Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for charging an electrical storage system in a vehicle. The vehicle comprises a support frame, a propulsion, an electric storage system, an extendable structure, and a power management unit. The propulsion system, the electrical storage system, and the power management unit are physically coupled to the support frame. The electrical storage system supplies the electrical energy to the propulsion system. The group of thermoelectric modules physically is physically coupled to the extendable structure and generates a current in response to a heat being transferred through the group of modules. The power management unit is electrically coupled to the electrical storage system and the group of thermal thermoelectric modules and controls storing the electrical energy in the electrical storage system using the current from the group of thermoelectric modules and supplying the electrical energy to the propulsion system.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system is provided and a corresponding method for harvesting energy from an aircraft cabin pressurization system utilizing the same. According to one aspect, an energy harvesting system includes an aircraft cabin enclosing a high-pressure environment of pressurized air. An air input receives incoming air from a low-pressure environment and an air output expels outgoing air from the high-pressure environment. A turbine receives the pressurized air expelled from the aircraft cabin and utilizes the pressurized air to produce rotational motion on a turbine shaft. An energy harvesting mechanism is coupled to the turbine shaft and utilizes the rotational motion from the turbine shaft to compress the incoming air or to create electrical energy.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure disclose apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing an electromagnetic wave from one layer of a photonic circuit structure to another layer of the photonic circuit structure in at least one of the x-direction, the y-direction, and the z-direction. In so doing, aspects of the present disclosure enable the fabrication and use of multi-dimensional photonic circuit structures, and thus improve the capacity, power, weight, size, and/or cost of the circuits implemented by such multi-dimensional photonic circuit structures.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system is provided and a corresponding method for harvesting energy from an aircraft cabin pressurization system utilizing the same. According to one aspect, an energy harvesting system includes an aircraft cabin enclosing a high-pressure environment of pressurized air. An air input receives incoming air from a low-pressure environment and an air output expels outgoing air from the high-pressure environment. A turbine receives the pressurized air expelled from the aircraft cabin and utilizes the pressurized air to produce rotational motion on a turbine shaft. An energy harvesting mechanism is coupled to the turbine shaft and utilizes the rotational motion from the turbine shaft to compress the incoming air or to create electrical energy.

Abstract: A device for increasing a number of optical signal channels detectable by an optical channel performance monitor having M detectors includes an input to receive an optical signal, a filter assembly coupled to the input, a controller connected to the filter assembly, and an output. The controller selectively configures the filter assembly to filter the optical signal in a repeating sequence of periodic passbands. The output transfers an output of the filter assembly to an optical channel performance monitor.

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 tank in fluid communication with each of the 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; a controller configured to control each of the plurality of valves, where the controller is configured to actuate the plurality of valves to generate, from contents of the tank received at each nozzle, a plume to be suspended in air to form a plurality of plumes; and a light source configured to project indicia on the plurality of plumes.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for facilitating communications with an underwater platform. A radio frequency signal is received at an antenna system connected to an unmanned aerial vehicle. Information is encoded in the radio frequency signal. The information in the radio frequency signal is placed into a laser beam. The transmitting the laser beam from the unmanned aerial vehicle to an underwater platform submerged in a body of water.

Abstract: A system for direction of arrival determination includes a waveform detector and processing circuitry. The waveform detector includes a first pair of dielectric structures and a second pair of dielectric structures. The processing circuitry is configured to determine a direction of arrival of an electromagnetic wave incident on the waveform detector. The direction of arrival is determined based on relative power levels in the first pair of dielectric structures responsive to the electromagnetic wave and based on relative power levels in the second pair of dielectric structures responsive to the electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for facilitating communications with an underwater platform. A radio frequency signal is received at an antenna system connected to an unmanned aerial vehicle. Information is encoded in the radio frequency signal. The information in the radio frequency signal is placed into a laser beam. The transmitting the laser beam from the unmanned aerial vehicle to an underwater platform submerged in a body of water.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for charging an electrical storage system in a vehicle. The vehicle comprises a support frame, a propulsion, an electric storage system, an extendable structure, and a power management unit. The propulsion system, the electrical storage system, and the power management unit are physically coupled to the support frame. The electrical storage system supplies the electrical energy to the propulsion system. The group of thermoelectric modules physically is physically coupled to the extendable structure and generates a current in response to a heat being transferred through the group of modules. The power management unit is electrically coupled to the electrical storage system and the group of thermal thermoelectric modules and controls storing the electrical energy in the electrical storage system using the current from the group of thermoelectric modules and supplying the electrical energy to the propulsion system.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure disclose apparatuses, systems, and methods for providing an electromagnetic wave from one layer of a photonic circuit structure to another layer of the photonic circuit structure in at least one of the x-direction, the y-direction, and the z-direction. In so doing, aspects of the present disclosure enable the fabrication and use of multi-dimensional photonic circuit structures, and thus improve the capacity, power, weight, size, and/or cost of the circuits implemented by such multi-dimensional photonic circuit structures.

