Mar 23 2012

From The Space Library

RELEASE: 12-094 ICAP OCEAN TOMO AUCTIONS NASA SOFTWARE PATENT PORTFOLIOS MARCH 29

WASHINGTON -- The Innovative Partnership Program Office of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., will hold a March 29 auction with ICAP Ocean Tomo LLC of Chicago to sell three NASA-developed technology lots totaling 12 patents. The patent portfolios include technologies applicable to the software-development industry, robotics, artificial intelligence, industrial process control and wireless sensor networks. These patents hold broad value in any field where a need exists to design highly complex, automated and intelligent systems. "Intellectual property auctions leverage capabilities and resources toward NASA's goal of increasing the down-to-Earth benefits of its research," said NASA Deputy Chief Technologist James Adams at the agency's headquarters in Washington. "Through innovative uses of intellectual property offerings, NASA aims to accelerate transfer of its technologies." Goddard's partnership with ICAP Ocean Tomo helps augment NASA's licensing program. The auction platform is considered by many to be the premier live forum for the open and public exchange of intellectual property. This approach helps NASA to achieve its commitment to disseminate information about technical achievements and promote the use of NASA-sponsored technology development for uses beyond NASA missions. The licensing of NASA technologies has benefitted many industries, including medical, aerospace, automotive and communications. Norden Huang, a former Goddard researcher, is one such example. Huang invented a set of algorithms for signal processing that were licensed by DynaDx Corporation of Mountain View, Calif. The company uses the licensed NASA technology for medical diagnosis and prediction of problems related to the brain's blood flow, such as stroke, dementia and traumatic brain injury. "The patent portfolio coming up for auction is truly staggering with regard to the potential scope of its impact," said the Senior Technology Transfer Manager Darryl Mitchell at Goddard. "The applications range from something as broad as changing how software is created to applications as specific as autonomic management of smoke detector networks in buildings." To expedite the bidder's assimilation, use and adaptation of the technology, winning bidders will be afforded an opportunity to briefly discuss the technologies with the inventors. Bidders wishing to engage in depth can gain access to the inventor through a reimbursable agreement with NASA. NASA's technology transfer efforts are led by the agency's Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The office works to transfer technology for public benefits as well as leverage resources with partners to develop mutually beneficial technologies to meet NASA's mission needs.

CONTRACT RELEASE: C12-013 NASA EXTENDS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH NSBRI

HOUSTON -- NASA's Johnson Space Center has awarded a five-year, $120 million extension of its cooperative agreement with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, or NSBRI, of Houston. Under the extension, the institute and NASA's Human Research Program will continue biomedical research in support of a long-term human presence in space. The period of performance for this five-year option begins Oct. 1. It will extend the cooperative agreement through Sept. 30, 2017. This option increases the value of the agreement by an additional $120 million, bringing the total value to $484.2 million. The initial base period of the agreement began in March 1997 and continued through Sept. 30, 1997. Three five-year options were exercised in 1997, 2002 and 2007. NSBRI studies the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight and develops countermeasures to mitigate them. The institute's projects address space health concerns such as bone and muscle loss, cardiovascular changes, infection, balance problems, sleep disturbances, radiation exposure effects, nutrition, physical fitness, rehabilitation, remote-treatment medical technologies, and neurobehavioral and psychosocial factors. The institute's science, technology and education projects take place at more than 60 institutions across the United States.

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-051 REPORTERS INVITED TO NASA TECH DAY ON THE HILL MARCH 28

WASHINGTON -- Journalists are invited to visit "NASA Technology: Imagine. Innovate. Explore," an agency technology showcase on Wednesday, March 28, from 3 to 7 p.m. EDT in the Gold Room (room 2168) of the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington. Remarks from hosting members of Congress and senior NASA officials are expected at approximately 5:30 p.m. The event provides an opportunity to learn how NASA space and aeronautics technology helps enable agency goals while creating or improving products and services that benefit life here on Earth. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver will attend the event. Attendees also will have the opportunity to discuss traveling in space with Astronauts Mike Massimino and Mike Good. Companies displaying technologies include EA Sports, Redwood City, Calif.; ASA Analytics, Waukesha, Wisc.; NVision of Bay St. Louis, Miss.; L'Garde Inc., Tustin, Calif.; Zephyr Technology of Annapolis, Md.; and A&P Technology and Lambda Technology, both of Cincinnati. In addition, six NASA centers will have exhibits that show how the latest space technology advances medicine, improves water quality, designs safer and more efficient airplanes and brings new solutions to everyday challenges. Hosting the event are Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (Calif.); Rep. Chaka Fattah (Pa.), ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) of the Senate Appropriations Committee; and Sen. John Boozman (Ark.) of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. NASA Chief Technologist Mason Peck will be on hand to discuss how investments in space technology and innovation act as a catalyst for America's new technology economy. NASA hosts will be joined by other members of Congress interested in advancing American innovation through space technology.