Abstract: A multilayer insulation is provided. The multilayer insulation includes a plurality of layers of material separated from one another by post elements. The interior of the integrated multilayer insulation can be filled with a selected gas. Moreover, the gas can be held in an interior volume of the integrated multilayer insulation at a pressure greater than ambient pressure, or flowed through the interior volume of the integrated multilayer insulation. The integrated multilayer insulation can be placed directly over an object to be insulated, or over a cellular insulation structure that is placed directly on the object to be insulated.

Abstract: Control systems and methods for facilitating human control of complex systems, including complex mechanical systems, are provided. The control system can include one or more user input devices adapted to receive user inputs in various forms. Electronic signals generated by the user input devices in response to the user inputs are provided to a controller, which processes the signals, validates and prioritizes those signals, and generates appropriate control signals. The control signals are then provided to the controlled system. User feedback regarding the operation of the control system, the controlled system, an operating environment, or the like, can be delivered to the user through the control system.

Abstract: An antenna with tightly coupled elements is provided. The antenna includes a plurality of planar elements. Each element is connected to a signal line, and is coupled to at least one other element. The elements are arranged in one or more linear arrays. A first array of elements can be provided on a first plane, while a second array of elements can be provided on a second plane. Moreover, elements included in the first array can can at least partially overlap elements included in the second array. Alternatively, a single array of elements formed on a first plane can be provided, with coupling elements that are capacitively connected to one element, and directly, are electrically connected to an adjacent element.

Abstract: Control systems and methods are provided. The systems and methods include a field programmable gate array (FPGA) in which a plurality of functional processing units (FPUs) are formed, and one or memories having a plurality of memory locations. An input signal is received from a sensor and is processed in at least some of the FPUs. The FPUs can be reused one or more times during the processing of a single input signal. The system can also receive a control signal as an additional input. In response to the inputs, an output signal is generated. The output signal can be used to control an actuator. In accordance with further embodiments, the operation of the FPUs can be reconfigured by storing different operating parameter values in memory.

Abstract: Methods and systems for heating a space deployed membrane assembly are provided. The membrane assembly can include one or more framed sections. Each section can include a composite membrane having a membrane substrate and a transparent, electrically conductive resistive coating. The composite membrane is held within a frame. Electrically conductive bus bars are provided and are placed in intimate electrical contact with the resistive coating. The electrically conductive bus bars are generally arranged, on opposite sides of the perimeter of the membrane. A controller passes current between selected bus bars, with different bus bars operative to pass current between them at different times. The magnitude of the voltage applied to the bus bars, the location of the bus bars, the operational sequence of powering the bus bars, and the time over which current is passed between a selected pair of bus bars, are selected to provide substantially uniform time averaged heating of the membrane.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an actuator for steering mirrors with low magnetic hysteresis losses at high frequencies, with a fast step response, and without excessive heating of the steering mirror. Various embodiments of the actuator include two stators (a left stator and a right stator or an inner stator and an outer stator) and a rotor positioned between the stators. Each stator has a core assembly with one or more cores, two or more legs, and two or more faces positioned proximate to the rotor. The two or more legs are separated from one another by portions of the one or more coils. The rotor includes a core and a plurality of magnets, where each magnet has a face positioned proximate to the faces of one core assembly.

Abstract: A deployable structure having a plurality of panel elements is provided. Adjacent panel elements are connected to one another by hinges. The hinges allow the panel elements to be placed in a stowed or folded configuration, in which adjacent pairs of panel elements are folded against one another to provide a relatively compact assembly. Biasing members can be provided to transition the deployable structure from the stowed configuration to a deployed configuration. When in the deployed configuration, the relative positions of the panel elements of the deployable structure are maintained, at least in part, by locating interface assemblies. The deployable structure may have a generally annular configuration when deployed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for passively slowing the spin rate of an uncontrolled object in space are presented. A damper mechanism is provided that includes a magnet that is free to rotate in any direction about a central point with respect to a carrier or outer housing. The magnet can be carried within an inner element or sphere, that is in turn mounted within an outer sphere. The inner and outer spheres can be separated by a viscous fluid or other mechanism in which damping can be introduced. The damper mechanism can be associated with an attachment mechanism, that secures the resulting damper or despin system to a target object. A method of neutralizing the magnetic field is also included to enable the system to be launched in a passive state.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a high speed scanner tracker are disclosed. The scanner tracker can include a mirror assembly that rotates within a housing about a first axis. Moreover, the mirror can be tilted about a second axis. Pulses of light can be directed to and received from a selected location or target surface located within a target volume by selectively controlling the rotational and tilt angles of the mirror relative to a laser associated with the scanner tracker assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for thinning the output of an array antenna are disclosed. The thinning can be applied in response to determining that the performance of a multiple element antenna array with respect to a desired signal has been compromised by the presence of one or more interfering signals. The application of a thinning pattern has the effect of turning off selected antenna elements within the array. The effect of applying a particular thinning pattern on the realized performance of the antenna system can be determined. An alternate thinning pattern can be applied if the previous thinning pattern did not result in an improvement, or a sufficient improvement, in the performance of the antenna system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for correcting chromatic aberrations in a telescope incorporating a diffractive primary optical element are provided. In particular, a corrective optic assembly that includes a corrector diffractive optical element (DOE) is described. The corrective optic assembly provides light to the corrector DOE at a high incidence angle. Moreover, light is reflected from the corrector DOE at a high exit angle comprising a cylindrical Littrow configuration allowing for greater bandwidth and smaller size.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a hybrid integrated nanostructure and nanotube substrate system are disclosed. The system includes a substrate having a plurality of nanostructures formed thereon. Interconnected to the substrate, directly or through nanostructures, are nanotubes. The nanostructures can extend for a greater distance from the surface of the substrate than the nanotubes, providing a robust structure. In addition, the structure can be highly emissive and absorptive hybrid surface.

