Abstract: A system includes a plurality of fluid chambers uniformly distributed about and in fluidic connection with a fluid reservoir, each fluid chamber having a valve and pressure sensor adjacent thereto, the valve configured to allow fluid flow between the fluid reservoir and the fluid chamber and the pressure sensor configured to determine the amount of fluid within the respective fluid chamber; means, adjacent to the fluid reservoir, for pumping fluid between the fluid reservoir and each of the fluid chambers; and a controller configured to control the means for pumping fluid and the valves using data from the pressure sensors. The means for pumping fluid, the valves, the pressure sensors, and the controller are contained within an inner housing and the plurality of fluid chambers are contained within an outer housing, which may be spherical in shape, and are external to the inner housing.

Abstract: A system and method include forming an optical cavity by positioning a photonic crystal a predetermined distance from a substrate, and creating, within the cavity, a standing wave having a substantially flat wavefront. The standing wave may be created by applying an input wave to a first surface of the photonic crystal. The predetermined distance may be such that a peak intensity of the standing wave is proximate to or a calculated distance from the substrate surface. The peak intensity may vary in relation to the substrate surface. The method may include tuning the peak intensity location within the cavity by shifting the wavelength of the input wave or altering the characteristics of the photonic crystal by an external field. A second photonic crystal may be used on the other side of the substrate to replace the reflecting properties of the substrate, allowing for further smoothing of the wavefront.

Abstract: A system and method for inductive and analogical reasoning provide capabilities for generalization, creative reasoning, possibilistic analysis, massive parallelism, and distributed processing. The system and method involve using matched cases/generalizations/analog inferences from a case base or generalization/analog base to provide output inferences based upon a user-supplied context. A user then provides feedback to indicate that the output inference is either correct or incorrect. If the user indicates that the output is incorrect, new rules may be computer-generated during runtime by performing, for example, an analogical contextual transformation. If the user indicates that the output is correct, the matched case/generalization/analog may be moved to the head of its respective base.

Abstract: A system includes a controller and an RFID sensor, an RFID sensor reader having a detection region, and a transceiver connected to the controller. The system may be secured to or contained within a wearable glove. The RFID sensor is configured to transmit an RFID sensor signal to the RFID sensor reader when the RFID sensor is within the detection region. The RFID sensor reader is configured to transmit an RFID sensor reader signal to the controller after receiving the RFID sensor signal. The controller is configured to transmit a signal to the transceiver after receiving the RFID sensor reader signal. The signal may include input from a motion sensor and/or an orientation sensor connected to the controller. The transceiver may transmit the signal to a remote processor via an antenna. The signal may be used for gesture recognition, information coding, and/or information processing.

Abstract: A system includes a first radio frequency (RF) lens having array ports and beam ports, and a second RF lens having array ports and beam ports. At least two of the second RF lens array ports are connected to at least two of the first RF lens array ports by phase-matched connectors. The RF lenses may be continuously steerable RF lenses, Rotman lenses, or discretely steerable RF lenses. The system may include first, second, third, and fourth RF switches, at least one transmitter with an associated controller, at least one receiver with associated controller, and an environment controller. The system may also include long-distance simulators connected between the RF switches of the directional simulator and the receiver or the transmitter and controlled by an environment controller. Other system embodiments include multi-pair RF lenses, as well as an RF lens connected to an antenna array system.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for measuring an object's center of gravity. The system includes a bed for supporting the object in an immovable position. The bed is tiltably attached to a frame that is supported near at least a first and a second edge by at least one force measuring device per edge. The bed is tiltable about one of the edges. A processor is connected to each force measuring devices and is configured to process force measurement data collected therefrom. The processor is configured to calculate the object's center of gravity along a z-axis based on a ratio of a cosine of the bed's angle of tilt multiplied by the center of gravity of the object along a y-axis in a flat configuration minus the center of gravity of the object along the y-axis in a tilted configuration to the sine of the angle of tilt.

Abstract: A system includes a substrate having a first side and a second side, more than one optical sources, wherein at least one optical source is coupled to the first side and at least one optical source is coupled to the second side, a power source operatively connected to the optical sources, a switch connected to the power source, and an RF receiver connected to the switch. The optical sources may be LEDs and may operate within the visible or infrared spectrum. The system may include an enclosure that is configured to be attached to antenna masts of a radio relay device. The enclosure may have windows to allow light from the optical sources to pass unobstructed through the enclosure. In some embodiments, the system is contained within the radio relay device. The system may be remotely controlled to illuminate a distant object or structure.

