Abstract: A sealed, passively pumped, polycrystalline ceramic vacuum chamber and method for fabricating the chamber are disclosed. The body of the vacuum chamber is made from a polycrystalline ceramic, for example, alumina. The vacuum chamber includes one or more windows made from a transparent ceramic, for example, sapphire, to accommodate optical access, while remaining amorphous-glass free to minimize or eliminate helium permeation. The vacuum chamber components are joined via laser welding or furnace brazing and the completed chamber is bakeable at temperatures up to 400° C. The vacuum chamber can operate at high or ultra-high vacuum pressures for an extended period through the use of one or more getter-based pumps. The vacuum chamber may include one or more atomic sources depending upon the application.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to devices including one or more hollow needles and a transducing wire disposed within at least one needle. In particular instances, arrays of such needles can be employed. Methods for fabricating and using such devices are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A series tee splitter comprises a primary electromagnetic transmission line and a secondary electromagnetic transmission line that is placed in a series path with the primary electromagnetic transmission line, wherein a load is attached to the end of the secondary electromagnetic transmission line and a network analyzer is connected to opposite ends of the primary electromagnetic transmission line to measure a load impedance. This configuration increases the high impedance measurement limit of the network analyzer normally seen for reflection measurements. The series tee splitter can be electrically small to provide broadband impedance information.

Abstract: A system or method for drilling includes autonomously controlling a rotary or percussive drilling process as it transitions through multiple materials with very different dynamics. The method determines a drilling medium based on real-time measurements and comparison to prior drilling data, and identifies the material type, drilling region, and approximately optimal setpoint based on data from at least one operating condition. The controller uses these setpoints initially to execute an optimal search to maximize performance by minimizing mechanical specific energy. Near-bit depth-of-cut estimations are performed using a machine learning prediction deployed in an embedded processor to provide high-speed ROP estimates. The sensing capability is coupled with a near-bit clutching mechanism to support drilling dysfunction mitigation.

Abstract: A method for increasing a speed and efficiency of a computer when performing machine learning using spiking neural networks. The method includes computer-implemented operations; that is, operations that are solely executed on a computer. The method includes receiving, in a spiking neural network, a plurality of input values upon which a machine learning algorithm is based. The method also includes correlating, for each input value, a corresponding response speed of a corresponding neuron to a corresponding equivalence relationship between the input value to a corresponding latency of the corresponding neuron. Neurons that trigger faster than other neurons represent close relationships between input values and neuron latencies. Latencies of the neurons represent data points used in performing the machine learning. A plurality of equivalence relationships are formed as a result of correlating. The method includes performing the machine learning using the plurality of equivalence relationships.

Abstract: A theoretically perfectly absorbing photoconductive all-dielectric metasurface is provided. This metasurface can improve the efficiency and performance of ultrafast photoconductive switches and detectors. In an embodiment, the metasurface is incorporated in photoconductive THz switches or detectors. In embodiments, the metasurface is constituted by a network of gallium arsenide resonators. Each resonator supports two degenerate and critically coupled magnetic dipole modes. Simultaneous excitation of these two modes leads to theoretically close-to-perfect optical absorption near the resonant wavelength.

Abstract: A wind rotor is disclosed that produces energy optimally for a given thrust overturning moment. By designing rotors with suboptimal aerodynamic efficiency, they can have optimal thrust performance, which will reduce the substructure cost and/or enable greater energy capture for a given substructure.

Abstract: A volatile organic compound detection device includes a collector comprising: a collector material configured to collect volatile organic compounds given off from a patient's skin; a heater comprising a heating element, the heating element configured to emit a thermal pulse to desorb the volatile organic compounds from the collector material; and a flow channel configured to receive the volatile organic compounds desorbed by the heater; and a fastener configured to secure the collector to the patient's skin.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for tracking solutions, (e.g., reaction conditions in solutions). In some embodiments, the method comprises: contacting a first lanthanide-chelator complex to a first solution to generate a first barcoded solution, wherein the first lanthanide-chelator complex comprises a first lanthanide chelated by a first chelator; contacting a second lanthanide-chelator complex to a second solution to generate a second barcoded solution, wherein the second lanthanide-chelator complex comprises a second lanthanide chelated by a second chelator; mixing the first barcoded solution and the second barcoded solution to form one or more mixtures; and identifying the first lanthanide ions in the mass spectrum and the second lanthanide ions in the mass spectrum to track the condition of each of the one or more mixtures.

Abstract: Curatives and their resulting thermosets and other crosslinked polymers can reduce thermal expansion mismatch between an encapsulant and objects that are encapsulated. This can be accomplished by incorporating a negative CTE moiety into the thermoset resin or polymer backbone. The negative CTE moiety can be a thermal contractile unit that shrinks as a result of thermally induced conversion from a twist-boat to chair or cis/trans isomerization upon heating. Beyond CTE matching, other potential uses for these crosslinked polymers and thermosets include passive energy generation, energy absorption at high strain rates, mechanophores, actuators, and piezoelectric applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to detection systems for detecting an opioid compound by use of pyrolysis, as well as methods thereof. In particular, the systems are configured to detect the presence of a backbone fragment indicative of a class of opioid compounds, including opioid analogues.

