Originating Technology/NASA Contribution In the 1990s, NASA looked for new ways to extend the lifespan of engine components
Lambda had developed the low plasticity burnishing (LPB) process, which increased damage tolerance and prevented cracking in engine components
Glenn Research Center
Lambda Research Inc.Cincinnati, Ohio
Product Outcome
LPB can be applied to a wide range of metals and alloys and to components of varied shapes
LPB eliminates fatigue failures in crucial aircraft engine components
The process has been applied to more than 3,400 hip implants, improving fatigue strength by
>40 percent and lifespan by >100 times
Spinoff 2010
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Health and Medicine
Burnishing Techniques Strengthen Hip Implants
Partnership Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
contracts allowed Lambda to demonstrate theeffectiveness of LPB for engine
applications
NASA funding led to additional government support, resulting in the introduction of LPB into commercial aircraft
The process won an “R&D 100” Award
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Goddard scientist and mathematician Dr. Norden
Huang invented a set of algorithms for analyzing nonlinear and nonstationary signals
This user-friendly signal processing technology, Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT), can be used to analyze data for a wide variety of applications
Goddard Space Flight Center
DynaDx CorporationMountain View, California
Product Outcome
The company developed scientific computation software with a built-in HHT algorithm
DynaDX’s HHT-based Multimodal Pressure-Flow process provides medical diagnosis and prediction of brain blood flow-related problems
The technology alerts caregivers to changes in intracranial pressure in patients
Spinoff 2010
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Signal Processing Methods Monitor Cranial Pressure
Partnership Through an auction managed by Ocean Tomo
Federal Services LLC, DynaDx licensed a portfolio of NASA patents, including the HHT
The auction was the first ever sale of government patent licenses through a public auction of intellectual property
The HHT won an “R&D 100” Award and was named a NASA “Invention of the Year”
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution JPL scientists invented a welding curtain to protect against eye-damaging light wavelengths found in space and produced by laser and welding work
The curtain employed a light filtering/vision enhancing system developed through studying
the eyes of birds of prey
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Eagle Eyes OpticsCalabasas, California
Product Outcome
The technology protects against damage that can lead to cataracts, which effect millions in the United States alone
Eagle Eyes donated 150 pairs to children in Alaska, where the Sun’s reflection off the snow results in a higher incidence of cataracts
Spinoff 2010
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Ultraviolet-Blocking Lenses Protect, Enhance Vision
Partnership SunTiger Inc.—now Eagle Eyes Optics—licensed the technology for use in sunglasses
Eagle Eyes sunglasses shield eyes from harmful ultraviolet, violet, and blue light
The eyewear was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution In 1983, NASA began developing hyperspectral
systems at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
In 2001, NASA launched the first on-orbit hyperspectral imager, Hyperion, onboard the Earth
Observing-1 spacecraft
Stennis Space Center
Themis Vision Systems LLCRichmond, Virginia
Product Outcome
Themis has built about 40 custom systems used worldwide, including 3 in use by the FBI
The systems are used in medical applications as a diagnostic tool for looking at wounds and
burns and to monitor healing
The technology also has forensics, microscopy, military, and art restoration applications
Spinoff 2010
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Health and Medicine
Hyperspectral Systems Increase Imaging Capabilities
Partnership Stennis and the Institute for Technology Development crafted a smaller scanner that required no relative movement between target
and sensor
Themis later obtained exclusive rights to the technology
The innovation was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate
has worked to address issues related to the overburdened National Airspace System (NAS)
Evaluating large-scale air traffic management solutions in real life, however, is costly and impractical
Ames Research Center
Intelligent Automation Inc. (IAI)Rockville, MD
Product Outcome
The software uses interactive components called agents to model the behavior of various entities
The agent-based infrastructure allows researchers to model the NAS down to individual
flights
The program is also used for distributed robotics and for modeling the behavior of crowds
Spinoff 2010
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Programs Model the Future of Air Traffic Management
Partnership To help develop a program capable of simulating a realistic NAS, Ames partnered with
IAI through the Small Business InnovationResearch (SBIR) program
With SBIR support, IAI continued work on specialized software that now enables NASA’s Airspace Concept Evaluation System
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution A NASA collaborative rotorcraft research program
with the U.S. Army resulted in many outcomes that have enhanced the safety and performance of helicopters
Among these are advanced airfoils designed and wind-tunnel tested at Langley
Langley Research Center
Van Horn Aviation LLC (VHA)Tempe, Arizona
Product Outcome
The VHA 206 tail rotor received Federal Aviation Administration certification in 2009
The tail rotor provides multiple benefits, including enhanced lifespan, improved control, superior performance at high altitude, and as much as 40-percent less noise
Spinoff 2010
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Tail Rotor Airfoils Stabilize Helicopters, Reduce Noise
Partnership VHA employed a Langley airfoil design in the
public domain—the NASA RC(4)-10—to craft an updated aftermarket tail rotor for the popular Bell 206 series of helicopters
The company plans on using NASA airfoil designs for future projects aimed at advancing
rotorcraft performance
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA and partners formed the Advanced General
Aviation Transport Experiments, or AGATE
AGATE aimed to enhance general aviation (GA) technology to enable a small aircraft transportation system for alleviating congestion in the Nation’s roads and skies
