Technology

Transfer/Commercialization 

r eport

a technology commercialization office publication

NASA

Goddard Space

Flight Center
TCO Annual Report 2002

table of contents

Who We Are . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Technology Opportunities and Successes in 2002 . . . 6

Hilbert-Huang Transform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

New Sensors via Sol-Gel-Filled Fiber Optics . . . . . . . . . 8

Hierarchical Segmentation Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Activities in 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Encouraging Researcher Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Inventorying New Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Patenting Goddard Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Promoting Goddard Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Establishing New Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Seeking and Bestowing Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

How to Reach Goddard’s 

Technology Commercialization Office . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2

Since its inception, 

NASA’s Goddard

Space Flight

Center

has pursued a commitment to technology transfer and commercialization. 

For every space technology developed, Goddard strives to identify new ways it can

be used. Goddard then makes these technologies, its facilities, and its expertise

available to U.S. companies, universities, and government agencies. These efforts are

based in Goddard’s Technology Commercialization Office (TCO). This report presents

TCO’s activities and accomplishments during calendar year 2002.

TCO Annual Report 2002
3

Who We Are

Technology transfer and commercialization are an

important part of Goddard Space Flight Center’s

mission. They enable the national assets of Goddard’s

technology, facilities, and expertise to be used in

developing new products and processes that benefit the

United States. These benefits include enriching the lives

of the citizenry, increasing the Nation’s competitiveness

in the global market, improving the balance of trade,

and facilitating the transfer of technology with other

federal government agencies. To ensure that these

benefits are achieved, Goddard established the

Technology Commercialization Office.

TCO helps Goddard achieve its technology transfer/commercialization goals by:

❍ Seeking out new Goddard technologies that might meet industry and national needs

❍ Inventorying these newly developed technologies

❍ Patenting Goddard-developed technologies

❍ Promoting Goddard technologies, facilities, and capabilities to potential partners

❍ Negotiating license agreements and partnerships with industry, academia, or

government agencies

❍ Sharing successful transfer and commercialization efforts

These key activities are performed by three teams that work together to facilitate

technology transfer and commercialization.
4 TCO Annual Report 2002

Commercial Technology Staff

The commercial technology staff works with industry, academia, and other government

agencies to transfer Goddard technologies and to help these organizations solve their

technical problems within the six areas of Goddard’s technology commercialization

expertise:

❍ Environmental systems

❍ Guidance, navigation, and control

❍ Information systems

❍ Optics

❍ Sensors and detectors

❍ Thermal and cryogenics

The staff also negotiates licensing or partnership agreements.
5

Outreach and Integration Staff

The outreach and integration staff markets Goddard-developed

technologies that are available for transfer and commercialization

and publicizes successful commercialization efforts. These

outreach efforts are conducted using Technology Opportunity

Sheets; NASA Tech Briefs; Commerce Business Daily; the

Internet; press releases; articles in trade and news journals; and

presentations at conferences, technology briefings, and trade

shows. For more information on these efforts, see pages 22–25.

The staff also works to integrate Goddard researchers into the

commercialization process. For more information on these efforts,

see page 11 and pages 26–27.

Patent Counsel

Goddard’s Office of Patent Counsel

prepares patent applications and other

patent-related documents, and it reviews

Space Act, license, and nondisclosure

agreements pertaining to patent and

licensing matters. Patent counsel also

helps determine the patent potential of

new Goddard technologies and oversees

intellectual property issues.
6 TCO Annual Report 2002

Technology

opportunities and

successes in 2002

The technologies that Goddard’s scientific and technical staff develops to achieve space

mission goals often offer benefits outside the aerospace industry. The technologies on the

following pages have shown significant commercial potential, and some have 

already achieved commercial success.
7

Hilbert-Huang Transform

New algorithms for analyzing and monitoring 

physiological diagnostic data

Winner of the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) award for excellence in technology transfer, the Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) allows users to conduct more

precise analyses of signal data than can be obtained from conventional

Fourier-based methods. Designed specifically for processing nonlinear 

and nonstationary signals, HHT also can be used to analyze linear and

stationary signals. This versatility enables the technology to be used 

in a variety of commercial applications.

This technique uses a process called empirical mode decomposition,

which decomposes a complicated set of data into a finite, smaller

number of functions called intrinsic mode functions. Compared to current

transform methods and technologies, HHT offers increased quality and

accuracy. HHT could be used in analyzing physiological non-linear or 

non-stationary data coming from the heart, brain, lungs, and nervous system.

