Abstract: Indoors positioning and navigation systems and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a system for inspecting or maintaining a storage tank includes a vehicle having: at least one sensor for determining properties of a storage tank and a navigation system. The navigation system includes an acoustic transmitter carried by the vehicle and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor configured to at least partially determine a location of the vehicle with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle also includes a propulsion unit configured to move the vehicle within the storage tank, and an acoustic receiver fixed with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle moves inside the storage tank in concentric arcs with respect to the acoustic receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting corrosion in pipes are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting corrosion in an object includes an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) having a ferromagnetic core and a plurality of permanent magnets arranged peripherally around the ferromagnetic core. The permanent magnets are arranged to produce a magnetic field through the ferromagnetic core. The apparatus also includes a coil between the ferromagnetic core and the object.

Abstract: Indoors positioning and navigation systems and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a system for inspecting or maintaining a storage tank includes a vehicle having: at least one sensor for determining properties of a storage tank and a navigation system. The navigation system includes an acoustic transmitter carried by the vehicle and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor configured to at least partially determine a location of the vehicle with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle also includes a propulsion unit configured to move the vehicle within the storage tank, and an acoustic receiver fixed with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle moves inside the storage tank in concentric arcs with respect to the acoustic receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods for printed multifunctional skin are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a smart device includes providing a structure, placing a sensor over an outer surface of the structure, and placing conductive traces over the outer surface of the structure. The conductive traces electrically connect the sensor to electronics.

Abstract: Operating parameters are selected for inspecting a structure. Selecting the operating parameters includes exciting broadband ultrasonic guided waves in a multilayered structure, acquiring data corresponding to the sensed broadband ultrasonic guided waves in the multilayered structure, selecting one or more narrow frequency bands based on the acquired data, and inspecting the multilayered structure using ultrasonic guided waves in the one or more narrow frequency bands. In some examples, the data is acquired by an inspection tool capable of sensing the broadband ultrasonic guided waves in the multilayered structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for printed multifunctional skins are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an aerodynamic apparatus includes an aerodynamic structure having a first surface exposed to an outside environment, and a second surface exposed to an inside environment. A printed sensor is carried by the first surface of the aerodynamic structure, electronic components are carried by the second surface of the aerodynamic structure, and at least one printed conductive trace is carried by the first surface and the second surface. The printed conductive trace electrically connects the printed sensor with the electronics.

Abstract: Operating parameters are selected for inspecting a structure. Selecting the operating parameters includes exciting broadband ultrasonic guided waves in a multilayered structure, acquiring data corresponding to the sensed broadband ultrasonic guided waves in the multilayered structure, selecting one or more narrow frequency bands based on the acquired data, and inspecting the multilayered structure using ultrasonic guided waves in the one or more narrow frequency bands. In some examples, the data is acquired by an inspection tool capable of sensing the broadband ultrasonic guided waves in the multilayered structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting corrosion in pipes are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting corrosion in an object includes an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) having a ferromagnetic core and a plurality of permanent magnets arranged peripherally around the ferromagnetic core. The permanent magnets are arranged to produce a magnetic field through the ferromagnetic core. The apparatus also includes a coil between the ferromagnetic core and the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting corrosion in pipes are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus for detecting corrosion in an object includes an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) having a ferromagnetic core and a plurality of permanent magnets arranged peripherally around the ferromagnetic core. The permanent magnets are arranged to produce a magnetic field through the ferromagnetic core. The apparatus also includes a coil between the ferromagnetic core and the object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inspection of pipelines are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) transceiver (TRX) for inspecting a pipe includes a multichannel EMAT transmitter (TX) having multiple collocated transmitter coils. The EMAT TX can generate forward-propagating ultrasound waves and backward-propagating ultrasound waves. The forward-propagating ultrasound waves have higher amplitude than the backward-propagating ultrasound waves. The EMAT TRX also includes a multichannel EMAT receiver (RX) having multiple receiver coils that can receive the ultrasound waves transmitted by the EMAT TX through the pipe.

