Abstract: A graded multilayered composite comprises a metal matrix material having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A first layer of microspheres is dispersed on the first side of the metal matrix material. A second layer of microspheres is dispersed on the second side of the metal matrix material.

Abstract: A composite charge used to compression form a stringer comprises multiple plies of unidirectional, prepreg having various fiber orientations. Certain of the plies have a pattern of angled cuts allowing the plies to stretch both longitudinally and transversely during forming, thereby reducing ply wrinkling in contoured areas of the stringer.

Abstract: A hinge assembly for connecting a door to a fuselage of an aircraft includes a hinge arm having a fuselage fitting pivotably coupled to a fuselage rotatable interface and a door fitting pivotably coupled to a door rotatable interface. The hinge assembly includes a programmable gear assembly coupled to the hinge arm allowing the hinge arm to pivot around the fuselage fitting when the door is moved from a door closed position to a door open position and causing the door to maintain in a generally parallel orientation relative to the fuselage between the door closed position to the door open position. The programmable gear assembly includes a fuselage gear coupled to the fuselage fitting, a door gear coupled to the door fitting, and a rack operably coupled between the fuselage gear and the door gear.

Abstract: A system and a method include a software management control unit configured to receive one or more changes to one or more portions of a first software configuration for hardware components of one or more vehicle, such as aircraft, or other assets. The software management control unit is further configured to revise the first software configuration for the hardware components of the one or more aircraft to provide a second software configuration that includes the one or more changes.

Abstract: One or more solar cells are connected to a flex circuit, wherein: the flex circuit is single sheet; the flex circuit is comprised of a flexible substrate having one or more conducting layers for making electrical connections to the solar cells; and the flex circuit includes one or more flat sections where the solar cells are attached to the flex circuit that remain flat when the flex circuit is folded and one or more folding sections between the flat sections where the flex circuit is folded.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for predictive query processing for complex system lifecycle management by identifying a seed document including natural language text describing an issue with a complex system; creating a synthesized document for the seed document by: removing portions of the seed document determined to satisfy filtering rules; identifying a first term set included in the natural language text that map to terminology identified in a data dictionary; extracting term-order data based on locations of the first term set in the natural language text; and including the first term set and the term-order data in the synthesized document; identifying, from a corpus of historic electronic documents, a first document set that are related to the seed document based on the term-order data included in the synthesized document; and outputting at least a portion of the first set of historic electronic documents.

Abstract: A method of forming an object from a material includes directing a first beam of light toward a first target location of the material to define a first portion of the object. The method also includes, after directing the first beam of light toward the first target location, determining an optical correction to be applied by an optical system. The optical correction is based on an atmospheric change in an atmospheric distortion region proximate the first target location due, at least in part, to interaction of the first beam of light and the material. The method further includes directing a second beam of light toward a second target location of the material to define a second portion of the object. The second beam of light is directed through at least a portion of the atmospheric distortion region while the optical correction is applied.

Abstract: A system and method for removing a backing from a ply of composite material is disclosed. The system includes a roller having a roller axis and a roller surface that circumscribes the roller axis. The system also includes an adhesion feature disposed on the roller surface. The system further includes a roller drive to move the roller along a travel path that is perpendicular to the roller axis and to rotate the roller about the roller axis.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a coating composition that includes a polymer material comprising an electrically conductive polymer; and a coated or partially coated magnetic material comprising a magnetic material and an antioxidant material. Aspects of the present disclosure further provide a method of making a coating composition that includes introducing, under first conditions, a magnetic material to a passivation solution comprising an antioxidant to form a coated (or partially coated) magnetic material; and introducing, under second conditions, the coated (or partially coated) magnetic material to a mixture comprising a polymer material to form a coating composition. Aspects of the present disclosure further provide a coated substrate that includes a film and a substrate, the film including a coating composition that includes an electrically conductive polymer, a magnetic material, and an antioxidant.

Abstract: A computer is configured to generate a computer model predicting the progressive creation, density, and spacing of a plurality of cracks in a filler material, such as a “noodle,” for example, disposed at a connection interface between a load-bearing composite structural component, such as a stringer or a spar, for example, and the structural framework of a vehicle on which those structural components are utilized.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transferring electric power to an aircraft during flight. Power transfer to the receiver aircraft is effected by means of a donor aircraft using a wired electrical connection. The method for transferring electric power includes: establishing an electrical connection between a receiver aircraft and a donor aircraft during flight; and transferring electric power from the donor aircraft to the receiver aircraft via the electrical connection. In one embodiment, electric power is transferred by way of a power cable deployed by the donor aircraft, a drogue attached to a trailing end of the power cable, and a probe mounted to the fuselage of the receiver aircraft, The probe and drogue are configured to form an electrical connection when fully engaged.

