Results for “technological innovation” — Page 13

NASA NTRS1993

Space Station technology testbed: 2010 deep space transport

A space station in a crew-tended or permanently crewed configuration will provide major R&D opportunities for innovative, technology and materials development and advanced space systems testing. A space station should be designed with the basic infrastructure elements required to grow into a major systems technology testbed. This space-based technology testbed can and should be used to support the development of technologies required to expand our utilization of near-Earth space, the Moon and the Earth-to-Jupiter region of the Solar System. Space station support of advanced technology and materials development will result in new techniques for high priority scientific research and the knowledge and R&D base needed for the development of major, new commercial product thrusts. To illustrate the technology testbed potential of a space station and to point the way to a bold, innovative approach to advanced space systems' development, a hypothetical deep space transport development and test plan is described. Key deep space transport R&D activities are described would lead to the readiness certification of an advanced, reusable interplanetary transport capable of supporting eight crewmembers or more. With the support of a focused and highly motivated, multi-agency ground R&D program, a deep space transport of this type could be assembled and tested by 2010. Key R&D activities on a space station would include: (1) experimental research investigating the microgravity assisted, restructuring of micro-engineered, materials (to develop and verify the in-space and in-situ 'tuning' of materials for use in debris and radiation shielding and other protective systems), (2) exposure of microengineered materials to the space environment for passive and operational performance tests (to develop in-situ maintenance and repair techniques and to support the development, enhancement, and implementation of protective systems, data and bio-processing systems, and virtual reality and telepresence/kinetic processes), (3) subsystem tests of advanced nuclear power, nuclear propulsion and communication systems (using boom extensions, remote station-keeping platforms and mobile EVA crew and robots), and (4) logistics support (crew and equipment) and command and control of deep space transport assembly, maintenance, and refueling (using a station-keeping platform).

Holt, Alan C.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Decarbonization and technology cost drivers: considerations for potential future thermoelectric water use in the power sector

The power sector is currently undergoing significant changes, driven by a combination of factors, including decarbonization and technology innovation. This study aims to assess implications of these drivers on U.S. power sector technology futures and the associated water and environmental implications for cooling thermoelectric power plants. Specifically, we evaluate four decarbonization scenarios for the contiguous United States that vary in assumptions concerning demand growth and technology costs, with technology costs driving alternative outcomes that prioritize either technologies that require low amounts of water (such as wind, solar, and battery) or high amounts of water (such as nuclear and carbon capture and storage). These scenarios are executed in a power sector capacity expansion model and compared to two reference scenarios that assume status quo with policy and cost drivers. Our analysis indicates that future U.S. thermoelectric water withdrawals could decrease by 25%–60%, but water consumption could more than triple in some scenarios. These changes are driven by a combination of retirement of some power facilities, shifts in cooling technologies, and new technology deployment. The water use patterns vary across the United States, with the eastern regions demonstrating a lot more variability in water consumption across scenarios than western regions. However, local concerns can influence these possible investments, since increased water consumption can exacerbate water scarcity, leading to conflicts among competing users and affecting regional social, environmental, and economic dynamics. Future work should consider possible costs associated with alternate water sources, as well as improve the representation of water constraints within simulations. Inclusion of extreme events and alternate modeling platforms (e.g. production cost modeling and resource adequacy) may also be warranted to further stress test the robustness of these possible technology futures. Such assessments will be critical for ensuring decarbonization and other infrastructure-oriented investments lead to a reliable and resilient power grid.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2020

