There are a number of NASA applications for SAFER, including: - Active support structures for imaging telescopes - Piezoelectric solenoids enable active optical systems. As part of Phase I, 3D printable piezoelectrics are developed, thereby enabling optimized construction of active optical backplanes. - Resilient backbone structures for long duration human spaceflight missions. - Active monitoring and reinforcement of spacecraft deployed for long durations in extraterrestrial locations - Active monitoring and repair/reinforcement of space launch vehicle structure, enabling portions of the structure to be reinforced if weakened, thereby increasing mission resilience.
There are a number of applications by other government agencies, including: - Vehicles having integrated structural health monitoring and repair/reinforcement, including planes, boats, small submarines such as the SEAL Delivery Vehicle. - Actively monitored and reinforced pressure vessels and containment vessels. There are a number of potential commercial applications of SAF3R, including: - 3D printable piezoelectric material enables piezoelectric microphones, speakers, inkjet printer pumps, motors sensors, fuses, strain gauges, and the like. - SAFER cars - SAFER can be integrated into future vehicles to provide an even greater level of systems monitoring than currently exists in motor vehicles. The addition of SAFER?s repair/reinforcement abilities is functionality that currently does not exist in the market.
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