Research & Development Projects

CTRL's R&D Team has worked with several entities, both commercial and governmental to provide solutions to unique applications and challenges. Below are just a few examples.

NASA Space Program

In February of 2001, an effort was begun by NASA to find an ultrasonic leak detector that was simple, yet effective for the astronauts to use on the International Space Station and that could be certified in time to fly on the Atlantis Shuttle Flight STS-104 planned for July 2001 as part of the U.S. Air Lock Mission. NASA had been aware of, and had been investigating the potential use of ultrasound detection for some time.

Several investigations of available products were performed by NASA. Based on a review panel's observations at Johnson Space Center, the UL101 was selected for the July 2001 mission based on device's ease of use; the tool's high performance - particularly its superior signal-to-noise ratio; and its very low power consumption. Equally important in the selection process was CTRL's ability to upgrade the UL101 to meet NASA's stringent, mandatory specifications in less than sixty days. CTRL's rapid response to NASA's requirements reflects the company's commitment to meet the specific needs of each client.

Fuel Injectors

On several occasions, CTRL has tested and proved the ability of ultrasound to be used to detect failed fuel injectors on Diesel Engines. When an injector is clogged, or is not firing, the other cylinders of the engine have to compensate. This leads to additional wear and diminished life usage. A monitoring system can be designed to identify failed injectors without the breaking down of the engine block.

Does Your Company Have an Application for CTRL to Solve?

Many of the products available today are a direct result of a specific challenge faced by clients who have approached CTRL for R&D support. If you have a difficult problem that is costing your company time and money, please contact the CTRL Marketing Department via e-mail (marketing@ctrlsys.com) or phone (410) 876-5676.