Abstract: A compressive structural element including: an enclosure having a top, a bottom, and inner wall and an outer wall, a first cavity defined between the inner and outer walls and a second cavity defined by the inner wall; and a non-compressible material disposed in the first cavity; wherein the outer wall has at least a portion thereof inwardly shaped toward the first cavity and the inner wall has at least a portion outwardly shaped towards the first cavity such that a first compressive force acting on the top and/or bottom tending to compress the element by a first deflection causes an amplified second deflection, relative to the first deflection, of the inner and/or outer walls into the non-compressible material, thereby exerting a second compressive force against the non-compressible material, resulting in a resistance to the first deflection and the first compressive force tending to compress the element.

Abstract: A shock testing machine including: a test platform upon which one or more objects to be tested are mounted; one or more rails upon which the test platform is movable in a longitudinal direction; and a braking station for retarding a relative motion between the test platform and the braking station, wherein the test platform and the braking station include at least one portion interfering with the relative motion of the test platform and the braking station such that relative movement of the test platform and the braking station past the at least one portion produces a shock lateral to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method for depassivation of an energy storage device having an anode, a cathode and a core with an electrolyte, the method including: detecting that a first predetermined event related to a buildup of passivation has occurred with regard to the energy storage device; switching between a positive input voltage and a negative input voltage provided to the anode at a frequency sufficient to depassivate the anode; discontinuing the switching when a second predetermined event related to passivation has occurred.

Abstract: A piezoelectric open-circuit output voltage profile simulator including a capacitor; at least first, second and third switches; and a controller for controlling the first, second and third switches.

Abstract: A charger for charging an energy storage device having a core with an electrolyte, the charger including: a controller comprising hardware, the controller being configured to: obtain a measurement and/or approximation of a temperature of the electrolyte; determine whether the obtained temperature is below a predetermined threshold considered to at least reduce the charging efficiency of the energy storage device; and input a predetermined voltage and/or current input to terminals of the energy storage device causing internal components of the energy storage device to generate heat if the temperature is determined to be less than the predetermined threshold, wherein the energy storage device includes an internal surface capacitance, which can store electric field energy between internal electrodes of the energy storage device, and the controller is configured to input an AC current to the terminals with a frequency high enough to effectively short the internal surface capacitance.

Abstract: A linear and rotary shock-testing machine including: a base; a shaft rotatably and translationally movable relative to the base; a test disc for holding one or more specimens to be tested, the test disc being rotatable with the shaft; one of a cam and cam follower fixed relative to the base; and an other of the cam and cam follower fixed to the test disc, wherein the shaft being driven to provide a rotational shock to the one or more test specimens; and the cam is shaped such that the cam follower follows the cam to urge the test disc into a translational motion while rotating to provide translational shock to the one or more specimens.

Abstract: A device for decelerating a vehicle traveling on one or more rails, the device including: energy absorbing units disposed along a direction of travel of the vehicle, the energy absorbing units each having a first surface for engagement with a second surface disposed on the vehicle such that the energy absorbing units are compressed when the second surface travels past and engages with the first surface of the energy absorbing units; wherein the absorbing units, when compressed, are configured to convert a kinetic energy of the vehicle to one or more of potential, heat and electrical energy; and the energy absorbing units are opposed to each other in a lateral direction relative to a direction of travel of the vehicle such that forces acting on the second surface from the energy absorbing units cancel in the lateral direction.

Abstract: An axe including: a lever axe head having a cutting edge, the lever axe head being configured to generate a torque and to rotate upon one of the cutting edge striking a material and the cutting edge penetrating a predetermined distance into the material; a handle having a first portion attached to the lever axe head and a second portion to be gripped by a user; and one or more springs disposed between the first portion of the handle and the lever axe head for biasing the lever axe head and handle relative to each other such that first portion of the handle and the lever axe head rotate relative to each other to absorb at least a portion of the generated torque from being transmitted to the user.

Abstract: A method for remotely guiding a refueling boom of a tanker to engage with a fueling receptacle of an aircraft while the tanker and the aircraft are in flight. The method comprising: transmitting a polarized RF scanning pattern from one of the refueling boom and refueling receptacle; detecting the polarized RF scanning pattern at one or more cavity sensors disposed on the other of the refueling boom and the refueling receptacle; and controlling a position of the refueling boom relative to a position of the refueling receptacle based on the detected polarized RF scanning pattern at the one or more cavity sensors.

Abstract: A munition including: a control surface actuation device including: an actuator comprising two or more pistons, each of the pistons being movable between an extended and retracted position, the retracted position resulting from an activation of each of the two or more pistons; and a rotatable plate having a pocket corresponding to each of the two or more pistons, each pocket being engageable with a corresponding portion of each of the two or more pistons, a distance between the pockets being different than a distance between the portions of the two or more pistons, such that activation of the portion into the corresponding pocket sequentially rotates the plate; and a control surface operatively connected to the plate such that rotation of the plate rotates the control surface.

Abstract: A system for protecting an automobile from a collision. The system including: a bumper having one or more bumper segments disposed on the automobile for absorbing at least some energy of the collision; and one or more actuators for deploying the bumper when conditions indicative of an impending collision is detected; wherein the one or more actuators comprise: one or more hydraulic actuators; one or more pneumatic actuators; one or more actuators actuated by one or more detonation charges; one or more fluid-filled bellows; one or more compressively pre-loaded springs; and one or more actuators connected to rotatable joints of links in a linkage.

