Satellite rotational dynamics on a three-degrees of freedom (DOF) spacecraft simulator has always been limited by the maximum angle of rotation allowed by the spherical air bearing. All three-axes spacecraft simulators developed so far allow only ~10-50 degrees of rotation along pitch and roll axes and 360 degrees along the yaw axis. This limits the effectiveness of the experimental validation of spacecraft dynamics. For instance, large angle maneuvers or de-tumbling cannot be fully tested using a standard spacecraft simulator. Eliminating the limitation on the maximum rotation angle can allow for a complete ground testing of the spacecraft attitude determination and control technique. 

Future energy distribution systems must be capable of interconnecting highly variable sources of electricity into the existing grid. The development of “Smart Grid” is needed due to increasing electricity demands and the need regulate input power sources. A particular challenge already impacting deployment of diverse renewable electric sources is the need to regulate the highly variable power these sources generate. While single-phase DC/AC inverters using Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) are one of the most common topologies used in power conversion, PWM is not robust with respect to changes in the DC input voltage. PWM also suffers from harmonic distortions that are less and less acceptable to downstream consumers of the power. One of the main shortcomings of converters controlled by PWM-based algorithms is that they are not robust to changes in the input DC voltage, which limits their use in renewable energy applications.

Virtually every item on the market today is labeled with at least one form of barcode, generally a flavor of either the EAN or the UPC standards. The success of barcode technology for identification, tracking, and inventory derives from its ability to encode information in a compact fashion with very low costs associated. Barcode reading via dedicated scanners is a mature technology. Commercial laser-based hand-held barcode scanners achieve robust readings. Recently, however, there has been growing interest in accessing barcodes with a regular cellphone, rather than with a dedicated device. Since cellphones are of universal use, this would enable a multitude of mobile applications. For example, several cellphone apps have appeared recently that provide access via barcode reading to the full characteristics of and user reviews for a product found at a store. Unfortunately, cellphone camera images are generated by low-grade lenses which produce blurred barcode images. Also, motion blur and noise can be expected with low ambient light. These factors, possibly combined with low image resolution, make barcode reading challenging in some situations.

Modern semiconductor detectors have been developed for sensing light, X-rays and charged particles. Such devices have established broad applications because of their reliability, and compactness. However, they typically contain an inactive area near the edges of the device. This scheme allows for dicing of the wafers (thin slices of semiconductor material) resulting in large device defect densities. Also, the existence of up to a 1mm wide inactive band leads to efficiency gaps when a larger surface is covered with many such devices. Researchers at UCSC in collaboration with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have developed methods for fabricating resistive semiconductor sidewalls near the active area that allow deep depletion operation. These methods can be used to make compact, low-cost sensor devices without inactive periphery. Moreover, this robust and scalable method could be used for IC (integrated circuit) production, power electronics IC production, radiation detector (or sensor) production, imaging sensors, and solar cell production.    

While white light LED light bulbs have proven to be highly successful, they historically have lacked one feature available in traditional incandescent light bulbs: the ability to provide multiple light outputs from one lamp. For example, 3-way Edison or incandescent light bulbs are widely used to provide switchable light outputs. A 3-way incandescent light bulb uses switched filaments to produce the light output of a 50 Watt (W), a 100 W, or a 150 W light bulb. Conventionally the incandescent has two filaments to produce different amounts of light at full voltage; it has a low-power 50 W filament and a medium-power 100 W filament, and when switched to being used at the same time 150 W of power (and light) is delivered. This feature has proven to be extremely popular and useful in 3-way incandescent light bulbs. As compared to conventional sources (e.g., incandescent, halogen, fluorescent), some reports predict the market penetration for white-light LEDs will continue to rise, from 36% in 2020 to >70% by 2030. In the U.S. (2018) LEDs have been used in almost 30% of indoor applications and >50% in outdoor applications. White light LED light bulbs having switch-selectable light outputs may be found useful and commercially desirable.