黑洞社区 Ventures has many technologies available for licensing. Detailed information, along with contact information, for each technology is available online and for download.
Radio communication systems employ frequency hopping techniques to avoid jamming and detection. This means the frequency of the transmitted signal is systematically changed within the range of the receiving device. Current frequency hopping methods are not adaptable - leaving them more susceptible to jamming or detection. Dr. Kwon invented a frequency hopping algorithm that takes into account the probability of a given frequency being jammed, increasing signal clarity and security. Based on the probability of a frequency experiencing jamming, the algorithm generates an adaptive frequency hopping pattern with safer frequencies. This yields a clearer and more secure signal.
US Patent No. 9,819,387
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) industry has exploded over the recent decade, serving a broad range of applications for both the military and consumer markets. Growth within the industry is forecasted to continue, with revenue projections expected to grow at a rate 3.6% over the next five years. The military and defense markets are anticipated to continue investing substantial resources into UAV projects, focused on developing technologies for the next generation of UAVs that will make them more autonomous, stealthy, and able to operate in contested airspaces. Recent advancements in collision-avoidance systems by 黑洞社区 researchers now enable UAVs to autonomously avoid obstacles in their flight path.
The global orthopedic trauma fixation devices market is expected to grow from $5.5 billion in 2012 to $9.3 billion by 2020. Currently, stainless steel, cobalt, and titanium are the most common metals used for implants, however, a mismatch in bone and metal properties often lead to many complications and repeat surgeries. The use and optimization of biodegradable metals is the natural next step in improving metallic implants.
Wichita State researchers developed a coating for magnesium to control its biodegradation, as well as optimizing it for biocompatibility to provide better physiological repair, including superior reconstruction of vascular tissues with minimum inflammatory response. The major focus of this implant coating is to eliminate the previous issues with metallic implants by layering each implant with this harmless, biodegradable substance that may be used for various medical applications, such as localized therapeutic delivery.
Performance and lifetime for polymeric materials is often limited by microscopic cracks that form within the material, and these remain unnoticed until the material is damaged to a point that requires manual intervention. The industry for Sustainable Building Material Manufacturing grew at an average of 12%/year over the last 5 years, and is expected to grow 2% per year in the next five years. The industry claimed over $60 billion in revenue in 2017, 30% of which was from structural building materials.
Inspired by biological systems found in nature, the presented technology is a composite impregnated with nano-spheres filled with a healing agent. The composite also contains a catalyst, which increases the curing time of the healing agent. The nano-spheres burst when a micro-crack forms within the composite and releases the healing agent into the micro-crack cavity. When tested, composite panels containing the embedded self-healing nano-spheres increased the tensile strength by over 30% when compared to a standard composite panel.
First used in applications for the aeronautics and wind turbine industries, the self-healing composite increased the lifetime, weight capacity, and strength of the blade, as well as lowering maintenance costs.
Coherent frequency hopping patterns, where the receiver and transmitter have synchronized clocks, are used with slow frequency hopping spread spectrum systems for a new protected tactical waveform standard. This presented technology is a system and method for transmitting data and recording the symbol error rate of the communication. The radio signal can then be modulated with respect to the recorded symbol error rate information, optimizing the modulation pattern and decreasing error probability.
US Patent No. 9,742,460
Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) communication systems present wireless technologies with higher data transmission rates. However, MIMO systems require extra space between reception antennas, limiting the feasibility of using multiple-input-multiple-output. The presented technology solves this issue. A new MIMO antenna design utilizes hexaferrite materials and optimal geometric construction to preserve a clear signal with reduced size and spacing, while still benefitting from the increased capabilities of MIMO technology.
US Patent No. 9,711,869
The development of crashworthy seating is a continual area of interest, as manufacturers seek for more effective ways to limit passenger injury during accidents or emergency landing conditions. This design provides a space-saving, cost-effective, and economically-feasible way to minimize passenger lumbar loads under vertical load conditions, exceeding well-beyond all safety and regulatory testing requirements.
