Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a thermal emissivity control system. The system may have a segmented array that makes use of a thermally conductive base layer configured to be connectable to an external heat generating subsystem, with the base layer including a thermally emissive surface. The array may also have a plurality of actuation elements at least one of positioned on or adjacent to the thermally emissive surface. A plurality of movable shutter elements is disposed adjacent one another in a grid pattern, and controlled in movement by the actuation elements to create gaps of controllably varying dimension therebetween. The shutter elements control at least one of a magnitude of, or direction of, thermal radiation through the gaps.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a laser diode system. The system may have at least one laser diode emitter having a substrate, at least one laser diode supported on the substrate, and a facet which a laser beam generated by the laser diode is emitted. A cooling subsystem is included which is disposed in contact with the substrate of the laser diode emitter. The cooling subsystem includes a plurality of cooling fins forming a plurality of elongated channels for circulating a cooling fluid therethrough to cool the laser diode emitter. The cooling fluid also flows over the facet of the laser diode emitter.

Abstract: A product includes a dilute alloy catalyst for carbon dioxide reduction. The catalyst has a majority component and at least one minority component. The majority component is present in a concentration of greater than 90 atomic percent of the catalyst. The majority component is copper, and each minority component is selected from the group consisting of: a transition metal, a main group metal, a lanthanide, and a semimetal. A method includes forming a product on a cathode. The product includes a dilute alloy catalyst for carbon dioxide reduction. The catalyst has a majority component and at least one minority component. The majority component is present in a concentration of greater than 90 atomic percent of the catalyst. The majority component is copper, and each minority component is selected from the group consisting of: a transition metal, a main group metal, a lanthanide, and a semimetal.

Abstract: Polymeric based closed cell foams, such as shape memory polymer foams, contain bubbles. Making these bubbles continuous is called reticulation. Disclosed are embodiments of a device and method to controllably reticulate polymer-based closed cell foams by puncturing the membranes of these polymer-based closed cell foams.

Abstract: This invention relates to chemical polymer compositions, methods of synthesis, and fabrication methods for devices regarding polymers capable of displaying shape memory behavior (SMPs) and which can first be polymerized to a linear or branched polymeric structure, having thermoplastic properties, subsequently processed into a device through processes typical of polymer melts, solutions, and dispersions and then crossed linked to a shape memory thermoset polymer retaining the processed shape.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an additive manufacturing print head and a nozzle that receives a bio-based shape memory polymer material and a bio-based material. The nozzle extrudes the bio-based shape memory polymer material and the bio-based material onto a substrate to form a bio-based shape memory polymer part or product.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling controllable elements of an external component. The system uses a state translator subsystem (“STS”) which receives a state command from an external subsystem. The STS has at least one module for processing the state command and generating operational commands, in parallel, over a first plurality of channels, to control the elements of the external component. A programmable calibration command translation layer subsystem (“PCCTL”) uses the operational commands to generate granular level commands for controlling the elements, and to transmit the granular level commands over a second plurality of channels. A subsystem is coupled between the PCCTL and the elements, which receives the commands from the PCCTL and uses the commands to generate final output commands, which are applied in parallel, over a third plurality of channels, to the elements.

Abstract: An event detection unit (EDU) for detecting an explosive event is provided. The EDU includes different types of sensors for measuring characteristics of an explosive event. The EDU includes an event notification component. The EDU also includes a processor that receives a measurement from the sensors and generates a combined non-event probability and a combined event probability based on that measurement that indicates a likelihood that an explosive event has not occurred or has occurred. The processor determines whether an explosive event has occurred based on the non-event probabilities and event probabilities. When an explosive event has been determined to occur, the processor directs the event notification component to output a notification that an explosive event has occurred.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the presently disclosed inventive concepts, a metal aerogel includes a plurality of metal nanowires formed into a porous three-dimensional structure, where pores in the structure are anisotropic.

Abstract: The present technology can be used to control the current injection profile in the longitudinal direction of a high-power diode laser in order to optimize current densities as a function of position in the cavity to promote higher reliable output power and increase the electrical to optical conversion efficiency of the device beyond the level which can be achieved without application of this technique. This approach can be utilized, e.g., in the fabrication of semiconductor laser chips to improve the output power and wall plug efficiency for applications requiring improved performance operation.

