Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to devices, systems, and methods for optimized integration of a human operator with a machine for safe and efficient operation. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems, methods, and devices which evaluate and determine a cognitive state of an operator, and allocate tasks to either the machine and/or operator based on the cognitive state of the operator, among other factors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated reflective backshort fabricated with a phononic-isolated kinetic inductance detector or transition edge sensor. The integrated backshort includes: a silicon wafer; a reflective metal layer bonded to the silicon wafer; a silicon first layer disposed on the reflective metal layer; a structural second layer disposed on the first layer; a first superconductor layer disposed on the second layer as a kinetic inductance detector; and a second superconductor layer disposed on the second layer as leads, a microstrip, a capacitor or filter; wherein a phononic structure is etched in the second layer, leaving holes in the second layer; and wherein the etching penetrates through the holes into the second layer, and stopping on the reflective metal layer, leaving a space under the second layer where edges of the first layer etched under the second layer define a length of the integrated backshort.

Abstract: A method for determining geolocation of a UAV near a power grid includes detecting, via a transceiver, a carrier signal transmitted from a first grid node to identify the node's fixed geolocation. A response signal may be transmitted from a second grid node in response to the carrier signal to identify a fixed geolocation of the second grid node, or the UAV may process the carrier signal. A processor determines time-of-flight of the carrier signal, e.g., using the response signal, and derives the UAV's geolocation using the time-of-flight. Determining time-of-flight may include referencing a lookup table indexed by time-of-arrival at the transceiver of the modulated carrier and response signals. A timestamp may indicate time-of-transmission of the carrier and response signals, respectively. Deriving geolocation may include subtracting time-of-transmission of the response signal from that of the carrier signal. A system includes the processor and transceiver.

Abstract: Various aspects include electric generators configured to boost electrical output by leveraging electron avalanche generated by a high energy photon radiation source. In various aspects, an electric generator includes a stator and a rotor positioned within the stator, wherein the stator and rotor are configured to generate electric current when the rotor is rotated, and a high energy photon source (e.g., a gamma ray source) positioned and configured to irradiate at least a portion of conductors in the rotor or stator. In some aspects, the stator generates a magnetic field when the electric generator is operating, and the rotor includes armature windings configured to generate electric current when the rotor is rotated. In some aspects, the high energy photon source includes cobalt-60 and/or cesium-137.

Abstract: A novel assay and a suite of devices may isolate nucleic acids from prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and prepare samples for real-time (quantitative) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The assay may employ an aqueous-based non-alcohol approach that yields robust RNA quality. The suite of ready-to-use devices may provide pre-loaded reagents in liquid and lyophilized formats to enable rapid manual operation in a laboratory or remote field environments. The assay and devices may be particularly suitable to analysis in microgravity or deep space environments.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems may generate a point cloud data generated polyhedral geofence for use in navigating a vehicle. The polyhedral geofence may be generated, or created, from point cloud data such as lidar data. Further, a vehicle may utilize propulsion devices and controllers for moving the vehicle based on a point map data generated polyhedral geofence.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a recursively subdivided and reassembled first image comprising pixels, each pixel assigned a region label, subdividing the image into overlapping subsections, determining overlapping pixels surrounding seams along which the overlapping subsections are joined together, accumulating a histogram of co-occurrences of region label pairs of the overlapping pixels surrounding the seams along which the overlapping subsections are joined together, merging overlapping pixels having region labels with a co-occurrence histogram count exceeding a predetermined threshold, and merging spatially and non-spatially adjacent regions of the first image to form a second image with reduced artifacts proximate the seams along which the overlapping subsections are joined together.

Abstract: Blind mate mechanisms that are capable of simultaneously making multiple connections in a single motion are disclosed. Such mechanisms may be useful for applications where two or more of structural, electrical, and/or fluid couplings could be made manually or robotically at the same time using the mechanism. The mechanism may include a removable side and a fixed side.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide Molten Target Sputtering (MTS) methods and devices. The various embodiments may provide increases in the kinetic energy, increases in the energy latency, and/or increases in the flux density of molecules for better crystal formation at low temperature operation. The various embodiment MTS methods and devices may enable the growth of a single crystal Si1-xGex film on a substrate heated to less than about 500° C. The various embodiment MTS methods and devices may provide increases in the kinetic energy, increases in the energy latency, and/or increases in the flux density of molecules without requiring the addition of extra systems.

Abstract: A passive nutrient delivery system for plant growth includes a rooting module having a body portion having a top, a bottom, and a sidewall extending between the top and the bottom. The rooting module further includes a hydrophilic plug, having an opening, in a first portion of the interior of the body portion adjacent the top of the body portion, and a substrate in a second portion of the interior of the body portion between the bottom and the plug. The rooting module further includes an oxygen permeable area in the sidewall of the body portion, a first wicking material extending through the sidewall of the body portion into the interior of the body portion, and a second wicking material extending through the body of the body portion into the interior of the body portion, through the interior of the body portion, and through the opening of the plug. The passive nutrient delivery system also comprises a reservoir wherein a port can receive the removable rooting module.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for generating solution data for autonomous vehicles to negotiate problem situations have been disclosed. The disclosed technology generates state data associated with a vehicle using sensor data received from the vehicle and from external objects within a vicinity of the vehicle. The state data includes any of a location of the vehicle, a destination of the vehicle, an operational status of the vehicle, and information associated with a vehicle environment. In response to determining that the state data satisfies a state criterion, a determination of solution profile data that matches the state data is made on the basis of a comparison of the state data to the solution profile data. Solution data is generated using the matching solution profile data to transmit the solution data to the vehicle for execution.

