Abstract: A system designs a thin and relatively flat microwave focusing lens that can produce multiple simultaneous beams, using readily-available isotropic dielectric materials, and having a gradient-index (GRIN) profile. The design optimizes the lens to achieve beam scanning and/or multiple beams over a wide field of regard (FOR) with broad bandwidth and a very short focal length compared with conventional lenses. The lens can be used individually or as an element in a more complex antenna having multiple lenses in various orientations that are independently switched, selected and/or excited simultaneously as elements in a phased array. The antenna terminal incorporates such lens into an array of lenses along with one or more feeds to produce single or multiple beams covering a broad field of regard for such applications as satellite communications on-the-move, cellular, broadband point-point or point-multipoint and other terrestrial or satellite communications systems.

Abstract: The system 100 can include a balloon system 110 and a set of spools 120. The system can optionally include a set of actuators 130. However, the system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system can function to facilitate balloon launch preparation and/or launch of a balloon vehicle system. The system can additionally function to facilitate controlled stand-up of a balloon.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are described for a bracket fixture for securing a load to a soft goods layer in a space habitat. The bracket fixture includes a base having a plurality of sides, the plurality of sides having a pin parallel to its respective side, and an aperture between the pin and the respective side. The bracket fixture further includes a protrusion extending from the base, the protrusion including a fixture element.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for manufacturing a lattice structure for use as a propulsion catalyst includes: (a) providing a powder bed of one or more metal powder materials, (b) heating a portion of the powder bed to a temperature sufficient to melt the one or more metal powder materials, (c) forming a layer of the lattice structure, wherein the layer is formed by melting the one or more metal powder materials in a predefined pattern, (d) constructing the lattice structure, wherein the lattice structure is constructed by repeating steps (a)-(c) for each of a plurality of layers of the lattice structure until the lattice structure is constructed, and (e) removing excess materials from the constructed lattice structure.

Abstract: A spatial indexing system receives a sequence of images depicting an environment, such as a floor of a construction site, and performs a spatial indexing process to automatically identify the spatial locations at which each of the images were captured. The spatial indexing system also generates an immersive model of the environment and provides a visualization interface that allows a user to view each of the images at its corresponding location within the model.

Abstract: A coherent receiver optical sub-assembly photonic integrated circuit has optical input ports, electrical output ports, photodetectors, and a single multi-mode interference (MMI) coupler. The optical input ports receive a phase modulated optical signal (S) and a continuous wave local oscillator (LO) optical signal. The electrical output ports output electrical signals corresponding to mixing products of the S and LO optical signals. The photodetectors are connected to the electrical output ports through electrical lines. The MMI coupler has a main body, input access waveguides, and output access waveguides. The input access waveguides receive the S and LO optical signals from the input ports and launch light to the main body. The output access waveguides are connected to respective ones of the photodetectors through optical waveguides. The output access waveguides collect multi-mode interference signal products from the main body and deliver the mixing products of the S and LO optic signals.

Abstract: A device may position a torch assembly relative to a workpiece. A device may initiate a pilot arc between a plasma electrode and a grounded portion of a torch assembly, the grounded portion of the torch assembly grounded using a component with a variable resistance. A device may initiate a wire arc between a first wire element and the workpiece. A device may add material to the workpiece while the torch assembly traverses the workpiece.

Abstract: A satellite is operable to generate a navigation message. Encrypted navigation message data is generated from the navigation message by applying an encryption scheme to the navigation message. An encrypted ranging signal is generated by applying the encryption scheme to a spreading code of the satellite. A secure navigation signal is generated based on modulating the encrypted navigation message data upon the encrypted ranging signal. The secure navigation signal is broadcast for receipt by at least one client device. The secure navigation signal facilitates the at least one client device to determine state data of the at least one client device by utilizing key data associated with the encryption scheme.

Abstract: A cube satellite deployer system having a body plate, a communication unit, a power unit, and a control unit. The body plate is adapted to be connected to a space arm assembly. The communication unit and the power unit are attached to the body plate. Each of the communication unit, power unit, and the control unit are in communication with one another. The body plate is also adapted to receive one or more cube satellite housings. The cube satellite housings are adapted to house and selectively launch one or more of the cube satellites that are housed by the cube satellite housings.

Abstract: A distributed synchronization system including a management device and a plurality of synchronization devices is provided. The management device includes a network input interface and a network output interface, and is configured to: decode a precision time protocol packet to obtain a reference 1 pulse per second signal, a reference frequency signal, and reference time of day information; send a reference synchronization signal and a reference control signal to a first synchronization device through the network output interface. The reference synchronization signal includes the reference 1 pulse per second signal, the reference frequency signal and the reference time of day information. The reference control signal requests the first synchronization device to synchronize with the management device.

