Abstract: The construction of an internal/external single expansion ramp nozzle (nxSERN), and method of designing the same, is provided. Initial design parameters for primary stream construction are selected and additional parameters are determined by isentropic relations using the selected design parameters and Prandtl-Meyer function. The nozzle throat input and output angles are determined and used to define an initial portion of the nozzle primary stream lower expansion surface. The nozzle primary stream upper expansion surface and an aft portion of the primary stream lower expansion surface are defined using a method of characteristics. Initial and aft portions of the primary stream lower expansion surface are then connected by a straight line to define the primary stream nozzle.

Abstract: A method and system for providing adaptive coded modulation in LEO satellite communication system is provided. The received power signal at the receiver is predicted by the LEO satellite transmitter without using channel feedback from the receiver. The receiver rapidly detects changes in transmission rate and changes its demodulation rate in tandem with the LEO satellite. Certain conditions that vary slowly, such as local weather and ground moisture level, are provided to the transmitter from the receiver at a much slower rate than that used in normal data communications.

Abstract: A plasma power limiter fabricated using wafer-level fabrication techniques with other circuit elements. The plasma limiter includes a signal substrate and a trigger substrate defining a hermetically sealed cavity therebetween in which is encapsulated an ionizable gas. The signal substrate includes a signal line within the cavity and the trigger substrate includes at least one trigger probe extending from the trigger substrate towards the transmission line. If a signal propagating on the transmission line exceeds a power threshold, the gas within the cavity is ionized creating a conduction path between the transmission line and the trigger probe that draws off the high power current.

Abstract: A method and system for transferring flats mail from palletized bundles into a flats sorting system. The bundles are loaded into a system in which they are scanned for delivery zone information. The bundles are transported to a tray loading station based on delivery zone. The flats mail is unbundled and placed into system trays at the tray loading stations. The system trays are then transported to a flats sorting system.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a lighter than air platform, a reversible propulsive/wind turbine, a deployable anchor to constrain movement of the lighter than air platform with respect to an anchor point allowing wind to drive the turbine, and a generator/motor coupled to the turbine to produce electrical power when movement of the lighter than air platform is constrained. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A fiber laser amplifier system including a beam splitter that splits a feedback beam into a plurality of fiber beams where a separate fiber beam is sent to a fiber amplifier for amplifying the fiber beam. A tapered fiber bundle couples all of the output ends of all of the fiber amplifiers into a combined fiber providing a combined output beam. A beam sampler samples a portion of the output beam from the tapered fiber bundle and provides a sample beam. A single mode fiber receives the sample beam from the beam sampler and provides the feedback beam.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for supplying electrical power and cooling for an aircraft. The apparatus includes a cooling turbine coupled to a shaft, a compressor coupled to the shaft, and including an input for receiving engine bleed air or ambient air, and an output for discharging compressed air, a flywheel coupled to the shaft, a power turbine coupled to the shaft, and a starter generator coupled to the shaft between the compressor and the power turbine.

Abstract: A multichannel optical system including a mixing device responsive to a sample beam and a reference beam that provides an in-phase signal including the mixed sample beam and reference beam having a relative phase of 0° and a quadrature phase signal including the mixed sample beam and reference beam having a relative phase of 90°. The system also includes a photodetector responsive to the quadrature phase signal that converts the quadrature phase signal to a quadrature phase electrical signal. A polarization demultiplexer circuit receives the quadrature phase electrical signal and measures the amplitude of a unique time-dependent phase dither profile having a zero time-averaged mean and a zero time-averaged correlation to the other phase dither profiles and provides a polarization amplitude signal. A polarization controller receives the polarization amplitude signal and controls the reference beam to maximize the polarization amplitude signal.