Abstract: Method, system, and aircraft for providing anti-ice protection including a supply of ferrofluid that is flowed out of orifices along a first region of an aerodynamic surface. The flowed ferrofluid is urged toward an aperture on a second region. The aperture is arranged relative to a magnetic field generator. A magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator attracts the ferrofluid into the aperture while water droplets carried by the ferrofluid continue past the aperture.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an object is disclosed. In some aspects, the method includes selectively heating an initial layer of a composition, including elements of a granular material coated with a metallic material. The method further includes selectively heating an additional layer of the composition, disposed in contact with the initial layer, the selective heating of each respective layer to the threshold temperature actuating an exothermic reaction between the elements of the granular material and the metallic material coating associated therewith to form a molten portion of the respective layer, with turbulence in the molten portion of the respective layer disrupting oxidation of the molten granular material and promoting formation of an intermetallic compound in the molten portion of the respective layer upon cooling thereof below the threshold temperature, and with the portions of the respective layers combining to form the object.

Abstract: A receiver and a transmitter are disclosed that are applicable to space, air or ground RF communication systems and are applicable to systems where one or more signals of multiple types and characteristics are present in any given beam such as a communication spot beam on a high-throughput satellite. The transmitter can include an optical frequency comb configured to generate a multitude of equidistantly spaced optical wavelengths; an electro-optic modulator that receives the multitude of equidistantly spaced optical wavelengths and a data signal and produce a modulated optical beam; an optical circulator that receives the modulated optical beam; an optical switch that switches the modulated optical beam to an output port of the optical switch terminated in one or more Fiber-Bragg gratings; a wavelength division multiplexer that receives individual wavelengths of the modulated optical beam that are time-delayed from the optical circulator; and a plurality of antenna elements.

Abstract: A composite charge positioning assembly configured to position a composite charge onto a forming tool is presented. The composite charge positioning assembly comprises a base; a first charge support arm associated with the base and movable in a first direction towards or away from the base; and a second charge support arm associated with the base and movable in the first direction. The first charge support arm has a first surface configured to contact a portion of a composite charge. The second charge support arm has a second surface configured to contact a second portion of the composite charge.

Abstract: A device to detect a presence of a tool by responding to a remote RFID reader. The device includes a body that forms an interior space therein with the body having a window into the interior space. An RFID tag is positioned within the interior space. A biasing member is positioned within the interior space to apply a first force in a first direction to the RFID tag. A magnet is positioned within the interior space and is configured to apply a second force in a second direction to the RFID tag when the body is in the presence of the tool. The RFID tag is movable between first and second positions within the interior space. One of the first and second positions including the RFID tag aligned with the window. The other of the first and second positions including the RFID tag positioned away from the window.

Abstract: A method for detecting coherent light that includes configuring a spatial interferometer, receiving the coherent light through the spatial interferometer, and disposing a photo detector adjacent to the spatial interferometer. The spatial interferometer is configured such that a coherent light passing through the spatial interferometer interferes with itself. The interference of the coherent light with itself creates a light fringe. The light fringe projects onto the photo detector. The photo detector has an array of pixels operable to detect an intensity of coherent light. The array of pixels provides a plurality of outputs corresponding to coherent light received by discrete pixels of the array of pixels. The method includes determining an interference pattern of the light fringe based on the plurality of outputs of the array of pixels, and determining one or more wavelengths of the coherent light from the interference pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for an adaptive network of network access nodes comprises a global network operations center (GNOC) receiving operator inputs and generating a global policy according to the operator inputs. The GNOC and/or a distributed network gateway (GW) generate configuration commands for configurations for at least one of the network access nodes based on the global policy, transmit the configuration commands to at least one of the network access nodes, and receive telemetry from at least one of the network access nodes. The distributed network GW transmits a summary of key performance indicators (KPIs) to the GNOC and the GNOC revises the global policy according to the summary of KPIs.

Abstract: Methods of recovering and/or recycling expanded polymer tooling, the methods including collecting expanded polymer tooling, reducing the collected expanded polymer tooling into smaller particles, treating the reduced expanded polymer tooling in order to yield an at least partially purified recovered polymer composition, and then collecting the at least partially purified recovered polymer composition. The at least partially purified recovered polymer composition can then be used to form new expandable polymer tooling.

Abstract: A joint joining an aircraft wing to an aircraft body employs a splice panel that is engaged in surface engagement with a skin panel on a side of the aircraft body and is engaged in surface engagement with a leg panel extending upwardly from the aircraft wing. A plurality of fasteners extend through the splice panel and the leg panel and extend through the splice panel and the skin panel. The plurality of fasteners attach the splice panel to the skin panel and attach the splice panel to the leg panel and thereby attach the skin panel to the leg panel. After fastener holes have been drilled through the splice panel and the leg panel to attach the splice panel to the leg panel, the splice panel can be removed from the leg panel. This provides easy access to the fastener holes drilled through the leg panel for deburring of the fastener holes.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a first robotic arm and a print head with a nozzle. The first robotic arm is configured to hold a build part during a build process. The print head is configured to deposit source material layer by layer during the build process to construct the build part. The first robotic arm is configured to reorient the build part relative to the print head during the build process to modify an angle of a surface layer of the build part relative to the print head.

