Southwest Research Institute Annual Report 2017
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ANNUAL REPORT 2017 D007200 SwRI Tom Slick signs the TURNS SwRI charter. 70 In 1947, oilman and philanthropist Tom Slick Jr. founded 1959 Southwest Research SwRI’s chemists pioneered Institute as a nonprofit, microencapsulation developments contract research and for pharmaceuticals and development organiza- consumer products. tion. Our mission then, as now, is to benefit 1947 government, industry Reached $13 million and the public through Reached 1,000 innovative science and 1947 600 1967 technology. For 70 years, we have advanced knowledge in a broad range of Grew from <$100,000 1957 Grew to fields while providing to $4.5 million $46 million practical technical Increased from <20 to 437 Reached 1,500 solutions for our Grew from 64 to 600 Grew in size, but remained at 600 government and industry clients. DC6522 From developing deep 1957 SwRI evaluated direction finding sea technology to systems for the U.S. Navy. unlocking the secrets of the universe, SwRI uses advanced science 1967 and applied technology to spark human progress and scientific achievement. SwRI began operating the U.S. Army fuels and lubricants research lab located on our grounds. DE107063 BUDGET STAFF PROJECTS DE119468-2 We developed this advanced robotic system We designed and built the to remove rivets from latest personnel sphere of the aircraft wings. Alvin research submersible. 1984 2014 1997 SwRI offered clients the largest DC54073 ion beam surface modification chamber in North America. D018123_0175 Increased to Grew to $148 million $501 million Grew to 2,200 Reached 3,100 Exceeded 1,000 1987 Exceeded 2,000 2007 1977 Almost doubled 1997 Neared 2017 to $260 million $600 million Reached 2,500 Nearly 2,600 Nearly 1,500 Exceeded 6,500 Using internal funding, we developed our first automated driving platform. SwRI leads NASA’s Juno D022859 mission to Jupiter, 2007 currently in orbit around the gas giant. 1987 D022873 D015932_5206 D0000555 SwRI was selected to operate the Center for Nuclear Waste Regulatory Analyses to support licensing a IMAGE COURTESY NASA/JPL-CALTECH COURTESY IMAGE repository facility at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. About the cover: NASA’s Juno mission, led by SwRI, is rewriting what scientists thought they knew 1N 2017, about Jupiter specifically, and Southwest Research Institute celebrated 70 years of scientific and gas giants in general. The Juno technical achievements. Our talented scientists and engineers spacecraft has been in orbit around have made innumerable contributions advancing the state of the Jupiter since July 2016, passing within art in research and development, ultimately benefiting all humankind. While we are proud of our past, our focus is on the 3,000 miles of the equatorial cloud tops. future’s projects to help solve our government and industry clients’ Juno is in a polar orbit around Jupiter, most challenging technical problems. This Annual Report and the majority of each orbit is spent well highlights some of the accomplishments of the past year and previews some of the challenges before us as we continue to away from the planet. But once every 53 days, its advance scientific progress and human achievement. trajectory approaches Jupiter from above its north Collaboration among our technical staff and with other pole, where it begins a two-hour transit from pole to organizations has been a hallmark of our success. We seek COVER IMAGE COURTESY NASA/JPL-CALTECH/S COURTESY IMAGE COVER pole, flying north to south with its eight science instru- projects and programs that allow our staff to work with others ments collecting data and its JunoCam public outreach for the greater good. Intelligent systems analysts work with automotive engineers to devise new models of mobility. camera capturing astounding images. Computer scientists work with chemists to turbocharge drug The solar-powered spacecraft’s payload is designed development technology. We introduced the Human Performance to study Jupiter’s interior structure, atmosphere and Initiative to better understand the complex biomechanical and magnetosphere. Two instruments developed and led by physiological components of physical performance and health. We’re part of a team designing, building and operating a 10 MWe SwRI are working in concert to study Jupiter’s auroras, pilot plant to demonstrate smaller, cleaner and more efficient the greatest light show in the solar system. power production technology. Our industry-specific consortia pool the resources of many to resolve problems for all. In 2017, we w secured a patent to locate and mitigate corrosion damage on hard- RI/MSSS/GABRIEL FISET RI/MSSS/GABRIEL to-inspect pipelines installed under surface features. The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System, the first Institute-designed Message from the President .................. 