Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide a radiation detector module for a radiation detector. A radiation detector module includes a metallic and/or metalized enclosure, a radiation sensor disposed within the enclosure, readout electronics configured to provide radiation detection event signals corresponding to incident ionizing radiation in the radiation sensor, and a cap including an internal interface configured to couple to the readout electronics and an external interface configured to couple to a radiation detector, where the cap is configured to hermetically seal the radiation sensor within the enclosure. The cap may be implemented as an edge plated printed circuit board (PCB) including a slot configured to mate with a planar edge of an open surface of the enclosure, where the slot is soldered to the planar edge of the enclosure to hermetically seal the radiation sensor within the enclosure.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for calibration systems and methods for analyte detectors. In one example, a system may include a calibration device configured to operate with an analyte detector. The calibration device may include a chamber configured to receive a sample and pass at least a portion of the sample including analytes to the analyte detector for examination. The calibration device may further include a reservoir including a calibrant and configured to be selectively positioned in the chamber as the sample to provide the portion of the sample including the analytes to calibrate the analyte detector. Additional systems and related methods are provided.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to implement, operate, and manufacture a chemical detection device. In one embodiment, a device includes a flow path comprising an analyte reporter configured to receive samples passed by the flow path. The device also includes an excitation source configured generate a response from the analyte reporter. The device also includes a detector configured to receive the response from the analyte reporter to determine whether the samples comprise a material of interest. The device also includes a support structure configured to position the flow path relative to the excitation source and the detector, wherein the support structure comprises a carbon filled polymer material. Additional devices, systems, and methods are also provided.

Abstract: In an aspect, in general, a spooling apparatus includes a filament feeding mechanism for deploying and retracting filament from the spooling apparatus to an aerial vehicle, an exit geometry sensor for sensing an exit geometry of the filament from the spooling apparatus, and a controller for controlling the feeding mechanism to feed and retract the filament based on the exit geometry.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for powering and controlling flight of an unmanned aerial vehicle. The unmanned aerial vehicles can be used in a networked system under common control and operation and can be used for a variety of applications. Selected embodiments can operate while tethered to a portable control system. A high speed tether management system can be used to facilitate both mobile and static tethered operation. Modular components provide for both tethered and fully autonomous flight operations.

Abstract: Unmanned ground vehicles configured for compact manipulator stowing are disclosed. In some examples, an unmanned ground vehicle includes a main body and a drive system supported by the main body. The drive system includes right and left driven track assemblies mounted on right and left sides of the main body. A manipulator arm is pivotally coupled to the main body and configured to extend from a stowed position to an extended position, and the manipulator arm in the stowed position is contained entirely within a geometric volume of the right and left driven track assemblies.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to secure a memory polymer component in a flow path. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a memory component in a rest state, performing a deformation operation to transition the component from the rest state to a deformed state, inserting the component into a flow path defined by interior side walls of a structure, and applying a stimulus to transition the component from the deformed state to an intermediate state in which the component abuts the side walls to secure the component in the flow path. Additional devices, systems, and related methods are also provided.

Abstract: An unmanned ground vehicle includes a main body, a drive system supported by the main body, and a manipulator arm pivotally coupled to the main body. The drive system comprising right and left driven track assemblies mounted on right and left sides of the main body. The manipulator arm includes a gripper, a wrist motor configured for rotating the gripper, and an inline camera in a palm of the gripper. The inline camera is mechanically configured to remain stationary with respect to the manipulator arm while the wrist motor rotates the gripper.

Abstract: Provided herein are threat source mapping systems and related techniques. A threat source mapping system includes a threat sensor network and a logic device. The threat sensor network includes one or more threat detectors each configured to monitor at least a portion of a scene for at least one threat detection event. The logic device is configured to receive the at least one threat detection event from the threat sensor network, generate a threat source location heat map based, at least in part, on the at least one threat detection event, and generate a threat source image map based, at least in part, on the threat source location heat map and at least one image of the scene that at least partially overlaps the portions of the scene monitored by the one or more threat detectors. The threat source image map may then be displayed to a user.

