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 adaptive noise reduction system that optimizes impedance in an aircraft engine. Aerospace and automotive engineers can take advantage of this innovative system that offers a superior approach to noise dampening. Advantages will be seen in improved noise reduction through all stages of the flight, including takeoff and landing. In addition, the system corrects and adapts to mechanical and chemical changes over the life of the engine liner. The technology employs a honeycomb design with a variable control backing that self- adjusts based on real-time aeroacoustics for maximum effectiveness. The technology can be readily incorporated into existing technologies and transitioned to the marketplace. The technology is a design for a control system to optimize the impedance of a segmented, tunable acoustic liner for reducing aircraft engine noise. Through a local sensor arrangement, the system monitors aeroacoustic conditions within the engine nacelle to determine the optimal liner settings that will maximize sound absorption. As the acoustic properties change in each region of the engine, a sensor sends local information to its assigned region of the liner. The liner backing alters its physical characteristics, thereby changing impedance properties. This dynamic system allows optimization of noise reduction in each phase of a flight and over the life of the engine. Existing aircraft sound reduction technologies employ passive or static liner designs that provide compromised performance over a diverse range of aeroacoustic conditions throughout a flight. In addition, current technologies experience a decrease in performance over their useful life. The adaptive impedance technology reacts in real time to changes in flight maneuvers and can compensate for performance changes over the life of the engine. The invention was developed to reduce noise problems associated with current airplane engine designs. Other applications could include reduced automobile noise and development of quieter manufacturing facilities. The liner relies on existing industry technologies and can be easily adapted to work with current product designs. U.S. patent 8111832. 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 the nature of your interest in the technology along with a brief background of your company. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at http://technology.nasa.gov/ . These responses are provided to members of NASA Langleys 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.