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Contents:
Finding Outside Partners to Help with NASA Missions
Agreement with UMBC "Activates" Goddard Technologies
awards:
Goddard Atmospheric-Monitoring Technologies Win Mid-Atlantic FLC Award
Three Space Act Board Awards Issued
researcher profile:
Diane (Betsy) Pugel
workshop:
Workshop to Find Partners for Joint Research a Success
recent events
Tech Transfer Metrics
— July 1 – September 30, 2005
Send Us Your Ideas
Submit Your New Technologies
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Finding Outside Partners to Help with NASA Missions
Although most people might think of Spinoff magazine when they think of technology transfer at NASA, Goddard’s Innovative Partnerships Program Office is working to create success stories related to other types of technology transfer. Why? Because the same types of organizations that can use technologies developed at Goddard—medical, transportation, electronics, manufacturing, defense/homeland security, and many more—also can serve as valuable resources for Goddard.
“Often their technologies can be adapted to address space mission needs, allowing NASA to reach its goals faster and more efficiently,” said IPP chief Nona Cheeks in October at the International Astronautical Congress in Fukuoka, Japan. “Therefore, NASA also tries to form partnerships with companies, universities, and other federal labs to develop new technology that supports its missions.”
In keeping with this philosophy, Goddard’s IPP has been gathering information about the research areas at Goddard that might benefit from partnering with another federal lab, a university, or a private company. IPP has been working with Goddard’s chief technologist Peter Hughes as well as Bob Beaman (Code 563), Charles Engler (Code 544), Jaime Esper (Code 592), Yury Flom (Code 541), William Heaps (Code 554), Ken Hinkle (Code 540), Michael Johnson (Code 560), Drew Jones (Code 543), David Leisawitz (Code 665), Julie Loftis (Code 580), Vladimir Lumelsky (Code 586), Barbie Medina (Code 588), Rud Moe (Code 442), Dan Powell (Code 542), Joe Schepis (Code 544), Peter Shu (Code 553), Ted Swanson (Code 540), and Steve Talabac (Code 586). The IPP is grateful to these individuals for their cooperation in these efforts and looks forward to speaking with more innovators in the coming months.
In addition, IPP has held preliminary meetings with several key organizations that might be interested in partnering with Goddard for joint research in technology areas of interest to both parties. These organizations include Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute; Caterpillar; Cougaar Software; the National Center for Defense Robotics; Scientific Systems Company, Inc.; Stratom; and Valley Technologies, Inc.
Goddard researchers are encouraged to be on the lookout for opportunities for joint-research partnerships or other collaborations. Ideas might be sparked by the NASA Partnership Portal, which lists NASA needs, technology offerings, and opportunities for future collaborations.
For more information or to suggest partnership opportunities, contact the IPP.
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Agreement with UMBC “Activates” Goddard Technologies
 Technologies developed at Goddard for the space program have a new doorway into the commercial marketplace: the ACTiVATE program at the University of Maryland–Baltimore County (UMBC). ACTiVATE stands for Achieving the Commercialization of Technology in Ventures through Applied Training for Entrepreneurs.
Goddard’s IPP has established a formal agreement with UMBC to participate in ACTiVATE. And Goddard has contributed more technologies than any other Maryland research institution during the program’s first year.
“Access to high-quality technology is critical to the success of the ACTiVATE program,” said Stephen Auvil of UMBC’s Office of Technology Development. “Through this key partnership with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the ACTiVATE program will rely on NASA’s valuable research and long tradition of innovation to provide such technologies.”
The 2005 Program
Four Goddard technologies were submitted to ACTiVATE’s Phase I, where teams analyze the business opportunity. Technologies that move on to Phase II are reviewed by larger, entrepreneur-led business teams that establish a business plan. A select few technologies enter Phase III, where would-be entrepreneurs seek potential funding and licensing.
 One of Goddard’s technologies—the Capillary-Pumped Loop Body Warmer developed by Ted Swanson (Code 540) and the late Paul Wren—has been selected for Phase II. “This program is an excellent opportunity for Goddard technologies,” said OTT’s Monica Montague, who negotiated the agreement with UMBC. “We’re getting useful feedback on the technologies that received ACTiVATE assessments. And we’ll be able to leverage those data for future technology transfer efforts.”
Looking Ahead
IPP is currently selecting Goddard technologies to submit for evaluation in the 2006 ACTiVATE program and expects to complete this process by March 15, 2006. For more information about OTT’s partnership with UMBC, please contact Monica Montague (6-7957).