This technology already is being used in underwater acoustic signal analysis, and several other commercial

applications exist. HHT has been applied in the laboratory to medical conditions such as sleep apnea, epileptic

seizures, blood pressure variation, and the effects of oxygen concentration on blood pressure. The use of this

method resulted in new data not previously available to researchers. It provides more physical meaning than

existing historical analysis tools and, as a result, enables medical researchers to better understand and

characterize the phenomena. HHT could prove beneficial in diagnosing and/or monitoring patients at risk of

aneurysm, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, as well as many heart and lung conditions. Companies are

encouraged to consider partnering with Goddard to commercialize the HHT technology.

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8 TCO Annual Report 2002

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New Sensors via 

Sol-Gel-Filled Fiber Optics

For monitoring biological systems, toxic materials, gases, radiation,

and other conditions

Sol-gel has been used for many years to coat optical fibers. One drawback, however, is that

detection occurs outside the core of the fiber rather than inside. Goddard researchers

have developed an innovative process for incorporating sol-gel into hollow core fiber

optic waveguides. When the sol-gel is doped with chemiluminescent materials or

fluorescent indicators, these waveguides can be used to monitor biological systems,

toxic materials, hazardous and other gases, radiation, and other conditions.

Goddard’s researchers have developed a method to ensure that the sol-gel’s emitted

chemiluminescence or fluorescence is transmitted directly to the detector via a fusionspliced communications fiber. Advantages of this technology include:

❍ Simple manufacturing: Goddard’s is a low cost, straightforward method of customizing fiber optic

waveguides.

❍ Near-room-temperature processing: Near-ambient processing allows thermally sensitive materials to be

incorporated into the sol-gel matrix and retains the fiber’s inherent reliability.

❍ Highly sensitive and fast: The sensing process occurs within the sol-gel inside the fiber optic waveguide.

❍ Versatile: Many sol-gel-filled fiber optic units can be bundled into custom applications.

Researchers are currently working on sensors for monitoring an alkaline phosphatase reaction using

chemiluminescence. Goddard is pursuing patent protection for this technology and invites companies to

consider partnering with Goddard to commercialize it.
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9

Hierarchical Segmentation Software

For more accurate and reliable image analysis

Analysis of images from satellites and medical devices can achieve better

quality and resolution using a Goddard-developed program called hierarchical

segmentation software. This new technology is designed to analyze singleband, multispectral, or hyperspectral imagery data with a resolution of up

to 8000 x 8000 pixels. Boundaries between regions within an image are

maintained at full resolution, reducing distortion and resulting in a more

accurate and reliable analysis of the image. 

Licensed in November 2002, by Bartron Imaging, LLC, the hierarchical

segmentation software has applications in both remote sensing and medical

imaging analysis. These applications include:

❍ Remote sensing to monitor agricultural crops

❍ Identification of buildings and roadways as well as traffic congestion

❍ Identification of population densities and areas with the greatest expansion

❍ Improved scan analyses for CAT scans, MRIs, and ultrasound medical equipment

Companies can license this advanced image analysis software, developed at Goddard. For more information

about the hierarchical segmentation software, please visit our Web site at: 

http://techtransfer.gsfc.nasa.gov 

http://techtransfer.gsfc.nasa.gov
10 TCO Annual Report 2002

Activities in 2002

The Technology Commercialization Office’s mission is to introduce Goddard technologies, 

capabilities, and facilities into the commercial, academic, and government communities. 

To achieve this mission, TCO undertakes many activities:

■ Encouraging researcher involvement in the technology commercialization process

■ Inventorying new technologies developed at Goddard

■ Patenting Goddard technologies

■ Promoting available technologies and facilities

■ Establishing new agreements with industry, academia, and other government agencies

■ Seeking and bestowing awards for Goddard technologies
11

Encouraging Researcher Involvement

Technology transfer and commercialization would not be possible without the participation of

Goddard’s scientific and technical staff. Throughout the year, the Technology Commercialization

Office encourages researcher participation. For example, TCO hosts an annual program to highlight civil servants who report new technologies or provide outstanding contributions to

technology transfer and commercialization (see page 12). Events such as this and other TCO

efforts encourage civil servant researchers to disclose their new technologies (see pages 16-20)

and to participate in commercialization efforts.

