Award Data

Semantically Linked Data is widely seen as a revolutionary approach for maximizing the usefulness of existing and future information. In the materials domain, semantically linked materials data holds considerable promise with the ability to facilitate materials research and product development, improve communication, and open up avenues for new types of materials informatics. But realizing the pro ...

This effort proposes to develop a toolset to evaluate the effectiveness of a safety-controller that monitors a learning-based autonomous control system. The traditional use of deterministic verification techniques for real-time monitoring is not feasible in the presence of uncertainty. This effort would advance the recommended verification techniques to include non-deterministic approaches. The ...

Unmanned Autonomous Systems (UAS) are complex systems that exhibit a broad array of behaviors in a wide range of missions and environments. They can change their behaviors over time so the UAS rigorously tested at the range is not the same as the one operating in the field. Current testing methods are inadequate to verify that they are safe to operate in close proximity with humans. Testing Robust ...

Barron Associates has assembled a team of researchers that include Dr. Sayan Mitra of the University of Illinois and Dr. Ufuk Topcu of the University of Pennsylvania. They will spearhead three complimentary investigations into the development of verification and validation (V & V) approaches for adaptive systems protected by run time assurance (RTA) mechanisms. Two of these approaches involve us ...

Baker Engineering Inc. (BEI) proposes an advanced, electrically-assisted turbocharger to meet the needs identified in this solicitation. BEI"s solution provides a lightweight, durable, self-lubricated turbocharger that will set new standards in performance on heavy fuel engines in the 50-150 Hp class. An electrically-assisted turbocharger offers supercharger characteristics to a turbocharged eng ...

Mesa Photonics proposes to develop an Airborne Multi-Gas Sensor (AMUGS) based upon two-tone, frequency modulation spectroscopy (TT-FMS). Mesa Photonics has developed a fiber-coupled implementation of TT-FMS that leverages telecommunications lasers as sources and WiFi electronics for signal processing. With this approach, sensitive trace gas detection in a robust, compact and low-power package has ...

Through the proposed NASA SBIR program, NanoSonic will optimize its HybridSil® derived yttrium silicates to serve as next-generation reinforcement for carbon and ceramic felt ablative TPS materials. This effort will leverage NanoSonic's rapidly evolving polymer derived ceramic technology, which has demonstrated thermomechanical durability in excess of 1900 oC, thermal conductivity as low as 30 mW ...

Prime Photonics proposes design and development of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) based temperature gradient sensor for instrumentation of thermal protection systems (TPS). This device will utilize a passive, wireless interrogation approach to produce a robust measurement platform compatible with high temperature environments.

To address these critical needs associated with the integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the airspace, we propose to conduct research on the application of Dynamic Airspace Configuration (DAC) concepts and algorithms to the challenge of accommodation and integration of UAS into the NAS. The resulting algorithms and capabilities will provide real-time recommendations to Traffic Manag ...

Aether Industries proposes the development of a novel, primary plasma propulsion system that is well suited for small spacecraft. This technology, called the CubeSat Ambipolar Thruster (CAT), would provide CubeSats and other micro- and nano-satellites with the propulsive capability to make meaningful orbital plane and altitude changes — capability that does not currently exist with state-of-t ...