Langley Research Center
Cirrus Design CorporationDuluth, Minnesota
Product Outcome
Cirrus’ SR22 plane has been the top-selling FAA-certified single-engine airplane since 2002
The planes feature a NASA spinoff, the BRS Aerospace whole-plane parachute, which has saved 35 Cirrus pilots and passengers to date
A new Cirrus jet has an engine created under NASA’s General Aviation Propulsion project
Spinoff 2010
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Transportation
Personal Aircraft Point to the Future of Transportation
Partnership Through AGATE-driven SBIR support, Cirrus
developed composite manufacturing methods for its GA aircraft
Cirrus planes feature a host of NASA innovations
NASA testing also improved safety in Cirrus aircraft and led to airbag installation, a first in
GA planes
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution For centuries people have dreamed of making
personal flight, a common science fiction trope, a reality
By the 1990s, lighter, stronger materials and design systems enabled new efforts
Ames Research Center
Trek Aerospace Inc.Folsom, California
Product Outcome
The aircraft employ ducted fans, allowing craft to fly into tight spaces without damaging rotors or surroundings
The company offers a miniature test version and a full-size manned version is available as an
experimental aircraft
Military and public safety applications exist
Spinoff 2010
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Ducted Fan Designs Lead to Potential New Vehicles
Partnership Trek Aerospace engineers used wind-tunnel
testing at Ames to improve their vehicles
The tests revealed the engineers could accomplish lift with a significantly smaller and lighter engine and led to several design changes, including the use of a fly-by-wire system
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Research and testing by Langley engineer Richard Whitcomb demonstrated the effectiveness of winglets in reducing performance-inhibiting drag
Further flight tests conducted at Dryden validated Whitcomb’s findings
Langley Research CenterDryden Flight Research Center
Aviation Partners Boeing (APB)Seattle, Washington
Product Outcome
Blended Winglets are now featured on thousands of Boeing aircraft around the world
APB estimates the technology saved more than 2 billion gallons of jet fuel as of 2010, reducing costs by $4 billion and carbon dioxide emissions by 21.5 million tons
Spinoff 2010
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Transportation
Winglets Save Billions of Dollars in Fuel Costs
Partnership Aviation Partners Inc. and The Boeing Company
collaborated to form Aviation Partners Boeing and apply a new form of the NASA-proven technology to Boeing aircraft
The Blended Winglet technology improves winglet aerodynamics
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Aerodynamics researcher Siva Mangalam worked
on airfoil design at Langley Research Center
While there were extensive systems for wind-tunnel testing, Mangalam found there were no quantifiable sensing systems for measuring aerodynamic forces in flight
Dryden Flight Research Center
Tao of Systems Integration Inc.Hampton, Virginia
Product Outcome
Three of the four components of the system have been commercialized
Applications include improving wind and underwater turbine operation and optimizing air conditioning
The final system may enable aircraft that respond like birds to aerodynamic conditions
Spinoff 2010
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Transportation
Sensor Systems Collect Critical Aerodynamics Data
Partnership With SBIR funding and flight testing from Dryden,
Tao Systems began development of a first-of-its-kind, closed-loop system to detect, measure, and control aerodynamic forces in flight
Tao’s simple, inexpensive approach gathers aerodynamics data in real time, detecting forces like turbulence before the aircraft reacts to them
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Among the many ways that NASA works to
advance aviation are efforts to improve the lifespan and performance of jet, or gas turbine, engines
Glenn scientist Dongming Zhu developed “R&D 100” Award-winning thermal barrier coatings that reduce thermal fatigue in metal engine parts
Glenn Research Center
MesoCoat Inc.Euclid, Ohio
Product Outcome
MesoCoat’s NASA-developed thermal barrier coating results in a 50-percent increase in
engine component life and improved fuel economy
The cladding technology can prevent corrosion for up to 100 years, mitigating damage that
costs over $270 billion annually
Spinoff 2010
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Transportation
Coatings Extend Life of Engines and Infrastructure
Partnership MesoCoat is employing a specific composition of
Zhu’s coating to prolong the lifespan of engines in U.S. Air Force legacy aircraft
Through a Space Act Agreement, the company is also using Glenn’s arc lamp technology to
demonstrate cladding technology for limiting corrosion of metal infrastructure like pipes and
bridges
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Supercooled droplets in the atmosphere can form
layers of ice on aircraft surfaces, reducing performance and even leading to catastrophic loss
of control
Glenn has led NASA efforts in developing anti-icing technologies to enhance aircraft safety
Glenn Research Center
Radiometrics CorporationBoulder, Colorado
Product Outcome
Radiometrics’ radiometers provide profiling of atmospheric conditions that define local
weather, improving short-term weather forecasting
The devices detected situations for weather modification at the 2008 and 2010 Olympics
The radiometers are also employed for soil moisture, snow, and sea surface measurements
Spinoff 2010
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Public Safety
Radiometers Optimize Local Weather Prediction
Partnership Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
contracts with Radiometrics led to the creation of a radiometer for detecting icing conditions along flight paths
Radiometrics commercialized a modular radiometer originally developed under the SBIR
agreements
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Ames engineer Leonard Haslim invented the
electroexpulsive separation system deicing technology
The system employed a pair of conductors that shatter ice buildup when driven apart by an
electric pulse
Ames Research Center
IMS-ESSTemecula, California
Product Outcome
The company initially sold several systems for UAV deicing applications, discovering a niche market for the NASA-derived technology
