Aerospace | Office of Technology Licensing

Available Technologies by Category
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
Derivative-Free Output Feedback Adaptive Control for Vehicles	New Derivative-Free Output Feedback Adaptive Control for Vehicles improves adaptive control stabilization and tracking performance while achieving a simpler architectural model. Innovation allows for faster adaptation and can be used for aircrafts, missiles, spacecrafts, industrial process, automotives, and airframes. Novel technology uses generalization of assumptions to reduce modeling error while maintaining robustness and improving performance.	5620
Magnetohydrodynamic Drive for Gas Production in Microgravity	Novel technology using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) forces for gas production and phase separation in microgravity environments. Unifies gas generation and phase separation stages, eliminating the need for moving parts and enhancing reliability. Versatile applications in space exploration, satellite propulsion, in-space manufacturing, and other areas, offering efficient and dependable gas production solutions.	9037
Leverage the Advantages of Aluminum Nitride for Superior Ultra-Wide Bandgap Semiconductors for High-Power, High-Temperature Diodes and Transistors	Metal modulated epitaxy method enables the production of p-type beryllium-doped aluminum nitride films as key components in ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors for the first time. Achieves high reverse breakdown voltage—a significant advantage over wide bandgap materials such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride. Improves current conduction over best previous results in p-type aluminum nitride (AIN) by 30,000,000 times and n-type AlN by 6,000 times.	8666
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
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
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
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

Technologies