Ultrasonic Technology Solutions, LLC¶
ORNL Spinout — Space Laundry Pioneer
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| HQ | Knoxville, TN |
| Founded | ~2018 (post-DOE Energy I-Corps Cohort 10) |
| CEO/Founder | Ayyoub Mehdizadeh Momen, PhD |
| Spinout from | Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) |
| Core tech | Direct-contact ultrasonic drying (piezoelectric) |
| FO project | 184142 — Space washer/dryer |
| TechPort footprint | 6 projects (5 SBIR/STTR + 1 FO) |
| Federal funding | ~$3.0M across 6 USASpending awards (all NASA) |
| Employees | ~8 |
| Key metric | 5× more energy efficient, 2× faster than heat-based drying |
| Patent | PCT/US16/30885 "Dryer using high-frequency vibration" (licensed from ORNL) |
Updated: Session 99, 2026-04-07 — No new developments since Session 42. USASpending unchanged ($3.0M, 6 awards). ICES 2025 paper published (ICES-2025-59, full-scale testing results). No news on commercial product launches or industry pilot outcomes. Phase III (80NSSC25C0446) active through Sep 2026. Fabric refresher commercial product launch was planned for 2026 — no public announcement found.
The Company¶
Ultrasonic Technology Solutions (UTS) is an ORNL spinout that commercializes a disruptive drying technology: instead of using heat, UTS uses high-frequency piezoelectric vibrations to mechanically shake water out of materials as cold mist. The water can then be captured, recycled, or vented.
The technology was invented at ORNL by Ayyoub Momen. The inspiration came from observing how animals shake water from their bodies after swimming. The company exclusively licensed the technology from ORNL for industrial and commercial use and launched after completing DOE's Energy I-Corps Cohort 10 commercialization training program.
Why it matters: Drying accounts for ~15% of all US energy consumption across textiles, paper, pharmaceuticals, and construction. UTS's approach eliminates the heat — the dominant energy cost in conventional drying. For space, it eliminates the need for clothing resupply, which currently accounts for ~25% of non-food ISS supplies.
ORNL received a 2020 FLC Technology Transfer Award related to the ultrasonic drying technology. GE was an early partner in the original ORNL development.
FO Project — Space Washer/Dryer¶
184142 — Ultra-Fast Ultrasonic Clothes Washer/Dryer Combination for Moon, Mars and ISS Applications
Period: 2025-09-01 to 2028-09-30
TRL: 4 → 6 (target)
TX: TX06.1.4 Habitation Systems
PI: Ayyoub Mehdizadeh Momen
Destinations: Moon, Mars, Others Inside the Solar System
Status: Active
The FO project tests a proof-of-concept combined washer/dryer system in parabolic flight at 0g, lunar g (1/6), and Martian g (1/3). The system must meet NASA requirements:
- <7 hours per 4.5 kg load (cotton, polyester, wool)
- Machine mass <50 kg
- External volume <0.3 m³
- Power consumption <300 W
The problem: There are no laundry systems in space. Astronauts wear the same T-shirt for 5–7 days, then discard it. Clothing resupply represents ~25% of non-food ISS mass. For Mars missions (6–9 months transit, no resupply), this is unsustainable.
SBIR lineage for washer/dryer: - Phase I 125807: 2022-07 to 2023-01 (TRL 3→6, $150K) - Phase II 154716: 2023-05 to 2025-05 (TRL 3→6, $1.27M) - Phase III (80NSSC25C0446): 2025-09 to 2026-09 ($300K) - FO [184142]: 2025-09 to 2028-09
Phase III awarded September 2025 — same month as FO start. Dual-track maturation.
Full TechPort Portfolio (6 projects)¶
Washer/Dryer Line¶
| TechPort ID | Phase | TRL | Description | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125807 | SBIR I | 3→6 | Washer/dryer Phase I | 2022–2023 |
| 154716 | SBIR II | 3→6 | Washer/dryer Phase II | 2023–2025 |
| 184142 | FO | 4→6 | Washer/dryer microgravity validation | 2025–2028 |
Waste Water Recovery Line¶
| TechPort ID | Phase | TRL | Description | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 102007 | SBIR I | 3→4 | Ultrasonic fecal waste drying Phase I | 2019–2020 |
| 103135 | SBIR II | 3→6 | Fecal waste drying Phase II | 2020–2024 |
| 154778 | SBIR II-E | 5→6 | Fecal waste drying Phase II extension | 2023–2024 |
The waste water recovery line demonstrated >90% water recovery from human solid waste — addressing ISS's current gap where fecal water is not recovered at all.
