Abstract: An apparatus for electrophoretic control of surfaces is described, including a vehicle component having an outer surface, a substrate, and a coating layer positioned on the substrate, where the coating layer includes electrostatically controlled ink microcapsules, a first pigment having a first color and a negative charge, a second pigment having a second color and a positive charge. The apparatus includes a layer array with a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) disposed laterally across the layer array. The apparatus includes a layer array that is positionable to be in proximity to the coating layer. A method for electrophoretic control of surfaces is also described, including placing a layer array in proximity to an outer surface of a component or panel, imparting a first electrical charge from the layer array to change a visual appearance of the outer surface from a first visual appearance to a second visual appearance.

Abstract: A heatsink, a method of manufacturing the heatsink, and an induction welding apparatus including the heatsink. The heatsink includes a carrier sheet and a plurality of tiles. The carrier sheet comprises an electrically non-conductive material and has a contoured profile. The plurality of tiles comprises a thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive material. Each tile of the plurality of tiles has a bonding surface bonded to the carrier sheet and a contact surface opposite the bonding surface. The contact surface is configured to contact a structure to be induction welded.

Abstract: Techniques for controlling a process to prevent injury are presented. The techniques include obtaining a location estimation of a mobile transmitter affixed to an object, where the location estimation is relative to a location of a fixed receiver, and where the obtaining the location estimation includes sending an ultra wideband communication from the mobile transmitter to the fixed receiver and acquiring the ultra wideband communication by a phased antenna array of the fixed receiver; assessing, based on the location estimation, that the mobile transmitter is within an impermissible location; determining that the location estimation is sufficiently accurate based on a distance between the location estimation and the fixed receiver; and interrupting the process upon both assessing that the mobile transmitter is within an impermissible location and determining that the location estimation is sufficiently accurate.

Abstract: A method for flight constraints service includes receiving data items at a first computer, transforming the data items into formatted items, transforming metadata items associated with constraints into the formatted items, storing the formatted items in a database, receiving a request at the first computer to view a requested formatted item, generating a geospatial data interchange format file from the requested formatted item, transferring the geospatial data interchange format file from the first computer to a second computer, creating a visual presentation of the geospatial data interchange format file with the second computer, and presenting the visual presentation in a human-readable format at an output device. The data items have multiple data types. The formatted items includes multiple constraints. The constraints include multiple first constraints and multiple second constraints.

Abstract: An aircraft, a center wing box assembly for an aircraft, and a spanwise beam section for a center wing box assembly that includes a segmented structural configuration with an optimized access hole to accommodate user access into an interior space of the center wing box for purposes of assembly and maintenance. The center wing box assembly includes a first spanwise beam section, a second spanwise beam section, spaced from the first spanwise beam section, and a plurality of chord members serving as load-bearing structural reinforcement members for the first spanwise beam section and the second spanwise beam section. The chord members extend across the space between the first spanwise beam section and the second spanwise beam section to connect the first spanwise beam section and the second spanwise beam section in a manner which defines an access hole at the interior space.

Abstract: A coupling system and method are configured to secure one or more spars of a wing of an aircraft to one or more struts. The coupling system and method include a plurality of interface joints that secure the one or more spars to the one or more struts. At least a portion of a front surface of the one or more spars is linearly aligned with at least a portion of a rear surface of the one more struts.

Abstract: An efficient, low-profile, lightweight fixed-beam (constant angle of departure) aperture antenna. The aperture antenna includes an array of horn radiators coupled to a waveguide diplexer by means of a stripline distribution network. The stripline distribution network is embedded in a printed wiring board (PWB), which PWB is sandwiched between a radiator plate (incorporating the horn radiators) and a diplexer plate. The aperture antenna may further include a backside ground plane made of metal. The diplexer plate and backside cover plate are configured to form the waveguide diplexer. Each horn radiator has a respective circular opening at one end adjacent to the PWB. The diplexer plate includes an array of circular waveguide backshorts which are congruent and respectively aligned with the circular openings of the horn radiators. The radiator plate further includes a rectangular waveguide backshort which is congruent and aligned with a rectangular port of the diplexer plate.

Abstract: A computing system is provided that implements a system classifier including a first artificial intelligence model configured to classify each of a plurality of elements a computer system into one or more defined security categories, and a threat classifier including a second artificial intelligence model configured to classify each of a plurality of identified cybersecurity threats into the one or more defined security categories. The computing system further includes a threat analyzer configured to perform an analysis of a risk posed by each cybersecurity threat to each element of the target computer system based at least on the security categories of the classified cybersecurity threats and the security categories of classified elements of the target computer system, and output a security recommendation based on the analysis.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining, at an unmanned aerial vehicle, a flight plan for the unmanned aerial vehicle. The flight plan is based on an aircraft type of an aircraft to be inspected. The method also includes coordinating, with a lighting control device onboard the aircraft, activation of a particular exterior light of the aircraft based on the flight plan such that the particular exterior light activates or deactivates when a particular sensor of the one or more sensors is located (i.e., positioned and oriented) to perform a sensing operation on the particular exterior light. The method further includes performing the sensing operation on the particular exterior light using the particular sensor. The method also includes determining a functionality metric associated with the particular exterior light based on the sensing operation.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions including a carbon fiber material comprising one or more of an acyclic olefin group or a thiol disposed thereon; and a thermosetting polymer or a thermoplastic polymer. The present disclosure further provides metal substrates including a composition of the present disclosure disposed thereon. The present disclosure further provides vehicle components including a metal substrate of the present disclosure. The present disclosure further provides methods for manufacturing a vehicle component, including contacting a carbon fiber material with a carbon-containing zinc-titanium or a thiol to form a coated carbon fiber material; and mixing the coated carbon fiber material with a thermosetting polymer or a thermoplastic polymer to form a composition. Methods can further include depositing a composition of the present disclosure onto a metal substrate.

