Abstract: A multi-layer body armor plate includes a strike plate; a mesh layer positioned over the strike plate, the mesh layer having a number of open cells; and an outer skin layer positioned over the mesh layer so as to encapsulate the open cells of the mesh layer between the strike plate and the outer skin layer. The open cells of the mesh layer may entrap air or may be filled with expandable, buoyant foam.

Abstract: A lattice structure and system for absorbing energy, damping vibration, and reducing shock. The lattice structure comprises a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell comprising a plurality of rib elements with at least a portion of the rib elements including a solid bendable hinge portion for converting energy into linear motion along a longitudinal axis of the respective rib element.

Abstract: An article transport case comprising an outer shell including opposing sections, first and second pinscreen assemblies, and first and second securement mechanisms. The pinscreen assemblies each include a frame, a securement plate, and a number of pins. The first and second securement mechanisms are configured to be in a secured configuration to retain the first and second sections in a closed configuration and keep the securement plates in a secured position thereby restraining the pins against the article in an article conforming arrangement. The securement plates are in an unsecured position so that the pins are free to translate longitudinally when the securement mechanisms are in an unsecured configuration such that the pins are not restrained in the article conforming arrangement when the shell is open.

Abstract: A simulation system for use in testing a radar system comprises a coarse delay module, a fine delay module, and a doppler shift module. The coarse delay module is configured to receive a first stream of digital data samples that are sampled from a radar signal at a sample time period or a second stream of digital data samples that are processed by another simulation system component and delay the digital data samples by a selectable first delay time that is greater than or equal to the sample time period. The fine delay module is configured to receive the digital data samples and filter the digital data samples to represent delay by a selectable second delay time that is less than the sample time period. The doppler shift module is configured to receive the digital data samples and adjust a value of a frequency content of the fine delayed samples.

Abstract: A method of testing a PIN diode for a power limiter circuit comprises measuring a reverse bias current of the PIN diode; applying a reverse bias voltage to the PIN diode; increasing the reverse bias voltage until the reverse bias current of the PIN diode reaches a threshold current indicative of a reverse voltage breakdown; and determining whether the reverse bias breakdown voltage of the PIN diode is within an acceptable range of reverse bias breakdown voltages corresponding to a power range at which the power limiter circuit would enter power limiting mode with the PIN diode.

Abstract: A system and method of additively manufacturing a part including electrically conductive or static dissipating fluorine-containing polymers. The method includes depositing fluorine-containing polymer additive manufacturing material onto a build platform, selectively cross-linking portions of the deposited additive manufacturing material, and curing the selectively cross-linked portions such that the part is at least one of electrically conductive and static dissipating.

Abstract: A method of testing a sensing device with a sensing mass includes accelerating the sensing device along a circular path about a central axis. The sensing mass of the sensing device may be movable relative to the central axis. The method includes determining a position of the sensing mass of the sensing device via a sensor and shifting the sensing device radially relative to the central axis based at least in part on the position of the sensing mass during acceleration.

Abstract: A base configured to be joined with other bases to form a substrate for an antenna array comprises a body, a plurality of male interconnecting features, and a plurality of female interconnecting features. The body includes a front surface and a rear surface and a plurality of edges positioned therebetween. The front surface or the rear surface is configured to retain an antenna. The male interconnecting features of a first base connect with the female interconnecting features of a second base when the first base is joined with the second base to form the substrate or a portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A multi-layer coating on an outer surface of a substrate includes a first layer applied directly to the outer surface of the substrate. The first layer includes diamond-like carbon (DLC) configured to mitigate metal whisker formation. A second layer is applied on a top surface of the first layer. The second layer is a conformal coating that includes a second material configured to bind to the top surface of the first layer and fill any microfractures that may form in the first layer. Optionally, a third layer is applied on a top surface of the second layer and includes DLC configured to protect the second layer from oxidation and degradation.

Abstract: An assembly for shock testing a specimen, the assembly including first and second opposing brackets and opposing lower and upper caps. The opposing brackets include lower and upper angled surfaces. The lower cap includes lower angled surfaces configured to engage the lower angled surfaces of the left and right brackets. The upper cap includes upper angled surfaces configured to engage the upper angled surfaces of the left and right brackets. The first and second brackets are configured to be drawn toward each other via fasteners, thereby wedging the lower and upper caps toward each other against the specimen.

Abstract: A laser welding system for welding a component and reducing defects in the weld by ensuring uniform, laminar gas flow over a process area of the system. The laser welding system comprises a laser for welding the component, a platform for supporting the component, an enclosure surrounding the platform, a first actuatable barrier, a second actuatable barrier, an actuator, and a controller. The enclosure includes a plurality of walls, one of the walls having an inlet and another wall having an outlet. The inlet and outlet each having an opening having a cross-sectional area for letting gas flow through. The first and second barriers are configured to modify the cross-sectional areas of the openings when actuated.