Abstract: An optical-powered device includes a flexible substrate, a photonic bandgap layer coupled thereto, a waveguide contained within the photonic bandgap layer, and a dendrimer region contained within the waveguide. The dendrimer region may comprise more than one dendrimers. The dendrimer region emission band is within the photonic bandgap of the photonic bandgap layer. Multiple photonic bandgap layers may be included, with one or more waveguides therein. Each waveguide may have a dendrimer region therein. Electronic circuitry may be contained within a portion of the photonic bandgap layer. A light-modulating layer may be directly coupled to the photonic bandgap layer. A portion of the photonic bandgap layer may have a sensing material embedded therein. A cover layer having one or more windows may be coupled to the photonic bandgap layer. Another layer, such as a buffer layer, may be disposed between the substrate layer and the photonic bandgap layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor non-linear channelizer device comprises an array of N first order, bi-stable semiconductor circuit cells. The circuit cells are uni-directionally coupled from a first circuit cell to another circuit cell, where N is an integer greater than 1. A signal input trace is coupled to each of the circuit cells and a signal output trace is coupled from each of the circuit cells.

Abstract: A method allows for determining the quality of a vessel's moment estimate and track information derived from a suite of sensors measuring the local magnitude of the magnetic field. A Bayesian treatment, employing a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach with Gibbs sampling is applied with reduced magnetic noise spatio-temporal correlation models and implied whitening procedures. Vessel moment parameters are handled with a Gaussian prior leading to conditional densities that are Gaussian and posterior marginal densities that are mixture-Gaussian. Other conditional quantile functions for track parameters are computed with a grid procedure. From these, the Markov chain is determined and the resulting joint density of all variates is constructed. The method allows for determining posterior marginal densities and dependencies associated with magnetic moment and track parameters. The method may be stored in a storage device in a sensor and may be executed by a processor within the sensor.

Abstract: A method involves transmitting a first signal to a device, the first signal comprising vehicle identification data and vehicle operational data, receiving a second signal from the device, the second signal comprising road and lane information and vehicle information vectors of other vehicles transiting the road in range of the device, and determining a collision risk based upon the received second signal. The method involves the range-limited communication of vehicle information vectors among a network of devices. The method may include transmitting an operational signal to a vehicle controller, wherein the operation of a vehicle, such as speed, braking, and steering, is altered by the vehicle controller based upon the received operational signal. The method may involve, if the determined collision risk exceeds a predetermined threshold, the transmission of a warning signal by a vehicle computer to a vehicle operator via a warning device controlled by a vehicle controller.

Abstract: A dual-suspension system for MEMS-based devices includes a proof mass, an upper spring system, and a lower spring system. The proof mass is formed from a handle wafer, a first layer of silicon coupled to one side of the handle wafer, and a second layer of silicon coupled to the other side of the handle wafer. The upper spring system is formed from the first layer of silicon and the lower spring system is formed from the second layer of silicon. The upper and lower spring systems comprise one or more springs extending from the proof mass. The springs may be spaced at even intervals along the perimeter of the proof mass, may be symmetric or out of phase with each other, may comprise different geometries, and may be curved in shape. The upper and lower spring systems are coupled to a support structure that surrounds the proof mass.

Abstract: A universal software architecture for decision support includes an n-tiered architecture for building a universal task and workload management software system. The design incorporates a connectivity tier for activating a data object representative of application specific data; a management tier for activating a workflow object in response to both the data object and application specific rules; and a presentation tier for providing a user with decision support elements responsive to said workflow object. The design may also incorporate a corporate tier for providing the application specific data and rules.

