Advanced Phased Array Instrumentation and Processing for Engine Inlet Measurements

The Interdisciplinary Consulting Corporation (IC2), in partnership with OptiNav, Inc., proposes to develop advanced phased-array instrumentation and processing capabilities for aircraft engine-inlet measurements. High channel-count, high-density, reduced cost-per-channel microphone arrays, using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) piezoelectric microphones with backside contacts and advanced packaging technology, will be integrated into model-scale inlet design/build efforts to revolutionize engine-inlet phased-array measurement capabilities through increases in array density and channel count while significantly reducing the cost per channel. These measurement advances will be coupled with development of advanced array processing techniques to take full advantage of the enhanced measurement capabilities, including handling of the three-dimensional (3D) problem associated with nonuniform inlet geometries. This proposed technology is in response to the NASA SBIR 2022 Phase I solicitation subtopic A1.02 Quiet Performance ndash; Aircraft Propulsion Noise where ldquo;improvements in propulsion noise prediction, diagnostics, and reduction are needed for subsonic and supersonic aircraft.rdquo; This work is aimed at addressing the aerospace industryrsquo;s need for technically feasible and economically viable engine-inlet array-measurement capabilities that enable required noise diagnostic capabilities including characterization of in-duct noise source spatial and temporal content.