Award Data

There is a lack of non-destructive metrology tool to measure the thickness of thin films on sapphire substrate due to the transparency of the

Novel photonic structures, such as periodic metal-dielectric photonic bandgap structures (MDPBG) have the potential to revolutionize the field of optical windows. The large mismatch in the permittivities of the metal and dielectric creates resonant tunneling, which allows for high transmission in regions where metals are typically opaque. This property makes MDPBGs very attractive for screening or ...

We propose to develop highly-sensitive low size, weight, and power (SWaP) chip-scale mid-infrared integrated-optic sensors for trace gas measurements, We will combine Tunable Diode Laser Spectroscopy (TDLAS) detection techniques with narrow-linewidth fast-tuning Distributed Feedback (DFB) Quantum Cascade and Interband Cascade Lasers (QCLs and ICLs) to create a platform for a family of sensors, ea ...

Technology Assessment & Transfer, Inc. and collaborators propose the development of a frequency tunable, high dynamic range heterodyne terahertz imager (HTI) with wavelength scale spatial resolution operating at 30 frames per second. The proposed system will leverage the heterodyne imaging techniques already developed by one of the collaborators to achieve frequency tuning and high dynamic range i ...

Scanning microwave microscopy (SMM), capable of quantitatively measuring local electromagnetic properties at submicron length scales, has been widely used in semiconductor industry, materials science, physics, biology and other fields of science and technology. In particular, it offers the unique capability of penetrating into the sample-under-test in a non-invasive and non-contacting manner. Howe ...

Composites are being adopted increasingly in aerospace structures due to their superior specific stiffness and strength, their resistance to fatigue and ability to greatly reduce part count. They present additional challenges for design however, due to their heterogeneity and anisotropy, and for inspection since damage often occurs beneath their surface. Currently successful laboratory non-destru ...

This work seeks to demonstrate the wide spread applicability of Geometric Multi-Resolution Analysis (GMRA) to uncover low dimensional structure in large volume and high dimensional data sets. The objective is to show that the GMRA approach applies naturally to a variety of data types and to demonstrate its practical implementation in a scalable data intensive computing environment. The GMRA appr ...

Nano Terra will collaborate with the Center for Drug Discovery (CDD) at Northeastern University, to develop a sensor capable of detecting synthetic cannabinoids independently of their specific molecular structure. The sensor will be portable, label-free and most-importantly shelf stable. Our proposed sensor will employ a structurally stabilized mutant CB1 receptor as the recognition element in fl ...

The goal of the proposed work is to create a suite of sensor processing algorithms and techniques that will result in the dismount localization system initializing and maintaining a good result while riding in a vehicle. The result of such a goal is that a user will be able to seamlessly exit the vehicle and perform their mission, all while still maintaining a high accuracy localization solution. ...

For operational robots to be truly effective in the battlefield, they would need to be integrated with intelligent decision-making capabilities. In particular, the following capabilities would help them to deal with the challenging real-world problems of off-road navigation, namely, traversability assessment (Capability 1), optimal trajectory computation (Capability 2), and optimal maneuver select ...