Ultra-wide Bandwidth, Nanomembrane-based Pressure Transducers for Entry, Descent, and Landing Applications

This NASA Phase I SBIR program would develop ultra-wide bandwidth, nanomembrane based pressure transducers for entry, descent and landing applications, using silicon-on-insulator nanomembrane techniques in combination with nanocomposite materials. The team has developed a wide bandwidth pressure transducer with a bandwidth from DC to 5MHz and has demonstrated these transducers in subsonic, transonic and hypersonic wind tunnels and shock tubes in both university and government facilities. Through this NASA program, the team will develop an improved mechanical and electrical model of semiconductor nanomembrane based sensor performance that will allow quantitative optimization of material properties and suggest optimal methods for sensor packaging and use for in-situ entry, descent and landing applications. The team will fabricate hermetically sealed sensors and internal electronics using optimized materials. Support electronics will be developed to acquire, multiplex, store and process raw sensor array data needed for near real-time entry, decent and landing aerostructure control.

The proposed ultra-wide bandwidth pressure transducers can be used in the entry, descent, and landing applications. Currently, there is no commercially available pressure sensor that meets engineering requirements for such missions. The team will transition the ultra-wide bandwidth pressure transducers from the prototype stage to gauge products of use for the entry, descent, and landing applications.

Primary customers will be university, government laboratory and industry researchers. Customers for ultra-wide bandwidth pressure transducers will be the high-speed vehicle and flight control system designers and manufacturers. Broader commercial sensor opportunities including oil and gas down-hole measurements may be also pursued.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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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