Abstract: A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in accordance with the invention preferably comprise a homogeneous mixture of a nematic liquid crystal and a multifunctional pentaacrylate monomer, in combination with photoinitiator, coinitiator and cross-linking agent. Optionally, a surfactant such as octanoic acid may also be added. The PDLC material is exposed to coherent light to produce an interference pattern inside the material. Photopolymerization of the new PDLC material produces a hologram of clearly separated liquid crystal domains and cured polymer domains. Volume transmission gratings made with the new PDLC material can be electrically switched between nearly 100% diffraction efficiency and nearly 0% diffraction efficiency. By increasing the frequency of the switching voltage, switching voltages in the range of 50 Vrms can be achieved.

Abstract: The invention provides a set of mechanisms by which a wireless mobile mesh node equipped with a directional antenna may self form and self adapt its steady-state communications schedule. A link establishment handshake is carried out over an ongoing subtemplate-based discovery scan. During time not reserved for steady-state communications with previously discovered neighbors, nodes continue to search for an establish links with new neighbors. Initial and subsequent bandwidth allocation protocols may be utilized to allow peer nodes to coordinate communication opportunities between the peer nodes without impacting or having knowledge about reservations for communications with other peers. The link establishment and initial bandwidth allocation protocols may be piggy-backed for readily establishing an initial steady-state schedule with a peer upon link establishment without impact on previous steady state reservations by other nodes or on ongoing link establishment attempts elsewhere.

Abstract: A new photopolymerizable material allows single-step, fast recording of volume holograms with properties that can be electrically controlled. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in accordance with the invention preferably comprise a homogeneous mixture of a nematic liquid crystal and a multifunctional pentaacrylate monomer in combination with photoinitiator, coinitiator and cross-linking agent. Optionally, a surfactant such as octanoic acid may also be added. The PDLC material is exposed to coherent light to produce an interference pattern inside the material. Photopolymerization of the new PDLC material produces a hologram of clearly separated liquid crystal domains and cured polymer domains.

Abstract: Adaptively analyzing an observed signal to estimate that part of the signal that best corresponds to a steering vector. Modifying the steering vector by convolution of the steering vector with a vector estimating the effect of multipath on the observed signal.

Abstract: The process described herein offers the optimizing of performance parameters of holograms, such as reducing scattering effects in a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element. In the process, an interfacial tension agent is added to a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material has a first material selected from the group consisting of a reactive ionic material, an aromatic material, a polypyrrole, and an acrylated or methacrylated acid of the type H2CCH—(CO)O—R—(CO)OH, where R is a linear or branched alkyl chain. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material also has at least one type of liquid crystal material, a photoinitiator dye, and a co-initiator. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal material is subjected to a polymerization. The interfacial tension agent reduces the size of liquid crystal droplets formed within the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal optical element during polymerization.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to novel systems and methods for polymerizing nanoparticles within a polymer matrix and to novel methods for fabricating materials containing nanoparticles in a polymer matrix.

Abstract: Pulsed detonation engines (PDEs) are adapted for use in reaction control systems (RCS), such as thrusters for orbital correction and control (e.g., for earth-orbiting satellites), divert thrust generation and control for space-based interceptor devices, and for missile trajectory correction and motion control. According to one aspect of the invention, PDEs are adapted for motion control of so-called “kill vehicles,” which are small devices, typically launched from satellites, for strategic missile defense.

Abstract: A system for detecting and graphically displaying a contents of a fast-moving target object comprises: a radiation source, having a position such that at least a portion of radiation emitted from the radiation source passes through the fast-moving target object, the fast-moving target object having a variable velocity and acceleration while maintaining a substantially constant distance from the radiation source and being selected from the group consisting of: a vehicle, a cargo container and a railroad car; a velocity measuring device configured to measure the variable velocity of the fast-moving target object; a detector array comprising a plurality of photon detectors, having a position such that at least some of the at least a portion of the radiation passing through the target object is received thereby, the detector array having a variable count time according to the variable velocity and a grid unit size; a counter circuit coupled to the detector array for discretely counting a number of photons enterin

Abstract: An incoming laser beam is relayed to a steering mirror and a phase correction device. The beam is relayed from the phase correction device to a focal plane array and to a wavefront sensor (WFS). Low order steering mirror tilt corrections can be based on data from the focal plane array. The WFS outputs data on multiple channels to a field programmable gate array (FPGA), with each of the WFS channels corresponding to a subaperture of the beam wavefront. The FPGA calculates phase corrections for each of the subapertures and forwards those corrections to the phase correction device. The FPGA also calculates tilts for the steering mirror based on the WFS output data, which tilts can be used instead of tilts based on focal plane array data. The phase corrections may be based on modulo 2? phase error calculations and/or modal phase error calculations.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and modeling an environment is described. A user may direct a rangefinder within an environment to capture data points and correlate the data points with predefined objects. One may also capture images of the environment to be used in the modeling environment. Using the present system, one may easily and quickly capture an environment using relatively few data points.

