September 2024 - Physical Sciences Inc.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from NASA to develop a low size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) terrain mapping sensor solution that is applicable to onboard hazard detection and avoidance for safe and precise landing.

PSI is proposing an Adaptive Sampling (AdS) LiDAR for high-speed, high-resolution hazard detection capable of generating digital elevation maps (DEMs) for entry/deorbit, descent, and landing. This system will function as a standalone 3D terrain mapping sensor, mapping from altitudes over 250 m, that can be generalized to various missions and platforms regardless of illumination condition. The AdS-LiDAR uses a highly flexible receiver architecture that allows it to generate DEMs at high speeds (< 4 seconds) with high resolution (1000 x 1000 pixels) without scanning. In the Phase I program, we will build and functionally test an AdS-LiDAR breadboard, demonstrating ranging and mapping capabilities.

For more information contact:

Elizabeth C. Schundler
Group Leader, Optical Systems Technologies
eschundler@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with NASA. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Navy to develop an automated capability for the Integrated Combat System (ICS) that estimates the effectiveness achieved by a radio frequency (RF) or optical effectors during an engagement with a threat missile.

The Navy’s ICS will be responsible for coordinating and controlling the operation of defensive effectors (both hard-kill and soft-kill) for both own-ship and force-level engagements. To maximize the utility of soft-kill (electromagnetic) effectors, and hence minimize employment of limited hard-kill resources, the combat system requires a capability to assess the effectiveness of electromagnetic effectors to determine if (and when) they have neutralized a threat, so that the effector may be reassigned to the next threat. To address this requirement, PSI will develop and evaluate a real-time tactical assessment service to rapidly estimate the degree of impact that an electromagnetic effector has induced on a threat, so that reliable and timely effector reassignment decisions may be made.

The PSI algorithms will support a broad range of decoys, jammers, and directed energy effectors, using a parametric approach for describing both the capabilities and the expected effect axes for each class of threat. These algorithms will be designed to continuously update the effector impact assessment as new sensor measurements are obtained. They will operate as an ensemble of real-time microservices deployed within the ICS, fully compatible with the associated architectural standards.

For more information contact:

Dr. Jay Giblin
Group Leader, Exploitation Technologies
jgiblin@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Navy to develop an automated capability for the Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) that maximizes weapon scheduling effectiveness where explicit weapon-target assignment solutions are not possible.

The Navy’s current SSDS employs an explicit weapon-target assignment algorithm to assign one or more defensive missile interceptors to each incoming threat target. This explicit assignment approach may become ineffective in the future, as advances in threat technologies result in reduced accuracy in the estimates of threat count and threat location, attacks are composed of increasing numbers of threat targets, and engagement timelines shrink because of increased threat speeds. To enable effective defense under these future conditions, PSI will develop and evaluate real-time algorithms to rapidly compute dynamic weapon assignment and schedule plans to maximize performance (probability of raid annihilation) under uncertain threat target conditions. The PSI algorithms will accommodate on- and off-axis swarmed attacks consisting of multiple waves of multiple threat vehicles, where available sensor and intelligence data may not provide accurate threat target counts, types, and intended targets or trajectories. These algorithms will be designed to continuously update the weapon employment plan as new threat targets are detected and as intercept success or failure is observed. The algorithms will operate as an ensemble of real-time microservices deployed within the SSDS, compatible with the architectural standards of the Integrated Combat System.

For more information contact:

Dr. Jay Giblin
Group Leader, Exploitation Technologies
jgiblin@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the Office of Naval Research to develop Plasma-Assisted Combustion (PAC) technology to enhance ignition, combustion stability, and combustion efficiency in air breathing naval combustors.

