Abstract: A method includes forming a cold plate including conductive material and having a plurality of openings, and coating the cold plate with dielectric coating. The method further includes placing the cold plate proximal to a metal plate including one or more metals, and exposing the cold plate to moisture and/or water. In an example, a minimum lateral distance between the cold plate and the metal plate is at most 0.5 inch. The method further includes, while the cold plate is exposed to the moisture and/or the water, applying a voltage across the cold plate and the metal plate, and measuring a resultant leakage current through the cold plate. A thickness of the dielectric coating on an edge of an opening of the plurality of openings is at least 0.003 inch.

Abstract: The system and method of retractable solar arrays for underwater vehicles. In some cases, the retractable solar arrays for underwater vehicles contain anti-biofouling mechanisms. The retractable solar arrays may extend in a linear or a fan-like manner. In some cases, the solar array may be wrapped around the outside of the underwater vehicle or within a cylindrical housing. In some cases the solar array is a single flexible member with a series of connected panels.

Abstract: A method of making GaP window slabs having largest dimensions of greater than 4 inches and GaAs IR window slabs having largest dimensions of greater than 8 inches, includes slicing and dicing at least one smaller GaAs or GaP single crystal boule, which can be a commercial boule, to form a plurality of rectangular slabs. The slabs are ground to have precisely perpendicular edges, which are polished to be ultra-flat and ultra-smooth, for example to a flatness of at least ?/10, and a roughness Ra of less than 10 nanometers. The slab edges are then aligned and fused via optical-contacting/bonding to create a large GaAs or GaP slab having negligible bond interface losses. A conductive, doped GaAs or GaP layer can be applied to the window for EMI shielding in a subsequent vacuum deposition step, followed by applying anti-reflection (AR) coatings to one or both of the slab faces.

Abstract: A laser transmission assembly for shearography and related systems utilizing transmissive geometric phase plate pairs in place of Risley prism pairs or movable mirrors therein. Transmissive geometric phase plates provide for a system that is more compact than systems utilizing mirrors or Risley prism pairs while maintaining or improving the adjustability of the system and further offering beamshaping to provide desired illumination patterns.

Abstract: A multi-bit, asynchronous e-fuse macro, the macro comprising: the following inputs: an input output enable, a power on reset, a write address, an input write enable, a ground clamp enable, and a write clock; a plurality of e-fuse bits; a supply voltage configured to allow programming at least one of the e-fuse bits; at least one fuse output; and self-timing and control circuitry configured to perform signaling, wherein each of the inputs is in electrical communication with said e-fuse macro.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing a likelihood of detection of an imaging system by another imaging system are provided. For example, a mechanism may be used to interrupt an optical path between pulse biased thermal sensors and an aperture of the system when the pulsed biased thermal sensors are pulse biased. For example, emissions may be directed to a beam dump. Other techniques may include a mechanism for linearly moving the thermal sensor array or rotating a mirror.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes an enclosure including a plurality of battery cells, and a sensor within the enclosure. The sensor is configured to measure a parameter within the enclosure, and generate a sense signal. The battery assembly further includes a processor within the enclosure, wherein the processor is configured to process the sense signal and generate information associated with the sense signal. A first communication link is configured to transmit, from the enclosure to a system that is external to the enclosure, a discrete signal indicative of whether the sense signal indicates a fault condition. A second communication link is configured to transmit, from the enclosure to the system, a digital signal including the information. Thus, transmitting the discrete signal over the first communication link and the information associated with the sense signal over the second communication link provides redundancy and improves reliability of the battery assembly.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods for determining damage of an endless track of a tracked vehicle that comprises at least one track assembly comprising said endless track disposed in its longitudinal extension around a set of wheels. Said track comprises a wire configuration arranged within said track configured to run in the longitudinal extension around said track. Said wire configuration comprises one or more individual wires arranged to run within said endless track so that a set of wire portions are running in said longitudinal extension. The method comprises: receiving, from at least one sensor device, via measuring connectors, measurement information associated with electrical properties of wire portions of said wire configuration; based on the information received from said at least one sensor device, determining electrical properties of said wire portions; and, based on the determined electrical properties, determining whether there is a damage to the endless track.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a first plurality of battery cells, a second plurality of battery cells, and a switch between the first plurality of battery cells and the second plurality of battery cells. In an example, the first plurality of battery cells, the switch, and the second plurality of battery cells are connected in series to a load. In an example, the first plurality of battery cells, the second plurality of battery cells, and the switch are within an enclosure, which is within a pressure regulated section of an aircraft. The load may be external to the enclosure. The battery assembly further includes a controller configured to open the switch and the disconnect the first plurality of battery cells from the second plurality of battery cells, in response to an air pressure proximal to the first and second pluralities of battery cells falling below a threshold level.

Abstract: Disclosed is an arrangement for feeding ammunition to a weapon. The weapon is mounted to an elevation device arranged to allow elevation movement of the weapon about an elevation axis. The arrangement includes a feeding chute connected at one end to the weapon. The feeding chute includes a set of elements assembled together in a stacked configuration. The set of elements is arranged about a shaft configured to be concentrically arranged relative to the elevation axis so as to allow movement of individual elements of the set of elements about the shaft in connection to elevation movement of the weapon about the elevation axis. The invention also relates to a vehicle with an arrangement according to the present invention.