Abstract: A system includes at least a first array connected to a second array. The first array includes an odd number, greater than one, of unidirectionally-coupled non-linear first array elements. The second array includes an odd number, greater than one, of unidirectionally-coupled non-linear second array elements. The second array elements are unidirectionally-coupled in a direction opposite the coupling direction of the second array elements. The first array is configured to receive an input signal and down-convert the input signal. The second array is configured to receive the down-converted input signal, further down-convert the down-converted input signal, and output a down-converted output signal. The down-converted output signal is down-converted to a multiple of the frequency of the input signal proportional to the number of arrays of the system. The system may operate at frequencies greater than 1 GHz and may be contained in a microchip or on a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A method may include the steps of segmenting an image into a plurality of tiles, calculating an upper clip limit and a lower clip limit for each tile of the plurality of tiles based upon a user input standard deviation, generating a lookup table for each tile of the plurality of tiles by linearly mapping the pixels of the image based upon the calculated upper clip limit and lower clip limit, processing each tile of the plurality of tiles based upon the generated lookup table, and generating a processed image by combining each of the processed tiles. The method may include the steps of scaling the image between zero and one and/or scaling the image based upon the display type. The method may be stored on a computer readable medium and may be used in an image processing system having memory, a processor, and a display.

Abstract: Buoyancy is controlled in a tethered object by pumping fluids, either of a first or second specific gravity, from an external source into either a first or second containment chamber to change the respective volumetric capacities of the first and second containment chambers. The containment chambers are configured such that the second chamber is at least partially enclosed within the first chamber. The second chamber is configured to expand and retract within the first chamber, which has a fixed housing. Expansion or contraction of the second chamber results in a corresponding inverse change in a volumetric capacity of the first chamber. The fluid chambers may be separate or contained within the same housing, and may be located on a towing vessel. Sensor data from the tethered object's environment may be used to control the transfer of fluid to the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A system includes a fabric wing, such as a Rogallo wing or parafoil, a roller connected to the fabric wing, cables connected to the fabric wing, a motor connected to the roller. Upon activation, the motor causes the roller to roll-up or unroll at least a portion of the fabric wing. The system may include a rigid or collapsible roller support structure connected to the roller. The roller may be located along a central axis of the fabric wing. A control unit may be connected to the cables, the control unit including a logic controller, power source, communications system, GPS and inertial navigation sensor system, motor controller, and one or more sensors including an air speed sensor, altitude sensor, obstacle detection sensor, and/or a ground proximity sensor. The system may include a second roller with an attached motor, with each roller located at an end of the fabric wing.

Abstract: A system includes a support structure having a compressed air tank therein, a pneumatic launch assembly coupled to the support structure, and an inflatable bladder disposed around at least a portion of a region defined by the support structure and the pneumatic launch assembly. The angle of the pneumatic launch assembly with respect to the support structure is adjustable. The pneumatic launch assembly comprises a launch tube, a compressed air manifold contained within the launch tube and in fluid connection with the compressed air tank, the compressed air manifold having an air outlet, a telescoping guide rod connected to the compressed air manifold, and a shuttle slidably coupled to the telescoping guide rod and at least partially disposed over the air outlet. The system may include a collapsible stabilizing weight coupled to the support structure, as well as communications and control circuitry within the launch tube.

Abstract: A system includes an input multi-level channelizer, an output multi-level channelizer, and more than one amplifiers connected between the input and output channelizers. The input and output channelizers cover an operating frequency band. Each level of the input multi-level channelizer comprises a plurality of input channels, which may be bandpass filters, and may be grouped into input sub-channelizers. Each successive level of the input multi-level channelizer is configured to divide the incoming signals into smaller frequency bands. Each level of the output multi-level channelizer comprises a plurality of output channels, which may be bandpass filters, and may be grouped into output sub-channelizers. Each successive level of the output multi-level channelizer is configured to combine the incoming signals into larger frequency bands. The signal output from the output multi-level channelizer represents a filtered version of the signal input into the input multi-level channelizer.

Abstract: A system may include one or more transmitter processing modules each having at least one of a plurality of modulation elements arranged in parallel. Each modulation element may be configured to modulate a respective baseband data signal at a different rate than other modulation elements. The system may include one or more receiver processing modules each having a plurality of demodulation elements arranged in parallel. Each demodulation element may be configured to demodulate a respective baseband data signal at a different rate than other demodulation elements. The system may include a first antenna for transmitting signals and a second antenna for receiving signals. One or more isolation systems may be used to actively cancel electromagnetic interference received by the receiving antenna from the transmitting antenna.