Abstract: A ram-air parachute system is presented. The system may include upper and lower airfoil surface members and one or more proximal wall members, distal wall members, interior wall members, and proximal-facing air inlets. The proximal-facing air inlets may be defined between the interior wall members and the upper and lower airfoil surface members. One or more edge airfoils may be defined between the proximal wall members and at least a portion of the upper airfoil surface member, the lower airfoil surface member and the distal wall member(s). The edge airfoils may be in fluidic communication with the proximal-facing air inlet such that air may flow into the edge airfoils via the proximal-facing air inlet and inflate the edge airfoils. Inflation of the edge airfoils may vertically expand the parachute system, increasing a vertical distance between the upper and lower airfoil surface members.

Abstract: A ram-air parachute system is presented. The system may include upper and lower airfoil surface members and one or more proximal wall members, distal wall members, interior wall members, and proximal-facing air inlets. The proximal-facing air inlets may be defined between the interior wall members and the upper and lower airfoil surface members. One or more edge airfoils may be defined between the proximal wall members and at least a portion of the upper airfoil surface member, the lower airfoil surface member and the distal wall member(s). The edge airfoils may be in fluidic communication with the proximal-facing air inlet such that air may flow into the edge airfoils via the proximal-facing air inlet and inflate the edge airfoils. Inflation of the edge airfoils may vertically expand the parachute system, increasing a vertical distance between the upper and lower airfoil surface members.

Abstract: A system and method for transient satellite doppler signal position determination to receive measured signals associated with respective satellites, determine transmission characteristics from the measured signals, determine orbital characteristics of the satellites from the measured signals responsive to indications of the current time via Doppler calculations, identify the satellites responsive to the transmission characteristics and/or and the orbital characteristics, determine a current position of the satellites relative to the system from the Doppler calculations and identifying the satellites, and determine a geolocation of the system responsive to the current position of the satellites relative to the system.

Abstract: A propeller system including a propeller including a central attachment member and a plurality of blade apparatuses, each including a blade body attached to the central attachment member and a magnetic coupling member attached to a radially outward end of the blade body. The propeller system further comprises a propeller frame configured to at least partially circumscribe the magnetic coupling member of each blade apparatus and a plurality of electromagnets positioned on the propeller frame and operable to generate magnetic fields to suspend the magnetic coupling members, laterally translate the magnetic coupling members, rotate the magnetic coupling members along the radial axis of the propeller system, thereby rotating the blade bodies.

Abstract: An energy storage apparatus including a spherical rotating member having permanent magnets and uniquely-identifiable location-defining elements, a plurality of coils, a controller operably coupled to the plurality of coils, a power source, and a location sensing apparatus operable to detect the plurality of location-defining elements. The controller may compare time-sequential information from the location sensing apparatus to determine a rotational axis and a rotational speed of the rotating member, operate the coils to change the rotational axis speed of the rotating member, increase energy stored by the rotating member by increasing the rotational speed by operating the coils to generate magnetic fields that interact with the permanent magnets, and withdraw energy by operating the coils to generate magnetic fields that interact with the magnetic fields of the permanent magnets to produce induced current in the coils and directing the induced current to a power delivery location.

Abstract: A propeller system with directional thrust control comprising a hub, a plurality of blade attachment apparatuses attached to the hub, and a plurality of blades, each blade of the plurality of blades being attached to a blade attachment apparatus of the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses. The hub is operable to rotate about a rotation axis thereof. The plurality of blades is attached to the hub via the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses such that the plurality of blades rotates about the rotation axis of the hub when the hub rotates about the rotation axis thereof. Each blade attachment apparatus of the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses is operable to rotate the blade attached thereto about a blade rotation axis.

Abstract: An energy storage apparatus including a spherical rotating member having permanent magnets and uniquely-identifiable location-defining elements, a plurality of coils, a controller operably coupled to the plurality of coils, a power source, and a location sensing apparatus operable to detect the plurality of location-defining elements. The controller may compare time-sequential information from the location sensing apparatus to determine a rotational axis and a rotational speed of the rotating member, operate the coils to change the rotational axis speed of the rotating member, increase energy stored by the rotating member by increasing the rotational speed by operating the coils to generate magnetic fields that interact with the permanent magnets, and withdraw energy by operating the coils to generate magnetic fields that interact with the magnetic fields of the permanent magnets to produce induced current in the coils and directing the induced current to a power delivery location.

Abstract: A propeller system including a propeller including a central attachment member and a plurality of blade apparatuses, each including a blade body attached to the central attachment member and a magnetic coupling member attached to a radially outward end of the blade body. The propeller system further comprises a propeller frame configured to at least partially circumscribe the magnetic coupling member of each blade apparatus and a plurality of electromagnets positioned on the propeller frame and operable to generate magnetic fields to suspend the magnetic coupling members, laterally translate the magnetic coupling members, rotate the magnetic coupling members along the radial axis of the propeller system, thereby rotating the blade bodies.

Abstract: A propeller system with directional thrust control comprising a hub, a plurality of blade attachment apparatuses attached to the hub, and a plurality of blades, each blade of the plurality of blades being attached to a blade attachment apparatus of the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses. The hub is operable to rotate about a rotation axis thereof. The plurality of blades is attached to the hub via the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses such that the plurality of blades rotates about the rotation axis of the hub when the hub rotates about the rotation axis thereof. Each blade attachment apparatus of the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses is operable to rotate the blade attached thereto about a blade rotation axis.