Abstract: An apparatus and method permits measuring of near-direct forward scattering functions in water to enable acceptable underwater imaging for detection, classification, and identification of objects, such as mines. A source of light mounted on a housing member receiving ambient water emits a beam of light along an axis to a scattering detector assembly mounted on the base member. The detector assembly has a central active region disposed in the axis to receive portions of the light beam emitted along the axis and a plurality of concentric active regions are located radially outwardly from the central active region and the axis to receive scattered portions of the light beam. The central and concentric active regions provide signals representative of the magnitudes of the axial and scattered portions of the light beam for determination of the scattering function of the ambient water.

Abstract: A combination pressure relief valve system and undersea vehicle vents pressurized gas from lithium batteries to ambient. An undersea vehicle having an interior has a pair of hollow pylons each having a passageway fluidly communicating with the interior. A pressure relief valve is mounted on each pylon, and each pressure relief valve has a body portion having an inner bore fluidly communicating with a passageway. An elongate valve plug in the body portion is interposed between each passageway and ambient and the valve plug has a lateral bore and a circumferentially disposed O-ring. A nose portion is secured to the body portion, and the nose portion has a pair of laterally aligned bores aligned with the lateral bore of the elongate valve plug. A wire extends through the laterally aligned bores and lateral bore. The O-ring and wire retain the valve plug interposed between a passageway and ambient.

Abstract: A flameless and smokeless marker attracts attention to a site. A battery and electronics section has a battery module and electronics module. The battery module connects power to the electronics module for creating responsive power-activation signals. An inflatable bag section is connected to the battery and electronics section and has an inflator and flexible bag. The flexible bag is metalized to reflect radar signals and has ChLCD strips receiving the power-activation signals to be visible to radiation from a remotely located search beacon. A beacon section connected to the battery and electronics section and inflatable bag section has IR laser diode arrays arranged in a circular pattern and a strobe light. The IR laser diode arrays and strobe light are coupled to receive the power-activation signals from the battery and electronics section to emit IR radiation and visible radiation, respectively.

Abstract: A magnetic anomaly sensing system uses triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors arranged in a three-dimensional array. A processor coupled to the TM sensors generates partial gradient contraction data, and complete gradient tensor data and corresponding complete gradient contraction data. The generated data can be used to align the three-dimensional array with a magnetic target. Once the three-dimensional array is aligned with the magnetic target, the generated data can be used to uniquely determine (i) distance to the magnetic target, (ii) position of the magnetic target relative to the three-dimensional array, and (iii) the magnetic dipole moment of the magnetic target.

Abstract: A full face mask has a body frame having a continuous, closed sidewall extending and compliantly resting on bony contours around facial features of a wearer, and a lateral partition extending and resting on bony contours of a wearer's face from one side to another side of the sidewall between the areas of the nose and upper lip. The lateral partition separates the frame into a lower mask section having a lower cavity with a pod opening and an upper mask section having an upper cavity. Lenses supported by the frame define a forward field of view and integrated in the frame are components including a radio frequency antenna receiving dive information signals, a display in a peripheral area outside of the forward field of view, a controller coupled for processing the signals to generate outputs, and a control that passes outputs for display at the visual display.

Abstract: An active feedback levelwind apparatus and method for winding cable on a drum has a rotary encoder providing signals representative of drum rotation and a shuttle adjacent the drum receives, bidirectionally moves and wraps the cable on the drum. An outboard sensor assembly on the shuttle has an angular sensor providing signals representative of the angle of extension of an outboard extending portion of the cable. An inboard sensor assembly on the shuttle has an inboard sensor providing signals representative of the angle of extension of an inboard extending portion of the cable. A stepper motor coupled to a computer system bidirectionally displaces the shuttle and cable in response to the rotation signals, outboard angular signals, inboard angular signals and limit signals to smoothly wind the cable. Error position feedback signals from the computer system create corrective displacements for the shuttle to smoothly wind cables of varying widths.

Abstract: A mine identification system includes a surface ship with console and display screen. An untethered unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) has a video camera and high-resolution sonar providing high-resolution images for the screen, a transducer/transceiver projecting acoustic signals representative of the high-resolution signals through water and receiving acoustic control signals from the console. A search-sonar and acoustic transducer are connected to the ship, console, and screen. The search sonar projects acoustic signals and receives portions of the projected acoustic signals that are reflected from mine-like contacts and UUV. The screen displays low resolution images of mine-like contacts and UUV from the reflected portions, and the acoustic transducer transmits the acoustic control signals from the console through the water to the transducer/transceiver for quickly vectoring UUV to the vicinity of the mine-like contacts to enable identification of mines from high-resolution images.