Optimization of Archimedes Screw for Use in Hydroelectric Projects

In 2017, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) made federal funding available to several awardees to investigate and provide innovative technological solutions to reduce capital costs of installed hydroelectric facilities at non-powered dam’s (NPD’s) across the United States, while maintaining a high level of efficiency. Awardees were to develop specific technologies that showed promise of reducing installed capital cost (ICC) by at least 20% over a given baseline and maintain a water-to-wire efficiency of at least 80% at head levels of 50 feet or less and flows of 1000 cubic feet per second (cfs) or less. Canyon Hydro (Canyon) was selected as an awardee for this funding and worked to refine the implementation of the Archimedes screw turbine for use at these site conditions. Canyon and its project partners analyzed several dam inventory datasets to determine the most common head and flow range of current NPD’s in order to best select design conditions for a turbine that would perform successfully at common heads and flows. Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) analyses were conducted after site conditions had been selected to optimize the turbine geometry for efficiency. Through this effort we were able to estimate water-to-wire efficiency over a range of flows. Equipment design focused on concepts of modularity and pre-fabricated construction. These methodologies were used where possible to reduce costly on-site construction and shorten deployment timelines. Cost modeling was conducted with input from industry experts in general construction, pre-fabricated concrete construction, and composite fabrication. As a hydroelectric turbine manufacturer of 35 years, Canyon drew upon its own knowledge base in steel fabrication, water-to-wire component specification and ancillary systems to develop the remaining cost matrix for the project. As a result of these efforts, Canyon was able to present findings that indicated a modular Archimedes screw turbine system could be designed that reduced ICC by 23.9% and maintain a maximum water-to-wire efficiency of 82.3%, meeting the goals of the project.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2023

Ampaire ARPA-e Electric Flight Testbed

A hybrid-electric aircraft flying testbed was developed in this program with the intent to serve as a dedicated, enduring testbed to test and evaluate ARPA-e CIRCUITS Program and other electrified aviation technologies in relevant flight environments. This testbed enabled rapid development cycles of novel and innovative technologies in the electrified aviation space, maturing them from a research lab environment to flying in an aircraft. By providing research groups with the means to test their transformative technologies in a real-world, aircraft environment, the path to validating the safety and reliability of their technologies for future commercial opportunities was greatly accelerated. Three core technologies were integrated and tested: an inverter/motor drive built by the University of Arkansas, a solid-state circuit breaker (iBreaker) built by the Illinois Institute of Technology, and a Flying Capacitor Multi-level (FCML) DC/DC converter built by the University of California, Berkeley. In each of these cases, the requirements established for safety of flight resulted in a holistic approach to the designs, evoking a deeper understanding of the potential failure modes and mitigations necessary to build a robust and flightworthy system. Further, the integration into a hybrid-electric aircraft de-risked the potential electrical and mechanical issues that cannot easily be experienced or replicated in a lab environment. The experiments were also required to undergo representative temperature, shock, and vibration testing as the FAA prescribes for this category of aircraft, facilitating familiarity with the relevant design and test guidelines necessary to commercialize the technologies. This testbed unlocks the massive potential of core power electronics technologies necessary for a safe, robust, and efficient electric aviation future. With quick iterative design, test, and flight cycles, these core technologies are on a quicker path to technology readiness level maturity and commercialization, enabling a more sustainable future for the aviation industry.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

DOE OSTI2026

Energy 101: Hydropower [Slides]

The Energy 101: Hydropower presentation, developed for the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP), provides an overview of hydropower energy. It covers fundamental concepts, technologies, considerations, case studies, and additional resources.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Energy 101 Geothermal [Slides]

The Energy 101: Geothermal presentation, developed for the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP), provides an overview of geothermal energy. It covers fundamental concepts, technologies, considerations, case studies, and additional resources.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Energy 101 - Wind [Slides]

The Energy 101: Wind presentation, developed for the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP), provides an overview of wind energy. It covers fundamental concepts, technologies, considerations, case studies, and additional resources.

