Abstract: A stowage container including a barrier such as a door or access panel and a breach detector for monitoring and/or detecting a breach of the barrier. The breach detector includes an indicator assembly having a slot that can be positioned between, and defined by, a front panel and a back panel of the barrier, and an indicator within the slot. The indicator assembly further includes a retainer that maintains the indicator in a first state when the barrier is in a first position (e.g., closed or sealed) and which releases the indicator into a second state when the barrier moves from the first position to a second position (e.g., open or breached). Upon returning the barrier to the first position, the indicator remains in the second state until the indicator reset to the first state.

Abstract: Methods of forming an electrically conductive carbon allotrope material comprise depositing a first material comprising a polymer and a sulfonic acid onto a carbon allotrope material to form a second material. The methods comprise curing the second material. Methods of heating a surface of a vehicle component comprise applying a voltage to a material comprising a carbon allotrope material, a polymer, and a sulfonic acid. The material is disposed on a surface of a vehicle component. Electrically conductive materials comprise at least one polymer, at least one sulfonic acid, and a carbon allotrope material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses may include a stiffened beam assembly including a structural beam portion having a web and upper and lower flanges, and at least one continuous stiffening member extending back and forth between the upper and lower flanges on one side of the web, forming one or more trusses or other reinforcing structures. The beam portion and/or the stiffening member(s) may comprise formed sheet metal. The stiffening member(s) may be mechanically attached to the beam portion.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for an antenna system. The antenna system comprises an aperture structure, a primary radiating slot, a tuning slot, and a stripline feed. The primary radiating slot and the tuning slot are both located in the aperture structure. The stripline feed is located between the primary radiating slot and the tuning slot in the aperture structure.

Abstract: A computer system and a computer-implemented method is provided for authoring a requirements document for a product or service. The requirements document includes one or more components for the product or service. Each component is described using one or more requirements statements. An online tool is used to provide electronic templates to view and/or modify features of the requirement statements. A common data structure is used to store attributes associated with portions of the requirements statements. The common data structure is accessible by the online tool to author the requirements document.

Abstract: A system for total pressure measurement of a propulsive stream through a turbine engine, the system incorporates a track circumferentially mounted on a fan exhaust nozzle proximate a trailing edge. A carriage is mounted in the track and adapted for translation through a range of azimuthal angles relative to an engine centerline. A pressure measurement rake extends from the carriage and has a probe mount protruding radially inward into a fan flow duct with a plurality of pressure probes mounted to a leading edge of the probe mount.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for making thermoplastic resin materials and composite resin systems and materials made from the thermoplastic resins, by seeding one melted thermoplastic material with a second thermoplastic material in a crystalline state that comprises an amount of ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: Systems, computer readable media, and method concern includes generating visual, auditory and other sensory depictions of a life-sized virtual crew member in an aircraft simulator. The virtual crew member simulates operational actions and behavioral and physiological responses of a crew member of an aircraft. The method includes collecting one or more responses of an operator using the aircraft simulator. The one or more responses comprise biofeedback data associated with the operator. The method includes generating, in response to the one or more responses, one or more simulated operational actions or simulated behavioral and physiological responses for the virtual crew member. The method includes collecting one or more additional responses of the operator.

Abstract: A method of delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to a brush comprises receiving the cartridge inside a sleeve through an inlet of the sleeve while a pressure cap, located proximate the inlet of the sleeve, is in an open position. The method also comprises moving the pressure cap, located proximate the inlet of the sleeve, into a closed position to sealingly couple the pressure cap with a trailing end of the cartridge and to sealingly couple a valve with a leading end of the cartridge. The method further comprises applying pressure to the glutinous substance in the cartridge through a pressure input of the pressure cap to urge the glutinous substance from the cartridge to the valve. The method additionally comprises rotating the brush and opening the valve to enable the glutinous substance to flow from the valve to the brush at least when the brush is rotating.

Abstract: An isolation coupler for coupling a functional element to a support structure includes a first bracket. The first bracket includes a number of first-bracket sides. The number of first-bracket sides forms a closed polygonal shape, in plan view. The isolation coupler further includes a number of isolators coupled to each one of the first-bracket sides. The isolation coupler also includes a second bracket. The second bracket includes a number of second-bracket sides. The second bracket sides are coupled to the isolators. The number of second-bracket sides is equal to the number of first-bracket sides and forms the closed polygonal shape, in plan view. The isolators separate each one of the first-bracket sides from a corresponding one of the second-bracket sides to attenuate a load transferred from the first bracket to the second bracket.

Abstract: Pre-flight and episodic aircraft inspections to ensure operational safety and effectiveness are made faster, less costly and more effective by utilizing mobile model and data-driven sensor platforms inspecting known-state target vehicles. For autonomous aircraft, an inspection unmanned aerial vehicle (I-UAV) containing sensors inspects a utility unmanned aerial vehicle (U-UAV). Failure and system models of the U-UAV and the flight history of the U-UAV carried in the sensor data captured by the U-UAV's aircraft health management system are combined to guide the I-UAV to appropriately attend to the systems of the U-UAV and to drive the U-UAV systems into target states that will reveal otherwise hidden or latent failures.

