Abstract: A nut element installation tool includes a holder for a nut element and retaining clip and a shaft coupled to the holder. The holder includes an upper plate, a lower plate and a shuttle movable between an extended position and a released position. The shuttle has a pocket configured to receive the nut element and the retaining clip. The retaining clip is compressed and held in a compressed state in the pocket until the shuttle is moved to the released position when the retaining clip is free to move to an expanded state in a nut plate basket to retain the nut element in the nut plate basket. The shaft is releasably coupled to the shuttle and holds the shuttle in the extended position.

Abstract: Provided are flight control mechanisms, such as omnidirectional thrust mechanisms (OTMs), and methods of using such mechanisms. These mechanisms may be positioned in wings, tails, or other components of aircraft. A mechanism may comprise a center member and top and bottom panels. The center member may comprise two curved segments joint at a center edge. The top and bottom panels may be independently pivotable relative to the center member. At high speeds, the top panel and/or the bottom panel may be pivoted outward to change the lift, drag, roll, and/or other flight conditions. The mechanism may also include a gas nozzle to direct compressed gas to the center member. The center member and/or the top and bottom panels redirect this gas resulting in forces in one of four directions, which are used for controlling the aircraft at low speeds, down to hover.

Abstract: Provided are flight control mechanisms, such as omnidirectional thrust mechanisms (OTMs), and methods of using such mechanisms. These mechanisms may be positioned in wings, tails, or other components of aircraft. A mechanism may comprise a center member and top and bottom panels. The center member may comprise two curved segments joint at a center edge. The top and bottom panels may be independently pivotable relative to the center member. At high speeds, the top panel and/or the bottom panel may be pivoted outward to change the lift, drag, roll, and/or other flight conditions. The mechanism may also include a gas nozzle to direct compressed gas to the center member. The center member and/or the top and bottom panels redirect this gas resulting in forces in one of four directions, which are used for controlling the aircraft at low speeds, down to hover.

Abstract: Devices and methods for providing a retrievable record of the times of the actual aircraft movements such as the Gate Out time when the aircraft leaves the gate or parking position, the Wheels Off time when the aircraft takes off, the Wheels On time when the aircraft touches down during landing, and the Gate In time when the aircraft arrives at the gate or parking position (OOOI times). A mobile device for logging data onboard an aircraft comprises: a motion sensor; a clock; a non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium for storing motion data from the motion sensor and associated time data from the clock; and a data processing system configured to identify stored motion data representing respective acceleration/deceleration vectors of the mobile device motions that correspond to aircraft gate departure and arrival and aircraft takeoff and landing. The OOOI times are automatically logged in the non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium.

Abstract: An electrical system for low-power charging of personal electronic devices is made available at each passenger seat in a vehicle using wireless power technology. Alternating current is delivered by conductors behind the sidewall panels or under the floor of the vehicle body to the passenger area. Electrical power is transferred from these conductors using transmit coils attached outboard of the sidewall panels or below the floor to receive coils attached to passenger seats near the transmit coils. The electrical current induced in the receive coils is made available via electrical power charging circuits at a convenient location for each seat via conventional charging ports. Transmit and receive coils are designed and configured to permit different seating configurations without the need for rewiring by placement and design of larger transmit and receive coils or by using track-mounted transmit and receive coils or a combination of these.

Abstract: A system using automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data and traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) data for determining navigation solutions for a vehicle is provided. The system has a communal position system (CPS) with a CPS sensor located in the vehicle. The CPS sensor receives ADS-B data and TCAS data from each of one or more proximate vehicles. The system further has a computer system coupled to the CPS. The computer system is configured to perform the steps of: checking the ADS-B data and the TCAS data for data reasonableness; performing data synchronization of the ADS-B data and the TCAS data; and computing a CPS position and a position accuracy based on the ADS-B data and the TCAS data. The navigation solutions include an alternate navigation solution, an independent navigation solution, and a complementary navigation solution.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to deploy and recover a fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle via a non-fixed wing aircraft are described herein. An example method includes tracking a location of a non-fixed wing aircraft in flight, tracking a location of a fixed wing aircraft in flight, positioning the non-fixed wing aircraft relative to the fixed wing aircraft based on the locations of the non-fixed wing aircraft and the fixed wing aircraft and coupling, via a gripper, the fixed wing aircraft to the non-fixed wing aircraft in mid-flight at a recovery location.

Abstract: Disclosed are ignition source testing systems and methods that utilize a foam with flammable components to indicate the presence of an ignition source on a test article (such as metallic components of a fuel system). Foam is applied to the test article and an energy discharge (such as a simulated lightning strike) is applied to the test article with the foam. The energy discharge may create an ignition source (such as an arc) on the test article that is sufficient to ignite the foam. Test methods comprise determining whether the foam ignited in response to the energy discharge. Test systems comprise the foam, the test article at least partially covered by the foam, and an energy source configured to discharge energy into the test article.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing a multitude of variable and varying signals in real time with low latency using fixed hardware with fixed processing resources, such as those within an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a field-programmable gated array (FPGA). The signal processing systems and methods allow the resource allocation to continuously adjust their processing as a result of changing signal conditions. In accordance with various embodiments, fixed processing resources in ASIC or FPGA form are dynamically allocated through an intelligent interleaving methodology that efficiently maps the signal processing of incoming signals while essentially preserving the same latency as if each signal channel were processed at the full sample rate. This is accomplished by multiplexing under the control of a resource sharing algorithm.