17 WIND ENERGY↗

NASA NTRS1989

How to compete for NASA contracts

Various studies and NASA experience have found that business concerns can provide a vital and significant impetus to technological innovation, not only in the fields of space and aeronautics, but also in national technological growth. NASA personnel are determined to foster the development of small business capabilities in technical areas that will support future projects and establish a small business base for the development and production of flight hardware for future missions. The solicitation process for Federal contracts has grown quite complex over the years. Where possible, we continue to try to simplify and streamline procedures for obtaining and performing these contracts. This booklet is designed to help understand NASA solicitations, find the information needed in deciding whether to respond, and improve chances for success. The first section of this booklet will answer general questions concerning the various types of NASA solicitations. Your specific questions on how to prepare bids will be answered in the second section, which is followed by a third section on the unique features of construction contracting. A fourth section describes how to submit technical and cost proposals for the negotiated procurement process. Some tips or suggestions, called DO's and DONT's, are placed at the end of the second, third, and fourth sections. Then, in the fifth section, ways to seek business as a subcontractor are identified.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1992

Horizon Missions Technology Study

The purpose of the HMT Study was to develop and demonstrate a systematic methodology for identifying and evaluating innovative technology concepts offering revolutionary, breadkthrough-type capabilities for advanced space missions and for assessing their potential mission impact. The methodology is based on identifying the new functional, operational and technology capabilities needed by hypothetical 'Horizon' space missions that have performance requirements that cannot be met, even by extrapolating known space technologies. Nineteen Horizon Missions were selected to represent a collective vision of advanced space missions of the mid-21st century. The missions typically would occur beyond the lifetime of current or planned space assets. The HM methodology and supporting data base may be used for advanced technology planning, advanced mission planning and multidisciplinary studies and analyses.

Anderson, John L.↗

NASA NTRS2011

KSC Tech Transfer News, Volume 4, No. 2

There is a strong focus on technology in our human exploration strategy and a focus on a wide range of technology readiness levels (TRLs) across all NASA missions - from low-TRL development of innovative technological concepts that help reposition NASA on the cutting edge, to infusion of technology to solve critical mission needs. Throughout the TRL spectrum, there is a major emphasis on partnerships with academia, industry, and other Government agencies and among NASA Centers. This edition features are: (1) Aluminum Foam Heat Exchanger for Cold Helium Production, (2) Launching a Small Business with NASA Shuttle Software, (4) Aviation Technologies and the Personal Cabin Pressurization Monitor, (5) Granular Mechanics and Regolith Laboratory, (6) The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act

Dunn, Carol↗

NASA NTRS2018

Overview of Small Spacecraft Technology Activities at the NASA Glenn Research Center

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, Ohio designs and develops innovative technologies to advance NASA's missions in aeronautics and space exploration. The center's expertise includes that in power, energy storage, and conversion; in-space chemical and electric propulsion; communications; and instrumentation technologies. GRC is currently managing and/or developing a number of these technologies for Small Spacecraft applications. Small spacecraft propulsion efforts include efforts with Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) and Busek. Power systems technology efforts include the Advanced Electrical Bus (ALBus) CubeSat inhouse development as well as efforts with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), the Kennedy Space Center & the University Miami. In the area of communications, NASA-GRC continues to explore the potential capabilities and advantages of using Ka-band for LEO (Low Earth Orbit) spacecraft communications with both NASA and commercially owned GEO (Geosynchrous Earth Orbit) relays and direct-to-ground terminal networks. GRC has also proposed a number of small spacecraft instrumentation technology demonstration such as SPAGHETI (Solar Proton Anisotropy and Galactic cosmic ray High Energy Transport Instrument) and CFIDS (Compact Full-Field Ion Detector System).

