Award Data

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop a novel, hand-held, IR illuminator with the capability of producing beams of variable divergence angles. We offer two complementary approaches that will be thoroughly tested in Phase I. One approach is based upon a novel reflective optic that transforms non-uniform light beams into a highly uniform beam (>90% uniform). This approach is based upon ...

The development of an innovative, affordable and automated system for near-surface, real-time, remote sound velocity profiler to measure the velocity of a transmitted acoustic pulse as a function of depth is proposed. Alternative technologies for environmental sampling will be explored and a tradeoff study to determine the most promising approach will be conducted. A design concept study to dete ...

In this proposal, Quadrant Engineering seeks SBIR funds to investigate development of an antenna element location measurement system suitable for compensating platform motions in airborne millimeter-wave antenna arrays. During Phase 1 we plan to evaluate three different approaches termed direct, active, and passive. In the direct approach, motion sensors attached to the antenna will be used to d ...

Rapid development in optical communications, signal processing and time delay beam steering for radar applications has produced considerable interest in fast and efficient electro-optic switches and modulators. In this phase I program initially a comprehensive survey of the state of the art technology in electrically controlled switches will be done and several design options which satisfies the ...

Magnetic bearings will dramatically improve performance of gas turbine engines by permitting high rotor speeds and combustion temperatures. Lubrication systems are also eliminated, reducing weight and logistic support. These huge potential benefits are essential to the Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology Program (IHPTET). SatCon Technology Corporation's magnetic bearings have ...

The BMDO as part of its kinetic energy systems development requires an expendable, inertial guidance package. SatCon is proposing to develop an angular rate sensor combined with an accelerometer which are microfabricated on a single "chip" using the LIGA lithographic process. The accelerometer element employs a rebalanced cantilever, oriented orthogonally to the substrate, while the rate sensor u ...

This proposal addresses Novel Concepts for Precision Deployable Optical Structures (PDOS). The proposed development and demonstration effort would provide an innovative solution to a problem which is becoming more and more important to organizations which must provide space based optical systems for the defense of the Nation and advancement of understanding of space.Both the Department of Defense ...

We propose to begin development of a new class of surgical lasers made possible by recent advances in high power, semiconductor-laser technology. Multi-Watt level, diode-pumped, mid-infrared solid state lasers will eventually replaced lamp-pumped systems for many surgical applications. The compact nature of these lasers will allow multiple wavelength modules to be incorporated into a single fibe ...

Future weapon platforms will require highly precise pointing and tracking capabilities in the presence of unpredictable terrain motions, unmodeled gun barrel flexure, nonlinear and time-varying parasitics such as backlash, friction. saturation and recoil shocks etc. It is thus necessary to develop controllers that achieve rapid and precise tracking capabilities in presence of all these hard nonli ...

Satellite trajectory control and optimization are complicated due to several factors: nonlinear dynamics with time delays, modeling and parameter uncertainties; flexible modes due to fuel slosh and appendages; constraints on propulsive force and torque inputs; and constraints on acceptable angular rates and attitudes. Existing control approaches based on LTI frequency domain methods trade simpli ...