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awards
Goddard Atmospheric-Monitoring Technologies Win Mid-Atlantic FLC Award
At a September 15th awards ceremony in Rocky Gap, Maryland, Goddard’s Micro Pulse Lidar (MPL) and MPL Network ( MPLNET) were awarded the 2005 Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) Mid-Atlantic Regional Excellence in Technology Transfer Award. The MPL device was developed by James Spinhirne (Code 613.1), and the MPLNET was spearheaded by Ellsworth (Judd) Welton (Code 613.1).
Revolutionizing atmospheric aerosol and cloud data gathering, the MPL device provides ground-based, continuous monitoring of vertical distributions of dust, soot, sulfate, sea salt, and other aerosol particles, helping researchers better understand pollution patterns and climate change. “The MPL device was the first lidar-based design to be eye-safe, small, simple, and reliable,” said Dr. Spinhirne.
Established in 2000 and funded by NASA, MPLNET collects data from many MPL devices across the globe and publishes the data online, making it available for free to all researchers. “We wanted to provide a means of disseminating MPL expertise to those purchasing commercial MPL systems. We also sought to organize MPL operations into a network so that the data could be merged with larger climate and weather observation programs around the world. Thus, MPLNET was born.” said Dr. Welton.
Under the agreement brokered by Goddard’s Innovative Partnerships Program Office, NASA has received over $13,000 in royalty payments for the 49 MPL units have been sold worldwide. The MPLNET Web site has received more than 18,000 hits to date and has more than 178 registered users.
For more information about OTT’s Awards Program, contact Dale Hithon (6-2691).
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Three Space Act Board Awards Issued
NASA’s Invention and Contributions Board recognized the following innovations with a Space Act Board Award:
- Low-Cost and High-Quality Carbon Nanotubes by Jeannette Benavides (Code 562) and Henning Leidecker (Code 562)
- AutoChem by David Lary (Code 610)
- LIS V.4 by James Geiger (Code 587), Paul Houser (retired), Sujay Kumar (University of Maryland–Baltimore County [UMBC]), Luther Lighty (Code 587), Susan Olden (Code 586), Christa Peters-Lidard (Code 614), and Yudong Tian (UMBC)
These awards, which can reach a maximum of $100,000, are bestowed for technologies with significant scientific and technical contributions. To be eligible, innovations must have been reported through a New Technology Report (NTR), which can be accessed through the online eNTRe system. Once an NTR has been filed, IPP can help innovators prepare the Space Act Award application (Form 1329).
For more information, see IPP's Awards section or contact Dale Hithon (6-2691).
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researcher profile:
Diane (Betsy) Pugel
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Diane (Betsy) Pugel
Code 553 • 3 years at NASA
Education: PhD candidate, experimental condensed matter physics, Univ. of Maryland–College Park; MS, physics, Univ. of Illinois; BS, Physics, Univ. of Michigan–Ann Arbor
Born: Detroit, Michigan
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Tell us about your work with IPP. What have you been doing?
I became involved with IPP in 2004, when I wrote my first invention disclosure. I wrote another disclosure that year, and it caught the eye of IPP, which subsequently took prototypes to conferences. I have been using ferrofluidic solutions of variable viscosities to develop micron and sub-micron pointed structures that can be coated with metals or wide–band gap semiconductors. This may prove to be a cheap, rapidly assembled, and well-oriented alternative to nanotube-based field emitters. As a member of the Detector Systems Branch, I am surrounded by talented people who are innovative in their approach to detector design and fabrication, and their interest and support has been equally pivotal in the development of this technology.
How have you benefited from this work?
I have obtained a provisional patent for the ferrofluid structures. IPP also generated opportunities to give my invention visibility. I am particularly grateful to IPP for providing funding for the purchase of materials to continue this work, since this invention could leverage future R&D opportunities and applications for NASA.
Any advice for your colleagues?
I have two pieces of advice. (1) Innovations happen if you let them. While you have to focus on your day-to-day project-centered work, it is important to stretch your mind now and again and pursue things that are not directly along the focus of your project. While thinking about a problem that the UV Astrophysics Group had mentioned regarding photocathodes, I found myself remembering my days of playing with ferrofluids. I literally sketched out the idea that is now a provisional patent on Post-it® notes while driving (at red lights only, of course). You should have seen my steering wheel! (2) Having served on the New Employee Welcoming Board, I particularly want to tell new folks that IPP is here for you! If you are unsure about the innovative viability of your ideas or you have questions, IPP has great staff to enlighten and inform you about the disclosure and patent process. Just because you’re new, doesn’t mean you cannot innovate or receive support for your innovations.
