Abstract: Various embodiments provide random copolyimides that may possess the mechanical, thermal, chemical and optical properties associated with polyimides yet achieve a low energy surface. In various embodiments, the copolyimides may be prepared using a minor amounts of a diamino terminated fluorinated alkyl ether oligomer and a diamino terminated siloxane oligomer. The various embodiments include processes for making the copolyimides containing fluorine and silicon surface modifying agents and anisotropic coatings and articles of manufacture from them. Thus the coatings and articles of manufacture made with the copolyimides of the various embodiments may be characterized as having an anisotropic fluorine and silicon composition and low surface energy.

Abstract: A method for recognizing infrasound events includes detecting infrasonic source using one or more microphone arrays each having three equally-spaced infrasound microphones. The method includes identifying, via a data acquisition system (DAS), a level of coherence of the detected infrasonic acoustic signals from each possible pair of microphones and recognizing the infrasound source using the coherence and a time history of the detected signals. The method may include estimating source properties via the DAS, including a magnitude, azimuth angle, and elevation angle, and executing a control action in response to the estimated properties. A system includes the array and the DAS. The array may be positioned above or below ground, and may be connected to one or more aircraft in some embodiments.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the laser surface treatment on stainless steel alloys and nickel alloys may include a computer may be programmed to set a laser path corresponding to a predetermined geometric pattern. A laser may be coupled to the computer and apply a pulsed laser beam to a contact surface of the substrate along the predefined geometric pattern. The pulsed laser beam may have a laser power between 0.1 W and 100 W, single pulse fluence 1 mJ/mm2 and 1025 mJ/mm2 and a laser speed between 25.4 cm/s and 127 cm/s. The laser may generate an open pore oxide layer on the contact surface of the substrate with a thickness of 0.1-1 ?m, an open pore distance of 0.05-1 ?m. The open pore oxide layer may have a topography corresponding to the predefined geometric pattern. The topography may contain open pore structures and promote adhesive bond performance.

Abstract: A method and device provide a rotorcraft operator with real-time information concerning acoustic radiation on a region of the ground in the vicinity of the rotorcraft. A noise radiation model and at least one measured flight variable determine a high noise region on the ground that is bounded by a predefined noise level threshold. The method/device may include a display showing the high noise region and the position of the rotorcraft on a map. The rotorcraft operator may also be provided with real-time Blade-Vortex Interaction (“BVI”) avoidance guidance while the rotorcraft is in flight.

Abstract: Disclosed is a berthing system to receive a client module, including a plurality of berthing posts, a plurality of clamping mechanisms each mounted to a respective berthing post, the plurality of clamping mechanisms movable along a berthing post to clamp a received module, wherein the plurality of clamping mechanisms are configured to assert a radial force upon the received module, wherein the plurality of clamping mechanisms each include a rotary clamping jaw that includes drawdown portion and a radial contact portion.

Abstract: There is provided an aerodynamic control apparatus for an air vehicle comprising a flap system including a first spanwise flap segment to be arranged on a first side of an air vehicle, a second spanwise flap segment to be arranged on the first side of the air vehicle, and a controller to actuate the first spanwise flap segment to a first flap deflection and the second spanwise flap segment to a second flap deflection, wherein the first spanwise flap segment at the first flap deflection and the second spanwise flap segment at the second flap deflection form a piecewise continuous trailing edge.

Abstract: A black molecular adsorber coating (MAC-B) composition is provided that exhibits adsorptive capabilities and reduces the effects of optical path degradation and system performance degradation when formed into a black coating having low reflectivity. The coating can be used in stray light control applications or within light paths between optical systems to absorb light and reduce the effects of optical path degradation. The coating can be used in vacuum systems to adsorb molecular contaminants and to reduce vacuum pressure levels. The coating composition can be sprayed onto interior surfaces, such as optical cavities of cameras, telescopes, lasers, baffles, detectors systems, and electronics boxes to control performance degradation due to outgassed molecular contaminants.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, composition and method employing a dust mitigation coating that also mitigates or repels water, ice, and other liquids. Techniques to coat the surfaces of equipment and items with these dust, liquid, and ice mitigation coatings, minimizing or eliminating mission problems caused by dust, liquid, or ice accumulation, particularly in outer space or on another planetary body or moon. Further, the dust mitigation coatings should exhibit a Lotus-like effect, making the coated surfaces ultra-hydrophobic. The present invention is also directed to techniques for improving the functioning of terrestrial-based equipment and systems where dust, liquid, or ice accumulation is a problem, such as in hospitals and other health contexts to prevent contamination.

Abstract: Modification of pigments may be performed using atomic layer deposition (ALD) to provide custom-tailored thermal protection characteristics. More specifically, ALD may be used to encapsulate pigment particles with controlled thicknesses of a thermal protective layer, such as VO2. ALD may allow films to be theoretically grown one atom at a time, providing angstrom-level thickness control.

