Award Data

This proposal describes a conceptual design and initial conceptual experiments of a remarkably straight-forward internal sensor that is capable of measuring three orthogonal strain components. The proposed sensor uses three cascaded in-line micro Fabry-Perot cavities that are individually addressed using coherence division multiplexing. The Fabry-Perot cavities are fabricated from three very dif ...

A method is proposed to detect, locate, and measure fatigue cracks as small 0.0004 in. (10 um) in advanced materials undergoing thermomechanical fatigue testing. The proposed technique would provide wide area coverage at fatigue rates up to 2000 Hz and specimen temperatures up to and exceeding 2000 degrees F (1100 degrees C). The measurement system would consist of an advanced therma ...

At the end of Phase I a software code implementing a prototype version of a system for real-time analysis of electromagnetic wave propagating in space and along the surface of an aircraft will be delivered. The computations will be performed on a virtual aircraft representing an actual aircraft in electronic format. The delivered prototype version will be capable of performing in rea ...

Adroit Systems Inc. (ASI) proposes to develop an innovative concept which reduces the required volume of predetonator mixture in pulse detonation engines (PDEs). The propulsive efficiency of the PDE hinges on the ability to quickly initiate a detonation in a fuel/air mixture. Since most fuel/air mixtures are difficult to detonate, an easily detonable predetonator mixture is typically ...

The need exists for easily deposited optical coatings with flexible features for longer wavelength systems. Coating systems that perform more than one function reduce design complexity and cost of fabrication. TPL proposes innovative, multi-component sol-gel processing to produce optical coatings with the complex chemistry necessary to achieve multi-functional capabilities. Sol-gel is the only ...

As greater numbers of systems compete for limited telemetry resources, measures must be taken to increase the utilization of the available spectrum. Fortunately, recent advances in communications systems and protocols can provide a dramatic increase in the utilization of allocated radio frequency spectrum. The best solution for the telemetry community requires that several areas of advanced tech ...

Virginia Power Technologies (VPT) purposes a high-efficiency, low voltage, spacecraft power converter using Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) synchronous rectifiers. High efficiency at low output voltages cannot be achieved with Schottky rectifiers because of their fixed voltage drop. Use of synchronous rectifiers can improve the efficiency. However, there is a limited availability of radiation-hardened ...

This proposal relates to autonomous guidance of air-to-surface miniaturized munitions and sub-munitions, including (1) a class of I-250 bombs and (2) a class of boosted kinetic energy penetrators. Barron Associates, Inc. proposes to demonstrate the advantages of optimum inverse guidance that minimizes maneuver losses of trajectory specific energy and thereby reduces impact miss distance, increase ...

The use of advanced composite materials in all applications has increased dramatically, but the methods for managing and processing have remained unchanged for thirty years. Advanced, mulitple sensor technology has been demonstrated to reduce process time and costs. AvPro proposes to develop a single sensor system to provide multiple data inputs. It would be a means to validate models for proce ...

Due to the lack of hardware architecture standard for satellite front ends and the multitude of satellite telemetry formats, telemetry front ends can be expensive to develop and maintain-custom hardware and software solutions (unique for each satellite or station application) are often the only way to satisfy mission needs. Because of the tailor-made nature of these components, costs are often hi ...