Abstract: A stacked, monolithic, upright metamorphic, terrestrial concentrator solar cell having exactly five subcells and having a metamorphic buffer, wherein a first subcell has a first lattice constant G1 and consists essentially of germanium, a second subcell has a second lattice constant and GaInAs, a third subcell has the second lattice constant G2 and AlGaInAs, a fourth subcell has the second lattice constant G2 and InP, a fifth subcell has the second lattice constant G2 and InP, G1<G2 applies to the lattice constants, the metamorphic buffer is arranged between the first subcell and the second subcell and has the first lattice constant G1 on a bottom side facing the first subcell and the second lattice constant G2 on a top side facing the second subcell, and all of the semiconductor layers of the concentrator solar cell arranged above the first subcell are epitaxially produced on the preceding subcell.

Abstract: An accelerometer includes a vacuum chamber to receive one or more pairs of laser beams and a nanoparticle. Each laser beam includes an axis and a focus having three dimensions. The nanoparticle is trapped in an oscillating state in a substantially overlapping three-dimensional foci of the one or more pairs of laser beams. A processor calculates an acceleration of the nanoparticle based on changes in position of the oscillating nanoparticle. At least one photodetector identifies spatial coordinates of the oscillating nanoparticle. The at least one photodetector includes a plurality of photodetectors that are aligned to sense interference between light from a first laser beam and light from the first laser beam that is scattered by the oscillating nanoparticle. The one or more pairs of laser beams may be collinear. The one or more pairs of laser beams may be configured to point at each other.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology generally relate to systems, methods, and computer-readable media for simulating synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images to be captured by a radar-based imaging system. SAR technology can be used to capture large areas on Earth, from a satellite in space for example, over a single pass. A further pass over the target area can help identify changes in the landscape, scenery, and/or infrastructure providing insight on change detection, temporal analysis, or other measures; however, repeat passes over the target area may have been made from differing angles resulting in artifacts in one or both of the processed images from the two passes. In various embodiments, information about the topology of the target area, and information about the SAR platform's flight path are used to simulate the slant range distortion effects that are to be expected in the SAR image of for that pass.

Abstract: A driverless ground vehicle for coupling to an aircraft has a vehicle base, a chassis with wheels that is arranged on the vehicle base, a control unit, a drive, an electrical energy store, and a coupling unit. The drive is coupled to the chassis for moving the wheels. The coupling unit is arranged on the vehicle base and carries an electrical line to be connected to the electrical energy store and has a first electrical connector at a distal end. The coupling unit is designed to move the first electrical connector for coupling to a second electrical connector. The control unit is connected to the drive and the coupling unit to control the drive to move the ground vehicle to the aircraft and to control the coupling unit to move the first connector into a predefinable position on the aircraft to establish an electrical connection to the second electrical connector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for interrupting a charging circuit configured to facilitate regulating an electric current to an electric vehicle charger that is electrically coupled to an electrical control switch. An electric current is transmitted from the electrical control switch to a power distribution block that is configured to split the electric current to, in part, a current transformer, via a first compact circuit protector, and the current transformer is configured to further transmit the electric current to an electrical device. The electric current that is split from the power distribution block is further transmitted, via a second compact circuit protector, to a contactor that has a default position that is closed to further transmit the electric current to the electric vehicle charger. Upon activation of an electrical device, the contactor is energized to open, thereby interrupting current flow to the electric vehicle charger.

Abstract: A system automatically identifies objects in an environment based on a walkthrough video and an annotated floorplan of the environment. The annotated floorplan indicates locations and types of objects that are expected to be in the environment. The system receives the walkthrough video and generates a 3D model of the environment. The system applies a machine learning model to the walkthrough video to identify regions within frames where objects are captured. After identifying the regions within frames of the walkthrough video that include objects, the system modifies corresponding regions of the 3D model to include the identified objects. For each of the identified objects, the system determines a likelihood of the identified object being present at a location in the environment based on a comparison of the modified 3D model and the annotated floorplan.

Abstract: Novel coatings disclosed herein can be used to mitigate dust adhesion. In one embodiment, a method of making a dust repellant coating includes combining a titanium dioxide sol with colloidal silica to form a mixture. The method also includes adding solvent to the mixture, stirring the mixture for about an hour, and filtering the mixture into a solution of titanium dioxide and silica dioxide.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a learning model, a signal processor, a flying object, and a program that enable appropriate observation of the situation of an observed object or the environment around the observed object. The learning model is learned by using teaching data with a first received signal as input, the first received signal being based on a reflected electromagnetic wave that is an electromagnetic wave emitted to a first target area and then reflected, and with first meta-information as output, the first meta-information corresponding to the first received signal and having a predetermined item, so as to input a second received signal based on a reflected electromagnetic wave that is an electromagnetic wave emitted to a second target area and then reflected, and to output second meta-information corresponding to the second received signal and having a predetermined item.

Abstract: A system includes a nuclear reactor having a plurality of fuel rods of radioactive decay material distributed within and embedded within a heat exchange matrix. A plurality of coolant tubes is distributed within and embedded within the heat exchange matrix, interspersed with the plurality of fuel rods. The heat exchange matrix is configured to conduct heat from the fuel rods to the coolant tubes.