Abstract: Several examples of a dual remote control and crew-served weapon station are described herein that uniquely provide different operating modes, any one of which can be quickly and efficiently selected based on outputs from various system sensors (e.g., switches and buttons). For example, the weapon station may operate in a mode in which the weapon is remotely steered and fired (e.g., remote controlled). The weapon station may also operate in different modes in which the weapon is aimed and fired by a local operator (e.g., crew-served stabilized or full manual). The weapon station may also operate in a safety mode, which is selected when no operator is sensed by a local operator sensor and/or a remote operator sensor. In some examples, the safety mode includes utilizing safety equipment to lock the pointing direction of the weapon and secure the weapon from firing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to articles comprising crosslinked polymer network comprising thioether crosslinks and process of making and using same. Such thiol-ene crosslinking reactions not only make the isocyanate crosslinking reaction unnecessary, but they also improve the article's strength due to chemical crosslinking between the article's resin layers, and reduce or eliminate post curing. Thus resulting in a sufficiently cured article in a much shorter time.

Abstract: A mouth guard senses impact forces and determines if the forces exceed an impact threshold. If so, the mouth guard notifies the user of the risk for injury by haptic feedback, vibratory feedback, and/or audible feedback. The mouth guard system may also remotely communicate the status of risk and the potential injury. The mouth guard uses a local memory device to store impact thresholds based on personal biometric information obtained from the user and compares the sensed forces relative to those threshold values. The mouth guard and its electrical components on the printed circuit board are custom manufactured for the user such that the mouth guard provides a comfortable and reliable fit, while ensuring exceptional performance.

Abstract: A method of establishing a system for gathering surveillance data in a hostile environment. The method comprises the steps of providing a movable tractor for ground hauling a trailer, and providing a drone which can be operated independently from the tractor. The trailer has a floor pan for supporting a relay sensor dispensing mechanism and a platform above the floor pan, with a hole for dispensing relay sensors therethrough. The relay sensor dispensing mechanism has an elevator for holding a stockpile of relay sensors, and elevating the relay sensors through the hole. The method comprises disposing at least one relay sensor in the elevator, elevating the relay sensor to a pickup position at or above the platform and retrieving the relay sensor with a drone for subsequent deposition in the hostile environment. The relay sensor then gathers and transceives surveillance data for use and interpretation by an operator. Optional a conveyor chute may replenish the elevator when it is depleted of relay sensors.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure configured to implement an optically controlled field effect transistor (FET). In one embodiment, a normally-off, optically controlled FET is realized as a semiconductor structure comprising various regions configured to implement a voltage controlled, normally on, high voltage FET region having integrated thereon a photoconductive region configured to reduce a gate-to-source voltage of the FET in response to light incident upon the photoconductive region so as to turn the FET on.

Abstract: A fixture for use in heating an article, which article has two open ends and portions that define an interior space. The fixture includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a first cover for covering one open end of an article. The second component includes a second cover for covering another open end of the article. At least one of the first and second components includes a mechanism for joining the first and second components together around the article in a spaced apart relationship. At least one of the components includes a port for transferring heat into the interior space of the article. A method of using the fixture for heating a portion of a turbine engine in order to service the same is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for minimum crosstalk between waveguides via on chip filtering and scatter mitigation necessary to provide tunable addressing of atomic memories. Methods are disclosed to improve the extinction ratio between coherent optical outputs capable of selectively striking a single atom in an array of atoms confined in a trapped memory.

Abstract: A compact celestial tracker includes a platform, a rotation stage that rotatably coupled to the platform to rotate a plane of the platform about a rotation axis and that supports the platform on a substrate, an off-axis parabolic mirror mounted to one side of the platform and having a focal plane directed at an acute angle that is between the rotation axis and the plane of the platform to reflect and focus the beam at a point above another side of the platform, and a detector coupled to the other side of the platform to receive and detect the reflected and focused beam.

Abstract: A system for sending surveillance signals from a hostile environment to an operator. The system comprises an operably movable tractor for ground hauling a trailer and an independently operable drone. The trailer has an actuatable elevator for holding a stockpile of relay sensors and comprising a pair of co-acting elevator belts defining a chute therebetween. The elevator holds a stack of relay sensors for elevation to a pickup-position by the drone. Optionally a conveyor chute may replenish the stack of relay sensors in the elevator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to spacecraft shielding, articles comprising such shielding as well as processes of making and using spacecraft shielding and articles comprising such shielding. Such shields are made by a 3D process that provides significant shield geometry and composition flexibility and yields shields that have significantly improved shield performance. Such shields may be efficiently be manufactured in space.