The following civil servant researchers participated in the technology transfer and

commercialization process in 2002:

Richard Barclay

John Bristow

Paul Bryant

Michael Choi

Michael Comberiate

Steven Curtis

Mitchell Davis

John Degnan

David Folta

Steven Graham

Cheryl Gramling

Matthew Greenhouse

Jason Hair

David Mott

Sharon Orsborne

James Ryan

Vibart Scott

Ken Segal

Rajeev Sharma

James Tilton

John Vranish

Evan Webb

Edward Wollack

Terri Wood

Pen-Shu Yeh

Randy Harbaugh

Richard Harman

Roger Hart

Norden Huang

Stanley Hunter

David Israel

Mindy Jacobson

Tracee Jamison

Murzy Jhabvala

Hollis Jones

Andrew Jones

Karen Keadle-Calvert

Al Kogut

John Kolasinski

Jonathan Kuhn

Michael Lee

Douglas Leviton

Mary Li

Shian-Jiann Lin

James Lohr

Donald Lokerson

Richard Luquette

Matthew McGill

Nargess Memarsadeghi

Armando Morell
12 TCO Annual Report 2002

Spotlight:

10th Annual New Technology Reporting Awards Program

On April 5, 2002, the TCO held the 10th annual New Technology Reporting (NTR) awards program. The NTR

commemorates the efforts of all of the inventors at Goddard who reported their technologies to the TCO in

2001–2002. 

This year’s program, held at the Newton White Mansion in Mitchellville, MD, proved to be one of the more

exciting NTR events in recent years. Chris Witty, Olympic Gold Medallist in the 1000-meter Long Track

Speedskating event; her coach, Finn Halvorsen; and Jim Lyons, former NASA Goddard Technician, spoke 

about Goddard’s role in the 2002 Olympic Games. 

Finn Halvorsen spoke about the super-polishing technique that Jim Lyons created and the “unassisted glide

test” that proved this new technique offered a 10%–15% improvement, helping the United States win an amazing 11 medals in speedskating (see Striking Gold with NASA Technology Transfer, page 24).

Jim Lyons, formerly of the Optics Branch in the Instrument Technology Center (Code 551), encouraged all

Goddard scientists to disclose their technologies. He stressed the importance of the role TCO played in helping

both the U.S. Speedskating Team and his company, The Competitive Edge, work together to meet the skaters’

needs for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Jim Lyons (left) demonstrates the

speedskate polishing technology

developed for the 2002 Olympic Games.

Chris Witty (right),

Olympic Gold Medalist,

speaks at this year’s

event.
13

The James Kerley Award

Another highlight of the NTR program was the ceremony

awarding Doug Leviton the 2001–2002 James Kerley Award in

recognition of his commitment to the technology transfer and

commercialization program throughout the year. 

Named after the late James Kerley, a Goddard scientist who

championed technology transfer and commercialization, the

Kerley Award is presented annually to recognize a Goddard

researcher’s commitment to new technology reporting and the

technology transfer process. The recipients have reported

outstanding technology spin-off opportunities, participated in

outreach activities, contributed articles to NASA Tech Briefs

magazine, displayed innovative approaches to outreach and

technology reporting, and worked closely with the Technology

Commercialization Office to further its goals and mission.

Diana Cox, Lead Patent Counsel, also presented Patent Awards

to 18 Goddard inventors for patents issued in 2001 (see page 21). 

Al Diaz (right), GSFC Director,

presents the Kerley Award to

Doug Leviton (left) at this

year’s NTR awards program.
14 TCO Annual Report 2002

spotlight:

Commercial Technology Development

Program

The Commercial Technology Development Program encourages and stimulates Goddard’s

development of advanced technology that has the potential for successful transfer to

private industry. It allows Goddard to maintain its technological edge in research and

development, while also promoting the transfer of these cutting-edge technologies to

the private sector. The new products and processes that benefit from the Commercial

Technology Development Program represent the achievement of the TCO goal. 

