Abstract: An energy storage cell includes a cylindrical pressure vessel, a porous ceramic coating on the interior surface of the pressure vessel, a plurality of insulating stripes of an electrically insulating polymeric coating on the interior surface of the porous ceramic coating, and a plurality of catalytic stripes of a catalytic material overlying the plurality of insulating stripes. The insulating material is preferably a polymer such as polytetrafluoroethylene. The catalytic material catalyzes the chemical combination of hydrogen and oxygen, and is preferably a mixture of platinum powder, polytetrafluoroethylene, and methocel. The insulating stripes and catalytic stripes lie around the circumference of the cylindrical pressure vessel and extend parallel to the cylindrical axis of the cylindrical pressure vessel. The energy storage cell further includes a plate stack having a plurality of plate sets within the wall of the pressure vessel, with the plate sets lying perpendicular to the cylindrical axis.

Abstract: An integrated solar cell-bypass diode assembly is provided by forming at least one recess in the back (non-illuminated) side of the solar cell and placing at least one discrete low-profile bypass diode in respective recesses so that each bypass diode is approximately flush with the back side of the solar cell. Each bypass diode is bonded to the solar cell for anti-parallel connection across the solar cell. The back side of the solar cell is preferably formed with a honeycomb pattern of recesses to reduce the weight of the solar cell while maintaining mechanical strength. The recesses that receive bypass diodes preferably have a rectangular shape that better accommodates the bypass diode.

Abstract: A method that may be implemented in software, that selects tactically sound paths for vehicles from an initial position to a goal position across a piece of terrain. The method searches through possible paths before selecting a desired path. It calculates a numerical heuristic to select promising paths to explore. By exploring only a few of the most promising paths, the method maintains high computational efficiency. Specifically, a list of paths is created (12) that begins with a vehicle's initial section and moves to terrain sections surrounding the vehicle. The list of paths is sorted (13) using a minimum estimated total cost value to goal representing estimates of the relative combat values of different pieces of terrain while the vehicle is within engagement range of hostile positions. The total cost value is defined as the path's current cost value plus the estimated cost value from the current position to the goal.