WEST BETHESDA, Md.-- Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD) held its own “Shark Tank” type panel, similar to the popular ABC reality TV show, to explore three innovations, “Magnetoelectric Energy Harvesting,” “Wear-Resistant Aluminum Cylinder Liner,” and “Thermo-Power Generator” during its inaugural Innovation Discovery Event (IDE), on July 27. The inventors of three NSWCCD developed technologies were Marilyn Wun-Fogle, James Restorff and Peter Finkel (Magnetoelectric Energy Harvesting), William Ferrando (Wear-Resistant Aluminum Cylinder Liner) and Thanh Tran (Thermo-Power Generator).
NSWCCD’s Technology Transfer Office hosted and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) facilitated the IDE at NSWCCD’s West Bethesda site laboratories, giving panelist in the areas of commercialization, business, manufacturing and entrepreneurship, the chance to take a fresh look at patented or patent pending inventions that were developed out of Navy needs, and to explore how these new technologies might be used in new ways and applied to new markets. The IDE panel was comprised of serial entrepreneurs, manufacturing experts, technology transfer professionals and small business specialists from Montgomery County Department of Economic Development; Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development; Reflected Light Science, LLC; Tech Venture Solutions, LLC; TEDCO; and NSWCCD Disruptive Technologies Laboratory.
The IDE panelist brainstormed and prioritized more than 70 new applications, target markets and commercialization opportunities for the inventions.
“The panel members did an outstanding job of understanding the technology, brainstorming new commercial applications and identifying the most promising new markets for the NSWCCD patented technologies,” said Alyssa Littlestone, deputy director, NSWCCD Technology Transfer. "It is our hope that through this exercise we can more effectively facilitate the commercialization of these and future inventions.”
Here’s a brief look at the innovations that were presented during the IDE:
Magnetoelectric Energy Harvesting
Carderock Division, in collaboration with the Naval Research Laboratory, has developed a method and device for generating electricity from vibrations and magnetic fields. A magnetostrictive material combined with a ferroelectric material can convert changes in a magnetic field to electrical energy. Each change in the magnetic field produces a voltage spike, and the energy is then captured for use. This device was developed to use harvested ambient energy to power sensors. Patent Pending.
Wear-Resistant Aluminum Cylinder Liner
Carderock Division has developed and patented a low-cost method for producing aluminum cylinders with a wear resistant inner lining using conventional cylindrical casting infrastructure. The invention was developed to reinforce aluminum cylinders in automotive engine applications in order to improve engine performance and longevity.
Thermo-Power Generator
Carderock Division has developed and patented a thermoelectric generator that is capable of providing lightweight, portable power. This technology was originally designed to replace combat field batteries. The generator is comprised of a pyrophoric fueled hot side heat exchanger, a cold side heat exchanger and a thermoelectric device between the two to produce the current.
Technical innovation is an essential part of the NSWCCD mission as a premier Navy research and development laboratory, which provides advanced technical solutions in naval architecture and engineering, survivability, structures, materials, environmental and signatures across the full spectrum of the Navy acquisition lifecycle. NSWCCD's responsibilities span a broad range including science and technology, research and development, test and evaluation, product delivery and fleet support. Headquartered in West Bethesda, Maryland, approximately 3,600 scientists, engineers, technicians and support personnel are located across the U.S., which includes the Ship Systems Engineering Station in Philadelphia.
Photos from the event can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nswccarderock/sets/72157656064084899.