Abstract: A system for controlling the deposit of liquid, gaseous, and/or particulate solid substances from a staging medium and method of making same is provided. The system comprises a distribution medium for receiving substances, and a containment layer adjacent to the substance distribution medium. The containment layer substantially prevents substance from entering the deposit area until the distribution medium is substantially filled with substance, thereby helping to prevent uneven deposits of the substance.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a laser ultrasound testing system with adaptive generation of sonic energy signals. The system may detect or test features of the manufactured object such as defects and layer properties. A laser generator initiates a sonic energy signal in a manufactured object. A measuring device measures the sonic energy signal. Then, a signal analyzer and/or a model processor determine if the signal is optimized. If the signal is not optimized, optimized operating characteristics of the laser generator are calculated. These optimized operating characteristics may include wavelength, beam dimension, temporal profile and power. Next, the laser generator initiates an improved sonic energy signal by utilizing the optimized operating characteristics. In this manner, more accurate testing and detection is achieved.

Abstract: An aircraft thickness/camber control device mounts to the lower surface of a airfoil configuration, for example on a fuselage, and extends along a longitudinal axis. The device, when deployed, generates expansions ahead of compressions generated by off-design conditions, inlet spillage for example, and enables maintenance of a low boom signature. The device, when positioned at appropriate locations, may also be used as a drag reduction device. The thickness/camber control device comprises a structural member capable of coupling to the airfoil at a position forward of the concentrated source of added compression and a control element. The control element is coupled to the structural member and controls the structural member to adjust thickness/camber of the configuration to cancel the far-field effect of the extra compression or concentrated pressure source.

Abstract: A network or interconnect structure utilizes a data flow technique that is based on timing and positioning of messages communicating through the interconnect structure. Switching control is distributed throughout multiple nodes in the structure so that a supervisory controller providing a global control function and complex logic structures are avoided. The interconnect structure operates as a “deflection” or “hot potato” system in which processing and storage overhead at each node is minimized. Elimination of a global controller and buffering at the nodes greatly reduces the amount of control and logic structures in the interconnect structure, simplifying overall control components and network interconnect components and improving speed performance of message communication.

Abstract: A structure arrangement and method for the protection of a host system against an impacting ballistic element and for providing ease of mobility. The structure arrangement includes a composite. The composite includes a matrix and a multiplicity of single-walled carbon nanotubes. The single-walled carbon nanotubes are arranged with respect to the matrix so as to define an array for engagement with an impacting ballistic element.

Abstract: The present invention detects ultrasonic displacements includes a detection laser to generate a first pulsed laser beam to detect the ultrasonic surface displacements on a surface of the target. Collection optics to collect phase modulated light from the first pulsed laser beam either reflected or scattered by the target. An optical amplifier which amplifies the phase modulated light collected by the collection optics. An interferometer which processes the phase modulated light and generate at least one output signal. A processor that processes the at least one output signal to obtain data representative of the ultrasonic surface displacement at the target.

Abstract: A system for interfacing commercial satellite communications technology with military aircraft communications systems is disclosed. The system includes an off-board commercial transceiver and an onboard commercial transceiver for communicating data to a commercial satellite network. The system also includes an onboard interface unit which is configured to communicate data between the onboard transceiver and the aircraft's communication system. The onboard interface unit includes a computer processor which executes a software program stored on an electronic medium. The software program includes instructions for sending data to and receiving data from the onboard commercial transceiver and for sending data to and receiving data from the onboard communications system.

Abstract: Descriptions of audio contents available for playback via voice calls are displayed visually on a screen of a telephone handset (such as a cellular phone supporting Internet access, or a personal digital assistant supporting voice telephony). On selection of an audio content, the handset places a voice call to a computer that plays the audio content to the user (during the voice call). A data connection is used to retrieve description(s) for visual display, but this data connection is not used for retrieval of a file containing the audio content. Instead, a voice call is placed in the normal telephony manner, and the audio content is played by the computer that receives the voice call. The just-described method and system eliminates a prior art need for the user to navigate through a set of voice prompts to identify an audio content to be played, e.g. as required by an interactive voice response system.

Abstract: A gas manifold that provides an uninterrupted supply of gas and automatically switches between at least two gas sources. This gas manifold couples to a on-line gas source and a reserve gas source. A pressure transducer at the inlet to the manifold reads the pressure of the gas source. A downstream pressure regulator of each pressure transducer regulates the pressure of gas supplied to a control valve directed by a control circuit. This control circuit monitors the pressure read by the pressure transducers to determine which gas source will be placed on service depending on user preferences, and directs the operation of the control valve to effect those choices.

Abstract: An interconnect structure and method of communicating messages on the interconnect structure assists high priority messages to travel through the interconnect structure at a faster rate than normal or low priority messages. An interconnect structure includes a plurality of nodes with a plurality of interconnect lines selectively coupling the nodes in a hierarchical multiple-level structure. Data moves from an uppermost source level to a lowermost destination level. Nodes in the structure are arranged in columns and levels. Data wormholes through the structure and, in a given time-step, data always moves from one column to an adjacent column and while remaining on the same level or moving down to a lower level. When data moves down a level, an additional bit of the target output is fixed so data exiting from the bottom of the structure arrives at the proper target output port.

