Abstract: An automatically-reloadable, remotely-operated weapon system may include an operator station located distant from a weapon station. The weapon station may include an externally-powered firearm, a firearm mover for adjusting an azimuth and an angle of inclination of the firearm, and an ammunition storage and transport system for automatically moving ammunition to and from the firearm. From the operator station, a user may remotely control all aspects of firearm operation and ammunition reloading.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, program and system utilizing a number of field-deployed sensors to accurately detect and classify objects/events (targets) of interest within a sensor field including the detection/classification of human beings travelling on-foot or with vehicles and their direction(s) of travel. In particular, the method, computer program and system are operable to determine whether a detected target is an animal, human or vehicle via analysis of received acoustic and sensor data. The analyses performed include comparison/correlation of the sensor data to known seismic cyclostationary signatures, acoustic and seismic characteristics of human footsteps and travel tendencies, and acoustic and seismic characteristics of non-human (animal) footsteps and travel tendencies.

Abstract: A pressure release mechanism for a sonic rarefaction wave-type low-recoil gun system employing controlled plastic venting that exhibits adiabatic shear banding to effect a delayed pressure release.

Abstract: A method for identifying a shock wave includes creating a grid comprising cells; sorting the cells based on their pressure gradients; and sorting the cells based on a negative dot product of their pressure gradients and their velocity vectors divided by the velocity of sound. The number of cells that are refined may be reduced by sorting the cells based on their distances from a shock wave center, and/or sorting the cells based on their mass fractions of a species. A buffer zone of refined cells may be created in front of the shock wave.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a non-brittle, carbon nanopaper from single wall, multiwall, and combination thereof, from carbon nanotubes, using a vacuum deposition, high temperature annealing, and polystyrene polymer rinse process; which nanopaper can be nitrided by either a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process, or an by an electrochemical method, to obtain a useful chemically functionalized substrate, a substrate containing metastable N4, N8, and longer chain polymeric nitrogen clusters. Such nitrided carbon nanopaper can be used to enhance the ballistic performance of gun propellants, while reducing gun barrel wear and erosion thereof.

Abstract: A rifle barrel adapter that ensures adequate mounting overlap for muzzle mounted grenades for proper firing alignment is described, which adapter is formed of only four parts: (1) an elongated unitary body with a narrowed cylindrical front section upon which the muzzle mounted grenade is mounted, which elongated unitary body has an enlarged rear section that is mounted about the muzzle end of the rifle barrel over the flash suppressor; (2) a unitary locking mechanism to secure the elongated unitary body to the muzzle end of the rifle; (3) a bias spring to maintain the unitary locking mechanism in place, and (4) a locking pin to hold the unitary locking mechanism in place within the unitary body.

Abstract: A weapon may include a translatable recoil mass and two translatable counterweights disposed on opposite sides of the recoil mass. Each counterweight may have a mass that is substantially one-half a mass of the recoil mass. A pair of racks may be fixed to respective ones of the counterweights and a second pair of racks may be fixed to opposites sides of the recoil mass. Pinions may engage the counterweight and recoil mass racks. A receiver may be fixed with respect to the recoil mass and the pair of counterweights. The directions of translation of the recoil mass are substantially opposite directions of translation of the two counterweights.

Abstract: Boron-containing, green light emitting pyrotechnic compositions that advantageously do not include barium, perchlorate or chlorinated organic compounds.

Abstract: A ultra-miniature, electro-mechanical, MEMS type safe and arming (S&A) device for medium- or large-artillery rounds, including, three sequenced S&A interlocks: a setback slider, which is positioned partially within and partially extending from an arming slider, such that, upon firing acceleration, the setback slider will compress into a channel within the arming slider (unlocking the 1st interlock); freeing the arming slider to move toward its arming position under urging of the round's spin; a stop and release mechanism formed by a flexible latch arm which impacts upon a safety catch located within the frame in which the arming slider is mounted, such that the arming slider is stopped until a release command signal is initiated by the fuze circuit, triggering a spot charge which generates an expanding gas wave that flexes the latch arm from contact with the safety catch (unlocking the 2nd interlock), thereby freeing the arming slider to continue its motion into an arming position (unlocking the 3rd i

Abstract: A recoil dissipation apparatus may include a linear roller rail and a roller block that is translatable on the linear roller rail with only one degree of freedom. A gear rack may be located adjacent the linear roller rail. A barrel clamp may be fixed to the roller block. A pinion gear may engage the gear rack. The pinion gear may be fixed on a shaft. The shaft may have a rotary viscous damper fixed at one end. The recoil force from a barrel fixed in the barrel clamp may cause translation of the roller block and dissipation of the recoil force by the rotary viscous damper.

Abstract: A reticle which does not emit a retro-reflective signature detectable using standard field detection means at the standard distance of 10 miles, which reticle is formed of a precise series of about 10 micron wide lines etched within a physically light weight, single optical blank or glass lens, using a femtosecond near IR wavelength pulsed laser.

