Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved outdoor accessory in the form of a mounting assembly for use with pole holders and a cupholder. The mounting assembly includes a mounting base for standard tackle boxes or other outdoor equipment which provides users with a mounting attachment that allows users to mount the tackle box to a pole holder on a watercraft, pier, deck or other structure. This mounting assembly will support the tackle box (or other outdoor item) in a secure manner. The cupholder allows users to secure beverages or other items for easy access. Combining the two devices, they allow a tackle box to be mounted securely in an opening, such as a pole holder, which will allow for easy access to the tackle box and items such as beverages.

Abstract: A shackle for fastening an aircraft engine including a ball joint with a pin including a ring including a first bore and a sleeve assembled in the first bore and having a second bore configured to receive the pin and the diameter of which progressively increases to have a flared inner surface at each of its ends, the fastening shackle being arranged such that a spherical outer surface of the ring bears an anti-friction coating produced on a region extending beyond the contact region with the body of the shackle, this first region being bordered by rims forming a projection around the coating, and/or the second bore bears an anti-friction coating on a region extending beyond its contact region with the pin, this region being bordered by rims forming a projection around this anti-friction coating, at the ends of the flared inner surface.

Abstract: An irrigation device includes: a cell plug that includes an opening facing upward and an accommodation part that accommodates a predetermined amount of culture medium in communication with the opening; a liquid supply unit that supplies a liquid to a culture medium of the cell plug; and a cell plug lifting unit that lowers the cell plug when a weight of the cell plug is increased by a liquid supplied by the liquid supply unit and lifts the cell plug when a weight of the cell plug is decreased by drying of a culture medium. The liquid supply unit includes a contact end that is intermittently brought into contact with a culture medium by lifting and lowering of the cell plug by the cell plug lifting unit, performs liquid supply while the contact end is in contact with a culture medium, and stops liquid supply when the contact end is separated from a culture medium.

Abstract: A propulsion system comprising a nacelle with an air channel along a longitudinal direction, an electric motor whose output drives a propeller, and a fuel cell, comprising a core outside the air channel, open channels, each of which has an inlet and an outlet opening in the air channel, and, for each open channel, a fuel chamber, an electrolyte between the open channel and the fuel chamber, a cathode, and an anode, each open channel having an inlet surface area which is less than the surface area of an intermediate area between the inlet and the outlet, the surface area of the outlet being smaller than the surface area of the intermediate area. Such a system makes it possible to have the fuel cell close to the electric motor, thereby reducing the lengths of the electrical conductors between them, and consequently improving the operation of the fuel cell.

Abstract: Provided is an Aircraft Lavatory Unit 20 that ensures lavatory user comfort while facilitating diaper changing. The Aircraft Lavatory Unit 20 includes a Diaper Changing Table 10 on which an infant can be placed and which can be selectively changed between a Housed State in which the Diaper Changing Table 10 is housed in a Wall Surface and a Pulled-Out State in which the Diaper Changing Table 10 is pulled out from the Wall Surface; and a display 25 which is disposed to face the Diaper Changing Table 10 in the Pulled-Out State and display still images or videos.

Abstract: A freight vehicle on which a drone is docked, may include: a transfer device provided in the vehicle and configured to move up and down between an internal space of the vehicle and a roof to receive freight from the drone through the roof of the vehicle or transfer freight to the drone; and a loadspace separated, as a portion of the internal space of the vehicle, from a space where the transfer device is provided and including an open portion formed on a side or a rear of the vehicle, and onto which the freight is loaded.

Abstract: An aircraft can include a wing. A morphing member can be operatively connected to the wing. The morphing member can include a base and a shape memory material member operatively connected to the base. The base can be made of a flexible material. When the shape memory material member is activated, a shape of the morphing member can change. As a result, one or more aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft can be changed. In some arrangements, the flexible material can be a fabric, and the shape memory material member can be a shape memory alloy wire.

Abstract: A hatch locking device for an aircraft hatch includes an eccentric bush which can be connected to a hatch bulkhead of the aircraft hatch panel, an inner lining which is introduced into the eccentric bush and has a bolt receptacle which is oriented centrally along a bolt receptacle axis for receiving a locking bolt, a conical pressing sleeve in the inner lining, a conical clamping sleeve, the outer conical shell face of which is in displaceable engagement with an inner conical shell face of the conical pressing sleeve, and the inner cylindrical shell face of which is flush with the outer wall of the bolt receptacle, and linear actuators which are mounted on in each case two opposite sides of the conical pressing sleeve in the inner lining and are designed to displace the conical pressing sleeve along the bolt receptacle axis with respect to the conical clamping sleeve.

Abstract: Methods comprise flying an aircraft at cruise which results in an aerodynamic lift force on a flight control surface of the aircraft that urges the flight control surface away from a stowed position. Concurrently with the flying, the methods include counteracting the aerodynamic lift force with a magnetic force that urges the flight control surface towards the stowed position and that results in the flight control surface being maintained in the stowed position during the flying. Flight control systems comprise a flight control surface and an adjacent structure. The flight control surface or the adjacent structure comprises a magnet and the other of the flight control surface or the adjacent structure comprises a ferromagnetic structure. A magnetic force urges the flight control surface toward a stowed position.

