SBIR Phase I: Miniature NOx Sensor for Small Airborne Platforms

该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目旨在开发一种用于无人机（UAV）和其他小型空中平台的新型NOx传感器。 这些飞行器中的许多都非常小，因此仪器有效载荷的空间和重量非常有限-事实上，用于实时测量感兴趣的痕量气体种类的大多数传统仪器都太大并且消耗太多的功率而不能在UAV上使用。 本项目是基于一种适合小型化的新技术开发一氧化氮（NO）和二氧化氮（NO2）测量的新仪器。 该仪器将非常小和轻，使其能够用于非常小的无人机以及探空气球。 第一阶段的研究将展示一个概念验证仪器的操作。预计各种医疗应用，特别是在哮喘的诊断和治疗。该仪器还将广泛用于卫星校准和验证。 最终，NOx仪器将带来两个公共利益：改善空气质量（以及由此产生的健康益处），以及改善哮喘的治疗方法和诊断措施。 一个重要的直接医疗应用将是诊断和治疗患有哮喘的人。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is intended to develop a new type of NOx sensor for use on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and other small aerial platforms. Many of these vehicles are quite small, and therefore have very limited space and weight allowances for instrument payloads - in fact, most traditional instruments used for real-time measurement of trace gas species of interest are simply too large and consume too much power to be used on UAVs. This project is to develop a new instrument for the measurement of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) based on a novel technique that lends itself to miniaturization. The instrument will be very small and light to allow it to be used in very small UAVs as well as on sounding balloons. Phase I research will demonstrate operation of a proof-of-concept instrument.A variety of medical applications are foreseen, particularly in relation to asthma diagnosis and treatment. The instrument will also find extensive use in satellite calibration and validation. Ultimately, the NOx instrument will lead to two public benefits: improved air quality (and resulting health benefits), and improved treatment methods and diagnostic measures for asthma. An important direct medical application will be in the diagnosis and treatment of people suffering from asthma.