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: An apparatus includes a battery pack with N battery bricks, each with a DC output voltage. The output of each brick is connected in series providing a bus voltage. Each brick includes battery power modules (“BPMs”) connected in parallel and each connected to a battery cell. Each BPM charges/discharges the connected battery cell. Each brick has a battery brick controller that provides a control signal to each brick's BPMs. A control signal of a BPM is derived from a BPM error signal that includes a battery cell current of the battery cell of BPM subtracted from a summation of an average current signal, a local droop current and a balancing current. The balancing current is based on a current SOC of the battery cell connected to the BPM and a desired SOC for the battery cell connected to the BPM. A BMS derives the balancing current for the BPMs.

Abstract: All inorganic perovskites for short-wave IR (SWIR) devices having improved chemical stability and long-term stability. Improved methods of making all inorganic perovskites for short-wave IR (SWIR) devices are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer pad for wireless power transfer with active field cancellation using multiple magnetic flux sinks includes a ferrite structure, a center coil positioned adjacent to the ferrite structure, and a plurality of side coils positioned around a perimeter of the center coil and positioned adjacent to the ferrite structure. A direction of current flow of the center coil is opposite a current flow in each of the plurality of side coils such that current flowing in a portion of the center coil adjacent to a portion of a side coil of the plurality of side coils is in a same direction as current in the portion of the side coil.

Abstract: A vehicle including a power receiving pad for wirelessly receiving power, a plurality of magnetic sensors for measuring a magnetic field of a power transmitting pad and obtaining magnetic field data, one or more processors, and one or more memory modules are provided. The one or more memory modules include a computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive the magnetic field data from the plurality of magnetic sensors, and estimate a lateral misalignment of the power receiving pad with respect to a magnetic axis of the power transmitting pad. The magnetic sensors are arranged to detect at least an X-component and a Y-component of a magnetic field produced by a power transmitting pad.

Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may generate thrust of no more than 5 N at an oxidizer flow rate of no more than 5 g/s.

Abstract: The present application provides fibers made from recombinant hagfish intermediate filament proteins. Methods of expressing and purifying the proteins, and methods of creating the fibers, are likewise disclosed. The method of purifying protein yields larger quantities of hagfish protein than have been previously achieved, and the fibers have the highest mechanical properties yet recorded for recombinant hagfish protein fibers.

Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer.

Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may generate thrust of no more than 5 N at an oxidizer flow rate of no more than 5 g/s.

Abstract: A hybrid rocket includes a housing having first and second ends, a solid-grain fuel material in the housing and defining a bore extending from end to end, two electrodes positioned adjacent to the fuel material to ignite the fuel material at the first end, a primary oxidizer port positioned at the first end to inject a primary oxidizer to flow in a downstream direction from the first end to the second end, a nozzle positioned at the second end and having a converging portion and a diverging portion, and a secondary oxidizer port to inject a secondary oxidizer downstream of the converging portion. The bore has a geometry configured to produce a hot-gas, fuel-rich mixture at the nozzle as the fuel material and primary oxidizer burn while flowing downstream. The diverging portion of the nozzle is configured to spontaneously combust the secondary oxidizer and the hot-gas, fuel-rich mixture.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for object detection are described. An example method for object detection is provided which may include capturing at least three polarization angles of a scene. The method may include translating polarization parameters associated with the at least three polarization angles to a reference angle to create a vector map and resolving the vector map into parallel components and perpendicular components, wherein the parallel components are parallel to a plane of incidence of light in the scene and the perpendicular components are perpendicular. The method may further include determining a range map based at least in part on the parallel and perpendicular components, detecting an object present in the scene using the range map and an airlight scattering polarization component, and outputting an indication of the object.

Abstract: A method of electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide includes the use of multi-faceted Cu2O crystals as a catalyst to convert CO2 to value-added products. An electrochemical cell for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide includes a cathode including the multi-faceted Cu2O crystals. The multi-faceted Cu2O crystals have at least two different types of facets with different Miller indices. The multi-faceted Cu2O crystals include steps and kinks present at the transitions between the different types of facets. These steps and kinks improve the Faradaic Efficiency of the conversion of carbon dioxide. The multi-faceted Cu2O crystals may be nanosized. The multi-faceted Cu2O crystals may include 18-facet, 20-facet, and/or 50-facet Cu2O crystals.

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: Hands-free walking devices and methods of constructing the same are described herein. The devices can include a receiving member to receive a portion of a patient's leg above a patient's knee and one or more hinges connected to the receiving member. One or more vertical members can be each connected to one of the hinges. A ground-contact member can be connected to the vertical members. The receiving member can transfer at least a portion of the patient's weight through the vertical members to the ground-contact member. The hinges can rotate about an axis about which the patient's knee also rotates while walking to support a natural gait.

Abstract: Described herein are redox active materials based on functionalization of 2,5-di(pyridine-4-yl)thiazolo-[5,4-d]thiazole (Py2TTz). Also described herein are aqueous organic redox flow batteries that include a first redox active material and a second redox active material comprising a viologen compound or a salt thereof.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. An example method for object detection is provided which may include capturing at least three polarization angles of a scene. The method may include translating polarization parameters associated with the at least three polarization angles to a reference angle to create a vector map and resolving the vector map into parallel components and perpendicular components, wherein the parallel components are parallel to a plane of incidence of light in the scene and the perpendicular components are perpendicular. The method may further include determining a range map based at least in part on the parallel and perpendicular components, detecting an object present in the scene using the range map and an airlight scattering polarization component, and outputting an indication of the object.

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: The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for investigating Zika virus (ZIKV) biology and pathogenicity. The present disclosure provides genetically stable viral vectors to produce functional RNA transcripts of ZIKV cDNAs. In particular, the present disclosure provides full-length infectious cDNAs as bacterial artificial chromosomes for spatiotemporally distinct and genetically divergent ZIKVs. The present disclosure also provides methods of generating a genetically engineered attenuated ZIKV using the genetically stable viral vectors described herein.

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: An inverter for wireless power transfer includes a primary inverter connected in series with a first primary inductor. A first primary capacitor is connected in parallel with the first primary inductor and primary inverter. A series-connected second primary capacitor and primary pad inductor are in parallel with the second primary capacitor. The synchronous inverter includes a controller configured to detect a first primary current in the first primary inductor to control switches in the primary inverter to provide a positive primary inverter voltage across the output of the primary inverter in response to detecting a positive first primary current, and control the switches in the primary inverter to provide a negative primary inverter voltage across the output of the primary inverter in response to detecting a negative first primary current.