Space Communications↗

DOE OSTI2026

Technical Assistance for Aquinnah and Chilmark, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

The Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) team worked with Aquinnah and Chilmark, two towns in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, to develop strategies for a microgrid system that would enhance energy reliability for essential community buildings during power outages.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Energy Finance Training [Slides]

The Energy 101: Energy Financing Training presentation, developed for the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP), provides an overview of energy project financing. It covers fundamental concepts, technologies, considerations, case studies, and additional resources.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

NASA NTRS1966

Today's research sets tomorrow's capabilities in space

Technical imponderables and technological innovations needed for space exploration

SPACE EXPLORATION↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA's Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems: Development and Demonstration of Technologies Enabling Swarms and New Spacecraft Platforms with AI and Edge Computing

NASA’s Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems (SSDS) within the Research and Technology Mission Directorate (RTMD) expands U.S. capability to execute unique missions through targeted investment, rapid development, and flight demonstration of small spacecraft technologies applicable to exploration, science and the commercial space sector. SSDS strategically invests in technology development and on-orbit demonstrations executed across NASA, other government agencies, industry, and academia. The program’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships initiative awards academic researchers with the opportunity to collaborate with NASA to mature innovative technology. Capabilities aligned with RTMD’s technology shortfalls and interests - power, processing, propulsion, sensors, communications, autonomous navigation, architectures, and advanced applications like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and edge computing - are prioritized in SSDS investments. These investments enable distributed, autonomous, and cooperative small spacecraft systems that support swarm missions extending beyond low Earth orbit into cislunar and deep space. This paper highlights representative SSDS flight demonstrations that mature these capabilities to enable a future operational infrastructure needed to support sustained exploration of the Moon and beyond. SSDS’s investment strategy emphasizes rapid development and on-orbit demonstration to validate spacecraft technologies required for swarms and distributed mission architectures. The Starling swarm technology demonstration mission exemplifies this approach by advancing distributed spacecraft autonomy, cooperative operations, and space situational awareness. Extended flight testing and ongoing studies of next generation swarm configurations and on-orbit space traffic monitoring and management continue to inform future swarm designs. DiskSat’s four-spacecraft demonstration mission represents SSDS’s strategic vision to expand the design space for future small spacecraft through its commitment to advance novel platform concepts that can impact how science is performed on orbit. Continuing to invest in future platforms, the notional PY12 concept is a 12-spacecraft swarm hosting neuromorphic processors and is envisioned as an on-orbit testbed for AI, edge computing, and positioning, navigation and timing technologies. SSDS also invests in single-spacecraft technology demonstrations that underpin the success of future swarm missions and accelerate the availability of validated technologies across the small spacecraft ecosystem. Examples of such demonstrations include Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator-3 (PTD-3), which performed high-rate optical communications; PTD-R, which demonstrated a camera capable of simultaneous ultraviolet and short-wave infrared optical sensing; and CAPSTONE, the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology and Operations Navigation Experiment, which validated autonomous navigation in cislunar space. Collectively, SSDS-funded demonstrations advance capabilities across swarms and illustrate a coordinated investment strategy to mature high-impact technologies required for autonomous, distributed, and cooperative small spacecraft systems for low Earth orbit, cislunar, and deep space applications. Technology demonstrations strengthen SSDS partnerships with industry, academia, and other government agencies, and promote small spacecraft community adoption of capabilities required to close technical gaps for swarm missions.

Jan Stupl↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA's Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems: Development and Demonstration of Technologies Enabling Swarms and New Spacecraft Platforms with AI and Edge Computing

