Structural Nervous System, Phase 2E

Currently aircraft, spacecraft and launch vehicles, as well as terrestrial vehicles, use complex and heavy wiring harnesses to carry power and data between the various sensors and actuators and the control and power system.  The multitude of wires and connections slows the assembly and checkout process, thereby increasing production and maintenance cost, while also inhibiting structural health monitoring system implementation with the complexity and mass. Structural Nervous System (SNS) technology fuses the wiring harness into the structure creating a highly efficient multi-function structure that will ultimately enable plug-and-play component integration with the structure.  In the first part of the Phase II STTR effort, GTL has verified the effectiveness of SNS and developed the means to produce SNS products.  In the second part of the effort, GTL will be validating the SNS technology by integrating it into large-scale test articles and verifying the SNS functionality in simulated operational environments. In the Ph II Extended effort, GTL will advance the TRL of the SNS technology by building a high fidelity, flight-capable, prototype airframe that incorporates a Structural Nervous System that can be flight-tested in a follow-on effort after integrating the airframe into GTL’s ACE-Demo suborbital rocket.     

Provide low mass replacement for power and data wiring harnesses for NASA Artemis lunar exploration system, lunar Gateway space station, and future Moon bases.  Can also be used on robotic space missions as well as NASA research aircraft and drones.  Provides an efficient means to implement a structural health monitoring system on these systems.

Provide low mass replacement for power and data wiring harnesses and structural health monitoring system for commercial and military aircraft and drones.  Can also be used on commercial and military spacecraft and launch vehicles.  Technology would dramatically reduce the complexity and cost of self-driving and electric cars by eliminating conventional wiring harnesses.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.