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) will develop and demonstrate strategies for using plasma assisted combustion with enhanced repetition (PACER) control in airbreathing propulsion systems. Using nanosecond plasma discharges, PSI will evaluate plasma assisted combustion strategies with very high discharge frequencies (~100 kHz) to enhance combustion efficiency and/or reduce combustion resonance time. Coupled with a unique sensing capability, plasma assisted combustion will also be used as a combustion stability control strategy, enabling reduced lean blowout limits and shorter combustors. In Phase I, experiments will take place across a variety of combustor styles used in propulsion systems, including rotating detonation combustor testing at PSI. PSI will also obtain guidance from our OEM partner and conduct system-level trade studies. The Phase I will conclude with the selection of a single PAC strategy for further development in Phase II. Phase II will include a critical design review (CDR), fabrication, and testing with JP-5 fuel in order to demonstrate the down-selected strategy in a full-scale test article that translates directly to an OEM engine platform.

For more information contact:

Dr. Jeffrey Wegener
Vice President, Propulsion & Energetics
jwegener@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Office of Naval Research. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U. S. Navy to develop a paint spray gun specializing in thin films of high viscosity ultra-high solids coatings.

The spray gun will utilize high pressures to provide a large range of flowrates of both liquid and air streams while maintaining sufficient atomization for a fine finish. The precision airless spray gun will also feature the ability to tailor the shape of the spray. While conventional spray guns can deliver large amounts of high viscosity coatings, PSI’s precision airless spray gun focuses on delivering a tailorable thin film for the most challenging, high-performance coatings. In the Phase I effort, PSI will develop the nozzle and air cap design using COMSOL Multiphysics, fabricate a prototype, and test its capabilities in an experimental test rig to determine the efficacy of the design. The Phase I Option will focus on features that will allow control over the spray shape and will investigate designs to preventing in-gun curing. In Phase II, the down-selected nozzle and air cap will be incorporated in a hand-held version of the prototype spray gun that is compatible with existing plural component spray pumps.

For more information contact:

Dr. Jeffrey Wegener
Area Manager, Propulsion & Energetics
jwegener@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Missile Defense Agency to develop a broadband, high-performance electromagnetic shielding material capable of surviving ultra-high temperatures for applications in hypersonic aircraft

.Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop a novel ultra-thin and flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material with high-temperature resistance for direct, conformal application to internal electronics of hypersonic craft. PSI’s Conformal Electromagnetic Radiation Absorptive MXene-Integrated Composite (CERAMIC)coating incorporates MXene conductive filler material for high EMI shielding into PSI’s own novel flexible composite matrix using a binder that has shown to be thermally stable up to 1000°C. This new technology will provide a high level of broadband EMI shielding, thereby preventing secondary EMI pollution and harmful effects on other internal systems, while remaining thin and flexible to meet low size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements. In this Phase I SBIR program, PSI will validate the feasibility of the CERAMIC coating technology by down-selecting to a final composite composition that achieves the desired shielding properties in a thin film demonstrating the essential high-temperature resistance. In Phase II, we will further refine the CERAMIC coating prototype for optimal EMI shielding and thermal stability, implement formulation scale-up, and demonstrate fulfillment of the concept of operations (CONOPs) requirements through EMI testing of coated electronics packages at up to 1000°C.

For more information contact:

Dr. Colin Hessel
Group Leader, Advanced Interfacial Materials
chessel@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Missile Defense Agency. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Navy develop a low-cost soft robot that is capable of burrowing through underwater granular media with the goal of detecting buried mines in the littoral zone.

The Navy currently detects and neutralizes undersea mines using a combination of platforms that rely on sonar, laser and optical searching methods. The process is effective at detecting individual mines suspended in the water column and lightly buried in the seabed; however, it is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and can be impractical to implement in a contested environment. A low-cost, untethered solution that can be deployed to better characterize mines and buried objects in the littoral environment will both increase mission safety and lead to faster mine clearing operations. In order to meet the Navy’s needs, Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and their university partner will develop the Soft Extending Autonomous Robot for Clearing Hazards (SEARCH). The SEARCH is a compact soft robot that burrows into the seabed to autonomously characterize buried objects within a 10-meter radius of its deployed position.

