Award Data

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will develop integrated optical frequency shifters to enable Quantum-memory Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (QWDM). Our approach will enable the connection of multiple quantum memory registers across a free-space or fiber optical channel, increasing the bandwidth of near-term quantum networks by 10ndash;100x. As m ...

NASA will use swarms of robot vehicles for future planetary exploration, including Moon explorations in support of a sustained lunar presence. Advanced robotic and autonomous systems can overcome challenges inherent in navigating extreme terrain. Other tasks, such as obtaining mineral or ice samples from a wide area of a planetary surface or exploring terrain that blocks the transmission of signal ...

The program will develop a spectrometer with chip-scale footprint and performance rivaling high-end benchtop spectrum analyzers leveraging an innovative digital Fourier Transform (dFT) architecture, which uniquely enables exponential scaling of performance. Specifically,nbsp;the Phase II project will build on the accomplishments from Phase I and fabricate the photonic circuits via AIM Photonicsrsq ...

The growing volume and quality of Earth observations offer improvements in data assimilation and weather forecasting that can only be fully realized by advances in AI. 3D atmospheric profiles, including temperature, humidity, and winds, are key missing observables in NASA#39;s Earth Observation System (EOS) and presents large initial condition uncertainties in numerical weather prediction (NWP).nb ...

Our proposal provides a measurement technology to detect atmospheric conditions that favor the formation and persistence of aircraft-induced cirrus clouds in real time. These clouds account for the major share of aviationrsquo;s climate impact via radiative forcing. We need aircraft equipped with our technology that fly along the busiest flight corridors combined with adaptive flight routing as mi ...

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) is developing passive and active enhancements to heritage electrodynamic tether smallsat deorbit systems. Passive coatings based on flexible materials with negative electron affinity-enhanced triple-point electron emitters will enable deorbit propellantless deorbit from altitudes up to at least 1100 km by increasing the passively generated current through electrodynami ...

For deep space optical communications (OC) at astronomical distances (AU) such as Mars and beyond, a multi-kW average power laser that can be coded to send data is needed. OC will revolutionize space-based science and exploration capabilities by supplying data rates up to 100 times faster than the currently used radio frequency (RF) based systems. In response to that, PSI proposed to develop a las ...

We propose a turn-key in-situ gas sensor that can reliably perform continuous measurements on airborne, ship-based, or other mobile platforms. Specifically, we emphasize that the proposed system is compact, lightweight, power efficient, and therefore can be mounted on small to mid-sized uncrewed aircraft systems. The sensor features an exposed beam path that allows ambient air circulation without ...

The subtopic described the need for a multi-gas sensor that is power efficient, consistent with a wearable form factor, and can reliably operate under a wide range of temperature, humidity, and pressure conditions. We propose an integrated carbon dioxide and ammonia gas sensor that can reach the required dynamic range, accuracy, and sensitivity even under significant environmental variation. We em ...

This Phase II project aims to prototype a novel technology that can advance the state-of-the-art in high performance space computing.nbsp; The base computer technology, called ldquo;RadPCrdquo;, brings together a suite of fault recovery mechanisms that enable Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) to operate reliably in the presence of space radiation that causes si ...