TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Aircraft Vertical Takeoff & Landing: LAR-18341-1

Synopsis: NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. THE TECHNOLOGY: Scientists at NASA Langley Research Center have developed an inexpensive, long endurance vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is a modification of a conventional single-prop aircraft design. The addition of vertically oriented, stow-able tail rotors and an articulating forward rotor, capable of pivoting from a horizontal to vertical orientation, enables VTOL capabilities. It is capable of flying for 24 hours, landing in a 50 x 50 zone, and can be loaded into the back of a cargo van for easy transport. In addition, it can land in an either horizontal or vertical flight configuration. The design avoids the compromises in performance that are typically made in development of dedicated VTOL or conventional aircraft by combining the speed and fuel efficiency of fixed wing aircraft with the hover-ability and flexibility of rotary aircraft. The vehicle can be used in any application where UAVs are needed to take off from, or land in, an unprepared landing area. It can take off and land vertically, as a helicopter would, without any support equipment such as a catapult launch or capture nets. It's high aspect ratio wings result in 24-hour endurance, which is unmatched in the industry. Military applications include intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. This design is also well suited for commercial applications where extended mission UAV capabilities are beneficial, such as law enforcement, firefighting, crop surveys, pipeline surveys, or oil field management. NASA is seeking to license this technology commercially in the United States. US Patent pending. To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to [email protected] with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this FBO notice and your preferred contact information. Please also provide how you foresee using the technology along with a brief background of your company. Additionally, please identify any non-US interests/subsidiaries in your company as well. For more information about licensing other NASA Langley-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Langley's Technology Gateway at https://technologygateway.nasa.gov/ These responses are provided to members of NASA Langley's Office of Strategic Analysis and Business Development "OSACB" for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. If direct licensing interest results from this posting, OSACB will follow the required formal licensing process of posting in the Federal Register. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.