Abstract: A system for detecting a contaminant, which includes a light source directed to heat a layer of a material positioned in a location. The system further includes an infrared camera positioned aligned with the location to receive electromagnetic thermal radiation energy from the layer of the material in the location.

Abstract: A nanosatellite or drone, including an antenna; a dielectric waveguide coupled to the antenna, the waveguide comprising at least one of a slot or a taper and the waveguide (1) focusing electromagnetic radiation incident from free space into the waveguide and (2) waveguiding the electromagnetic radiation to the antenna. Also disclosed is a system for deploying a support structure, or device having electromagnetic functionality, including one or more bags each having a wall comprising a membrane; one or more conduits each having an outlet transferring fluid into the one or more of the bags in fluidic communication with the conduits, wherein the fluid pressurizes each of the one or more bags and expands the membrane so as to deploy and form each of the one or more bags into a support or the device having electromagnetic functionality.

Abstract: Methods, Systems, and Apparatus for coordinating drones to communicate with reduced signal to noise, harvest energy, or provide camouflage.

Abstract: An air duct system comprising an air duct having a main body, a visible light source, an emitter configured to emit radio frequency waves, and one or more antennas. The main body of the air duct defines a passageway having a reflective inner surface. The visible light source is configured to generate visible light. The visible light source directs the visible light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct. The emitter directs the radio frequency waves along the reflective inner surface of the air duct. The one or more antennas are each connected to a corresponding power harvesting circuit, where the radio frequency waves are received by the one or more antennas and are converted into electrical power by the corresponding power harvesting circuit.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system for extraction of impurities in additive manufacturing material, the system including an additive manufacturing machine for manufacturing a part using additive manufacturing material. The system may additionally include a conductive plate adjacent to the additive manufacturing material. The system can further include an energy source for distributing an electric charge through the conductive plate adjacent to the additive manufacturing material.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for generating and dispersing plumes of reflective aerosols. Methods include: supplying fuel to an engine of an aircraft for combustion; supplying an additive to the fuel, where the additive includes at least one of a reflective aerosol or a precursor thereof; combusting the fuel and the additive to the fuel in the engine; and generating, in the exhaust from the engine, a plume of reflective aerosol, where the reflective aerosol reflects sunlight.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for generating indicia in the sky using a single pass of an aircraft. A system of an embodiment for communicating a message from an aircraft includes: a plurality of valves; a plurality of nozzles, where each nozzle is associated with a corresponding valve, and where the plurality of nozzles are distributed along a span of a wing of the aircraft; at least one tank in fluid communication with the plurality of valves; and a controller configured to individually control each of the plurality of valves, where the controller is configured to individually actuate the plurality of valves to generate, from contents of the tank received at each nozzle, cloud bursts to be suspended in the air.

Abstract: An air duct system comprising an air duct having a main body, a visible light source, and one or more photovoltaic devices. The main body of the air duct defines a passageway having a reflective inner surface. The visible light source is configured to generate visible light, where the visible light source directs the visible light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct. The one or more photovoltaic devices are disposed along the reflective inner surface of the air duct, where a portion of the visible light generated by the visible light source is converted into electrical power by the one or more photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: A power recharging system may include an electrical conductor connected to a first aircraft and configured to connect to a second aircraft while the aircrafts are in flight. An AC signal may be induced in the electrical conductor it is in proximity to a changing magnetic field. The system may include a first rectifier circuit at the first aircraft that converts the AC signal into a DC signal for charging the first aircraft and a second rectifier circuit at the second aircraft that converts the AC signal into a second DC signal for charging the second aircraft. The electrical conductor may be part of a communication line. A communication system at the first aircraft may send and receive data communications via the communication line.

Abstract: A power recharging system may include an electrical conductor connected to a first aircraft and configured to connect to a second aircraft while the aircrafts are in flight. An AC signal may be induced in the electrical conductor it is in proximity to a changing magnetic field. The system may include a first rectifier circuit at the first aircraft that converts the AC signal into a DC signal for charging the first aircraft and a second rectifier circuit at the second aircraft that converts the AC signal into a second DC signal for charging the second aircraft. The electrical conductor may be part of a communication line. A communication system at the first aircraft may send and receive data communications via the communication line.

Abstract: A device for concentrating an electromagnetic wave includes a waveguide array that includes a central waveguide having a first refractive index and a central axis and feeder waveguides disposed around the central waveguide. Each feeder waveguide has a second refractive index. The waveguide array also includes a support structure coupled to the waveguide arrays and configured to, in a deployed configuration, retain the feeder waveguides of the waveguide array in a substantially symmetric arrangement with respect to the central waveguide to enable concentration of an electromagnetic wave of a particular wavelength in the central waveguide via electromagnetic coupling of the central waveguide with each of the feeder waveguides, with the respective axis of each feeder waveguide oriented substantially parallel to the central axis of the central waveguide and with each feeder waveguide spaced apart from the central waveguide by a distance that is based on the particular wavelength.

