Abstract: A method of manufacturing a package including manufacturing a substrate to include at least one layer of LCP material, manufacturing a cover made of LCP material to include a lower lip, and sealing the cover to the substrate by heating the interface between the lower lip and the substrate.

Abstract: This subject invention features a robot deployed weapon system. A remotely controlled mobile robot has a weapon mounted to the robot. There is a firing circuit for the weapon and a weapon interrupt module on board the robot. An operator control unit is for remotely operating the robot and the weapon. The operating control unit preferably includes a stop switch. Also, a separate operator module is in communication with the weapon interrupt module. Preferably, the operator module includes a kill switch. There are two communication links. The first communication link is between the operator control unit and the robot. This communication link is configured to safe the weapon if the stop switch is activated and/or the first communication link degrades. The second communication link is between the operator module and the weapon interrupt module. The communication link is configured to safe the weapon if the kill switch is activated and/or the second communication link degrades.

Abstract: A mobile, remotely controlled robot includes a turret subsystem, a robot controller subsystem configured to control the robot, control the turret, and fire the weapon, a robot navigation subsystem configured to determine the position of the robot, a turret orientation determination subsystem, and a robot communications subsystem for receiving commands and for transmitting robot position data and turret orientation data. An operator control unit includes a user interface for commanding the robot, the turret, and the weapon. An operator control unit communications subsystem transmits commands to the robot and receives robot position data and turret orientation data from the robot. An operator control unit navigation subsystem is configured to determine the position of the operator control unit.

Abstract: A safe and arm system includes an operator control subsystem including a first arm switch, a second arm switch, and a fire switch. A fire control subsystem is responsive to the operator control subsystem and includes at least a pair of terminals for connection to a munition. The terminals are initially shorted together and without a ground. A power supply control circuit is configured to supply power to the terminals. A ground supply circuit is configured to ground one said terminal. A terminal shorting circuit is configured to remove the short across the pair of terminals. The power supply control circuit, the ground supply circuit, and the terminal shorting circuit are configured to ground one terminal, remove the short across the pair of terminals, and to supply power to the terminals only if the first and second arm switches and the fire switch are all activated in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A support system includes a plurality of support members and a plurality of cross members. The support system is adapted to fit within an access device for insertion into a space between adjacent vertebrae. A plurality of hinges connects each cross member to at least one support member. The support system is movable between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the support system is substantially linear. In the second state, the support system is configurable into one of several geometric shapes. A number of strings may be attached to the support members for transitioning the support system from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: A net deployment system which, in one example, includes a manifold assembly including multiple weight ducts and a bladder port. A weight is disposed in each weight duct and each weight is tied to the net. A bladder is behind the net and is over the bladder port. At least one inflator charge is associated with the manifold for inflating the bladder and firing the weights out of the weight ducts to deploy the net in the path of an incoming threat.

Abstract: A mobile remotely controlled robot includes a robot platform and a robot arm maneuverable with respect to the robot platform. A housing is configured to be removably mounted to the robot arm. A sleeve is translatable with respect to the housing for receiving a weapon therein. There is a gear rack on the sleeve and a pinion gear, rotatably disposed in the housing, is engaged with the gear rack. A braking subsystem resists rotation of the pinion gear when the gear rack translates upon firing of the weapon.

Abstract: A dual function composite system includes a first electronic subsystem, a second electronic subsystem, and a composite member between the first and second electronic subsystems. The composite member includes plies of fabric, and resin impregnating the plies of fabric. At least one ply of the fabric includes signal transmission elements integrated therewith and interconnecting the first electronic subsystem with the second electronic subsystem.

Abstract: A protection system features a flexible packaged net with perimeter weighting housed in a deployment box releasably attached to a vehicle. One deployment subsystem includes an airbag packaged in the deployment box behind the net. A sensor subsystem detects an incoming threat and a fire control subsystem is responsive to the sensor subsystem and is configured to activate the deployment subsystem to inflate the airbag and deploy the net in the trajectory path of the incoming threat.

