Abstract: A control architecture and associated control methods are under development to allow a single user to control a team of multiple heterogeneous UMS as they conduct multi-faceted (i.e. multi-objective) missions in real time is disclosed. The control architecture is hierarchical, modular and layered and enables operator interaction at each layer, ensuring the human operator is in close control of the unmanned team at all times. The architecture and key data structures are introduced. Two approaches to distributed collaborative control of heterogeneous unmanned systems are described, including an extension of homogeneous swarm control and a novel application of distributed model predictive control. Initial results are presented, demonstrating heterogeneous UMS teams conducting collaborative missions.

Abstract: Various technologies for isolating a signal of interest from signals received contemporaneously by an antenna are described herein. A time period for which a signal of interest is present in a second signal can be identified based upon ratios of values of the second signal to the mean value of the second signal. When the ratio of the value of the second signal at a particular time to the mean of the second signal exceeds a threshold value, the signal of interest is considered to be present in the second signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a purified or isolated cellulase complex comprising two or more glycosidase hydrolase, or enzymatically active fragment thereof, selected from the group consisting of a GH9 polypeptide, a GH48 polypeptide, a GH10 polypeptide, and a GH6 polypeptide, and optionally a GH10_2 polypeptide and/or an AA10 polypeptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vanadium oxide and methods of controlling reaction processes for making such materials (e.g., powders). In particular embodiments, the method includes control of oxygen partial pressure in order to kinetically control the oxidation species of the crystalline vanadium oxide material. Other methods, uses, systems, protocols, and coatings are also described.

Abstract: Sensor systems including an interferometer system are disclosed herein. In a general embodiment, the sensor system includes an optical fiber that is embedded into a sample, where the optical fiber has a reflective tip. The optical fiber is optically coupled to a sensor and a detector of the laser interferometer system. The sensor system further includes a computing device or circuit that is configured to receive electrical signals generated by the detector. The laser source is configured to emit light, which is coupled into the optical fiber. The light travels through the optical fiber until the light reaches the reflective tip, where it is reflected back through the optical fiber. The detector is impacted by the reflected light, and generates an electrical signal based upon the reflected light. The computing device generates a value that is indicative of a behavior of the sample based upon the electrical signal.

Abstract: Various technologies presented herein relate to enhancing mixing inside a combustion chamber to form one or more locally premixed mixtures comprising fuel and charge-gas to enable minimal, or no, generation of soot and/or other undesired emissions during ignition and subsequent combustion of the locally premixed mixtures. To enable sufficient mixing of the fuel and charge-gas, a jet of fuel can be directed to pass through a bore of a duct causing charge-gas to be drawn into the bore creating turbulence to mix the fuel and the drawn charge-gas. The duct can be located proximate to an opening in a tip of a fuel injector. The various technologies presented herein can be utilized in a number of combustion systems, such as compression-ignition (CI) reciprocating engines, spark-ignition (SI) reciprocating engines, gas-turbine (GT) engines, burners and boilers, wellhead/refinery flaring, etc.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a microsampler for hermetically sealing a sample. In particular, such microsamplers can be useful for encapsulation of chemical, biological, and explosive samples for the purposes of archival sample storage. Methods of making and using such microsamplers are also described herein.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a surface having a binding component applied thereto for the adsorption or capture of pathogens and organic molecules or materials. The surface may be a component of a porous or nonporous substrate. The binding component may also bind a photocatalyst to the surface for photocatalytic destruction of the captured pathogens and organic molecules or materials.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for synthesizing ionic liquids from lignin. Methods and compositions are also provided for treating lignin with ionic liquids.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems, devices and methods for cooling a surface with a plurality of ejectors. The fluid provided to the micro-ejectors includes vapor formed at the surface. The vapor provides the driving force for driving fluid through the micro-ejectors.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a method for making a nanoporous material, comprising aerosolizing a solution comprising at least one metal salt and at least one solvent to obtain an aerosol, freezing the aerosol to obtain a frozen aerosol, and drying the frozen aerosol to obtain a nanoporous metal compound material. Further, the nanoporous metal compound material can be reduced to obtain a nanoporous metal material.

