Abstract: A broadband blazed array has a plurality of elements. The elements are arranged side-by-side in a non-parallel spaced apart fashion with center-to-center spacing between adjacent elements being identical along cross-sections of the array that are aligned with the array's endfire directions.

Abstract: An active heating system for an underwater diver uses material particles that can generate heat in an exothermic reaction in the presence of oxygen. The material particles are positioned at selected region(s) within an underwater diver's attire. A source of oxygen gas is coupled to the selected region(s).

Abstract: The invention in one variation is a pressure vessel having a pair of hemispheres with a wall and a circular edge, a pair of sealing elements, and an intervening mounting plate with circular groove on both sides of the plate. The hemispheres are mounted on opposite sides of the plate. Each groove has an sealing element and the circular edge. A seal is formed between the plate and a hemisphere when the hemisphere is pressed against the sealing element. Pressure can be generated by creating a partial vacuum in the sealed hemispheres or by using clamps. When exposed to higher pressures, such as when the vessel is used underwater, the pressure on the hemispheres is conveyed to the sealing element forming an even tighter seal. The vessel has interface connections that enable communication to and from devices mounted inside. The vessels are modular and can be ganged to provide redundancy or different functions.

Abstract: A communication system electromagnetically communicates beyond the electromagnetic barrier created by a physical barrier. First pre-existing electrical AC power distributing infrastructure extends on one side of the physical barrier and has electrical conductors and AC outlets. At least one first communication subsystem is located at the one side of the physical barrier and is connected to the electrical conductors. At least one second communication subsystem is located at an opposite side from the first side of the physical barrier. The first and second communication subsystems each have a first handheld transceiver radio, a second transceiver radio, a radio-to-local-area-network converter, and a power line Ethernet adapter. At least one electrical conductor extends the electrical power distributing infrastructure on the one side to the power line Ethernet adapter of the second communication subsystem on the opposite side of the physical barrier.

Abstract: A correlation image detector is provided that co-registers sonar images by finding peaks in correlation images. To obtain the peaks, the mean of the absolute values of the correlation coefficients in the correlation image is found and the Rayleigh parameter is determined from the mean. Based on the Rayleigh parameter, an appropriate threshold can be determined using a desired probability of false detection. The threshold can be chosen such that the probability of a single false detection over the expected life of the mission for which correlation detection is being performed is extremely low, e.g., one in a million. The peak value in the image is determined and a correlation is considered detected when the peak value is greater than the product of the threshold and the Rayleigh parameter. If a detection occurs, the correlation image detector returns the transformation that co-registers the two images.

Abstract: A Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) regulator is tested using a breath simulator having (i) a cup-shaped housing defining an interior volume and an open end, and (ii) an empty syringe with a plunger disposed therein and terminating in a dispensing tip coupled to the housing for sealed fluid communication with the interior volume thereof.

Abstract: A spin control system includes first and second thrusters coupled to an object hanging from a suspension member. When activated, the first and second thrusters generate thrust in opposing directions that are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the suspension member. When the object spins, a controller activates at least one of the first and second thrusters to approximately align the object with a reference position.

Abstract: The invention is a submersible hand warmer apparatus for warming a diver's gloved hands. The apparatus includes a sleeve having a center portion with an elongate chamber with a right access port and a left access port; and right and left sleeve portions with elastic cuffs. The cuffs can be stretched allowing the diver's gloved hands access to the chamber, and then retract, forming a seal against the diver's arms. The chamber is sized for enough heat transfer fluid, such as water, so that the temperature of the diver's hands is raised to at least 54° F. upon immersion of his hands in the water. The apparatus also includes a heating component; an energy source, such as a battery; a housing which provides structural support; an insulation that slows the loss of heat to the cold ambient water; and a controller that controls the rate that energy is consumed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coherent image correlation are provided. The systems include sonars with overlapping frequencies that observe terrain from overlapping aspects to form sonar images. First and second sonar images are formed and are grazing angle compensated. The first image is formed using the open or closed aperture theorem. Forming the second image using the open or closed aperture theorem constraint is optional. If the first and second images are not aligned, a range of possible rotations can be defined and image pairs can be created for a sampling of rotational angles. In addition, the images can be aspect compensated to remove windowing and beam pattern effects, if necessary. Once both images are grazing angle compensated and aligned, values are calculated for each possible image shift. To obtain a correlation image, the correlation coefficient for each possible image shift is calculated.

Abstract: The invention in one variation is a stand-off disrupter apparatus that includes a delivery vessel having an enlarged rounded front end with an apex and an elongate cylindrical section that in part serves to fit the apparatus onto the barrel of a shotgun. The shotgun provides propulsion. The apparatus has fins, a sighting system, a firing pin system that fires on impact, a shell loaded with shot housed in a shell chamber, and a layer of disruption medium sealed in a dish forward of the shell and set-back from the apex. The disruption medium is energized on impact by the shot from the shell and a force of the impact. The energized disruption medium can neutralize an improvised explosive device.