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Workshop
Workshop to Find Partners for Joint Research a Success
On August 18th, companies, universities, and government labs within the central New York region met with some of Goddard’s senior technologists to explore areas of mutual R&D interest and opportunities for joint research. More than 50 senior executives from 41 organizations attended NASA Goddard’s Joint Venture Workshop on Technology Trends.
Held in Utica, the workshop was sponsored by Goddard’s Innovative Partnerships Program Office and organized by NASA’s Northeast Regional Technology Transfer Center (RTTC), the Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC).
The workshop gave attendees the opportunity to make connections and develop relationships with Goddard’s technology decision makers. “The companies and other organizations that attended this workshop have technical strengths that overlap with several of our core interests,” said Nona Cheeks, chief of Goddard’s IPP. “We found connections in sensors, hardware and software developments, electronic components, and advanced manufacturing automation systems.”
The formal presentations began with a summary of technology transfer at Goddard by Ms. Cheeks. Then Peter Hughes, Goddard’s acting chief technologist, gave an overview of Goddard’s technical needs over the next 10 years. More detailed presentations were given by Julie Loftis (Code 580), Jill Holz (Code 442), and Sachidananda Babu (Code 553). These were followed by one-on-one meetings where partnership possibilities could be discussed.
The Utica workshop was the third such event for Goddard. “We have found that this format is an excellent method for creating lasting relationships with potential partners,” said Ms. Cheeks. IPP therefore is planning another Joint Venture Workshop in Boston in November.
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| event |
technologies/topics |
outcome |
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| Joint Venture Workshop (Utica) |
Goddard R&D |
Provided a forum for identifying partnering opportunities with NASA
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| NASA Small Business Solutions Conference |
Various |
Networked with small businesses interested in working with NASA
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Annual meeting of Mid-Atlantic Region of the Federal Laboratory
Consortium for Technology Transfer |
Technology transfer |
Learned of tech transfer best practices
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| NASA Goddard 4th Technology Transfer Investment Workshop |
Disruptive technologies and the build-vs.-buy decision |
Training for Goddard innovators and networking with industry
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Tech Transfer Metrics
July 1 to September 30, 2005
New technologies reported: 75
New technologies were reported by the following civil servants, contractors, and universities:
Civil Servants:
Code 100
Phillip Merritt: Software Metrics Analysis Tool (SMAT)
Aaron Wilson: Metric Analysis Tool (MAT)
Code 400
Beth Weinstein: Data Validation User Interface (DVUI): A Navigation/Discovery Client Via Earth Observing System ClearingHOuse (ECHO)
Code 500
Hossin Abdeldayem: Multipurpose Fiber Injected Micro-spherical Lidar System
Stephen Andrews: Attitude Control System Design for the Solar Dynamics Observatory
Kristin Bourkland: Attitude Control System Design for the Solar Dynamics Observatory
Jason Budinoff: Image-Based Wavefront Sensing for Space Optics Control
Edgar Canavan: A Lightweight, Low-Current 10-Kelvin Magnet for Space-Flight ASRs
Eric Cardiff: An Oxygen Production Plant in the Lunar Environment: A Vacuum Pyrolysis Approach
James Carpenter: Navigation Accuracy Guidelines for Orbital Formation Flying
Bruce Dean: Image-Based Wavefront Sensing for Space Optics Control
Michael DiPirro: (1) A Continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator for Cooling to 10 MK and Below and (2) A Lightweight, Low-Current 10-Kelvin Magnet for Space-Flight ASRs
Rodger Farley: (1) Planetary Balloon Software Theory Manual and (2) Balloon Ascent: 3D Simulation Tool for the Ascent and Float of High-Altitude Balloons
Stephanie Getty: Design of a Lightweight, Low-Power Magnetometer Based on a Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Mat
Jeffrey Jaso: Spaceflight Ka-Band Transmitter
Kuo-Chia Liu: Attitude Control System Design for the Solar Dynamics Observatory
