Award Data

In Phase I we developed, integrated, and demonstrated a real-time adaptive navigation system, and a companion real-time adaptive guidance system for UAVs. The underlying project goal is to provide an aircraft with the capability to autonomously reroute itself in real time through dynamic hazard environments and still achieve its mission objectives. The adaptive naviagtion system uses an evolutiona ...

Our Phase-I investigations were completely successful and gave new life to the concept of ablative laser propulsion (ALP). New measurement techniques and equipment have been incorporated into the basic experimental apparatus constructed in Phase I, and this improvement will add considerably to our capabilities and to the fundamental understanding of laser-matter interactions. Three materials (lead ...

Our Phase-I investigations were completely successful and gave new life to the concept of ablative laser propulsion (ALP). New measurement techniques and equipment have been incorporated into the basic experimental apparatus constructed in Phase I, and this improvement will add considerably to our capabilities and to the fundamental understanding of laser-matter interactions. Three materials (lead ...

CFD Research Corporation (CFDRC) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM) have teamed in this STTR project to develop and validate an atomization/spray module that more accurately models many of the complex physical processes involved in spray combustion. Accurate predictions of atomization/spray characteristics are vital to successful analyses of combustion systems for gas turbine, rocket, a ...

CFD Research Corporation (CFDRC) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UWM) have teamed in this STTR project to develop and validate an atomization/spray module that more accurately models many of the complex physical processes involved in spray combustion. Accurate predictions of atomization/spray characteristics are vital to successful analyses of combustion systems for gas turbine, rocket, a ...

This proposal describes the development of passive surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors and multi-sensor systems for NASA application to remote wireless sensing of temperature and pressure distributions in space vehicles and demanding environments. SAW devices are a mature technology used in numerous commercial wireless communication applications, satellites, and military systems. Research into th ...

The gasdynamic mirror (GDM) plasma thruster has the ability to confine high-density plasma for the length of time required to heat it to the temperatures corresponding to specific impulse requirements. The often-cited plasma confinement time is directly proportional to the mirror ratio and the length, and is inversely proportional to the square root of ion energy. This confinement law, however, i ...

The proposed R&D is to develop a wireless data networking capability. A prototype capability will result from the Phase 1 and 2 contracts. The Versatile Wireless Data Net (VWDN) employs an 802.11x wireless protocol for a network of sensor, recording, and monitoring nodes. The concept combines extensive computational capability with a family of transducers in self-contained packages with an ele ...

This proposal describes the continued development of passive, orthogonal frequency coded (OFC) surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors and multi-sensor systems, an enabling technology for remote wireless sensing of temperature, pressure, and a range of other measurands, for application to space explorations' demanding environments. Phase I demonstrated the technical feasibility of the OFC approach to ...

Revolutionizing the space propulsion industry through innovative, relatively low-cost, manufacturing techniques is extremely needed. Specifically, advancements are needed for components in new high-powered electrical, beamed energy, and nuclear propulsion systems. Innovative processes for fabricating large, net shape, nanostructured tungsten-rhenium components are proposed. Innovative liquid precu ...