The systems are ideal for UAVs, offering lightweight, low power protection against icing
The technology allows military UAVs to conduct crucial missions without the threat of icing
Spinoff 2010
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Public Safety
Energy-Efficient Systems Eliminate Icing Danger for UAVs
Partnership Ice Management Systems (now IMS-ESS) licensed the technology and built upon the NASA
concept
The company conducted testing in Glenn Research Center’s Icing Research Tunnel
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution In order to support the development of a Small
Aircraft Transportation System, NASA has invested significant research into small aircraft safety
Engineer Boris Popov invented a parachute designed to rescue an entire small airplane
Langley Research Center
BRS AerospaceSaint Paul, Minnesota
Product Outcome
The BRS parachute system is featured on top-selling small aircraft around the world
As of 2010, the system had saved 250 lives
BRS is working on parachutes for small jets and may eventually use its NASA-derived technology to enable systems for commercial airlines
Spinoff 2010
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Public Safety
Rocket-Powered Parachutes Rescue Entire Planes
Partnership NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts with Popov’s company, BRS Aerospace, advanced the whole-plane parachute system
The NASA funding helped with the development of thin-film parachutes, manufacturing methods that resulted in stronger parachutes, and smart
deployment devices
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology collaborated on the Daedalus project,
exploring new technologies for lightweight aircraft and high-altitude, long-duration flight
Aurora was founded out of that effort and began a pattern of partnership with NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center
Aurora Flight Sciences CorporationManassas, Virginia
Product Outcome
The SAA allowed Aurora to open a facility in West Virginia, now employing 160 workers
The company produces all of the Global Hawk airframe components, save for the wings
Aurora also manufactures cutting-edge UAV designs for military surveillance applications
Spinoff 2010
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Public Safety
Technologies Advance UAVs for Science, Military
Partnership The company has engaged in numerous Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) projects
A Space Act Agreement (SAA) with Goddard resulted in manufacturing techniques used to produce composite airframe components for the Global Hawk UAV, used by the military and NASA
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA launched the first of its inflatable space
structures in the form of large, metalized balloons—the Echo satellites, in 1960
New interest was spurred with the successful deployment of the Inflatable Antenna
Experiment during STS-77 in 1996
Glenn Research Center
GATR TechnologiesHuntsville, Alabama
Product Outcome
Certified by the Federal Communications Commission, the ground-based inflatable antennas are transported in two portable cases and can be quickly deployed in remote areas
GATR provided communications after Hurricane Katrina, wildfires in California, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake
Spinoff 2010
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Public Safety
Inflatable Antennas Support Emergency Communication
Partnership ManTech SRS Technologies received Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding to develop an inflatable solar concentrator; the technology was applicable to inflatable antennas
GATR licensed the technology from SRS and improved it through a Glenn Space Act Agreement
The technology won an “R&D 100” Award
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution To perform nondestructive evaluation and monitoring of aerospace vehicles and structures,
NASA has pursued the development of structural health monitoring systems (SHM)
One approach to SHM is the Stanford Multi-Actuator Receiver Transduction (SMART) Layer
Marshall Space Flight Center
Acellent Technologies Inc.Sunnyvale, California
Product Outcome
The SMART Layer is flexible, lightweight, and easy to adapt to any structure
The technology is now applied in defense, space, transportation, and energy industries
The company has been funded to monitor civil infrastructure such as pipelines, buildings, and bridges
Spinoff 2010
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Public Safety
Smart Sensors Assess Structural Health
Partnership Acellent licensed the SMART Layer technology
from Stanford University and worked with Marshall through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop a hybrid SMART Layer for aerospace applications
Additional Marshall SBIRs helped the company improve and optimize the technology
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA continually seeks ways both to develop new
sensor technology and to advance existing devices to meet the demands of space exploration
These efforts often result in smaller, less expensive, more energy efficient, and highly durable products for use on Earth
Ames Research Center
Ion Applications Inc.West Palm Beach, Florida
Product Outcome
The company has commercialized a hand-held IMS device featuring enhanced sensitivity and easy portability and use
The technology is used by the U.S. military for detection of explosives and chemical agents, and is also applicable for semiconductor
manufacturing and other industrial processes
Spinoff 2010
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Public Safety
Hand-Held Devices Detect Explosives and Chemical Agents
Partnership NASA sought to miniaturize a powerful sensor
technology called an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) for astrobiology missions
Through NASA’s Astrobiology Science and Technology Instrument Development program and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Ion Applications developed a miniature IMS suitable for applications in space or on Earth
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Following the Columbia disaster, NASA required a
method for detecting potentially hazardous defects in the sprayed-on insulating foam on space shuttle external tanks
NASA scientists investigated terahertz imaging as a potential solution
Langley Research Center
Advanced Photonix Inc. (API)Ann Arbor, Michigan
Product Outcome
API’s systems take terahertz out of the lab and onto the manufacturing floor
Terahertz can be employed as a safer, more precise security measure than X-rays, revealing