Abstract: Optical fibers are described that include integrated Photovoltaic (PV) cells. One embodiment comprises a method of integrating a photon converter into an optical fiber. The method comprises acquiring an optical fiber having a core that is configured to convey light. The method further comprises cleaving the optical fiber to form a first length and a second length, and fabricating a photon converter onto an end of the first length of optical fiber, where the photon converter includes a void that allows the light through the core to traverse across the splice. The method further comprises splicing the end of the first length of the optical fiber to an end of the second length of the optical fiber.

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: One embodiment of a method for producing a plurality of nanostructures embedded in a host comprising the steps of: assembling a first preform, drawing said first preform into a first fiber, cutting said first fiber into a plurality of pieces, assembling said pieces of said first fiber into a second preform, and drawing said second preform into a second fiber. The host is made of a low thermal conductivity material such as a polymer or combination of polymers. The host can assume the form of a plurality of nanotubes which further reduces the host's thermal conductivity due to enhanced phonon scattering. The host can exhibit anisotropic thermal conductivity which reduces its thermal conductivity perpendicular to the direction in which it was drawn. The nanostructure-host composite can be cut into pieces and assembled into efficient thermoelectric devices for use in cooling or electric power generation applications. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Abstract: Optical fibers are described that include integrated Photovoltaic (PV) cells. One embodiment comprises a method of integrating a photon converter into an optical fiber. The method comprises acquiring an optical fiber having a core that is configured to convey light. The method further comprises cleaving the optical fiber to form a first length and a second length, and fabricating a photon converter onto an end of the first length of optical fiber, where the photon converter includes a void that allows the light through the core to traverse across the splice. The method further comprises splicing the end of the first length of the optical fiber to an end of the second length of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Optical fibers are described that include integrated Photovoltaic (PV) cells. The PV cells do not interfere with the optical signals that are transmitted along a core of an optical fiber. Further, the PV cells are able to convert light scattered from the core of the optical fiber into electricity. The PV cells may then be used to power remote optical amplifiers disposed along the optical fiber. For instance, the PV cells may be used to supplement or fully power the remote optical amplifiers. In one implementation, an apparatus includes an optical fiber and a PV cell. The optical fiber includes a first length and a second length that that are joined together at a splice. The optical fiber includes a core that conveys light, an inner cladding surrounding the core that is optically transparent, and an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding that redirects scattered light from the core into the inner cladding.

Abstract: An energy harvesting apparatus may include a thermoelectric device, a heat exchanger coupled to the thermoelectric device, a thermal capacitor container, and a thermal capacitor generation device. The thermal capacitor generation device may be configured to generate a thermal capacitor fluid, to be contained in the thermal capacitor container. An electrical energy storage device may be electrically connected to the thermoelectric device, to store electricity generated by the thermoelectric device.

Abstract: Optical fibers are described that include integrated Photovoltaic (PV) cells. The PV cells do not interfere with the optical signals that are transmitted along a core of an optical fiber. Further, the PV cells are able to convert light scattered from the core of the optical fiber into electricity. The PV cells may then be used to power remote optical amplifiers disposed along the optical fiber. For instance, the PV cells may be used to supplement or fully power the remote optical amplifiers. In one implementation, an apparatus includes an optical fiber and a PV cell. The optical fiber includes a first length and a second length that that are joined together at a splice. The optical fiber includes a core that conveys light, an inner cladding surrounding the core that is optically transparent, and an outer cladding surrounding the inner cladding that redirects scattered light from the core into the inner cladding.

Abstract: A system for direction of arrival determination includes a waveform detector and processing circuitry. The waveform detector includes a first pair of dielectric structures and a second pair of dielectric structures. The processing circuitry is configured to determine a direction of arrival of an electromagnetic wave incident on the waveform detector. The direction of arrival is determined based on relative power levels in the first pair of dielectric structures responsive to the electromagnetic wave and based on relative power levels in the second pair of dielectric structures responsive to the electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: A system is provided that includes a gateway node and terminal node. The gateway node includes an actuator configured to produce a light beam for propagation through a fluid, and a sensor configured to detect a reflection of the light beam. The terminal node is disposed within the fluid and includes an energy source and a photovoltaic layer adjacent to a reflective layer. The photovoltaic layer is switchably controlled between two modes, to convey a data stream associated with the reflected light beam to the sensor of the gateway node, the two modes including: a transmission mode wherein the light beam is transmitted through the photovoltaic layer and reflected by the adjacent reflective layer to the sensor of the gateway node, and a recharging mode wherein the photovoltaic layer is configured to capture photonic energy from the light beam for storage in the energy source.