Abstract: A method and device for promoting healing of an injury in a living being are provided. Such method and device are based upon an injury covering portion, which portion comprises an electroactive polymer, such as poled polyvinylidine difluoride (PVDF) or a copolymer of PVDF. The electroactive polymer has either pyroelectric properties, piezoelectric properties, or both.

Abstract: An autonomous emergency flight management system may find safe and clear landing sites for unmanned aerial systems (UASs) in emergency situations. Emergency flight management software may reside on an onboard computing system. The computing system may continuously look at internal databases and input from other systems (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS), camera, compass, radar, sonar, etc.), depending on what is available. The emergency flight management system may make decisions on its own without human intervention. For instance, a database may provide some local likely candidates for landing sites. Information associated with the candidates may include latitude, longitude, altitude for top of a building, etc. Position updates may be continuously provided from an autopilot or other suitable system.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in material sublimation includes a hollow reservoir having thermally conductive walls. A piston is disposed between the sealed end and the ported end of the reservoir, and is in sliding contact with the walls of the reservoir. The piston has holes passing there through. A force generator is coupled to the piston for applying a continuous force to the piston wherein the continuous force biases the piston towards the sealed end of the reservoir.

Abstract: A lidar system includes an optical transmitter having a laser light source that is configured to generate a beam of light that is azimuthally polarized or has Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM). The lidar system further includes an optical receiver having an optical sensor defining a focal plane. A photon sieve is configured to produce a ring pattern on the focal plane corresponding to a laser return signal. The ring pattern comprises azimuthally polarized or Orbital Angular Momentum (OAM) light that is transmitted by the transmitter and reflected towards the receiver. The photon sieve is also configured to cause stray light that is not polarized to produce a central region at the center of the ring pattern that is distinct from the ring pattern.

Abstract: A method of producing a modification of pigments using atomic layer deposition (ALD) in varying electrical resistivity. More specifically, ALD may be used to encapsulate pigment particles with controlled thicknesses of a conductive layer, such as indium tin oxide (ITO). ALD may allow films to be theoretically grown one atom at a time, providing angstrom-level thickness control.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for passively detecting air turbulence using one or more infrasonic sensors mounted on an aircraft. The system may include one or more infrasonic sensors that are mounted on the aircraft and configured to detect infrasound. The system may also include a processor configured to receive output signals from the one or more infrasonic sensors and detect air turbulence away from the aircraft based on the output signals received from the one or more infrasonic sensors. The detected air turbulence may include natural or man-made turbulence including wake turbulence, clear air turbulence, mountain waves, or events such as a rocket launch.

Abstract: A portable thermal protection system is provided for protecting equipment, facilities, and personnel in a region from a high intensity incident heat source. The system can be formed as a sleeping bag, a tent, a blanket, a sleeping bag, a vertical barrier, a curtain, a flexible rollup doorway, or a wrap. The system includes an outer textile layer first layer, an insulative material(s) second layer, and a non-porous film third layer which forms a gas barrier. Some embodiments include a fourth layer formed of a material to provide radiation protection. In some embodiments, the first and/or second layers are integrally formed with the materials that reflects radiation. The layers are joined together by high-temperature adhesives, stitching, needling, or tacking.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring phase dynamics and other properties (e.g. intracranial pressure) are disclosed. For example, the system may generate a reference waveform and a measurement waveform using digital synthesizers, each waveform having an identical constant frequency but also a relative phase shift. Next, system may send a tone-burst, via a transducer, into a sample (e.g. a skull or a bonded material), and then receive a reflected tone-burst in response. Then, a phase difference between the received tone-burst and the measurement waveform may be determined with a linear phase detector. Next, the phase shift of the measurement waveform may be adjusted, by the determined phase difference, such that there is no longer any phase difference between the received tone-burst and the adjusted measurement waveform generated by the appropriate digital synthesizer. A similar adjustment may occur after subsequent tone-bursts, allowing accurate monitoring of continuously variable phase relationships.

Abstract: Embodiments provide ice adhesion mitigating surface coatings and methods for generating the same. Embodiments may provide anti-icing coating with at least one monomeric species exhibiting molecular flexibility. The molecular flexibility in the monomeric species may be imparted through an aliphatic or heteroaliphatic chain that may exist as a portion of the monomer backbone, as a pendant group, or as both the portion of the monomer backbone and the pendant group. In various embodiments epoxy coatings including an epoxy resin and an amine-terminated hardener may be generated. At least a portion of the amine-terminated hardener may include at least a monomeric species that exhibits molecular flexibility arising from an aliphatic chain or heteroaliphatic chain that may be within the polymer backbone and/or may persist as a pendant group.

