Abstract: A unit of modular armor. The module has a box-like, optically opaque outer shell of ballistic-protection material enclosed to exclude light from the module's interior. The shell contains transparent armor plates and the shell contains a self-diagnostic system for ascertaining whether the plates have been damaged. The self-diagnostic system includes a first PC board disposed along first edges of the plates, the board being divided into strips on which are mounted rows of lights. The self-diagnostic system further includes a second PC board at second, opposed edges of the plates divided into strips on which are mounted rows of light receptors. The PC boards incorporate circuitry for illuminating the rows of the lights in a row-by-row sequence, and for allowing activation only of the receptors directly opposed to illuminated lights. This circuitry has an analysis means for determining the health of the plates in response to signals from the receptors.

Abstract: Reactive armor that includes a casing having a plurality of walls, a back, and a cavity formed therebetween; a cover that closes the cavity and forms a strike face; a filler placed within the cavity, the filler comprising a disruptive material; and an explosive. To defeat projectile or projectile related threats, the reactive armor substantially, but not necessarily wholly, implements laterally oriented force mechanisms, erosion mechanisms, and bulking mechanisms, e.g., explosive forces, with respect to the strike face.

Abstract: A conformable self-healing ballistic armor protective structure has a shell formed of a laminated cloth material having outer and inner lamellae. The outer lamella of the laminated material is a ballistic cloth and the inner lamella is a soft, conformable self-healing, rubber compound. The shell is filled preferably with multiplicity of ceramic particles disposed in a fluid.

Abstract: A system and a method for obstruction deflection for a vehicle. The system generally includes a guide; and a support structure. The support structure includes one or more supports; one or more guide connectors; a fixed single support bracket; a tilt bracket; and a fixed multiple support bracket. The fixed single support bracket, the tilt bracket, and the fixed multiple support bracket are mounted to the vehicle, a first end of each of the supports is installed onto the fixed single support bracket, the tilt bracket, and the fixed multiple support bracket, a second end of each of the supports is installed onto the guide connectors, and the guide is rotatably attached to the guide connectors such that the guide is positioned longitudinally on the vehicle and the guide is curved with the vehicle on the inside of the curve.

Abstract: A conformable self-healing ballistic armor protective structure has a shell formed of a laminated cloth material having outer and inner lamellae. The outer lamella of the laminated material is a ballistic cloth and the inner lamella is a soft, conformable self-healing, rubber compound. The shell is filled preferably with multiplicity of ceramic particles disposed in a fluid.

Abstract: A catcher, in combination with a firearm having an ejection port, for receiving and retaining expended magnetically attracted shell casings through the ejection port as the firearm is discharged. The catcher includes a hollow housing having a plurality of rigid walls, and retainers. One of the walls has an opening in communication with the ejection port when the catcher is mounted to the firearm for receiving the shell casings. A seal is attached to the housing at the opening and surrounding the opening and provides controlled release of pressurized ejection port gas from inside the housing as the firearm is discharged such that noise and flash as a result of escape of the pressurized ejection port gas is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A band track for a tracked vehicle having enhanced resistance to mines includes a plurality of track pad units disposed on the bearing surface of the track band. The track pad units have extended end walls of sufficient height to distance the vulnerable portion of the band track from the shearing force of an exploding mine. These end walls are sufficiently strong to support the vehicle as it traverses terrain, but are configured to collapse in controlled manner under the force of an exploding mine. Such explosion forces a specifically configured front end wall of a trailing track pad to engage the matingly configured end wall of the leading track pad. The resulting mating juxtaposition of the adjacent end walls forms a relatively continuous physical barrier protecting the vulnerable section of the band track from shrapnel and other entrained ejecta of the explosion.

Abstract: For use in a vehicular trailer hitch system, a vehicular trailer hitch lunette assembly is provided. The assembly includes at least one “U” shaped outer laminate plate having two legs with a semi-circular region therebetween, and at least one substantially flat inner laminate plate positioned between the legs of the U-shape of the outer laminate plate to provide support, stiffness, and additional mechanical strength to the assembly. The outer laminate plate and the inner laminate plate have cooperating apertures that are traversely positioned therethrough and the apertures are aligned and sized such that fasteners may be snugly inserted therein to mechanically couple the laminate plates together as a sandwich structure having first and second ends.