Abstract: A tool box with vertically stacked monolithic trays. Each tray has pockets specifically shaped to receive complementary tools. The trays have upstanding cantilevered posts, which can space apart the superjacent tray. Alternatively, the posts can be received in complementary sockets of superjacent trays to prevent undue lateral movement while in the tool box. The post and socket geometry can be constructed to index the order in which trays are stacked and index how individual trays are oriented for optimal and sequenced access to the tools.

Abstract: An autonomous futures contract orchestration platform includes a set of processors programmed with a set of non-transitory computer-readable instructions. The instructions include receiving, from a data source, an indication associated with a product that relates to an entity that purchases or sells the product. The instructions include predicting a baseline cost of purchasing or selling the product at a future point in time based on the indication. The instructions include retrieving a futures cost, at a current point in time, of a futures contract for an obligation to the purchasing or selling the product for delivery or performance of the product at the future point in time. The instructions include executing a smart contract for the futures contract based on the baseline cost and the futures cost. The instructions include orchestrating the delivery or performance of the product at the future point in time.

Abstract: Ice detection test apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some cases, ice detection and precautionary system shut-down event reduction systems and related methods are provided. The system utilizes a turbine engine ice detection apparatus that includes and engine pressure simulation device, an air moving device, and a first air pressure sensor associated with the engine pressure simulation device. The embodiment further includes an ice monitor controller that receives inputs from the first air pressure sensor and at least one second sensor located adjacent a turbine engine intake. The ice monitor controller performs comparisons of inputs from these sensors against each other and stored values to determine actual icing conditions then generate warnings on a display to an operator. The exemplary control section has multiple modes including manual, semi-manual and automatic.

Abstract: A stand for holding a flight control surface of an aircraft wing. The stand has a longitudinal spine supported by plural uprights and supporting at least two hanger assemblies. Each hanger assembly has attachment points transversely outboard of the spine. Rods articulably depend downwardly from the respective attachment points to be articulably connected at a cradle. The cradle is configured to fixedly hold an aircraft flight control surface for maintenance. By adjusting the transverse spacing of the rods from the spine, the attitude of the flight control surface can be adjusted as needed for a particular maintenance task.

Abstract: A hybrid radiating element may comprise a dielectric substrate having a thickness, a top surface and a bottom surface, and an electrically conductive patch disposed on the top surface of the dielectric substrate. The hybrid radiating element may further comprise a graphene stub disposed on the top surface of the dielectric substrate. The graphene stub may be contiguous with, and electrically coupled to, the electrically conductive patch. The hybrid radiating element may further comprise an electrically conductive layer disposed on the bottom surface of the dielectric substrate. An array of hybrid radiating elements may be arranged in a grid pattern of M rows and N columns. A codebook set of biasing voltages may be arranged to drive the radiating elements in the array as a phase transformation matrix, thereby manipulating the reflection of an incoming electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: A protective assembly for medical devices that includes a case having a case base and a case lid, at least one case hinge joins the case base to the case lid, a mounting system contained within the case base. The mounting system further including an enclosure attachment system movably attached to a hardware attachment system by a front rotating pin connector and at least one lockable hardware attachment support.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices for measuring property changes via in-situ micro-viscometry and methods of using same. The aforementioned device is inexpensive and can be used to quickly and accurately measure numerous physical and chemical property changes, including but not limited to the rate of chemical cure, change in tack, and rate of mass loss, for example, rate of moisture, solvent and/or plasticizer change.

Abstract: A search engine system generally includes a user interface in a computing environment configured to receive at least a first fragment from a user and a content display module configured to automatically generate an anticipated search result in the computing environment based on at least the first fragment. The content display module is configured to automatically display search results that include an arrangement of a plurality of visual content elements based on the anticipated search result. The content display module is configured to direct the user to content at one of a network and a local destination associated with one of the visual content elements selectable by the user with the user interface.

Abstract: A thermal desorption tube for chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. The thermal desorption tube includes a sorbent and a plurality of focusing agents loaded at known, relative amounts onto the sorbent. Each focusing agent is a compound that chromatographically elutes within a retention time similar to a retention time of a target analyte and has a mass spectrum similar to a mass spectrum of the target analyte. The thermal desorption tube is configured to be further loaded with a sample having the target analyte.

Abstract: System and methods for learning data patterns predictive of an outcome are described. An example system may include a plurality of input sensors communicatively coupled to a controller; a data collection circuit structured to collect output data from the plurality of input sensors; and a machine learning data analysis circuit structured to receive the output data, learn received output data patterns indicative of an outcome, and learn a preferred input data collection band among a plurality of available input data collection bands. The machine learning data analysis circuit may be structured to learn received output data patterns by being seeded with a model based on industry-specific feedback. The outcome may be at least one of: a reaction rate, a production volume, or a required maintenance.