Designed though virtual engineering and computational mechanics, this seat mechanism underwent 5,000 virtual simulations to evaluate, optimize, and verify the success of the system before building a physical prototype. The first physical prototype tested successfully proved that the redesigned energy absorbing seat could reduce a lumbar load of 2300lbs (31g鈥檚) to 895lbs. The seat is optimized to meet varied weight demands, from the 5th percentile to the 95th percentile. The seat is successfully proven to reduce the lumbar load well below the 1500lbs emergency landing requirement laid out by 14 CFR 23.562, and meets additional requirements of FAR 23.562, 25.562, and 27.562.
US Patent No鈥檚. 9,327,623 & 9,981,574
In the typical application of reinforcements on composites, they are produced in bundle form and then are woven together in layers to create materials with varying textures and composition. However, composites formed from these traditional methods suffer from weak through-thickness and interlaminar properties, which may lead to delamination and composite failure.
With inspiration taken from nature, this novel nanocomposite material invented at Wichita State mimics high-performance natural fibrous materials, similar to a bird鈥檚 nest or spider net. In this application, carbon nanotube reinforcements are entangled within individual fiber strands, binding each woven layer together to increase the interlaminar properties of a composite. Through testing, this entanglement method provides increases in mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties 鈥� ultimately leading to higher composite durability and strength when exposed to harsh environments.
The antibiotics available today are inadequate to prevent and fight infections caused by AR bacteria. Current antibiotics only target a specific site in the bacteria - such as targeting the synthesis of the cell wall, protein, or DNA - to inhibit growth or even kill the bacteria. However, the bacterial genome can always find a way to reroute the antibiotic鈥檚 single mode of action, leading to the development of antibiotic resistance.
A new class of antibiotic compounds developed at 黑洞社区, termed Liptin, act on bacteria in an entirely new fashion. Initial in-vivo testing included five of the six ESKAPE pathogens with positive results. The capabilities of these antibiotic compounds are advantageous in the following ways:
- Effective against gram-positive. gram-negative, and Mycobacterium species
- Liptin compounds bind to plasma membrane, a general target, and stay bound
- Binding causes a wave effect across the plasma membrane, disrupting numerous membrane and cellular functions
Cell lines tested with Liptin compounds result in bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects.
This drug delivery system consists of nanocomposite drug-carrying spheres and magnetic particles, which are then guided by an external magnetic field to the desired location. Using magnetic drug delivery helps to localize a specific area that requires treatment and allows a slow-release of the drug. With tradition chemotherapy treatments, the therapeutic agent used in patients are not localized and site concentration cannot be controlled completely, advertently causing damage to healthy tissues. Initial testing of this new drug delivery system has proven successful at a controlled release rate of the therapeutic drug at a localized site. It is anticipated that this new technology will result in higher effectiveness, lower risk to the patient, and lower costs compared to traditional methods.
US Patent No. 9,782,342
Industrial and manufacturing researchers at 黑洞社区 developed a new method for analysis of machining. This new technology makes it possible to analyze thermo-mechanical deformations, fracture, and wear processes that occur in the machining of materials. This method aggregates data useful for minimizing processing costs, while satisfying constraints on part quality, machine capability requirements, and process robustness. The ability to track and analyze high-stress deformations occurring on materials provides valuable insight for potential machine and material concerns, which may cause them to deform and/or fracture permanently.
US Patent No. 9,934,339
Bacillus anthracis, more commonly known as Anthrax, is a bacterial toxin and regarded to be a potential threat for bio-warfare and bioterrorism. There is only one commercially available vaccine in the U.S. and it must be stored between 2掳C - 8掳C to retain efficacy, making vaccine transport an issue without specialized cold chain storage. Improper storage of the vaccine at required temperature conditions will result in a complete loss of efficacy and be rendered useless.
