Abstract: A MEMS accelerometer system can include a proof mass device having a proof mass configured to move from an initial position in response to an input acceleration, a transducer operatively connected to the proof mass device to output a transducer signal correlating to a movement and/or position of the proof mass, a driver operatively connected to the proof mass device and configured to drive the proof mass, and a controller operatively connected to the driver to control the driver. The controller is operatively connected to the transducer to receive the transducer signal and output a drive signal to the driver to drive the proof mass toward an initial position. The system can include an observer module operatively connected to the controller to receive the drive signal. The observer module can be operatively connected to the transducer to receive the transducer signal.

Abstract: A liquid level measurement system includes a wave guide strip including a first end and a second end. The measurement system includes a sensor array positioned more proximate to the first end than the second end. The wave guide strip is configured and adapted to guide waves emitted from the sensor array. A method for determining a liquid level measurement in a fluid tank includes emitting an excitation from a transmitter of a sensor array along a wave guide strip into the fluid tank, thereby generating a plurality of guided waves. The method includes receiving at least one reflected wave with at least one receiver of the sensor array. The method includes determining a liquid level within the fluid tank by correlating at least one characteristic of the at least one reflected wave to a liquid level in the fluid tank.

Abstract: A heatsink system includes a heatsink plate having a first set of slots defined in a first face thereof and a second set of slots defined in a second face thereof opposite the first face. The first and second sets of slots are configured to house phase change material (PCM) therein.

Abstract: A system includes a guided munition having a housing. A first reservoir is defined within the housing holding a first chemical reactant. A second reservoir is defined within the housing, wherein the second reservoir holds a second chemical reactant configured to undergo an endothermic reaction with the first chemical reactant. A frangible barrier separates between the first and second reservoirs. The frangible barrier is configured to break under forces acting on the guided munition as the guided munition is fired from a weapon. An electronic device can be housed within the housing in thermal contact with at least one of the first reservoir and/or second reservoir for cooling the electronic device with an endothermic reaction upon mixing of the first and second chemical reactants.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a sensing system includes a sensor mat configured to conform to a component having a central axis, a first sensor cluster disposed on or in the sensor mat configured to sense one or more conditions at a first location on the component, and a second sensor cluster disposed on or in the sensor mat configured to sense one or more conditions at a second location circumferentially spaced to the first location. In embodiments, the second location can be diametrically opposed to the first location.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a method for measuring a liquid level in a liquid container includes, emitting one or more guided waves from a guided wave sensor array through a liquid volume within a liquid container, the guided wave sensor array coupled to the liquid container, detecting the one or more guided waves with at least one of the guided wave sensor array or a second guided wave sensor array, and determining a liquid level of the liquid container using the one or more detected guided waves.

Abstract: A method of determining component health including measuring an electrical characteristic of a component during operation using a sensor coupled to the component having internal circuitry to be monitored and to a configurable external sensing device to as specified by configuration settings stored in the external sensing device and comparing the measured electrical characteristic to a baseline using a computational device within the configurable external sensing device in order to determine component health.

Abstract: A liquid level measurement system includes a liquid receptacle including a side wall and a guided wave sensor array coupled to the wall. The guided wave sensor array is configured and adapted to emit induced guided waves. A method for detecting a liquid level in a receptacle using a liquid level measurement system includes emitting induced guided waves from a first guided wave sensor array coupled to a wall of a liquid receptacle thereby generating transmitted guided waves. The method includes detecting the transmitted guided waves with at least one of the first guided wave sensor array or a second guided wave sensor array. The method includes determining a liquid level of the liquid receptacle using the detected transmitted guided waves.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system includes a reinforcement structure configured to seat in an air gap between one or more solder balls of a ball grid array of a surface mount packaging component. The reinforcement structure is configured and reduce bending of the circuit board during acceleration of the circuit board.

Abstract: A guided projectile includes a body and a deployable wing in which the deployable wing is coupled to and enclosed by the body. A linear distance from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the wing defines a chord line that, in the stowed position, forms an angle with a plane containing the chord line and extending parallel to a longitudinal dimension of the wing in a deployed position.