Abstract: A gripping system for securing a work piece includes a clamp device, a rotary actuator, and a control circuit. The clamp device includes a ball screw mechanism and a jaw portion that has multiple grip fingers. The ball screw mechanism includes a shaft and a holder assembly. The shaft extends through the holder assembly and is configured for displacement along a central axis of the jaw portion. A distal tip of the shaft engages the grip fingers. The control circuit controls the rotary actuator to drive rotation of the shaft relative to the holder assembly, causing displacement of the shaft along the central axis. The displacement of the shaft causes the distal tip of the shaft to force the grip fingers to move in a radial direction away from the central axis to provide a clamp force on the work piece.

Abstract: An apparatus includes first and second electrically conductive tubes, first and second electrical isolators, and a nut. The first electrical isolator has a central passageway. The first electrically conductive tube has a flared end disposed around the first electrical isolator. The flared end includes external threads. The second electrically conductive tube has an outer flange. The second electrical isolator is disposed around the second electrically conductive tube and engages the outer flange. The nut is disposed around the second electrically conductive tube and engages the second electrical isolator. The nut includes internal threads corresponding to the external threads of the flared end of the first electrically conductive tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for automated maintenance of limited-access areas on large structures. The apparatus is a rolling or sliding tool-equipped mobile platform that is adhered to a surface by operation of one or more adherence fans and then propelled across the surface by operation of one or more propulsion fans. The adherence and propulsion fans are coupled to a base made of semi-rigid material. The adherence fans produce suction forces in one or more suction zones to adhere the mobile platform to the surface. The propulsion fans produce thrust to propel the surface-adhered mobile platform in a desired direction across the surface. The tool-equipped mobile platform is capable of adhering to and moving over a non-level surface on a large structure while keeping standoff contact elements in contact with the surface regardless of surface contour. The propulsion fans, adherence fans and maintenance tool (e.g., an NDI sensor unit) are controlled by a computer system.

Abstract: Devices for maintaining crawler alignment on complex-shaped blades and for enabling the blade crawler to traverse over trailing edge protrusions. Using ball and socket bearings or air pads in place of alignment wheels, the crawler will be able to track along complex-geometry rotor blades, propellers and other airfoils. Using an oversized-diameter roller, a semi-flexible roller, or a dual-roller arrangement, the crawler will be able to traverse over trailing edge protrusions.

Abstract: Automated apparatus for performing maintenance functions on airfoil-shaped bodies having short chord lengths, the apparatus being movable in a spanwise direction along the airfoil-shaped body. In accordance with various embodiments, the apparatus comprises a blade crawler capable of supporting any one of a plurality of end effectors for performing a set of maintenance functions on an airfoil-shaped body, such as a blade component. Included in these functions are multiple options for nondestructive inspection, drilling, grinding, fastening, appliqué application, scarfing, ply mapping, depainting, cleaning, and painting devices that are attached as the end effector for the blade crawler. As a whole, the blade crawler reduces maintenance time, labor hours and human errors when robotic maintenance functions are performed on blade components.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to function as a pluggable active optical connector that is modular with one or more channels and that converts electrical signals to optical signals and vice versa. On one side, the apparatus has a pluggable electrical interface to a line replaceable unit (LRU); on the other side the apparatus has a pluggable optical interface side to an aircraft fiber optic wiring bundle. The apparatus is pluggable to different types of LRUs including rack-mounted and bolted-down LRUs. The apparatus includes electronic and photonic components sufficient to enable electrical/optical conversion totally within a standard-sized aircraft connector. The apparatus is adaptable to various data communication protocols and has the flexibility to be used in either a single-fiber or a dual-fiber bidirectional data link.

Abstract: A low bandgap absorber region (LBAR) used in a laser power converter (LPC). The laser power converter is comprised of one or more subcells on a substrate, wherein at least one of the subcells has an emitter and base, with the low bandgap absorber region coupled between the emitter and base. The emitter and base are comprised of a material with a bandgap higher than a wavelength of incident laser light, and the low bandgap absorber region is comprised of a material with a bandgap lower than the emitter and base. The emitter and base are transparent to the incident laser light, and the low bandgap absorber region absorbs the incident laser light and generates a current in response thereto, such that the current is controlled by the material and thickness of the low bandgap absorber region. The low bandgap absorber region is configured to produce a current balanced to the subcells connected in series.

Abstract: A plurality of magnetic field sensors, for example arranged in an array, is operative to measure changes in magnetic field strength proximate the surface(s) of a test structure. The test structure may approximate the geometry of an airplane fuselage, wing, or the like. An electric current is applied to the test structure, and the magnetic field sensors sense changes in a magnetic field caused by the current. A corresponding plurality of integrators convert the sensor outputs to magnetic field strength values. From the plurality of magnetic field strength values and corresponding sensor locations, a current density over the target surface is inferred.

Abstract: An integrated circuit system is provided. The system includes a ring oscillator including a first plurality of logic gates connected in a ring configuration. The system also includes a second plurality of logic gates used to implement a heater to generate a controlled amount of heat. The second plurality of logic gates is also used to implement a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the ring oscillator. The system further includes one or more logic circuits coupled to the heater and the temperature sensor. The one or more logic circuits are used to control the heater to heat the ring oscillator only until the temperature of the ring oscillator is one of a plurality of predefined temperatures, during or after which the ring oscillator starts and operate.