Abstract: An airplane rudder and brake pedal assembly includes a rudder arm assembly having one rudder arm with first upper and lower arm portions, and another rudder arm with second upper and lower arm portions. The rudder arm assembly is assembled to a beam at an intersection of the first upper and lower arm portions, and an intersection of the second upper and lower arm portions. The first and second rudder arms are configured to rotate about the beam at the intersection. The rotation of the first and second rudder arms is configured to adjust control surfaces that control a yaw axis of the airplane. A brake pedal is attached to the first and second lower arm portions. Rotation of the brake pedal brakes the airplane. A rotary sensor is assembled to the brake pedal and the lower arm portion, and configured to determine an extent of the brake pedal rotation.

Abstract: A drone equipped with fuel cell power pack capable of reducing weight by supplying power from a fuel cell while enabling long-term operation of a drone is provided. The drone equipped with fuel cell power pack may include a case including a wing part placed along an outer circumference of the case, a module frame placed in the case, a fuel cell unit placed in the module frame with a weight balance; and a gas tank mounted on the module frame and connected to the fuel cell unit. Because an overall weight balance of the fuel cell power pack itself can be maintained, even if it is integrally mounted inside the drone, the stable operation of the drone can be achieved.

Abstract: An aircraft actuation system is disclosed that includes a pair of cylinders, a piston movably disposed in each cylinder, and a roller train that extends between the pistons in the two cylinders. A portion of the roller train is disposed beyond the cylinders to engage a pinion. Movement of the pistons in the two cylinders in opposite directions produces a corresponding movement of the roller train to in turn rotate the pinion. The roller train may be maintained in compression between its two ends by fluid pressure exerted on a common face of each of the pistons in the two cylinders. The cylinders may be disposed in non-colinear relation, including in parallel relation to one another. A guide may be used to maintain rollers of the roller train in a proper orientation for entry into a space between an outer race and the pinion.

Abstract: Lighter-than-air (LTA) systems and methods. The LTA may include a super-pressure balloon (SPB). A plurality of tendons may extend around and bias the SPB to a pumpkin shape. The SPB may use a compressor to provide a variable amount of ballast air by pumping in or expelling out ambient air. A zero-pressure balloon (ZPB) may be attached with the SPB. The ZPB may provide lift for the system. The SPB may include lifting gas and ballast air to provide both lifting and descent functions. The LTA may include a payload.

Abstract: A method of treating an area infested with bed bugs, includes applying to the infested area an amount of an isopropyl alcohol-denatured alcohol blend effective to kill the bed bugs. The alcohol blend composition is a bed bug control composition including, 25 vol. % to 33 vol. % denatured alcohol and 66 vol. % to 75 vol. % isopropyl alcohol.

Abstract: A device is for lubricating a railway switch, the device being remotely controllable and configured for moving on a railway track. The device has a container for lubricant and at least one nozzle configured for lubricating the railway switch with the lubricant. A system includes the device and a controller for remotely controlling said device. A method is for lubricating a railway switch, wherein the method includes the steps of remotely directing the device to the railway switch, remotely instructing the device to lubricate the railway switch, and remotely directing the device away from the railway switch to avoid hindering train traffic through the switch.

Abstract: A pressurized structure panel for forming a pressurized space pressurized inside includes a panel structure having a panel body to receive the pressure, a rib provided in the panel body, and a hollow part formed by the panel body and the rib, a radiation shielding material provided in the hollow part, and a debris bumper provided outside the panel structure and provided spaced apart from the panel structure by a certain spacing. The radiation shielding material includes a material containing hydrogen atoms in molecules.

Abstract: A technique of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) adapted for a package delivery mission includes: powering distributed propulsion units during takeoff and landing segments of the package delivery mission and idling at least a portion of the distributed propulsion units while powering a pair of outboard propulsion units during a cruise segment of the package delivery mission. The distributed propulsion units are mounted below fixed wings of the UAV and have first propellers mounted fore of the fixed wings. The outboard propulsion units are each mounted to a corresponding one of the fixed wings outboard of the distributed propulsion units. The outboard propulsion units include outboard propellers having a larger diameter than the first propellers.

Abstract: A UAV landing platform having movable covers to securely store/maintain/charge a UAV. The UAV may be launched from the landing platform, and the landing platform can have visual indicators to guide the landing of the UAV back onto the landing platform. There can be an optional mechanism to self-adjust/self-level the landing surface such that a UAV can safely land onto the landing platform even when the landing platform is on a traveling vehicle.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for actuating a control surface of a vehicle that moves through a fluid medium. The mechanism directly translates the rotational motion provided by an input drive to a control surface that is used to direct the vehicle. The mechanism provides both weight and space savings as well as limits, if not eliminates, backlash. The angled drive mechanism may be particularly suited for use in applications such as UAV/UUV, munitions, and other relatively small platforms.

Abstract: A search and rescue drone system includes a buoyant body member, a frame attached to the buoyant body member for carrying a motor and propeller, and an electronic array including a camera, GPS, an EPIRB radio distress beacon, and a transmitter/receiver for remote control flying the drone and communicating with an operator. A laser guidance system may provide coordinates for landing near a swimmer in distress. The search and rescue drone may also be programmed to simply fly to the location of an electronic wearable device, like a bracelet, that is worn by a man overboard. In another embodiment, the search and rescue drone includes pivoting motor mounts, so that it can take off and land vertically with propellers rotating in a horizontal plane, and then the propellers may pivot to rotate in a vertical plane for propulsion across water similar to a fan boat with rescued people aboard.