Frequency Steered Acoustic Transducer

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project is to fabricate, characterize, and verify performance of a new type of frequency steered acoustic transducer (FSAT) for structural health monitoring for impacts and leaks in aerospace structures. FSATs will be demonstrated both in the laboratory and on relevant NASA structure. Testing would be performed on both simple and complex parts. Multiple receivers would be tested to develop incoming signal analysis, angular distribution mapping, and source detection and localization. In addition, Genziko will evaluate the suitability of its integration into a wireless system, using a micro power generator and RF transceiver.

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will allow commercial structural health monitoring, nondestructive evaluation, and leakage detection applications are numerous including pipelines, dams, levees, tanks, oil wells and rigs, industrial and biomedical equipment, and even HVAC equipment. In addition, FSAT may have benefits for other applications ranging from steered sonar to ultrasonic flow measurement to ultrasonic processing and characterization.

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will allow the integrated vehicle health management or structural health monitoring of impacts and leakage of numerous NASA structures including airframes, airlocks, vehicles, space structures, spaceport infrastructure, fairings, and pressure vessels.

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.