Abstract: A heterodyne-based submillimeter-wave spectrometer includes a frequency mixer that combine a local oscillator (LO) signal and a radio frequency (RF) signal to translate from a high frequency to a lower frequency or an intermediate frequency (IF) signal.

Abstract: The invention described herein comprises a passive plant nutrient delivery system that utilizes a hydrophilic porous tube to transfer a liquid nutrient solution from at least one reservoir to the roots of plants. The plants' roots rest on the exterior surface of the tube, where a combination of capillary force, evapotranspiration from the plant, and some evaporation from the surface of the tube draws the nutrient solution passively from the reservoir, or reservoirs, through the tube. The roots uptake water from the tube as needed, requiring no external power source. A flexible cover envelops plants' roots and the tube, whereby the cover has an opening to allow room for plants to grow. The flexible cover is held in place by a securing means, such as a clamp. Both the cover and the securing means are comprised of a material that can expand, allowing the plants adequate room to grow.

Abstract: A system is described which includes a Brayton cycle engine having a compressor, a turbine, a hollow rotating shaft that extends between a first end and a second end, a hollow tubing that interconnects the first end and the second end, and a heat source; a thermoacoustic Stirling cycle engine disposed within the hollow rotating shaft between the first and second ends thereof, the Stirling cycle engine including a cold side heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the compressor, a hot side heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the turbine, and a regenerator disposed between the cold and hot side heat exchangers; a first power generator disposed within the hollow tubing and located adjacent to the second end of the hollow rotating shaft; and, a second power generator disposed around the hollow rotating shaft between the first and second ends. The system can be arranged in a quad configuration having four stages.

Abstract: Methylotrophic microorganisms, particularly methylotrophic yeasts and more particularly Pichia pastoris, which exhibit the ability to oxidize methane to methanol. Methods of making such microorganisms and DNA constructs for making such microorganisms. Such methylotrophic microorganisms are genetically transformed to exhibit the oxidizing activity of a soluble methane monooxygenase of a methanotrophic bacterium. Such transformed methylotrophic microorganisms contain at least three methane monooxygenase hydroxylase (MMOH) protein subunits of a methanotrophic bacterium: MMOH alpha, MMOH beta and MMOH gamma and a methane monooxygenase reductase (MMOR) of a methanotrophic bacterium.

Abstract: A digital projection and reflected glare reduction system according to various aspects of the present technology may include a digital display device capable of generating a one or two dimensional source grid pattern back-illuminated by a light source to project an image of a source grid onto a retroreflective background. The projected source grid image may then be re-imaged onto the original grid element at a slight offset eliminating the need to generate a separate cutoff grid thereby reducing the amount of time required to setup and adjust the system. The digital display device is also capable of switching between a schlieren visualization capability to some other visualization capability (such as particle tracking velocimetry (PTV), particle imaging velocimetry (NV), temperature sensitive paint measurements (TSP), pressure sensitive paint measurements (PSP), photogrammetry, etc.) allowing for the simultaneous use of two different imaging techniques.

Abstract: A system and method for modifying motion of a liquid is provided. Containers are disposed within a liquid contained within a tank. Each container has an open end. Each container is disposed in the liquid such that a portion of the liquid fills a portion of each container to seal its open end. A remainder of each container is filled with a gas. At least one gas pressurization source is in fluid communication with the remainder or gas-containing portion of at least one of the containers for pressurizing the gas therein. Pressure is applied to the gas in each container. For each container, the portion of the liquid contained therein and the pressure applied to the gas therein cooperate to modify movement of the liquid in the tank.

Abstract: A brain-computer interface system includes a video processor for producing a display signal, a temporal controller for producing a plurality of repetitive visual stimulus (RVS) signals with different respective temporal aspects, a display device that receives the display signal and displays a corresponding image on a plurality of different display regions and receives the RVS signals and displays corresponding RVS in respective ones of the display regions, an electroencephalographic (EEG) sensor for sensing a visually-evoked cortical potential (VECP) signal in a user with eyes fixated on a viewed one of the display regions, and a VECP processor for processing the VECP signal to identify the respective temporal aspect of the respective RVS of the viewed display region to estimate the eye fixation location. The RVS are generated independently of the display update/refresh rate and at sufficiently high frequencies to avoid flicker perceptible to the user.

Abstract: An integration of silicon carbide (SiC) pressure sensor and a temperature sensor on a single SiC substrate to facilitate the simultaneous measurement of pressure and temperature at temperature, and a method of fabricating the same.

Abstract: A dynamic, thermally-adaptive cuboid laser crystal mount is provided that is suitable for use with end-pumped, conductively-cooled solid state lasers. Various embodiments may provide a mount for supporting a cuboid rod host crystal for an end-pumping solid state laser. Various embodiments may solve laser crystal stress problems typically experienced in end-pumped solid state lasers. Various embodiments may also provide access to the crystal end surfaces for pumping and enable and maintain sturdy alignment of the crystal with continuous and uniform surface contact between the mount and the crystal. Various embodiments of mounts may provide a compact conductive cooling configuration compatible with any heat sink reservoir, controlling and maintaining a stable crystal temperature, thus avoiding thermally induced mechanical stresses. Various embodiment mounts may thereby further extend the fracture threshold of the laser crystal.

