Award Data

The proposed effort is to design a space-qualified dual-frequency GPS/GLONASS receiver with enhanced capabilities for atmospheric remote sounding. While such soundings have been performed using GPS-only receivers, a space-based GPS/GLONASS receiver would be superior in terms of coverage and integrity cross- checking, as well as the ability to process the unencrypted GLONASS L2 signal. This design ...

Two-dimensional measurement machines, such as microlithography and computed tomography systems, are subject to distortions in the measurement field due to imperfections in their hardware and software. Certified methods to characterize and quantify such distortions are urgently needed. An innovative self- calibrating scheme is tendered which eliminates the disadvantages of previous self-calibration ...

We will develop technology, termed a Ruggedized Wind Measurement System (RWMS), to measure directly extreme winds with high space and time resolution, focusing on the winds that occur beneath hurricanes at land fall. This development effort will include design, fabrication of two prototype RWMS units, and a series of proof-of-concept demonstrations in strong mountain-induced downslope and severe t ...

Precision underwater mapping is an important requirement of projects ranging from wreck surveys and environmental impact studies to mine clearing operations and marine science projects. Small Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) are capable platforms for mapping operations as they are easily deployed and can operate in hazardous environments. We propose the development of an Automated Imaging and ...

The near-field scanning optical microscope can supply information on the shape and electrical properties of surfaces with nanometer resolution. The quantitative interpretation of images is difficult because of the difficulty of electromagnetic field solutions in the near-field limit. We propose to supply software to aid in this analysis. The finite-element programs generate two and three-dimension ...

Abstract not Available

A growing number of fire fighters are suffering third degree burns; this has led to questions about the adequacy of thermal protective performance (TPP) measurements for protective clothing. A new heat flux sensor, whose response approximates that of skin, will be developed to provide better measurements of heat transfer in TPP tests. This sensor will be used with nonlinear parameter estimation an ...

As fire protection engineering moves towards the implementation of performance- based fire codes, the use of validated fire models is becoming a necessity. Part of the validation process involves demonstrating model capabilities for predicting key fire environment parameters. One of the key parameters for estimating time to ignition and fire growth is the heat transfer rate to compartment surfaces ...

A diode laser method for the real-time measurement of absolute flux concentrations and spatial profiles of atomic beams used in MBE will be tested. The proposed method uses the doubled output of a near-infrared diode laser to access atomic absorption lines of species such as Ga, Al and In. The detection method will combine high frequency wavelength modulation and noise canceler approaches in order ...

Commercial aviation offers a low cost platform from which to make extensive humidity measurements, provided the instrumentation can run autonomously and endure the rigorous flight schedules. Advances in state of the art diode laser gas sensing technology make possible compact, fully automated, self-calibrating instrumentation with the sensitivity needed to measure humidity levels throughout the tr ...