For more information contact:

Mr. Alex Moerlein
Group Leader, Fielded Mechanisms
amoerlein@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the Naval Air Warfare Center. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Article

Physical Sciences Inc. (PS)I has been awarded a contract from the Department of Energy to develop bio-based alternatives for fossil-fuel derived packaging foams.

Fossil-fuel derived plastic foams are commonly used as packaging materials. These materials include expanded polystyrene, polyethylene, and polyurethane. However, the production and use of these materials is associated with high greenhouse gas emissions. Regulations are emerging in the United States and Europe that necessitate sustainable replacements to commonly used materials such as foams, adhesives, resins, and others. Physical Sciences Inc. will collaborate with university partners to develop a bio-derived foam material to replace fossil-fuel derived foams using an existing low cost, non-hazardous process. This technology produces a mechanically stable foam that can withstand repeated compression-release cycles and maintain mechanical integrity, which makes them suitable for packaging foams. The biofoam offers robust mechanical, physical, and thermal properties while being lightweight, non-toxic, and renewable.

For more information contact:

Dr. David Gamliel
Group Leader, Materials Integration & Engineering
dgamliel@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a program from the Department of Energy to develop an innovative and commercially viable approach for selective carbon capture from mobile point sources and subsequent transformation to platform chemicals or fuel.

The transportation sector accounts for a significant portion of CO₂ emissions and is therefore an important focus of decarbonization efforts. Battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells are promising alternatives, however they are difficult to implement for heavy-duty marine and overland transportation. A potential mitigation strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emission is to capture and upcycle the evolved CO₂. PSI’s innovation is to create a two-stage sorbent bed system containing high surface area materials that are functionalized to enable selective adsorption of exhaust gases.

PSI’s approach will result in a regenerative sorbent and catalyst system to upcycle the captured CO₂ to valuable fuel. PSI’s will demonstrate a rapid, economically viable process to capture and upgrade CO₂ from merchant marine vessels. Additionally, the process can be utilized for reduction of emissions from other mobile point sources such as rail transport, heavy trucking, and cruise ships.

For more information contact:

Dr. David Gamliel
Group Leader, Materials Integration & Engineering
dgamliel@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.

Press Release

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with their university partner, has been awarded a contract from NASA to leverage quantum entanglement to develop a portable spectroscopy unit capable of measuring infrared gas-absorption spectra without the cryogenic cooling or high-power lasers required in non-quantum techniques.

Physical Science Inc., and their university partner, will develop the Quantum-entangled SPectrometer using Infra-Red Interference Technology (Q‑SPIRIT) platform, which aims to realize a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) spectroscopy unit for detecting infrared-wavelength gas-absorption spectra by leveraging novel quantum entanglement and interference techniques without the need for high-power lasers or cool infrared detectors. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a critical technique for many NASA missions that require the detection and analysis of chemical compounds and molecules, in addition to many applications in astronomy, medicine, and other fields. However, gas spectroscopy in the IR requires detectors that currently suffer from high background noise and low sensitivity. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio, these detectors are either cryogenically cooled (increasing the system SWaP and cost) or paired with high-power light sources (which suffer from narrow bandwidths, in addition to being high SWaP). Such high-SWaP solutions cannot be easily added to space-based assets (such as landers) without consuming significant supporting resources. In contrast, high-sensitivity visible-wavelength detectors are cost-effective, widely available, and do not require cryogenic cooling; yet, they are insensitive to IR light. To address this challenge, PSI and their partner are leveraging a quantum-enhanced spectroscopic technique, known as “ghost spectroscopy”, which combines highly non-degenerate entangled-pairs configured to probe a gas sample using the IR photons while only detecting visible photons. This unique approach avoids cryogenically-cooled IR detectors or high-power IR sources to realize a reduced SWaP spectrometer for portable sensors compatible with deployment in NASA missions.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Christopher Evans
Group Leader, Scalable Photonic Technologies
cevans@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Office: (978) 689-0003

Acknowledgement of Sponsorship: This work is supported under a contract with NASA. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.