Flat-Package MEMS Fuselage Microphones for External Airplane Fluctuating Pressure Field Measurements

The Interdisciplinary Consulting Corporation (IC2) proposes to develop a complete system for in-flight aeroacoustics measurements including an ultra-low-profile, ultra-smooth sensing surface, instrumentation-grade microphone using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) piezoelectric sensing with backside electrical contacts and advanced packaging technology. The goal of this research is to develop microphones, microphone packages, and a data acquisition system that meet the demanding in-flight performance requirements for aeroacoustic and aerodynamic applications that have anything to do with external airplane fluctuating pressure field measurements, while leveraging MEMS batch-fabrication technology to reduce the sensor size and significantly reduce the cost per channel. The complete measurement system will address the installation complexity, time, and cost challenges associated with data collection from sensors on the exterior of an aircraft. This work is aimed at fulfilling the aerospace industry’s need for economically viable sensing technology that meets required metrics for flight testing for a broad class of fluctuating pressure measurement use cases. The proposed microphones and data acquisition system will expand NASA’s technology portfolio to allow for faster, higher-accuracy, lower-effort/cost testing by minimizing the technological, logistical, and cost-prohibitive issues associated with high-channel-count, high-bandwidth, fluctuating pressure measurement installations on the exterior of an aircraft. These improvements will allow for increased measurement fidelity and enable NASA to fully leverage expensive flight-test programs to gather comprehensive fluctuating pressure field information that cannot be practically acquired using existing technology.

The proposed technology has the potential to be usable in multiple NASA ground- and flight-test facilities as well as implemented across government-owned, industry, and academic institution test facilities. Primary NASA-related programs include the Urban Air Mobility Working Group (UNWG), the Structural Acoustics Branch (SAB) at NASA Langley, and the AeroAcoustics Research Consortium (AARC). In addition to UAM and FAA regulated applications, the proposed technology is primed for adoption by missile and military aircraft manufacturers.

The emerging UAM market is a key target for the proposed fuselage microphone technology. UAM vehicle types include air taxis, passenger air vehicles, cargo air vehicles, and air ambulances. Additional possible customers or parallel market entry targets comprise aircraft manufacturers as well as engine developers.

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.

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