Abstract: A life support system has a semi-closed rebreather supplying oxygen for multiple users, such as high altitude parachutists. A first tank supplies oxygen to initially purge the system, and a second, larger tank supplies oxygen at prescribed amounts for the duration of a mission. Users are connected by hoses to an inlet hose manifold on a scrubber body of the rebreather. The inlet hose manifold has an inlet port boss to receive exhaled gas from each user and an overpressure valve vents excessive amounts of exhaled gas. A CO2 absorbent in the scrubber body scrubs CO2 from the exhaled gas. An outlet hose manifold is connected to the scrubber body and has an inlet fitting to supply oxygen and at least one outlet port boss to feed the oxygen and the CO2 scrubbed gas to the users. This reliable system is lighter-weight and smaller than contemporary systems.

Abstract: An active magnetic anomaly sensing and processing system has a plurality of transceivers positioned at known relative positions on a platform. Each transceiver includes i) a transmitter for transmitting a magnetic field towards a target to cause propagation of a magnetic anomaly field from the target, and ii) a sensor that produces a first output indicative of the magnetic anomaly field and background magnetic fields. A reference sensor, positioned further from the target than each of the transceivers' sensors, senses background magnetic fields and produces a second output indicative thereof. Each transmitter is activated and subsequently deactivated simultaneously to define a transmission time and a non-transmission time, respectively. Scalar magnitudes of each first output and the second output produced during the non-transmission time form quantities that are indicative of presence, location and classification of the target.

Abstract: A launch and recovery system for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) includes a watercraft with a stern endwall movable between a vertical position and a ramp position that is angled downward toward the water surface. A storage platform mounted on the watercraft and terminating at the stern endwall defines a storage area for UUVs. An arm is pivotally mounted to the watercraft at a position forward of the storage platform. The arm has an outboard end that can be extended to positions aft of the watercraft and on either side thereof. The arm is also retractable such that its outboard end is positionable over the storage platform. A capture mechanism is mounted to the outboard end of the arm and is used to capture a UUV that maneuvers thereto in the water. A homing mechanism is coupled to the arm and is used to transmit a homing signal through the water for use by the UUV in maneuvering towards the capture mechanism.

Abstract: An automatic control method for the filling of multiple tanks is provided. A controllable valve is coupled to a liquid supply source so that liquid dispensed therefrom must pass through the valve when the tanks are being filled. A variety of conditions/states are monitored and averaged. The averaged conditions/states are evaluated to determine if a valve movement is warranted. If so, the valve is moved by a specified increment. Following each occurrence of a valve movement, a predetermined wait or delay time is implemented before further control processing takes place. The steps of monitoring/averaging, valve movement, and waiting after a valve movement, are repeated until one of a number of events occurs. The occurrence of one of these events initiates a finalize filling process that fully closes the valve in accordance with a series of discrete movements thereof carried out over a specified time period.

Abstract: A method is provided for quantifying design parameters for a moving mass ship roll stimulation system given a maximum angle of roll &thgr;MAX to be induced for a ship, a righting moment RM per degree of list for the ship, a natural roll period TN, a damping ratio &zgr; for the ship and a center of gravity for the ship. A total induced moment expression at the natural roll period TN is determined for the moving mass ship roll stimulation system as a function of a plurality of design parameters therefor. The total induced moment expression is equated to 2&zgr;&thgr;MAXRM and values for the design parameters are selected to satisfy the equality.