Abstract: A safety and arming device has first and second portions of an explosive train fixably supported in a housing. A third portion of the explosive train is fixable in a first position such that the first and second portions remain operably separated from one another, and is further movable to a second position such that the first and second portions are operably coupled to one another via the third portion. An integrated water sensor/actuator is coupled to the third portion to provide the motive force that moves the third portion to its second position. The water sensor/actuator is based on a fibrous cellulosic material having anisotropic moisture-absorbing properties such that dried-in strain of the cellulosic material is greatest along one axis thereof. In the invention, a plug of the dry and compressed fibrous cellulosic material has a powder material coated thereon and mixed therewith.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing heat stress in firefighters supplies pressurized cooling water at a first pressure from a hose connected to a fire main for fighting fires onboard a ship. A manifold block switches parts of the pressurized cooling water at the first pressure through on/off valves and reduces pressure of the parts of the pressurized cooling water at the first pressure to a second pressure in flow regulators. The parts of the pressurized cooling water at the second pressure are fed through feeder hoses connected to the flow regulators and are conducted from the feeder hoses through tube suits each worn by a firefighter. Heat stress is reduced for each firefighter in each tube suit by the conducted parts of pressurized cooling water at the second pressure. The feeder hoses provide cooling water through each tube suit while the firefighters fight fires and during rest periods.

Abstract: A system and method to autonomously neutralize mines has a tracked crawler vehicle having a sealed housing, power source, and motor driven track assemblies on opposite sides of the housing. A control/communications module in the housing has a GPS processing receiver section connected to a GPS antenna that extends upwardly to receive GPS signals and generate first control signals. A gun mechanism in the housing is connected to control/communications module and has a breech assembly connected to a gun barrel extending and aiming downwardly through a bottom side of the housing toward a surface beneath the housing. Penetrating rods in the gun mechanism are fired through the gun barrel penetrating the surface and a mine. The mine is neutralized by flooding the mine with ambient water or otherwise disrupting the firing or explosive train including detonators, detonating cord, and/or the electrical continuity of components the mine.

Abstract: A life support system has a semi-closed rebreather supplying oxygen for multiple users, such as high altitude parachutists. A first tank supplies oxygen to initially purge the system, and a second, larger tank supplies oxygen at prescribed amounts for the duration of a mission. Users are connected by hoses to an inlet hose manifold on a scrubber body of the rebreather. The inlet hose manifold has an inlet port boss to receive exhaled gas from each user and an overpressure valve vents excessive amounts of exhaled gas. A CO2 absorbent in the scrubber body scrubs CO2 from the exhaled gas. An outlet hose manifold is connected to the scrubber body and has an inlet fitting to supply oxygen and at least one outlet port boss to feed the oxygen and the CO2 scrubbed gas to the users. This reliable system is lighter-weight and smaller than contemporary systems.

Abstract: An active magnetic anomaly sensing and processing system has a plurality of transceivers positioned at known relative positions on a platform. Each transceiver includes i) a transmitter for transmitting a magnetic field towards a target to cause propagation of a magnetic anomaly field from the target, and ii) a sensor that produces a first output indicative of the magnetic anomaly field and background magnetic fields. A reference sensor, positioned further from the target than each of the transceivers' sensors, senses background magnetic fields and produces a second output indicative thereof. Each transmitter is activated and subsequently deactivated simultaneously to define a transmission time and a non-transmission time, respectively. Scalar magnitudes of each first output and the second output produced during the non-transmission time form quantities that are indicative of presence, location and classification of the target.

