Passive Wireless Sensors for Spacecraft Applications, Phase I

New classes of sensors are needed on spacecraft that can be interrogated remotely using RF signals and respond with the sensor's identity as well as the environmental parameter without use of batteries. Such systems are emerging in the field of RF identification (RFID), but often lack the ability to encode a separate parameter and require the RFID tags to be mounted on an insulator-type surface. The proposed innovation does not employ the conventional 'backscatter' approach now being commercialized, which would preclude mounting the RF-powered sensor devices on metal surfaces. Passive and semiactive devices may respond on the same frequency as they are interrogated, or a separate frequency, and support frequency hopping. Advances are also needed to adapt the same to harsh air and space environments and to include encoding of sensor information for hundreds of sensors, with a total reporting time of about 1 second. Means must be incorporated to distinguish the multitude encoded responses from up to hundreds of sensors and the interrogator must not pose a health hazard to personnel.

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.