NASA SBIR 2010 Solicitation

SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Invocon, Inc.
19221 IH 45 South, Suite 530
Conroe, TX 77385 - 8746
(281) 292-9903

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Eric Krug
ekrug@invocon.com
19221 IH 45 South, Suite 530
Conroe, TX 77385 - 8746
(281) 292-9903

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at beginning and end of contract:
Begin: 4
End: 6

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)
Recent testing involving Hyper Velocity Impacts has resulted in the capture of broad band high frequency energy resulting from the impact of projectiles onto targets. These test impacts have been demonstrated from 3 to 7 kilometers per second at both NASA WSTF and Sandia National Labs. In all cases, radio frequency (RF) energy was captured as radiated from the impact and conducted from the impact by the target material. If these broad band impulses of energy can be received and analyzed, it will be possible to locate the point of impact.
The problem lies in the processing of a "messy" broad band signal. The innovation herein is that these signals may be "cleaned up" and become useful by means of passive RFID Surface Acoustic Wave circuits.
A SAW device, commonly used for inexpensive inventory coding and security entry systems can be excited by the energy from an HVI. The result would be transmission of a unique code, distinguishable from RF noise and other encoded SAW responses by a receiver/decoder. SAW devices are inexpensive, require no power, and are physically small and robust. They can be manufactured in quantity at low cost (as demonstrated by the commercial use of the devices as throw-away inventory markers). SAW devices placed over the surface of vehicles or structures exposed to HVI impacts could detect the HVI RF impulses and respond with a unique code that would identify the location of the impact.
Thus, an impact detection and location system could be implemented where the RF impulse energy from a HVI is used to encode and transmit a signal to a passive receiver that would provide useful information on the location and magnitude of the HVI.
To best execute this program, Invocon is joined by another small business – ASRD. This company is a major player in RFID SAW device design and fabrication planning. Both companies have a successful history of product development for both NASA and commercial customers

POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
(1) Real time radiation warning for Astronauts engaged in EVA activity in space or on surface exploration of space bodies exposed to potentially hazardous radiation environments.
(2) Radiation detectors/recorders on the exterior of space vehicles
(3) Radiation detectors for the interior of space vehicles.
(4) Particle detectors with the capability of producing accurate accounts and predictions of radiation damage to biomass.
(5) Radiation detectors used for verification of test beam scattering and intensity.
(6) A detector capable of differentiating different types and magnitudes of radiation.
(7) Selective radiation detector to verify shielding effectiveness.

POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
(1) Real time radiation / warning devices for use in Nuclear Power Generating facilities.
(2) Particle detectors for use in experimental accelerators
(3) Radiation detectors for examination of containerized package shipments to detect possible terror nuclear weapons or materials.
(4) Real time radiation detection of luggage within airport security systems to detect controlled nuclear substances.
(5) Real time radiation detection badges to be used anywhere that radiation risk is a possibility.
(6) Particle detection and reporting capability for use on commercial satellites to verify radiation protection design parameters and contribute to upgraded design specifications for future satellites.
(7) Particle detection and reporting for commercial satellites designed to explore the magnetosphere of earth and other planets.
(8) Near real time radiation detection and path verification for medical applications

TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING (NASA's technology taxonomy has been developed by the SBIR-STTR program to disseminate awareness of proposed and awarded R/R&D in the agency. It is a listing of over 100 technologies, sorted into broad categories, of interest to NASA.)

Acoustic/Vibration Actuators & Motors Ad-Hoc Networks (see also Sensors) Algorithms/Control Software & Systems (see also Autonomous Systems) Analytical Methods Antennas Avionics (see also Control and Monitoring) Biological (see also Biological Health/Life Support) Chemical/Environmental (see also Biological Health/Life Support) Circuits (including ICs; for specific applications, see e.g., Communications, Networking & Signal Transport; Control & Monitoring, Sensors) Coding & Compression Computer System Architectures Data Modeling (see also Testing & Evaluation) Data Processing Detectors (see also Sensors) Diagnostics/Prognostics Display Electromagnetic Emitters Heat Exchange Microwave Models & Simulations (see also Testing & Evaluation) Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE; NDT) Operating Systems Processing Methods Project Management Prototyping Radio Recovery (see also Vehicle Health Management) Sensor Nodes & Webs (see also Communications, Networking & Signal Transport) Simulation & Modeling Space Transportation & Safety Spacecraft Design, Construction, Testing, & Performance (see also Engineering; Testing & Evaluation) Spacecraft Instrumentation & Astrionics (see also Communications; Control & Monitoring; Information Systems) Storage Structures Support Telemetry (see also Control & Monitoring) Telemetry/Tracking (Cooperative/Noncooperative; see also Planetary Navigation, Tracking, & Telemetry) Thermal Transmitters/Receivers Verification/Validation Tools