Apr.

11, 2007

Dryden Flight Research Center

P.O. Box 273
Edwards, California 93523
Phone 661/276-3449
FAX 661/276-3566

Alan Brown
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
Phone: 661/276-2665
alan.brown@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 07-16

TWO NASA DRYDEN SMALL BUSINESS TECH TRANSFER PROJECTS FUNDED

EDWARDS AFB, Calif. – Two proposals submitted by NASA's Dryden

Flight Research Center are among 18 Small Business Technology
Transfer (STTR) advanced concept flight research proposals selected
by NASA for Phase 2 contract negotiations.

Barron Associates, paired with the University of Virginia, both

located in Charlottesville, Va., was selected for their research
proposal entitled "Active Flow Control with Adaptive Design
Techniques for Improved Aircraft Safety."

Migma Systems, Inc. of Walpole, Mass., paired with Louisiana State

University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, Baton Rouge, La.,
was selected for funding of their research proposal relating to an
"On-line Real-time Tribology Failure Detection System."

Barron Associates' STTR proposal seeks to develop synthetic jet

actuator technology, said Mike Allen, contracting officer's technical
representative for Barron's proposal at NASA Dryden.

"Synthetic jets pulse air through small openings in an aircraft's skin

to cause changes in airflow around the wing or tail without having to
move a control surface," Allen explained. "Barron will look
specifically at the use of synthetic jets and adaptive control to
allow a transport aircraft to retain control through a wider range of
flight conditions and angle of attack."

Migma Systems proposed further development and testing of a ball

bearing fault detection and health monitoring system for spacecraft
mechanical parts developed under their Phase I STTR project. The
system would not only enhance the reliability of precision machinery
used in tracking systems, telescopes and other space instruments, but
could also be used in a wide range of commercial industries such as
refining, metals, food processing, power and pharmaceutical
manufacturing.

Ross Hathaway, contracting officer's technical representative at NASA

Dryden for Migma's proposal, said the firm's technique to identify
multiple fault modes related to friction within the bearing contact
may be applicable to the Integrated Vehicle Health Management project
under NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.

"However, this could have so much commercial payoff that it is a

worthwhile innovation to pursue," he added.

The STTR program is designed to stimulate technological innovation,

increase the use of small businesses in meeting federal research and
development needs, and increase private sector commercialization of
innovations derived from federally funded research. The program
requires a collaborative research effort between a small business
concern and a research institution.

Phase 2 continues development of the most promising Phase 1 projects

begun under NASA's 2005 STTR program. Selection criteria include
technical merit and innovation, Phase 1 results, value to NASA,
commercial potential and company capabilities. Phase 2 contracts
receive up to $600,000 for a performance period up to two years.

The 18 STTR projects selected by NASA for contract negotiations and

funding have a total value of approximately $11 million, and involve
17 small, high technology firms in 10 states. The selected firms will
collaborate with 15 research institutions in 13 states.

Additional information about the NASA technology transfer program and

a complete listing of the selected companies is available at:
http://sbir.nasa.gov

For more on NASA technology transfer, visit

www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/technologies/spinoffs_index.htmll

For more information about NASA Dryden Flight Research Center and its
research projects, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden.

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