Abstract: A digital serial communication system includes a first serial communication circuit configured to exchange information utilizing a first communication protocol, a second serial communication circuit configured to exchange information utilizing a second communication protocol, and a common bus interface configured to couple the first serial communication circuit to a first serial communication bus implementing the first communication protocol, and configured to couple the second serial communication circuit to a second serial communication bus implementing the second communication protocol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high data rate Ka-band modulator and transmitter for space applications that functions on the entire NASA Space Network Return Link band of 25.25-27.75 GHz. The modulator is capable of quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) modulation and 8-PSK modulation. The transmitter can be designed to provide an adjustable drive to a traveling-wave tube amplifier (TWTA) or transmit power.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a wing and a control surface pivotably coupled to the wing and configured to pivot about a range of motion. A propulsor is coupled to the control surface and configured to rotate between a first position associated with a hover flight mode and a second position associated with a forward flight mode. The propulsor is aerodynamically actuated between the first position and the second position due to aerodynamics about the wing. The propulsor may rotate from an initial flight mode, such as a takeoff mode, to a second flight mode, such as a forward flight mode.

Abstract: A method for bonding composite structures which includes providing a first and second composite substrate and coupling a co-cure prepreg tape having chemically protected polymerizable functional groups onto a surface of both the first and second composite substrates. The first and second composite substrates are then cured to the co-cure prepreg tape at a first temperature to form a co-cure prepreg tape portion where the first and second composite substrates are fully cured and the co-cure prepreg tape is partially cured. The co-cure prepreg tape portion of the first composite substrate is then coupled to the co-cure prepreg tape portion of the second composite substrate and a deprotection initiator is applied to facilitate deprotection of the chemically protected polymerizable functional groups and cure the co-cure prepreg tape portion of the first and second composite substrates to form a single covalently bonded composite structure.

Abstract: An apparatus to align and connect complementary signal connectors on two different bodies comprises a housing having a housing support structure, a front side and a rear side. A first drive system on one body is used to operate a threaded shaft to join the two bodies. A second drive system that includes a rotatable shaft that is used to drive a cam to advance a signal connector panel on the one body to connect to a signal connector on the other body.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are provided that provide hybrid flow control for a simple hinged flap high-lift system using sweeping jet (SWJ) actuators for active flow control (AFC) and adaptive vortex generators (AVGs) that may be actuated by flap deflection for passive flow control (PFC). The various embodiments may significantly reduce mass flow, differential pressure, and power requirements for equivalent flow control performance when compared to using AFC only. The various embodiments may reduce the power requirement of AFC, while still maintaining the aerodynamic performance enhancement necessary for high-lift applications using a simple hinged flap. The various embodiments may provide the necessary lift enhancement for a simple hinged flap high-lift system, while keeping the pneumatic power requirement (mass flow and pressure) for the AFC within an aircraft's capability for system integration.

Abstract: A Cubesat uses both rail rods, walls, or both as an antenna. Either the rail rods and/or walls may form a rectangular waveguide, and may have one or more slots that allow energy to leak and radiate in a predefined direction in space.

Abstract: A gimbal system includes a stationary base with a first motor being coupled thereto. A rotation plate is coupled to the first motor for rotation in a plane opposing the stationary base when the first motor is operated. A tilt plate is hingedly coupled to the rotation plate along a tilt axis. An articulating arm is coupled to the tilt plate. A second motor is fixedly mounted to the rotation plate for rotation therewith. The second motor is coupled to the articulating arm such that the articulating arm causes the tilt plate to rotate through a tilt angle about the tilt axis and relative to the rotation plate when the second motor is operated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser system and method which enables fast, accurate laser frequency tuning. In particular, the present invention includes only one laser and only one absolute frequency locking loop to perform the same fast frequency tuning than previous seed laser systems.

Abstract: A water purification system comprises a bioreaction subsystem receiving contaminated input effluent and having a gas-lift anaerobic membrane bioreactor removing urea and organic matter to create a first effluent. A light-treatment subsystem receives the first effluent and exposes the first effluent to UV light to create a second effluent free from microorganisms. A reactor subsystem fluidically connects an ammonia-reducing reactor to the UV output and receives UV-treated second effluent and has a struvite regenerator connected to the ammonia-reducing reactor output, separating ammonia from the second effluent in the ammonia-reducing reactor, and outputting the ammonia. A separation subsystem fluidically connects to the reactor output and receives the second effluent substantially free from ammonia and has a continuous electro-deionization device separating brine/salts from the second effluent to produce potable water. A closed-loop includes an ammonia-converting subsystem and a sequential fertilizer producer.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a low-profile, linearly-polarized patch antenna with parasitic elements at 5.3 GHz for the ISS C-band WiFi band. It may also use the 5.8 GHz band. A protective dome helps to meet low earth orbit space requirements.