The technologies chosen must have significant commercial potential, as well as

applications for a Goddard mission. They are chosen based on the technology’s: 

❍ Market potential

❍ Maturity

❍ Commercial readiness level

❍ Intellectual property rights generated for the government

❍ Anticipated societal impact

❍ Partnership potential

❍ Project schedule and resources
15

In 2002, eleven Goddard innovators received CTD Program funding that

enabled further development of technologies in fields ranging from fiber

optics to magnetic refrigeration. These civil servants must now follow an

aggressive development schedule that involves both TCO managers and

private industry. The 2002 innovators include:

innovator title .

Semion Kizhner Hilbert-Huang Transform Data Processing System

Harry Shaw A Demonstration Module for Integrated Fiber-Optic 

Sol-gel Sensors

Jeffrey Didion Prototype Electrohydrodynamic Micro-Scale Pump

James Tilton Improving the Commercialization Potential of Hierarchical

Segmentation Software

John Vranish Gear-Bearing for Industrial Applications

Dr. Russell Carpenter Attitude Determination Using GPS

Matthew McGill Demonstration of Atmospheric Wind Measurements Using

Holographic Detection Technology

David N. Whiteman Laser Power Stabilization Feedback System

John Bolton Instrument Geolocation and Pointing Stabilization System

Michael Hinchey Converting Specification to Code: 

The Enabling Technology

Dr. Peter Shirron Compact, Low Cost Continuous Magnetic Refrigerator .
16 TCO Annual Report 2002

Inventorying new

technologies

A primary way that Goddard researchers participate in the technology transfer

process is by identifying, documenting, and reporting their new technologies to

the Technology Commercialization Office. TCO then maintains an inventory of

these reported technologies. Pages 17–20 list all of the technologies reported in

2002, categorized according to Goddard’s areas of technical expertise. For more

information about these technologies, please contact the TCO (see page 28).A
17

Microfluidic Ion Analyzer

Deposition and Delineation of Thick Metal Layers onto

Nonplanar Substrates for Use in Microelectronic Circuits

Improved CdZnTe Crystal Growth for Gamma Ray Detection

Applications

Integral Sensor Device

MEMS Fabry-Perot Tunable Filter for Near-Infrared Imagery

Micromachined, Arrayable Hot-wire Anemometers and Fabrication

Process for Such

Micromachined Energy Discriminator

Quantum Well Electron Gain Structures for Improved Infrared

Detector Read Noise Performance

Sol-gel Approach to LiNbO3 (Lithium Niobate) Fiber Modulator

for Acoustooptic and Electrooptic Applications

UV Laser Micro-machining of Pixelized Micro-Well Detectors

A High-Definition Hyperspectral Imaging System

Conceptual Design of a 3D Imaging Lidar for High-Resolution

Mapping of the Surface Topography of Moons or Planets

from Space

Finite-Volume Dynamical Core

In Situ Lidar for Cloud and Aerosol Radiation Science

Investigation of Helioseismic Waves and Magnetic Variations

Associated with Solar Flares

Method to Image Surfaces Based on Monte Carlo Sampling

Environmental

Systems

Sensors and

Detectors
18 TCO Annual Report 2002

3D Terrain Renderer Using Compressed Source Data with Multiscale, Region-of-interest Flow Mechanism (Unique Software

Program)

A Hardware Lookup Engine that Uses No Processor,

Simultaneously Supports Multiple Users Without Arbitration

and Has a Known Maximum Latency

AutoCon-f-Autonomous Maneuver Control Flight Software

Automated Mission Planning and Scheduling System (AMPS)

[Version 2]

Electronic Patch Panel (EPP) Software

Electronic Patch Panel (EPP) Card (and more generally, the 

Multi-function Digital Data Board)

Employee Contract Management System (ECMS)

Evolvable Neural Software System

Hatch-High Accuracy Atmospheric Correction for Hyperspectral

Data

High Speed Information Exchange Between Spacecraft

Subsystems

Low-Power, Radiation Tolerant Spaceborne Gigabit Ethernet

Method and Apparatus for Accurate, Digital Monitoring of a

Receiver Frequency via Telemetry Without the Need for

Calibartion of Analog Components

Mission Operation Planning and Scheduling System (MOPSS)

[version 13.3]

Mixed Signal Asic Chip for a Pixel Detector

Normalized Amplitude Hilbert Transform (NAHT): A New

Algorithm for Computing Instantaneous Frequency

Paramesh: Parallel Adaptive Mesh Refinement Library

Pass-Thru Logic Array Reduction and Synthesis

Reusable Java Library and Science Planning Tools

Silicon-Oxide-Insulated Silicon Shadow Masks

Simulation Software for a High Performance Data Compression

Technique

The New Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR) Software

The Time-of-Flight System on a Chip (TOF Chip)

