SBIR-Enabled Propulsion Technology Enjoys "R&D 100" Acclaim Published March 3, 2010 By Thomas Brown Propulsion WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Air Force Research Laboratory propulsion research partner Synchrony, Inc., received R&D Magazine's esteemed R&D 100 Award for its Fusion® compact radial and axial magnetic bearing system. The company's breakthrough product replaces conventional lubricated bearings in a wide variety of power systems; it also eliminates the need for an external controller, because the electronics are completely integrated into the bearing. Each year, the prestigious publication recognizes companies for having produced one of the 100 most technologically significant products of the past year. Winning the R&D 100 Award bears a mark of excellence known throughout industry, government, and academia as proof of the most innovative ideas of the times. Synchrony completed an important part of its Fusion® work under AFRL Small Business Innovation Research funding. The overall objective of the SBIR-based effort was to devise More Electric Aircraft technologies, specifically as related to propulsion and power systems. The company subsequently developed and demonstrated Fusion® and NovaGen™ 100, a high-speed, permanent magnet generator supported on magnetic bearings in a form factor suitable for mobile power systems. Having successfully demonstrated the performance of these power technologies, the company is now enjoying the commercial sales figures generated by both groundbreaking products.