Abstract: Pressure decks, aircraft that incorporate the pressure decks, and methods of manufacturing the pressure decks, where the pressure decks include a planar center deck section configured to be attached to a keel beam of the aircraft and a pair of diagonal deck panels each extending inwardly and downwardly from a front wing spar to the planar center deck section. The pressure deck attaches the front wing spar to the keel beam at positions selected to minimize deflection stresses on the pressure deck exerted by relative movement between the front wing spar and the keel beam.

Abstract: A co-curable thermoset acoustic liner and method of forming the same includes a sound attenuating core having a plurality of core cells. An inner face sheet having a plurality of face sheet apertures is coupled to the core by an inner thermoset adhesive sheet, which has a plurality of adhesive sheet apertures. Each of the plurality of adhesive sheet apertures is aligned within a corresponding one of the plurality of face sheet apertures so that the plurality of core cells are placed in fluid communication with airflow over the inner face sheet to create a Single Degree of Freedom (SDOF) acoustic liner.

Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle includes a frame, one or more panes secured to the frame, and a shade movably coupled to the frame. The shade is configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position. The shade includes an illuminator that is configured to allow ambient light from outside of the vehicle to pass through and illuminate the illuminator.

Abstract: A vertical landing vehicle including an airframe forming a hull and having at least one wing coupled to the airframe, at least one proximity sensor coupled to the airframe, and a flight control system including a control processor and an operator interface, wherein the at least one proximity sensor is coupled to the control processor, wherein the control processor, based on signals from the at least one proximity sensor, is configured to generate, for presentation through the operator interface, situational awareness indications corresponding to portions of the hull sensed by the at least one proximity sensor and obstacles sensed by the at least one proximity sensor, and wherein the situational awareness indications comprise a terrain map overlay including positional relationships between the hull and the obstacles.

Abstract: An assembly to repair a thermoplastic composite. The assembly includes a heating device positioned on opposing sides of the thermoplastic composite. The heating device includes one or more susceptor with a Curie temperature to heat the thermoplastic composite. A pressure device applies a compressive force to the heating device. A pressure distribution device is positioned between the heating device and the thermoplastic composite. The pressure distribution device distributes the compressive force from the pressure device over areas of the opposing sides of thermoplastic composite.

Abstract: Cleanout systems are disclosed. An example environmental control system includes an exhaust plenum to exhaust cooling fluid from a heat exchanger outlet of a heat exchanger, and a cleanout system coupled to the exhaust plenum adjacent the heat exchanger outlet. The cleanout system includes a cleanout passageway to fluidly couple a cleanout inlet accessible from an outer surface of the exhaust plenum and a cleanout outlet in fluid communication with the heat exchanger outlet. The cleanout system is to enable removal of particulate from the heat exchanger without disassembling the heat exchanger from the exhaust plenum or an air intake.

Abstract: A method of bonding composite structures includes positioning a second structure at a bonding site on a first structure and coupling a first vacuum bag to the first structure such that the first vacuum bag covers the bonding site. The method also includes applying a vacuum to the first vacuum bag to induce a first mechanical force to the second structure via the first vacuum bag. A second vacuum bag is coupled to the first structure such that second vacuum bag covers the second structure and at least a portion of the first vacuum bag. The method further includes applying a vacuum to the second vacuum bag to induce a second mechanical force to the second structure via the second vacuum bag.

Abstract: An antenna array system (“AAS”) for directing and steering an antenna beam is described in accordance with the present disclosure. The AAS may include a feed waveguide having a feed waveguide length, at least two directional couplers in signal communication with the feed waveguide, at least two pairs of planar coupling slots along the feed waveguide length, and at least two horn antennas.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for thermal inspection of tape layup. One embodiment is a method for performing inspection of a tape layup. The method comprises laying up tape onto a surface of a laminate, applying heat to tack the tape to the surface, and generating thermographic images of the tape as applied to the surface.

Abstract: A condenser having passages of varying geometry for cooling of fluid. The condenser apparatus includes substantially parallel tubes each defining a channel and having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, the first end having a greater hydraulic diameter than the second end. Inlet and outlet manifolds are provided. The tubes may be oriented substantially vertically with the inlets above the respective outlets. A heat exchanger core comprises the tubes and substantially horizontally oriented fin material connecting the tubes. The tubes may receive a relatively higher temperature vapor or vapor and liquid mixture into the inlets of the tubes, around the tubes coolant flows substantially horizontally to remove heat from the tubes, and relatively cooler saturated liquid is discharged from the outlets. In one embodiment, the tube's channel splits into multiple channels to reduce the hydraulic diameter and increase the surface area ratio.