Abstract: A system and method for sampling constituents in air including counting particles in the air to be sampled; collecting samples of accumulated particles; measuring UV response of a sample of accumulated particles only if the particle count exceeds a predetermined threshold; measuring IR response of that sample; and indicating a threat alarm if the IR response matches that of a target within a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus for assembling a core for wound sheet material, comprising a tube, a first end member, and a second end member; the apparatus comprising a base, a first chuck for insertion in the first end member, a second chuck for insertion in the second end member, a ram for applying axial pressure such that the first end member is forced into the first end of the tube and the second end member is forced into a second end of the tube, drill devices for drilling fixing apertures, and a monitor device for sensing ambient temperature and enabling the length of the core to be measured at the time of the assembly of the core in the ambient temperature so that the length of the core falls in temperature and length parameters set for subsequent winding of the sheet material on the core.

Abstract: A fixation plate with a base section including apertures for fixation to one bone segment and a leg section extending from the base section and including apertures for fixation to another bone segment. The expanse of the base section tapers gradually to smoothly cojoin with the leg section and the expanse of the leg section continues to taper to a distal rounded end of the leg section.

Abstract: A robot arm assembly a base unit with a shoulder assembly rotatably disposed on the base unit. A lower robot arm is pivotably attached to the shoulder assembly. An upper robot arm is pivotably attached to the lower robot arm. The base unit includes a first motor which rotates a main shaft fixed to the shoulder assembly to rotate the shoulder. A second motor in the base unit rotates a second shaft in the shoulder assembly extending through the main shaft to pivot the lower robot arm with respect to the shoulder.

Abstract: A combined proximity monitoring and locating system including a wearable unit, a proximity detector, and a control subsystem. The proximity detector includes a receiver for receiving the wearable unit transmitter signal, a processing subsystem configured to signal an alert if the wearable unit transmitter signal strength is below a pre-established minimum, and a tracking subsystem configured to assist in locating the wearable unit based on the signal strength of the wearable unit transmitter signal. A control subsystem is responsive to an indication that the alert has been signaled. The control subsystem includes an RF transmitter configured to transmit a transponder activation signal, and an RF antenna network for relaying the transponder activation signal to a receiver of the portable unit to activate the transponder thereof. A tracking unit includes a receiver configured to receive the transponder signal of the wearable unit to locate the wearable unit.

Abstract: A notched SAW image frequency rejection filter system includes a SAW filter having an input, an output and a ground output and an impedance matching network including a first matching inductance connected to the SAW filter output and a second matching inductance connected to the ground output of the SAW filter; the SAW filter having an inherent internal capacitance that produces a predetermined capacitive leakage current at the image frequency; an inherent internal inductance that produces an inductance leakage current at the image frequency; and a boosted inherent parasitic ground inductance at the ground output of the SAW filter for generating a voltage across the second matching inductance to produce a compensation current which is substantially opposite in phase and substantially matched in magnitude with the capacitive leakage current for reducing the capacitive leakage current and increasing the image frequency rejection.

Abstract: A firing pin assembly with a firing pin having a shaft with a distal bearing thereon. The firing pin has a standby position, a load position, and a fire position. A cam engages the bearing and is configured to drive the shaft between the standby position and the load position. A spring about the shaft is compressed when the shaft is driven into the load position. A driver turns the cam when energized to drive the shaft from the standby position to the load position and then to turn the cam further whereupon the compressed spring urges the firing pin to fire.

Abstract: A grinding system includes a mortar container having an open top portion and a bottom portion having a first interior grinding surface and a wall portion interconnecting the top and bottom portions for defining a hollow interior collection chamber, a modular pestle assembly including a universal pestle shaft having at its proximate end an actuator portion extending above the top portion and at its distal end a mounting portion for receiving one of a set of pairs of matching tips and pestle collars, the pestle tip having a second grinding surface for engaging the first grinding surface, and a closure device sealingly engageable with the pestle assembly and the open top portion for sealing the container and the collection chamber between the grinding surfaces and the top portion of the mortar container.

Abstract: A folding chair including a seat frame, a leg frame hinged to the seat frame, a hinge mechanism between the seat frame and the leg frame, a quick-release locking mechanism for releasably locking the seat frame with respect to the leg frame, and a supplemental locking mechanism including an orifice in one of the seat frame and the leg frame, an opening in the hinge mechanism aligned with the orifice when the chair is unfolded, and a fastener extending through the opening in the hinge mechanism and into the orifice to secure the seat frame to the leg frame.

