Abstract: A system and method for providing landing guidance to an aircraft may include an aviation headset having one or more sensors and one or more antennas, a position module configured to determine a position of the headset, and an encoder module for encoding the position information as an audible subchannel. The encoded audible subchannel may be included with voice transmissions via the aircraft radio. A guidance portion may receive the transmission and analyze the encoded audible subchannel to determine the position of the aircraft. Landing guidance may be communicated based on a comparison of the position with a desired glide path.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an electronically activated grouping of charged particles for providing a changeable image on a surface is disclosed and claimed herein. The apparatus can include a capsule containing a plurality of first reflectance-type charged particles suspended in a dielectric fluid. Attached to the capsule can be a first rectenna having dipole elements attached to the capsule and conductively coupled to the capsule to effect switching of the plurality of first reflectance-type charged particles between a substantially visible state to a substantially non-visible state when a signal having the first rectenna's wavelength is received.

Abstract: A fastening device may include a first member configured for forceful engagement with a second member. The first member may include a sensor configured to emit at least a first photo-luminescent signal to a detector when at least a predetermined first torque level is applied to the first member when the first and second members are engaged.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an electronically activated grouping of charged particles for providing a changeable image on a surface is disclosed and claimed herein. The apparatus can include a capsule containing a plurality of first reflectance-type charged particles suspended in a dielectric fluid. Attached to the capsule can be a first rectenna having dipole elements attached to the capsule and conductively coupled to the capsule to effect switching of the plurality of first reflectance-type charged particles between a substantially visible state to a substantially non-visible state when a signal having the first rectenna's wavelength is received.

Abstract: A device includes an interface adapter configured to physically couple to a corresponding interface adapter of a mobile communication device. The device includes a blast sensor configured to generate blast data based on one or more measurements and to communicate the blast data to the mobile communication device via the interface adapter. The device further includes a housing at least partially enclosing the blast sensor and at least partially enclosing the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A wing assembly, a wing applique and an associated method for controlling the flow of air over a wing are provided. A wing assembly may include a wing having leading and trailing edges. The wing assembly also includes a flow control structure, such as an applique, carried by the surface of the wing so as to extend from a first end to a second end. The flow control structure defines an inlet proximate to the first end, an outlet proximate to the second end and the internal passage extending from the inlet to the outlet. The wing assembly may also include a control surface, such as a wedge, positioned downstream of the outlet. The flow control structure is configured to control the flow of air exiting from the outlet in order to correspondingly control attachment of the air with the control surface.

Abstract: A system of transporting micro-cargo incorporates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a tether capture device. A tether is connected to and suspends a micro cargo container with a suspension system to vertically extend the tether. The system having a first pickup state and a second flight state with a transition between the first and second states. The first state provides the micro-container unsuspended via the tether from the suspension system. The transition state provides engagement of the tether by the UAV, the tether positioning the micro-cargo container with respect to the capture device which secures the tether. The second state is then entered with the micro-cargo towed by the UAV in cruising flight to its destination.

Abstract: A system of transporting micro-cargo incorporates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a tether capture device. A tether is connected to and suspends a micro cargo container with a suspension system to vertically extend the tether. The system having a first pickup state and a second flight state with a transition between the first and second states. The first state provides the micro-container unsuspended via the tether from the suspension system. The transition state provides engagement of the tether by the UAV, the tether positioning the micro-cargo container with respect to the capture device which secures the tether. The second state is then entered with the micro-cargo towed by the UAV in cruising flight to its destination.

Abstract: A wing assembly, a wing applique and an associated method for controlling the flow of air over a wing are provided. A wing assembly may include a wing having leading and trailing edges. The wing assembly also includes a flow control structure, such as an applique, carried by the surface of the wing so as to extend from a first end to a second end. The flow control structure defines an inlet proximate to the first end, an outlet proximate to the second end and the internal passage extending from the inlet to the outlet. The wing assembly may also include a control surface, such as a wedge, positioned downstream of the outlet. The flow control structure is configured to control the flow of air exiting from the outlet in order to correspondingly control attachment of the air with the control surface.

Abstract: A maneuvering autonomous rotorcraft cargo attachment system for engaging two mating elements of a coupling mechanism includes a first system on a ship deck to position a first coupling mechanism element in response to positioning commands and a second system attached to a rotorcraft hoist cable to position the second coupling mechanism element in response to positioning commands. A controller calculates and issues the positioning commands to the first and second positioning systems thereby effecting engagement of the two coupling elements.

Abstract: A method for mapping, in three dimensions, the contents of a plume within an area is described. The method includes distributing spectrally sensitive sensors on a first surface of a vehicle, distributing spectrally sensitive emitters on a second surface of a vehicle, causing the emitters to output a signal directed through the plume and towards the sensors, receiving at least a portion of the emitter output at the sensors, communicating an output of the sensors, the sensor output caused by the received optical emitter output, to a central processing unit, and analyzing the sensor outputs and time-based vehicle positions to characterize the plume and an area surrounding the plume in three dimensions over a period of time.

Abstract: A method for collecting and sensing a column of air in near real-time to detect one or more agents dispersed within the air column is described. The method includes passing the column of air through a port in a parafoil, the parafoil configured with a flow-through sensor suite located in the port and operable such that the column of air passes through the sensor suite, operating the sensor suite to test the column of air for the one or more agents, and receiving test results from the sensor suite.

Abstract: A method for mapping, in three dimensions, the contents of a plume within an area is described. The method includes distributing spectrally sensitive sensors on a first surface of a vehicle, distributing spectrally sensitive emitters on a second surface of a vehicle, causing the emitters to output a signal directed through the plume and towards the sensors, receiving at least a portion of the emitter output at the sensors, communicating an output of the sensors, the sensor output caused by the received optical emitter output, to a central processing unit, and analyzing the sensor outputs and time-based vehicle positions to characterize the plume and an area surrounding the plume in three dimensions over a period of time.

Abstract: A method for collecting and sensing a column of air in near real-time to detect one or more agents dispersed within the air column is described. The method includes passing the column of air through a port in a parafoil, the parafoil configured with a flow-through sensor suite located in the port and operable such that the column of air passes through the sensor suite, operating the sensor suite to test the column of air for the one or more agents, and receiving test results from the sensor suite.