Abstract: Various embodiments may provide an airborne system for measuring meteorological parameters, including a high altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) formed completely or partially of closed-cell polyurethane foam. In various embodiments, the UAV may include extendable wings configured to extend and retract as the UAV climbs and descends to different altitude levels. In various embodiments, the UAV may include one or more infrasonic sensors and wind screening configured to measure one or more meteorological parameters, such as wind shear, seismic waves, magnetic storms, magnetohydrodynamic waves, severe weather, tornadoes, hurricanes, meteors, and lighting. The infrasonic sensors may be configured to determine wind shear at the local and regional level. In various embodiments, other meteorological sensors may also be included in/on the UAV in addition to the infrasonic sensors.

Abstract: A vacuum arc thruster (VAT) for a propulsion system of a micro-satellite is provided. The VAT includes an anode, a cathode including a fuel, and an insulator between the anode and the cathode. The VAT is operable to create an arc between the anode and the cathode and discharge plasma through the diverging nozzle as thrust. The anode may define a diverging nozzle. The VAT may further include a Halbach array including a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in a ring, each of the permanent magnets of the ring having a radially inward positioned north pole and a radially outward positioned south pole.

Abstract: A fully automated fabrication method and system utilizing a single additive manufacturing platform to fabricate solar cell panels without human-touch labor. The system includes a computer and a robotic arm having a machine vision device and a tool changer to which tools are releasably secured. In an exemplary embodiment, the fabrication method uses pre-fabricated substrates wherein the computer controls the robotic arm to deposit an adhesive layer on a pre-fabricated substrate and thereafter place solar cells on the adhesive layer. The solar cells become bonded to the substrate when the adhesive layer cures. The computer then controls the robotic arm to print electrical connections and electrical bus bars on the substrate with electrically conductive ink in order to electrically connect the solar cells. After the electrically conductive ink cures, the computer controls the robotic arm to spray an encapsulating material over the solar cells and substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for correcting distorted images captured of underwater environments. Caustics are used to provide additional illumination to underwater objects, and lenslets from ocean wave fluid lensing are used to magnify a benthic scene for enhancing the effective resolution of the images. The process introduces a fluid distortion characterization methodology, caustic bathymetry concepts, fluid lensing lenslet homography technique, two dimensional image reconstruction process, and three dimensional airborne fluid lensing process for characterizing the aquatic surface wave field, modelling bathymetry using caustic phenomena, and robust high-resolution aquatic remote sensing.

Abstract: A metallic etching process includes applying an anti-reflection coating over a metallic superstrate, applying a dry film photoresist over the anti-reflection coating, removing exposed portions of the dry film photoresist exposing a portion of the anti-reflection coating, etching the exposed portions of the anti-reflection coating exposing portions of the metal superstrate, etching portions of the metallic superstrate not covered by the dry film photoresist, and removing the dry film photoresist and the anti-reflection coating leaving portions of the metallic superstrate. An indium bump liftoff process includes applying a positive photoresist, forming a liftoff mask by applying a dry film photoresist over the positive photoresist, removing exposed portions of the liftoff mask to expose a portion of a substrate, depositing an indium film over the exposed portion of the substrate and remaining portions of the liftoff mask, and removing remaining portions of the liftoff mask.

Abstract: A laminate has a composite coating on a reflective substrate. The composite coating includes a stack of metal oxide trilayers on the substrate, where each metal oxide trilayer includes a layer of aluminum oxide; a layer of silicon oxide; and a layer of indium tin oxide. The composite coating also includes a stack of metal oxide bilayers on the metal oxide trilayer stack, each metal oxide bilayer including a layer of aluminum oxide and a layer of silicon oxide.

Abstract: In some aspects, this disclosure relates to improved Z-grade materials, such as those used for shielding, systems incorporating such materials, and processes for making such Z-grade materials. In some examples, the Z-grade material includes a diffusion zone including mixed metallic alloy material with both a high atomic number material and a lower atomic number material. In certain examples, a process for making Z-grade material includes combining a high atomic number material and a low atomic number material, and bonding the high atomic number material and the low atomic number together using diffusion bonding. The processes may include vacuum pressing material at an elevated temperature, such as a temperature near a softening or melting point of the low atomic number material. In another aspect, systems such as a vault or an electronic enclosure are disclosed, where one or more surfaces of Z-grade material make up part or all of the vault/enclosure.

Abstract: A neutron spectrometer is provided to distinguish neutron capture events from other types of radiation in order to measure the energy associated with neutrons in a mixed radiation environment. The neutron spectrometer can include a neutron detector to capture neutrons and a controller to determine the energy associated with the captured neutrons. The neutron detector can include scintillating glass fibers embedded in a plastic scintillator. A photomultiplier tube can be positioned on each end of the detector to detect light pulses generated by both the scintillating glass fibers and the plastic scintillator. A controller can analyze the detected light pulses to determine when a neutron is captured and the energy associated with the neutron capture event.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for dynamically creating and annihilating subsurface electric dipoles having variable strength and variable alignment. The ability of various embodiments to create, annihilate, and control subsurface dipoles may be a useful technology for wide variety of applications including the nondestructive testing of materials and structures, for generating and receiving directed and omni-directional variable amplitude and frequency transmission waves without the need for conductive antennas, for phonon to electromagnetic power conversion, for materials and manufacturing process control, atomic and nanoparticle alignment, and for control and utilization as medical therapies.