Abstract: One of the biggest challenges for all renewable energy sources (RES) is that they are variable power generators which will require reactive power or energy storage systems (ESS) to provide reliable power quality (ideally power factor of one) at the power grid generation side. The present invention is directed to a power packet network (PPN) for integrating wave energy converter (WEC) arrays into microgrids. Specifically, an array of WECs can be physically positioned such that the incoming regular waves will produce an output emulating an N-phase AC system such that the PPN output power is constant. ESS requirements are thereby minimized whilst maintaining grid stability with high power quality. This will enable RES integration onto a future smart grid for large-scale adoption and cost reduction while preserving high efficiency, reliability, and resiliency.

Abstract: A photonics transceiver is described herein, wherein the photonics transceiver exhibits improved areal bandwidth density and improved energy per bit consumption relative to conventional photonics transceivers. The photonics transceiver achieves an areal bandwidth density of at least 5 Tbps/mm2 with an energy consumption of less than 500 fJ/bit (sum of energy consumed for both a transmitted bit and a received bit). The photonics transceiver is a multi-chip module, where chips in the multi-chip module are tightly integrated with one another. The multi-chip module includes light source, photodetector, photonics, and control/logic chips. The photonics chip includes transparent conducting oxide integrated optical modulators and multiplexers and demultiplexers based on MEMS-tunable optical ring resonators.

Abstract: A plastic scintillator includes a polymer matrix, an aliphatic additive present in the polymer matrix in an effective amount to impart fog resistance to the plastic scintillator, and at least one fluorescent dye in the polymer matrix, the dye being effective to provide scintillation upon exposure to radiation. The effective amount of the aliphatic additive is in a range of greater than 0 weight percent up to 5 weight percent relative to the total weight of the plastic scintillator. Moreover, the aliphatic additive has a structure comprising up to 300 repeat units.

Abstract: Several innovative technologies, including pressure-drop minimization, advanced refractory high entropy alloys, and advanced manufacturing can provide a compact heat exchanger that extends the state-of-the-art heat-exchanger operating range. The compact heat exchanger can reduce pressure drop losses by 100 to 500%, while retaining most of the heat transfer. The compact heat exchanger can be fabricated from refractory high entropy alloys that have favorable corrosion, thermal fatigue, and creep properties at high temperatures and pressures. Therefore, the compact heat exchanger using high entropy alloys can operate at >800° C. and 80 bars.

Abstract: A switching apparatus includes three or more series-connected transistors, and it further includes a balancing network. The balancing network includes a resistor network configured to divide a voltage from a voltage source across the series-connected transistors. The resistor network includes at least two resistive legs connected in parallel. In each resistive leg, two or more resistors are connected in series. The balancing network may further comprise at least one capacitive leg of series-connected capacitors connected across the series-connected transistors, and it may further comprise at least one leg of series-connected avalanche diodes connected across the series-connected transistors for overvoltage protection. In example embodiments, the series-connected transistors are JFETs. In other example embodiments, the series-connected transistors may be HEMTs or GaN transistors.

Abstract: A control system and method for tensioning an active tether for a multirotor unmanned aerial system is provided. The control system includes a tensioning pulley and a tensioning spring. The tensioning spring is arranged to generate a variable tension force on the active tether. A transducer is connected adjacent to the tensioning spring to sense a linear displacement position of the tensioning pulley and to transmit a position signal to a controller. The position signal is proportional to the linear displacement position. A servomotor in communication with the controller receives a control signal from the controller in response to the position signal. The servomotor drives a cable reel. The cable reel is rotatably mounted in the frame for spooling the tether in response to rotation of the servomotor. The cable reel is rotated by the servomotor to maintain a predetermined tension on the tensioning spring.

Abstract: Microbial enzymes are used for esterification of biomass-derived substrates for production of industrially valuable esters. E. coli was used as an efficient platform for recombinant synthesis of fusel lactates such as the green solvent ethyl lactate.

Abstract: A method and system for temporal frequency analysis for identification of unmanned aircraft systems. The method includes obtaining a sequence of video image frames and providing a pixel from an output frame of the video; generating a fluctuating pixel value vector; examining the fluctuating pixel value vector over a period of time; obtaining the frequency information present in the pixel fluctuations; summing the frequency coefficients for the vectorized pixel values from the fluctuating pixel value vector; obtaining an image representing a two dimensional space based on the summed center frequency coefficients; generating a series of still frames equal to a summation of the center frequency coefficients for pixel variations; and combining the temporal information into spatial locations in a matrix to provide a single image containing the spatial and temporal information present in the sequence of video image frame.

Abstract: Hybrid additive featured plates used to form an overall microchannel heat exchanger and corresponding method of manufacture are disclosed. Various additive manufacturing (AM) techniques may be used to form walls defining microchannel features on a plate substrate. The manufacturing method is a hybrid process in that leverages both additive and conventional manufacturing techniques to minimize both cost and fabrication time.