Available Technologies by Category
Magnetohydrodynamic Pumped Liquid Metal Loops for Spacecraft Thermal Control
  • The absence of moving parts and low vapor pressure of the liquid result in enhanced reliability and minimum power consumption.
  • The near-zero vapor pressure of the liquid metal reduces leaks and minimizes the pressure difference between the loop and the external environment, which reduces the mass of the pipes and enables the use of non-metallic lightweight fluid handling materials.
  • With thermal conductivity values two orders of magnitude above standard refrigerants, the volume and mass of heat exchangers are reduced proportionally.
9251
New Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) Technique’s Unprecedented Time and Space Resolution Improves Understanding of Atmospheric Optical Covariances for Forecasting
  • Optimizing free-space optical communications tools with enhanced optical turbulence strength measurements as a function of time and range enables path for development of first of their kind tracebility standards.
  • Quantitative measurements of optical turbulence with unprecedented spatial and temporal coverage offer improved performance for long-range FSO applications.
  • Singular measurement of optical turbulence results from combination LIDAR measurements of wind, temperature, and water vapor, which enables better weather forecasting and models to be built.
9016
Predictive Maintenance System for Large-Scale Operations Offers Potential for Significant Cost Savings
  • Consistent workflow improvements: Offers repeatable and consistent enterprise-level improvements to the maintenance workflow.  
  • Proactive readiness: Improves maintenance scheduling, allowing for improved logistics, scheduling, virtual kitting, and part/component availability. 
  • Customizable: Customers can build and tailor their PMx solutions according to their needs, providing increased data control and an alternative to costly and limited solutions.
8793
Expandable Back Drive–Resistant Wedge Improves Payload Support and Security in Satellite and Other Limited-Access Applications
  • This expandable wedge designed to resist back drive creates a more predictable load path for limited-access payloads, such as small satellite installations. 
  • The design reduces the likelihood of payload damage caused by sudden shock loading that can occur due to the higher stresses of cantilevered loads. 
  • Two offset, spring-activated pawls make the cartridge resistant to vibration by holding the wedge in place once proper contact has been established.
9002
Systems and Methods for SmallSat Propellant Positioning
  • The technology provides a way to reliably and efficiently control saturated, or boiling, propellants compared to existing technology.
  • The technology can easily be scaled up and applied to different liquids and architectures.
  • Significantly enhances the reliability and efficiency of current positioning methods.
9165
Quantum Tunneling Radio Positioning System Achieves Higher Levels of Accuracy and Longer Range for Next-Generation Wireless Networks
  • This radiolocation system uses quantum tunneling tags (QTT) capable of operating in non-line-of-sight conditions to achieve longer range communications in outdoor and indoor applications. 
  • The use of QTTs, paired with a frequency hopping reader, results in positioning accuracy not achievable with standard methods.
  • QTTs are inexpensive and operate under low power requirements to offer an affordable orientation system with long battery life.
8535
Metasurface Enables Rapid, Sensitive, and Low-Cost Permittivity Characterization of Dielectric Materials at Radio Frequencies
  • Characterize complex permittivity of dielectric materials at radio frequencies quickly and at lower cost than with existing techniques. 
  • The electronically reconfigurable system allows integration of active electronics for tunability and eliminates the need for several masks to achieve the needed bandwidth.
  • Measure individual frequencies by swapping out only the metasurfaces, which can be used on a wide range of sample thicknesses.
9078
Artificial Neural Network (ANN) with Unique Input Design That Significantly Reduces Computational Costs of Complex Engineering Systems
  • Neural network’s novel input can utilize first-order schemes and local patches and allows for discontinuities to be reflected accurately and with greater resolution than existing products.
  • This adaptable ANN can be adopted by commercial and scientific research as a stand-alone solution or in conjunction with existing software. 
  • Lower costs for running complex and repetitive computations can be achieved by implementing this neural network with an input system that processes low-cost numerical solution patches arising from two or more converging solutions.
8963
Anodically Coloring Molecular Electrochromics (EC) Improve Contrast, Color, and Transitions
  • True black-to-clear transitions with high contrast and color tuning are now possible with anodically coloring electrochromics.
  • Broad absorption supports color mixing and color tunability in the charged state, and color tuning is enabled by manipulating the oscillator strengths of radical cation transitions.  
  • Energy required for practical electrochromic applications is effectively decreased by much lower oxidative potentials, as compared to their corresponding polyamides.
