Abstract: A robust ground traction (drive) assembly for remotely controlled vehicles, which not only operates smoothly on surfaces that are flat, but also upon surfaces that include rugged terrain, snow, mud, and sand, is provided. The assembly includes a sun gear and a braking gear. The sun gear is configured to cause rotational force to be applied to second planetary gears through a coupling of first planetary gears. The braking gear is configured to cause the assembly (or the second planetary gears) to rotate around the braking gear when an obstacle or braking force is applied.

Abstract: A tire includes a plurality of SMA springs. Each SMA spring includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion. Each SMA spring is interlaced with at least one other SMA spring thereby forming a laced toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the tire.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing large area graphene for graphene-based photonics devices such as bolometric graphene detectors, or for use as a saturable absorber in ultra-high bandwidth detectors for producing ultrafast laser pulses. The method includes: growing a first graphene layer on one side of a metal substrate, and a second graphene layer on another side of the metal substrate; coating the first graphene layer with a plurality of resist layers including a low molecular weight polymethylmethacrylate, and a high molecular weight polymethylmethacrylate; removing the second graphene layer and the metal substrate to reveal the first graphene layer; disposing the first graphene layer on an optical substrate; and removing the plurality of resist layers from the first graphene layer to reveal a final graphene layer, which can be used as the basis to manufacture a multilayer graphene structure for graphene detectors.

Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for an aircraft is provided that includes a turbine engine, a first electric machine assembly connected to the turbine engine, a second electric machine assembly driven by the first electric machine assembly, and multiple third electric machine assemblies driven by the first electric machine assembly, wherein the multiple third electric machines provide a thrust output to propel the aircraft.

Abstract: Provided is a method of discriminating between bloodstains, the method including obtaining a captured image of an analysis target; analyzing the captured image and extracting a scattering image of a plurality of bloodstains in the analysis target; estimating a scattering angle of the scattering image; and determining the plurality of bloodstains to be an impact spatter bloodstain if the scattering angle is greater than a preset reference angle, and determining the plurality of bloodstains to be a cessation cast-off bloodstain if the scattering angle is less than the reference angle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for lightweight, customizable antenna with improved performance and mechanical properties are disclosed. In some aspects, aerogels can be used, for example, as a substrate for antenna fabrication. The reduced weight and expense, as well as the increased ability to adapt antenna designs, permits a systems to mitigate a variety of burdens associated with antennas while providing added benefits.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte-based sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a conductive polymer electrolyte film including water-retaining components. The water-retaining components facilitate operational conductivity of the conductive polymer electrolyte film in lower humidity environments than would be possible without the water-retaining components.

Abstract: Otologic materials and methods are provided. For example, a cell-adhesive, biodegradable hydrogel scaffold loaded with time-released drugs for repairing chronic tympanic membrane perforations is disclosed, methods of making same and administering same are provided. This hydrogel may promote vascular in-growth and epithelial cell growth of the tympanic membrane with the purpose of closing the perforation and providing a barrier between the external and middle ear. The hydrogel is initially a liquid polymer that only gels upon exposure to specific conditions, such as exposure to light. This scaffold may simultaneously induce repair of the tympanic membrane while preventing or alleviating middle ear infection, thus filling a void in current tympanic membrane perforation therapies.

Abstract: Formation of a boron nitride nanotube nanocomposite film by combining a boron nitride nanotube solution with a matrix such as a polymer or a ceramic to form a boron nitride nanotube/polyimide mixture and synthesizing a boron nitride nanotube/polyimide nanocomposite film as an electroactive layer.

Abstract: A tire having a plurality of shape memory alloy (SMA) radial stiffening elements including a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion. Each SMA radial element is secured to the rim of a wheel to form arching elements extending about an entire circumference of the tire.

Abstract: A sensor network may be configured to operate in extreme temperature environments. A sensor may be configured to generate a frequency carrier, and transmit the frequency carrier to a node. The node may be configured to amplitude modulate the frequency carrier, and transmit the amplitude modulated frequency carrier to a receiver.

Abstract: A method for preparing a flexible low-density thermal protection material, the method comprising providing a flexible substrate and a pyrolizable material impregnated therein. The thermal protection material remains flexible after impregnation and continues to remain flexible when the pyrolizable material is fully pyrolized.

