Abstract: A method for operating a thrust-generating supercavitating projectile involves launching the projectile in water from rest at the maximum available thrust, maintaining that thrust until supercavitating movement begins, and then reducing thrust to a near-minimum amount that is required to maintain supercavitating movement of the projectile.

Abstract: A method and system for routing traffic in a communication network is disclosed that may include assigning each node in a network a first subset of route repository nodes and a second subset of route repository nodes, querying the second subset of route repository nodes in order to obtain route information that is stored in the second subset of route repository nodes, computing route information by applying a route computation algorithm to the first subset of route repository nodes, and routing traffic in the communication network based on the route information obtained from the second subset of route repository nodes and the route information computed using the first subset of route repository nodes.

Abstract: An airship system, including an inflatable airship of predetermined volume adapted to be filled with gas and to rise to a predetermined altitude, said airship having a hull formed from an inflated flexible gas containment primary envelope, at least one lifting envelope located within the primary envelope for containing the lifting gas, where the lifting envelope will expand to substantially occupy the space of the primary envelope when the airship is at its predetermined high altitude, at least one secondary envelope located within the primary envelope, which can be inflated when said lifting envelope is at lower altitudes to fill the balance of the space of the primary envelope, and air handling means external to the primary envelope and communicating with the secondary envelope for filling and emptying the secondary envelope.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for optical- or optical-and-electrical stimulation of midbrain and/or brainstem tissue (e.g., auditory nerve pathways). Peripheral neural stimulation using infrared lasers has been demonstrated in several systems; however, optical stimulation of the central nervous system (CNS) has not been previously described. In some embodiments of the present invention, radiant energy exposure of the cochlear nucleus using a mid-wavelength infrared laser generates optically-evoked auditory brainstem responses (oABRs). In an experiment, the cochlear nuclei of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed using a suboccipital craniotomy approach. In one embodiment, different regions of left cochlear nucleus were acutely stimulated with a 200- or 400-micron-diameter optical fiber placed on the surface of the brainstem, using 50- to 750-microsecond pulses of 1849-nm to 1865-nm-wavelength radiation at a rate of 10 to 40 Hz and power levels ranging from 10% to 80% of 5 watts.

Abstract: A system and method that enables trains to rapidly accelerate through grade crossings from station stops or civil speed restrictions is disclosed. In some embodiments, equipped trains and grade-crossing controllers communicate wirelessly to address operational limitations pertaining to the grade crossings. In conjunction with the train's equipment, conventional crossing controllers are augmented with a communications capability and logic to accept commands to operate in a “Prediction” mode or a “Motion-Sensing” mode. The Prediction mode is the default operating mode for conventional constant-warning grade-crossing prediction controllers. The Motion-Sensing mode is an operating mode whereby the crossing is actuated as soon as an approach circuit detects train motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus use a photonic-crystal fiber having a very large core while maintaining a single transverse mode. In some embodiments, the method and apparatus includes a photonic-crystal fiber or rod (PCF or PCR) optical device having a beam-expanding endcap formed, e.g., by collapsing or otherwise sealing holes of the PCF or PCR. In some fiber lasers and amplifiers having large cores problems exist related to energy being generated at multiple-modes (i.e., polygamy), and of mode hopping (i.e., promiscuity) due to limited control of energy levels and fluctuations. The problems of multiple-modes and mode hopping result from the use of large-diameter waveguides, and are addressed by the invention. This is especially true in lasers using large amounts of energy (i.e., lasers in the one-megawatt or more range).

Abstract: A spacecraft may include a receive antenna, a transmit antenna having an antenna attitude adjuster, and a spacecraft attitude adjustor. The spacecraft may have a nominal orientation in which a yaw axis of the spacecraft, a roll axis of the spacecraft, and the radiator panels are substantially parallel to Earth's equatorial plane, in which the pitch axis of the spacecraft is substantially parallel to Earth's polar axis, in which the Nadir vector is in a yaw-pitch plane of the spacecraft, and in which the transmit antenna and receive antenna are oriented at angle ?nom. The antenna attitude adjustor and the spacecraft attitude adjustor may correct an attitude of the transmit antenna to maintain a desired degree of the receive antenna and the transmit antenna steered toward a coverage region on Earth's surface.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for distributed absorption of pump light over a length of delivery fiber that is, for example in some embodiments, fusion spliced to an end of a multiply clad gain fiber that has significant unused pump light at the end of the gain fiber. In some embodiments, this includes coupling a fiber amplifier to a passive-core delivery fiber that includes a distributed pump dump. In some embodiments, at an output end of the amplifying fiber there is still a significant amount of pump power. If all this pump power is dumped in one small place (e.g., at a splice between the amplifying fiber and a passive delivery fiber) a hot spot will result, leading to unreliable devices that fail (have catastrophic changes in operating performance). The present invention provides a distributed pump dump built into a delivery fiber that is passive to the signal in its core.

Abstract: A method for operating a thrust-generating supercavitating projectile involves launching the projectile at a velocity above the minimum required to maintain supercavitating movement, delaying initiation of thrust until the projectile slows to a velocity that is near that minimum velocity, and then applying thrust to maintain the near-minimum velocity until a target is reached.

