Award Data

This SBIR Phase I effort will establish the feasibility of fabricating advanced waveguide structures in potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) capable of efficiently generating 25 to 40 mW of frequency converted light in the 395 to 480 nm. The key innovation in this effort is to utilize KTP waveguides in a single-pass frequency doubling device to efficiently produce the desired laser wavelengths and po ...

The vertical water vapor profile into the atmosphere is measured around the world using balloon-borne radiosondes that take measurements twice a day when the balloons are launched. The objective of this proposal is to establish the feasibility of measuring the amount of water vapor vertically, in the atmosphere as a function of altitude using a Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) operating in the ...

The objective of this Phase I proposal is to perform a theoretical exploration of the fundamental and practical limits of detection by fluctuation enhanced sensing and statistical inference based sensing methods when applied to an electrostatic-based trigger for non-fluorescent biological warfare threats. To enable < 1000 ACPLA detection levels of bacterial spores in real-time, these statistical ...

The pressing need exists within industry to accurately measure high aspect ratio microscale structures. For example, diesel injector nozzles are manufactured with microscale holes ranging from 50-200 micrometers in diameter and 3-5 mm depths. One fundamental challenge is to nondestrucvely measure these features in order to validate models, enhance manufacturing processes, and reduce fuel emissions ...

Manning Applied Technology proposes to develop a handheld infrared spectrometer, ideally suited to detection of airborne chemical agents at and below permissible exposure limits. This approach offers unmatched sensitivity and specificity for detection of all types of chemical vapors. The instrument is modular, rugged, compact and highly sensitive. Volume pricing will be less than $1000 each. ...

Flax containing omega 3 fatty acids and relatively high protein content offers advantages as a potential source of plant protein and oil to replace fishmeal and oil in aquaculture feeds; reducing both pressure on marine fisheries and the principal source of contaminants in farmed fish. MMP ahs used innovative fungal culture technology in separate processes to develop low cost, multi activity cell ...

Successful commercialization of open ocean finfish aquaculture will depend on developing new, presently unavailable methods of transferring and harvesting fish from submerged containment structures. Ocean Farm Technologies, LLC will conduct research on developing a method to safely and efficiently transfer and harvest fish from submerged pens, using the patent pending AquaPodTM containment system ...

The goal of this project is to investigate the feasability of a unique sampling method that will lead to the development of a reagentless infrared (IR) based BW agent detection system. The current JPBDS uses lateral flow immunoassay technology as the final step in detecting bioagents, and has a detection limit of 10^5 spores/ml[ref 1]. Preliminary data from our infrared approach indicates a mini ...

We propose the development of a full-scale, unique, mussel producing aquaculture platform that can remain fully submerged for the entire benthic stage of the mussel growth cycle. Our experimental mussel growing concept is unique in that it is designed to be fully submersible, unlike conventional surface mussel rafts currently being used that are subject to the ravages of wind, heavy seas, and ice ...

MCNC PROPOSES A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND EVALUATION OF THREE PROMISING APPROACHES TO THE FABRICATION OF SURFACE TEST STRUCTURES ON SILICON. SURFACE FEATURES ON THE FIRST STRUCTURE WILL BE PRODUCED BY CONTROLLABLY ETCHING THERMALLYGROWN OXIDES. FEATURES ON THE SECOND WILL BE MADE BY ETCHING PIEZOELECTRIC THIN FILMS. USING THE PIEZOELECTRIC FILM AS PART OF A CAPACITOR, STEP-HEIGHT CAN BE VARIED AND PRO ...