Abstract: A counter-swarm firework includes a shell casing, multiple streamers positioned in the shell casing, a burst charge positioned in the shell casing and configured to disperse the multiple streamers from the shell casing when discharged, a pusher plate positioned in the shell casing between the burst charge and the multiple streamers, a fire suppressant layer positioned between the burst charge and the pusher plate, and a kick charge configured to launch the shell casing and its contents prior to discharging the burst charge. The fire suppression layer may be configured to suppress heat generated by the discharge of the burst charge.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to red mud compositions. This disclosure also relates to methods of making red mud compositions. This disclosure additionally relates to methods of using red mud compositions.

Abstract: Described herein are compounds and compositions for electrolytes based on bidentate and monodentate fluorinated alcohols. Also described are batteries that include the compounds and electrolytes described herein.

Abstract: A climbing cam can include a stem forming the main body of the climbing cam. A moveable latch can be disposed on the stem and operable to tether the steam to a climbing harness of a climber. A spring-loaded cam lobe can be disposed on a first end of the stem. A trigger can be connected to the cam lobe so that the trigger is actuatable to retract the cam lobe from an expanded position to a retracted position and to open the moveable latch, allowing the stem to untether from the climbing harness when the cam lobe is in the retracted position.

Abstract: Disclosed herein a method of manufacturing a carbon fiber-reinforced composite including a thermal barrier coating layer, the method includes: preparing a thermal barrier coating layer; preparing a substrate including a carbon fiber fabric; and attaching the thermal barrier coating layer on an upper portion of the substrate and molding a composite with a resin transfer molding.

Abstract: A climbing cam can include a stem forming the main body of the climbing cam. A moveable latch can be disposed on the stem and operable to tether the steam to a climbing harness of a climber. A spring-loaded cam lobe can be disposed on a first end of the stem. A trigger can be connected to the cam lobe so that the trigger is actuatable to retract the cam lobe from an expanded position to a retracted position and to open the moveable latch, allowing the stem to untether from the climbing harness when the cam lobe is in the retracted position.

Abstract: A counter-swarm firework includes a shell casing, multiple streamers positioned in the shell casing, a burst charge positioned in the shell casing and configured to disperse the multiple streamers from the shell casing when discharged, a pusher plate positioned in the shell casing between the burst charge and the multiple streamers, a fire suppressant layer positioned between the burst charge and the pusher plate, and a kick charge configured to launch the shell casing and its contents prior to discharging the burst charge. The fire suppression layer may be configured to suppress heat generated by the discharge of the burst charge.

Abstract: A power converter includes a primary H-bridge with switches and an LCL-Transformer section with a first inductor with a first end connected to a first terminal of the primary H-bridge, a capacitor connected between a second end of the first inductor and a second terminal of the primary H-bridge, and a second inductor with a first end connected to the second end of the first inductor. The converter includes a transformer with a primary connected between a second end of the second inductor and the second terminal of the primary H-bridge, a secondary H-bridge with switches with an input connected to a secondary side of the transformer, and an output capacitor connected across output terminals of the secondary H-bridge. The primary H-bridge is fed by a DC constant current source and the output terminals of the secondary H-bridge have a regulated DC output voltage are connected to a load.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for deflating a gas cavity about a projectile formed upon entry of the projectile into a liquid. The device can include a wall coupleable with a body operable as a projectile and defining an exterior and an interior space. The wall can be oriented toward a trailing end relative to a leading end defined by the body. The device can also include at least one inlet to facilitate gas flow from the exterior to the interior space. An outlet can facilitate gas flow from the interior space to the exterior and can be oriented toward the trailing end relative to the at least one inlet. Upon entry of the body and the wall into a liquid and formation of a gas cavity about a portion of the body and the wall, the at least one inlet can be located within the gas cavity and the outlet can be located outside the gas cavity, such that gas flows from the exterior through the at least one inlet to the interior space, and from the interior space through the outlet to the exterior to deflate the gas cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for a high-power reflexive field containment circuit topology for dynamic wireless power transfer systems is disclosed. A wireless power transfer (“WPT”) charging apparatus includes an inverter configured to connect with a direct current (“DC”) source on an input side and one or more WPT charging branches. Each WPT charging branch includes a WPT charging pad circuit with a WPT charging pad connected in series with a first series charging capacitor, a parallel charging capacitor connected in parallel with the WPT charging pad circuit, and a series charging impedance connected in series between an output of the inverter and a connection between the WPT charging pad circuit and the parallel charging capacitor. The series charging impedance includes a second series charging capacitor and/or a series charging inductor.