Abstract: An electrically conductive and corrosion resistant graphene-based coating composition, including a binder, high-pressure airless-sprayed expanded graphene stacks, carbon fibers, and a dispersing agent, wherein the graphene-based coating composition has an electrical conductivity of at least 2 S/cm and a pull-off adhesion of at least 2 MPa.

Abstract: A brake system control unit includes one or more sensor interfaces configured to receive a brake torque signal from a brake torque sensor. The brake system control unit also includes a torque estimator configured to generate an estimated brake torque signal based, at least in part, on a brake model and a brake actuator command. The brake system control unit further includes control circuitry configured to generate the brake actuator command to actuate a brake actuator of a brake system. The brake actuator command is generated based on a brake pedal command and a load alleviation command. The load alleviation command is based on the brake torque or the estimated brake torque signal, depending on whether a sensor fault condition associated with the brake torque sensor is detected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inertial navigation aided by signals of opportunity (SOOP). One system includes a network operations center (NOC), a reference station, and mobile user equipment. Another system includes a NOC and user equipment without a reference station. In the latter system, the NOC comprises an antenna, a NOC receiver that generates SOOP data derived from SOOP, a computer system that generates SOOP source location/ephemeris data and inter-source clock bias data based on SOOP data generated by the NOC receiver, and a communication device to broadcast the data. The user equipment comprises an antenna, a navigation receiver that generates SOOP data derived from SOOP detected by the antenna of the user equipment, and a navigation computer system that calculates a navigation solution, including a SOOP-derived estimated position of the user equipment, based on SOOP source location/ephemeris data and inter-source clock bias data broadcasted by the NOC and SOOP data generated by the navigation receiver.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for managing airflow comprising flow control actuators in an aircraft. The flow control actuators comprise channels having inlets and outlets, wherein the channels are located under a surface of the aircraft and the outlets are in communication with the surface of the aircraft. Pressurized air applied to the inlets causes steady air jets to be emitted at the outlets in which the steady air jets add a momentum to airflow over the surface on the aircraft.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of coating a substrate. A method includes depositing a conductive coating including an electrically conductive material over the substrate to form a conductive layer having a sheet resistivity of about 10?/? to about 1000?/?. The method includes depositing an anti-icing layer comprising nanomaterials over the conductive layer to form a coating system.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of forming uncured sealant assemblies and also methods of forming seals between various parts using such assemblies. In some examples, an uncured sealant assembly comprises two protective layers and an uncured sealant layer, disposed in between. The uncured sealant assembly is stored and provided at a cure-inhibiting temperature, selected to minimize the curing rate of the uncured sealant layer. The size and the shape of the uncured sealant layer are specifically selected to ensure the complete coverage of the faying surfaces, filling of all gaps and voids between the faying surfaces, and controlling the shape and size of uncured sealant squeeze out between the faying surfaces. In some examples, the size and shape of the uncured sealant layer maybe be specifically selected to have no uncured sealant squeeze out between parts.

Abstract: A coupling system is configured to secure one or more struts to a wing of an aircraft. The coupling system includes one or more splice straps that secure the one or more struts to the wing. A method for securing one or more struts to a wing of an aircraft includes securing, by one or more splice straps, the one or more struts to the wing.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal cabin, a lavatory within the internal cabin, and a cleaning system within the lavatory. The cleaning system includes a floor having an exposed upper surface. The floor includes a hydrophobic material configured to repel liquid. An air knife is configured to output an airstream over the exposed upper surface of the floor to remove one or both of liquid or debris off the floor. The air knife is at or proximate to a first portion of the floor. A vacuum has an air inlet. The vacuum draws in the airstream through the air inlet. The vacuum is at or proximate to a second portion of the floor that is opposite from the first portion. The first portion is at a first level that is above a second level of the second portion.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle including a main body having a leading edge. An inlet is recessed aft from the leading edge. Forward protrusions extend from the main body on opposite sides of the inlet. An outlet nozzle is proximate to an aft end. The inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet nozzle. Wings extend from the main body.

Abstract: A cleaning system and method for an enclosed space include a floor including a hydrophobic material configured to repel liquid. One or more wipers are configured to sweep one or both of the liquid or debris off the floor, such as into an inlet of a vacuum.