Award Data

Significant energy is required to operate and maintain the extensive U.S. military mission around the world. This equates to significant costs to the country. Smart power microgrids have proven to significantly increase efficiency, as well as enable the u

Automation improvements are needed to reduce the dependency on human reflexes and unreliable data links. Modern autopilots are capable of detecting loss-of-GPS and loss-of-communications. There is no mechanism for the aircraft to autonomously return to a safe landing zone under these conditions. Furthermore, experience has shown that existing controllers are not good at detecting bad position data ...

Development of the CESI focal plane and optics technology will lead to miniaturized hyperspectral and SWIR-band spectral imaging instrumentation compatible with CubeSat and other nanosat platforms. The project will implement the technology by developing a CubeSat-compatible SEMM instrument for global mapping of atmospheric methane concentrations. Specific Phase I technical objectives include: - ...

The Assimilation Dynamic Network (ADN) is a dynamic inter-processor communication network that spans heterogeneous processor architectures, unifying components, significantly improving flexibility, efficiency, and overall usability. ADN has the following main features: - A uniform programming model for intra-platform communication among heterogeneous processing resources that creates a homogene ...

This program will develop an ultra-high performance infrared detector manufacturing technology with improved performance and cost effectiveness, and reduced cooling requirements when compared to the best commercially available HgCdTe and InGaAs detectors. This will be accomplished using a two-pronged approach addressing both device design and materials. First, the conventional pn photodiode device ...

The innovative methodologies proposed in this STTR Phase 2 project will enhance Loci-STREAM which is a high performance, high fidelity simulation tool already being used at NASA/MSFC for a variety of CFD applications. This project will address critical needs in order to enable fast and accurate simulations of liquid space propulsion systems of relevance to NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) program ...

Autonomous vehicles are becoming more and more integral to our nation's defense. There is a desire to increase the autonomy of these vehicles and enable humans to delegate those tasks that are more effectively done by computer. Achieving this will require

Increasing the autonomy of unmanned vehicles potentially reduces operator workload and cognitive load. Realizing the promise of autonomy however, is difficult when deploying in environments with mobility and visibility challenges, enemy threats, risks of endangering civilians, and limited communication. Achieving full autonomy in the face of these challenges is both a hard technical problem and do ...

Thermal Transfer is a critical part of power electronics application in both terrestrial and space environments. Due to longer lifetime expectancies and harsh operational conditions, space vehicles require unique materials to deal with the increasing electrical and thermal loads placed upon the structure. Increasing use of power electronics including high current carrying semiconductor devices s ...

Mesa Photonics proposes to develop an Airborne Multi-Gas Sensor (AMUGS) based upon two-tone, frequency modulation spectroscopy (TT-FMS). Mesa Photonics has developed a fiber-coupled implementation of TT-FMS that leverages telecommunications lasers as sources and WiFi electronics for signal processing. With this approach, sensitive trace gas detection in a robust, compact and low-power package has ...