SBIR/STTR
Wireless Hybrid Identification and Sensing Platform for Equipment Recovery (WHISPER), Phase I
Project Introduction
Advanced Systems & Technologies proposed WHISPER (Wireless Hybrid Identification and Sensing Platform for Equipment Recovery) solution to NASA's need for automatic location and tracking of a large number of individual crew items in a space habitat microgravity cabin is to combine a EPCglobal compliant WISP wireless identification and sensing platform (a quarter-sized device that is powered and read by off-the-shelf UHF RFID readers and contains a microcontroller and INS) with an IR sensor that works in conjunction with AS&T's existing Low Latency Infrared Positional Operating Projection (LOLIPOP) system. This would enable simple wireless location tracking of an unlimited number of items such as fasteners, hand tools, and clothing but would also do more complex orientation and velocity tracking. WHISPER modules can also be attached cold thruster maneuver platforms or even personnel for monitoring tasks or exercise.
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Anticipated Benefits
Potential NASA Commercial Applications: NASA applications of this system will location tracking of various small and large items in space but will also include exercise monitoring, robotic poise control, vestibular compensation of motion sickness for space travel, musculoskeletal injury monitoring in astronauts, head tracking and tele-factoring for astronauts and internal navigation for SPHERES modules on board the ISS. The system could be incorporated, for example, by NASA into unmanned rovers such as Curiosity and adapted to provide dynamic load carriage compensation and multi-segmental inertial tracking.
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Johnson Space Center
(JSC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Houston, TX |
| Advanced Systems & Technologies, Inc. | Supporting Organization | Industry |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
California
-
Texas
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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
Lead Center / Facility:
- Johnson Space Center (JSC)
Responsible Program:
- SBIR/STTR
Project Management
Program Director:
Program Manager:
Project Manager:
Principal Investigator:
- Stephen Kupiec
Project Duration
Start: Jun 2014
End: Dec 2014
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 3 |
| Current: | 4 |
| Estimated End: | 4 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TA 7 Human Exploration Destination Systems
- TA 7.2 Sustainability and Supportability
- TA 7.2.1 Autonomous Logistics Management
Other / Cross-cutting:
- TA 6 Human Health, Life Support, and Habitation Systems
- TA 6.1 Environmental Control and Life Support Systems and Habitation Systems
- TA 6.1.4 Habitation