Abstract: Improved blade designs for turbomachinery, such as blade designs for propellers, that have non-constant airfoil distributions and/or coefficient of lift distributions across the blade span are described herein. An improved blade may include the following three blade sections between a blade root and a blade tip: a first blade section, or span, extending from the blade root to a transition start point; a transition section, or span, extending from the transition start point to a transition end point; and a second blade section, or span, extending from the transition end point to the blade tip. The transition section may define or be a linear or non-linear transition span. Further, an improved blade may be define or be configured as at least two different airfoils along the blade span and/or may be configured to have at least two different coefficients of lift along the blade span.

Abstract: Imaging devices, methods, and systems are disclosed. The disclosure includes a Fourier Ptychographic Microscope (“FPM”) compatible for integration to a Microfluidic Device (“MD”) to perform wide Field-of-View (“FoV”), high spatial resolution imaging (<1 ?m), for biosignature detection and motility in liquid samples, for use, without limitation, as a space-based payload. Fourier ptychography (“FP”) algorithms adapted for reconstruction are disclosed. A processor board and camera combined with FP algorithms adapted for reconstruction are used to computationally reconstruct sub-micron resolution images. In certain embodiments, a dual-modality portable FPM performs wide FoV, high lateral and axial resolution imaging, and high-resolution birefringence imaging, for biosignature detection and motility in liquid samples. Various combinations of the disclosed devices, methods, and systems may be employed, depending on the particular requirements of each implementation.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems and methods are disclosed. A housing includes a passageway and an inverted trough that is in fluid communication with the passageway and that is open along two faces of the housing. A pin is at least partially disposed in the housing with its circumferential face being adjacent to the passageway such that a volumetric region lies between the inverted trough and the circumferential face of the pin. The pin is operable to be rotated such that material fed through the passageway is plasticized in the volumetric region. With the first face of the housing adjacent to a substrate as the pin is rotated and the material is fed through the passageway, the plasticized material is deposited onto the substrate as shaped by the inverted trough.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide for Corrugated Rollable Tubular Boom (COROTUB) designs. Various embodiments provide a new thin-shell tubular mast design, specifically COROTUB designs, that have unique corrugation features enabled in part by shells only affixed to each other at two respective cross-sectional end web regions.

Abstract: A cryogenic flux capacitor (CFC) storage system includes a CFC core module having an inner container comprising one of: (i) a vessel; and (ii) a membrane that contains a substrate material. Fluid paths in the substrate material distribute fluid during charging and discharging. Nanoporous media is attached to the substrate material that receives fluid via physical adsorption during charging. A thermally conductive support layer maintains position of the substrate material within the inner container. The thermally conductive support layer conductively distributes thermal energy within the inner container. An outer insulating container encompasses the CFC core module. At least one fluid conduit directs transfers of the fluid in a gaseous or liquid state from a source subsystem into the CFC core module during charging and the fluid in a gaseous state out of the CFC core module during discharging to a destination subsystem that utilizes the fluid in a gaseous state.

Abstract: The present invention minimizes issues with transmission lines through the use of a normal-metal/superconducting meta-material structure realized with controlled impedance sub-wavelength line sections, which effectively concentrate the uncertainty in the section lengths in a portion of the termination geometry which has minimal impact on the non-resonant absorption in the structure. The present invention is used to achieve broadband absorption response and signal termination in planar transmission line devices. The longest wavelength sets the required length of the meta-material line, and its footprint is set by properties of the guiding structure (i.e., the resultant line can be folded, meandered, or spiraled with a spacing set is set by the field confinement of the transmission line topology in use).

Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow control mechanism is described which substantially improves the existing processes in that smaller magnetic fields, requiring far less mass, may be placed away from the forebody of the spacecraft to produce Lorentz forces that augment the lift and the drag forces for guidance, navigation, and control of the spacecraft. The MHD flow control mechanism may also be configured to provide additional thermal protection of the electrodes therein.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide a high-thermal-stability cryogenic-kinematic-mount with passive magnetic vibration damping. In various embodiments, the cryogenic-kinematic-mount may be configured for use in sub-Kelvin environments. Various embodiment cryogenic-kinematic-mounts may provide dampening and thermal isolation without a need for electronics or software feedback-based controls for the mounts. Various embodiments cryogenic-kinematic-mounts may be passive mounts configured to not require dampening controls.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide Automated Tape (or Tow) Placement (ATP) systems including machine-based parts that support prepreg tape laying processes to build composite parts. Various embodiments may be applied to materials that may be consolidated during fabrication and/or may be used to fabricate parts that may require post processing steps.

Abstract: A structured membrane fabrication method begins with a membrane wafer on a substrate and at least one thin-film on the membrane wafer such that portions of the membrane wafer are exposed. The exposed portions of the membrane wafer and each thin-film are covered with an acetone-inert protectant. Portions of the protectant are etched through to the membrane wafer while each thin-film remains fully covered by the protectant. A handle is coupled to the protectant with a wax that dissolves in acetone. Portions of the substrate are then removed to define and expose a contiguous region of the membrane wafer adjacent to each thin-film and the portions of the protectant so-etched. The wax is exposed to acetone so that it dissolves. The contiguous region of the membrane wafer is then etched through at the portions of the protectant so-etched. The protectant is then removed.

Abstract: A system for measuring a heat response of a battery cell includes a cell chamber configured to receive the battery cell therein. The cell chamber is configured to trigger a battery cell into a thermal runaway event while in the cell chamber, which causes the battery cell to eject an electrode winding, particles, and gas. The system also includes an ejecta bore muffler configured to receive the electrode winding, the particles, and the gas. The system also includes an ejecta basket configured to be positioned at least partially within the ejecta bore muffler. The ejecta basket is configured to capture the electrode winding while allowing at least a portion of the particles, the gas, or both to pass therethrough. The system also includes a gas collection system configured to receive at least a portion of the gas that passes through the ejecta basket.

