Award Data

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere are primary drivers of global climate change and hence there is a crucial need to quantify their sources and sinks. A general technique to constrain source and sink strengths is the analysis of the relative proportions of isotopic variants of GHG's. These measurements must be performed with extremely high precision. The gold standard technique, i ...

There are currently no inexpensive observing systems that detect temperature, salinity and currents under the ocean's surface - all important factors in predicting the intensity of hurricanes. Boston Engineering proposes to develop the Multi-Purpose Above Surface/Below Surface Expendable Dropsondes (MASED). Our design builds on the highly successful air dropsondes already in use, combined with a ...

To capture critical weather and SST data in the Tropical Cyclone Boundary Layer (TCBL), Piasecki Aircraft proposes to evaluate existing meteorological sensor packages, integrate new off-the-shelf MEMS sensors, and design an air-launched UAS to improve the resolution of observations captured in the TCBL. Capturing latent and sensible heat fluxes can be achieved reliably with a powered UAS (compare ...

The mechanics of single photons can be used to entangle information carry quantum states, allowing for quantum computation or random number generation. Quantum communication utilizes the quantum nature of single-photons to retain information, particularly in the form of quantum key distribution protocols. High-efficiency, low-noise single photon detection at high efficiency is critical for the app ...

During the Phase I program, Aurora conducted a comprehensive survey of potential platforms that included government owned and furnished UAVs and manned aircraft as well as Aurora’s Centaur Optionally Piloted Aircraft (OPA). The survey concluded, in part, that UAVs offer a significant improvement in data collection capability when compared to manned aircraft that are currently fielded by NOAA. ...

The proposed solution provides a low-cost practical air-droppable package for existing polar ice meteorological sensor systems. The buoy package will be configured for deployment from a fixed wing aircraft. Descent is stabilized and slowed by a parachute deployed after launch, and designed for a descent rate of 20 ft/s or less. When deployed on the ice, the buoy will erect to the vertical for o ...

NOVA Scientific proposes a high-resolution neutron imaging detector having a specialized neutron-sensitive electron amplified detection stage integrated with a cross-strip electronic readout capable of centroid averaging. Phase 1 efforts demonstrated spatial resolutions of 15 µm with high detection efficiency and moderate counting rates. The Phase 2 proposed program will carry out further detec ...

This Phase II SBIR project focuses on the development of an operational Scanning Radar Altimeter (SRA) intended for airborne measurement of directional ocean wave spectra. The proposed innovation is a novel solid-state digital beamforming radar, designed to replace the aging prototype SRA currently operated by NOAA. The proposed SRA will employ a 10 W solid-state transmitter and a pulse compress ...

Accurate, high resolution, continuous monitoring of the lower atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and ocean surface wind fields within tropical cyclones is required to improve intensity forecasting. This proposed Phase II effort will build on the Phase I project successes to realize an operational airborne imaging Doppler radar (AWRAP) capable of providing these winds with up to 15-meter vertical re ...

Reliable automated collection and measurement of precipitation from moored buoys has been an elusive goal. Operation of open aperture collectors on ocean platforms is problematic, requiring constant human attention and intervention to prevent sea spray from contaminating the collected samples, and for dealing with freezing conditions in colder climates. Approaches are described that have the pot ...