Abstract: Systems and methods for printed multifunctional skin are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a smart device includes providing a structure, placing a sensor over an outer surface of the structure, and placing conductive traces over the outer surface of the structure. The conductive traces electrically connect the sensor to electronics.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining rate of corrosion in pipes and other structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for measuring a rate of corrosion progress in a specimen includes: generating a first initial pulse into the specimen by an ultrasonic transducer, and acquiring a first reflected waveform from the specimen. The first reflected waveform includes a first reflection of the first waveform and a second reflection of the first waveform. The method also includes generating a second initial pulse into the specimen by the ultrasonic transducer. The first initial pulse and the second initial pulse are separated by a time period. The method also includes acquiring a second reflected waveform from the specimen. The second reflected waveform includes a first reflection of the second waveform and a second reflection of the second waveform.

Abstract: Indoors positioning and navigation systems and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a system for inspecting or maintaining a storage tank includes a vehicle having: at least one sensor for determining properties of a storage tank and a navigation system. The navigation system includes an acoustic transmitter carried by the vehicle and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor configured to at least partially determine a location of the vehicle with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle also includes a propulsion unit configured to move the vehicle within the storage tank, and an acoustic receiver fixed with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle moves inside the storage tank in concentric arcs with respect to the acoustic receiver.

Abstract: Systems and method for active control of stationary vortices for aerodynamic structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for active control of vortices over a solid surface includes: generating vortices proximate to the solid surface; sensing locations of vortices by printed skin sensors; and maintaining the vortices in their fixed spanwise positions with respect to the solid surface by actuation of printed skin actuators.

Abstract: Indoors positioning and navigation systems and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a system for inspecting or maintaining a storage tank includes a vehicle having: at least one sensor for determining properties of a storage tank and a navigation system. The navigation system includes an acoustic transmitter carried by the vehicle and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor configured to at least partially determine a location of the vehicle with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle also includes a propulsion unit configured to move the vehicle within the storage tank, and an acoustic receiver fixed with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle moves inside the storage tank in concentric arcs with respect to the acoustic receiver.

Abstract: Systems and methods for printed multifunctional skin are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a smart device includes providing a structure, placing a sensor over an outer surface of the structure, and placing conductive traces over the outer surface of the structure. The conductive traces electrically connect the sensor to electronics.

Abstract: Indoors positioning and navigation systems and methods are described herein. In one embodiment, a system for inspecting or maintaining a storage tank includes a vehicle having: at least one sensor for determining properties of a storage tank and a navigation system. The navigation system includes an acoustic transmitter carried by the vehicle and an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor configured to at least partially determine a location of the vehicle with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle also includes a propulsion unit configured to move the vehicle within the storage tank, and an acoustic receiver fixed with respect to the storage tank. The vehicle moves inside the storage tank in concentric arcs with respect to the acoustic receiver.

Abstract: Growth of single crystal epitaxial films of the perovskite crystal structure by liquid- or vapor-phase means can be accomplished by providing single-crystal perovskite substrate materials of improved lattice parameter match in the lattice parameter range of interest. Current substrates do not provide as good a lattice match, have inferior properties, or are of limited size and availability because cost of materials and difficulty of growth. This problem is solved by the single-crystal perovskite solid solutions described herein grown from mixtures with an indifferent melting point that occurs at a congruently melting composition at a temperature minimum in the melting curve in the pseudo-binary molar phase diagram. Accordingly, single-crystal perovskite solid solutions, structures, and devices including single-crystal perovskite solid solutions, and methods of making single-crystal perovskite solid solutions are described herein.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining rate of corrosion in pipes and other structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for measuring a rate of corrosion progress in a specimen includes: generating a first initial pulse into the specimen by an ultrasonic transducer, and acquiring a first reflected waveform from the specimen. The first reflected waveform includes a first reflection of the first waveform and a second reflection of the first waveform. The method also includes generating a second initial pulse into the specimen by the ultrasonic transducer. The first initial pulse and the second initial pulse are separated by a time period. The method also includes acquiring a second reflected waveform from the specimen. The second reflected waveform includes a first reflection of the second waveform and a second reflection of the second waveform.

Abstract: Systems and methods for printed multifunctional skins are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an aerodynamic apparatus includes an aerodynamic structure having a first surface exposed to an outside environment, and a second surface exposed to an inside environment. A printed sensor is carried by the first surface of the aerodynamic structure, electronic components are carried by the second surface of the aerodynamic structure, and at least one printed conductive trace is carried by the first surface and the second surface. The printed conductive trace electrically connects the printed sensor with the electronics.