Abstract: An apparatus for a high-power reflexive field containment circuit topology for dynamic wireless power transfer systems is disclosed. A wireless power transfer (“WPT”) charging apparatus includes an inverter configured to connect with a direct current (“DC”) source on an input side and one or more WPT charging branches. Each WPT charging branch includes a WPT charging pad circuit with a WPT charging pad connected in series with a first series charging capacitor, a parallel charging capacitor connected in parallel with the WPT charging pad circuit, and a series charging impedance connected in series between an output of the inverter and a connection between the WPT charging pad circuit and the parallel charging capacitor. The series charging impedance includes a second series charging capacitor and/or a series charging inductor.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for deflating a gas cavity about a projectile formed upon entry of the projectile into a liquid. The device can include a wall coupleable with a body operable as a projectile and defining an exterior and an interior space. The wall can be oriented toward a trailing end relative to a leading end defined by the body. The device can also include at least one inlet to facilitate gas flow from the exterior to the interior space. An outlet can facilitate gas flow from the interior space to the exterior and can be oriented toward the trailing end relative to the at least one inlet. Upon entry of the body and the wall into a liquid and formation of a gas cavity about a portion of the body and the wall, the at least one inlet can be located within the gas cavity and the outlet can be located outside the gas cavity, such that gas flows from the exterior through the at least one inlet to the interior space, and from the interior space through the outlet to the exterior to deflate the gas cavity.

Abstract: A quad anchor can have a first attachment loop and a second attachment loop. Each of the first and second attachment loops are operable to connect to an anchor point. The quad anchor can also include an intermediate loop disposed between the first attachment loop and the second attachment loop and joined to the first attachment loop and the second attachment loop. The intermediate loop is operable to connect to a load to be supported by the quad anchor.

Abstract: A technology is described for spatially estimating thermal emissivity. A method can include obtaining spectral emissivity data and satellite imaging data for a geographic area. A weighted emissivity model of emissivity values may be generated for surfaces included in the geographic area from the spectral emissivity data and the satellite imaging data, wherein the spectral emissivity data is mapped to the satellite imaging data to generate the weighted emissivity model. Thermal imaging data for the geographic area may be received from an airborne thermal imaging sensor and a thermal emissivity map can be generated for the geographic area using the thermal imaging data and the weighted emissivity model. The emissivity values from the weighted emissivity model can be used to estimate thermal emissivity values.

Abstract: This invention is directed to methods of switching from sexual reproduction to apomixis or from apomixis to sexual reproduction in a eukaryote. More particularly, this invention provides methods of switching from meiosis to apomeiosis and from syngamy to parthenogenesis in a plant. The invention also provides methods of producing an apomictic eukaryote from a sexual eukaryote and a sexual eukaryote from an apomictic eukaryote.

Abstract: A system and methods for optically detecting a target gas are disclosed and described. An imaging system can include a narrow-band optical interference filter with a center wavelength that corresponds to a feature in an absorption spectrum of a target gas at a normal angle of incidence. An optical component can receive incoming light from the target gas that has passed through the narrow-band optical interference filter, where the narrow-band optical interference filter is tilted relative to the optical component, which tilt shifts the wavelength of light from each target point that is able to pass through the narrow-band optical interference filter. A camera can receive the incoming light that has been focused by the optical component. Multiple image frames are collected for different orientations of the system with respect to the target and analyzed to perform hyperspectral charactetization of target gas absorption.

Abstract: For storing supercooled water, a method cools a water flow with a specified mass flow rate to a specified temperature to form a supercooled water flow. The method conducts the supercooled water flow through a flow pipe with a specified pipe impedance to an ice tank. The method stores the supercooled water flow as ice in the ice tank.

Abstract: Among other things, a reconfigurable antenna array (RAA) includes individual pattern reconfigurable antennas (PRA). Each of the PRAs has (a) an antenna, (b) components controllable to generate and effect any of two or more modes of the PRA, the modes having respectively different steered radiation patterns, and (c) inputs to receive drive signals for the antenna and control signals for the controllable components. Control circuitry has outputs coupled to the inputs of the PRAs to drive the antennas of the PRAs to form an array beam having an array peak in a particular direction and at the same time to deliver control signals for the controllable components to effect a selected mode of each of the PRAs for which the steered radiation pattern has a peak in the particular direction of the array beam and has one or more nulls in the directions of one or more of the side-lobes of the array beam.

Abstract: For model predictive control for a spacecraft formation, a method calculates a virtual point that represents a plurality of spacecraft orbiting in a spacecraft formation. The method calculates an outer polytope boundary and an inner polytope boundary relative to the virtual point for a given spacecraft of the plurality of spacecraft. The method maneuvers the given spacecraft to within the inner polytope boundary using model predictive control (MPC) to minimize fuel consumption.

Abstract: For model predictive control for a spacecraft formation, a method calculates a virtual point that represents a plurality of spacecraft orbiting in a spacecraft formation. The method calculates an outer polytope boundary and an inner polytope boundary relative to the virtual point for a given spacecraft of the plurality of spacecraft. The method maneuvers the given spacecraft to within the inner polytope boundary using model predictive control (MPC) to minimize fuel consumption.