Abstract: Conformable skin elements provide active vortex control. The skin element is mounted on a surface and acts like a pressure transducer and flow modifier. A micro-processor is coupled to the skin element and a feedback loop for controlling activation of the skin-element corresponding to surface pressures detected on the skin element. Additional pressure transducers may be provided for communicating with the feedback loop. These may include surface mounted taps or manometers and the like. Wires connect the skin elements, the feedback loop, and the micro-processor for conducting voltage to the skin elements and for transmitting pressure signals from the skin element via the feedback loop to the micro-processor. The skin element may be mounted on the surface by any known mounting system. Perimeter mounts on the skin element allow bulge deflection while cantilevered mounts allow cantilever deflection of the skin element.

Abstract: The multi-target tracking and discrimination system (MOST) fuses with and augments existing BMDS sensor systems. Integrated devices include early warning radars, X-band radars, Lidar, DSP, and MOST which coordinates all the data received from all sources through a command center and deploys the GBI for successful interception of an object detected anywhere in space, for example, warheads. The MOST system integrates the optics for rapid detection and with the optical sensor array delivers high-speed, high accuracy positional information to radar systems and also identifies decoys. MOST incorporates space situational awareness, aero-optics, adaptive optics, and Lidar technologies. The components include telescopes or other optical systems, focal plane arrays including high-speed wavefront sensors or other focal plane detector arrays, wavefront sensor technology developed to mitigate aero-optic effects, distributed network of optical sensors, high-accuracy positional metrics, data fusion, and tracking mounts.

Abstract: A lightweight, low-cost, and highly sensitive aerosol sensor measures aerosol concentrations remotely. A fiber laser sends pulses outward toward the target area from a carbon-fiber telescope using ultra-lightweight optical elements. Light is received back in the same telescope or in another similar telescope depending on the aerosol concentration or other contents of the atmosphere. The sensor is lightweight, low-cost and has high performance. The system also measures aerosol profiles over a hemispherical volume to produce a three-dimensional measurement within the range of the laser.

Abstract: A Sensor Chip Assembly (SCA) contains a focal plane array constructed as a semiconductor chip sandwich. One slice contains an array of PSDs made from IR sensitive semiconductor material, and the other slice contains Trans Impedance Amplifiers (TIAs)—and associated on-chip signal processing elements from an electronic semiconductor material. The SCA resembles those made for pixelized imaging IR SCA focal planes, but the configuration and implementation of which is for a PSD focal plane array. The use of these techniques assures that the PSD focal plane array possesses the required attributes. Interconnect technology is widely available from most IR fabrication houses to connect the IR array with the TIA circuits.

Abstract: A two-dimensional array of lateral-effect detectors (or position-sensing devices) is used to simultaneously measure multi-point centroidal locations at high speed. It is one of the primary components of a high-speed optical wavefront sensor design comprising a Shack-Hartmann-type lenslet array and associated analog circuitry including analog-to-digital (A/D) converters, and digital micro-processors. The detector array measures the centroidal location of each incident beam emerging from the lenslet array and calculates the local wavefront slope based on the beam deviations from their respective subaperture centers. The wavefront sensor is designed for high temporal bandwidth operation and is ideally suited for applications such as laser-beam propagation through boundary-layer turbulence, atmospheric turbulence, or imperfect optics. The wavefront sensor may be coupled with a deformable mirror as primary components of an adaptive optics system.

Abstract: An orbital debris impact risk assessment and management model is provided for low-Earth orbit (LEO). The model is phenomenologically based, meaning real, theoretical and historical data of the LEO environment is used in conjunction with thermodynamic based code architecture to perform impact risk assessments. The format of the model is developed such that user friendliness and user adaptability are maximized. The model can be used as a stand-alone program (software) or run over the World-Wide Web as an application service provider (ASP). The model may be used to examine trends in the evolution of the LEO environment or to calculate likelihood of impacts for specific on-orbit assets or groups of assets.

Abstract: Apparatus and method is provided for 3-D measurement and visualization of cloud formations using ceilometers and computer software. Data collected from the ceilometers contains cloud range information in polar coordinates (r,&thgr;,&pgr;) which is then converted to a cloud height depiction in a 3-D space. Visualization of data is enhanced by animating consecutive sets of data in a time loop to show the movement and evolution of the clouds over the measurement site during an extended period of time.

Abstract: A moisture control device and method has a heat generating source in electrical devices that is powered to operate independent of the electrical device for reducing, minimizing or preventing condensation, nucleation and degradations on electronic parts and circuit boards of the electrical device. A power supply is connected to the heat generating source and a switch connected to the power supply. The switch may be manually operable or automatic and is used for controlling operation of the heat generating source. A sensor senses on/off status of the electrical device and automatically operates the switch in response to the sensing. Power is supplied to the heat generating source when the electrical device powers down and disconnected when the electrical device powers on.