Abstract: A high-voltage switch, whose operation leverages the speed of electrons to generate the “on” time of the pulse in combination with the speed of light to generate the “off” time of the pulse, is described. In one example, the high-voltage switch includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a region of non-absorbing material occupying a portion of the space between the first and second electrodes and allowing a laser pulse to propagate therethrough without substantial absorption, and a region of absorbing material occupying another portion of the space and producing a charged particle cloud upon receiving the laser pulse. The high-voltage switch remains “on” upon the charged particle cloud reaching an electrode and until it has been collected by the electrode, and where the high-voltage switch remains “off” subsequent to the collection and until another generated charged particle cloud reaches the electrode.

Abstract: A thermo-electrochemical reactive capture apparatus includes an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode includes a first catalyst, wherein the cathode includes a second catalyst, a porous ceramic support positioned between the anode and the cathode, an electrolyte mixture in pores of the ceramic support, and a steam flow system on an outer side of the cathode. The outer side of the cathode is opposite an inner side of the cathode and the inner side of the cathode is adjacent to the ceramic support. In addition, the electrolyte mixture is configured to be molten at a temperature below about 600° C.

Abstract: Detector systems are described, based on a primary binding compound and a secondary binding compound used in combination with a support to detect a target in a sample. The detection systems include a liquid medium hosting a first binding compound specific to a target, the first binding compound comprising a label; and a solid medium hosting a second binding compound specific to the target, the second binding compound being different from and non-competitive with respect to the first binding compound.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a material extrusion device to extrude a filament of an ink are provided. An extrusion printing control system collects from one or more sensors measurements representing an internal state of material extrusion processing during extrusion of the filament. In addition, the system collects an image of the filament as the filament is extruded. The system applies a classifier to the collected image to generate an image-derived state characterizing the filament. Based on the internal state and the image-derived state, the system estimates a derived state using a model. The system determines control parameters using the model to achieve a desired quality of the filament by minimizing a cost function based on the internal state, the image-derived state, the derived state, and constraints of the material extrusion device. Finally, the system provides the control parameters to a controller of the material extrusion device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for sensing temperature changes on a microsecond scale. The system uses a multi-channel pyrometer that works in the NIR spectrum to receive thermal radiation. Each channel includes an interference filter tuned to pass thermal radiation within a specified wavelength range, and a detector. Each detector detects thermal radiation focused on it. Each channel further includes an interference filter which reflects thermal radiation which does not pass through it to a subsequent downstream interference filter of a subsequent channel. Each subsequent interference filter is oriented to reflect the thermal radiation not passing through it to a next downstream one of the subsequent interference filters. A subsystem is included for receiving the output from the detectors and determining sensed temperature data therefrom, allowing measurement of temperatures down to 800 K.

Abstract: A system for determining a travel direction that avoids objects when a vehicle travels from a current location to a target location is provided. The system determines a travel direction based on an attract-repel model. The system accesses external object information provided by an external object system. The external object information may include, for each of a plurality of objects, location, type, and constraint. The system assigns a repel value to the location of each object based on the type of and constraint on the object. The system assigns an attractive value to the target location. The system calculates a cumulative force based on the attractive and repulsive forces and sets the travel direction based on the cumulative force.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a system and methods for audio source separation via multi-scale feature learning are disclosed.

Abstract: The production of a porous copper-zinc structure includes providing copper ink, creating a 3D model of the porous copper-zinc structure, 3D printing the copper ink into a porous copper lattice structure using the 3D model, heat treatment of the porous copper lattice structure producing a heat treated porous copper lattice structure, surface modification of the heat treated porous copper lattice structure by nanowires growth on the heat treated porous copper lattice structure producing a heat treated porous copper lattice structure with nanowires, and electrodeposition of zinc onto the heat treated porous copper lattice structure with nanowires to produce the porous copper-zinc structure.

Abstract: A large area projection micro stereolithography (LAPuSL) system uses an addressable spatial light modulator (SLM) in coordination with an optical scanning system to make very large stereolithographically produced objects. The SLM is imaged onto a photosensitive material with an optical system that has the ability to scan the image over a large area and speedily manufacture large scale complex three dimensional components with micro scale features.

Abstract: Devices, methods for analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that perform high-dynamic range measurements based on optical techniques are disclosed. In one example aspect, an optical encoder includes a polarization rotator configured to receive a train of optical pulses, and an electro-optic (EO) modulator coupled to an output of the polarization rotator. The EO modulator is configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal and to produce a phase modulated signal in accordance with the RF signal. The optical encoder also includes a polarizing beam splitter coupled to the output of the EO modulator; and an optical hybrid configured to receive two optical signals from the polarizing beam splitter and to produce four optical outputs that are each phase shifted with respect to one another.