Landis Markley: Orthogonal Attitude Filter
Paul Mason: (1) Propellant Slosh Analysis for the Solar Dynamics Observatory and (2) Attitude Control System Design for the Solar Dynamics Observatory
Wendy Morgenstern: Attitude Control System Design for the Solar Dynamics Observatory
Shahin Pourrahimi: A Lightweight, Low-Current 10-Kelvin Magnet for Space-Flight ASRs
Harry Shaw: MEMS Structure for Electrophoretic and Dielectrophorertic Separation of Particles by Contactless Electrodes
Peter Shirron: (1) A Continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator for Cooling to 10 MK and Below and (2) A Lightweight, Low-Current 10-Kelvin Magnet for Space-Flight ASRs
James Smith: Miniaturized Double-Latching Solenoid Valve
Scott Starin: (1) Propellant Slosh Analysis for the Solar Dynamics Observatory and (2) Attitude Control System Design for the Solar Dynamics Observatory
James Tuttle: A Lightweight, Low-Current 10-Kelvin Magnet for Space-Flight ASRs
Kongpop U-Yen: Compact, Wide Spurious-Free Bandwidth Bandpass Filter Using Stepped Impedance Resonators
Melissa Vess: Attitude Control System Design for the Solar Dynamics Observatory
John Vranish: Driven Ground
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Code 500 (continued)
Don Wegel: A Continuous Adiabatic Demagnetization Refrigerator for Cooling to 10 MK and Below
Michael Wilks: High-Impulse Nanoparticulate-Based Gel Propellants
Code 600
Robert Baker: High-Voltage Clock Driver for Photon Counting CCD Characterization
Edward Sittler: (1) Electric Field Antenna for Solar Probe and Space Missions Exposed to High Photon Intensities within the Inner Heliosphere and (2) Fast 3D Ion Mass Spectrometer for Solar Wind and Magnetospheric Plasmas
Norden Huang: Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition: A Noise-Assisted Data Analysis Method
Virginia Kalb: (1) Implementation of the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition of a Multivariate Time Series; (2) Projection to a Dynamical System for the Incompressible Navier-Stoke Equations; (3) Flow Solver for Incompressible 2-D Drive Cavity; and (4) Flow Solver for Incompressible 2-D Rectangular Domains
Richard Lyon: Optical Mixer for Interferometric Beam Combiner
Contractors:
AdTech Photonics, Inc.
ADVR, Inc.
American Semiconductor
Anasphere, Inc.
Biospherical Instruments, Inc.
Busek Co. Inc.
CompSys Technologies Inc.
Eltron Research, Inc.
Emergent Space Technologies
Honeywell Technical Solutions, Inc.
Hyper Tech Research
Invertix Corporation
L3 Communications, GSI
LJT and Associates
LW Microsystems, Inc.
OSC
Power Electronics Leveling Solutions L.L.C.
QSS
Remote Sensing Solutions, Inc.
Rockwell Scientific Company, LLC
SAIC
Science Systems and Applications, Inc.
SiWave, Inc.
Star Cryoelectronics
Swales Aerospace
Tech-X Corporation
Universities:
George Washington University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Northeastern University
Rice Space Institute
University of Missouri–Rolla
University of Arkansas
University of Maryland
University of South Florida
University of Buffalo
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Software Releases: 13
Innovators receive a $500 to $1,000 award for software approved for release.
- Simple, Scalable, Script-based Science Processing Archive, Christopher Lynnes (Code 610), Mahabaleshwara Hedge (600), and C. Wrandle Barth (Code 610)
- Using IV and V Findings to Perform FSW Technical Assessments, Shirley Savirino (180), Scott Johnson (Code 180), Mike Beims (Code 180), Aileen Bisier (180), Ken McGill (Code 180), and Steve Pukansky (Code 180)
- A Method and System for Procedure Development and Verification by Formal Specifications Derived Mechanically from Informal Procedure Descriptions, Mike Hinchey (Code 581), James Rash (Code 588), Christopher Rouff (Code 500), and Dennis Gracanin (Virginia Polytecnic University)
- Formation Flying Testbed Software Architecture and Implementation, Everett Cary (Code 591), David Gaylor (Code 595), Jason Mitchell (Code 591), John Higinbotham (Code 588)
- Parallel Computing Tools for IDL, Peter Messmer (631) and Seth Veitzer (631)
- Fault Tolerant Digital Signal Processing (DSP), Graham Stead (614)
- Automated Segmentation of Insulin Granules from Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM) of Rat Pancreatic Beta Cells, Murray Loew (691), Timothy McClanahan (Code 691), and Geoffrey Sharp (691)
- Core Command and Data Handling Component, Donald West (Code 681), et al.
