Abstract: A valve assembly has a housing and a poppet-carrying portion. The housing includes an inlet port, an outlet port, an opening, and a assembly portion including helical grooves. The poppet-carrying portion is configured to be inserted through the opening and engage with the assembly portion. The poppet-carrying portion comprises a poppet head, a closure including protruding arms, convolutions, and a stopping portion. The convolutions extend between the poppet head and the closure and provide compliance such that the poppet head is movable relative to the closure. The stopping portion extends from the closure toward the poppet head and is spaced apart from the poppet head by a maximum compression distance. At a first fluid pressure, the protruding arms engage with the helical grooves, and the poppet head is positioned in a pre-load position that prevents the fluid from discharging through the outlet port.

Abstract: A device for accommodating and for releasing a payload on an aerial vehicle having a mounting frame for accommodating the payload, a linear mover for positioning in a cavity of the aerial vehicle, the mover having a base and at least one holding element, and a release device on the mounting frame. The mounting frame has a largely planar opening area surrounded by an opening edge, wherein the mover is coupled with the mounting frame on a side of the mounting frame facing away from the opening area by the at least one holding element. The mover can move the mounting frame linearly and vertically to the opening area at a variable distance from the base, and the release device can hold the payload in the mounting frame and release it selectively from the mounting frame, where necessary, via the opening edge and in a direction away from the base.

Abstract: An example of an apparatus includes an inlet to connect to a propellant source a pressure regulator connected to the inlet to reduce propellant pressure from a first pressure at the inlet to a second pressure. The apparatus includes a manifold connected to the pressure regulator to receive propellant from the pressure regulator at the second pressure and includes a plurality of manifold outlets. The apparatus further includes a plurality of gas lines, each gas line extending from a corresponding manifold outlet for connection to a corresponding satellite propellant tank.

Abstract: There is provided a method of assigning use of a bandwidth for radio communication. The method includes the following steps: generating an initial frame, the initial frame including a series of allocations; generating a further frame, the further frame including a series of allocations; repeating the step of generating a further frame to generate a matrix of allocations; shuffling at least two columns or at least two rows within the matrix; selecting one or more columns or rows in the matrix, wherein each selected column or row represents a sequence; assigning use of the bandwidth according to the one or more selected sequences; and transmitting one or more data streams on the assigned bandwidth.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for printing a three-dimensional part. The method comprises: receiving in computer memory a digital model of said three-dimensional object; using one or more computer processors to partition said digital model of said three-dimensional part into a plurality of partitions, wherein a given partition of said plurality of partitions comprises a plurality of slices, and wherein a given slice of said plurality of slices comprises a plurality of segments; receiving, from a user, one or more parameters that specify a printing configuration for at least one segment of said plurality of segments; and generating printing instructions based at least in part on said one or more parameters, which printing instructions are usable by a print head to print said three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A layout method and apparatus based on a genetic algorithm are provided. The method includes: determining a gene code mode based on standard part information and layout part information; generating an initial population based on the gene code mode, the initial population including a plurality of gene codes, and the gene codes including standard code segments and layout code segments, and corresponding to layout schemes of standard parts and layout parts; acquiring fitness of each gene code; determining a dominant gene code based on the fitness; performing a double-point crossing operation and a double-point mutation operation on the dominant gene code to generate a next generation gene code, so as to form a dominant population; and if a preset termination condition is met, determining the layout scheme corresponding to the dominant gene code in the dominant population as a target layout scheme.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cleanroom management configured for the electronic detection and processing of airborne and/or surface particle content in which the input of data is taken and the output produces an audit log, a pass/fail certification, a microbe count, a particle count, and/or the use and/or measure of Business Intelligence (BI) data analytics. The gathering of the type of class of cleanroom being certified occurs along with the input the number of people, number of devices to be cleaned, and/or cleaning solutions.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are described for a mounting flange and bracket for a space habitat. The bracket system couples a bladder of a space habitat to a cylindrical core. The bracket system includes a soft goods layer configured to cover the bladder of the space habitat. The bracket system includes a mounting flange configured to couple at an end of the cylindrical core. The mounting flange includes a lip extending around the mounting flange. The bracket system includes a bracket configured to connect the soft goods layer to the mounting flange. The bracket has a first end and a second end. The first end includes a pin configured to couple to the soft goods layer. The second end includes a protrusion configured to latch to the lip of the mounting flange. In some variations, a cap is configured to be coupled to the outer side of the mounting flange.

Abstract: A method of moving a spacecraft from an initial orbit to a final orbit includes providing a spacecraft with thrusters traveling in an initial orbit that has a first RAAN. Thrusters are activated to move the spacecraft into a transfer orbit having more eccentricity than the initial orbit. A RAAN of the transfer orbit changes over time toward a target RAAN. The spacecraft enters an aerobraking orbit wherein the spacecraft is exposed to increased atmospheric drag to reduce orbit energy and reduce an apoapsis radius. Thrusters may be activated to increase the periapsis radius of the aerobraking orbit and cause the spacecraft to move into the final orbit, the final orbit having a final RAAN different from the first RAAN.