Abstract: A device for concentrating an electromagnetic wave includes a waveguide array that includes a central waveguide having a first refractive index and a central axis and feeder waveguides disposed around the central waveguide. Each feeder waveguide has a second refractive index. The waveguide array also includes a support structure coupled to the waveguide arrays and configured to, in a deployed configuration, retain the feeder waveguides of the waveguide array in a substantially symmetric arrangement with respect to the central waveguide to enable concentration of an electromagnetic wave of a particular wavelength in the central waveguide via electromagnetic coupling of the central waveguide with each of the feeder waveguides, with the respective axis of each feeder waveguide oriented substantially parallel to the central axis of the central waveguide and with each feeder waveguide spaced apart from the central waveguide by a distance that is based on the particular wavelength.

Abstract: A drone network including a first drone including a first receiver, a first transmitter, and a first processor, and a second drone positionable at a distance from the first drone. The second drone includes a second receiver, a second transmitter, and a second processor. The first transmitter is configured to emit a signal towards the second drone for reception at the second receiver, and the second processor is configured to determine a minimum signal power for the signal to be processed at the second drone. The second transmitter is configured to emit a return signal towards the first drone for reception at the first receiver. The return signal contains minimum signal power data as determined by the second processor, and the first processor is configured to modulate the power of signals to be emitted towards the second drone from the first transmitter based on the minimum signal power data.

Abstract: An underwater energy harvesting drone has a primary hull to be submersibly received in ocean water and a plurality of thermoelectric modules, each module of said plurality of thermoelectric modules having a first operational interface in thermal contact with the primary hull. A thermal transfer element is in contact with a second operational interface on the plurality of thermoelectric modules and an electrical power storage device is connected to the plurality of thermoelectric modules. Positioning of the submersible primary hull to create a thermal gradient between the primary hull and the thermal transfer element induces electrical power generation by the thermoelectric modules thereby charging the electrical power storage device.

Abstract: An air duct system is disclosed, and includes an air duct having a main body, where the main body of the air duct defines a passageway having a reflective inner surface. The air duct system also includes an ultraviolet light source configured to generate ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet light source directs the ultraviolet light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct.

Abstract: An air duct system comprising an air duct having a main body, a visible light source, and one or more photovoltaic devices. The main body of the air duct defines a passageway having a reflective inner surface. The visible light source is configured to generate visible light, where the visible light source directs the visible light along the reflective inner surface of the air duct. The one or more photovoltaic devices are disposed along the reflective inner surface of the air duct, where a portion of the visible light generated by the visible light source is converted into electrical power by the one or more photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: A system and method system for conveying power from a heat source is disclosed. The system includes a conduit constructed of a heat conducting material. The conduit defines a passageway containing a primary working fluid, where the conduit is either mounted upon or extends within at least a portion of a barrier. The conduit is configured to conduct thermal energy generated by the heat source and transfer the thermal energy to the primary working fluid flowing within the passageway. The system also includes a thermoelectric generator in thermal communication with the conduit. The thermoelectric generator has a hot side and a cold side. The primary working fluid transfers the thermal energy to the hot side of the thermoelectric generator to heat the hot side of the thermoelectric generator to a temperature greater than the cold side and create electric current.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for generating and dispersing plumes of reflective aerosols. Methods include: supplying fuel to an engine of an aircraft for combustion; supplying an additive to the fuel, where the additive includes at least one of a reflective aerosol or a precursor thereof; combusting the fuel and the additive to the fuel in the engine; and generating, in the exhaust from the engine, a plume of reflective aerosol, where the reflective aerosol reflects sunlight.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are provided for generating indicia in the sky using a single pass of an aircraft. A system of an embodiment for communicating a message from an aircraft includes: a plurality of valves; a plurality of nozzles, where each nozzle is associated with a corresponding valve, and where the plurality of nozzles are distributed along a span of a wing of the aircraft; at least one tank in fluid communication with the plurality of valves; and a controller configured to individually control each of the plurality of valves, where the controller is configured to individually actuate the plurality of valves to generate, from contents of the tank received at each nozzle, cloud bursts to be suspended in the air.

Abstract: A drone network including a first drone including a first receiver, a first transmitter, and a first processor, and a second drone positionable at a distance from the first drone. The second drone includes a second receiver, a second transmitter, and a second processor. The first transmitter is configured to emit a signal towards the second drone for reception at the second receiver, and the second processor is configured to determine a minimum signal power for the signal to be processed at the second drone. The second transmitter is configured to emit a return signal towards the first drone for reception at the first receiver. The return signal contains minimum signal power data as determined by the second processor, and the first processor is configured to modulate the power of signals to be emitted towards the second drone from the first transmitter based on the minimum signal power data.