Time Frequency Analysis Based on Extema Sifting

TIMED Assessment Plotting System

TIMED Telemetry Definition System

Information

Systems
19

A Distributed Guidance and Control System for Satellite

Constellations

A Method for Using GPS and Crosslink Signals to Correct

Ionospheric Errors in Space Navigation Solutions

A New Algorithm for Satellite Attitude Determination (Rotating

Satellites)

Altimeter Noise, EMB, and Associated Software

Friction Clamp Restraint Mechanism for Springback Reflectors

General Maneuver Program (GMAN) Release 2001.01

Goddard Trajectory Determination System (GTDS) Release 2001.01

High-Torque Circular Electrical Connector Tool, EVA Crew Aids

and Tools

MEMS Torque Motor on a Chip (TOC-Microvalve)

Method for Establishing Heliocentric Spacecraft Formations

Using Gravity Assist From a Natural Satellite

Method for Maintaining Attitude/Minimizing Attitude Transient

During Gyro Traid Switch

Multi-cell Battery Reconditioning for Spacecraft and Other

Applications

Point and Hold Positioning Hexapod

Self-Deploying Foam Antenna Structures

User-Involved Star Identification and Attitude Estimation

Weak Signal and Anti-Jam GPS Receiver Using Full Correlation

Grid

Guidance,

Navigation,

and Control
20 TCO Annual Report 2002

Conflict-Free Radiation Tolerant Storage Cell

Figure-Controlled Membrane Mirror

Improved Method of Fabricating Honeycomb Panels with Many

Co-cured Tapped Holes

Linear Magnetostrictive Actuator

Method and Apparatus for Collection of Lunar Dust Particles

Musical Pitch Method for Measuring the Tension in Arimid Fiber

Cord Such as Kevlar

Neutral Axis Spring Concept for Providing Torque Margin to

Composite Thin Wall Integral Boom Hinges

Toolless Assembly Design for Composite Corrugated Feedhorns

Anti-Terrorism Bomb Eliminator

Charge Dissipative Electrical Cable

Double-Stranded DNA Microarrays and Methods for Detecting

Interactions Between Protein and DNA

Improved Optical, Absolute, Linear and Rotary Position Encoders

Using Vertically Compressible Imaging

Micro-Mirror Array Illumination Source for Optical Microscopes

Process for Producing High Quality Optically Polished Surfaces

on Bare Aluminum Substrates

Solar Spectroradiometric Telescope and Absolute Calibration

Method

Spherical Mirror Grazing Incidence Optics

Tunable Single Frequency CW IR Laser Source

Optics

Thermal and

Cryogenics
21

Patenting Goddard Technologies

A key activity of the TCO’s Office of Patent Counsel team is protecting Goddard inventions. Because filing for

and maintaining a patent can be costly, counsel carefully evaluate new technologies to ensure that filing for a

patent is appropriate. During 2002, the Patent Counsel team filed ten provisional patent applications, and ten

nonprovisional patent applications.

While patents protect inventions for 20 years from the date on which the nonprovisional application is filed,

provisional patent applications provide a means to establish an early effective filing date. Provisional patent

applications have only a twelve-month pendency, however, and a non-provisional patent application must be

filed within this time period to further protect the invention. Provisional patent applications are useful for

protecting patent rights while decisions are made about whether to file for full patent protection. 

In addition to the patent application filings, seven Goddard technologies received patents in 2002:

U.S. patent no. technology name

6,381,559 Empirical Mode Decomposition Apparatus, Method, and Article

of Manufacture for Analyzing Biological Signals and Performing

Curve Fitting

6,420,691 Charge-Coupled Device for Low Background Observations

6,445,861 Sol-gel Processing to Form Doped Sol-gel Monoliths Inside

Hollow Core Optical Fiber and Sol-gel Hollow Core Devices

Made Thereby

6,359,357 Combination Radial and Thrust Magnetic Bearing

6,343,245 Microaltimeter

6,350,176 High Quality Optically Polished Aluminum Mirror and Process

for Producing

6,479,808 Method and System for Collecting Data from Multiple Fields of

View
22 TCO Annual Report 2002

Promoting Goddard Technologies

The Technology Commercialization Office promotes Goddard’s innovative technologies

and unique facilities through publications and conferences, briefings, and trade shows

with industry.

