Abstract: Systems and methods for machine-learning-based aircraft icing prediction use supervised and unsupervised learning to process real-time environmental data, such as onboard measurements of outside air temperature and dew point, to predict a risk of icing and determine whether to issue an icing risk alert to an onboard crewmember or a remote operator, and/or to recommend an icing avoidance maneuver. The systems and methods can use reinforcement learning to generate a confidence metric in the predicted risk of icing, to determine a time or distance to predicting icing, and/or to not issue an alert or recommend a maneuver in consideration of historical data in a “library of learning” and/or other flight data such as airspeed, altitude, time of year, and weather conditions. The predictive systems and methods are low-cost and low-power, do not require onboard weather radar, and can be effective for use in smaller aircraft that are completely icing-intolerant.

Abstract: A continuous filament additive manufacturing machine for building a part by laying down a continuous mono-filament or composite filament material layer by layer on a tool or substrate. The machine includes a system, such as a robot, operable to move in at least three degrees of freedom, and a placement module coupled to the system and being configured to deposit the continuous filament material. The placement module includes a guide for guiding the material to the part, a heat source for pre-heating the material as it is being deposited from the placement module and a compaction device for compacting the material as it is being deposited from the placement module. The compaction device includes an ultrasonic horn that is ultrasonically vibrated to melt or flow the material and cause the material to fuse and be compacted to the tool or substrate.

Abstract: A method for assembling a two-dimensional fiber array launcher assembly. The method includes providing an alignment structure having a two-dimensional alignment plate with holes at one end and a two-dimensional beam shaper with micro-lenses at an opposite end. An endcap having a fiber attached thereto is systematically positioned in each hole, and is aligned with one of the micro-lenses with a high precision tolerance. The aligned endcap is then secured in the hole using a curable glue. This process is continued until all of the holes have aligned endcaps. If one of the endcaps is mis-aligned or becomes damaged, the glue can be heated and the endcap realigned or replaced.

Abstract: A system and method for scanning an amplitude modulated transmitted beam through a 360° FOV. The method includes generating a laser beam to be transmitted, intensity modulating the laser beam at multiple modulation frequencies, directing the laser beam to a spiral phase plate resonator (SPPR) device, directing a transmitted beam from the SPPR device onto a conical mirror to direct the transmitted beam at a certain angle therefrom depending on the frequency of the laser beam and processing a return beam.

Abstract: A system for degaussing a magnetized structure can include a given circuit that provides a differential alternating current (AC) signal that decays from an upper level to a lower level over a predetermined amount of time. The system also includes a given electrical coil coupled to the given circuit. The electrical coil circumscribes the magnetized structure. The electrical coil induces a decaying magnetic field on the magnetized structure in response to the differential AC signal to convert the magnetized structure into a degaussed structure.

Abstract: A system and method for manufacturing a space-based component in space. The method includes collecting and capturing space debris directly from and suspended in space, heating the collected space debris using solar radiation in a manner that separately and independently melts different constituent elements and compounds in the space debris, collecting the different constituent elements and compounds as they are being separately melted, storing the elements and compounds in a molten, solid or vapor form, and fabricating the space-based component using the stored elements and compounds.

Abstract: A carbon nanotube (CNT) cable includes: a pair of plated twisted wires, each wire comprising one or more sub-cores, at least one sub-core comprising CNT yarn; a dielectric surrounding the plated twisted wires; and an electrical layer surrounding the dielectric, the electrical layer configured to shield the CNT cable. A method for making a CNT cable includes: controlling a deposition rate, depositing plating so as to surround a pair of wires, each wire comprising one or more sub-cores, at least one sub-core comprising CNT yarn; twisting the plated wires together; and surrounding the plated twisted wires with an electrical layer configured to shield the plated twisted wires, thereby creating the CNT cable.

Abstract: A continuous filament additive manufacturing machine for building a part by laying down a continuous mono-filament or composite filament material layer by layer on a tool or substrate. The machine includes a system, such as a robot, operable to move in at least three degrees of freedom, and a placement module coupled to the system and being configured to deposit the continuous filament material. The placement module includes a guide for guiding the material to the part, an ultrasonic compaction device including an ultrasonic driver, an attachment frame and an ultrasonic disk horn coupled to the attachment frame. The ultrasonic driver is coupled to the disk horn and ultrasonically vibrates the horn in a reciprocating manner to melt or flow the material and cause the material to fuse and be compacted to the tool or substrate.

Abstract: A superconductor system is provided that includes a superconductor device comprising a plurality of superconductor layers and dielectric layers interleaved with the plurality of superconductor layers, wherein at least one superconductor layer is a ground plane. The superconductor device further includes superconductor circuitry that resides within one or more of the plurality of superconductor layers, and one or more active moats extending through the plurality of superconductor layers and the dielectric layers, wherein at least one flux vortex caused by cryogenic cooling can be removed from at least one of the plurality of superconductor layers into the one or more active moats by the activating and deactivating of the one or more active moats.