concealed weapons and package contents
Other applications include pharmaceutical manufacturing and art conservation
Spinoff 2010
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Public Safety
Terahertz Tools Advance Imaging for Security, Industry
Partnership Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
agreements with Picometrix, now a subsidiary of API, adapted and improved the company’s
commercial terahertz system for NASA use
SBIR funding enabled the company to reduce the size and increase the speed of its terahertz imaging devices
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Living in space will require a sustainable environment, including plants, which can provide
food, clean air, and clean water
NASA has explored the use of LED lighting as a lightweight, energy-efficient technology for plant growth in space
Kennedy Space Center
Orbital Technologies Corporation (ORBITEC)Madison, Wisconsin
Product Outcome
HELIAC is in use by universities and other customers for photobiology research
Another application is aquarium lighting, providing light without the heat that can be detrimental to fish and corals
ORBITEC has licensed the technology to two aquarium lighting manufacturers
Spinoff 2010
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Consumer Goods
LED Systems Target Plant Growth
Partnership Through the Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) program, ORBITEC worked with Kennedy to develop the High Efficiency Lighting with Integrated Adaptive Control (HELIAC) system, which uses smart, solid-state LEDs for efficient plant growth
“Lightsicles” only spotlight plant tissue, saving energy by providing efficient, targeted lighting
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA pursued the development of a practical form of aerogel, a material with unmatched insulating qualities but a brittle composition
Kennedy scientist James Fesmire introduced the concept of a flexible aerogel material
Kennedy Space Center
Aspen Aerogels Inc.Northborough, Massachusetts
Product Outcome
NASA uses Aspen’s aerogel products for cryogenic applications
Commercial applications include pipe and building insulation and personal apparel
Aerogel insoles protect feet in extreme temperatures, while wrist and ankle wraps help patients with Raynaud’s disease
Spinoff 2010
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Aerogels Insulate Against Extreme Temperatures
Partnership Aspen Systems Inc. developed the world’s first
aerogel blankets through NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding
To develop and market the revolutionary product, Aspen Systems launched Aspen Aerogels Inc.
The technology won an “R&D 100” award
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution JPL researchers explored ways to significantly
miniaturize cameras on interplanetary spacecraft while maintaining scientific image quality
A team led by Eric Fossum developed an energy-efficient light sensor with all of its components integrated on a single chip
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Aptina Imaging CorporationSan Jose, California
Product Outcome
The NASA-derived sensors are now incorporated into digital cameras, automotive and surveillance cameras, and medical imaging
devices
One of every three cell phone cameras worldwide features Aptina’s sensors
The company has shipped over 1 billion sensors
Spinoff 2010
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Consumer Goods
Image Sensors Enhance Camera Technologies
Partnership Fossum and other JPL engineers licensed the
sensor technology and founded Photobit to pursue commercial applications
The company was acquired and later spun out as Aptina
The technology and its inventors were inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Lack of resources and dangerous conditions mean
repairs on the International Space Station must be done as quickly and efficiently as possible
NASA funded the design of simple, reusable patch repair systems for use in space
Kennedy Space Center
Cornerstone Research Group (CRG) Inc. Dayton, Ohio
Product Outcome
Heating the material renders it flexible; as it cools, it becomes a rigid, durable structural patch
The technology is a popular repair option for auto racing and the trucking industry
The material is also a weather-resistant option for outdoor and emergency applications,
repairing damaged gear on the fly
Spinoff 2010
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Lightweight Material Patches Allow for Quick Repairs
Partnership Through Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) contracts, CRG developed a structural patch with multiple commercial applications
The company has commercialized two brands of the NASA-derived material
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Johnson scientist Dennis Morrison conducted
research into microcapsules for delivering cancer-fighting drugs deep within the body
Morrison developed special ceramic nanoparticles as part of his research
Johnson Space Center
Farouk Systems Inc.Houston, Texas
Product Outcome
The company uses nanomaterials in its CHI hair irons, brushes, nail lacquers, and other products
A secondary line of liquid formulations works with the combination of ions and infrared wavelengths created by the CHI tools
According to the company, ions released by the styling tools help to smooth and soften hair
Spinoff 2010
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Consumer Goods
Nanomaterials Transform Hairstyling Tools
Partnership Farouk worked with Morrison to create a ceramic
composite for the company’s hairstyling irons
The company also incorporated nanosilver sterilizing components inspired by NASA research
After retiring from NASA, Morrison joined the company to develop additional hairstyling tools using near-infrared light
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Conditions in space and on the Moon feature
extreme temperatures
In planning for a return mission to the Moon, NASA aimed to improve the thermal control systems to keep astronauts comfortable while in a spacecraft
Goddard Space Flight Center
IDQ Inc.Garland, Texas
Product Outcome
The company has incorporated the NASA-derived additive into its line of refrigerants for automotive air conditioning units
The technology recharges air conditioning at afraction of auto shop costs
The products are sold at leading automotive and mass-retail stores worldwide
Spinoff 2010
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Consumer Goods
Do-It-Yourself Additives Recharge Auto Air Conditioning
