Abstract: Load volume predication for slung loads of aerial vehicles are disclosed. A system can identify parameters of a load. The system can determine a volume occupied by a superposition of locations of the cone. The system can receive from sensors or models, characteristics of an environment associated with the aerial vehicle or the load. The system can detect an obstacle in the environment. The system can take a navigational action in response to detecting the obstacle.

Abstract: Offline task-based feature processing for aerial vehicles is provided. A system can extract features from a world model generated using sensor information captured by sensors mounted on an aerial vehicle. The system generates a label for each of the features and identifies identify processing levels based on the features. The system selects a processing level for each feature of a subset of features based on a task performed by the aerial vehicle and the label associated with the feature. The system generates one or more processed features by applying the processing level to a respective feature of the subset of the plurality of features. The system presents the one or more processed features on a display device of the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: A load control unit includes a first input terminal configured to receive power, a second input terminal configured to receive load information, a first output terminal configured to provide a first portion of the power to a first load, a second output terminal configured to provide a second portion of the power to a second load, a memory, and an electronic processor communicatively connected to the memory, first input terminal, the second input terminal, the first output terminal, and the second output terminal. The electronic processor is configured to measure the power received via the first input terminal, receive load parameters via the second input terminal, and dynamically control, in response to measuring the power and receiving the load parameters, at least one of the first load or the second load based on the power that is measured and the load parameters that are received.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for determining the ratio of oxidized and reduced forms of a redox couple in solution, each method comprising: contacting first and second stationary working electrodes and first and second counter electrode to the solution; applying a first potential at the first stationary working electrode and a second potential at the second stationary working electrode relative to the respective counter electrodes and measuring first and second constant currents for the first and second stationary working electrodes, respectively; wherein the first and second constant currents have opposite signs and the ratio of the absolute values of the first and second constant currents reflects the ratio of the oxidized and reduced forms of the redox couple in solution. When used in the context of monitoring/controlling electrochemical cells, additional embodiments include those further comprising oxidizing or reducing the solution.

Abstract: A method of modifying a rotor blade is provided for a rotor blade including a spar having an inboard portion with a substantially constant overall height, the inboard portion further including a top layer having a substantially constant first thickness and a bottom layer having a substantially constant second thickness. The method includes removing a root portion of the inboard portion to thereby modify the rotor blade and installing a cuff configured to couple to the rotor blade to an aircraft.

Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods include using an automated laser system to remove a portion of a coating for nutplate installation. An automated laser system comprises a laser scanner and a laser head, wherein the laser head is coupled to the laser scanner. The laser head comprises a containment unit and a vacuum connector wherein the vacuum connector is disposed on a first side of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises a camera system, a light source, a first actuator, and a second actuator all disposed on a top surface of the containment unit. The laser head further comprises an end piece, wherein the second actuator is configured to displace the end piece.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a rotary wing aircraft includes a leading edge and a trailing edge defining a chordwise direction. The leading edge defines a forward end of the rotor blade and the trailing edge defines an aft end of the rotor blade. The rotor blade has a center of gravity and an aerodynamic center along the chordwise direction. The center of gravity is aft of the aerodynamic center.

Abstract: Provided are flow batteries that include a fluidic train within a dynamic fluidic network system which fluidic train is convertible between a first state and a second state, the first state the first state placing a main electrolyte source and a dynamic fluidic network, outside the fluidic train and an electrode region, into fluid communication with the electrode region and the second state placing the main electrolyte source and the dynamic fluidic network, outside the fluidic train and the electrode region, into fluid isolation from the electrode region and placing the electrode region into fluid communication with a sampling segment. Also provided are methods of operating flow batteries.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method of reducing or preventing sunburn caused from visible and ultraviolet radiation in a subject, the method comprising topically applying to the subject a sunscreen composition comprising at least one inorganic UV filtering agent selected from zinc oxide or titanium dioxide; at least one inorganic pigment selected from iron oxide; and at least two visible light protecting agents comprising barium sulfate and mica; wherein the at least two visible light protecting agents are present in an amount effective to reduce or prevent sunburn caused from visible light. Also provided herein are sunscreen compositions and methods of increasing the visible light protection factor of a sunscreen composition.

Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system extracts electrical power using a combined heat engine and electrical generator. The propulsion system includes a gas generator, an electrical power generator disposed upstream of the gas generator and configured to be driven by a power turbine, an output power shaft mated to the power turbine and extending through a central axis of the gas generator and power generator unit, an engine enclosure circumferentially surrounding the power generator, and a shroud disposed between the power generator and the engine enclosure. The electrical power generator includes at least one rotating member and a stationary conductive member, wherein the at least one rotating member includes a magnetic portion, and rotation of the at least one rotating member relative to stationary conductive member generates a current transmissible by one or more coupled power output cables.