Abstract: The present invention relates an apparatus and method for measuring range-resolved atmospheric sodium temperature profiles using a space-based Lidar instrument, including a diode-pumped Q-switched self-Raman c-cut Nd:YVO4 laser with intra-cavity frequency doubling that could produce multi-watt 589 nm wavelength output. The c-cut Nd:YVO4 laser has a fundamental wavelength that is tunable from 1063-1067 nm. A continuous wave narrow linewidth diode laser is used as an injection seeder to provide single-frequency grating tunable output around 1066 nm. The injection-seeded self-Raman shifted Nd:VO4 laser is tuned across the sodium vapor D2 line at 589 nm. In one embodiment, a space-qualified frequency-doubled 9 Watt at 532 nm wavelength Nd:YVO4 laser, is utilized with a tandem interference filter temperature-stabilized fused-silica-etalon receiver and high-bandwidth photon-counting detectors.

Abstract: The feed-through assembly provides for the conveyance of a feed element from one boundary environment to another. The feed-through assembly includes the following components (from bottom to top) each with an axially extending aperture through which at least one feed element passes: lower compression member; packing stack including a plurality of packing buttons; and upper compression member. The plurality of packing buttons are made from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) foam material (e.g., GORE-TEX®). A portion of the feed element is sealed within the packing stack including the plurality of packing buttons after it is compressed between the two compression members. The feed-through assembly is very cost effective and easy to make, but provides solutions to sealing problems under severe conditions or for extremely demanding requirements.

Abstract: A small, low power, solid state particle counter may be configured to detect radiation. A scintillator may be doped to emit light in a predetermined energy range when impacted by radiation particles. A photodiode attached to or held against the scintillator may be configured to detect the emitted light in the predetermined energy range and output a current proportional to an amount of the emitted light.

Abstract: Various conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI), diseases, injuries, and/or other impairments, may be diagnosed by deriving a sensitive overall indicator of impairment of sensorimotor functional status based on results of an eye-movement assessment test that includes an appropriately randomized, radial tracking task together with a broad set of oculometric measures. The oculometric measures may be combined to yield the sensitive overall indicator of a particular impairment state. More specifically, the oculometric measures may be vectorized to help diagnose both the type of TBI, disease, or impairment and the extent thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a molecular identification method for a single dinoflagellate cyst, including: obtaining crushed liquids of the single dinoflagellate cyst; performing a first PCR amplification with the crushed liquids as a template, SEQ ID NO: 1 (GTCCGCCCTCTGGGTG) as a forward primer, and SEQ ID NO: 2 (TCGCAGTAGTSYGTCTTTAAC) as a reverse primer to obtain an amplification product so as to determine the species of the dinoflagellate cyst. If the first amplification product is unsuitable for sequencing due to weak bands by electrophoresis detection, a second (nested) PCR amplification and sequencing is performed with SEQ ID NO: 1 (GTCCGCCCTCTGGGTG) as a forward primer and SEQ ID NO: 2 (TCGCAGTAGTSYGTCTTTAAC) as a reverse primer to determine the species of dinoflagellate.

Abstract: A robotic gripper for rigidly grasping a section of a Marman ring of a satellite, the robotic gripper having an outboard jaw which interfaces to an outer diameter side of the Marman ring, a inboard jaw which interfaces to an inner diameter side of the Marman ring, and a palm which interfaces to a separation surface of the Marman ring. The jaws, when grasping the section of the Marman ring, execute a two-stage motion comprising a first movement toward the opposing jaw in a direction parallel to the palm, and a second movement of drawing the Marman ring down against the palm or other suitable surface in order to fully rigidize the grasp.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved propeller blade design by modifying a classic propeller blade design by changing the twist distribution across the propeller blade(s). This is accomplished by increasing the twist of each propeller blade on the inboard portion of the blade compared to a classic propeller design. At a break point, the twist provided across the propeller blade from the break point to the tip of the blade decreases so that the attack angle at the tip of the propeller blade is less than that of a classic propeller blade design.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring, in near-real-time, the level of black carbon, brown carbon, organic carbon, total carbon and CO2 in air. The device also provides for a direct calculation of aerosol angstrom coefficient as well as estimation of emissions rates of black carbon or brown carbon from nearby combustion sources.