Multifunctional Zero-standby Power Sensing and Reconfigurable Photonic Integrated Circuits

NASA’s DISCOVER and EXPLORE strategic goals require a variety of types of detectors and sensors. Due to the limited capacity of satellites and space probes, miniaturized sensors with low energy consumption are of particular interest. Because NASA’s missions to explore solar system, universe, and deep space require a prolong travel time before and between events to be recorded by sensors, sensors consuming near zero power until an event of interest wakes them up significantly expand their lifetime during these missions. However, the standby power of current sensors is not ideal. Motion sensors or light sensors in a conventional LED bulb consume 0.1W to 1W in standby. Electronic switches and sensors with zero-standby power are ideal for the detection of infrequent but time-critical events such as fire, projectiles, explosives, earthquakes, and reconfigurable RF photonics circuits. They are particularly suitable for long-standby-time missions, such as planetary exploration and space sensing. Sensors with zero-standby power and low operation power consumption will be the ideal loads for both laser sail and solar sail which have superiority of speed but carry small loads. Meanwhile, photonic integrated circuits (PICs) demonstrate great potential for next generation space applications especially in the fields of communications, signal processing, and sensing. However, many components of PICs, such as optical amplifiers, modulators, and switches, consume much higher power than their electronic counterparts. Reconfigurable PICs operating at low operation power are in heavy demand. In this project, PIs will combine their complementary expertise to demonstrate multifunctional zero-standby power sensing and reconfigurable photonic integrated circuits, providing extremely low power solutions for NASA missions: O1: Develop scalable near zero-standby power switches. These switches can serve as event-driven power switches for electro-optical sensors, communication units, and even the main switch of a whole space probe system in a deep-space exploration mission. O2: Develop a versatile reconfigurable photonic integrated circuits sensor system with near zero-standby power and low-operation power. By incorporating near zero-standby power switches for sensors awaken and reconfigurable components for fast and frequent signal processing, the proposed PICs sensor system significantly reduces power consumption for signal processing and for optical-to-electrical conversion by units such as detectors and optical amplifiers. This proposed work will advance the state-of-the-art low power technology in optoelectronic switches and reconfigurable PICs. Successful completion of this work will lead to scalable near zero-standby power switches which may be used in sceneries from single waveguide, single devices, to chips and even a whole space probe system. By combining these switches and other reconfigurable components, PICs consuming very low power will be achieved and fit in ultracompact systems such as a space probe driven by laser sail or solar sail. Through our proposed efforts, we expect to bring this technology from TRL1 to TRL4. Successful completion of this work will contribute to the development of Delaware state research capability in the area of integrated photonics and sensors technology. It attracts students in materials science and electrical engineering, enhancing the NASA mission “strengthening STEM education through inspirational missions and collaboration with the academic community”. It will also help to develop partnerships with below-mentioned research centers, providing opportunities to expand the research infrastructure, science, and technology capabilities of Delaware State.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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.