Abstract: A method of controlling an additive fabrication process includes providing a primary substrate and a test substrate. Polymer test material is extruded onto the test substrate utilizing an extrusion head. The extrusion head is moved relative to the test substrate, and a force required to move the extrusion head relative to the test substrate is measured to thereby generate test data. A part is fabricated by extruding polymer material onto the primary substrate utilizing the extrusion head. The test data is utilized to control at least one process parameter associated with extruding polymer material onto the primary substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a smooth aerodynamic surface that permits laminar flow of air over the smooth aerodynamic surface. Selected portions of a surface of a substrate material are ablated utilizing a laser to form a treated substrate surface having a predefined roughness. The treated substrate surface is coated to form a solid layer of material having a smooth aerodynamic surface that promotes laminar flow. The solid layer of material has a lower modulus of elasticity than the substrate material to provide durotaxis when an insect impacts the solid layer of epoxy material to thereby reduce adhesion of insect residue or other matter to the smooth aerodynamic surface.

Abstract: A sensor system for sensing deformation of a flexible structure includes a beam structure that will be coupled to a surface of the flexible structure having a natural frequency fs, an axial strain ?axialstructure, and a shear strain ?xystructure associated therewith. The beam structure has an axial strain ?axialbeam and a shear strain ?xybeam associated therewith. The beam structure satisfies criteria defined by minimization of a root mean square difference between ?axialstructure and ?axialbeam and minimization of a root mean square difference between ?xystructure and ?xybeam. Fiber optic strain sensors are coupled to and distributed in a spaced-apart fashion along the beam structure. The beam structure is more flexible than the flexible structure such that a combination of the beam structure, the fiber optic sensors, and the flexible structure has a natural frequency fc defined by (0.95)fs?fc?(1.05)fs.

Abstract: A Geo-containment system includes at least one unmanned aircraft and a control system that is configured to limit flight of the unmanned aircraft based, at least in part, on predefined Geo-spatial operational boundaries. These 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 aircraft is in flight utilizing state information of the unmanned aircraft and dynamics and dynamics coefficients of the unmanned aircraft. The state information includes at least position and velocity of the unmanned aircraft. The control system is configured to alter or terminate operation of the unmanned aircraft if the unmanned aircraft violates the primary Geo-spatial operational boundary or the secondary Geo-spatial boundary.

Abstract: Various embodiment methods to reliably and repeatedly replicate delaminations/disbonds and/or porosity defects in specimens/structures may include constructing the specimens/structures such that aerogel sheets and/or aerogel powders are placed or deposited in selected delamination/disbonding and/or porosity locations in the specimen/structure before the specimen/structure is cured. In various embodiments, the specimens/structures may be composites and/or bonded structures and the structures may be flat or curved. The aerogel sheets and/or aerogel powders may mimic delamination/disbonding and/or porosity defects in the cured specimens/structures. The cured specimens/structures including the replicated aerogel sheets and/or aerogel powders may be used for nondestructive inspection or other measurements, such as POD studies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a waveguide-to-microstrip line transition package for superconducting film characterization. The package allows propagation and impedance properties thin-film microwave line superconductor to be characterized at millimeter wave frequencies as a function of frequency. The superconducting film's kinetic inductance can be varied by applying direct current along the ground plane via spring loaded probe. When implemented with a non-superconducting metal housing the present invention is highly suitable for measuring resonators with the quality factor, Q, ranges from 100 to 1×104. Through the use of a housing realized from an appropriate superconducting bulk material or coating the upper end of this range of applicability can be readily extended to >1×106.

Abstract: A base structure is clad and coolant channels are formed through the cladding and into the base structure. A line of tangency relative to the outer clad surface is defined for each point thereon. Linear rows of a metal feedstock are directed towards and deposited on the outer clad surface as a beam of weld energy is directed to the metal feedstock so-deposited. The metal feedstock is the same material as the cladding or one that is weld compatible therewith. A first angle between the metal feedstock so-directed and the line of tangency is maintained in a range of 20-90°. The beam is directed towards a portion of the linear rows such that less than 30% of the cross-sectional area of the beam impinges on a currently-deposited one of the linear rows. A second angle between the beam and the line of tangency is maintained in a range of 5-65°.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a reflector, an offset feed horn and a support platform. The reflector has a reflector surface. The reflector and offset feed horn are attached to the support platform. The offset feed horn transmits RF microwave energy toward the reflector surface. The antenna system further includes a turntable which has a single rotation axis. The turntable rotates about the antenna rotation axis. The support platform is attached to the turntable such that the turntable rotates the support platform. The reflector surface has a perturbed paraboloid geometrical shape that reflects most RF microwave energy along a beam peak pointing direction. The reflector surface reflects RF microwave energy towards the earth's surface in such a manner that the reflected RF microwave energy illuminates a narrow strip of the earth's surface from nadir to a point near the earth's horizon with substantially constant intensity.

