Abstract: A parachutist navigation system includes a display attached to a side vision area of a parachutist's goggles, a navigation pod attached to the parachutist's helmet, and a remotely located controller. The navigation pod supports therein a GPS receiver and a processor provided with mission data supplied by the controller. The processor uses the mission data and GPS signals to generate a plurality of display-formatted data sets. Coupled to the processor is an user-controlled input device used to select at least one of the plurality of display-formatted data sets for output to the display.

Abstract: A system and method indicate azimuth of a diver to a remote console. A compass sensor module on a headgear worn by the diver has a two-axis gimbal mechanism provided with a protective housing around ring and two orthogonal axis structures. A magnetic field sensor unit mounted on one axis structure provides magnetic field data signals representative of the azimuth faced by the diver. A processor section of the compass module connected to the sensor unit provides azimuth data signals from the magnetic field data signals. A data transmission module has a conductor extending from the compass module to an amplifier and cable for amplifying azimuth data signals and remotely transmitting them. An acoustic transducer in the data module can also transmit azimuth data signals as acoustic signals through water. The console connected to the cable and water receives and displays the remotely transmitted azimuth data signals.

Abstract: A digital camera system includes a digital image sensor, a memory coupled to the digital image sensor via a data bus, a microcontroller having control signal output ports and a data I/O port, and a bi-directional tri-state buffer coupled to the data I/O port and the data bus for passing data therebetween. At least one of the control signal output ports is coupled to each of the digital image sensor, memory and tri-state buffer. The microcontroller issues control signals over it's control signal output ports to control access to the data bus by establishing only one of a plurality of possible data transfer paths at any given point in time.

Abstract: A system and method autonomously clears obstacles and mines from an approach lane. A ship is distantly located from an approach lane spanning a surf zone and beach portion, and the ship has operator control station software in an onboard computer. At least one system delivery vehicle having a storage bay and propulsion system transits from the ship to the approach lane in response to instructions from the operator control station. A line charge is disposed in each bay and has one end coupled to the system delivery vehicle. A line charge delivery vehicle in the bay is connected to another end of the line charge to pull the line charge from the bay and emplace it in a straight path in the approach lane in response to instructions from the operator control station. Explosives in all line charges are detonated to clear the approach lane.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of distillation uses a high temperature thermoelectric device to heat a liquid, such as water to vapor (steam) and cool the vapor to a purified, distilled liquid. Distillation system has no moving parts, thereby increasing reliability while reducing noise and maintenance. Liquid in a container has a heating section on the container extending into it to boil it into a vapor that is fed to a condenser section disposed on the container adjacent to the heating section. A thermoelectric section provided with a Peltier effect device is interposed between the heating section and condenser section. The Peltier effect device has one side in contiguous contact with the condenser to transfer heat from it and another side is in contiguous contact with the heating section to transfer heat to it to boil the liquid into the vapor and feed the vapor through the condenser that condenses it into distilled liquid.

Abstract: A magnetic anomaly homing system uses an array of magnetic sensors coupled to a non-magnetic platform. The array is defined by a plurality of single-axis subsystems with each one thereof having two magnetic sensors spaced apart from one another. A processor coupled to the magnetic sensors generates a plurality of magnetic total field scalars that can be used to directly home in on a magnetic object from both long and short-range distances to the target. The scalars define guidance control parameters used to steer the platform to align the platforms's direction of motion with the magnetic anomaly.

Abstract: A system measures dynamic force of an impacting spray of air and water. A pitot-tube section is aligned to receive a longitudinal flow of impacting air/water spray in a laterally extending orifice. A first differential pressure transducer is coupled to the pitot-tube section for producing signals representative of velocity of the air/water spray at the orifice. A rain gage section adjacent to the pitot-tube section receives and collects volumes of water of the longitudinal flow of air/water spray through a laterally extending opening. A second pressure differential transducer is coupled to the rain gage section to produce signals representative of the volumes of water collected in the rain gage section. A computer-based control/readout module receives the velocity representative signals and water volume representative signals for indicating the magnitude of dynamic force attributed to impacting air/water spray in the opening.

