Field Deployable Wireless Data Acquisition System for Ground-Test Arrays

As a continuation of the Interdisciplinary Consulting Corporation's (IC2's) current Phase II effort to develop a field-deployable wireless data acquisition system for microphone phased arrays (Wireless Array or WArray), IC2 proposes the following advancements as a Phase II-Extended (PII-E): Advance the design of the systems analog acquisition system by further streamlining the ADC subsystem with the communication processor, and adding an additional two microphone channels Add TEDS functionality to the data acquisition nodes to minimize the amount of bookkeeping and prevent errors in tracking the array of microphone calibration data. Revise the GPS/time synchronization system to replace the RTK GPS receiver and antenna, with a low-cost timing GPS receiver with integrated antenna. Design a custom microphone array Central Plate to meet NASA’s specific deployment requirements.

The target application for entry into NASA is microphone flyover phased array measurement for low-noise commercial airplane technology development testing and for development of low boom technology of supersonic aircraft. The proposed system is applicable to other NASA test interests such as full-scale static engine testing where large microphone phased arrays may be deployed to detect various sources of engine noise. Rotorcraft acoustics and UAV acoustics are other potential areas of interest.

The initial target market is flyover acoustic phased array testing for the aerospace industry and full-scale static engine testing. Other possible markets are: military detection testing where large distributed arrays of microphones are required to measure the noise “footprint” of an aircraft as it flies by; and wind energy for noise source location on wind turbines.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — 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.