Abstract: A vibration control assembly includes a housing having an interior region and an inner mass including a cage disposed within the interior region of the housing and being rotatable within the housing about a first axis and a gyroscope wheel disposed within the cage and rotatable about a second axis other than the first axis. At least one driving source includes a stator and is operable to interact with a magnetic field of the inner mass to drive rotation of the inner mass about at least one of the first axis and the second axis, wherein the at least one driving source is mounted within the interior region of the housing.

Abstract: Provided herein are various magnetoelectric dipole antenna arrays and multi-array arrangements for handling radio frequency signals. In one example, an antenna array includes a baseplate conductively coupled to sets of plate elements by support members that position the plate elements at selected distances offset from a surface of the baseplate. Antenna probes are arranged in orthogonal pairs positioned within gaps between a corresponding set of plate elements, with each antenna probe comprising a conductive strip having a feed section coupled to a radio frequency connection through the baseplate, a transverse section generally parallel with the baseplate, and a terminal section directed back toward the baseplate. Dielectric structures for each pair of antenna probes comprise a dielectric material having channels that recess the conductive strips therein and a dielectric spacer positioned between overlapping transverse sections of the antenna probes.

Abstract: Provided herein are various enhanced systems, apparatuses, and techniques for on-surface analysis of celestial or terrestrial surfaces, such as for discovery and analysis of water ice deposits, locations, abundances, and depths. An example herein includes a swarm of spherical payloads sequentially deployed by a deployment host across a large area of a surface to impact the surface, sense properties of the surrounding environment using avionics and scientific instrumentation, and to establish a communication network to collect and transmit collected data.

Abstract: A grate bar has a grate bar head, two side walls, a running surface behind the head and between the side walls and an underside disposed below the surface and between the side walls. A recess in one side wall forms an air slot between the surface and underside and is arranged only on one side wall, not in its opposite side wall. In a grate bar arrangement including multiple grate bars, each including a running surface and a grate bar head, in which an upper grate bar with grate bar head is moveably arranged relative to a lower grate bar so that the head may slide over front and rear grate bar running surface areas, the running surface has air slots in the front and rear areas and the head is displaceable relative to these slots so that the opening cross section of all slots remains constant.

Abstract: Provided herein are various enhanced techniques for ultraviolet decontamination via emission of ultraviolet radiation and tracking emission exposure. An example method includes obtaining an emission characteristic for a radiation source. The method also includes capturing a depth map of a scene comprised of one or more objects and processing the depth map and an emission characteristic to determine an indication of exposure levels of the one or more objects to radiation emitted by the radiation source. An exposure visualization is generated based at least on the indication of exposure levels and displaying the exposure visualization.

Abstract: An implant assembly and its method of use, used in computer-aided orthognathic surgery for properly repositioning a mobile bone segment separated by osteotomy from a malformed mandible, maxilla or chin, the implant assembly comprising fixation bone plates, at least one removable alignment plate for proper pre-osteotomy placement of the implant assembly onto the mandible, maxilla or chin, at least one removable post-osteotomy alignment plate for proper positioning of the mobile bone segment relative to the mandible, maxilla or chin, and a removable cutting guide for guiding the osteotomy saw during separation of the mobile bone segment from the mandible, maxilla or chin.

Abstract: A heating system for a component within a compartment of a spacecraft includes a fuel source, a gas generator, and a heat sink. The fuel source includes hydrazine. The gas generator is in fluid communication with the fuel source. The gas generator includes a catalyst. The catalyst is configured to decompose the hydrazine and generate an exhaust gas. The heat sink is thermally coupled to the gas generator and configured to receive heat from the exhaust gas of the gas generator. The heat sink is thermally coupled to the component within the compartment of the spacecraft to transfer heat from the exhaust gas to the component.

Abstract: Provided herein are various improvements to antenna stabilization systems, such as employed on confocal phased array reflector antenna arrangements. In one example, a system includes a feed structure for a main reflector, the feed structure comprising an electronically scanned array (ESA) feed and a sub-reflector. The sub-reflector is configured to propagate a signal between the ESA feed and the main reflector. The system also includes a star tracker element coupled to the feed structure and configured to determine orientation information relative to star alignment, and laser distancing elements coupled to the feed structure and configured to determine distance measurements relative to the main reflector. A control system is configured to determine pointing errors of the main reflector based at least on the orientation information and the distance measurements, and these pointing errors can be used by the ESA feed to adjust steering of a signal towards a target.