Abstract: An aircraft structure has a fuselage, a wing and an air inlet for receiving air for an engine. The air inlet contains an elevation which rises from the fuselage and the wing. The elevation is arranged in a transition region between the wing and the fuselage and extends asymmetrically with respect to an angle bisector of an angle between a surface of the wing and the lateral surface of the fuselage. By virtue of this construction, a leading edge of the wing can be arranged further forward than the air inlet, and the air inlet configured according to these principles can positively influence a flow boundary layer on the aircraft structure.

Abstract: A balloon system including a balloon, a payload, and a safety module. A safety module, preferably including a tether and a parachute, and optionally including a cover and/or a drogue. A method of balloon system operation, preferably including operating the balloon system in flight and descending under a parachute.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the metallization of an object including placing the object in an electrolyte, placing an anode in contact with the electrolyte, placing a metallization contact of a cathode in contact with the object, applying an electrical tension between the anode and the cathode, wherein the metallization contact is displaced in relation to the object during the metallization of the object to achieve a complete and continuous metallization of the object's surface.

Abstract: A method for design an optimized constellation set and labeling for satellite point to multi-point transmission systems including transmitters and receivers, wherein the transmitters are adapted to create signals overlay and are configured to allow simultaneous transmission of at least two different data streams (services) intended for users with different radio link qualities. In particular, N services are provided to users having a good radio link and a subset of services is maintained and guaranteed for the users having a lower radio link quality condition.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of an agile spectrum LED lighting fixture with a control. In one embodiment, a lighting fixture includes a light emitting device comprising multiple channels. Each channel includes one or more light emitting diodes configured to emit light at a respective predominant wavelength. The lighting fixture also includes a control device to control a respective light intensity of each channel based at least in part on a desired spectrum of light and the respective predominant wavelengths of the channels.

Abstract: A system is disclosed including a robotic arm movable about a rotational axis to at least one of move and reposition a part at least one of during part creation and after part creation in a micro-gravity environment, wherein creation is performed by at least one of a polymer-based additive manufacturing subsystem and a metallic-based additive manufacturing subsystem and a gripping device attached to the robotic arm which holds the part during at least one of part creation and after part creation. Another system and method are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) artifact suppression for enhanced three-dimensional feature extraction, change detection, and/or visualizations are described. In some aspects, the described systems and methods include a method for suppressing artifacts from complex SAR data associated with a scene. In some aspects, the described systems and methods include a method for creating a photo-realistic 3D model of a scene based on complex SAR data associated with a scene. In some aspects, the described systems and methods include a method for identifying three-dimensional (3D) features and changes in SAR imagery.

Abstract: A method and system for using a wavelength tunable semiconductor laser as an excitation source of a fiber optics sensing system (FOSS) based on a thermoelectric control of a laser sweep. A device can include an optical fiber; a set of fiber Bragg gratings disposed within the optical fiber; a single-frequency laser (SFL) operatively connected to the optical fiber; a thermoelectric cooler operatively connected to the SFL; a controller comprising a processor in communication with the thermoelectric cooler; and a nontransitory, computer-readable storage medium in communication with the processor. The nontransitory, computer-readable storage medium can store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including determining a strain value at a first fiber Bragg grating of the set of fiber Bragg gratings based on a second laser signal received at the device that is reflected from an interaction of a first laser signal with the first fiber Bragg grating.

