for the microelectronics and plasma processing industries because they would provide a valuable tool required to establish a solid database of plasma-related collision processes. This improved and e ...

Rugate Technologies, Incorporated, proposes to develop improved narrow notch and tunable Rugate filters for the infrared. Four problems are addressed in this study: (1) identification of Rugate material pairs for use in the far infrared (out to 30 microns); (2) development of polarization and non-polarization sensitive narrow notch filters, as well as control of sensitivity to incidence angle; (3) ...

The proposed program will investigate fabrication of low-cost and stable Si- based filterless solar-blind UV detectors on radiation-hard silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structures. By fabricating detectors on silicon thin films, the active device layer thickness can be chosen so that shortwave photons are detected within the active layer, while the longer wavelengths are absorbed in a substrate which i ...