Abstract: A system for use in an aircraft or other system in an ambient airflow includes a body defining a cavity having an opening exposed to ambient airflow, with a cavity interface defined by body structure surrounding the opening. The cavity interface includes a cavity floor opposite the cavity opening, a leading edge facing away from the ambient airflow, a trailing edge facing the airflow, and a rear wall extending between the trailing edge and the cavity floor. A panel of sound-absorbing material is attached to and covers substantially all of the surface area of the rear wall of the cavity, and minimizes emanation of a predetermined range of audible sound frequencies from the cavity. The system may include an elongated serrated element connected to body and extending along the leading edge and arranged flush with the leading edge.

Abstract: A reflective paint's liquid mixture includes 42.4-71.3 weight percent of a liquid solvent, 14.4-28.3 weight percent of a binder fully dissolved in the liquid solvent, and 13.8-29.3 weight percent of light scattering particles that are insoluble in the liquid solvent and are of a size ranging from 100 nanometers to 200 nanometers. The binder is selected from potassium bromide, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bromide, cesium chloride, and rubidium chloride. The light scattering particles are selected from hafnium oxide and yttrium oxide. The reflective paint is particularly useful as a surface coating for a variety of structures that must support cryogenic temperatures. It can be used in any application to act as a broadband reflector of the Sun's radiation in the wavelength band from approximately 0.21 microns to 9 microns and beyond.

Abstract: A clock source includes a comparator having a positive comparator input, a negative comparator input, a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) PMOS bias input, a PTAT NMOS bias input, and a comparator output, a resonator element, series and feedback resistors and other passive components coupled between the comparator output and the negative comparator input to generate a signal with approximately constant gain and frequency at the comparator output, and a PTAT bias circuit coupled to the comparator's PTAT PMOS and NMOS bias inputs, and configured to drive the PTAT PMOS bias input and the PTAT NMOS bias input to maintain approximately constant gain and frequency over the operating temperature range of the clock source.

Abstract: An apparatus for remote support of autonomous operation of a vehicle includes a processor that is configured to perform a method including receiving, from a vehicle traversing a driving route from a start point to an end point at a destination, an assistance request signal identifying an inability of the vehicle at the destination to reach the end point, generating a first map display including a representation of a geographical area and the vehicle within the geographical area, receiving, from the vehicle, sensor data from one or more sensing devices of the vehicle, generating a remote support interface including the first map display and the sensor data, and transmitting instruction data to the vehicle that includes an alternative end point at the destination responsive to an input signal provided to the remote support interface.

Abstract: A microshutter array can have a frame, a plurality of linear microshutter elements, and a plurality of electrodes. The frame defines a plurality of openings and each opening is defined by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall opposing and parallel to the first sidewall, and a fourth sidewall. Each opening includes a light-transmissive portion configured to span an area. The plurality of linear microshutter elements are configured to extend across at least a part of the area. Each linear microshutter element can have a blade extending in a length direction across and blocking the light-transmissive portion. Each linear microshutter element can have a neck extending from the blade, and at least one torsion bar connected to the neck and connected to sidewalls of the frame.

Abstract: A passive insulating tank support structure includes a first interface ring mounted to a first tank, a first support ring surrounding and spaced apart from the first interface ring, a second interface ring mounted to a second tank, a plurality of first struts coupling the first and second interface rings, a plurality of second struts coupling the first support ring and second interface ring, a plurality of third struts coupling the first support ring and a first heat source, a third interface ring mounted to the second tank, and a plurality of fourth struts coupling the third interface ring and a second heat source.

Abstract: A mission elapsed time (MET) unit for using during outer space missions. The MET unit comprises a MET core, a crystal oscillator (XO) operably connected to the MET core, an external pulse per second (XPPS) source generating an XPPS input signal and operably connected to the MET core, a synchronization logic and a “Blackout Limit” register. Both the synchronization logic and the “Blackout Limit” register are arranged between the XPPS source and the MET core so that each of the synchronization logic and the “Blackout Limit” register is operably connected to both the XPPS source and the MET core. The MET core includes a sub-seconds counter keeping track of time over scales of less than one second and a seconds counter keeping track of time over scales of larger than one second.

Abstract: A dynamics management system for a structure includes a line whose first end is coupled to a first location within a structure. A tension resistance device is coupled to a second location within the structure. The tension resistance device generates a first force when a tension force is applied thereto and generates a lesser second force when the tension force is not applied thereto. The second end of the line is coupled to the tension resistance device wherein the first force is applied to the line when it is in tension and the second force is applied to the line when it is not in tension. The line traverses at least one Z-shaped path within and in a plane of the structure. The line is coupled to the structure at each inflection point of the Z-shaped path(s) for supporting movement of the line there along.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of an electron beam gun and wire feeder during deposition of pools of molten matter onto a substrate to form beads upon solidification of the molten matter. The method includes providing a substrate and a wire source. A molten pool of liquid phase metal is formed on the substrate by melting the wire utilizing an electron beam generated by an electron beam gun. The liquid metal solidifies into a solid phase. A controller utilizes data from a sensor to adjust a process perimeter based, at least in part, on data generated by the sensor.

