BlackboardCongressional Earmarks Bring $15 Million in Research Money to FSU
The Florida State University will receive nearly $15 million in congressional funding over the next year to conduct research on six major projects included in spending bills recently signed into law by President Barack Obama.
Contained in a massive, $636 billion defense appropriations bill recently signed by the president is approximately $8.5 million for power-systems research being conducted by Florida State's Center for Advanced Power Systems, as well as another $3.2 million for materials research at FSU's High-Performance Materials Institute.
"Integration of Electro-Kinetic Weapons into the Next Generation of Navy Ships" ($4 million). Future warships will require new energy systems capable of powering such high-energy technologies as advanced sensors and weapons systems. Technologies for providing on-demand delivery of the large amounts of energy needed to operate these types of dynamic loads. Led by Steinar Dale (photo right), director of the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS), researchers from Florida State, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, the University of Texas-Austin and the firm of General Atomics will conduct system simulations and prototype tests in order to provide the Navy's shipbuilders with vital information needed to design integrated power systems and load power supplies for the next-generation of naval ships.
"Integrated Cryo-Cooled Hgh Power Density Systems" ($3.2 million.) Also led by [Steinar] Dale, researchers from Florida State and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory will work to develop understanding of the factors affecting the design and operation of a cryo-cooled electric distribution system and components for an all-electric ship. Cryo-cooled, superconducting power systems offer opportunities to achieve tremendous increases in power density that are otherwise unachievable. The research activities will include characterization of superconducting and insulating materials at cryogenic temperatures.
"Nanotubes Optimized for Lightweight Exceptional Strength (NOLES)" ($3.2 million). Led by Ben Wang, the Simon Ostrach Professor of Engineering and director of the High-Performance Materials Institute, researchers will work to develop incredibly strong carbon nanotubes as a material platform for a new generation of devices, structures, and systems, while giving special attention to defense applications. They also will work to utilize a nanotube resin known as buckypaper and other nanotube arrays for liquid crystal display backlighting and eventually for flexible displays.
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