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BCG Wireless has licensed NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) technology to help improve signal reception capability in radio frequency (RF) communications. Initial testing at Goddard indicates that applying HHT to degraded RF signals can significantly improve the detected signal, enabling better reception and more accurate signal transmission. BCG Wireless is exploring the applicability of this HHT capability for devices including radio frequency identification (RFID) chips and cellular communications systems.

Benefits of Technology Transfer

• BCG Wireless may be able to significantly improve the performance of a variety of RF devices, helping to establish a competitive position by offering software and hardware that improves the usability of existing RF systems.
  
  
• Consumers may benefit from RF products with improved reception and longer battery life.
  
  
• Companies may benefit from improved RFID technology, enabling them to implement more efficient shipping, receiving, inventory, and item-identification processes.
  
  
• NASA may be able to use enhanced RF capabilities to benefit its own radiometers, telescopes, satellites, and other space program technologies.

About BCG Wireless

BCG Wireless LLC is a small start-up company affiliated with the Emerging Technology Center* (ETC), a technology incubator in Baltimore, Maryland. Based outside Baltimore, the company also receives support from the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO).

Technology Origins

A revolutionary, adaptive set of signal-analysis algorithms, HHT was developed at Goddard in 1995 by Dr. Norden Huang as part of oceanic wave research. Unlike precursor technologies, HHT provides an effective method for analyzing nonlinear and nonstationary signals while improving the accuracy of linear- and stationary-signal analysis. The technology’s first application within NASA was analysis of wing-flutter tests and the next generation of aircraft design at NASA Dryden Flight Center. The technology has also contributed to Shuttle mission safety by testing the tiles that insulate the Shuttle in space for the Shuttle Return to Flight Project following the Columbia accident.

Finding a New Use

Research conducted at Goddard at the request and with the support of BCG Wireless indicated that HHT may be very beneficial for RF signal analyses. Using a simple RFID kit, researchers introduced noise that degraded the RF signal. When the researchers then introduced the HHT algorithm, they were able to extract the signal, despite the noise. This testing validates that HHT can be used to improve signal reception for RF devices, which may also help preserve battery life and improve usability.

The Transfer Process

Collaboration between Goddard and BCG Wireless began in 2004 when the company was part of ETC. ETC made BCG Wireless aware of HHT and its capabilities. After evaluating the technology, BCG Wireless suggested that HHT may be applicable to RF devices, and collaborated with Goddard to conduct research to validate this hypothesis. This research was conducted as part of a reimbursable Space Act Agreement (SAA) signed in January 2005. Based on the positive findings, BCG Wireless submitted a license application and worked with Goddard’s Innovative Partnerships Program (IPP) Office to finalize the agreement, which was signed in July 2006.

Looking Ahead

With a license in place, BCG Wireless is initially working to apply HHT to RF applications such as RFID and cellular systems to improve reception, battery life, and usability. Given the success of initial research with Goddard, the company is also considering further collaborative research with NASA.

Contact

Innovative Partnerships Program Office
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Phone: (301) 286-2642
E-mail: techtransfer@gsfc.nasa.gov

(2006)