Abstract: Method of miles-in-trail passback restrictions for use in air traffic management. Miles-in-trail restrictions can be used as a traffic management initiative when downstream traffic congestion at airports or in sectors is anticipated. To successfully implement the miles-in-trail at airspace fixes or navigational aids, it is desired that restriction values be computed for passing back to upstream facilities at specific boundaries. This method incorporates traffic manager feedback, resulting in significant improvement in guidance. Additional operational considerations required by traffic managers to implement the passback restrictions, namely maximum ground delay and absorbable airborne delay, are used in this method. The method also includes the step of absorbing a small amount of ground and airborne delays which are sufficient to handle the imposed constraint.

Abstract: A probe for collecting optically stimulated electron emission to inspect chemical reactions of a surface includes a light source to emit light on the surface, a collector, and a controller. The light source emits light on the surface. The collector is configured to detect photoelectrons emitted from the surface in response to the light from the light source impinging on the surface. The collector is further configured to provide a photocurrent based on the detected photoelectrons. The controller includes at least one processor and is operably coupled to the light source and the collector. The controller is configured to cause the light source to emit light on the surface, receive the photocurrent from the collector, and determine at least one chemical reaction of the surface based on the received photocurrent.

Abstract: An eye movement-based methodology and assessment tool may be used to quantify many aspects of human dynamic visual processing using a relatively simple and short oculomotor task, noninvasive video-based eye tracking, and validated oculometric analysis techniques. By examining the eye movement responses to a task including a radially-organized appropriately randomized sequence of Rashbass-like step-ramp pursuit-tracking trials, distinct performance measurements may be generated that may be associated with, for example, pursuit initiation (e.g., latency and open-loop pursuit acceleration), steady-state tracking (e.g., gain, catch-up saccade amplitude, and the proportion of the steady-state response consisting of smooth movement), direction tuning (e.g., oblique effect amplitude, horizontal-vertical asymmetry, and direction noise), and speed tuning (e.g., speed responsiveness and noise). This quantitative approach may provide fast and results (e.g.

Abstract: A method allows for preparation of CNT nanocomposites having improved mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. Structured carbon nanotube forms such as sheet, yarn, and tape are modified with ?-conjugated conductive polymers, including polyaniline (PANI), fabricated by in-situ polymerization. The PANI modified CNT nanocomposites are subsequently post-processed to improve mechanical properties by hot press and carbonization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrically thin molybdenum thin film absorber coating for a detector, that is capable of absorbing a fraction of incident electromagnetic radiation over a 1-15 THz spectral range.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to an infrared detector including a dielectric detector membrane and a NbTiN absorber coating disposed thereon, the latter being a low stress, high resistivity film or coating useful at extremely low temperatures.

Abstract: A composite comprising a combination of a self-healing polymer matrix and a carbon fiber reinforcement is described. In one embodiment, the matrix is a polybutadiene graft copolymer matrix, such as polybutadiene graft copolymer comprising poly(butadiene)-graft-poly(methyl acrylate-co-acrylonitrile). A method of fabricating the composite is also described, comprising the steps of manufacturing a pre-impregnated unidirectional carbon fiber preform by wetting a plurality of carbon fibers with a solution, the solution comprising a self-healing polymer and a solvent, and curing the preform. A method of repairing a structure made from the composite of the invention is described. A novel prepreg material used to manufacture the composite of the invention is described.

Abstract: Formation of a boron nitride nanotube nanocomposite film by combining a boron nitride nanotube solution with a matrix such as a polymer or a ceramic to form a boron nitride nanotube/polyimide mixture and synthesizing a boron nitride nanotube/polyimide nanocomposite film as an electroactive layer.

Abstract: A method for preparing a flexible low-density thermal protection material, the method comprising providing a flexible substrate and a pyrolizable material impregnated therein. The thermal protection material remains flexible after impregnation and continues to remain flexible when the pyrolizable material is fully pyrolized.

Abstract: The feed-through assembly provides for the conveyance of a feed element from one boundary environment to another. The feed-through assembly includes the following components (from bottom to top) each with an axially extending aperture through which at least one feed element passes: lower compression member; packing stack including a plurality of packing buttons; and upper compression member. The plurality of packing buttons are made from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) foam material (e.g., GORE-TEX®). A portion of the feed element is sealed within the packing stack including the plurality of packing buttons after it is compressed between the two compression members. The feed-through assembly is very cost effective and easy to make, but provides solutions to sealing problems under severe conditions or for extremely demanding requirements.

Abstract: Various conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI), diseases, injuries, and/or other impairments, may be diagnosed by deriving a sensitive overall indicator of impairment of sensorimotor functional status based on results of an eye-movement assessment test that includes an appropriately randomized, radial tracking task together with a broad set of oculometric measures. The oculometric measures may be combined to yield the sensitive overall indicator of a particular impairment state. More specifically, the oculometric measures may be vectorized to help diagnose both the type of TBI, disease, or impairment and the extent thereof.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for deriving quantitative measurements of an imaged material using plenoptic imaging. In one or more embodiments, image data is generated by a plenoptic camera having a filter configured to transmit a plurality of different spectra in different regions of the filter. A set of plenoptic image data is produced by determining respective sets of pixels in the image data corresponding to the different regions of the filter and determining light intensities of the plurality of different spectra for respective super-pixel groups of the pixels in the image data. One or more additional quantitative measurements of an imaged material are then derived from a comparison of the determined light intensities of two or more of the plurality of different spectra.