Abstract: Thermo-optical array devices and methods of processing thermo-optical array devices are disclosed. One method of processing thermo-optical array devices includes forming an (001) oriented titanium dioxide material on a bolometer material, and forming a vanadium dioxide material on the (001) oriented titanium dioxide material. One thermo-optical array device includes a bolometer material, a titanium dioxide material on the bolometer material, and a vanadium dioxide material on the titanium dioxide material, wherein the vanadium dioxide material has an optical transition temperature of less than 67 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: A vane assembly includes first and second annular metal rings configured to accept a compressed gas flow therebetween. The first and second annular rings each include a cutout portion. The assembly further includes a ceramic matrix composite vane configured as an airfoil having a blunt rounded nose and a flattened and tapered tail. A first radial end of the vane is rigidly disposed on the first annular ring and a second radial end of the vane is slidably disposed within the cutout portion of the second annular ring such that the vane is encompassed by the first and second annular rings. The vane includes a hollow through opening portion extending radially therethrough. Still further, the assembly includes a metallic elongated member disposed within and extending through the hollow portion of vane and through the cutout portion of the first annular ring.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine, a rotor assembly for a gas turbine engine, and a method for thermally insulating an impeller in a gas turbine engine are provided. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine includes an impeller having a front face configured to modify a direction of air flow through the gas turbine engine. The impeller further includes backface to which a heat shield is mounted. A closed cavity is defined between the heat shield and the backface of the impeller, and is configured to insulate the backface of the impeller from a high temperature environment.

Abstract: Spall suppressing ballistic resistant vehicular armor. More particularly, a lightweight spall suppressing ballistic resistant vehicular armor system incorporating both a spall resistant liner and a blast mitigating material. The blast mitigating material is positioned contiguous to a vehicle hull to thereby space the spall resistant liner from the vehicle hull, thereby improving the performance of the liner and the overall system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for cooling the external surface of an aircraft APU eductor assembly. A processor is configured to open a surge valve by a predetermined amount when the surge valve is closed and the temperature of the exhaust gas exceeds a predetermined temperature in order to cool the surge plenum surfaces.

Abstract: A navigation system includes at least one inertial sensor configured to detect motion of the system and generate inertial data; at least one aiding device configured to generate aiding device measurement data; at least one processing unit configured to generate an un-smoothed navigation solution inclusive of navigation state variable error resets based on the inertial data and the aiding device measurement data; wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to sum the state variable error resets into a cumulative sum of the state variable error resets; wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to high pass filter the cumulative sum of the state variable error resets; and wherein the at least one processing unit is further configured to subtract the high pass filtered cumulative sum of the state variable error resets from the un-smoothed navigation solution to generate a smoothed navigation solution.

Abstract: An engine component includes a body having an internal surface and an external surface, the internal surface at least partially defining an internal cooling circuit. The engine component further includes a plurality of cooling holes formed in the body and extending between the internal cooling circuit and the external surface of the body. The plurality of cooling holes includes a first cooling hole with forward diffusion and lateral diffusion.

Abstract: Systems and methods relate to a operator selectable, variable-height attachment point system for a safety harness, where the attachment point is disposed on a radial support member that can be reversibly coupled to a vertical support member, and where the attachment point height can be selected by the operator by reversing a coupled orientation of the radial support member to the vertical support member.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, disclosed is an air-cooled turbine blade having an airfoil shape, including a convex suction side wall, a concave pressure side wall, the walls including an interior surface that defines an interior with the blade, a suction side flow circuit formed within the blade interior, a pressure side flow circuit formed within the blade interior; and a trailing edge pin bank positioned aft of the suction side and pressure side flow circuits. The turbine blade includes a wishbone-shaped architecture at a transition point between the suction side flow circuit and the pressure side flow circuit and the trailing edge pin bank.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptively steering radar beam patterns for coverage during aircraft turns. The radar sensor system is mechanically or electrically steered to alter the radar sensor's beam pattern in order to adapt the radar sensor's field of view (FOV) to cover the area of anticipated aircraft wingtip trajectory. The anticipated trajectory is derived, for example, from the aircraft groundspeed, acceleration, heading, turn rate, tiller position, attitude, taxi clearance, etc.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing airport surface collision-avoidance. A wingtip-mounted camera allows the pilot to positively ascertain that the wingtip will clear objects located in the video. An exemplary system implemented on an aircraft includes a wingtip module having a camera that generates a video stream and a communication device that transmits the generated video stream. A processor receives the video stream and generates a reticule for the video stream. A display device simultaneously presents the video stream and the reticule. The reticule includes a horizon line and is based on a focal length of a lens of the camera and height of the camera above ground. The reticule includes curved and/or straight distance lines and curved or straight travel lines. The travel line(s) correspond to at least one aircraft component or a zone of importance and are based on location of the camera and trajectory of the aircraft.

