The proposed instrumentation technology has the potential to be transportable across multiple NASA facility classes as well as implemented across government-owned test facilities. The target application for entry into NASA ATP is as wind tunnel instrumentation for phase-array beamforming to enable noise source localization. In addition to wind-tunnel testing, the proposed microphone technology is also applicable to the types of technological solutions sought for pressure measurements and focusing acoustic measurements that can be used a flight-test tunnel environment and ground test instrumentation for static engine testing. The proposed innovation is applicable to NASA Langleys Subsonic Wind Tunnel for advanced phased array measurements of fixed- and rotary-wing civil and military aircraft, the Acoustics Research Laboratory's 20 x 24 x 30 anechoic quiet-flow facility, as well as LaRC's Aeroacoustics Branch by supplying validation of simulation of the Rotorcraft, the Subsonic Fixed Wing, and the Supersonic Projects. Additionally,it is useful for multiple NASA GRC facilities in the Acoustics Branch, the Aero-Acoustics Propulsion Laboratory, Small Hot Jet Acoustic Rig, Nozzle Acoustic Test Rig, and Advanced Noise Control Fan Rig. At NASA Ames, the technology benefits the Experimental Aerophysics Branch, and facilities such as the 7-by 10-Foot Wind Tunnel.
The proposed instrumentation technology has the potential to be implemented across government, industry and academic institution test facilities. The target market is instrumentation and measurement microphones and arrays for the aerospace industry. The target application is as wind tunnel instrumentation for phased-array beamforming to enable noise source localization. In addition to wind-tunnel testing, the proposed microphone technology is also applicable to the types of technological solutions sought for pressure measurements and focusing acoustic measurements that can be used in a flight-test tunnel environment and ground test instrumentation for static engine testing. The primary characteristic of this market is the need for high performance measurements with relatively low volume requirements. Ultimately, the cost per unit and size constraints of existing technologies limit the array size and density below customer desired levels. IC2 seeks to change that dynamic via microphones with reduced size and complexity, at drastically lower cost (roughly an order of magnitude), enabling vastly larger, affordable arrays of higher density. We achieve those goals while meeting individual microphone performance requirements,leading to potentially game-changing improvements in array performance. Potential commercial customers include industry aircraft manufacturers, such as Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Gulfstream, Bombardier, and the academic research community.
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