Slick Sheet: Project
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) will develop a look-ahead sensing system based on integrated electromagnetic and seismic sensors to guide and assist drilling to lower the cost and safety concerns of undergrounding power lines. The system's sensors, in the form of radar and accelerometers, would be mounted on and behind the drill head, with complimentary distributed acoustic sensing at the surface to detect obstructions within at least 10 feet of drilling operations.

Slick Sheet: Project
RTX Technologies Research Center (RTRC) is developing semiconductor switching modules that are triggered using rectified 5G radio frequency rather than low frequency gate drive signals, thereby reducing losses and improving control of power electronics converters for aerospace systems as well as for the grid. These modules will permit the power devices they drive to perform at much higher frequencies than conventional devices, resulting in minimal size, weight, power, and cost while increasing the reliability and efficiency of future power systems.

Slick Sheet: Project
Opcondys is developing a light-controlled grid protection device to suppress destructive sudden and short-lived surges in energy on the grid caused by lightning and electromagnetic pulses. The proposed protection module improves upon current slower surge protection devices by using high-voltage photoconductive power electronics with nanosecond response times. If successful, any sudden and short-lived disruption through utility lines will auto-trigger the module, halting a disruption from traveling any further and protecting grid-connected equipment.

Slick Sheet: Project
The University of Pennsylvania is developing an integrated module featuring wide-bandgap power devices to improve electric grid control, resilience, and reliability. The proposed co-packaged module integrates high-speed gate driving, optical power delivery, signal isolation, remote sensing, and protection. The module will non-invasively monitor the voltage and current of wide-bandgap devices and would have higher noise immunity than state-of-the-art.

Slick Sheet: Project
The University of Arkansas is developing a heterogeneously integrated power module for applications in the electric power grid and electrified transportation. The module will integrate capacitors, sensors, and integrated circuits, enabling next generation, more reliable power electronics. University of Arkansas’ proposed technology could open the door for up to a 10-fold improvement in switching performance compared with the state of the art.

Slick Sheet: Project
More information on this project is coming soon!


Press Releases
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $30 million in funding to develop first-wall materials—the materials used for the chamber or “fireplace” where fusion reactions occur—that can maintain design performance in a fusion power plant, an important element of the U.S. Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy.

Slick Sheet: Program

Slick Sheet: Program