Partnership While working on a Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR)-funded project, Mainstream Engineering developed a unique liquid additive to enhance thermal control performance
IDQ licensed the technology from Mainstream
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Growing plants in space presents unique challenges, including water limitations and soil
particles floating in microgravity
Many NASA projects have focused on developing and improving hydroponic methods of plant cultivation for use in space
Kennedy Space Center
ASA Analytics Inc.Waukesha, Wisconsin
Product Outcome
The original process analyzer is the core of the company’s ChemScan product line
More than 500 analyzer systems monitor water and wastewater treatment processes in cities around the world
The company claims 40-percent compound annual growth as a result of the technology
Spinoff 2010
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Environmental Resources
Systems Analyze Water Quality in Real Time
Partnership Through Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) funding, Biotronics Technologies Inc. developed a process analyzer for providing real-time detection of nutrients, organics, and metals in hydroponic solutions
Company researchers licensed the NASA-derived technology and formed ASA Analytics to pursue commercial applications
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution In 2015, NASA plans to launch the Soil Moisture
Active and Passive (SMAP) mission to take readings critical for understanding the
environment
The best way to measure surface conditions like soil moisture and ocean salinity is through
microwave remote sensing at long wavelengths
Goddard Space Flight Center
ProSensing Inc.Amherst, Massachusetts
Product Outcome
The company offers radiometers for mapping soil moisture, ocean salinity, and wind speed
The technology is in use by multiple universities and international research centers
The devices are being tested for noninvasive temperature readings of cerebrospinal fluid to diagnose conditions like meningitis
Spinoff 2010 Environmental Resources
Compact Radiometers Expand Climate Knowledge
Partnership Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
funding helped ProSensing develop low-cost, compact, ultrastable radiometers for sea surfacesalinity and soil moisture mapping
The radiometers were used in NASA’s 2D-STAR array as small components of a larger system, achieving the results of a large antenna without putting a massive structure into space
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA continually explores innovative ways of
overcoming the challenges presented by the extreme demands of the space environment
A manned mission to Mars would require sustainable methods of generating necessities like
fuel and oxygen
Ames Research Center
Bloom EnergySunnyvale, California
Product Outcome
An Energy Server with a footprint of a parking space can produce power for 100 U.S. homes
The technology produces energy 67-percent cleaner than typical coal power with fossil fuels and 100-percent cleaner with renewables
Energy Servers now provide power to multiple Fortune 500 companies
Spinoff 2010
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Environmental Resources
Energy Servers Deliver Clean, Affordable Power
Partnership K.R. Sridhar of the University of Arizona’s Space
Technologies Laboratory developed for NASA a fuel cell device that could split Martian water into oxygen for breathing and hydrogen for fuel
Sridhar founded Bloom Energy to develop the technology in reverse—creating clean electricity from oxygen and fuel
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Kennedy is part of the Merritt Island Wildlife
Refuge, home to over 1,500 plant and animal species
NASA works to keep the area as pristine as possible, creating innovative ways to clean up around launch complexes
Kennedy Space Center
Toxicological and Environmental Associates Inc.Baton Rogue, Louisiana
Product Outcome
The technology has won multiple honors and a place in the Space Technology Hall of Fame
Several companies are applying EZVI to clean up polluted zones around the world
EZVI is NASA’s most licensed technology to date
Spinoff 2010
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Environmental Resources
Solutions Remediate Contaminated Groundwater
Partnership NASA scientists collaborated with University of
Central Florida counterparts to develop Emulsified Zero-Valent Iron (EZVI), which neutralizes toxic chemicals in groundwater
Testing with partners through the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program proved EZVI’s effectiveness
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution All resources onboard the International Space
Station (ISS) are limited and must be carefully managed and recycled
Even before ISS construction, NASA investigated ways water could be purified and reused by astronauts living in orbit
Marshall Space Flight Center
Micro-Bac International Inc.Round Rock, Texas
Product Outcome
The NASA-derived microbial solution is part of a product line formulated for the remediation of wastewater and organic wastes
The innovation is also applied for the cleanup of crude oil spills
The technology was called on to mitigate theecological impact of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf
of MexicoSpinoff 2010
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Environmental Resources
Bacteria Provide Cleanup of Oil Spills, Wastewater
Partnership Through Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) contracts, Micro-Bac developed a phototrophic cell for water purification
The cell contained strains of photosynthetic bacteria isolated to break down toxic chemicals astronauts could encounter on the ISS
The company commercialized the bacterial formulation it developed for the SBIR project
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution During the Skylab launch, one of the spacecraft’s
protective shields was damaged
Marshall led a collaborative effort to repair the shield and save the spacecraft
Marshall Space Flight Center
Advanced Flexible Materials (AFM) Inc. Petaluma, California
Product Outcome
The reflective insulation technology has been incorporated into blankets to trap body heat and prevent hypothermia; it is also used as lining for mittens, vests, and more
The technology has been used to keep manatees warm when lifted from the water during tag-and-release programs
Spinoff 2010
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Environmental Resources
Reflective Coatings Protect People and Animals