Abstract: Methods and systems that enable growing a SiGe film at relative high temperature resulting in single crystalline properties and imparting twin crystal structures and/or dislocation to the SiGe film through either in-situ or ex-situ electron-beam irradiation. The various embodiments may maintain (or increase) the Seeback coefficient and electrical conductivity of thermoelectric materials and simultaneously decrease the thermal conductivity of the thermoelectric materials.

Abstract: A solderless antenna includes a pair of spaced-apart electrically-conductive disks arranged in a vertical stack and a self-supporting, branched-path feed circuit. The feed circuit has a signal-receiving point and four signal paths leading to four excitation points. The first signal path is the shortest. The second signal path includes a portion of the first signal path and is longer than the first signal path. The third signal path is unique with respect to the first signal path and second signal path, and is longer than the second signal path. The fourth signal path includes a portion of the third signal path and is longer than the third signal path.

Abstract: An advanced tool drive system (ATDS) is capable of grasping a variety of tools through a common interface and provides multiple modes of operation for these tools for these tools. The ATDS is a combination of both a tool actuator and tool change-out mechanism and provides three nested drive actuators-two rotary and one linear. In addition to the tool drive, the ATDS includes four brushless direct current (BLDC) motors which provide the actuation torque to accomplish the multiple modes of ATDS operation, and a camera positioning mechanism (CPM) capable of viewing features on a client satellite or asteroid. By consolidating the drive actuation motors within the ATDS, the design of mating tools becomes less complex and reduces risk and cost of multiple drive actuators having to be installed in multiple tools.

Abstract: Described herein are articles composed of coatings with improved gamma radiation shielding and physical properties. In one aspect, the article is composed of a coating, where the coating includes a first layer composed of a first Z grade material, a second layer composed of a second Z grade material, and a third layer composed of a third Z grade material, wherein the atomic number of the first Z grade material and the third Z grade material is less than the atomic number of the second Z grade material. In one aspect, the substrate of the article is a textile. Methods for making the articles described herein are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for delivering psychophysiological self-regulation training in a virtual, augmented, and/or mixed reality environment that simulates a social situation, such as one involving conflict. A user (e.g., a trainee) may interface with a training computing system directly or via an avatar that may interact with other characters in the simulation who may be programmed at one or more levels of threat to or cooperation with the trainee. The system may provide feedback to the trainee regarding their cognitive and emotional states. The feedback may be designed to encourage them to develop the ability to respond in future real environments with appropriately effective states, where the feedback may take the form of the behavior of the characters, with the trainee's interaction based on their effective states being rewarded by desirable character behavior and the trainee's ineffective states being penalized by undesirable character behavior.

Abstract: Augmenting the functionality of an off-the-shelf additive manufacturing machine, such as a 3D printer, by generating a component design having an autonomy characteristic, and that may impart a functionality to one or more components manufactured by the additive manufacturing machine that is based on an interaction between the component and the additive manufacturing machine. The design includes code for instructing the additive machine to build an ancillary component, such as a cantilever spring, and build the primary manufactured object, and use the cantilever spring to propel the object off the build platform. In this manner the functionality of an off-the-shelf additive manufacturing machine is expanded without physical modification of the machine, and can be implemented remotely to embed additional functionality into designed components that are to be fabricated, for example on spacecraft where physical retrofits are impractical. Other applications include parts and material testing and rapid prototyping.

Abstract: A geo-containment system includes at least one unmanned vehicle and an enforcement system that is onboard the unmanned vehicle and configured to limit travel of the unmanned vehicle based, at least in part, on predefined geospatial operational boundaries. Such boundaries may include a primary boundary and at least one secondary boundary that is spaced apart from the primary boundary a minimum safe distance. The minimum safe distance is determined while the unmanned vehicle is traveling. The minimum safe distance is determined using state information of the unmanned vehicle and/or dynamics of the unmanned vehicle. The state information includes at least position and velocity of the unmanned vehicle. The enforcement system is configured to alter and/or terminate operation of the unmanned vehicle if the unmanned vehicle violates the primary geospatial operational boundary and/or the secondary geospatial boundary.

Abstract: A grasp assist system includes a glove, finger saddles attached to a respective glove finger, one or more tendon actuators, and artificial tendons. The saddles have a rectangular body partially circumscribing a respective glove finger. Each saddle includes end lobes at opposite distal ends of the body. A first end of each tendon is secured to one of the tendon actuators. A second end forms a triple Brummel loop defining a main loop and two anchor loops. The anchor loops are disposed around the lobes. The saddles may form a rounded, double-headed arrow shape that is at least double the thickness of the body. The finger saddles are anisotropic, with different bending strengths depending on the axis, and may be constructed of thermoplastic polyurethane-coated nylon. Flexion and/or contact sensors and a controller may be used. A method of connecting the tendon actuator to the finger is also disclosed.

Abstract: An adjustable beam directing optical system for a focused laser differential interferometer (FLDI) instrument according to various aspects of the present technology may include optical half waveplate to achieve an incident linear polarization orientation with equal components of laser intensity aligned to the vertical and horizontal axis of the optical system, and an optical prism for splitting these components of an incident laser beam into two orthogonally-polarized beams equally about an optical axis of the FLDI instrument. A series of beam realignment devices positioned downstream of the optical prism are configured to selectively direct each beam to a predetermined location.