USASpending Detail ($3.0M total)¶
| Award ID | Amount | Agency | Description | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80NSSC23CA166 | $1.27M | NASA | Washer/dryer Phase II | 2023–2026 |
| 80NSSC20C0119 | $970K | NASA | Waste drying Phase II | 2020–2024 |
| 80NSSC25C0446 | $300K | NASA | Washer/dryer Phase III | 2025–2026 |
| 80NSSC23CA044 | $210K | NASA | Waste drying Phase II extension | 2023–2024 |
| 80NSSC22PB238 | $150K | NASA | Washer/dryer Phase I | 2022–2023 |
| 80NSSC19C0303 | $125K | NASA | Waste drying Phase I | 2019–2020 |
All NASA. No DOD or other agency contracts found — this is unusual for a dual-use technology. The terrestrial market (industrial drying, consumer appliances) is being pursued through industry partnerships, not government contracts.
DOE Involvement (Non-USASpending)¶
DOE has supported UTS through multiple programs beyond the initial ORNL license: - Energy I-Corps — commercialization training (founding catalyst) - Building Technologies Office — energy-efficient building systems - ARPA-E — advanced energy research - DOE featured article (Technology Transitions) — "From Nature to NASA"
These are likely grants/partnerships not captured in USASpending.
Publications¶
- ICES 2025 (55th International Conference on Environmental Systems): ICES-2025-59 — full-scale testing results
- NTRS 20240004449 — "Initial Testing of a Full-Scale Ultrasonic Clothes Washer/Dryer for Moon, Mars, ISS and Beyond" (2024)
- NTRS 20230001711 — "Ultrasonic Clothes Washer/Dryer Combination for Moon, Mars and ISS Applications" (2023)
- ORNL publications — Electroelastic investigation papers in peer-reviewed journals
Commercial Path¶
UTS is pursuing parallel space and terrestrial commercialization:
Space¶
- ISS deployment — if FO validates microgravity performance, next step is ISS testing via Phase III or National Lab pathway
- Artemis surface habitats — washer/dryer is on NASA's habitation systems roadmap for sustained lunar presence
- Mars transit — 6+ month missions make clothing resupply impossible; laundry becomes essential ECLSS
Terrestrial¶
- 5 pilot demonstrations in progress with large manufacturers (4 large-scale, 1 smaller)
- 2026 plans: Fabric refresher product launch + data logger actuator
- Mid-2027: Small combo washer/dryer for commercial-industrial users
- Market size: Clothes drying alone is a $10B+ appliance market; industrial drying is far larger
Addresses NASA Gaps¶
- 1518: Logistics Tracking, Clothing, and Trash Management
- 1568: Water and Dormancy Management
- 1613: Surface-based Fluid Management for Sustained Lunar Evolution
- 1517: Metabolic Waste Management
Assessment¶
Outcome category: Active Maturation with Commercial Pipeline
Archetype: DOE Lab Spinout → NASA SBIR Pipeline → Dual-Use Product
Confidence: Suggestive → Confirmed (Phase III awarded, 5 industry pilots, ICES publications)
Why this matters for FO: UTS addresses one of the most relatable space technology gaps — astronauts can't do laundry in space. The technology is inherently dual-use: the same physics that washes clothes in microgravity saves 70% energy in terrestrial dryers. FO's role is specific: validate that the ultrasonic mechanism works when gravity changes. The parabolic flights at 0g, lunar g, and Martian g provide exactly the data needed.
Strength: Clear problem (no space laundry), clear solution (ultrasonic drying), clear commercial market (energy-efficient drying), DOE + NASA backing, ORNL IP pedigree. Phase III + FO dual-track is a strong maturation signal.
Risk: Only NASA contracts so far ($3M is modest); commercial revenue not yet flowing; 8-person team may struggle with simultaneous space/commercial development.
Timeline¶
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2016 | ORNL patent filed (PCT/US16/30885) |
| ~2018 | UTS founded after Energy I-Corps Cohort 10 |
| 2019 | First NASA SBIR — waste water recovery Phase I |
| 2020 | Waste drying Phase II ($970K); ORNL FLC Technology Transfer Award |
| 2022 | Washer/dryer Phase I |
| 2023 | Washer/dryer Phase II ($1.27M); NTRS publication |
| 2024 | Full-scale testing results published (NTRS); waste drying reaches TRL 6 |
| 2025 | Phase III ($300K) + FO flight test — dual maturation; ICES 2025 paper |
| 2026 | Fabric refresher commercial product launch (planned) |
| 2027 | Small combo washer/dryer commercial launch (planned) |
| 2028 | FO project completion target |
Open Questions¶
- What are the results from the 5 industry pilot demonstrations? Any approaching commercial deployment?
- Has the waste water recovery system been proposed for ISS integration?
- What is the relationship with GE (early ORNL partner)? Is GE still involved?
- Are there DOE grant amounts not captured in USASpending?
- Has any venture capital been raised?
See also: Paragon COSMIC (another ECLSS company in FO), Space Lab Technologies (another habitation system)