Abstract: Ballast water is treated by applying ultrasonic frequencies to the water to kill organisms entrained in the water such as diatoms, veligers, fish larvae, plankton, and microorganisms, preventing the introduction of non-indigenous species between ports-of-call. The ballast water is circulated through a ballast treatment system. A pump is connected to a tube lined with a piezoelectric material for aiding in transmitting the ultrasonic frequencies connected to one or more ballast tanks of a ship. The use of the piezoelectric material as a lining allows a broad range of sound wavelengths and energy levels to be transmitted greater distances before problems with uniform sound penetration and energy loss within the sound field occur. Additionally, spatially-controllable, continuous constructive interference zones may be generated within the piezoelectric-lined tubes to specifically target the particular organisms entrained within the ballast water being treated.

Abstract: A lysimeter has an elongated, relatively narrow sample pipe with flanges at upper and lower ends. A lysimeter assembly is connected to the lower end of the sample pipe by connecting an upper end of a central tube in the assembly to a lower end of the sample pipe. A circular lysimeter pan extends around the central tube. Vertical slits in the central tube provide a screen to permit water flow into the central tube from the pan but to prevent granular materials from the filter pack. Vertical webs in the pan rigidify the pan, and radial supporting webs and a ring beneath the pan support the pan. A relatively large diameter collection chamber has a spheroidal lower end and an upper end which receives the ring for centering the lysimeter pan at the upper end of the collection chamber. An outward and upward sloping flange at an upper end of the collection chamber with an elastic seal supports the lower conical wall of the lysimeter pan.

Abstract: A simple, portable and efficient water desalination device uses deep ocean water, solar energy and the dynamics of generated secondary vortices. The device includes a tower, a heat exchanger positioned inside the tower near the top of the tower, a cold water source, a cold water receiving tank, a condensate catchment grille, a freshwater collecting tank, a rotor extending upward between the side walls of the tower from a lower portion of the tower, a power source for driving the rotor, a warm salt water pan positioned in the bottom of the tower and a warm salt water source. The cold water source is cold deep ocean water that is siphoned to the top of the tower through rollable, transportable fabric pipes. The warm salt water source is solar heated ocean water. In the tower, a hurricane is simulated by a rotating column that induces a circulation of air which approximates that of a hurricane.

Abstract: A lysimeter has an elongated, relatively narrow sample pipe with flanges at upper and lower ends. A lysimeter assembly is connected to the lower end of the sample pipe by connecting an upper end of a central tube in the assembly to a lower end of the sample pipe. A circular lysimeter pan extends around the central tube. Vertical slits in the central tube provide a screen to permit water flow into the central tube from the pan but to prevent granular materials from the filter pack. Vertical webs in the pan rigidify the pan, and radial supporting webs and a ring beneath the pan support the pan. A relatively large diameter collection chamber has a spheroidal lower end and an upper end which receives the ring for centering the lysimeter pan at the upper end of the collection chamber. An outward and upward sloping flange at an upper end of the collection chamber with an elastic seal supports the lower conical wall of the lysimeter pan.

Abstract: A flexible pipe diffuser receives dewatering discharge and maintains water quality standards at harbors, lakes and ponds. The diffuser is designed for long-term construction use. It is rugged enough to work under construction conditions but simple enough to be easily assembled and deployed. The flexible pipe diffuser is a fabric tube with minimum 10 feet diameter suspended vertically in the water from a floating platform. Turbid discharge enters the top of the tube and is conducted to the harbor bottom, where sediment is allowed to separate and settle. Floatable materials such as oil and grease separate from dewatering discharge and collect at water surface in the flexible pipe diffuser. The collected floatable materials are removed for disposal by skimmers. The flexible pipe diffuser tube is made of sailcloth and vinyl sewn together. The flexible pipe diffuser has a float platform to which the tube is attached. The float platform is attachable to a pier.

Abstract: A lysimeter has an elongated, relatively narrow sample pipe with flanges at upper and lower ends. A lysimeter assembly is connected to the lower end of the sample pipe by connecting an upper end of a central tube in the assembly to a lower end of the sample pipe. A circular lysimeter pan extends around the central tube. Vertical slits in the central tube provide a screen to permit water flow into the central tube from the pan but to prevent granular materials from the filter pack. Vertical webs in the pan rigidify the pan, and radial supporting webs and a ring beneath the pan support the pan. A relatively large diameter collection chamber has a spheroidal lower end and an upper end which receives the ring for centering the lysimeter pan at the upper end of the collection chamber. An outward and upward sloping flange at an upper end of the collection chamber with an elastic seal supports the lower conical wall of the lysimeter pan.