Abstract: A fluoroelastomer comprising a copolymer of fluoroolefin monomers selected from one or more of the group consisting of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and ethylenically unsaturated co-monomers; wherein the fluoroelastomer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of from about ?60° C. to about 53° C. A process of making the fluoroelastomer.

Abstract: Methods are provided for presenting procedure information for an airport on a display device onboard an aircraft. A method comprises displaying a map on a display device and displaying a briefing panel overlying a portion the map. The briefing panel includes a plurality of segments, wherein each segment is associated with a type of procedure information for the airport.

Abstract: Ballistic resistant materials and articles formed from fiber/tape plies that incorporate multiple different fiber or tape types within a single ply. The different fiber or tape types are physically dissimilar but may be chemically different or substantially chemically similar.

Abstract: A helicopter collision-avoidance system is disclosed. An exemplary system includes at least one lamp, such as a light emitting diode (LED) lamp, an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, an infrared lamp, or the like; a radar emitter configured to emit a radar signal; a radar detector configured to receive a radar return signal associated with reflections of the emitted radar signal that are reflected from an object; and a radio frequency (RF) system configured to wirelessly transmit radar information associated with the received radar return signal to a radar information receiver configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted radar information. The light module is located at one of a plurality of light positions on an external surface of a helicopter.

Abstract: Processes for preparing ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene yarns, and the yarns and articles produced therefrom. The surfaces of partially oriented yarns are subjected to a treatment that enhances the surface energy at the fiber surfaces and are coated with a protective coating immediately after the treatment to increase the shelf life of the treatment. The coated, treated yarns are then post drawn to form highly oriented yarns.

Abstract: A ground obstacle collision-avoidance system includes a plurality of radar sensor modules that each receive at a radar detector radar return signals corresponding to reflections of the emitted signal from a ground obstacle, and transmits radar information associated with the received radar signal reflections reflected from the ground obstacle, wherein each of the plurality of radar sensor modules are uniquely located on a surface of an aircraft that is at risk for collision with a ground obstacle if the aircraft is moving; a gateway unit that receives the radar information transmitted from the radar sensor module and transmits information associated with the received radar information; a processing system configured to determine a distance from the installation aircraft to a detected ground object detected; and a display configured to present a plan view indicating an aircraft icon and a graphical ground obstacle icon that is associated with the detected ground obstacle.

Abstract: A dual band imager includes a lens to receive short wavelength and medium or long wavelength radiation from a scene to be imaged, a beam splitter positioned to receive the radiation from the lens, a medium or long wavelength to short wavelength image converter positioned to receive long wavelength radiation reflected via the beam splitter and to transmit the image information via short wavelength radiation, and a detector to receive the short wavelength radiation containing the image information through the beam splitter or from the scene and from the image converter.

Abstract: A mass separation method utilizing a turbomolecular pump includes providing a gas, having analytes and ambient molecules, to an inlet chamber for allowing flow of gas into the pump, pulling gas into a pump chamber via motion of at least one of a rotor and a stator, positioning the rotor and stator such that the gas flows around an outer surface of one of the rotor or stator, and then inward toward a central axis and then toward a gas outlet, and wherein one or more target molecular or atomic species that are heavier than the ambient molecules in the gas at the inlet are passed through the chamber via the rotor and stator and a partial pressure of analytes in a gas at the outlet is increased by a larger factor than the ambient molecules at the outlet, resulting in an increase in the number analytes versus ambient molecules.

Abstract: An apparatus for inertial sensing is provided. The apparatus comprises at least one atomic inertial sensor, and one or more micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors operatively coupled to the atomic inertial sensor. The atomic inertial sensor and the MEMS inertial sensors operatively communicate with each other in a closed feedback loop.