Abstract: In one embodiment, a fastener includes a flexible head and a shank coupled to the flexible head. The flexible head includes a center head portion and a plurality of wing portions coupled to the center head portion. Each of the plurality of wing portions includes a contact area configured to contact a first surface of a part to be fastened. The shank includes a clip groove configured to hold a retainer clip against a second surface of the part to be fastened. The second first surface of the part to be fastened is opposite the first surface of the part to be fastened.

Abstract: Information can be transmitted through classical and quantum communication channels in parallel and at rates that enhance secure communication. The quantum communication is scaled to a transmission rate of 10 GHz or more, which matches the rate of classical communication transmission. During transmission of information (e.g., a message) through a classical channel, a quantum channel can transmit quantum key information used to construct a new key (e.g., a new decryption key) from the prior key. As a result, the same key is not reused for decryption and can be discarded after use. Further, a multiplexing system can encode and transmit both classical and quantum communication at the GHz-level transmission rate as a single optical beam, while a demultiplexing can receive and decode the information from the single optical beam.

Abstract: A drain assembly includes a drain tube and a flapper assembly. The drain tube extends between a first tube end and a second tube end. The first tube end is configured to fluidly attach to an inlet plenum assembly of an engine system of a rotorcraft. The flapper assembly is positioned along the second tube end and comprises a flapper door that is configured to allow fluid to drain from the drain assembly to an engine compartment of the engine system of the rotorcraft. The flapper door is configured to prevent fluid, engine compartment gases, or flame from flowing into the drain assembly through the second tube end of the drain tube.

Abstract: A system includes a mandrel having an exterior surface configured to receive composite material, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end, an end support coupled to the first end of the mandrel such that the mandrel is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and an intermediate support configured to support the mandrel between the first end and the second end such that at least a portion of the exterior surface is exposed while the mandrel is supported by the intermediate support, a vertical distance between the intermediate support and the axis of rotation defining a support distance, and the intermediate support being adjustable between a first position having a first support distance and a second position having a second support distance greater than the first support distance.

Abstract: A replacement tip section for a rotor blade, from which a legacy tip section was removed, includes a blade tip portion configured to be attached to an intermediate section of the rotor blade after removal of the legacy section. The intermediate section has a connection feature at an end of the intermediate section to which the blade tip portion is attachable. The replacement tip section includes a transition region configured to be attached to a forward end of the connection feature. The transition region is configured to form a leading edge of the rotor blade and extends from the blade tip portion to form an opening into which the intermediate section is attached. The transition region includes a first end having a first airfoil that conforms to the intermediate section airfoil at the connection feature, and a second end having a second airfoil that conforms to the blade tip portion.

Abstract: A surgical guide used in computer-aided orthognathic or similar bone surgery, the guide being structured to properly locate the osteotomy marking members and implant fixation screw-receiving holes on the bone surfaces of the patient, and/or the cutting of the osteotomy or the drilling of implant fixation screw-receiving holes. The guide has a bone-conforming member and a dental-interface member connected by a bridging member, the inner surfaces of the bone-conforming member and the dental interface member conforming to the topographical surfaces of the patient's bone and teeth. The dental-interface member abuts the front and sides of the teeth. A similarly designed fixation implant may also be provided.

Abstract: An electrical conductor assembly for a rotor blade includes a substrate and at least one electrical conductor. The substrate includes an inboard end portion and an outboard end portion. The at least one electrical conductor is attached to the substrate and extends between the inboard end portion and the outboard end portion. The at least one electrical conductor is configured to transmit electricity along a length of the rotor blade. The inboard end portion and the outboard end portion are structured such that when the electrical conductor assembly is installed within the rotor blade, the inboard end portion is securable relative to the rotor blade and the outboard end portion is movable relative to the rotor blade.

Abstract: A system including an apparatus for determining the presence of ice on an external surface of a structure is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor that includes first and second parallel ink or paint conductive traces separated by a gap. The apparatus also includes a circuit configured to measure the impedance or change in impedance between the first and second parallel ink or paint conductive traces.

