Award Data

We have designed a lightweight, sturdy, user adjustable ergonomically designed backrest support for ultralight weight wheelchairs that will provide necessary postural support and provide a variety of positions to ease dressing, propulsion, and seated comfort. The backrest will improve user comfort, function, and posture during multiple activities of daily living. The innovative design will enable ...

The prime objective of this proposal is to develop a multi-functional sandwich composite material design to fulfill current needs for non-parasitic, lightweight, high-strength, thermally insulating and effective radiation shielding materials for deep space exploration applications. The phase II program will further improve and characterize the mechanical, physical and radiation protection properti ...

There is significant need for arrays of miniature sensors that are completely wireless. Ideally these sensors would be built as an integrated device, including sensing elements, computation/signal conditioning, communication, and an on-board power supply. However, they have not been developed due to the difficulty with integrating sensing ele-ments, and the absence of miniature power supplies. ...

slowed rotor / compound (SL/C) aircraft offer VTOL combined with fixed-wing flight-efficiencies. They are safer than any other type aircraft -- with much lower acquisition, maintenance and operational cost than helicopters and tiltrotors. Carter Aviation Technologies began developing SL/C aircraft in 1994 and began flying a prototype, the CarterCopter Technology Demonstrator (CCTD) in 1998. Thi ...

The proposed innovation is an integrated hybrid solid state electrochemical system providing co-generation of high purity hydrogen and electric power. The embodiment is a physical, chemical and thermal integration of three processes: (1) production high purity hydrogen, (2) electrochemical partial oxidation of hydrocarbon fuel, and (3) power generation by a solid oxide fuel cell. This highly integ ...

Reliable energy systems with high energy density capable of operating at high temperatures, pressures and radiation levels are needed for certain NASA missions. Batteries based on solid-state ceramic oxide composite electrolytes provide the benefit of operation at temperatures up to 550o C. The current high-temperature Li battery technologies use carbonate, chloride and other molten compounds bas ...

A propulsion system is proposed that is based on acceleration of ions emitted from a thin, solid-state electrochemical ceramic membrane. This technology would provide a versatile propulsion system that would be suitable for long-term, low-thrust missions throughout the deep-space to near-Earth range. The specially formulated and fabricated membrane in combination with an applied bias voltage wil ...

In this Phase I STTR project for NASA, Concrete Solutions Inc (CSI), together with the University of Texas at Austin (UTA), will develop a detailed research plan that will provide for an acoustic liner that is capable of withstanding high exhaust temperatures up to 3,000 F over a range of sound frequencies. Using CSI?s patented product, SoundSorb, a cementitious material that is used extensivel ...

The proposed innovation is a wireless laser power transmission system employing a dual-use photovoltaic concentrator at the receiving end. Specifically, the laser receiver/converter employs thin Fresnel lenses to focus continuous or pulsed laser light onto small photovoltaic cells, thereby reducing cell cost and improving cell conversion efficiency (> 70% near term). The dual-use approach employ ...

A mapping solution will be developed that allows for geospatial-reality intelligent linking database with remotely sensed images. This system is designed to use Earth Science datasets to support NASA Center Operations. Mobile Online Intelligent Decision Support Systems (MOIDSS?) can be deployed in a variety of NASA facilities and commercial industry facilities. This solution will support a range o ...