Abstract: A thermal protection system (TPS) for a space vehicle that undergoes partial or full ablation when the TPS is exposed to severe heating during entry into a planetary atmosphere. A first layer includes at least one of carbon, phenolic, silica, alumina and another oxide, low thermal conductivity fibers and yarns connecting two or more first layer sub-layers, is recession-resistant and has reduced porosity. A second layer has a smaller fiber fraction, reduced thermal conductivity and reduced density, and serves as a thermal insulator. The first layer may have partial or full insertion of a resin, or may have a surface densified, recession-resistant sub-layer. Values of a first subset of as many as eight environmental parameters can be used to characterize the space vehicle mission. A second subset of TPS parameters for the system is evaluated to identify whether an ablator system with these TPS values can survive the conditions associated with the first subset of environmental parameters.

Abstract: A radiation-shielded structural enclosure is formed from layers of material having higher and lower Z (atomic) numbers. The enclosure may be formed from layers of titanium that are bonded to opposite sides of a layer of tantalum. A layer of aluminum alloy may be bonded to at least one of the layers of titanium. The enclosure provides structural support for components disposed inside the enclosure and provides radiation shielding for the components.

Abstract: A method of managing objects in an archive system includes assigning a number of addresses to each of a plurality of nodes, dividing an object into a sequence of blocks, uniformly distributing the sequence of blocks across the plurality of nodes by, calculating a hash value of a unique identifier of the object to be used as an address for a first block in the sequence, storing the first block at a node to which the address is assigned, for each subsequent block in the sequence, calculating a subsequent address from a hash value of the address of an immediately previous block in the sequence and storing the subsequent block at a node to which the calculated subsequent address is assigned, iteratively calculating a hash value of the hash value of the subsequent address if the calculated subsequent address is assigned to a node where a previous block is stored, and storing the subsequent block at a node to which an address corresponding to the iteratively calculated hash value is assigned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an actuator based on a magnetic shape memory alloy (MSMA), a new family of crystalline materials which exhibit strain deformation >10% when subjected to a magnetic field. Electromagnetic fields can be applied with very short response times, making MSMA-based actuators kHz capable. These materials have the unique property of retaining their strained state when the driving field is removed, making them unique in the world of shape memory materials, and desirable as an actuator material as they will maintain position when powered off.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for generating risk indicators are described. The disclosed technology includes determining a vehicle route of a vehicle and external object routes of external objects. The vehicle route is determined using vehicle route data including a vehicle location and a vehicle destination. The external object routes are determined using external object route data including external object locations and external object destinations. Based on a comparison of the vehicle route data and the external object route data, external object routes that satisfy a proximity criterion are determined. Risk data for the vehicle is generated based on a vehicle state of the vehicle and external object states of the external objects corresponding to the external object routes that satisfy the proximity criterion. In response to determining that the risk data satisfies a risk criterion, at least one risk indicator is generated.

Abstract: A system deposits a film on a substrate while determining mechanical stress experienced by the film. A substrate is provided in a deposition chamber. A support disposed in the chamber supports a circular portion of the substrate with a first surface of the substrate facing a deposition source and a second surface being reflective. An optical displacement sensor is positioned in the deposition chamber in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to a portion of the substrate's second surface located at approximately the center of the circular portion of the substrate. When the deposition source deposits a film on the first surface, a displacement of the substrate is measured using the optical displacement sensor. A processor is programmed to use the substrate displacement to determine a radius of curvature of the substrate, and to use the radius of curvature to determine mechanical stress experienced by the film during deposition.

Abstract: A solid dielectric for an energy storage capacitor is a lanthanum-doped barium titanate-based ceramic material. A dopant is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum hydroxide and lanthanum oxide, and a co-dopant is an alkali hydroxide selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, rubidium hydroxide, and lithium hydroxide.

Abstract: A manipulator includes first and second link arms which are connected together by a hinge. A cable actuation and tensioning system is provided between the link arms and includes a spreader arm, a driven element attached to each link arm and a cable engaged with the respective driven element and attached to the spreader arm. At least one of the arms, or all of the arms, can telescope to shorten or lengthen the arm(s) by movement of the system. The spreader arm may also be configured to slide relative to the first and second link arms to change the position of the spreader arm relative to the first and second link arms.

Abstract: An energy storage capacitor has a solid dielectric sandwiched between two electrodes. The solid dielectric is a lanthanum-doped barium titanate-based ceramic material. A dopant is selected from the group consisting of lanthanum hydroxide and lanthanum oxide, and a co-dopant is an alkali hydroxide selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, rubidium hydroxide, and lithium hydroxide.

Abstract: A method for sensing presence of at least one specified chemical component in a patient's sample gas, associated with a disease (or medical condition), and for associating presence of the disease with presence of the specified chemical component concentration in an identified concentration range. Pattern matching is applied to identify one or more specified components that are present in the sample gas. Measured electrical parameter values (EPVs) for each nanosensor are modeled by constitutive relations dependent on a polynomial of powers of component concentrations. The EPV models are used to estimate component concentrations for the differently functionalized nanosensors. Estimated concentrations are averaged over the sensors to provide an overall concentration value for each surviving specified component. These overall concentration values are compared with concentration ranges associated, to estimate presence or absence of a disease or medical condition.