Abstract: Characterizing a cargo container and its contents. A system comprising an emitter to emit radio frequency (RF) energy, a receiver to receive an RF response related to the energy, and a processor operative to compare a plurality of RF responses. A method for characterizing a cargo container and its contents, the method including providing a system as described above, via the system: emitting a RF energy within a container, receiving an RE response of the container and the container contents, emitting second RF energy within a container, receiving a second RF response of the container and the container contents, and comparing the second RF response with the first RF response.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining human beings from terrain or man-made obstacles is provided. A long-wave infrared camera along with additional devices such as a color camera, two cameras in stereo configuration, and/or a LADAR scanner are used such that the physical scene captured in one image is the same from all of the devices. The images may be processed such that areas of interest representing characteristics of human beings are labeled likely human. The processing may include determining the physical size, range, and relative locations of the objects found in the images. The system, method and apparatus may be used in unmanned vehicles or autonomous machines, as a driving aid to a manned vehicle or system, or as part of a security system.

Abstract: Digital pixel data is obtained from radiographic imaging of one or more objects, and corresponds to an imaged area containing a feature to be measured. A data profile for a region around the measured feature is created from the digital pixel data. A reference profile is then created from the data profile. The reference profile represents an expected data profile for a reference condition of the objects, and accounts for the point spread function of the imager. The difference between the data profile and the reference profile is calculated. Based on that difference, the degree by which the actual condition of the objects varies from the reference condition is determined. The calculated difference can be compared to a lookup table mapping previously calculated differences to degrees of variation from the reference condition. The calculated difference can also be used as an input to an experimentally derived formula.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a body having a torus skin with inner and outer layers, and a drive system configured to propel the apparatus by moving the inner layer relative to the outer layer. The active skin propulsion system allows movement and steering of a device. A drive system includes a plurality of drive segments coupled together so that the skin engaging unit of the drive segment frictionally moves the inner layer of the torus skin relative to the outer layer of the torus skin. As a result of the relative skin motion and contact with the surface by the outer layer of the torus skin, the body is propelled and may be steered.

Abstract: Described herein is system for the inspection of a target object. The system may include a gamma radiation source, a gamma detector and an image processor coupled to the gamma detector. When the inspection system is operating in a first active mode for imaging a target object, the gamma radiation source directs radiation at a target object, the radiation passes through the target object, and the image processor images the target object based on an output of the gamma detector. When the dual-mode system is operating in a second passive mode for imaging a target object, the target object is scanned by a neutron detector for radiation that is emitted by the target object, the emitted radiation from the target object is detected by the neutron detector and an indicator indicates the presence of the emitted radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for using discrete photon counting to produce transmission radiographic images of a target object with improved spatial resolution and high system sensitivity. The system comprises a radiation source for directing photons at a target object and a detector array for receiving photons passing through the target in order to provide an image of the target density. The detector array is configured to enhance spatial resolution and maintain high system sensitivity. To correct the parallax effect that may be induced by such configuration of the detector array, a process can be computer implemented or program coded to parallax correction.

Abstract: Described herein are frequency-domain back-projection processes for forming spotlight synthetic aperture radar (“SAR”) images that are not corrupted by the effects of multiple-bounce ghosting artifacts. These processes give an approximately exact reconstruction of the multiple bounce reflectivity function (MBRF) ƒ(x,y,?). Specifically, the evaluation of ƒ(x,y,?) in the ?=0 plane gives an approximately exact reconstruction of the true object scattering centers which is uncorrupted by multiple-bounce contributions to the phase history data G(?,?). In addition, the non-zero dependence of ƒ(x,y,?) upon the MB coordinate ? can be used to facilitate the identification of features-interest within the imaged region.

Abstract: An interface for a system and method for evaluating the effectiveness of a person to perform a task based on his/her preceding or predicted sleep pattern is provided. The interface allows a user to use actual sleep data or predicted sleep data to produce predictions of the task effectiveness of a person to perform a particular task. The predictions may be in tabular, graphical, or tabular and graphical format. The interface may also represent the effectiveness of a user based on the actual or predicted sleep data in conjunction with an actual or predicted work schedule or pattern. The results can be correlated to sunlight in the user's location, and can also account for changes in the users location (transmeridian shifts), sunlight during the user's sleep cycle (shift work), and other schedule modifying events.

Abstract: IgY antibodies which specifically bind to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) can be used to detect hTERT and thereby diagnose cancer. Preparations of the antibodies can be used to reduce hTERT reverse transcriptase activity in in vitro assays and can be used as in vivo therapeutics to treat cancer.

Abstract: A device for determining the presence or absence of at least one substance is described. The device includes an illumination component including at least one light emitting diode in the forward bias mode acting as an emitter and configured to illuminate a target with a first waveband; and a detection component including at least one light emitting diode in the reverse bias mode acting as a detector and configured to detect a second waveband emitted by the target in response to the first waveband if the target contains a threshold amount of the at least one substance, wherein, the illumination component and the detection component are included in a single head unit module.