Abstract: A cone support for use with a stud, the cone support includes a hollow truncated cone with an apex and a base. The hollow truncated cone includes an apex aperture disposed at the apex and a base aperture disposed at the base. The apex aperture has a threaded internal diameter. The apex aperture and base aperture communicate with a cone chamber, the cone chamber is disposed within the interior of the cone and between the apex aperture and the base aperture. The stud is placeable within the apex aperture, the cone chamber and the base aperture such that the cone support protects the stud from shear forces when the stud is stressed perpendicular to its axis.

Abstract: A trailer and hitch system for a mobile robot. The trailer includes a front Ackerman steering linkage, a releasable locking mechanism for releasably positioning the Ackerman steering linkage in a turned position to arrest the trailer, a tow bar extending upwardly from the Ackerman steering linkage and terminating in a lunette ring, and spaced skid members extending downwardly and rearwardly. The mobile robot includes a hitch assembly for the lunette ring. The hitch assembly has a frame including a slot for the lunette ring and a guide portion for guiding the lunette ring into the slot, a latch pivotable with respect to the frame and biased to close the slot, and a decoupling mechanism configured to move the latch to release the lunette ring from the slot. A robot arm is maneuverable to engage the decoupling mechanism.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube-based devices made by electrolytic deposition and applications thereof are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a device comprising at least one array of active carbon nanotube junctions deposited on at least one microelectronic substrate. In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a device comprising a substrate, at least one pair of electrodes disposed on the substrate, wherein one or more pairs of electrodes are connected to a power source, and a bundle of carbon nanotubes disposed between the at least one pair of electrodes wherein the bundle of carbon nanotubes consist essentially of semiconductive carbon nanotubes. In another preferred embodiment, a semiconducting device formed by electrodeposition of carbon nanotubes between two electrodes is provided. The invention also provides preferred methods of forming a semiconductive device by applying a bias voltage to a carbon nanotube rope.

Abstract: Methods for the separation of targeted components from gun propellant formulations. In particular, the methods separate targeted components in a usable/useful form. Preferred methods are directed to the separation of nitrocellulose, nitroguanidine and/or nitroglycerine from a formulation containing one or more of these components.

Abstract: A physiological monitoring garment includes first and second elastic fabric portions. An elongate stretchable textile data/power bus is disposed between the first and second elastic fabric portions. The elongate stretchable textile data/power bus includes a plurality of integral conductors, woven, knitted, or braided along the length thereof. One or more sensors are connected to the elongate stretchable textile data/power bus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to composite solid polymer electrolyte membranes (SPEMs) which include a porous polymer substrate interpenetrated with a water soluble ion-conducting material. SPEMs of the present invention are useful in electrochemical applications, including fuel cells and electrodialysis.

Abstract: The invention features dilute solutions of rigid rod or extended rod lyotropic liquid crystalline polymers prepared from high concentration polymerization mixtures. The invention also features methods of preparing such dilute solutions which utilize high mechanical shear to induce mix the high concentration solution with a diluent. The invention further provides articles of manufacture, including films and fibers, having a porous microstructure which are prepared from the dilute homogeneous solutions of the invention.

Abstract: A spectroanalytical system for receiving radiation to be analyzed along a first path includes a grating in the first path with periodic faceted grooves for spatially separating the radiation as a function of wavelength. The blaze angles of the faceted grooves are progressively graded. A multielement detector detects radiation spatially separated by the grating. An optical conditioner is disposed in the first path between the grating and a multielement detector.

Abstract: A packaging method including assembling components on a substrate, manufacturing a lid assembly to include a plurality of integrated covers, and mating the lid assembly to the substrate.

Abstract: A watercraft arresting system and method including an entanglement subsystem including at least two arms in a V-configuration. A deployment subsystem deploys the entanglement subsystem so the arms are spread apart in the water in the path of the watercraft to arrest it.

Abstract: The present invention provides radiation curable resin compositions having enhanced low temperature flexibility and to methods of using these compositions. The radiation curable resin compositions contain no or essentially no volatile organic components (VOCs), and find particular use as coating compositions. In particular, the radiation curable resin compositions of this invention comprise a vinyl dioxolane end-capped oligomer blended with a photoinitiator.