October 2020 - Physical Sciences Inc.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a research program from the U.S. Navy – Naval Air Warfare Center to develop a non-intrusive recession rate monitoring system that will be operational in flight test environments.

This monitoring system will address the Navy’s need of an in-flight diagnostic tool capable of measuring recession rates of carbon/carbon composite nosetips during Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) flight tests. The sensor package will be integrated with the Extended Navy Test Bed (ENTB) telemetry unit during some of the SLBM test vehicle flights. The sensor package will meet the flight and communication interface requirements.

PSI’s sensor system will help in advancing both ground-based and in-flight testing capabilities, materials research and fabrication techniques, in-flight operations of next-generation hypersonic vehicles, and control of high-speed propulsion systems. The recession rate sensor targets the monitoring of aircraft structures, engine flowpaths, rocket nozzles, and aerodynamic surfaces where extreme high-temperature conditions exist such as in hypersonic vehicles.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Shin-Juh Chen
Group Leader, Industrial Sensors Group

schen@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
(978) 738-8284

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), has been awarded a research program from the U.S. Navy – Naval Air Warfare Center to design and develop plasma-tunable switches and antennas, all fabricated directly on conventional microwave substrates.

PSI’s switch design will be operable over the full S band. The antenna center frequency is anticipated to be tunable over the same frequency range, and PSI’s goal is for both devices to support operation at up to 100 W of power. The plasma tuning elements are based on the novel application of highly-conductive, rapidly-switchable microwave-driven plasma discharges. These plasmas act as adjustable capacitors, enabling tuning across a broad frequency range. Plasma switching / tuning speeds will exceed electromechanical devices by approximately three orders of magnitude, while targeted power handling capabilities will exceed that of typical semiconductor-based components by two orders of magnitude. The combination of the best characteristics of electro-mechanical and semiconductor switching and tuning approaches will allow these devices to occupy a unique and critical space in the microwave communications market.

Plasma-based microwave switches and plasma-tuned microwave antennas offer the potential to operate at the speed of semiconductor-controlled components, but without the power limitations. They are, therefore, an enabling technology for high-power, frequency-agile Navy communications systems that would allow continued operation in contested electromagnetic environments.

For more information, contact:

Dr. David Oakes
Group Leader, Aero Thermal Signatures
oakes@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a research program from the U.S. Navy to develop a Buoyant Cable Antenna (BCA) transfer mechanism and stowage reel that can deploy and retract larger diameter BCAs while still fitting in the existing system’s footprint.

Current technologies are limited to capstan and rigid belt drive designs that can damage the BCA with too much bending, contact stress, or both. PSI and Granite State Manufacturing have teamed to provide the Navy with a linear drive that provides high output force while gently spreading load over the entire surface of the BCA. PSI’s solution will extend the service life of the BCA beyond what is capable with existing technologies and will allow for new and potentially more delicate BCA designs to be developed and deployed successfully in the future.

The Transversely Tensioned Belt Drive will be useful in deploying a variety of flexible and rigid structures for defense. Commercial applications include the transfer of utility cables, as well as the laydown and retrieval of undersea internet fiber optic cables. Rigid structure applications include land and space based light weight deployable booms.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Sean Torrez
Group Leader, Deployable Technologies
storrez@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003