- Integrated Test and Operations System (Release 7-3), Karen Calvert (Code 584), Warren Thompson (Code 444), Greg Greer (Code 584), Brian Goldman (Code 584), Mark Richardson (Code 584), and Robert Rapp (Code 584)
- Navigation Accuracy Guidelines for Orbital Formation Flying, Kenneth Carpenter (Code 667)
- Data Validation User Interface (DVUI): A Navigation/Discovery Client Via Earth Observing System ClearingHOuse (ECHO), Beth Weinstein (Code 586)
- Software Metrics Analysis Tool (SMAT), Phillip Merritt (Code 180)
- Metric Analysis Tool (MAT), Aaron Wilson (Code 180)
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Issued Patents: 1
- U.S. Patent #6,936,122: Adhesive Bubble Removal Method and Apparatus for Fiber Optic Applications, John Kolasinski (Code 565)
Patent Applications Filed: 13
Innovators receive a $500 to $1,000 award for a filed patent application.
- A Method and System for Direct Implementation of Formal Specifications Derived Mechanically from Informal Requirements, John Erickson (Code 603), Denis Gracanin (Code 588), Michael Hinchey (Code 581), James Rash (Code 588), and Christopher Rouff (Code 588)
- A Method and System for Formal Analysis, Simulation, and Verification of Knowledge-Based Systems, Rule-Based Systems, and Expert Systems, John Erickson (Code 603), Denis Gracanin (Code 588), Michael Hinchey (Code 581), James Rash (Code 588), and Christopher Rouff (Code 588)
- A Split-Remerge Method for Eliminating Processing Window Artifacts in Recursive Hierarchical Segmentation, James Tilton (Code 606)
- Apoptosis and Self-Destruct: Mechanisms for Management of Autonomic Systems, Michael Hinchey (Code 581) and Roy Sterritt (Code 581)
- Demiseable Reaction Wheel Assembly, Eliezer Ahronovich (Code 596), Milton Davis (Code 596), and Russell Roder (Code 596)
- Half-Wave Inertance Tube for Pulse Tube Cryocoolers, David Gedeon (552) and Kyle Wilson (Code 552)
- High-Diffusivity, Low-Emissivity Annular Reservoir for Pulse Tube Cryocoolers, David Gedeon (552) and Kyle Wilson (Code 552)
- Large Area Vacuum Ultra-Violet Sensors, Shahid Aslam (Code 560) and David Franz (Code 553)
- Pivot 2.0: Radiation Hardened, Fast Acquisition/Weak Signal Tracking GPS Receiver, Gregory Boegner (Code 596), Steve Sirotzky (Code 596), and Luke Winternitz (Code 596)
- Stability Spectrum through Hilbert-Huang Transform, Liming Salvino (Naval Surface Warfare Center) and Norden Huang (Code 614)
- Stepping Flextures, John Vranish (Code 544)
- Surface Micromachined Arrays of Transition-Edge Detectors, John Hall (685) and Robin Cantor (Code 685)
- Virtual Feel Capaciflectors, John Vranish (Code 544)
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Provision Patents Filed: 7
- A Method and System for Procedure Development and Verification by Formal Specifications Derived Mechanically from Informal Procedure Descriptions, Michael Hinchey (581), James Rash (Code 588), Christopher Rouf (Code 588), and Denis Gracanin (Code 588)
- A Pulsed, 1-Micron, Single-Frequency, Diode-Seeded Ytterbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier with Variable Output Parameters, Barry Coyle (Code 690)
- Alignment Insensitive Active Center-of-Curvature Wavefront Sensing and Control Telescope Architecture, Lee Feinberg (Code 550), John Hagopian (Code 551), Bruce Dean (Code 551), and Joe Howard (Code 551)
- Broadband Phase-Retrieval for Image-Based Wavefront Sensing, Bruce Dean (Code 551)
- Filter Function for Wavefront Sensing and Control over an Extended Field of View, Bruce Dean (Code 551)
- Fixed Lens Wavefront Sensing, Bruce Dean (Code 551)
- Iterative-Transform Phase-Retrieval Utilizing Adaptive Diversity, Raymond Ohl (Code 551), Ronald Mink (Code 551), Victor Chambers (Code 551), Steven Arnold (Diffraction International Ltd.)
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Send Us Your Ideas
We want to do all we can to make it easy and rewarding for you to participate in technology transfer. But we need your help. Send us your ideas for program improvements or News articles via e-mail.
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Submit Your New Technologies
You can report new project technologies through the online eNTRe system.
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A publication of
Innovative Partnerships Program Office
Mailstop 504
Building 22, Room 290
(301) 286-5810
techtransfer@gsfc.nasa.gov
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