Abstract: A system and method for on-demand retention, release, and positioning of structures including space structures (e.g., solar panels, probes, antennae, scientific instruments, fairings, etc.). The system allows for a lightweight and reliable deployment mechanism utilizing shape memory alloy (SMA) technology that allows for structure transition from a stowed to a deployed configuration. SMAs are used for both the active actuation members (e.g., wires) and passive connecting members (e.g., hinges). The retention and release (R&R) mechanism includes the SMA actuator, a static and detachable plate, a pin puller, and retaining latches/hooks. Once released, the deployment and positioning mechanism consists of SMA preloaded hinges and latches. The innovative system and method may be used for deployment of CubeSat and smallsats solar panels, antennae, and the like where volume and power resources are very limited.

Abstract: A non-aqueous fluidic system for extracting, filtering and concentrating lipid biomarkers from geological samples includes a sample input for receiving a sample, a combined comminution-extraction unit, a filter in fluid communication with the container, and a concentrator operable to receive the solvent phase from the filter and to concentrate lipid extracts for further analysis. The combined comminution-extraction unit has a container into which the received sample is introduced, a port through which one or more organic solvents are introduced into the container for mixing with the sample to thereby extract lipids into an organic phase, and a comminutor configured to rotate in the container to pulverize the sample to a uniform, reduced particle size and comprising a sonicator configured to agitate and disperse the sample into the one or more organic solvents.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices of the various embodiments may provide slat-cove fillers configured to reduce leading-edge slat noise on aircraft, such as transport aircraft.

Abstract: A multi-spectral imaging system utilizing tunable optics is disclosed. Various disclosed systems include a tunable optical filter coupled to a broadband imaging system. The tunable optical filter allows discrete infrared wavelengths to pass to the broadband imaging system so that monochromatic infrared images of a scene may be captured. An image processing system may process selected monochromatic infrared images by using a ratio technique to generate an emissivity-independent thermal image of the scene. The tunable optical filter may also be used to adjust a quality factor and control an amount of radiated energy that is passed to an image sensor of the broadband imaging system thereby acting as an aperture to account for both low and high radiance portions of the scene.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for a wearable robotic upper body garment. In an embodiment, an upper body garment or apparatus comprises a shoulder saddle, one or more actuators, one or more flexible tendons, back torso section, front, torso section, torso wrap, and upper arm cuff. The shoulder saddle may be comprised of a yoke and one or more elevated shoulder sections. The one or more elevated shoulder sections may be comprised of a first elevated shoulder section. In an embodiment, the back torso and front torso sections may be structurally connected to the yoke. In an embodiment, the one or more actuators may be structurally connected to either said back torso section or front torso section. In an embodiment, the one or more flexible tendons may be operationally connected to a predetermined one or more actuators and an upper arm cuff.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing powdered composite material includes metal particles coated with a coating of ceramic particles. The metal particles may include a ternary NiCoCr alloy, with select additions of minor amounts of other elements. The ceramic particles may include yttrium oxide or other oxides. The composite material is suitable for additive manufacturing (AM) into a component for high temperature (>1000° C.) applications. The AM component includes a metal matrix formed from the alloy, with the ceramic particles dispersed in the matrix.

Abstract: A method for the design, manufacture, and assembly of modular lattice structures composed of cuboctahedron unit cells.

Abstract: An aircraft wing configuration for a vertical or a short take-off and landing aircraft having a plurality of propeller-blown wings mounted at different longitudinal locations along a fuselage of the vertical take-off and landing aircraft, producing two or more lifting surfaces, fixed at a predetermined acute wing angle greater than 0° and substantially less than 90° relative to a horizontal plane, and having a plurality of flaps disposed behind the wings. The configuration has a plurality of propellers distributed in front of the plurality of wings producing two or more lifting surfaces and mounted such that the wings are externally blown by forced airstreams from the propellers. The propellers produce distributed thrust components, and the plurality of flaps are in the forced airstreams of the propellers when one or more of the flaps is in an extended position.

Abstract: A statistical audibility prediction (SAP) method for predicting the audibility of a signal over time at a listening location, the signal from a signal source in the presence of a concurrent masking sound or masker from a masker source. The method includes receiving, via a processor over a plurality of auditory channels, a specific loudness of the signal and masker at the listening location. The method includes calculating for each auditory channel a standard deviation of a distribution of the specific loudness of the signal and masker, and calculating, via the processor, corresponding channel-specific detectability indices (d?t,i) for each auditory channel as a function of their standard deviations. The corresponding channel-specific detectability indices are then summed to produce a total detectability index (d?t), which may be output as an electronic signal that indicates the predicted audibility vs. time, e.g., to a downstream process and/or system or offline.

Abstract: Methods and systems to control stacked hexapod platforms for use as tools, which function with both high accuracy and high precision are provided. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include a convergence of modern control theory, and machine learning. Furthermore, some embodiments provide control algorithms to carry out autonomous in-space assembly operations using assemblers. Some embodiments provide methods and systems which combine long-reach low precision manipulators and smaller, high-precision assembler with interchangeable tools.

Abstract: A coil-on-plug (COP) exciter includes a COP and a housing configured to be coupled to and positioned at least partially between the COP and an engine. The COP exciter also includes an electrode core positioned at least partially within the housing. The electrode core has a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to be coupled to the COP. The COP exciter also includes an electrode tip configured to be coupled to the second end of the electrode core. A voltage is conducted from the COP, through the electrode core, and to the electrode tip, which generates a spark that is configured to energize a first propellant to start the engine.