Award Data

A batteryless and wireless sensor for intrusion detection and assessment of threats which requires no battery, external power or wiring is proposed. These types of sensors derive energy from passing vehicles or persons, and indicate their presence, location, speed, etc., via a self-generated short-range radio signal. These sensors require no maintenance, and can be inconspicuously placed in window ...

Performance of present and planned space-borne remote sensing instruments could be significantly improved by the incorporation of thermally stable optical coatings. We propose to investigate the use of ion-assisted deposition (IAD) in the fabrication of large area narrowband interference filters which are uniform to within 2 Angstroms. Issues such as effect of the ion beam on uniformity, in situ m ...

An ideal way to organize large-scale, nearly autonomous, intelligent systems is by using a blackboard-based architecture in which computational knowledge modules interact with human operators when necessary. Blackboard architectures have demonstrated significant advantages in modularity, scalability, extensibility, distribution, heterogeneity of representations and problem-solving techniques, and ...

The development of coatings with electrically tunable infrared emittance for controlling radiant heat transfer in the space environment is proposed. The emittance modulation is achieved using electrochromic materials whose infrared reflectance can be continuously and reversibly modulated. The coatings have a multilayer, thin film structure that allows emittance to be switched in response to a low ...

Fully computerized knitted glove with a laid-in restraining circumferencecial yarn member enable the complete CAD/CAM of a dexterous seamless glove that offer both protection while maintaining tactility and restraining pressure. Although CAD/CAM knitted glove do exist, none offer the the added feature of restraining the internal pessure. Knitted structures are not associated normally with the abil ...

Diffractive optics has emerged as a valuable new technology for solving design problems in imaging, optical beam control, adaptive optics, and other important applications. Light weight and compact size diffractive elements offer particularly important benefits for space environments. Foster-Miller proposes to demonstrate in Phase I of this program, a completely unique extension to diffractive opt ...

After decades of dramatic advances in optoelectronic device performance, it is clear that the implementation of fiber optic systems has been retarded by inadequate packaging technology. Commercially available packaged components often suffer from uncertain reliability, high unit cost and low functionality. Also, the intrinsic performance of the device is frequently compromised by parasitic element ...

The high front surface recombination velocity (SRV) exhibited by indium phosphide (InP) solar cells has limited the level of efficiency that has been demonstrated to date. Gallia has developed metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) methodology to enable the growth of a previously unknown wide band gap (4 eV) cubic-phase of gallium sulfide (GaS), which has been demonstrated to passivate II ...

A limitation of the typical electrochemical capacitor is the maximum available power and energy density, and an improvement in capacitance per unit weight and volume is needed. Giner, Inc. proposes development of a solid-ionomer electrochemical capacitor having a unit cell capacitance greater than 2 F/cm2 and a repeating element thickness of 6 mils or less. This capacitor could provide high curren ...

The product to be developed is a family of low-cost highly- integrated MMIC up and down-converters for satellite communications above k-band. Gallium-arsenide converter chips are made possible by the development of K and Ka-band balanced MMIC mixers with high LO isolation from RF and IF ports and high spurious harmonic suppresion that allow integration of the mixer with other converter functions ( ...