Abstract: Improved electric primer compositions, structures, and methods that are compatible with existing munitions and in particular an exemplary electric primer composition including carbon nanotubes along with energetic primer mixture(s) and an exemplary primer structure including layers of energetic materials wherein a layer exhibiting the most energetic character is positioned proximate to a primer button. Alternative embodiments include both conductive and non-conductive layers.

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of finely ground particulates coated with a barrier, or other desirable film wherein the coated particulates exhibit a diameter of less than 10 microns. In an exemplary embodiment, large coated particulates are introduced into a fluid energy, or jet mill, along with smaller, uncoated particulates. As the particulates collide within the mill they are comminuted, and an amount of coating is transferred from the coated particulates to the uncoated ones such that they become sufficiently coated and size-reduced to a desired size. Alternatively, uncoated particulates are milled and coated during their milling. Still alternatively, uncoated particulates are milled and subsequently directed through an atomized mist of coating material wherein the size of the mist droplets are as large, or larger than the directed particulates.

Abstract: A near-IR laser laser-and-corner cube system for determining the refractive-index structure parameter by providing the return power of the retroreflected laser beam from the corner cube, which return power correlates to the refractive-index structure parameter. The system is economical, physically containing only (1) the laser which emits a near-IR wavelength output beam, (2) a 50/50 splitter, to receive back the retroreflected return beam from the corner cube along the same optical axis as the output beam, in a monostatic configuration; (3) the target corner cube; (4) a receiving focus lens; (5) a spectral filter and (6) a power meter to provide the monostatic measurement of the return power. Critically the ratio of the area of the corner cube to that of the receiving focus lens is at least 1:2, to obtain meaningful power measurements—to correlate to pre-calculated refractive-index structure parameters.

Abstract: A projectile may include a body and a base fixed to a rear end of the body. The base may include a gas cavity and an opening extending from a rear end of the base to the gas cavity. A retention plug may be disposed in the opening wherein a fit between the retention plug and the opening is such that propellant gas pressure in the gas cavity forces the retention plug out of the opening. The retention plug may include at least one gas conduit between an outer surface of the retention plug and the gas cavity. A plurality of fins may be rotatably fixed to the base. The fins may have a folded position and a deployed position.

Abstract: An active imaging retroreflection based optical system for the detection of other optical systems, especially passive optics used for observation/surveillance, or targeting. The active imaging system is switchable from either near-IR laser illumination, to a combination of near-IR and visible laser light illumination. The illumination is shaped into narrow elongated beams, generally elliptical in shape. These beams are channeled by rhomboid prisms so as to be emitted collimated to each other and monostatic to the detection system, such that the retroreflected return image returns axially to the optical detection system. The return image is resolved and refined by a series of objective and field lenses, and by a dual band, visible light and near-IR, pass filter, to add clarity and contrast.

Abstract: A recoil brake includes a control rod disposed in a central opening in a piston and cylinder assembly. A fluid passage leads from the piston to the control rod. A long stroke body is fixed to the piston and defines a long stroke orifice around the control rod. A short stroke body is removably disposed in the long stroke orifice. The short stroke body defines a short stroke orifice around the control rod, the short stroke orifice being smaller than the long stroke orifice. The recoil brake may be used with a 120 mm gun.

Abstract: A process for manufacture of explosive formulations containing a halogenated wax binder, involving dilution of the halogenated wax in a non-aqueous lacquer, slurring the explosive in an aqueous solution and applying heat and vacuum to yield a granular explosive which provides complete coating to avoid hot spots and is quickly pressable at lower temperature and pressure.

Abstract: An adjustable buttstock assembly for a hand carried weapons, wherein an inner stock extends from and slidably moves into an outer stock to provide the length adjustment and where a set of opposed spring loaded engagement pins, located in the end of the inner stock, extend through a set of discrete, opposed openings in the outer stock to securely hold the stocks in position one relative to the other. One of the engagement pins, engages into one of a series of discrete holes located in the lower side of the outer stock, while the other engages into one of a series of partial oval opening, opposed thereto, the series of partial oval openings located on the upper side of the outer stock separated by flat teeth, to form a rack, with each partial oval opening into an open channel running the length of the rack.

Abstract: High performance aluminized explosive compositions for high performance, high blast, low sensitivity explosive applications are disclosed. The compositions include Cl-20, HMX, RDX, or another material as the explosive ingredient, a binder system of cellulose acetate butyrate and bis-dinitropropyl acetyl and bis-dinitropropyl formal, and aluminum. The explosive is preferably pressable and or/mixable to permit formation into grains suitable for ordnance and similar applications including grenades, warheads, landmines, demolition, etc. The aluminum fully participates in the detonation of said explosive, manifesting its energy into fully useable metal pushing energy suitable for shaped charges, explosively formed penetrators, fragmentation warheads, enhanced blast warheads, multipurpose warheads, and the like. The aluminum is substantially reacted at two volume expansions of the expanding gas, and fully reacted prior to seven volume expansions of the expanding gas.