Abstract: A selectable beam antenna of generally linear, polygonal, planar or polyhedral form, able to operate at microwave and millimetre wave frequencies, and constructed from associated networks that incorporate radio frequency switches, time delays and amplitude weights positioned within a set of interleaved transmission, lines or waveguides to simultaneously perform both beam-forming and beam selection operations, which selectable beam antenna comprises: (i) a single RP antenna port connected to a 1-to-N corporate feed means, where N is greater than or equal to 2; (ii) a EF switch network means of N/q multi-pole-multi-throw radio frequency switch means (qPMT) connected to the corporate feed means; (iii) a RF distribution means of N×M singularly or multiply interleaved lines arranged so as to have approximately equal transmission length connected to the switch means, where M is the number of throws associated with each radio frequency switch means (qPMT); (iv) an antenna launch means of M×M interleaved antenna elem

Abstract: An adaptive range vehicle recovery system including an adaptive range vehicle locating unit including a narrowband baseband generator for generating a narrowband signal, a wideband baseband generator for generating a wideband signal, a timing control circuit responsive to an activation signal to transmit, alternately, said narrowband signal at a first rate, and said wideband signal at a second rate and responsive to a track signal to transmit one of said wideband and narrowband signals at a third, different, rate; and also to an adaptive range vehicle recovery system including an adaptive range vehicle track unit including a data decoder including, a wideband decoder for detecting data from a wideband baseband signal, a narrowband decoder for detecting data from a narrowband baseband signal, a bandwidth detector responsive to a received signal to distinguish narrowband and wideband signals and an input switching circuit responsive to said bandwidth detector for directing the wideband signal to the wideband de

Abstract: A structure or vehicle protection method including a removable frame on the structure or vehicle, and a net within the frame and spaced from the structure or vehicle and having a mesh size designed to disarm an incoming threat.

Abstract: A gripper system having a pair of jaws operable in a first plane and having a central closure axis; each jaw including a finger member and finger tip member disposed on its distal end; and a gripper drive assembly for moving the jaws toward and away from each other; each finger member having a shaped inner contour for accommodating an object to be gripped; each finger tip member including an inner surface which generally aligns with the shaped inner contour for gripping a range of larger objects and an outer surface which generally aligns with the gripper central closure axis upon closure for gripping a range of smaller objects. Alternatively, each finger tip member may include a forcep element extending transversely to said plane.

Abstract: A system for the automated analysis of image quality obtained by a camera in a camera tunnel system includes a test pattern on an item for placement in the camera tunnel system and an imaging subsystem configured to capture an image of the item using the camera tunnel system, wherein the image includes an image of the test pattern. The system further includes an image analysis tool configured to automatically identify and analyze the image of the test pattern for generating one or more image quality metrics.

Abstract: A parcel dimension measurement system includes image sensors oriented to image a parcel, an imaging subsystem configured to stitch together outputs of the image sensors to produce at least one two-dimensional image comprised of a plurality of pixels, and a general dimension subsystem including general parcel dimension information. A fine dimensioning subsystem is configured to determine dimension measurements of the parcel using the at least one two-dimensional image and the general parcel dimension information.

Abstract: Dual table temperature compensation for a voltage controlled crystal oscillator is achieved by sensing the temperature of the voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO), retrieving from a first table the frequency error with variations in the temperature sensed, retrieving from a second table the oscillator control voltage corresponding to the frequency error from the first table and applying the oscillator control voltage to the VCXO.

Abstract: An aimable kinetic energy rod warhead system includes a plurality of rods and explosive segments disposed about the plurality of rods. There is at least one detonator for each explosive segment. A target locator system is configured to locate a target relative to the explosive segments. A controller is responsive to the target locator system and is configured to selectively detonate specified explosive segments at different times dependent on the desired deployment direction of the rods to improve the aiming resolution of the warhead.

Abstract: An actuator subsystem preferably for a robot or bionic linkage. A joint between two robotic or bionic members includes at least first and second actuators such as piston-cylinder assemblies connected between the members. A hydraulic circuit includes a sensor subsystem for sensing the magnitude of the load on the piston-cylinder assemblies and/or members. A fluid supply system includes an actuatable control valve operable to supply fluid to one or both piston-cylinder assemblies. A control circuit is responsive to the sensor and is configured to electronically control the fluid subsystem to supply fluid to the first piston-cylinder assembly when the sensor subsystem senses a load below a predetermined magnitude and to supply fluid to both piston-cylinder assemblies when the sensor subsystem senses a load above the predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: A blast mitigating seat features a base and a seat frame. The seat frame includes a pan and a backrest including an open area for gear worn by a user. A first damping subsystem between the base and the seat frame has a first force/stroke relationship and a second damping subsystem between the base and the seat frame has a second force/stroke relationship.

Abstract: An armor system and method for the interior of a structure to be protected wherein releasable fastener material is secured to an inside wall of the structure and at least a first armor panel includes, in one example, a spacer layer, a ceramic hard face layer behind the spacer layer, a ballistic material behind the ceramic energy absorber layer, an encapsulant about the spacer layer, the ceramic energy absorber layer, and the ballistic material. Releasable fastener material is on the encapsulant adjacent the spacer layer for mating the panel to the inside wall of the structure.