Abstract: An unmanned ground vehicle includes a main body, a drive system supported by the main body, a manipulator arm pivotally coupled to the main body, and a sensor module. The drive system includes right and left driven track assemblies mounted on right and left sides of the main body. The manipulator arm includes a first link coupled to the main body, an elbow coupled to the first link, and a second link coupled to the elbow. The elbow is configured to rotate independently of the first and second links. The sensor module is mounted on the elbow.

Abstract: A method for unmanned delivery of an item to a desired delivery location includes receiving, at an unmanned vehicle, first data representative of an approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, receiving, at the unmanned vehicle, second data representative of a fiducial expected to be detectable at the desired delivery location, using the first data to operate the unmanned vehicle to travel to the approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, upon arriving at the approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, using the second data to operate the unmanned vehicle to detect the fiducial; and upon detecting the fiducial, using the fiducial to operate the unmanned vehicle to travel to the delivery location and deliver the item.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to determine the presence of trace chemicals corresponding to various materials of interest. In one example, a method includes providing a chemical reporter of a chemical detector. The chemical reporter includes protonated 2-[5-methoxy-2-(4-phenyl-quinoline-2yl)-phenyl]-ethanol. A vapor-phase amine compound is subsequently received at the chemical reporter. The chemical detector then detects a response of the chemical reporter to the amine compound to determine whether materials of interest are present. Additional methods and related devices are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biomolecule conjugate having one or more functionalized biomolecules wherein the biomolecule is functionalized with one or more reactive sites, and at least one polymer capable of undergoing a polymer growth reaction, wherein the polymer is attached to at least one of the reactive sites of the functionalized biomolecule and wherein the polymer envelopes the functionalized biomolecule to form a reversible nanoparticle structure which protects the biomolecule by dynamically collapsing to preserve the biomolecule when an adverse environmental stimulus is present. A method of protecting a biomolecule from environmental conditions is also provided.

Abstract: Imaging techniques are provided to determine the presence of trace chemicals corresponding to various materials of interest. In one example, a method includes receiving a test sample and capturing a plurality of infrared images of the test sample. Each infrared image corresponds to a different range of infrared radiation wavelengths. The method also includes determining a spectral profile of the test sample using the infrared images, comparing the determined spectral profile to a known spectral profile of a material of interest, and determining whether the material is present in the test sample based on the comparing. Additional methods and related devices are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to detect radiation accurately, and particularly in a highly radioactive environment. A system includes a detector module for a radiation detector and a parallel signal analyzer configured to receive radiation detection event signals from the detector module and provide a spectroscopy output and a dose rate output. The parallel signal analyzer may be configured to analyze the radiation detection event signals in parallel in first and second analysis channels according to respective first and second measurement times and determine the spectroscopy output and the dose rate output based on radiation detection event energies determined according to the respective first and second measurement times.

Abstract: A method for efficiently decontaminating surfaces is provided comprising applying an indicator to a surface wherein the indicator provides an observable or machine readable response when a contamination is present on the surface, wherein the response is located relative to a location of the contamination; and decontaminating the location of the contamination, and optionally rechecking the location of the initial contamination post decontamination to ensure that the surface is free of contamination.

Abstract: A method for unmanned delivery of an item to a desired delivery location includes receiving, at an unmanned vehicle, first data representative of an approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, receiving, at the unmanned vehicle, second data representative of a fiducial expected to be detectable at the desired delivery location, using the first data to operate the unmanned vehicle to travel to the approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, upon arriving at the approximate geographic location of the desired delivery location, using the second data to operate the unmanned vehicle to detect the fiducial; and upon detecting the fiducial, using the fiducial to operate the unmanned vehicle to deliver the item.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided to permit location agnostic playback of local video files on mobile devices used in the field. For example, such local video files may include recordings of real world human interactions with the mobile device demonstrating a plurality of tasks using the mobile device. The local video files may be used, for example, for in field training of the users without requiring access to communication resources while in the field. In some cases, the local video files may be implemented in a language agnostic manner to permit users to be trained effectively in the field without requiring language translation.