7745
Lightweight, Versatile Cryogenic Conductors
  • Lithium exhibits lower atomic mass, higher power density, and lower losses under cryogenic conditions
  • Conductors such as lithium become even more power-dense at lower temperatures, exhibiting improved electrical performance 
  • Cladding with copper enables lithium to be drawn using standard wire-drawing techniques and tools
8729
Reprocessing, Recycling, and Repairing Covalent Adaptable Network Polymers
  • Environmentally friendly: Recycles fibers and polymers without the use of supercritical chemicals (e.g., acids) 
  • Effective: Allows for pressure-free surface repair and welding 
  • Efficient: Reclaims fibers and polymer with the same mechanical properties as fresh material for use in new products
7348
Air-Breathing Plasma Jet Engine
  • Sustainable: This invention has the potential to replace costly hydrocarbon fuel with a sustainable and cost-effective alternative.
  • Adaptable: Depending on the application, the plasma can be created and coupled by various means, including direct current electric arcs, radio frequency plasma, and microwave plasma.
  • Cost-saving: This invention has the potential to replace costly hydrocarbon fuel with a sustainable and cost-effective alternative.
8788
Cascaded Nickel Hard Mask
  • Substantially deeper etches: Because a very thick metal mask can be created, a wide range of µm features can be etched in a variety of III-Nitride semiconductors, allowing for extremely high voltage devices that require thicker layer structures
  • Robust: This method has demonstrated highly consistent and effective protection against the kind of damage that is typical with standard fabrication methods
  • Scalable: The nickel hard mask with cascaded e-beam evaporation and sputtering metal deposition method can readily be applied to the large-scale production of electronic devices
8790
p-type Be-Doped AlN Films and Layered Films
  • Enabling: Leverages MME method to provide the first access to p-type AlN:Be films, a superior ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor material good for high-power, high-temperature diodes and transistors
  • Ease of fabrication: Avoids costly and complicated methods unfavorable for beryllium doping
  • Improved breakdown performance: Achieves high reverse breakdown voltage—a significant advantage over WBG materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and GaN
8810, 8666, 8786
Two-Phase Thermal Management System for Integrated Motor Cooling
  • High-performance: Utilizes three-dimensional silicon carbide packaging and novel drive topologies with reduced switching losses, leading to increased power density and lower motor system size and weight
  • Embedded: Integrates with the motor and drive electronics rather than requiring an externally attached heat exchanger system
  • Efficient: Dramatically increases volumetric heat removal rates in electric motor systems by employing a wick structure designed to assist liquid delivery to enable evaporative cooling
8280
Heat Dissipation for Microelectronic Systems via Capillary Trap
  • Effective: Dissipates large heat fluxes via 3D heat spreading and evaporative cooling that could approach kW/cm2 and beyond while keeping the surface temperature under 90oC
  • Preventive: Mitigates coolant dry-out at the critical heat flux levels that result in a rapid and large temperature rise and thus cause device burn-out
  • Efficient: Exploits high cooling capabilities associated with phase-change heat transfer through evaporation
6272
Virtual Sensing Integrated for Predictive Reliability (VIPR)
  • Advanced: Acquires system data via virtual sensing, without the need for physical sensors in all desired locations
  • Cost-reducing: Aims to reduce maintenance and planning costs for solid rocket motors and potentially other vehicle propulsion systems
  • Predictive: Provides useful, repeatable, extensive data sets to predict rocket performance and enable proactive plans for propulsion system maintenance, upgrades, and replacements, potentially reducing downtime and failures
8555
Four-Dimensional Electron Density Mapping of the Ionosphere
  • Innovative: Produces the first four-dimensional image of electron density in the lower ionosphere
  • Far-reaching: Leverages technology that can be used efficiently on a global scale
  • Pragmatic: Yields a highly useful four-dimensional map to be used in military and commercial applications that rely on high-frequency communications
8349
Internet of Space Things
  • Comprehensive: Provides a fully integrated cyber-physical system that allows for active sensing, passive sensing, and data communications
  • Robust: Offers a dynamic and scalable network configuration with a centralized control that enables and simplifies data aggregation
  • Cost effective: Permits highly differentiated networking capabilities to be integrated and deployed over the same network infrastructure, using CubeSats to decrease costs
7957, 7958
Integrated Cascaded Atomic Beam
  • Reduced cost – due to fabrication techniques that enable mass manufacture and spread of technology
  • Increased generation of collimated atomic beams – due to the miniaturizing of clocks
  • Maximized accuracy of the clock – by improving signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)
7917