Abstract: A launch and recovery system for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) includes a watercraft with a stern endwall movable between a vertical position and a ramp position that is angled downward toward the water surface. A storage platform mounted on the watercraft and terminating at the stern endwall defines a storage area for UUVs. An arm is pivotally mounted to the watercraft at a position forward of the storage platform. The arm has an outboard end that can be extended to positions aft of the watercraft and on either side thereof. The arm is also retractable such that its outboard end is positionable over the storage platform. A capture mechanism is mounted to the outboard end of the arm and is used to capture a UUV that maneuvers thereto in the water. A homing mechanism is coupled to the arm and is used to transmit a homing signal through the water for use by the UUV in maneuvering towards the capture mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic control method for the filling of multiple tanks is provided. A controllable valve is coupled to a liquid supply source so that liquid dispensed therefrom must pass through the valve when the tanks are being filled. A variety of conditions/states are monitored and averaged. The averaged conditions/states are evaluated to determine if a valve movement is warranted. If so, the valve is moved by a specified increment. Following each occurrence of a valve movement, a predetermined wait or delay time is implemented before further control processing takes place. The steps of monitoring/averaging, valve movement, and waiting after a valve movement, are repeated until one of a number of events occurs. The occurrence of one of these events initiates a finalize filling process that fully closes the valve in accordance with a series of discrete movements thereof carried out over a specified time period.

Abstract: A method is provided for quantifying design parameters for a moving mass ship roll stimulation system given a maximum angle of roll &thgr;MAX to be induced for a ship, a righting moment RM per degree of list for the ship, a natural roll period TN, a damping ratio &zgr; for the ship and a center of gravity for the ship. A total induced moment expression at the natural roll period TN is determined for the moving mass ship roll stimulation system as a function of a plurality of design parameters therefor. The total induced moment expression is equated to 2&zgr;&thgr;MAXRM and values for the design parameters are selected to satisfy the equality.

Abstract: An underwater propulsion system and method are more efficient and reduce vortex wake effects. A submersible has a cylindrically-shaped hull, a nose portion connected forward and a sinusoidal-shaped tapered portion aft coaxially symmetrically disposed around a longitudinally extending axis. The tapered portion has a leading end the same diameter as the hull, a symmetrical apex at its trailing end on the longitudinal axis, and symmetrical rounded laterally extending contours and rounded longitudinally extending contours. An internal pump creates volumes of pressurized water from ambient water for equal-distantly-spaced-apart jets extend through the tapered portion in a circumferential row extending around the tapered portion. The jets point in an asymptotical relationship with respect to a down slope surface of the tapered portion and emit jetted water that creates a spinning toroidal vortex of swirling jetted water along the down slope of the tapered portion.

Abstract: A mounting bracket is defined by three pairs of parallel planes. Each pair is orthogonal to the other two pair. The first pair provides a first plane for the mounting of an object thereto and a second plane for the attaching of the mounting bracket to a flat surface. The second and third pair are configured for use in a cooperative fashion when attaching the mounting bracket to a cylindrical surface.

Abstract: An apparatus emits radiation on curable adhesives to bond things together under different ambient conditions. An insulating housing has a cylindrical section and a disc-shaped section defining an interior. A plurality of batteries and an LED array are separated in the interior by an insulating spacer to prevent shorting of batteries. A switch relay in the interior connects power from the batteries to the LED array when a switching mechanism on the outside of the housing is displaced. This displacement closes the switch relay and connects power to the LED array that emits high-intensity radiation. A cover connected to the cylindrical-shaped section seals the interior from ambient and transmits the high-intensity radiation to cure an adhesive. A modular envelope of transparent disc, adhesive, and removable foil can be releasable connected to the housing to secure mounting structure to a surface.

Abstract: A method of fusing outputs from multiple detection/classification (D/C) schemes is provided. Each of a plurality of D/C schemes provides output scores for an area of interest. Each output score corresponds to a detected object at a known location in the area of interest and indicates a degree of confidence with respect to a detection of a target at the known location. Each output score is normalized and then categorized into a group based on the known location associated therewith. The normalized output scores for each group are fused in accordance with a fusion rule.

Abstract: A method and combination creates an air tight CBR impervious barrier for combatants. Protective garments including a protective overgarment, gloves, and over-boots are donned. The protective garments have an annular drawstring interface between a hooded-coat and trousers of the protective overgarment, an annular interface between each sleeve of the hooded-coat and each glove, and an annular interface between each leg portion of the trousers and each over-boot. Dilating elastomeric sheaths to an extended or stretched disposition and placing each elastomeric sheath over a separate one of the interfaces allow constricting of each elastomeric sheath over a separate one of the interfaces and compressedly engaging of the interfaces and the wearer's body by the constricting elastomeric sheaths to create an air-tight CBR impervious barrier at the interfaces. Elastomer, adhesive, or other coatings can be on inside surfaces of elastomeric sheaths to create better friction surfaces.