Abstract: Methods are described for launching multiple space vehicles. A first space vehicle and a second space vehicle can be detachably attached to a launch vehicle. The first space vehicle is for an orbit of a first desired altitude in a first desired orbital plane. The second vehicle is for an orbit of a second desired altitude in a second desired orbital plane. The launch vehicle with the first and second space vehicles may be launched into a first orbit in or near the first desired orbital plane. The second space vehicle may be released in the first orbit. When the orbital plane of the second space vehicle coincides with the second desired orbital plane, the second space vehicle may be transferred to a transfer orbit. The second space vehicle may be transferred to the orbit of the second desired altitude in the second desired orbital plane.

Abstract: An alignment interferometer telescope apparatus comprises a coherent laser source, a first beam splitter, a reference spherical mirror, a light source, first and second reticles, and a second beam splitter. At an interference location within the apparatus, a reference laser wave and a test laser wave are allowed to interfere to produce a combined laser wave.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically steering a RADAR beam across an array of feed horns by moving the phase center of the beam to different origination points on the array—each origination point being the phase center of a feed horn pair. Variations include polarized beams, polarized feed horns, dual-beam systems, dual direction steering, diagonal steering, and cross-polarized wire grids to control beamwidth.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sealing the barrel of an underwater gun between firings is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a turbine that is disposed at the outlet of the muzzle of the gun. The turbine draws in water and, in various embodiments, either (a) vaporizes it, forming a vapor barrier along the spin axis that keeps water out of the barrel, (b) expels it radially, thereby re-directing it so that it does not enter the barrel, or (c) generates water jets that prevent water from entering the barrel.

Abstract: An attitude determination system is provided for determining attitude values of a yaw-steering spacecraft, and includes a rate sensor, at least one attitude sensor, and a processor operable to receive measured spacecraft body rates from the rate sensor, to receive measured spacecraft attitude values from the at least one attitude sensor, and to calculate estimated spacecraft attitude values based on the measured spacecraft body rates and the measured spacecraft attitude values by using a Kalman filter that includes a plurality of attitude estimate error states, a plurality of gyro bias states, and a plurality of commanded rate dependent gyro error states.

Abstract: A technique for generating good system decompositions is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment uses evolutionary programming in combination with a fitness function to generate a system decomposition that has a low degree of coupling and a high degree of coherence. A system is represented by an object-oriented specification using the Unified Modeling Language (UML); the UML specification is then represented by an eXtended Markup Language (XML) document, and the contents of the document are transformed into a nested-list data structure that resembles source code in a functional programming language such as Common LISP. The nested-list data structure and an appropriate fitness function are input to an evolutionary programming engine that operates on the nested-list data structure as though it were a source code program, and generates an output source code program. A system decomposition is then derived from the output source code program.

Abstract: An unguided projectile-accelerator system includes an enclosure, first and second charges, first and second projectiles, and a recoil-absorbing mechanism. The enclosure has an open first end and a closed second end, and the first and second charges are disposed within the enclosure. The first projectile is disposed within the enclosure between the first charge and the first end and is operable to exit the enclosure via the first end and to generate a first recoil in response to detonation of the first charge. The second projectile is disposed within the enclosure between the first charge and the second charge and is operable to exit the enclosure via the first end and to generate a second recoil in response to detonation of the second charge. The recoil-absorbing mechanism is disposed adjacent to the enclosure and is operable to absorb at least a respective portion of each of the first and second recoil.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sealing the barrel of an underwater gun between firings is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an adapter that attaches to the barrel and includes a physical adaptation that is capable of sealing the barrel. In some embodiments, the physical adaptation is actuated to un-seal the barrel via combustion gases from firing of a round.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing the barrel of an underwater gun between firings is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a magnetically-attractable water-impermeable disk. Via operation of a drive system, the disk is movable between a sealing position, wherein it prevents water from entering the barrel by moving into alignment with the first bore, and a firing position, wherein the first water-impermeable disk moves out of alignment with the first bore.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a connector having a connector threaded section with threads along a length of an external surface of the connector threaded section; and a barrel nut. The barrel nut comprises a nut threaded section having threads along an internal surface of the nut threaded section, wherein the nut threaded section is barrel shaped having a length and a diameter; a fastening section coupled to the nut threaded section, the fastening section having a length and a non-circular shape comprising a plurality of sides; and a nut circular opening extending through the entire length of the fastening section and the entire length of the nut threaded section; wherein the diameter of the nut threaded section is larger than a diameter of the connector threaded section and smaller than a diameter of an opening in a barrier through which the nut is coupled to the connector.

Abstract: A system and method for actuating a hatch door. One embodiment includes a vertical launcher system that has a hatch door disposed in a plane at the top of a hold. The hatch door includes a leading edge and a trailing edge at opposite ends of the hatch door. When an actuator arm for maneuvering the hatch door is extended, the leading edge is lifted away from the plane by the actuator arm while the trailing edge remains in the plane and slides across the top of the plane toward the point where the leading edge was first lifted away. Such a sliding hatch mechanism allows for quick opening and closing of a hatch door while providing more efficient use of mechanical energy for breaking ice build up or prevent intrusion.