Abstract: A remote sensing system includes a primary beam configured to carry orbital angular momentum and characterized by a mode number (m), with the mode number (m) being a non-zero integer. The primary beam is configured to be directed at a target. A photon sieve is configured to receive a secondary beam emanating from the target. The secondary beam at least partially includes a portion of the primary beam. The photon sieve includes a plurality of holes forming one or more respective spiral patterns. The quantity of the respective spiral patterns in the photon sieve corresponds to the mode number (m) of the primary beam. The plurality of holes may be configured to have a minimum diameter such that the minimum diameter is greater than a predefined wavelength of the primary beam. The respective spiral patterns extend between a respective first hole and a respective final hole.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coherent optical transistor device including: first and second coherent optical laser beams from a laser source; wherein the first beam has a relatively higher power/energy than the second beam of at least 2:1; and a permanent sub-wavelength structure in a unitary section into which the first and second beams enter, which permanently modifies a refractive index in both transverse and longitudinal directions; wherein every transverse spatial grating Fourier component in the sub-wavelength structure is phase-shifted by 90 degrees (pi/2) from each of corresponding Fourier components of a spatial interference of the first and second optical beams; and a refractive index profile in the unitary structure in the longitudinal direction is permanently modified, leading to a complete transfer of energy from the first to the second optical beam, resulting in a gain mechanism that results in an amplified signal beam and an inverted signal beam.

Abstract: A frequency division multiplexing system includes a processor, a first digital to analog converter (DAC) for generating a local oscillator signal, a second DAC for generating a chirp signal, and a plurality of electronic elements, each having a transmit signal mixer for combining the local oscillator and chirp signals, and a transceiver configured to transmit the combined local oscillator and chirp signals, where the processor may be configured to operate the first DAC and second DAC to vary frequencies of the local oscillator and chirp signals such that the combination of the local oscillator and chirp signals results in a constant center frequency with a varying phase.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a database and systems associated therewith for space weather data (code name DONKI for Database of Notification, Knowledge, Information) relating to various space weather phenomena or phenomenon, such as, for example, solar flare, solar energetic particle, coronal mass ejection, interplanetary shock, magnetopause crossing, geomagnetic storm, radiation belt enhancement and high speed stream.

Abstract: A software-defined radiometer includes dual RF front end channels. One RF front end channel processes the horizontal polarization signals and the other RF front end channel processes the vertical polarization signals. Each RF front end channel includes a power splitter for splitting the polarization signals into a plurality of identical polarization signals, a filter bank of N-bandpass filters that have the same bandwidth but different center frequencies and a multi-input switch. The bandpass filters filter the horizontal and vertical polarization signals and provide a plurality of filtered horizontal and vertical polarization signals. A control circuit issues a control signal to the multi-input switch so as to route a desired one of the plurality of filtered horizontal and vertical polarization signals to a programmable frequency converter.

Abstract: Corrosion inhibitor materials are provided that release active corrosion inhibitor compounds when they are most needed—in response to changes in conditions, including acid or basic pH, that cause corrosion or occur at the early stages of corrosion. The materials comprise particles that can be dispersed in paints and coatings for metals. The particles in some cases include ionic water-soluble anti-corrosion agents complexed to oppositely charged surfactants and entrapped in silica oxide or metal oxide gels.

Abstract: A flat reverse vortex ring is sized and shaped to either attach to or be formed as part of a distal end of a sleeve bearing or seal. The ring has a series of evenly spaced radial channels that extend from an inner diameter to an outer diameter of the ring. The channels have a depth. The ring has an upper surface with an alternating series of planar surfaces and openings located at an upper end of the channels. The ring may have an interior diameter equal to an interior diameter of the sleeve bearing or seal. The ring may have an exterior diameter equal to an exterior diameter the sleeve bearing or seal. The channels may be semi-cylindrical. The channels have a diameter and the depth is a predetermined portion of the diameter. The channels may be rectangular in cross-section with a height-to-width ratio of between 0.5 and 1.5.

Abstract: Methods for producing a flexible, fibrous ablator thermal protection material, for use in association with a space vehicle that passes through an atmosphere in which severe heating is experienced. A phenolic resin and/or a silicone resin can be used. The elastic modulus of the resulting material is low, in a preferred range of about 200-5000 kPa, and can be controlled by choice of a curing temperature and/or a time interval length for curing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a new and improved solenoid-controlled, liquid cryogenic-hydraulically actuated valve assembly wherein, in addition to the valve assembly controlling the flow of liquid cryogenic fluid therethrough, a portion of the liquid cryogenic fluid is effectively utilized to hydraulically actuate and control OPEN and CLOSED valves to predetermined positions such that the flow of cryogenic fluid, through the valve assembly from an inlet flange to an outlet flange of the valve assembly, is permitted or prevented.

Abstract: Methods are provided to produce new mechanoresponsive healing systems. Additionally, various embodiments provide a two tier self-healing material system concept that provides a non-intrusive method to mitigate impact damage in a structure ranging from low velocity impact damage (e.g., crack damage) to high velocity impact damage (e.g., ballistic damage.) The various embodiments provide the mechanophore linked polymer PBG-BCB-PBG. The various embodiments provide methods for synthesizing PBG-BCB-PBG.

Abstract: An apparatus include one or more DACs and a resistor divider are configured to generate a variable bias voltage VBIAS with respect to a CM voltage VCM. The CM voltage VCM is applied to a cathode of one or more thermopiles or a negative input of one or more amplifiers to prevent saturation and over range of one or more low voltage readout amplifiers and one or more ADCs.