Abstract: A medical apparatus comprises a dressing, one or more sensor elements integrated into the dressing, a flexible membrane coupled to the dressing, and an adhesive layer coupled to the dressing and coupled to the flexible membrane, the adhesive layer capable of attaching the apparatus to a patient's skin.

Abstract: An aircraft capable of supersonic flight comprises a body portion including a fuselage, a wing, and an engine nacelle mounted below the wing. The aircraft may also include a high-mounted aft, tail. The area/lift distribution of the body portion is tailored to reduce sonic boom disturbance. The body portion further includes a blunt nose and a gull dihedral wing configuration that further reduces sonic boom disturbance and eases constraints on area/lift distribution tailoring. The gull dihedral wing or tail is configured to carry lifting force to its trailing edge to create an expansion at the aft end of the aircraft that reduces aft sonic boom ground shock strength. The volume of the mid-portion of the fuselage can be reduced above the wing to create a sloped surface that generates an expansion fan over the wings.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an emergency vehicle alert system transmits signals from one or more emergency vehicles to nearby commuter vehicles. When an initiation switch in the emergency vehicle is activated, a transmitter broadcasts a unique identifier for the vehicle. Information regarding other characteristics such as position, speed, route, and direction of travel can also be transmitted to provide alert information to commuter vehicles in the vicinity of the emergency vehicles. The information is presented to occupants of the commuter vehicle and can include audio and visual displays such as lights, voice warnings, moving map display with symbols representing the vehicles' position relative to one another, and a textual display providing identification and distance information.

Abstract: A system for fabricating a free form structure of a composite material including carbon nanotubes. The system includes a discharge assembly and a composite formation device operatively linked with the discharge assembly. The discharge assembly dispenses a fusing agent such as for example a high energy density emission, a laser emission or a particle beam emission. The composite formation device includes a composite generator and an arranger in operative engagement with a composite generator. The composite generator engages with the fusing agent so as to create a composite nodal element. The composite nodal element includes a matrix and a multiplicity of fibers formed of carbon nanotubes dispersed throughout the matrix. The arranger positions one node relative to another to define the free form structure.

Abstract: An aircraft landing gear is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The aircraft landing gear comprises a nonfolding, nonhinged shock strut that extends along a shock strut axis from a proximal end to a distal end and remains at an essentially constant length throughout an extension/retraction cycle. A trunnion is coupled to the proximal end of the shock strut and capable of pivoting in combination with the shock strut about a canted trunnion axis. A multiple-wheel truck is coupled to the distal end of the shock strut. A drag strut is coupled to the shock strut at a position intermediate to the shock strut proximal and distal end and is capable of folding as the landing gear is retracted and straightening as the landing gear is extended. The canted trunnion axis is canted so that the shock strut retracts in a forward and inboard direction and extends downward and outboard.

Abstract: A method and design system for a low drag vehicle includes determining a plurality of configurations for at least two different Mach numbers that minimize the rate of change of cross-sectional area of the vehicle in accordance with the Sears-Haack minimum drag body. A user can specify design objectives and constraints to meet in determining optimum configurations for the vehicle, and the configurations are averaged to determine a final configuration. The at least two configurations can be weighted to emphasize optimum performance at particular operating conditions before averaging the configurations. The second order derivative of cross-sectional area for the final configuration can be smoothed, and then integrated twice to determine the cross-sectional area.

Abstract: An aircraft lift device comprises a strake capable of coupling to an aircraft fuselage and extending to a leading edge of a wing. The strake has a leading edge. The life device further comprises a leading-edge flap coupled to the strake leading edge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a voltage conditioning interface module to condition an electrical signal locally. This module receives the unsafe electrical signal at an input port. This input port is electrically coupled to an external sampling point on an electrical circuit or system under test. A conditioning circuit having both a voltage reducing circuit and a voltage limiting circuit provides a reduced voltage. The voltage limiting circuit is in parallel with the output terminals that output the reduced voltage. This arrangement ensures that when a circuit element within the voltage reducing circuit fails, an unsafe condition does not exist across these terminals.

Abstract: The invention is a remote control module for controlling the movement of a vehicle, the module for mounting on a rifle. The module includes a housing suitable for use as a forward handgrip for the rifle. A mechanism is included to mount the housing on the rifle in the location of the forward handgrip. An electronic control circuit for controlling the movement of the vehicle is mounted within the housing. Vehicle control devices are mounted on one side or both of the housing coupled to the electronic control circuit such that the operator of the module can simultaneously operate the rifle and control the motion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A supersonic aircraft comprises a fuselage extending forward and aft along a longitudinal axis, the fuselage having a lower surface and an upper surface, a highly swept low aspect ratio wing coupled to the fuselage and having a forward leading edge and an aft trailing edge, an effector flap coupled to the wing trailing edge, and a tail empennage. The tail empennage is coupled to the fuselage aft of the wing on the fuselage upper surface in a position high relative to the wing. The tail empennage forms a channel region subject to complex shock patterns at transonic conditions. The aircraft further comprises an effector coupled to the tail empennage and a controller coupled to the effector flaps and the effectors. The controller further comprises a control process that reduces drag through channel relief by deflecting both the effector flap down and the effector up.