Abstract: A method for detecting hardened bunkers within a target, the method including: producing a first output from a sensor fired to travel through the hardened bunkers, the first output being different from a second output when the sensor travels in a void between the hardened bunkers or encounters other objects outside of the hardened bunkers; and determining one or more of the number of hardened bunkers, a thickness of the hardened bunkers and a strength of the hardened bunkers based on the first and second outputs of the sensor over time. The sensor can include one of a piezoelectric generator for producing a voltage output and a circuit input by the voltage output or an accelerometer having a locking member for locking a proof mass during periods of impact with the one or more hardened bunkers.

Abstract: A decoy device including: a cartridge casing; and two or more pyrophoric assemblies disposed longitudinally in the casing for sequential ejection from the casing, the two or more pyrophoric assemblies including: a pyrophoric material; a piston positioned rearward in an ejection direction relative to the pyrophoric material, the piston being movable in the ejection direction upon application of ejection force to eject the pyrophoric material from the casing; one or more energetic materials positioned rearward in an ejection direction relative to the piston, the one or more energetic materials being initiated by electrical impulse to provide the ejection force to the piston; and an inert barrier layer positioned rearward in an ejection direction relative to the impulse cartridge.

Abstract: A method for heating an energy storage device having a core with an electrolyte, the method including: providing the energy storage device having inputs and characteristics of a capacitance across the electrolyte and the core and internal surface capacitance between the inputs which can store electric field energy between internal electrodes of the energy storage device that are coupled to the inputs; switching between an input voltage and a grounding input provided to one of the inputs at a frequency sufficient to effectively short the internal surface capacitance of the energy storage device to generate heat and raise a temperature of the electrolyte; and discontinuing the switching when the temperature of the electrolyte is above a predetermined temperature that is considered sufficient to increase a charging efficiency of the energy storage device.

Abstract: A method for heating an energy storage device having a core with an electrolyte, the method including: providing the energy storage device having inputs and characteristics of a capacitance across the electrolyte and the core and internal surface capacitance between the inputs which can store electric field energy between internal electrodes of the energy storage device that are coupled to the inputs; switching between a positive input voltage and a negative input voltage provided to one of the inputs at a frequency sufficient to effectively short the internal surface capacitance of the energy storage device to generate heat and raise a temperature of the electrolyte; and discontinuing the switching when the temperature of the electrolyte is above a predetermined temperature that is considered sufficient to increase a charging efficiency of the energy storage device.

Abstract: A heating circuit for an energy storage device having a core with an electrolyte, the energy storage device having inputs, characteristics of a capacitance across the electrolyte and the core, and internal surface capacitance between the inputs which can store electric field energy between internal electrodes of the energy storage device that are coupled to the inputs, the battery heating circuit including: a controller configured to switch between a positive input voltage and a negative input voltage provided to one of the inputs at a frequency sufficient to effectively short the internal surface capacitance of the energy storage device to generate heat and raise a temperature of the electrolyte, the controller being further configured to discontinue the switching when the temperature of the electrolyte and/or the energy storage device is above a predetermined temperature that is considered sufficient to increase a charging efficiency of the energy storage device.

Abstract: A brake for use with a shock testing machine, the brake including: a brake material for generating a frictional force to stop a test platform when the brake material is urged against an opposed braking surface; links for rotatably connecting the brake material to the test platform; a biasing spring to bias the brake material towards the braking surface; a restraint mechanism for restraining the braking material, against a biasing force of the biasing spring, in a retracted position where the braking material is separated from the braking surface; and a release mechanism for releasing the restraint of the release mechanism to bias the brake material against the braking surface; wherein the links are configured such that relative movement between the brake material and braking surface while the brake material and braking surface are engaged causes a frictional force between the brake material and braking material to increase.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a Lithium-Ion reserve battery, the method including: assembling an operational Lithium-ion battery having an anode, cathode, separator membrane between the anode and cathode and an electrolyte; charging the assembled Lithium-ion battery; disassembling the Lithium-ion battery by separating the anode, cathode and separator membrane and removing the electrolyte; rinsing and drying the disassembled cathode and anode; reassembling the rinsed and dried cathode and anode with a new separator membrane between the anode and cathode and without the electrolyte to provide the Lithium-Ion reserve battery; and discharging the Lithium-Ion reserve battery.

Abstract: A laser activated initiation device including: a piezoelectric element; a capacitor; a self-powered acceleration pulse event detection with false trigger protection circuit; a switch reset circuit; and a switching circuit; wherein when the piezoelectric element is subjected to an acceleration pulse the piezoelectric element generates an open-circuit charge profile to charge the capacitor.

Abstract: A device for generating power in a gravity dropped munition. The device including: a drum; a cable wound around a drum; a generator for producing electrical energy; a spring configured to convert rotation of the drum to energy as the cable is unwound from the drum; and an intermediate member selectively engaging the drum to the generator; wherein the intermediate member is disengaged from the drum when the cable is being unwound from the drum and the intermediate member is engaged with the generator when the cable is released from the drum to produce power from the generator.