Award Data

AstroPower proposes to develop a lightweight, high performance, ultra-thin electrostatically bonded GaAs solar cell with an all back contact, zero-grid obscuration structure. The unique design incorporates light trapping, adhesiveless cover slide bonding, and eliminates grid shading. This innovation will increase efficiency and specific power due to the higer open circuit voltage and short circuit ...

THE VAPOR SPACE INSIDE AN AIRCRAFT FUEL TANK EITHER IS OR IS NOT FLAMMABLE (OR EXPLOSIVE) DEPENDING UPON THE PERCENTAGE OF FUEL VAPOR AND OF OXYGEN OF INERT GAS SUCH AS NITROGEN OR CARBON DIOXIDE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THESE PERCENTAGES WHEN TESTING THE EFFICACY OF EXPERIMENTAL INERTING MEASURES BY FIRING LIVE ROUNDS AT TEST TANKS; BUT THERE IS NO FAST, CONVENIENT, FIELD METHOD OF MEASURING THE ...

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is playing a crucial role in the development of the next generation of advanced aerodynamic vehicles, such as the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP). CFD tools are critical to analyze the high Mach number flows typical of these advanced flight vehicles because of limitations on experimental facilities under these extreme flight conditions. However, the validity of ...

Compact Software Inc., a leading software company in development of CAD tools for the microwave industry is proposing to develop a much needed bias-dependent noise model for Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors (HBTs). HBTs are viable candidates for future applications in monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) where highly accurate linear and non-linear noise models are critical, especiall ...

THERE DOES NOT EXIST TODAY A UNIFIED MEANS OF EVALUATING THE VORTEX INTENSITY BEHIND COMMERCIAL JET LINERS PRIOR TO PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING AT FULLSCALE. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, DATA AND ANALYTICAL DEVELOPMENTS HAVE PROVIDED MUCH ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY WHICH MAY MAKE POSSIBLE THE PREDICTION OF WAKE INTENSITY AND DECAY FROM FIRST PRINCIPLES. THE OBJECT OF THIS INVESTIGATION IS TO DEMO ...

There is a need for optical crystals, having large nonlinear coefficients and low optical absorption in the mid IR region (2-5 m). Crystals of KTA have shown promise in this application, however, improved optical transmission is still required. The synthesis, crystal growth and characterization of the new materials, KiOSbO4 and KTiONbO4 will be examined. Based on previous experimental data, empiri ...

PRESENT TRAIN DETECTION SCHEMES RELY LARGELY ON A LOW RESISTANCE THROUGH THE TRAIN'S WHEELS TO PERTURBATE A STABLE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. WHILE ELEGANT IN PRINCIPLE, THE DESIGN IS PLAGUED BY OXIDE FILMS AND MATERIAL BUILDUP ON THE RAIL, SNEAK PATHS THROUGH THE BALLAST AND OTHER UNCONTROLLABLE VARIABLES. KVH INDUSTRIES PROPOSES TO DESIGN AND DELIVER A "SMART MAGNETOMETER"-BASED SENSOR PACKAGE WHICH WI ...

Using Combined Wavelength and Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy coupled with fiber coupled near infrared diode laser, nitrogen dioxide can be detected via its near infrared absorption band. Detection sensitivity in the parts-per-billion level can be achieved. The technique offers 5 decades of linear dynamic range with a response time less than 1 second. Continuous time weight average monitoring is ...

ABSTRACT: Many turbomachinery applications have achieved improved availability, reliability and cost savings by incorporating health monitoring systems to determine the mechanical condition of key components in near real time. The goals of any health monitoring system are to ensure reliability by avoiding unplanned maintenance, to reduce operating costs by providing the information needed to plan ...

ABSTRACT: The Air Force spends $4.5 billion annually on aircraft maintenance related to corrosion.The source of this corrosion frequently is airborne chlorides that settle on metal parts and sensitive avionics and then absorb moisture from the air to create an electrolyte that promotes galvanic corrosion.The proposed work will design, fabricate and test a Corrosion Mitigation System (CMS) that sup ...