Partnership Private manufacturer National Metalizing created a
reflective sunshield using radiant barrier technology the company had previously
developed for NASA; the solution saved Skylab
AFM now employs the same public domain technology in its products
The radiant barrier technology was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution The space shuttle main engines produce four
times the thrust of commercial jet engines, as well as an extreme amount of vibration
NASA engineers analyze vibrations in the engine systems to diagnose mechanical issues—a costly, tedious, and time-consuming process
Marshall Space Flight Center
AI Signal Research Inc. (ASRI)Huntsville, Alabama
Product Outcome
More than 80 users of the software are enhancing mechanical design and development
efforts across the country
Applications include dynamic signal analysis, system health monitoring, flight data analysis, flow data analysis, and fatigue analysis and
monitoring
Spinoff 2010
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Computer Technology
Innovative Techniques Simplify Vibration Analysis
Partnership Through the Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) program, ASRI developed PC-SIGNAL, a software package with improved tools and
techniques for vibration signal analysis
NASA employs PC-SIGNAL for the development and testing of propulsion systems
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Rocket engines operate under extreme temperature and pressure, making testing and
simulating the technology a challenge
NASA engineers required an advanced computer application to model the physical and chemical phenomena that occur in these engines
Marshall Space Flight Center
CRAFT Tech Inc.Pipersville, Pennsylvania
Product Outcome
The NASA-derived CRUNCH CFD software is now applied in commercial aerospace and other industries for analyzing and designing engine systems
The technology has a long list of potential applications, including in the liquefied natural gas
industry and a variety of fluid flow devices
Spinoff 2010
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Computer Technology
Modeling Tools Predict Flow in Fluid Dynamics
Partnership With Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
funding, CRAFT Tech invented software to simulate cryogenic fluid flows and related phenomena in liquid rocket turbopumps
The technology formed the foundation of state-of-the-art tools that have impacted the design of NASA rocket engine test facilities
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Space operations require robust, fail-resistant
programming to ensure the safe, effective execution of mission-critical control systems
NASA developed a powerful verification toolkit called Java Pathfinder (JPF) for software written in the popular Java programming language
Ames Research Center
Fujitsu Laboratories of America Inc.Sunnyvale, California
Product Outcome
The enhanced technology unearths software bugs not found with existing technologies
The software helps ensure operation and security of Web-based Java programs like banking applications and shopping carts
Fujitsu open-sourced its string input extension for NASA and others to continue development
Spinoff 2010
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Computer Technology
Verification Tools Secure Online Shopping, Banking
Partnership JPF’s Symbolic Pathfinder tool could automatically
analyze code structure to find defects but could not handle text inputs, or strings
Fujitsu built upon the open-source NASA software to create string input capabilities, increasing the tool’s effectiveness
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Systems health management seeks to understand
systems, assess their health, pinpoint problems, and support maintenance or repair
NASA employs this discipline to ensure the successful operation of its rockets, crew vehicles, and other complex systems
Ames Research Center
Qualtech Systems Inc. (QSI)Wethersfield, Connecticut
Product Outcome
TEAMS captures how a system fails, guiding engineers in making real-time diagnoses
The software substantially lowers costs and time dedicated to troubleshooting
General Motors hopes to use TEAMS in cars to diagnose engine trouble before failure occurs
Spinoff 2010
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Computer Technology
Virtual Toolsets Maintain Health of Complex Systems
Partnership To strengthen this approach, NASA worked with
Qualtech through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program
QSI adapted and employed its TEAMS toolset for the detection and isolation of electromechanical problems
Software is now in use by multiple NASA centers
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution The NASA Advanced Supercomputing Division
provides extremely fast supercomputing resources for NASA missions and other scientific endeavors
NASA was an early proponent of grid computing, which enables the sharing of computing power across geographic locations
Ames Research Center
FusionGeo Inc.The Woodlands, Texas
Product Outcome
Now called FusionGeo, the company offers its NASA-derived software commercially
The technology is well suited for processing seismic imaging for oil and gas exploration
It is also applicable to data-demanding tasks such as geothermal energy exploration and
carbon dioxide sequestration monitoring
Spinoff 2010
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Computer Technology
Framework Resources Multiply Computing Power
Partnership Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
funding enabled 3DGeo Development Inc. to create its grid-enabled Internet Seismic
Processing (G-INSP) product
G-INSP demonstrates a virtual computer environment that links geographically dispersed
computer systems over the Internet to solve large computational problems
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA began the Small Explorer (SMEX) program
to develop low-cost, high-performance spacecraft for science missions
To support these science-seeking missions, NASA began work on a software system to assist in developing and testing spacecraft
Goddard Space Flight Center
The Hammers Company Inc. (tHC Inc.)Greenbelt, Maryland
Product Outcome
Both software tools are in use by commercial entities in the aerospace industry
The software is applied to support the development of science instruments, spacecraft
computer systems, and navigation software
The technology has created and saved more than a dozen jobs at the company
Spinoff 2010
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Computer Technology