Abstract: There is provided an acoustically treated landing gear door for reducing noise from a landing gear of an aircraft. The acoustically treated landing gear door includes a landing gear door for attachment to the aircraft. The landing gear door includes an acoustic treatment assembly integrated on an inner mold line of an interior side, and extending within an interior cavity of the landing gear door. The acoustic treatment assembly includes a core structure having a first side and a second side, a plurality of core cells extending between the first side and the second side, and a drainage system. The acoustic treatment assembly further includes an acoustic facesheet and a nonporous backsheet. The acoustically treated landing gear door reduces the noise from the landing gear, when the landing gear is in a deployed position, by attenuating acoustic waves emanating from the landing gear and reflected off the acoustic treatment assembly.

Abstract: An example mandrel for processing a part is described including a plurality of elastomeric components aligned end to end and spaced apart linearly to form a segmented mandrel body, and compressible interconnections positioned within spacing between adjacent elastomeric components and abutting the adjacent elastomeric components. The compressible interconnections allow the plurality of elastomeric components to expand axially due to thermal expansion resulting in a distribution of pressure. An example method for fabricating a composite part is also described including placing a base composite layer into a cavity of a tooling surface, inserting a mandrel into the cavity of the tooling surface such that the base composite layer is between the mandrel and the tooling surface, applying a skin to the mandrel and the base composite layer forming a package, enclosing the package in a vacuum bag and curing, and removing the mandrel from the cavity of the tooling surface.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that relate to vehicles, composite parts, and methods for forming a composite part for a vehicle. In one example, a vehicle comprises a composite part comprising a skin comprising one or more material layers. The composite part further comprises a stiffener comprising one or more material layers, wherein the stiffener comprises a flange and a web. The composite part also includes an additively manufactured sub-structure positioned between at least a portion of the skin and at least a portion of the stiffener. The additively manufactured sub-structure comprises at least one flange portion, at least one radius, and at least one radius filler. A polymer matrix is co-infused within the skin, the stiffener, and the additively manufactured sub-structure.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for a full perimeter electrode cell are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a battery comprises a plurality of battery cells. The battery further comprises a plurality of anode electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes, of each of the battery cells, arranged around a perimeter of the battery. In at least one embodiment, the anode electrodes and the cathode electrodes, of each of the battery cells, are arranged such that they are alternating around the perimeter of the battery. In some embodiments, there are an equal number of the anode electrodes and the cathode electrodes, for each of the battery cells.

Abstract: A decorative laminate including a decorative layered structure defining a first surface and a second surface opposed from the first surface, and a gas permeable layer underlying the decorative layered structure.

Abstract: The disclosed forming apparatus includes a frame. The frame defines a vertical axis, a horizontal axis, and a longitudinal axis. A carriage is movably connected to the frame. A first stomp foot is movably connected to the carriage such that it may move along the vertical axis. A first end effector is movably connected to the carriage. The first end effector is controlled by an actuator. The disclosed method for forming a composite part includes applying at least one ply of composite material over a forming surface of a forming tool and deforming the at least one ply of composite material over the forming surface of the forming tool with a forming apparatus.

Abstract: Systems and methods additively manufacturing an object by applying heat to a first plurality of metallic particles in a powder bed using a first heat source, wherein the first heat source is one of multiple heat sources configured into an array, and the first heat source generates a first melt pool. Heat is simultaneously applied to a second plurality of metallic particles in the powder bed using a second heat source of the multiple heat sources in the array to generate a second melt pool. The first plurality of metallic particles are separated from the second plurality of metallic particles by a distance, wherein the distance and an amount of heat from each heat source is controlled to generate a combined melt pool that is larger in size and encompasses the first and second melt pools. The combined melt pool is allowed to solidify to form the object.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a primary transformer circuit including a plurality of primary coils. The apparatus further includes a delta secondary transformer circuit configured to magnetically couple to the primary transformer circuit. The delta secondary transformer circuit includes a first plurality of secondary coils, a first plurality of nodes coupled to the first plurality of secondary coils, and a second plurality of secondary coils configured to magnetically couple to the plurality of primary coils. Each coil of the second plurality of secondary coils is physically coupled to a respective node of the first plurality of nodes.

Abstract: Methods and systems for protection/disconnect of airborne high-power/energy high-voltage modular multi-string battery packs (such as battery packs for airborne electric propulsion systems). The methods and systems are based on a dissimilar/redundant distributed battery pack protection architecture and use a smart mid-point battery disconnect in conjunction with centralized battery management system. The resulting battery disconnect/protection system is configured to detect bus faults, load faults and string faults and then take appropriate action to isolate the detected fault. For example, in response to a short circuit in one battery string, the faulty battery string may be disconnected from the positive and negative busbars while the remaining battery strings continue to provide power.