Abstract: A non-lethal projectile has an enclosed frangible shell with a nose assembly coupled thereto. The nose assembly is designed to be frangible and absorb shock energy incident on the nose assembly. Frangible containers disposed in the shell occupy a portion of the volume defined thereby such that spaces between the containers are defined. Each container is configured to divide into particles when the container fractures. Each container contains at least one payload material. A gelatinous carbomer fills the spaces between the containers.

Abstract: The invention in one variation is a modular recovery apparatus for dispensing a tether spool having a tow line with a float, where the tow line can be used to retrieve an unmanned underwater vehicle and other underwater platforms. The modular recovery apparatus can be triggered underwater or on the surface, and being modular in configuration it is suitable to be fitted to a variety of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The apparatus has a tether spool that is spring loaded, such that when the tether spool is deployed, the spring expels the tether spool with sufficient force to clearly separate it from the UUV. One end of the tow line is typically fastened to a tow point on the UUV, and an opposing end is attached to the float. When the tether spool is deployed, the tow line unwinds from the float, providing a securable length.

Abstract: A multiple torpedo mine is capable of launching multiple torpedoes in water simultaneously or at predetermined intervals. The mine has an elongate container having multiple launch tubes with launch tube covers and each containing a torpedo. A programmable target detection sensor unit in the elongate container senses impinging stimuli indicative of an approaching target and generates representative target signals. A main controller in the elongate container is coupled to receive the target signals from the target detection sensor unit, and the main controller is preprogrammed to recognize targets of interest and generate appropriate launch control signals for the torpedoes. A launching system in the elongate container is coupled to the main controller and each of the launch tubes to feed high pressure gas to the base and interior of the launch tubes to launch the torpedoes into the water.

Abstract: Systems and methods for obtaining target elevation information are disclosed. The systems and methods use multiple vertical transmitters and one or more receivers to infer changes in the elevation plane and the height of objects. Changes in elevation and heights of objects are inferred from path length differences between the transmitters and a particular backscattering point. Using known geometric information regarding the configuration of the transmitters, propagation time differences can be estimated via time delay estimation methods in either the time or frequency domain. Appropriate modulation schemes are used such that the multiple signals transmitted are separable upon reception.

Abstract: A torque nut assembly includes a multiple-piece nut body and a ring-shaped compression assembly. The compression assembly circumferentially engages the nut body to capture its multiple pieces therein. The compression assembly can position the nut body to define a threaded axial passage or to allow radial expansion of the multiple pieces such that the threaded axial passage is segmented in correspondence with the nut body's multiple pieces. At least one structure is provided to lock the compression assembly when the threaded axial passage is defined.

Abstract: An assembly for securing an apparatus to a facemask includes a U-shaped frame extending along similarly shaped portions of the facemask. Removable attachment clips secure the frame to the facemask. Two cylindrical pins with circumferential radiused grooves are attached to and extend from the top portion of the frame. The pins mate with bores in a clevis assembly, to which the apparatus can be attached. A spring-loaded bar spans between the bores. The bores in the clevis assembly receive the pins and the spring-bias causes the bar to engage with the grooves to secure the clevis assembly to the frame. A lever is rotatably attached to the clevis assembly. Pivoting the lever works against the spring-bias to lift the bar out of the grooves, disengaging the pins, and allowing the clevis assembly to be disengaged from the frame and facemask.

Abstract: A lightweight combat helmet has a rigid helmet shell with first and second flexible and fluid impermeable receptacles nested within the helmet shell. The first receptacle is filled with structures and substances that alter a trajectory of an incoming projectile. When filled, the second receptacle conforms to a wearer's head.

Abstract: A magnetic anomaly sensing system and method uses at least four triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors with each of the TM sensors having X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes. The TM sensors are arranged in a three-dimensional array with respective ones of the X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes being mutually parallel to one another. The three-dimensional array defines a geometry that forms at least one single-axis gradiometer along each of the X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes. Information sensed by the TM sensors is to generate scalar magnitudes of a magnetic anomaly field measured at each of the TM sensors, comparisons of the scalar magnitudes to at least one threshold value, distance to a source of the magnetic anomaly field using the scalar magnitudes when the threshold value(s) is exceeded, and a magnetic dipole moment of the source using the distance.

Abstract: A harness assembly for use in the recovery of an object deployed underwater has legs attached to an object prior to an underwater deployment thereof. A sling is coupled to the second ends of the legs. A first support is coupled to the sling and a rigid ring. Second and third supports are coupled to the ring in a breakaway fashion and adapted to be coupled to the object. The supports work in combination to hold the ring in a stand off position with respect to the object and in a substantially vertical orientation during the underwater deployment of the object so that the ring can be readily accessed by a trained marine mammal transporting a recovery tether thereto.

Abstract: A volume expansion system increases the storage volume for breathing gas in a closed-circuit breathing gas apparatus. A flow controller is coupled to an inhalation side of the closed-circuit breathing gas apparatus and is also coupled to an expandable reservoir. The flow controller defines a first flow path that allows breathing gas in the inhalation side to automatically flow into the expandable reservoir when pressure in the inhalation side exceeds a threshold. The flow controller can also include the means to define a second flow path that allows on-demand return of the breathing gas in the expandable reservoir to the inhalation side of the breathing gas apparatus.