Tools Automate Spacecraft Testing, Operation
Partnership Through SMEX, tHC Inc. created an all-in-one
software for the development, testing, and on-mission operation of spacecraft
The company also developed a satellite simulation tool through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution JPL developed innovative software called the
GPS-Inferred Positioning System and Orbit Analysis Software, or GIPSY-OASIS
The center refined the software to become a sophisticated system for calculating accurate positioning data for satellites
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
DigitalGlobeLongmont, Colorado
Product Outcome
As one of two commercial suppliers of high-resolution Earth imagery, DigitalGlobe uses GIPSY to link precise location data with images
The company provides imagery for emergency response and infrastructure planning, as well as for Google and Microsoft Internet mapping
services
Spinoff 2010
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Computer Technology
GPS Software Packages Deliver Positioning Solutions
Partnership Hundreds of commercial and non-commercial
licenses for GIPSY and the companion Real-Time GIPSY software have been released
DigitalGlobe licensed the technology for orbit determination of the company’s imaging satellites
The technology was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame and was named a NASA “Software of the Year”
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA’s Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE) laid
the foundation for future work on inflatable satellites and space structures
A new device onboard the IAE’s host satellite recorded and stored the experiment’s critical test data
Goddard Space Flight Center
SEAKR Engineering Inc.Centennial, Colorado
Product Outcome
The company is now the world leader in solid-state recorder technology for spacecraft
More than 85 systems have launched onboard NASA, military, and commercial spacecraft
SEAKR employed solid-state expertise to develop hardware for the International Space Station, cargo aircraft, and space Internet routing
Spinoff 2010
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Computer Technology
Solid-State Recorders Enhance Scientific Data Collection
Partnership The IAE’s solid-state recorder (SSR) was developed by SEAKR under the Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) program
The company’s SSRs opened up new capabilities for space missions that were previously hampered by existing tape recorder limitations
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Understanding the properties of lunar and Martian
soil is necessary to develop technologies that can operate in those environments
NASA studies the electrostatic phenomena of granular and bulk materials as they apply to planetary surfaces
Kennedy Space Center
DEM Solutions Inc.Lebanon, New Hampshire
Product Outcome
EDEM’s capabilities are well suited for terrestrial applications, such as modeling the handling of sandy or cohesive soils
The software is also applicable for pharmaceuticals, helping with the management of fine particles necessary for drug manufacturing
Spinoff 2010
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Computer Technology
Computer Models Simulate Fine Particle Dispersion
Partnership Through a NASA Seed Fund partnership, DEM
created new capabilities for its EDEM software
The software provides for the simulation and analysis of bulk materials flow in a wide range of particle handling and manufacturing operations
EDEM simulations are used in designing NASA surface systems dust mitigation technologies
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA engineers have studied new materials,
composites, and methods for creating jet engine fan casings
NASA worked with industry to develop strong, lightweight materials to protect against
damage caused by fan blade breakage
Glenn Research Center
WebCore Technologies LLCMiamisburg, Ohio
Product Outcome
The technology is used in marine and ground transportation, mobile shelters, and bridges, and allows wind blade manufacturers to make larger, more efficient wind turbines
The material was selected by NASA as potential technology for reducing the cost and risk of future human space flight missions
Spinoff 2010
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Industrial Productivity
Composite Sandwich Technologies Lighten Components
Partnership Through the Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) program, WebCore developed a fiber-reinforced foam sandwich panel for
industrial and consumer applications
The technology exhibits excellent damage localization and stiffness during impact
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA’s LCROSS mission launched a rocket stage
into the Moon to determine the presence of water in the resulting plume
Two of the LCROSS instruments were short wave infrared (SWIR) cameras
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Goodrich CorporationPrinceton, New Jersey
Product Outcome
The cameras combine small size, low weight, and low power with high sensitivity/resolution
Applications include detecting moisture in pulp, paper, and agriculture; sorting recycled plastic products; machine vision; spectroscopy;
semiconductor inspection; and detecting defects in solar panels
Spinoff 2010
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Industrial Productivity
Cameras Reveal Elements in the Short Wave Infrared
Partnership Since the 1990s, NASA sought advanced imaging
technology for the SWIR wavelengths
Through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts, Sensors Unlimited Inc.—later acquired by Goodrich—refined its indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) SWIR camera technologies
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA’s Terrestrial Planet Finder instrument will
combine the high sensitivity of space telescopes with new imaging tools employing adaptive optics
To this end, NASA is exploring uses for deformable mirror (DM) technologies
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Boston Micromachines CorporationCambridge, Massachusetts
Product Outcome
The company now features a full product line of MEMS DMs providing image correction for
astronomical imaging
Observatories around the world employ the technology
The DMs are applied for laser communications and microscopy for medicine and biotechnology
Spinoff 2010
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Industrial Productivity
Deformable Mirrors Correct Optical Distortions