Abstract: A combination stabilizer system and cylindrical-shaped undersea package improves validity of data collected from ambient sea by orienting the package in an upright attitude and eliminating motion or rocking due to wave action and/or sea currents. An outrigger base assembly has a flat base surface to rest on the sea floor and is provided with upper surfaces having semi-circular cross-sectional configurations to contiguously fit adjacent to round outer contours of an undersea package. The outrigger base assembly also has laterally extending outrigger portions extending the flat base surface for increased stability. First and second case clamps have curved surfaces with semi-circular cross-sectional configurations that extend above the outrigger base assembly. The first and second clamps clamp the curved surfaces and upper surfaces onto the round contours and secure the undersea package in an upright orientation.

Abstract: Manatee vocalizations are detected by performing a variety of frequency domain processing operations on sound signals detected in an underwater region. Overlapping time windowed portions of digitized sound data are converted to the frequency domain where power spectrums therefor are estimated. Each such power spectrum is then normalized with each resulting normalized spectrum value indicative of broadband noise having a value that is less than a normalized spectrum value indicative of narrowband tones. Normalized spectrum values indicative of narrowband tones that occur (i) in windows of frequency bins encompassing frequencies lower and higher than each of a lowest resonant frequency (associated with manatee vocalizations) and its harmonics and (ii) with a specified degree of variance with respect to frequency separation therebetween, are filtered out. Remaining normalized spectrum values indicative of narrowband tones are assigned to a frequency based harmonic set.

Abstract: A method of simulating the effects of one or more explosive events utilizes a mapping of graphically-valued dots to describe the explosive event at detonation at a plurality of (x,y) positions. A degradation rule is applied to the mapping of dots at each of times tn, for n=1 to N, to yield corresponding mappings of degraded value dots. The degradation rule specifies how the mapping of dots at detonation changes with time. The mapping at detonation and mappings of the degraded value dots are then simultaneously displayed in (x,y) registration with one another.

Abstract: An interface assures high-speed transmission of optical data between submerged vessels. First and second vessels have pressure hulls and have a first plate transparent to optical data on the pressure hull of the first vessel and a second plate transparent to optical data on the pressure hull of the second vessel. A first optical transceiver in the first vessel is adjacent to the first transparent plate, and a second optical transceiver in the second vessel is adjacent to the second transparent plate. A layer of water between the first plate and the second plate is optically transparent to optical data to allow the first optical transceiver and the second optical transceiver to transmit and receive optical data through the first transparent plate, the water layer, and the second transparent plate.

Abstract: A system and method indicate the direction faced by an operator. A waterproof housing has a mounting mechanism to engage a part of a headgear worn by an operator to position the housing in a portion of the operator's forward field of view. A two-axis gimbal mechanism is inside the waterproof housing and has a protective housing connected to the waterproof housing. The protective housing contains ring structure coupled to two orthogonal axis structures. A magnetic field sensor module is mounted on one of the axis structures and provides magnetic field data signals representative of the direction faced by the operator. An optical element has a wide field of view to transmit compass data images representative of the magnetic field data signals to the eyes of the operator.

Abstract: A system and method for magnetic anomaly guidance is provided. Triaxial magnetometer (TM) sensors are positioned at the vertices of an arrangement with an axis of the arrangement, being defined between each pair of the vertices. The arrangement is positioned on a support such that one of the X,Y,Z magnetic sensing axes for all of the sensors defines a forward direction of movement. The sensed magnetic field's X,Y,Z components of the TM sensors are processed to generate a partial gradient contraction associated with each axis of the sensor arrangement. Relationships between the partial gradient contractions are used to generate steering control commands for use by a steering system that is coupled to the support.