Technology Opportunity Sheets

Each of these one-page announcements succinctly summarizes a Goddard-developed

technology, focusing on its potential commercial applications and benefits. In 2002,

the Technology Commercialization Office prepared these sheets on six Goddard

technologies and distributed them through targeted mailings, at trade shows, and via

TCO’s Web site. http://techtransfer.gsfc.nasa.gov ❍ Hierarchical Segmentation Software: Achieving finer resolution and better quality images from satellite and medical devices ❍ Micro-Well Detectors for X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Imaging: Providing a

practical means of adjustable resolution imaging over large areas with lower costs

and lower power consumption

❍ Gear Bearings: Combining gear and bearing functions to reduce weight, number

of parts, size, and cost, while increasing gearset capacity

❍ Multifrequency-Scanning Capaciflector: Combining fast material identification

with proximity measurement

❍ New Interactive Display Tracks the 3-Dimensional Motion of the Human

Hand: Allowing for wireless, touchless communication between information

management systems and their users

❍ Flexible Wedge: Enabling efficient and effective brake/clutch configurations for

many applications

http://techtransfer.gsfc.nasa.gov
23

www.nasatech.com

NASA Tech Briefs

This monthly publication helps NASA achieve its technology transfer goals by reporting

new, commercially significant NASA technologies. Subscribers to NASA Tech Briefs—

industry engineers, managers, and scientists—thus learn about opportunities to license,

transfer, and/or commercialize NASA technologies or to partner with NASA on joint

research. Goddard’s Technology Commercialization Office wrote four articles for NASA

Tech Briefs in 2002:

❍ KPP — A Preprocessor for VHDL (GSC-14380): A computer program that enables

faster coding and greater use of designs. (February 2002)

❍ Testing Grazing-Incidence Mirrors at Nearly Normal Incidence (GSC-14365): 

A system that enables adequate testing in visible light, without the need for a

vacuum system. (March 2002)

❍ Magnetically Suspended Optical Chopper Wheel (GSC-14323): Magnetic bearings

that offer long life at high speed, without lubrication or wear problems. (April 2002)

❍ Mechanisms for Reliable One-Time Deployment of Panels (GSC-13931):

Mechanisms that overcome the disadvantages of both pyrotechnic and thermal

release mechanisms. (July 2002)

NASA Tech Briefs is available on the Internet at:

http://www.nasatech.com

Reprinted with permission from NASA Tech Briefs,

Volume #26, Nos. 2,4,7, & 10.
24

Success Story: 

Striking Gold 

with NASA Technology Transfer

In October 2002, NASA Tech Briefs featured a story, “Striking

Gold,” highlighting Goddard’s assistance to the U.S. Speedskating Team at the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Using a polishing technology developed at Goddard for the

Hubble Space Telescope, the team won 11 medals and broke a

world speedskating record.

In 1998, Darryl Mitchell, of the TCO, met with the U.S. Olympic

Committee offering help in transferring NASA technologies that

had potential applications in various Olympic sports. As a result

of that meeting, Mitchell began working with Finn Halvorsen,

long-track program director for the U.S. Speedskating Team; Joe

Famiglietti, of Goddard’s TCO; and Jim Lyons, a former NASA

Goddard optics engineer.

By modifying a polishing technology used to make the optics for

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and other science observatories,

Lyons was able to develop a new polishing tool for use when

sharpening the skating blade. The goal was to make the blade

glide with the least amount of friction possible while still

maintaining a sharp edge that could grip the ice. 

Only three weeks before the Olympic games began, they finally

hit on the perfect design. Tests proved the specially sharpened

speedskates improved skate glide 10% to 15% over conventionally

sharpened skates. As a result, the U.S. Speedskating Team won a

total of 11 medals at the 2002 Olympic Games. Chris Witty used

the new technology to break the world record for the 1,000-meter

race and win the gold medal. 

Jim Lyons has since started Competitive Edge Company to

continue the development of the polishing technology. His

company is the latest in a series of startup ventures benefiting

from NASA’s technology transfer program.

A 10-minute video and brochure about this highly successful

transfer of technology were produced to further communicate the

goals and successes of Goddard’s TCO to the public and other

entities.

