Award Data

Prioria is proposing a family of aircraft configurations to address USSOCOM's requirements. Achieving the significant endurance, range, winds, and payload requirements simultaneously requires a highly-optimized aircraft. The configurations range in endurance, robustness, and capability. Configuration 1 is a sturdy fixed-wing aircraft that achieves moderate endurance but can tolerate rough handl ...

The proposed study will evaluate the feasibility of producing a low acoustic emission propulsion unit for fixed wing UAV applications, utilizing optimized propeller designs matched to a low cylinder count small reciprocating engine. Acoustic performance will be enhanced by operating the propeller at reduced speed with high advance while improving the operating point of the coupled engine and furt ...

The innovation proposed here is a fidelity-adaptive combustion model (FAM) implemented into the Loci-STREAM CFD code for use at NASA for simulation of rocket combustion. This work will result in a high-fidelity, high-performance multiphysics simulation capability to enhance NASA's current simulation capability of unsteady turbulent reacting flows involving cryogenic propellants. This novel FAM m ...

The RINGS project (Resonant Inductive Near-field Generation Systems) was a DARPA-funded effort to demonstrate Electromagnetic Formation Flight and wireless power transfer in microgravity. Integration inconsistencies in both hardware and software prevented the experiment from achieving its objectives during the planned test sessions. A later project supported by NASA ARC focused on the assessment, ...

The Interdisciplinary Consulting Corporation (IC2) proposes the development of a fiber-optic, micromachined five-hole probe for three-dimensional flow measurements in harsh environments. The goal of this research is to develop a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based, optical probe capable of significantly improved performance compared to existing available sensors, by enabling faster respons ...

The Interdisciplinary Consulting Corporation (IC2) proposes the development of high channel count, high density, reduced cost per channel, directional microphone arrays for noise source measurement using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based piezoelectric microphones with backside contacts and advanced packaging technology. The goal of this research is to develop an advanced phased-array te ...

NASA has identified a need for higher heat rejection temperatures due to an equatorial lunar mission profile, where surface temperatures reach 400 K. To meet this need for space exploration vehicles to reject waste heat to high temperature heat sinks, Mainstream proposes adapting our oil-less vapor-compression (V-C) refrigeration compressor technology for operation at high temperature and high li ...

This project intends to design and develop an Intelligent Electronic Speed Controller (IESC) for use on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The IESC will advance the state-of-the-art of health-state awareness. This will be achieved through the integration of propulsion system health monitoring sensors that - in unison with an Intelligent Rule Set - will be able to monitor system and component perfo ...

Radiation from GCRs and Solar Flares provide a hostile ionizing environment for personnel and vital electronic systems. The effects of this environment has been a topic of research for many years. Issues include the exposure for humans under acute and continuous exposures and the radiogenic cancer risk that rises with total dose and is a limiting constraint on long-duration missions. The propose ...

A small launcher GNC system which maintains GPS fix while rotating, improves drift performance for COTS-based inertial sensors and provides efficient use of actuation system propellant. Provided in a package with components and systems already under development and proven in the space environment. Phase I will result in a flight test ready system