Abstract: A system for enhancing a coupling laser beam to create a larger beam radius thus increasing sensitivity inside the system. The system includes a coupling laser source to emit a coupling laser defining a first power level. The system also includes a resonant optical cavity that is optically aligned with the coupling laser source and the probe laser source. The resonant optical cavity enhances the coupling laser to a second power level that is greater than the first power level inside of the resonant optical cavity. The power increase of the coupling level also increases the sensitivity of the atomic receiver system by increasing the diameter of the coupling laser inside of the resonant optical cavity. The system also includes at least one photodetector positioned outside of and optically aligned with the resonant optical cavity for monitoring a resonance condition of the coupling laser circulating within the resonant optical cavity.

Abstract: A chaff dispensing system that is provided on an aircraft and includes a container, a dispensing assembly, a controller, and a volume of chaff material. The container has a first end, a second end, and a chamber that extends between the first and second ends, and the second end defines an ejection port. The dispensing assembly is operably engaged to the container. The controller is electrically connected to the dispensing assembly. The volume of chaff material is disposed inside the chamber of the container. The volume of chaff material is dispensed by the dispensing assembly operably through the controller in metered volumes of chaff material. In addition, a first volume of chaff material may be metered at a first time and a second volume chaff material may be metered at a second time in which the second volume of chaff material is different than the first volume of chaff material.

Abstract: A power supply includes an I/O module configured to receive a high voltage DC input and output a high voltage DC, a plurality of DC converter modules configured to receive the high voltage DC output from the I/O module and output a low voltage DC output, and a plurality of AC inverter modules configured to receive the high voltage DC output from the I/O module and output a high voltage AC output. Each of the plurality of DC converter modules, each of the plurality of AC inverter modules and the I/O module may be mounted in a corresponding individual chassis. Each of the individual chassis may be configured to be stackable together into a single line replaceable unit (LRU). Each of the individual chassis may have an identically shaped outer frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tracked vehicle (10; 11) comprising a vehicle body (30, 32; 30), at least one track assembly (21) and a suspension device (S) for suspension of said track assembly (21) to said vehicle body (30) of said tracked vehicle (10; 11). Said track assembly (21) comprises a track support beam (22), a plurality of road wheels (23, 23a), at least one drive wheel (24), and an endless track (25). Said track support beam (22) is arranged to support said at least one drive wheel (24) and a plurality of road wheels (23, 23a). Said endless track is disposed around said at least one drive wheel (24) and plurality of road wheels (23, 23a). Said suspension device (S) comprises two pendulum arms (52, 54) which in one end are rotatably attached to a respective fastening point (P1b, P2b) in said vehicle body (30; 32, 30) and in the other end are rotatably attached to a respective fastening point (P1a, P2a) in the track support beam (22) of said track assembly (21).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing, at least in part, a composite mould tool is described. At S101, the method comprises obtaining a mould tool precursor having a first face and a reverse second face, wherein the precursor comprises a first metal. At S102, the method comprises hermetically scaling the precursor by cold spraying a layer on the second face using particles comprising a second metal, wherein the respective coefficients of thermal expansion of the first metal and the second metal are within a factor of 5. At S103, the method comprises providing a faceplate of the composite mould tool by subtractive manufacturing of the first face.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicle for protecting an entity against directed-energy weapons, comprising: a housing; and a shield for absorbing or reflecting a laser beam, the shield, in use, extending in a plane from the housing. There is also provided a system of vehicles and a method of coordinating a plurality of vehicles to protect an entity against directed-energy weapons.

Abstract: A power amplifier has multiple stages, wherein one stage includes nonuniform distributed power amplifier circuitry and an electrically subsequent stage includes reactively match power amplifier circuitry. There is a non 50 Ohm intermediate impedance between the distributed and reactively matched stages. The ratio of periphery between the subsequent reactively matched stage and the prior distributed stage being less than or equal to 2:1.

Abstract: Image sensor systems are disclosed that include charge coupled device (CCD) pixels integrated with CMOS readout circuitry via separately bonded substrates. According to some embodiments, columns of image sensing pixels on a first substrate are arranged with overlapping gate structures to facilitate charge transfer between the pixels. At least one pixel is coupled to a first conductive pad that contacts (or is melded with) a second conductive pad from a second substrate bonded to the first substrate. The second substrate includes a readout circuit using one or more CMOS devices coupled to the second conductive pad to receive the accumulated charge from a given column of pixels. The resulting photodetector signal from the accumulated charge can be, for instance, amplified via a source follower component and ultimately read out to a column amplifier, and subjected to further processing and/or use in a given downstream system.

Abstract: An airframe or a part thereof 3, for example a skin assembly or a profile such as a structural profile, comprises: a wall W having an aperture A therethrough, wherein the wall W provides a frame F surrounding, at least in part, the aperture A; a panel P conforming with the aperture A; and wherein the airframe or the part 3 thereof is configurable in: a first configuration, wherein the panel P and the frame F are mutually spaced apart; and a second configuration, wherein the panel P is received in the frame F and wherein the frame F resists movement of the panel P in two or three mutually orthogonal directions.

Abstract: A method of producing a pair of simultaneous artificial specklegram images. The method includes steps of: reflecting a target illumination beam off of a target surface via a transmitter optical component of a shearography system; directing a first reference beam from the transmitter optical component to a receiving optical component of the shearography system; directing a second reference beam from the transmitter optical component to the receiving optical component; receiving a reflected beam from the target surface with the receiving optical component; interfering the reflected beam with the first reference beam and the second reference beam; communicating a first data set relating to the pair of simultaneous artificial specklegram images from the receiving optical component to a processor; and processing the first data set to generate the pair of simultaneous artificial specklegram images.