Publications sharing

Goddard’s successes: 

❍ “Microlasers Developed for

Altimetry,” an article about

Goddard’s photon-counting

microaltimeter, was published 

in Photonics Spectra magazine in

August of 2002.

❍ “The start of a new movement,” an

article about Goddard’s new gear

bearings, written by Paul Sharke,

Associate Editor of Mechanical

Engineering magazine, was

published in August of 2002.

❍ “Technology and the Future of 

O&P,” an article featuring Goddard’s

compliant cable mechanisms,

written by Rachel Kelley, was

published in O&P World in the Fall

2002 issue.

TCO Annual Report 2002

Jerry Search (SCSSA, copyright 2001); used with permission
25

Education

❍ Patriots Technology Summer 

Camps Program

July 16, 2002; Clinton, MD

Engineering and

Manufacturing

❍ National Design and Engineering Show

March 18–21, 2002; Chicago, IL

Medicine

❍ SPIE International Symposium 

on Medical Imaging

February 23–28, 2002; San Diego, CA

Sensors

❍ Sensors Symposium

July 29–31, 2002; Baltimore, MD

❍ Sensors Expo & Conference

September 23–26, 2002; Boston, MA

Small Business and Economic

Development

❍ Goddard’s Annual Small and Small

Disadvantaged Business Conference

July 25, 2002; Greenbelt, MD

❍ 11th Annual NASA Technology &

Business Conference

August 13-14, 2002; Providence, RI

Technology Expos and

Conferences

❍ NASA First Contact: 

Communicating in the 21st Century

March 27–28, 2002; Phoenix, AZ

❍ 2nd Annual University of Maryland

Business and Technology Mixer

May 20, 2002; Adelphi, MD

❍ Goddard Motion Control Workshop

June 18, 2002; Hartford, CT

❍ NBC4 Digital Edge Expo

September 7–8, 2002; Washington, DC

❍ World’s Best Technologies 2002

September 24–27, 2002; Pittsburgh, PA

❍ Prince George’s County (Maryland)

Chamber of Commerce Showcase 2002

October 3, 2002; Landover, MD

❍ Microaltimeter Workshop 2002

December 3, 2002; NASA Goddard

Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

❍ Maryland Technology Showcase

December 4–5, 2002; Baltimore, MD

The Technology Commercialization Office also disseminates information about its

inventions, their potential commercial applications, and opportunities for R&D partnerships by hosting and participating in conferences, briefings, and trade shows with

industry. At these events, Goddard staff give presentations, demonstrate technologies,

distribute literature, and offer one-on-one counseling to industry about partnership and

commercialization opportunities at Goddard. These events enable Goddard’s TCO to

successfully reach many small, medium, and large companies; academic institutions;

other government agencies; and trade and professional organizations.

Conferences, Briefings, and Trade Shows with Industry
26 TCO Annual Report 2002

spotlight: 

Prototyping Licensing Opportunity 

The Technology Commercialization Office at Goddard is continually looking for new and

better ways to accomplish the TCO mission. The innovative spirit fostered by the TCO

goes beyond the technologies it seeks to transfer. Improvements to the TCO’s services

for its customers are constantly being made. One such innovation is the Prototyping

Licensing Opportunity.

The explosive growth of the Internet, coupled with the proliferation of easily accessible

telecommunications technology, has accelerated the pace of doing business to levels

never before dreamed. Goddard’s Prototyping Licensing Opportunity streamlines TCO’s

interface with potential licensees of NASA patents in order to keep pace with the

commercial sector’s need for swift interactions. Through the Prototyping Licensing

Opportunity, NASA licenses key technologies in its patent portfolio to small engineering

firms, who then provide application-specific prototyping services to companies interested

in licensing a technology from NASA for incorporation into a commercial product line.

The prototype licensing arrangement is beneficial for all parties involved for several

reasons. The prototype licensee is able to expand its company knowledge base and is

exposed to new customers and contacts that would not have been available previously—

all at minimal or no cost to the licensee. The manufacturer benefits from the availability

of a quick and easily accessible source for developing an application-specific prototype

for their assessment prior to entering into a licensing agreement. Benefits to NASA

include: reduced paperwork, an expedited licensing process, better allocation of personnel resources, creation of new developers for technologies needed in future NASA missions, and a better understanding of the value of its intellectual property.