Abstract: An aerial refueling boom elevation estimation (“ARBEE”) system for estimating an elevation angle of an aerial refueling boom on an aerial refueling aircraft is described. The ARBEE system may include a data collector, storage unit, optimizer, and comparator.

Abstract: A method for measuring a preload of a fastener is described. The method, which may be practiced at least in part by an apparatus, includes establishing an initial value associated with an absence of the preload of the fastener and providing an adapter and a transducer rotatably coupled to the adapter. The transducer may be positioned in contact with the fastener. The transducer is caused to direct an incident ultrasonic wave to the fastener and to receive a reflected ultrasonic wave from the fastener. Data associated with the incident ultrasonic wave and the reflected sonic wave is used to generate a modified value associated with the preload of the fastener, and the preload of the fastener is calculated based on a difference between the initial value and the modified value.

Abstract: A system includes a first mast torque transfer system, a second mast torque transfer system coupled to the first mast torque transfer system, and a torque limiting system. The torque limiting system includes a first sensor configured to determine a torque of the first mast torque transfer system, a second sensor configured to determine a torque of the second mast torque transfer system, and a processor configured to determine a differential torque between the torque of the first mast torque transfer system and the torque of the second mast torque transfer system and configured to control at least one of a torque input and a torque output to at least one of the first and second mast torque transfer systems as a function of the determined differential torque.

Abstract: A method of additively manufacturing a composite part comprises depositing a segment of a continuous flexible line along a print path. The continuous flexible line comprises a non-resin component and a photopolymer-resin component that is partially cured. The method also comprises delivering a predetermined or actively determined amount of curing energy at least to a portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line at a controlled rate while advancing the continuous flexible line toward the print path and after the segment of the continuous flexible line is deposited along the print path to at least partially cure at least the portion of the segment of the continuous flexible line.

Abstract: An apparatus and system and method for mixing airflow and draining condensate in a duct exposed to sub-freezing air are disclosed. An example mixing duct apparatus includes a recirculation duct and a pack duct having a first end and a second end. The first end of the pack duct is coupled to a side of the recirculation duct. The pack duct has a lip that extends into an airflow passage defined by the recirculation duct. This lip defines a flow channel for condensate in the recirculation duct to flow beneath sub-freezing air entering the recirculation duct from the pack duct to decrease ice build-up in the pack duct.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a lockout device. The lockout device may prevent movement of aircraft control devices. The lockout device may include one or more portions and may include features that are designed to couple to or clasp a yoke of an aircraft as well as interface or couple to a pedal housing of the aircraft. Features of the lockout device may prevent movement of the aircraft control devices. The lockout device may include features to lock the device and may be multiple separate pieces or may be a hinged device.

Abstract: In an example, a light-control system includes UV light sources for emitting UV light when activated, a power sensor for measuring an amount of power available, and an activation-control system. The activation-control system can: (a) determine a subset of the UV light sources that are ready to be activated, (b) indicate, in a queue, each UV light source of the subset, (c) arrange, in the queue and based on a hierarchy, the subset in a sequence, and (d) activate, in the sequence, each UV light source of the subset by: (i) determining an amount of power required to activate a next UV light source in the sequence, (ii) determining when the amount of power available is equal to or greater than the amount of power required, (iii) responsively activating the next UV light source in the sequence, and (iv) repeating acts (i)-(iii) until all of the subset has been activated.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an analog front end to receive an analog input including user data, and an analog-to-digital converter to convert the analog input to digital signals including the user data. A digital channelizer may process the digital signals to generate frequency slices of user data, and a digital combiner may assemble the frequency slices to form output sub-bands of user data. A digital switch may route the frequency slices from the digital channelizer to the digital combiner according to a selected map of a plurality of available maps. The apparatus also includes a map selector to communicate map select data that indicates the selected map. The digital channelizer may receive and insert the map select data into the frequency slices in-band with the user data thereof. And the digital switch may interpret the map select data inserted into and route the frequency slices according to the selected map.

Abstract: A system for detecting vehicle load anomalies during ground travel includes at least one inertial sensor sensing a pitch or a roll of a vehicle and outputting at least one of a pitch or a roll value; a computing device having a processor and a memory and an input coupled to an input and monitoring module, where said input and monitoring module receives one of the pitch or roll values output by the at least one inertial sensor, and said computing system further having a measuring module measuring an oscillation based on one of the output pitch or roll values and calculating an adjusted center of gravity value based on a comparison between an expected oscillation and the measured oscillation; said computing device having an output to an alert module that outputs an alert signal through said output if the adjusted center of gravity is outside of a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A hybrid carbon/fiberglass structural component or beam for an aircraft is constructed with layers of strips of glass fibers interspersed with layers of strips of unidirectional carbon fibers where the carbon fibers are oriented only in alignment with or along the longitudinal direction of the length of the beam thereby adding strength and stiffness to the beam while reducing weight and manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A wrinkle mitigation system includes at least one tooling rod disposed against a tool surface at a location on the tool where a composite ply is configured to overlap the tooling rod. The tooling rod may has an elongated shape and is generally oriented along a direction of wrinkle formation in the composite ply. The tooling rod has a rod width that results in the composite ply assuming a corrugated shape when compaction pressure is applied to the composite ply.