Abstract: An unmanned system for investigating underwater regions utilizes an unmanned mothership and a plurality of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The mothership transports the UUVs to and from the vicinity of an underwater region, releases the UUVs into the water, and facilitates recovery of the UUVs from the water. Each UUV can traverse an underwater region, generate sonar and image data associated with the underwater region, and transmit the sonar and image data through the water for receipt and re-transmission by the mothership. A docking system mounted partially onboard the mothership and partially onboard each UUV couples each UUV to the mothership and selectively releases each UUV into the underwater region. A guidance system mounted partially onboard the mothership and partially onboard each UUV guides each UUV back to the docking system from positions in the water.

Abstract: A suction device includes a suction cell formed to include a cup having an open end and a stem extending from a side of the cup opposite from the open end. A control system is connected to the stem and arranged to form a partial vacuum in the cup such that the cup is attached to the substrate. The control system may include an actuator and a strain sensor connected to the stem. The actuator preferably includes a length of a material that includes a shape memory alloy.

Abstract: An unmanned system is provided for the handling and delivery of a plurality of operational payloads. Each of a plurality of standardized shipping containers houses an operational payload, a controller that controls functions of the operational payload, and communication means that communicates with the controller. A structure is provided for supporting the shipping containers in a fixed relationship to one another so that the shipping containers can be handled and transported collectively by moving the structure. The structure is equipped with means to facilitate data transfer with each shipping container's controller.

Abstract: An active feedback levelwind apparatus and method for winding cable on a drum has a rotary encoder providing signals representative of drum rotation and a shuttle adjacent the drum receives, bidirectionally moves and wraps the cable on the drum. An outboard sensor assembly on the shuttle has an angular sensor providing signals representative of the angle of extension of an outboard extending portion of the cable. An inboard sensor assembly on the shuttle has an inboard sensor providing signals representative of the angle of extension of an inboard extending portion of the cable. A stepper motor coupled to a computer system bidirectionally displaces the shuttle and cable in response to the rotation signals, outboard angular signals, inboard angular signals and limit signals to smoothly wind the cable. Error position feedback signals from the computer system create corrective displacements for the shuttle to smoothly wind cables of varying widths.

Abstract: A mine identification system includes a surface ship with console and display screen. An untethered unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) has a video camera and high-resolution sonar providing high-resolution images for the screen, a transducer/transceiver projecting acoustic signals representative of the high-resolution signals through water and receiving acoustic control signals from the console. A search-sonar and acoustic transducer are connected to the ship, console, and screen. The search sonar projects acoustic signals and receives portions of the projected acoustic signals that are reflected from mine-like contacts and UUV. The screen displays low resolution images of mine-like contacts and UUV from the reflected portions, and the acoustic transducer transmits the acoustic control signals from the console through the water to the transducer/transceiver for quickly vectoring UUV to the vicinity of the mine-like contacts to enable identification of mines from high-resolution images.

Abstract: A system and method to autonomously neutralize mines has a tracked crawler vehicle having a sealed housing, power source, and motor driven track assemblies on opposite sides of the housing. A control/communications module in the housing has a GPS processing receiver section connected to a GPS antenna that extends upwardly to receive GPS signals and generate first control signals. A gun mechanism in the housing is connected to control/communications module and has a breech assembly connected to a gun barrel extending and aiming downwardly through a bottom side of the housing toward a surface beneath the housing. Penetrating rods in the gun mechanism are fired through the gun barrel penetrating the surface and a mine. The mine is neutralized by flooding the mine with ambient water or otherwise disrupting the firing or explosive train including detonators, detonating cord, and/or the electrical continuity of components the mine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing heat stress in firefighters supplies pressurized cooling water at a first pressure from a hose connected to a fire main for fighting fires onboard a ship. A manifold block switches parts of the pressurized cooling water at the first pressure through on/off valves and reduces pressure of the parts of the pressurized cooling water at the first pressure to a second pressure in flow regulators. The parts of the pressurized cooling water at the second pressure are fed through feeder hoses connected to the flow regulators and are conducted from the feeder hoses through tube suits each worn by a firefighter. Heat stress is reduced for each firefighter in each tube suit by the conducted parts of pressurized cooling water at the second pressure. The feeder hoses provide cooling water through each tube suit while the firefighters fight fires and during rest periods.