Abstract: Porous polysiloxane microspheres may be formed using a double emulsion (W/O/W) and double reaction process. The methods generally comprise forming a first emulsion and reacting components of the emulsion phases to form reinforced hydrogen gas pockets. The first emulsion is then combined with a solvent to form a second emulsion comprising a plurality of microspheres making up the dispersed phase. The microspheres comprise the reinforced gas pockets encapsulated by a polysiloxane, which are cured and recovered. The microspheres are particularly useful as fillers for low density composite materials and sensor applications.

Abstract: A system for creating a plasma field Faraday cage around a structure, the system comprising a plurality of lasers spaced apart from each other, each laser being configured to transmit an electromagnetic energy beam to a focal point of an atmosphere region, each electromagnetic energy beam having an amount of energy less than an amount of energy required to ionize air, the electromagnetic energy beams intersecting at the focal point such that the electromagnetic energy beams cooperatively ionize the air at the focal point to block electromagnetic radiation from passing through the focal point.

Abstract: A liner for a ram configured to press a viscous material. The liner includes a liner wall and a circumferential lip. The liner wall is configured to abut a ram plate of the ram and includes a number of apertures configured to align with apertures of the ram plate. The liner wall and circumferential lip are configured to prevent the viscous material from contacting a ram surface and circumferential surface of the ram plate, thus making the ram easier to clean.

Abstract: Waveguides and methods for manufacturing a waveguide that include forming a first channel in a first layer of dielectric material, the first channel comprising one or more walls; forming a second channel in a second layer of dielectric material, the second channel comprising one or more walls; depositing electrically conductive material on the one or more walls of the first channel; depositing electrically conductive material on the one or more walls of the second channel; arranging the first layer adjacent to the second layer to form a stack with the first channel axially aligned with and facing the second channel; and heating the stack so that the conductive material on the one or more walls of the first channel and the conductive material on the one or more walls of the second channel connect to form the waveguide.

Abstract: A mold extractor for separating a molded part from a mold portion following a molding process, and a method of using the same. The mold extractor includes a mold holder that removably couples to the mold portion, a retainer that abuts a portion of the molded part and that surrounds the mold holder such that a cavity is provided between the mold holder and the retainer, and an extraction rod engaged with the mold holder and the retainer and spanning the cavity between the mold holder and the retainer. The mold extractor is set up to reduce a distance between the mold holder and the retainer along the extraction rod such that the mold holder translates into the cavity and imparts a force on the mold portion sufficient to extract the mold portion from the molded part.

Abstract: A method of detecting a deformation in a lattice structure comprises capturing first image data of the lattice structure via a first image capturing device with a first telecentric lens and a second image capturing device with a second telecentric lens. The first telecentric lens is directed toward the lattice structure, and the second telecentric lens is spaced apart from the first telecentric lens and also directed toward the lattice structure. The method includes compressing the lattice structure; capturing second image data of the lattice structure via the first and second image capturing devices; and detecting the deformation based at least in part on the first and second image data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for forming a magnetically-enabled part via additive manufacturing. The method includes depositing a layer of additive manufacturing material on a build plate, melting or sintering the layer of additive manufacturing material, depositing additional layers of additive manufacturing material on previous layers of additive manufacturing material, the additive manufacturing material of at least some of the additional layers being magnetically permeable, and melting or sintering the additional layers of additive manufacturing material such that the magnetically-enabled part has a transition region including at least some of the magnetically permeable additive manufacturing material.

Abstract: Shelf-stable, rapid crosslinking, “all-in-one” pastes useful as “inks” in additive manufacturing are provided. These pastes exhibit desirable rheological flow properties and crosslinking upon exposure to UV light. The pastes are based on vinylsilyl-functionalized, completely amorphous, linear terpolysiloxanes containing predominantly dimethylsiloxy-repeat units with small amounts of diphenylsiloxy-, methylphenylsiloxy-, diethylsiloxy-, and/or methyltrifluoroalkylsiloxy-crystallization disruptors. The base polymers are preferably compounded with a trimethylsilylated-hydrophobic silica filler, thixotropic flow agent, hydrosilyl-functionalized oligomeric crosslinker, and a catalytic system comprising platinum(II) acetylacetonate or trimethyl(methylcyclopentadienyl)-platinum(IV), and diethyl azodicarboxylate.

Abstract: A gripping device comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a tip. The second arm opposes at least a portion of the first arm and has a proximal end and a distal end operable to shift toward the first arm. The tip is shiftably coupled to the distal end of the second arm so that the tip is operable to longitudinally shift between a retracted position in which the tip is relatively closer to the proximal end of the second arm and an extended position in which the tip is relatively farther from the proximal end of the second arm. The tip enables a user to engage an object and shift so that the object can be rotated while held by the gripping device.