NASA’s Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems (SSDS) within the Research and Technology Mission Directorate (RTMD) expands U.S. capability to execute unique missions through targeted investment, rapid development, and flight demonstration of small spacecraft technologies applicable to exploration, science and the commercial space sector. SSDS strategically invests in technology development and on-orbit demonstrations executed across NASA, other government agencies, industry, and academia. The program’s University SmallSat Technology Partnerships initiative awards academic researchers with the opportunity to collaborate with NASA to mature innovative technology. Capabilities aligned with RTMD’s technology shortfalls and interests - power, processing, propulsion, sensors, communications, autonomous navigation, architectures, and advanced applications like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and edge computing - are prioritized in SSDS investments. These investments enable distributed, autonomous, and cooperative small spacecraft systems that support swarm missions extending beyond low Earth orbit into cislunar and deep space. This paper highlights representative SSDS flight demonstrations that mature these capabilities to enable a future operational infrastructure needed to support sustained exploration of the Moon and beyond. SSDS’s investment strategy emphasizes rapid development and on-orbit demonstration to validate spacecraft technologies required for swarms and distributed mission architectures. The Starling swarm technology demonstration mission exemplifies this approach by advancing distributed spacecraft autonomy, cooperative operations, and space situational awareness. Extended flight testing and ongoing studies of next generation swarm configurations and on-orbit space traffic monitoring and management continue to inform future swarm designs. DiskSat’s four-spacecraft demonstration mission represents SSDS’s strategic vision to expand the design space for future small spacecraft through its commitment to advance novel platform concepts that can impact how science is performed on orbit. Continuing to invest in future platforms, the notional PY12 concept is a 12-spacecraft swarm hosting neuromorphic processors and is envisioned as an on-orbit testbed for AI, edge computing, and positioning, navigation and timing technologies. SSDS also invests in single-spacecraft technology demonstrations that underpin the success of future swarm missions and accelerate the availability of validated technologies across the small spacecraft ecosystem. Examples of such demonstrations include Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator-3 (PTD-3), which performed high-rate optical communications; PTD-R, which demonstrated a camera capable of simultaneous ultraviolet and short-wave infrared optical sensing; and CAPSTONE, the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology and Operations Navigation Experiment, which validated autonomous navigation in cislunar space. Collectively, SSDS-funded demonstrations advance capabilities across swarms and illustrate a coordinated investment strategy to mature high-impact technologies required for autonomous, distributed, and cooperative small spacecraft systems for low Earth orbit, cislunar, and deep space applications. Technology demonstrations strengthen SSDS partnerships with industry, academia, and other government agencies, and promote small spacecraft community adoption of capabilities required to close technical gaps for swarm missions.

Jan Stupl↗

DOE OSTI2023

Wood Heater Design Challenge Workshop Report

To support the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office’s (BETO) goal of advancing residential wood heating technologies, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and the Alliance for Green Heat (AGH) hosted the fifth Wood Heater Design Challenge (WHDC). The Challenge consists of three virtual workshops and a Technology Slam aimed at inspiring and advancing the next generation of residential wood heaters. With an estimated 12.5 million homes in the United States using wood or pellets for space heating, this challenge stands to create a significant impact on the environmental footprint of domestic heating. This report provides a summary of the activities and outcomes from the three virtual workshops held in January, March, and April of 2022. The goal of the workshops was to bring together stakeholders from across the world to discuss research and development (R&D) challenges and opportunities for advancing residential wood heaters in the United States. The workshops focused on three topics: 1. Advances in wood heater design and technology; 2. Advances in instrumentation used for wood heater testing and field data collection; and 3. Adoption of new wood heater technology and integration with other renewables. Each workshop had more than 100 participants each day which included wood heater manufacturers, researchers, academics, government agencies, and policy makers. Overall, a clear message was presented that collaborative input from experts at air quality agencies, industry, academic institutions, and non-profits is necessary to ensure that wood heating technology continues as a mainstream renewable energy option in our changing energy landscape and to facilitate innovative technology solutions. Participants also provided insights and recommendations that may help guide future R&D investments.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Machine Developing a Transferable Framework for CO2-Stimulated Geothermal Energy Enhancement: A Case Study

Poster presented at the 17th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies GHGT-17 held in Calgary, Canada, October 20-24, 2024. In this poster, we present innovative technologies to image key features, including CO₂-stimulated fracture imaging, CO₂ fluid sweep imaging and heat transfer and exchange imaging by leveraging multiple datasets and applying advanced AI/ML, multi-level data analytics, and data/information fusion to better understand the geothermal reservoir for enhanced recovery.

Liu, Guoxiang↗