Award Data

CURRENT FRAME BUFFER TECHNOLOGY IS NOT OPTIMIZED FOR USE WITH GENERAL PURPOSE PROCESSORS. THIS PROPOSAL IS FOR A PROGRAM TO DEVELOP A BREADBOARD FRAME BUFFER WHICH IS EFFICIENTLY ACCESSED BY SUCH PROCESSORS. THE FRAME BUFFER IS BASED ON THE VME BUS AND IS SCALABLE TO LARGE AMOUNTS OF IMAGE MEMORY AND VERY FAST IMAGE ACQUISITION RATES. ALL IMAGE DATA IS RANDOMLY ACCESSIBLE AT HIGH SPEED. ANTICIPATE ...

We live in a three dimensional world, where we can go around an object and observe it from all angles. The current displays: TVs, movie screens, and computer monitors are all two dimensional devices. These displays give us only "flattened" realities. The missing third dimension carries with it tremendous amounts of information that is absolutely vital to the users. ACT has demonstrated the princip ...

In the field of seismic event identification, three spatial dimensions and one time dimension are almost always coupled together. This may create confusion in data perception and interpretation. A novel multi-D display device wchih can improve data visualization is needed. The object of this project is to develop a Volumetric Image Display (VID) capable of displaying multi-D volumetric images in a ...

Two approaches are proposed to attack the problems of fixturing process. First, a novel hardware holding system, Dexterous Vise, is proposed. Functionally, a single Dexterous Vise is capable of revealing four faces of the clamped workpiece to the cutting tool without re-fixturing, which actually increases one degree of freedom to the machine tool. A pair of Dexterous Vises, the "Dual-Vise", ena ...

The proposed effort investigates the use of smart materials (such as strain actuators and sensors) and modern control theory to suppress unsteady buffet loads encountered by vertical tail aircraft such as the F/A-18. The active smart material system proposed has distinct advantages over traditional passive damping treatments and active articulated control surface techniques. This innovative smart ...

Herein, an innovative aircraft weighing system based on a set of piezopolymar film pad sensors is described. The wieghing system, which would operate automatically as the aircraft taxi over it, would be unobtrusive, accurate, and reliable. These sensor pads could be integrated into the flight deck surface below the grated rubber surface finish. These thin (20-30 mils) piezopolymer sensing pads ...

Unsteady buffet forces excite the vertical tails of aircraft flying at high angles of attack and cause excessive stress and vibration in the tail structure. This results in increased fatigue which ultimately reduces aircraft life. It has been shown by ACX that distributed piezoceramics can significantly reduce the buffet loads on the tail structure of an F/A-18. ACX proposes to develop a simila ...

Herein, ACX proposes to develop compact, low cost, integrated smart packs for vibration reduction. Each package would include actuators and sensors, drive and signal conditioning electronics as well as simple controllers to yield a self standing solution to vibration problems. The electronics module would be low cost and compact. The pack would run off of standard available power supplies and w ...

Herein ACX proposes a damage detection system based on ACX's QuickPack+ technology to combine piezoelectric actuators and sensors in a robust, easily mounted transducer package. The QuickPack encapsulates a piezoceramic with insulating flex circuit material and a simple connector. The transducer package will be bonded via a low-melting-point thermoplastic adhesive to ensure removability. The t ...

ACX proposes an innovative new process for the manufacture of smart structures using a High Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process. This simple, multi-step process will be capable of depositing electroded piezoceramic coatings. The coatings will be poled while still hot, reducing poling times and voltages while increasing poling efficiency. Process times will be extremely short. The pr ...