Abstract: A coupling system comprising a first androgynous coupler and a second androgynous coupler. The first androgynous coupler comprises a first male coupling section having a first recess extending radially and a first female coupling section comprising a first blocking element and a first positioning element. The second androgynous coupler comprises a second male coupling section having a second recess extending radially, where the second male coupling section is configured to form-fit with the first female coupling section. When the second male coupling section is form-fit with the first female coupling section, axial movement of the first positioning element causes the first blocking element to move radially into the second recess to couple the first androgynous coupler to the second androgynous coupler.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for three-dimensional (3D) printing. In an example, a system and method for maintaining a command history in 3D printing software is disclosed. In an example, a method for updating a plurality of printing instructions comprises maintaining a plurality of printing states corresponding to the plurality of printing instructions, wherein a first state corresponds to a first set of printing instructions for printing a first portion of a 3D object. The plurality of printing states may comprise a final state comprising final printing instructions. User instructions may be received to select a second state that is not the final state. A new state may be generated comprising a second set of printing instructions for printing second portion of the 3D object. The plurality of printing instructions may be updated with the second set of printing instructions to yield an updated plurality of printing instructions.

Abstract: A modulated retro reflector-based satellite network communication system and method are provided. The system includes: a data acquisition layer configured to acquire data to be acquired, perform integrated analysis on the data to be acquired and send an integrated analysis result to a backbone network layer; the backbone network layer configured to receive a control instruction sent by a ground station, schedule first satellites based on the control instruction, and send the integrated analysis result to the ground station; and the ground station configured to generate the control instruction, send the control instruction to the backbone network layer, detect the first satellites and the second satellites, and receive the integrated analysis result. Through the system, the SWaP value of the satellite may be greatly reduced, thereby being suitable for communication networking of micro-satellites.

Abstract: A computer system of the present invention comprises a processor unit, and is configured to be capable of communicating with a user device operated by a first user and a satellite. The satellite includes a religious object and an information providing means for providing information associated with the religious object. The processor unit is configured to execute at least the following: acquiring location data indicating a location on Earth of the first user; acquiring bearing data indicating a bearing; calculating, on the basis of the location data and the bearing data, a time period in which the satellite is located in a predetermined space extending toward the bearing from the location on Earth of the first user; and providing the user device with information associated with the religious object provided by the information providing means of the satellite only during the time period.

Abstract: Technologies are provided for variable gain amplifiers (VGAs).

Abstract: A non-immersive virtual reality (NIVR) method includes receiving sets of images of a first user and a second user, each image from the sets of images being an image of the associated user taken at a different angle from a set of angles. Video of the first user and the second user is received and processed. A first location and a first field of view are determined for a first virtual representation of the first user, and a second location and a second field of view are determined for a second virtual representation of the second user. Frames are generated for video planes of each of the first virtual representation of the first user and the second virtual representation of the second user based on the processed video, the sets of images, the first and second locations, and the first and second fields of view.

Abstract: Retrofittable satellite systems for an in-orbit host satellite comprising an enhancement module for adding a capability to the in-orbit host satellite, modifying the function of the in-orbit host satellite, and/or extending the function of the in-orbit host satellite. The in-orbit, retrofittable satellite system comprises a transfer vehicle for transferring the enhancement module from a first to a second location and a service vehicle for receiving the enhancement module from the transfer vehicle and installing the enhancement module on the in-orbit host satellite.

Abstract: Powder—based additive manufacturing processes for producing integral parts with multiple metallic materials are disclosed. The integral parts are printed as single pieces by joining different metallic materials together during printing. A combination of different powder-based additive manufacturing processes or the same process can be used to produce the integral part.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for three-dimensional (3D) printing. In an example, a system and method for maintaining a command history in 3D printing software is disclosed. In an example, a method for updating a plurality of printing instructions comprises maintaining a plurality of printing states corresponding to the plurality of printing instructions, wherein a first state corresponds to a first set of printing instructions for printing a first portion of a 3D object. The plurality of printing states may comprise a final state comprising final printing instructions. User instructions may be received to select a second state that is not the final state. A new state may be generated comprising a second set of printing instructions for printing second portion of the 3D object. The plurality of printing instructions may be updated with the second set of printing instructions to yield an updated plurality of printing instructions.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for printing at least a portion of a three-dimensional (3D) object. The system may comprise a source of at least one feedstock, a support for supporting at least a portion of the 3D object, a feeder for directing at least one feedstock from the source towards the support, and a power supply for supplying electrical current. The system may comprise a controller operatively coupled to the power supply. The controller may receive a computational representation of the 3D object. The controller may direct the at least one feedstock through a feeder towards the support and may direct electrical current through the at least one feedstock and into the support. The controller may subject such feedstock to Joule heating such that at least a portion of such feedstock may deposit adjacent to the support, thereby printing the 3D object in accordance with the computational representation.

Abstract: A method of operating a media scanner to protect a target machine from malware on a removable storage device is disclosed. The target machine and the removable storage device each include a respective data line, and the media scanner comprises a data switch. Data is scanned on the removable storage device with malware detection software of the media scanner via a first data path, the first data path comprising the data line of the removable storage device connected to the data line of the media scanner by the data switch in a first switching state. After the data has been scanned with the malware detection software, the data switch is operated to switch from the first switching state to a second switching state, thereby disconnecting the data line of the removable storage device from the data line of the media scanner and connecting the data line of the removable storage device to the data line of the target machine.