{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":17997,"title":"Chemical Microsensor Instrument for UAV Airborne Atmospheric Measurements","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10755,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10751,"level":3,"code":"TX08.3.4","title":"Environment Sensors","definition":"Environment sensors provide the local environmental measures such as vehicle health and habitation health and include sensors such as seismometers, weather sensors (temp, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, humidity), static electric field, chemical species, structural measures (pressure, strain, etc.), particle detectors","exampleTechnologies":"Temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, atmospheric pressure, seismic","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":3,"currentTrl":5,"endTrl":5,"benefits":"UAVs will see an expanded role in support NASA science missions. Recent applications for the UAV based chemical sensing currently include the study of volcanoes to validate atmospheric models and to gain new insight into mechanisms. Near term application of the technology would be to assist NASA's work studying volcanic activity such as tracking volcano emissions. The lightweight, low cost, flight capable chemical detection instrument also has application to a wide range of non UAV related NASA applications including (1) propellant leak detection propulsion systems and ground test facilities, (2) environmental monitoring in spacecraft and aircraft, (3) portable or remotely deployed early fire detection. The addition of sensors for CO, NOx and ozone would make the system suitable for monitoring aircraft onboard oxygen generation systems (OBOGS). An aircraft's OBOGS supplies proper oxygen partial pressure to the pilot and crew by conditioning and concentrating oxygen from engine bleed air. In addition to concentrating the oxygen levels, this system effectively filters out contaminants from typical bleed air supply. Problems arise when bleed air composition is substantially out of spec with elevated levels of contaminants, such as due to exhaust ingestion or oil leaks. While there are safeguards in place to ensure proper flow and pressure of the breathing supply, there are currently no warning signs or measurements indicating the concentration of toxic contaminants.
There is a large commercial market for low cost deployable atmospheric monitoring systems. Air quality management districts could use the instrument for air quality monitoring. The ability to potentially deploy monitoring equipment on aerostats or UAV could provide means to improve air quality forecasts and to monitor for out of compliance emissions. An extension of this system could be used to monitor indoor or cabin air quality in mass transit systems or aircraft. As commercial and civil aviation transition from traditional high pressure gaseous and liquid oxygen systems to on board oxygen generation systems, there will exist additional commercial opportunities for MEI's ACMI to be adapted for monitoring such on-board systems. . Additionally, point-of-use oxygen generators are being developed for ground operations, mobile hospitals, emergency response vehicles, and mass casualty response systems. Many of these applications have no single sensor/system for verifying the quality of the oxygen that is produced. Measuring contaminants in OBOGS and other point-of-use oxygen generators has significant military and commercial application.","description":"Makel Engineering, Inc. (MEI) proposes to develop a miniaturized Airborne Chemical Microsensor Instrument (ACMI) suitable for real-time, airborne measurements of trace carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and methane for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs.) The potential of UAVs to carry instrument packages to support atmospheric science has been demonstrated over the past decade. The rapid expansion of available UAV types and increased mission capability (payload, flight duration, and system cost reductions) offers wide range of potential applications. The instrument package to be developed in the program will adapt low cost and low power chemical microsensor technology which has been demonstrated for fire detection and exhaust emission monitoring to airborne measurements. The fast time response and miniaturized system will provide a lightweight, low cost instrument for package for a wide range of deployments including aerostats (balloons and kites) to UAV such as Dragon Eye and SIERRA. Phase I of the program will fabricate and test a prototype system to demonstrate capability of the instrument.","startYear":2014,"startMonth":6,"endYear":2014,"endMonth":12,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":506178,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Darby","lastName":"Makel","fullName":"Darby B Makel","fullNameInverted":"Makel, Darby B","middleInitial":"B","primaryEmail":"dmakel@makelengineering.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":216257,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Xu","fullName":"Jennifer C Xu","fullNameInverted":"Xu, Jennifer C","middleInitial":"C","primaryEmail":"Jennifer.C.Xu@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"caption":"Chemical Microsensor Instrument for UAV Airborne Atmospheric Measurements Project Image","file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":303602,"fileName":"SBIR_2014_1_BC_S1.07-8813","fileSize":78978,"objectId":300152,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"77.1 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":303602,"fileName":"SBIR_2014_1_BC_S1.07-8813","fileSize":78978,"objectId":300152,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"77.1 KB"}],"id":300152,"title":"Project Image","description":"Chemical Microsensor Instrument for UAV Airborne Atmospheric Measurements Project Image","libraryItemTypeId":1095,"projectId":17997,"primary":true,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1095,"code":"IMAGE","description":"Image","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}}],"transitions":[{"transitionId":69251,"projectId":17997,"transitionDate":"2014-12-01","path":"Closed Out","closeoutDocuments":[{"title":"Final Summary Chart","file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":307902,"fileName":"SBIR_2014_1_FSC_S1.07-8813","fileSize":204233,"objectId":69251,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":1841,"code":"TRANSITION_FILES","description":"Transition Files","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"fileSizeString":"199.4 KB"},"transitionId":69251,"fileId":307902}],"infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"December 2014"},{"transitionId":69252,"projectId":17997,"partner":"Other","transitionDate":"2015-05-01","path":"Advanced To","relatedProjectId":33765,"relatedProject":{"acronym":"","projectId":33765,"title":"Chemical Microsensor Instrument for UAV Airborne Atmospheric Measurements","startTrl":6,"currentTrl":8,"endTrl":8,"benefits":"UAVs will see an expanded role in support NASA science missions. Recent applications for the UAV based chemical sensing currently include the study of volcanoes to validate atmospheric models and to gain new insight into mechanisms. Near term application of the Airborne Chemical Microsensor System (AMS) would be to assist NASA's work studying volcanic activity such as tracking volcano emissions.