Thus far, four companies have chosen to apply for prototyping licenses from NASA. As a

result, eight prototyping licenses have been signed, covering three NASA technology

portfolios. Discussions have been initiated between various prototyping licensees and

representatives from one of the major automotive manufacturers, an international

manufacturer of medical diagnostic equipment, and a major manufacturer of power

hand tools. 

The TCO seeks partnership opportunities with prototyping companies that would

provide product development services to potential NASA customers interested in

licensing NASA technology. The goal of this business-to-business initiative is to allow

both NASA and engineering firms to reach a wider market segment. Companies

interested in participating are encouraged to contact Goddard’s TCO.
27

Seeking and Bestowing Awards

AutoCon — Runner-up

Winners for the 2002

NASA Software of the

Year Award

AutoCon — Autonomous

Maneuver Control Flight

Software by John Bristow and

Dave Folta of Goddard Space

Flight Center; and Al Hawkins,

Greg Dell, and Keith Chapman of

A.I. Solutions, Inc., was one of three runner-up winners for the 2002 NASA

Software Invention of the Year Award.

This annual, international competition honors NASA developed software

that has significantly helped American industry maintain its world-class

technology status.

Awards provide an excellent medium for

promoting Goddard technologies to the

public and potential partners and for

encouraging researcher participation in

reporting their new discoveries. The

Technology Commercialization Office

submits Goddard inventions for awards

bestowed by outside organizations such

as the Federal Laboratory Consortium for

Technology Transfer (FLC), U.S. Space

Technology, and R&D Magazine. NASA

also has annual awards to recognize

innovations. The TCO identifies promising

technologies and submits them for these

awards.

John Bristow (left) and Dave Folta (right).

Establishing New Agreements

All of these efforts by the Technology Commercialization Office lead to the signing of

various agreements. License agreements allow an outside organization to use a Goddard

technology, often while paying a licensing fee and/or a royalty. Space Act Agreements are

established to jointly develop Goddard technologies while sharing costs. During 2002, TCO

established 8 license agreements that included prototype licenses for 4 Goddard technologies:

Technology Licenses

3-D Roller Locking Sprag Turnkey Design Services Blue Island, IL

3-D Sprag Ratcheting Tool (prototype) Honeybee Robotics New York, NY

3-D Sprag Ratcheting Tool (prototype) Turnkey Design Services Blue Island, IL

Capaciflector Patents (prototype) Custom Engineering & Designs, Inc. (CEDI) Boonton, NJ

Compliant Cable Walker Enduro Wheelchair East Hartford, CT

Gear Bearings (prototype) Custom Engineering & Designs, Inc. (CEDI) Boonton, NJ

Gear Bearings (prototype) Honeybee Robotics New York, NY

Gear Bearings (prototype) Turnkey Design Services Blue Island, IL

Hierarchical Segmentation Software Bartron Imaging, LLC New Haven, CT

Technology Space Act or other agreements

Hilbert-Huang Transform Hirotaka Nakasone in support of the FBI Quantico, VA

Hilbert-Huang Transform John I. Salisbury (individual) Chepchet, RI

Hilbert-Huang Transform University of Wisconsin Madison, WI

Hilbert-Huang Transform University of Delaware Newark, DE

Hilbert-Huang Transform Harvard Medical School Boston, MA

Microaltimeter Earthdata Technologies, LLC Myersville, MD

Microelectrode Array System Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center Emeryville, CA

University of California San Francisco
28 TCO Annual Report 2002

How to Reach Goddard’s Technology

Commercialization Office

The staff of the Technology Commercialization Office welcomes calls and 

emails from industry, academia, government, and the general public interested

in learning more about Goddard technologies and partnership opportunities.

Inquiries

For information about the Technology

Commercialization Office or information on

Goddard inventions, contact:

(301) 286-5810

email: 

techtransfer@tco.gsfc.nasa.gov

Internet Addresses

Goddard’s Technology Commercialization

Office 

http://techtransfer.gsfc.nasa.gov

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov

NASA’s Commercial Technology Network

http://nctn.hq.nasa.gov
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Technology Commercialization Office

Greenbelt, MD 20771

301.286.5810 • fax: 301.286.0301

email: techtransfer@ tco.gsfc.nasa.gov • http:// techtransfer.gsfc.nasa.gov