Abstract: A continuous horn or flared radiator antenna system is provided. The antenna system provides for steering a beam within at least a first plane (e.g., in azimuth). Steering a beam includes selecting an operative portion or segment of a circular array of elements or probe feeds. Steering can also include electronically steering the resulting beam within a coverage area provided by the selected segment of probe feeds. The electronic steering within the coverage area can be performed through the selective operation of phase shifters. Multiple continuous horn radiator structures can be provided to support pointing or steering of a beam in a second plane (e.g., in elevation), operation in multiple frequency bands, and/or simultaneous transmission and reception of signals.

Abstract: Conformal antennas and methods for radiating radio frequency energy using conformal antennas are provided. In particular, one or more tapered feeds can be provided as part of or interconnected to a conductive top plate. The one or more tapered feeds have a depth that decreases from a feed point to a tip. The tip of the one or more tapered feeds is adjacent a cavity formed over a lens region. An aperture over the lens region can be covered or filled by an impedance surface. This impedance surface may comprise a frequency selective surface. Alternatively, a frequency selective surface can be provided over the lens region of an antenna incorporating one or more stripline feeds.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an actuator for steering mirrors with low magnetic hysteresis losses at high frequencies, with a fast step response, and without excessive heating of the steering mirror. Various embodiments of the actuator include two stators (a left stator and a right stator or an inner stator and an outer stator) and a rotor positioned between the stators. Each stator has a core assembly with one or more cores, two or more legs, and two or more faces positioned proximate to the rotor. The two or more legs are separated from one another by portions of the one or more coils. The rotor includes a core and a plurality of magnets, where each magnet has a face positioned proximate to the faces of one core assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed invention relate to providing cooling to instruments or other components. More particularly, hydrogen from a store is provided to pre-cool helium contained within a closed loop refrigeration circuit. Helium pre-cooled by the hydrogen, for example after expansion of the hydrogen in an expansion valve, is itself passed through an expansion valve, and applied to a heat load. The helium can be circulated through the refrigeration circuit using a compressor. The hydrogen used for pre-cooling the helium can be from a store of hydrogen that also provides fuel to a hydrogen consumer, for example for propulsion of a vehicle carrying the cooling system or for the production of electrical power. A hydrogen consumer can also be provided with hydrogen that has first been used to pre-cool the helium refrigeration circuit.

Abstract: A dual polarized array antenna is disclosed. The array antenna includes a plurality of electrically conductive elements or posts, arranged in rows and columns. Multiple parallel slots are formed that intersect different rows and columns of electrically conductive elements. The slots receive feed elements that include a linear array of feed points. The feed points within each linear array alternate between a feed point associated with a first polarization and a feed point associated with a second polarization.

Abstract: LIDAR systems and methods are provided. More particularly, a distributed focal plane assembly is provided in which light collected by optical fibers is delivered to detectors on a separate substrate. Moreover, signals from detectors can be stored in analog memory on a different substrate from the detectors. Alternatively, light may be imaged onto detectors on one substrate and stored in analog memory on a different substrate. The detectors can be provided in a linear or one-dimensional array. A laser source can comprise a multiplexed laser source which provides a sequence of pulses separated in time and having different directions of propagation.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to systems and methods for the capture of information regarding scenes using single or multiple three-dimensional LADAR systems. Where multiple systems are included, those systems can be placed in different positions about the imaged scene such that each LADAR system provides different viewing perspectives and/or angles. In accordance with further embodiments, the single or multiple LADAR systems can include two-dimensional focal plane arrays, in addition to three-dimensional focal plane arrays, and associated light sources for obtaining three-dimensional information about a scene, including information regarding the contours of the objects within the scene. Processing of captured image information can be performed in real time, and processed scene information can include data frames that comprise three-dimensional and two-dimensional image data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed invention relate to identifying safe landing sites on a surface. More particularly, three-dimensional image data is obtained from a surface. That image data is processed using morphological operations to create a smoothed surface. The smoothed surface data is then used to calculate slopes, to identify areas of the surface that present a slope hazard. The smooth data obtained for identifying slope hazards can also be used in connection with identifying surface features, including bumps or holes, that create surface feature hazards. After identifying the slope and/or surface feature hazards, a hazard map indicating safe and not safe landing areas can be created.