Partnership Through Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) contracts, the company created a microelectromechanical (MEMS) DM
The company claims the SBIR program accelerated the development of the technology
by years
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope employs
aspheres, or non-spherical mirrors
Precision interferometers, used for measuring optical surfaces, are necessary for high-quality aspheric optics
Goddard Space Flight Center
QED Technologies Rochester, New York
Product Outcome
The technology allowed aspheres to become more prevalent in telescopes, microscopes, and binoculars
Using aspheres results in higher quality images and reduced system size
The device is employed to make optics in Asia, Europe, and North America
Spinoff 2010
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Industrial Productivity
Stitching Techniques Advance Optics Manufacturing
Partnership Goddard noted QED’s interferometer technology
and worked with the company through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to enhance the instruments
The company produced a breakthrough, “R&D 100” Award-winning tool that reduces cost and time of asphere production for commercial
applications
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Langley engineers developed the High Spectral
Resolution Lidar (HSRL) to measure cloud and aerosol properties for climate research
HSRL has also been used to monitor air quality and study the behavior of wildfire smoke plumes
Langley Research Center
AdvR Inc.Bozeman, Montana
Product Outcome
The technology reduces the volume of standard equipment by a factor of 10
Company products have been employed for NASA missions and non-space uses such as bioscience and medical applications
Product capabilities could lead to adoption for billboards, televisions, and other displays
Spinoff 2010
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Industrial Productivity
Compact, Robust Chips Integrate Optical Functions
Partnership NASA partnered with AdvR through the Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop an optical waveguide circuit to aid HSRL in making precise measurements
The circuit integrates several key functions into asingle, compact, robust device while still producing precise measurements as necessary for NASA
use
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution Fuel cells have long provided an important source
of power for extended space missions
At the center of NASA’s fuel cell research and development, Glenn continues to look for new ways to improve the technology
Glenn Research Center
TesSol Inc.Battle Ground, Washington
Product Outcome
The technology provides automated operation and control for fuel cells, catalysts, batteries,
and process controls being tested
Customers include universities, laboratories, government entities, and businesses
The technology saves money for the fuel cell industry through efficient testing capabilities
Spinoff 2010
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Industrial Productivity
Fuel Cell Stations Automate Processes, Catalyst Testing
Partnership Through Small Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) contracts, Lynntech Inc. developed and commercialized fully automated fuel cell testing equipment
The NASA-derived Fideris product line is now offered commercially by TesSol
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA’s LCROSS spacecraft featured nine instruments, including five cameras
The mission’s tight budget required an affordable, efficient handling unit to control, route, and
transmit instrument data back to Earth
Ames Research CenterDryden Flight Research Center
Ecliptic Enterprises CorporationPasadena, California
Product Outcome
Ecliptic gained enhanced technologies and high-speed/definition video capabilities
The company has video systems onboard multiple rockets and commercial satellites
The technology will enable educational video from the MoonKAM system on NASA’s GRAIL spacecraft
Spinoff 2010
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Industrial Productivity
Onboard Systems Record Unique Videos of Space Missions
Partnership Ecliptic provides onboard video systems for use on rockets and spacecraft
LCROSS team partnered with Ecliptic to use thecompany’s digital video controller as the
spacecraft’s Data Handling Unit
The company also collaborated with Dryden to develop a high-speed video system for the
Constellation Abort Flight Test program
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution The Space Vacuum Expitaxy Center (SVEC) at the University of Houston was one of 17 Commercial Space Centers established by NASA
Researchers at the SVEC and NASA developed the Wake Shield Facility (WSF) to grow thin film materials in space
Johnson Space Center
Applied Optoelectronics Incorporated (AOI)Sugar Land, Texas
Product Outcome
AOI manufactures a crystal material used to make laser diodes and photo diodes
The company is now one of the largest developers and manufacturers of advanced optical devices, selling 1 million devices annually
The technology is applied to fiber optic networks for cable television and communications
Spinoff 2010
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Industrial Productivity
Space Research Results Purify Semiconductor Materials
Partnership The partnership resulted in advancement of
molecular beam epitaxy, a method of developing thin film materials
SVEC researchers formed AOI to fabricate devices using the advanced techniques and knowledge from the WSF partnership
Originating Technology/NASA Contribution NASA has often turned to complex robotics to
extend human presence deep into space at reduced risk and cost
To simplify and enhance the use of its robotic systems, Johnson sought generic control methods that could work across every system
Johnson Space Center
Energid Technologies CorporationCambridge, Massachusetts
Product Outcome
The Actin toolkit provides control capabilities for virtually any kind of robot with any kind/number of joints or degrees of freedom
Actin allows for fluid motion while enhancing strength and accuracy of robot manipulators
The software also provides powerful simulation capabilities for robot design
Spinoff 2010
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Industrial Productivity
Toolkits Control Motion of Complex Robotics
Partnership Small Business Innovation Partnership (SBIR)
funding allowed Energid to build unique robot control and simulation software
The SBIR-derived Actin software is now the basis for the company’s operations and a solution for a host of robotics applications