Abstract: A liquid rocket engine assembly comprising a thrust chamber, a nozzle, and a joint structure. The joint structure attaches the thrust chamber and the nozzle and comprises at least one seal element and an attachment ring interposed between the thrust chamber and the nozzle. Fasteners extend between the nozzle and the thrust chamber through the at least one seal element and the attachment ring. Materials of the thrust chamber and of the nozzle comprise different coefficients of thermal expansion. A method of forming a liquid rocket engine assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A robot intelligence engine receives highly immersive virtual environment (HIVE) data characterizing a set of robot tasks executed by a test robot in a HIVE, wherein the robot tasks of the set of robot tasks include a robot skill. The robot intelligence engine receives sensor data from a problem detecting robot deployed in an environment of operation that characterizes conditions corresponding to a detected problem and searches the set of robot tasks to identify a subset of the robot tasks that are potentially employable to remedy the detected problem. The robot intelligence engine simulates the subset of robot tasks to determine a likelihood of success for the subset of robot tasks. The simulation generates a set of unsupervised robot tasks that are potentially employable to remedy the detected problem. The robot intelligence engine selects one of the subset of robot tasks or one of the unsupervised robot tasks.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to systems and methods for measuring impedance characteristics of a cryogenic device under test (DUT). A channel select circuit can be configured in a first state to electrically isolate a channel output circuit from the cryogenic DUT and in a second state to electrically couple the channel output circuit to the cryogenic DUT, and at least one resistor can be positioned along a transmission path that couples a pattern generator circuit to a channel output circuit that includes the channel select circuit. A controller can be configured to cause respective test current signals to be provided along the transmission path when the channel select circuit is in respective first and second states to establish respective first and second voltages across the at least one resistor, determine first and second impedance characteristics of the transmission path for determining an impedance of the cryogenic DUT.

Abstract: A semiconductor technology implemented high-frequency channelized filter includes a dielectric substrate with metal traces disposed on one of two major surfaces of the substrate. An input and output port disposed on the substrate and one of the metal traces carrying a high-frequency signal to be filtered between the input and output port. Other of the metal traces are connected to the one metal trace at intervals along the length of the one metal trace each providing a reactance to the high-frequency signal where the reactance varies with frequency and additional traces of the metal traces serving as a reference ground for the one metal trace and the other metal traces. A silicon enclosure mounted to the substrate with a first planar surface with cavities in the enclosure that extend through the first surface, and internal walls within the silicon enclosure defining the cavities. A layer of conductive metal covers the first planar surface, cavities and the internal walls.

Abstract: A method using capillary force lamination (CFL) for manufacturing a high-performance optical absorber, includes: texturizing a base layer of the high-performance optical absorber, the base layer comprising one or more of a polymer film and a polymer coating; joining a surface layer of the high-performance optical absorber to the base layer, the surface layer comprising a non-woven carbon nanotube (CNT) sheet; wetting the joined surface layer and base layer with a solvent; drying the joined surface layer and base layer; and treating the resulting base layer with plasma, creating the high-performance optical absorber.

Abstract: A solid state cooler device is disclosed that comprises a first normal metal pad, a first aluminum layer and a second aluminum layer disposed on the first normal metal pad and separated from one another by a gap, a first aluminum oxide layer formed on the first aluminum layer, and a second aluminum oxide layer formed on the second aluminum layer, and a first superconductor pad disposed on the first aluminum oxide layer and a second superconductor pad disposed on the second aluminum oxide layer. The device further comprises a first conductive pad coupled to the first superconductor pad, and a second conductive pad coupled to the second superconductor pad, wherein hot electrons are removed from the first normal metal pad when a bias voltage is applied between the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad.

Abstract: A method of making a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is provided. The method comprises depositing a functional resist material layer over a substrate, disposing and pressing a stamp with a plurality of nanopatterns into the functional resist material for a period of time, and removing the stamp from the functional resist material to provide nanofeatures that are inverted versions of the nanopatterns, wherein the nanofeatures form one or more optical elements.

Abstract: In an example, a synchronization signal can be transmitted to a plurality of synchronizers. The plurality of synchronizers can include a plurality of upstream synchronizers and a downstream synchronizer. Each synchronizer of the plurality of upstream synchronizers can be caused to count from a respective count value until a predetermined end count sequence value in response to receiving the synchronization signal. The respective count value stored at each synchronizer can be representative of a difference in time between a respective upstream synchronizer of the plurality of upstream synchronizers receiving the synchronization signal and the downstream synchronizer receiving the synchronization signal. A respective processing element of a plurality of processing elements can be caused to start a respective function or operation in response to a respective upstream synchronizer reaching the predetermined end count sequence value.

Abstract: A system for establishing and maintaining a chain of trust can include a root of trust (RoT) executing a root trusted server that pushes authenticated code and data into memory of a given node in a plurality of nodes. The RoT can also record a memory address range of a static portion of the authenticated code and a corresponding static data in the given node and cause the given node to execute the authenticated code in response to the pushing to establish a trusted relationship between the trusted server of the RoT and the given node. The root trusted server also monitors the given node to ensure that the given node executes trusted operations. The authenticated code in the memory of the given node can include a trusted server that pushes authenticated code into memory of another node in the plurality of nodes.

Abstract: Vehicle capture assemblies and related devices, systems, and methods include one or more probe assemblies for engaging with and securing the target vehicle. The one or more probe assemblies may include one or more attenuation features or movable joints to enable and/or dampen movement of the one or more probe assemblies relative to a capture vehicle.

Abstract: One example includes a superconducting circuit. The circuit superconducting circuitry fabricated on a first surface of a circuit layer. The circuit layer includes a dielectric material. The circuit also includes a metal layer formed on a second surface of the circuit layer opposite the first surface and a through-substrate via (TSV) conductively coupled to the metal layer and extending through the circuit layer to the first surface. The circuit further includes a flux gasket conductively coupled to and extending from the TSV on the first surface proximal to the superconducting circuitry. The flux gasket can be configured to divert magnetic fields away from the superconducting circuitry.