2 and -built spacecraft, was launched, and the SwRI-led Juno mission 2017 IR&D ................................................. 3 continues to collect incredible images and data as it orbits Jupiter. 2017 Highlights ....................................... 4 As our reputation continues to grow, it becomes more difficult each year to claim we are the best-kept secret in San Antonio. D022868 Applied Physics ....................................... 6 We launched a new corporate website to expand our marketing Automotive Engineering ........................ 8 efforts and make it easier for clients to navigate our service Center for Nuclear Waste offerings more efficiently. Our media outreach efforts are paying Regulatory Analyses ........................... 12 strong dividends with unprecedented coverage locally, nationally and internationally. Our science and technology programs make Chemistry & Chemical headlines around the world. Locally, the San Antonio Business Engineering ......................................... 14 Journal named us the 2016 Business of the Year, acknowledging Defense & Intelligence our stature as a powerhouse in the R&D marketplace. Solutions .............................................. 16 We are committed to continuously improving our research Intelligent Systems ................................. 18 capabilities. The capital improvements and infrastructure program is an investment in our future. This year, we completed Mechanical Engineering ......................... 20 installation and testing of a hypervelocity light-gas launcher, the Space Science & Engineering ................. 22 centerpiece of a new facility that expands our 65-year history of Financial Statements .............................. 24 Board of Directors, Officers & Vice Presidents .................................... 25 Advisory Trustees .................................... 26 2 IR&D 2017 impact dynamics research. We added laboratory facilities for fluid Our internal research and development program allows dynamics and flow components research and development. And SwRI engineers and scientists the freedom to explore we opened a new laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to expand our automotive research footprint. innovative, unproven concepts. The program often We are also great corporate and community neighbors. Staff invests in technology our clients will need in the future. members contribute to and volunteer in the various communities It also expands into completely new fields where where they work. They mentor students in science, technology, collaborations among our diverse staff result in novel engineering and math (STEM) and serve as judges for science and engineering competitions. Professional organizations seek them approaches or technology. In 2017, SwRI initiated out as speakers and to sit on boards and committees to help 102 new projects and invested more than $7 million formulate industry standards and advance scientific innovation. in internal research. Historically, our diverse revenue sources are split between government and industry. Though the fluctuating political environment caused uncertainty and contributed to a financially challenging fiscal year for research and development, the Institute remains a major economic contributor in San Antonio, Bexar County and the other communities where we operate. SwRI contributed more than $1 billion to the local economy. Moving forward, a healthy backlog of contracts and proposals boosts our confidence for a successful 2018 and beyond. Even as we face new challenges in the coming year, we see new opportunities to expand our science and technology base. We want to be the first choice for clients seeking solutions for their most complex problems. I look forward to working with the Advisory Trustees, Board of Directors and Institute staff to ensure our clients receive the highest quality scientific and technical services in 2018 and beyond. Adam L. Hamilton, P.E. PRESIDENT & CEO DM022328 Using internal research funding, a multidisciplinary team developed human performance expertise. One result was a patent-pending, low-cost “markerless” motion capture system that uses a biomechanical musculoskeletal model fused with deep learning algorithms to characterize physical motion. We are now positioned as one of the leaders in this field, working with professional sports teams and the tactical athlete community. D022833_9426 | ANNUAL REPORT 2017 | 3 HONORS Robin Canup: MILESTONES 2017 Named a member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences Ben Thacker: PAPERS Named Fellow of 619 published American Institute of PRESENTATIONS Aeronautics and Astronautics GIVEN600 NASA/JHUAPL/JPL/S COURTESY IMAGES THE COMPOSITION OF RING RAIN 12% Water w 32% Methane HERNANDEZ RI/CARLOS