Abstract: Systems and methods for power and data distribution on an aircraft. One embodiment provides an aircraft comprising a plurality of nodes, a power system controller, and an aircraft controller. Each node is connected to a plurality of LRUs, and each node includes a node controller. The power system controller is configured to control power distribution to each node. The aircraft controller is configured to transmit data to each node and to receive data from each node. The node controller includes an electronic processor and a memory. The node controller is configured to control power to the plurality of LRUs, receive first data from at least one LRU of the plurality of LRUs, and provide the first data to the aircraft controller. The node controller is further configured to receive second data from the aircraft controller and provide the second data to at least one LRU of the plurality of LRUs.

Abstract: Motion steering under kino dynamic constraints is provided. A system can receive an indication to return to a route generated for autonomous navigation by the aircraft to a destination. The system can generate a vector field formed of a plurality of vectors that merge into the route. The vector field can be generated responsive to the indication to return to the route. The system can provide instructions to steer the aircraft toward the destination along the route via one or more vectors of the plurality of vectors in the vector field. The instructions can be based on a cost function applied to the vector field.

Abstract: Provided are assemblies, comprising: a first leaf spring; a second leaf spring; and at least one component; the first leaf spring and the second leaf spring being superposed over a first end of the at least one component so as to exert first and second forces, respectively, through first and second regions of the component. These assemblies are useful to apply different forces to a stacked assembly where a cross section of a component of the assembly comprises materials of different Young's moduli within that cross section, thereby compressing different regions of the component with different forces.

Abstract: A multisegment array-fed reflector antenna includes a feed array consisting of a number of subarrays and a multisegment reflector to reflect multiple beams of the feed array into a number of elevation angles. A support structure couples the multisegment reflector to the feed array. The multisegment reflector includes two or more ring-focus parabolic segments, and each ring-focus parabolic segment is a parabolic surface extending along a circle around the support structure.

Abstract: Provided herein are various enhancements for additive manufacturing using titanium and titanium alloy materials. In one example, a method includes inoculating a titanium material with ceramic particles that produce nucleation sites within the titanium material during successive melt and solidification steps of an additive manufacturing process. The nucleation sites promote grain nucleation during solidification of molten titanium material into solid titanium material during the additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: A fastener removal assembly comprises a drive housing operable to receive a drive unit, wherein the drive housing comprises a shaft configured to rotate based on operation of the drive unit, the shaft extending downwards and out of the drive housing. The fastener removal assembly further comprises a set of gripping jaws disposed under the drive housing and around a portion of the shaft and a first pneumatic actuator coupled to the set of gripping jaws configured to actuate the set of gripping jaws to expand and retract. The fastener removal assembly further comprises at least one second pneumatic actuator disposed on top of the first pneumatic actuator. The fastener removal assembly further comprises an intermediate coupler, wherein the intermediate coupler is coupled to a side of the drive housing, and wherein the at least one second pneumatic actuator is coupled to a bottom side of the intermediate coupler.

Abstract: Stable solutions comprising high concentrations of charged coordination complexes, including iron hexacyanides are described, as are methods of preparing and using same in chemical energy storage systems, including flow battery systems. The use of these compositions allows energy storage densities at levels unavailable by other iron hexacyanide systems.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to assemblies for engines such as pre-combustion chamber assemblies for spark ignition engines. It is known to provide a spark ignition engine with a pre-combustion chamber but it can be difficult to provide a system with good knock performance at high speed with high loads while still having reliable ignition at low speed with low load. In particular, at low speed with low load, there may be a relatively high percentage of exhaust gas residuals (EGR) in a pre-combustion chamber which can prevent ignition especially when the ignition timing is retarded during catalyst heating. Aspects of the disclosure aim to alleviate at least to a certain extent the problems of the prior art.

Abstract: A rotor blade retention assembly includes a central hub, a rotor blade including an upper outer surface, a lower outer surface, a blade hole, and a proximal end coupled to the central hub, a strap member extending along a portion of the rotor blade such that a distal end receiving portion extends into the blade hole, and a retainer assembly disposed within the blade hole and coupled to the strap member. The retainer assembly includes an upper bushing and a lower bushing slidably disposed within the blade hole. The upper bushing includes a counterbored portion. The retainer assembly also includes an outboard blade pin disposed within the distal end receiving portion and includes a blade pin inner cavity.

Abstract: A method operates a furnace unit with a feed chute and a camera for capturing an image of the surface of the chute. The chute includes a slide on which material flows to a grate, and the coverage of the chute and in particular of the slide with material, the burning bed thickness and the burnout zone are determined by an image evaluation.