There is a large commercial market for low cost deployable atmospheric monitoring systems. Air quality management districts could use the instrument for air quality monitoring. The ability to potentially deploy monitoring equipment on aerostats or UAV could provide means to improve air quality forecasts and to monitor for out of compliance emissions.","description":"The rapid expansion of available UAV types and increased mission capability (payload, flight duration, and system cost reductions) offers wide range of potential applications. The Airborne Chemical Microsensor System (AMS) instrument package being developed adapts low cost and low power chemical microsensor technology which has been demonstrated for fire detection and exhaust emission monitoring to airborne measurements. The fast time response and miniaturized system will provide a lightweight, low cost instrument for package for a wide range of deployments including aerostats (balloons and kites) to UAV such as Dragon Eye and SIERRA. Chemical species mapping using UAVs enables model validation and attaining new data that complements and augments traditional aerial and satellite data. However, there currently are limited options adapting commercial chemical sensors for detecting all species of interest at the levels required, and with fast response time. Wet electrochemical cells, which provide accurate measurement for some species, are typically slow (30-60 sec), sensitive to pressure changes, and are a potential hazard from leakage. Most commercial environmental carbon dioxide monitors are based on NDIR, with response time in the order of minutes. Hydrocarbons are monitored by generic combustible gas sensors. Instruments need to be low cost, compact and robust enough for incorporation in UAV systems, capable of surviving hard landings and sufficiently low cost that damage to the instrument and or loss of the UAV is not a major setback for the mission. The proposed solid-state, microsensor technology is well suited for this application, because of the low production cost and robust packaging. The proposed program provides a low cost instrument (less than $1000 in limited quantities) for real-time carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and methane detection.","startYear":2015,"startMonth":5,"endYear":2017,"endMonth":11,"statusDescription":"Completed","website":"","program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer"},"lastUpdated":"2024-1-10","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":498,"endDateString":"Nov 2017","startDateString":"May 2015"},"infoText":"Advanced within the program","infoTextExtra":"Another project within the program (Chemical Microsensor Instrument for UAV Airborne Atmospheric Measurements)","dateText":"May 2015"}],"primaryImage":{"file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":303602,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"id":300152,"description":"Chemical Microsensor Instrument for UAV Airborne Atmospheric Measurements Project Image","projectId":17997,"publishedDateString":""},"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
","programId":73,"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"responsibleMdId":4875,"stockImageFileId":36648,"title":"Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer"},"leadOrganization":{"canUserEdit":false,"city":"Chico","congressionalDistrict":"California 01","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":true,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":2702,"organizationName":"Makel Engineering, Inc.","organizationType":"Industry","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"CA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"California","stateTerritoryId":59},"stateTerritoryId":59,"ein":"201186613 ","dunsNumber":"933302655","uei":"YGVHEZ1D2ZH6","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"Industry"},"supportingOrganizations":[{"acronym":"GRC","canUserEdit":false,"city":"Cleveland","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4860,"organizationName":"Glenn Research Center","organizationType":"NASA_Center","stateTerritory":{"abbreviation":"OH","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Ohio","stateTerritoryId":23},"stateTerritoryId":23,"naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Center"}],"statesWithWork":[{"abbreviation":"CA","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"California","stateTerritoryId":59},{"abbreviation":"OH","country":{"abbreviation":"US","countryId":236,"name":"United States"},"countryId":236,"name":"Ohio","stateTerritoryId":23}],"lastUpdated":"2024-1-10","releaseStatusString":"Released","viewCount":356,"endDateString":"Dec 2014","startDateString":"Jun 2014"}}