Abstract: A system includes an optical pressure sensor. A controller is operatively connected to receive input from the optical pressure sensor. An output connection is operatively connected to communicate output data from the controller. The controller includes machine readable 5 instructions configured to cause the controller to receive data from an optical pressure sensor, detect an accumulation of contaminant on the optical pressure sensor, and initiate a corrective action through the output connection in response to detecting the accumulation of contaminant.

Abstract: An optical sensor includes an optic fiber optically coupled to a cavity. An optical path is defined from the fiber, across the cavity, and reflected back across the cavity back into the fiber. The cavity is an open cavity that is in fluid communication with an environment ambient to the cavity for detection of changes in index of refraction inside the cavity due to whether the environment ambient to the cavity is gaseous or liquid.

Abstract: A method of measuring target proximity comprising the steps of transmitting a magnetic field signal by a controller of a proximity sensor at a target, measuring impedance of an inductor of a proximity sensor, calculating a relative position of the target in relation to a sensor face, and providing a near/far output status of the target at a predetermined rate.

Abstract: A method of bearing fault detection including measuring a signal of torsional energy transfer from a rotating device to a non-rotating device at a distance away from the rotating device, calculating a health status of the rotating device based on a comparison of the measured signal to a baseline signal, and calculating a remaining useful life of the rotating device.

Abstract: A precision guided munition (PGM) system is disclosed. The PGM system comprises a body including a nose portion. The nose portion includes an aperture. A window is attached, secured, or adhered to the body at the nose portion. One or more antenna substrates is attached, secured, or adhered to the window. A plurality of radiating elements is attached, secured, or adhered to the one or more antenna substrates. An image sensor configured to capture an image in front of the body. The image sensor is behind the aperture and is configured to focus at an infinity focus in front of the body. The one or more antenna substrates include unpopulated areas configured to let photons pass through the antenna substrates from the window to the image sensor. The photons are parallel or collimated and the captured image does not include features of the antenna substrates.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a thermoelectric generator (TEG) system can include a TEG conversion element configured to be in thermal communication with a leading edge surface subject to hypersonic flow and a heatsink to generate a temperature differential across the TEG conversion element mounted between the leading edge surface and heatsink, and an electrical conductor configured to connect between the TEG conversion element and a powered unit to supply electrical energy from the TEG conversion element to the powered unit.

Abstract: A system comprises an engine mounted to an aircraft wing by a plurality of clevis pins, a respective strain sensor mounted in at least one of the clevis pins, and a monitoring system operatively connected to each respective strain sensor to monitor stress in each of the clevis pins having a respective strain sensor.

Abstract: A resistance measurement system can include a plurality of resistors connected in series along a single line. The plurality of resistors can include N resistors. The system can include a plurality of capacitors for at least N?1 of the resistors. Each capacitor can be connected in parallel to the single line with a respective resistor to form a respective resistor-capacitor (RC) pair. Each RC pair can include a different time constant such that each RC pair reaches a steady state voltage at a different time. The system can include a current supply connected to the single line to supply a current to the line. The system can include a control module configured to sense a total voltage across the single line and to successively determine resistance of each resistor from the total voltage based on the current, a known total steady state voltage, and known time-to-steady-state-voltages of each RC pair and/or resistors.

Abstract: A diode voltage measurement system can include a plurality of diodes connected in series along a single line. The plurality of diodes can include N diodes. The system can include a plurality of capacitors for at least N?1 of the diodes. Each capacitor can be connected in parallel to the single line with a respective diode to form a respective diode-capacitor (DC) pair. Each DC pair can be configured such that each DC pair reaches a steady state voltage at a different time. The system can include a current supply connected to the single line to supply a current to the line. The system can include a control module configured to sense a total voltage across the single line and to successively determine voltage of each diode from the total voltage based on the current, a known total steady state voltage, and known time-to-steady-state-voltages of each DC pair and/or diode.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an imaging system includes an enclosure with an objective aperture opening into an interior space of the enclosure, an optical assembly optically coupling the objective aperture to an imaging sensor within the enclosure, a spatial light modulator (SLM) mounted to the objective aperture for selectively blocking and admitting illumination through the objective aperture into the interior space, and an illuminator mounted to illuminate the interior space of the enclosure.