Researchers at 黑洞社区 modified Protective Antigen, the critical component in Anthrax vaccines, to develop an advanced Protective Antigen Complex that resists premature breakdown and increases the thermal stability. The storage requirements of this new Protective Antigen Complex is 25掳C, which is 20掳C higher than the current vaccine, and removes the need for specialized transport. This will allow for wide distribution of the vaccine, making it easily accessible to underdeveloped regions with scarce medical resources.
US Patent No鈥檚. US 7,731,979 & US 10,188,716
Composite repairs are complex, time-consuming, and dependent on a skilled mechanic. The current repair pro颅cess is often susceptible to user-error and inconsistency, which raises concerns surrounding the structural integri颅ty of the repair patch.
The presented technology, a rapid composite patch re颅pair system, allows repairs to be made with greater pre颅cision and speed. This technology first scans a damaged composite area using a handheld scanning device and then sends the data wirelessly to a manufacturing facility, where a repair patch is immediately prepared. This on-site scanning process significantly reduces the amount of time needed for preparing a repair patch. Additionally, the technology can generate a custom tool for holding the repair patch in place. By precise颅ly capturing the geometry of the damaged area during the scan, a 3D printing code is generated for a tool that conforms perfectly to the damaged area. The fully-expedited process includes scanning a damaged area, receiving a shipment of a custom composite patch having an application tool, and then in one step perfectly applying the patch to the damaged area.
US Patent No. 9,919,444
The presented technology is a wearable and dispos颅able biosensor with no electrical connections or com颅plex circuitry, an issue limiting many current biosensors. The Smart Skin Patch can be strapped to the body, woven into garments, and can even be integrated into a medical implant. This biosensor system is equipped to mon颅itor and detect human biological functions of tissues and fluids by detecting changes in properties, such as electric, and magnetic fields.
The following biological functions can be monitored by the Smart Skin Patch: Biofluid pressure, Brain activity, Heart rate, Blood flow, Bone density, Muscle health, Lung space, and Contact pressure. Monitoring these functions are extremely useful in the early-stage screening and diagnosis of many conditions, including: Peripheral artery disease, Skin melanoma, Implant degradation, Diabetes, Intracranial swelling, and Lung damage.
One technique for communication security is to generate patterns of noise which disguises the signal from interceptors, but can still be decrypted at the receiver unit. This technology presents a fully connected uplink and downlink relay network system that uses pseudonoise spreading and despreading sequences, which maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio. The network systems comprises one or more transmitting units, relays, and receiving units. The computer encodes and decodes communication signals with respect to the optimum pseudonoise spreading sequences. The optimized pseudonoise sequence cancels out the majority of interference, resulting in the clearest signal possible.
US Patent No. 9,954,574
The rapid increase in mobile devices (such as smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, and Google Glass) has resulted in the need for more usability research of mobile applications and devices. However, tools for usability testing in a mobile environment are lacking. This demonstration introduces a new mobile usability research tool called uSee, which uses Google Glass, a smartphone or tablet, a smartwatch, and a computer for research observation and communication. With uSee, remote observers can view the scenes directly from a camera mounted near the users鈥� eye, which offers researchers a scene from the users鈥� point of view. Alternatively, a researcher can wear Google Glass and use the uSee application to record user video and communicate with remote observers. In addition, usability researchers can log important events by simply tapping the Google Glass stem.
The USee app provides a potential solution for usability observation in a mobile environment. The convenience of this mobile solution comes at the cost of limitations related to visual angle, image quality, screen size, and battery life.
US Patent No. US 9,866,757
When fatigue sets in, it can spell big trouble for truck drivers, train engineers, pilots 鈥� anyone responsible for operating vehicles for long periods of time. This innovation uses the latest technology to help them stay awake when they need to the most. A device worn near the eye, it can detect changes in eye or head movement. If significant changes occur, LED flashing lights, vibrations, and an audio alert deploy to ensure the operator becomes fully awake. This device also transmits the observed movement data to employers or make emergency phone calls using Bluetooth technology.
US Patent No. 9,811,993