Abstract: A disc brake rotor includes an annular portion having a first surface and a second surface in opposition to the first surface. The first surface and second surface traverse a periodic wave. An inner radial edge of the annular portion traverses an inner periodic wave and an outer radial edge of the annular portion traverses an outer periodic wave. A pattern and a period are the same for the periodic wave, the inner periodic wave, and the outer periodic wave. Thermal radiation elements are coupled to portions of at least one of the inner radial edge and the outer radial edge.

Abstract: Provided is a portable, hand-held, self-powered, self-calibrated, easy-to-use “iCOBRA” system, a neural/neurological assessment tool for both operational decision-making in military, aerospace, sports, and other high-performance settings, and to assist in diagnostics in medical practice. The system harnesses multimodal 3D imaging technologies for robust, calibration free, head and eye tracking to allow for visual, vestibular, and oculomotor assessment of human neural health and performance.

Abstract: A laser range finder system to determine the range of a target including a laser pulse generating device and a laser amplifier for amplifying laser pulses to produce amplified laser pulses. Amplified laser pulses are transmitted toward a target and a laser pulse echoes reflected by a target are received by a receiver. The receiver includes a laser light detector and dual signal conditioning channels to condition and amplify signals derived from detected laser light and output conditioned signals. A high-gain channel amplifies laser pulse echoes having relatively lower signal power and a low-gain channel amplifies laser pulse echoes having relatively higher signal power. A digitizer produce samples of laser pulses and converts the samples to digital signals. A processing element processes the digital signals to determine an echo signature, a time of flight to the target and a range to the target.

Abstract: A space based multi-band GPS/GNSS navigation system, including: a first RF card with a space grade application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) implementing two RF channels configured to receive and process two different received navigation signals; a space grade navigation processor configured to: execute processor instructions to process the two different received navigation signals to produce position, velocity, and time information; and process measurements using an Extended Kalman filter for enhanced performance at high altitude, including cis-lunar and lunar space.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide for the creation of holey graphene meshes (HGMs) and composite articles including HGMs. Various embodiments provide solvent-free methods for creating arrays of holes on holey graphene-based articles formed from dry compression (such as films, discs, pellets), thereby resulting in a HGM. In further embodiments, a HGM can used as part of a composite, such as by: 1) embedding a HGM into another matrix material such as carbon, polymer, metals, metal oxides, etc; and/or (2) the HGM serving as a matrix by filling the holes of the HGM or functionalizing the HGM body with another one or more materials. In various embodiments, HGM can also be made as a composite itself by creating holes on dry-compressed articles pre-embedded with one or more other materials.

Abstract: An extremely low frequency hydrophone includes a housing forming an interior space comprising a backchamber. The housing includes an opening to the interior space, and a side of the housing comprises a diaphragm plate. A backplate is disposed inside the housing adjacent the diaphragm plate, and an electronics unit including a preamplifier is disposed in the interior space. The hydrophone further includes dielectric liquid substantially filling the interior space. A passageway permits inert gas to be introduced into the dielectric liquid in the interior space of the housing.

Abstract: A method for laying up a composite material includes steps of (1) depositing the composite material onto a substrate; (2) compacting the composite material with a compaction roller, the compaction roller and the substrate defining a nip; and (3) projecting a plasma flume proximate the nip to heat at least one of the composite material and the substrate.

Abstract: A space-stable thin film composite coating is provided that exhibits high IR emittance properties similar to OSR mirrors, and which is thin enough to be applied to a flexible substrate. The composite coating can include hundreds of alternating layers of aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide vacuum deposited to individual layer thickness of about 150 Angstroms and 50 Angstroms, respectively. The composite coating can be attached to substrates having complex geometries, for example, at various points during integration and production of hardware. The thin film can increase thermal design efficiency, reduce radiator mass and costs, and reduce production time-frames by eliminating the complexity of OSR mirror bonding.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite comprising a metal alloy matrix; where the metal alloy matrix comprises aluminum in an amount greater than 50 atomic percent; a first metal and a second metal; where the first metal is different from the second metal; and where the metal alloy matrix comprises a low temperature melting phase and a high temperature melting phase; where the low temperature melting phase melts at a temperature that is lower than the high temperature melting phase; and a contracting constituent; where the contracting constituent exerts a compressive force on the metal alloy matrix at a temperature between a melting point of the low temperature melting phase and a melting point of the high temperature melting phase or below the melting points of the high and low temperature melting phases.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring vapor partial pressures of water and carbon dioxide includes a pair of infrared (IR) sources and a pair of quad filter detectors are placed opposite to one another such that the vapor partial pressures of water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) is measured and quantified in a short pathlength gas cell.

Abstract: A master oscillator configured as a seed laser for a laser optical module includes a reduced size, temperature controlled non-planar ring oscillator, a piezo-electric transducer mounted on the non-planar ring oscillator, a pump laser diode, and coupling optics configured to couple a laser output of the pump laser diode to an end face of the non-planar ring oscillator. The pump laser diode may operate as a single-mode pump.