Abstract: An eccentric adjustment and mounting system is useful for belt engaging engine components such as alternators or water pumps. The system includes a housing fixed to the engine, a socket rotatable in pawl-and-ratchet fashion within the housing, and a socket aperture eccentrically disposed relative to the socket's axis. The aperture receives the belt engaging component, whereby rotation of the socket moves the component to adjust belt tension.

Abstract: A system for a two-piece armored cab includes an upper cab portion, a lower cab portion, and a vehicle chassis system. The upper cab portion and the lower cab portion are armored to provide protection to occupants of the cab system. The upper cab portion removably mates to the lower cab portion at a mating line that comprises a lower edge of the upper cab portion and an upper edge of the lower cab portion. The lower cab portion is mounted to the vehicle chassis system such that the vehicle chassis system is operable when the upper cab portion is removed from the lower cab portion as well as when the upper cab portion is mated to the lower cab portion.

Abstract: A system for providing a vehicle with landmine protection for occupants of a vehicle cab via controlled articulation of the vehicle cab in response to an under-vehicle explosive event includes a cab guide pin attached to the rear of the vehicle cab, and a vehicle frame having a sub-frame. The vehicle cab is mounted on the vehicle frame. The sub-frame includes a sub-assembly slot and the cab guide pin is disposed laterally at a first end in the sub-assembly slot. The sub-assembly slot has a substantially straight first section that is longitudinally positioned and having the first end of the sub-assembly slot, and a second arcuate section that extends vertically and forward from the first section opposite of the first end of the sub-assembly slot.

Abstract: A debris cutting system for attachment to a vehicle. The system includes a nose shaped projection that extends horizontally in the forward direction from the forward moving end of the vehicle. The projection includes at least one front blade mount subsystem, at least one rear blade mount subsystem, and at least one blade. The blade has a blade front mounted to the front blade mount subsystem, a blade rear mounted to the rear blade mount subsystem, and teeth. The blade is positioned substantially diagonal to forward movement of the vehicle. The front blade mount subsystem provides longitudinal movement at the blade front, and the rear blade mount subsystem provides arcuate movement at the blade rear such that cutting of debris is enhanced and damage to the blade is reduced as the vehicle moves forward.

Abstract: A method of determining polarization profiles of points in a scene from video frames using Stokes parameters. The method includes emitting scene light rays from points in a region in a scene, and emitting a correlator light ray from a correlator. The correlator includes a uniform light source, a second linear polarizer, and a fixed retarder. The method further includes substantially simultaneously transmitting the scene light rays and the correlator light ray through a color filter and a Stokes filter that includes a rotating retarder having angular positions ?, and a first linear polarizer having a transmission axis to a video camera having a video frame, projecting onto respective pixels in the video frame and recording as two-dimensional (2-D) arrays images corresponding to the scene light rays and the correlator light ray, and downloading the images into the computer system and storing the images into a memory in the computer system.

Abstract: A debris cutting system for attachment to a vehicle. The system includes a nose shaped projection that extends horizontally in the forward direction from the forward moving end of the vehicle. The projection includes a front blade mount subsystem, a pair of rear blade mount subsystems, and left and right blades that are mounted within the front blade mount subsystem and respective ones of the rear blade mount subsystems. Each blade has a respective blade front, blade rear and teeth. The front blade mount subsystem provides vertical movement at the front of the blades, the rear blade mount subsystems provide vertical and longitudinal movement at the rear of the blades such that cutting of debris is enhanced and potential damage to the blades is reduced as the vehicle moves forward.

Abstract: A system for determining polarization profiles of points in a scene from video frames using Stokes parameters includes a scene having a region that emits scene light rays that correspond to the points in the scene, a color filter, a Stokes filter that includes a rotating retarder having angular positions ?, and a first linear polarizer having a transmission axis, a correlator that emits a correlator light ray, and that comprises a uniform light source, a second linear polarizer, and a fixed retarder, a video camera having a video frame, and a computer system.

Abstract: A system for mitigation of induced acceleration to an occupant of a vehicle seat includes a substantially non-deforming structure having a top side with the vehicle seat mounted thereon and a bottom side forming a first portion of a floor of the vehicle, and at least one deformable bracket mounting the non-deforming structure to a second portion of the floor that is separate from the first portion of the floor. The at least one deformable bracket deforms, and the non-deforming structure extends through the floor when the vehicle is subjected to an upward force that is equal to or greater than a predetermined force that corresponds to an induced upward acceleration.