Abstract: The present application relates to microfabricated columns having a sealed flow channel. In particular, the channel is sealed during dicing, thereby preventing debris from accumulating within channels. In use, the seal is ruptured mechanically to connect one or more fluidic connections, which deliver analytes to the flow channel. Additional details are provided for making and using sealed columns.

Abstract: Metals across all industries demand anti-corrosion surface treatments and drive a continual need for high-performing and low-cost coatings. Ordered thin films comprising aligned inorganic platelets dispersed in a polyelectrolyte polymer matrix provide a new class of transparent conformal barrier coatings for protection in corrosive atmospheres. For example, films assembled via layer-by-layer deposition, as thin as 90 nm, are shown to reduce copper corrosion rates by >1000× in an aggressive H2S atmosphere. These coatings can provide high-performing anti-corrosion treatment alternatives to costlier, more toxic, and less scalable thin films, such as graphene, hexavalent chromium, or atomic layer deposited metal oxides.

Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to an imaging system with a noncircular aperture are described herein. An imaging objective with a noncircular aperture and an anamorphic lens is used to capture a plurality of image frames of a scene. Each image frame is captured at a different rotational orientation of the imaging objective with respect to the scene. Each image frame has a non-uniform spatial resolution. A composite image of the scene is generated based upon the image frames. The composite image comprises a first region that has a spatial resolution that is approximately the same as a spatial resolution of an image generated using a circular objective with a diameter equal to the largest dimension of the noncircular aperture, and a second region with a lower spatial resolution.

Abstract: A micromechanical resonator is disclosed. The resonator includes a resonant micromechanical element. A film of annealable material deposited on a facial surface of the element. In one instance, the resonance of the element can be adjusting by using a feedback loop to control annealing of the deposited film.

Abstract: A locomotion subassembly for a biped robot is disclosed. The locomotion subassembly includes several unique energy transfer mechanisms and arrangements for efficiently powering the motion of the robot.

Abstract: A method for electroplating a nonmetallic grating including providing a nonmetallic grating; performing an atomic layer deposition (ALD) reaction to form a seed layer on the nonmetallic grating; and electroplating a metallic layer on the seed layer such that the metallic layer uniformly and conformally coats the nonmetallic grating. An apparatus including a silicon substrate having gratings with an aspect-ratio of at least 20:1; a atomic layer deposition (ALD) seed layer formed on the gratings; and an electroplated metallic layer formed on the seed layer, wherein the electroplated metallic layer uniformly and conformally coats the gratings.

Abstract: A method involving the non-destructive testing of a sample electrical or electronic device is provided. The method includes measuring a power spectrum of the device and performing a Principal Component Analysis on the power spectrum, thereby to obtain a set of principal components of the power spectrum. The method further includes selecting a subset consisting of some of the principal components, and comparing the subset to stored reference data that include representations in terms of principal components of one or more reference populations of devices. Based at least partly on the comparison, the sample device is classified relative to the reference populations.

Abstract: Methods, structures, and systems are disclosed for biosensing and drug delivery techniques. In one aspect, a device for detecting an analyte and/or releasing a biochemical into a biological fluid can include an array of hollowed needles, in which each needle includes a protruded needle structure including an exterior wall forming a hollow interior and an opening at a terminal end of the protruded needle structure that exposes the hollow interior, and a probe inside the exterior wall to interact with one or more chemical or biological substances that come in contact with the probe via the opening to produce a probe sensing signal, and an array of wires that are coupled to probes of the array of hollowed needles, respectively, each wire being electrically conductive to transmit the probe sensing signal produced by a respective probe.

Abstract: Various technologies presented herein relate to enhancing mixing inside a combustion chamber to form one or more locally premixed mixtures comprising fuel and charge-gas to enable minimal, or no, generation of soot and/or other undesired emissions during ignition and subsequent combustion of the locally premixed mixtures. To enable sufficient mixing of the fuel and charge-gas, a jet of fuel can be directed to pass through a bore of a duct causing charge-gas to be drawn into the bore creating turbulence to mix the fuel and the drawn charge-gas. The duct can be located proximate to an opening in a tip of a fuel injector. An ignition assist component can be located downstream of the duct to facilitate ignition of the fuel/charge-gas mixture.