Abstract: A method of constructing an amplifier circuit includes simulating an output of an amplifier device of the amplifier circuit over a range of impedances to yield a simulated maximum power and a simulated maximum power added efficiency at a particular frequency, fabricating a plurality of output matching networks and input matching networks with impedances above and below the impedances that yield the simulated maximum power and simulated maximum power added efficiency, empirically determining physical dimensions of an optimized output matching network and an optimized input matching network that result in actual impedances that provide an actual maximum power and maximum power added efficiency at the particular frequency, and coupling the optimized output matching network to an output of the amplifier device and coupling the optimized input matching network between an output of a driver circuit and an input of the amplifier device.

Abstract: A method for bonding composite substrates includes coupling a first co-cure prepreg layer having a first off-set amine to epoxide molar ratio onto a surface of a first composite substrate and coupling a second co-cure prepreg layer having a second off-set amine to epoxide molar ratio onto a surface of a second composite substrate. The first and second composite substrates are cured to the first and second co-cure prepreg layers, respectively, using a first cure cycle (including B-stage and cure temperatures) to form a first and a second co-cure prepreg layer portion. The method further includes coupling the first co-cure prepreg layer portion to the second co-cure prepreg layer portion and applying a second cure cycle to cure the first co-cure prepreg layer portion of the first composite substrate to the second co-cure prepreg layer portion of the second composite substrate to form a monolithic covalently bonded composite structure.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices provide a vehicle, such as an aircraft, with rotors configured to function as a tri-copter for vertical takeoff and landing (“VTOL”) and a fixed-wing vehicle for forward flight. One rotor may be mounted at a front of the vehicle fuselage on a hinged structure controlled by an actuator to tilt from horizontal to vertical positions. Two additional rotors may be mounted on the horizontal surface of the vehicle tail structure with rotor axes oriented vertically to the fuselage. For forward flight of the vehicle, the front rotor may be rotated down such that the front rotor axis may be oriented horizontally along the fuselage and the front rotor may act as a propeller. For vertical flight, the front rotor may be rotated up such that the front rotor axis may be oriented vertically to the fuselage, while the tail rotors may be activated.

Abstract: Consolidated carbon nanotube or graphene yarns and woven sheets are consolidated through the formation of a carbon hinder formed from the dehydration of sucrose. The resulting materials, on a macro-scale are lightweight and of a high specific modulus and/or strength. Sucrose is relatively inexpensive and readily available, and the process is therefore cost-effective.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a polarization-maintaining very large mode area (PM VLMA) Erbium-doped fiber and a polarization maintaining, Er-doped VLMA amplifier.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the present invention use a single Pseudo Noise (PN) code to modulate multiple orthogonal carriers by Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) modulation. The various embodiments enable closely spaced carriers to be modulated with the same periodic PN sequence using BPSK modulation. In this manner, even though the carriers may almost entirely share bandwidth, orthogonality of the carriers may not be lost, enabling the various embodiments to be used with limited bandwidth Intensity Modulated Continuous Wave (IM-CW) Light detection and ranging (Lidar), Radio detection and ranging (Radar), or Sound Navigation and Ranging (Sonar) systems. Additionally, by using orthogonal carriers the various embodiments enable measurements to be made simultaneously, thereby reducing the error compared to systems that require sequential measurements, such as pulsed Lidar systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for development of a nonlinear global aerodynamic model using fuzzy logic modeling as well as multivariate orthogonal function modeling with splines. The systems and methods described herein may be utilized to more quickly develop a global aerodynamic model of an aircraft, allowing for development of a global aerodynamic model of an aircraft in real-time, during a test flight, and reducing time and cost associated with the model development.

Abstract: A method of fabricating composite articles includes supplying electrical current to an electrically conductive filament. The electrically conductive filament may include a first material that is electrically conductive and a polymer second material. The polymer second material comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polymer and a partially cured thermosetting polymer. The heated filament is deposited according to a predefined pattern in successive layers to adhere the polymer material of the layers together and build up a three dimensional article. The article includes strands of the first material embedded in a substantially continuous polymer matrix of the second material.

Abstract: The present invention is related to laser technology which enables efficient, passive, coherent beam combination from distributed gain sources. The present invention includes a novel architecture which coherently combines the power from multiple sources, and which adds considerable flexibility to laser gain materials for many applications. The novel architecture of the present invention combines two techniques: 1) beam splitting and combination; and 2) phase-locking (i.e., maintaining a common phase relationship between multiple beams), using reflective gratings. Thus, the present invention addresses important limitations in laser technology: efficiency, power scaling and wavelength selectivity.

Abstract: A surface grinding tool includes a support housing adapted to be coupled to a source of pressurized gas. The housing includes a conduit for directing the pressurized gas to an open end of the housing. A flexible sealing membrane is coupled to the housing such that the sealing membrane spans the housing's open end to prevent the pressurized gas from passing through and around the sealing membrane. A plate having through holes is coupled to the housing. The plate has a first face disposed adjacent to the sealing membrane and a second face opposing the first face. Each of a plurality of grinding elements is coupled to the sealing membrane and to the first face of the plate. Each grinding element has a portion thereof passing loosely through one of the through holes and extending away from the second face of the plate.