Abstract: A satellite orbiting in one of a plurality of orbital planes of a satellite constellation system at an altitude range corresponding to low earth orbit includes at least one processor configured to generate satellite state data, and to generate a navigation signal based on the satellite state data. The satellite includes at least one transmitter configured to transmit the navigation signal for receipt by at least one client device on earth. Each of the plurality of orbital planes includes a corresponding one of a plurality of satellite subsets of a plurality of satellites of the satellite constellation system. Each of the plurality of orbital planes is within the altitude range, and the plurality of orbital planes includes a set of inclined orbital planes at a non-polar inclination.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first layer having a first plurality of electrically conductive traces comprising a first portion of a plurality of hierarchical networks; a second layer having a second plurality of electrically conductive traces comprising a second portion of the plurality of hierarchical networks; and a plurality of vias electrically connecting the first plurality of electrically conductive traces of the first layer to the respective second plurality of electrically conductive traces of the second layer to define the plurality of hierarchical networks. The first plurality of electrically conductive traces is orientated in a first direction and the second plurality of electrically conductive traces is orientated in a second direction different from the first direction.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes an RFID interrogator configured for generating an RFID signal, wherein a channel frequency of the RFID signal changes over time; at least one patch antenna; and at least one feed line configured for feeding the signal to the corresponding at least one patch antenna. In another exemplary embodiment, an RFID interrogator configured for generating an RID signal, wherein a channel frequency of the RFID signal changes over time; at least one transmission line; and a diplexer coupling the RFID interrogator and the transmission lines and configured for distributing the RFID signal to each of the antennas or transmission lines, respectively, depending on the channel frequency of the RFID signal generated. The antennas or transmission lines are configured to transmit an electromagnetic wave in response to and at the channel frequency of the RFID signal distributed thereto.

Abstract: A power distribution system for a DC network, the DC network comprising electrical loads, the power distribution system being boarded on an aircraft and comprising: a plurality of AC/DC converters, and at least one AC power source. The power distribution system comprises: an “n” number of AC/DC converters, each one comprising an “(n?1)” number of first outputs and at least an additional output, and an “(n?1)·n” number of electrical loads. Each electrical load comprises two inputs: a first input for being connected with a corresponding first output, and a second input for being connected with any of the additional outputs. The power distribution system is configured to continue supplying electrical power to the DC network in case an AC/DC converter is not energized, such that the second input of such electrical load is connected to any additional output of another AC/DC converter, being the first input disconnected.

Abstract: An electrocaloric-based cooling system includes a solid electrolyte, which includes a silver conducting electrolyte sandwiched between a first electrode and a second electrode. The solid electrolyte when biased shows an electrocaloric effect.

Abstract: A wheel alignment guide that provides a visual indication of the desired placement of an apparatus. The wheel alignment guide includes a body having an opening disposed therein. The wheel alignment guide is configured to surround a portion of the apparatus, such as a wheel, via the opening. In addition, the wheel alignment guide is adapted to rest on a ground surface, being held in place via a charge, such as an electrostatic charge created by static cling vinyl. A wheel of a medical device is disposed within the opening of the wheel alignment guide after a desired position of the medical device is selected. If the medical device is moved during a medical procedure, the medical device may be repositioned due to the placement of the wheel alignment guide. Accordingly, the wheel alignment guide eliminates the need for inefficient markers and potentially-dangerous adhesives, particularly in an operating room.

Abstract: An aerospace vehicle system, preferably including one or more capsules, and optionally including one or more propulsion modules and/or safety modules. A capsule, preferably including a pressure vessel including a structural frame and one or more windows, and optionally including a cabin. In alternate embodiments, the system can additionally or alternatively function as a terrestrial vehicle, a watercraft, and/or any other suitable vehicle. A method of operation, preferably including operating the aerospace vehicle system in flight, while maintaining a pressure differential between the pressure vessel interior and an environment surrounding the system.

Abstract: A protection method for through-holes of a semiconductor wafer having the steps: providing a semiconductor wafer, and comprising a plurality of solar cell stacks, wherein each solar cell stack has a Ge substrate forming a bottom side of the semiconductor wafer, a Ge subcell, and at least two III-V subcells in the order mentioned, as well as at least one through-hole, extending from the top side to the bottom side of the semiconductor wafer, with a continuous side wall and a circumference that is oval in cross section; applying a photoresist layer to a top side of the semiconductor wafer and to at least one region of the side wall of the through-hole, said region adjoining the top side, and applying an organic filler material by means of a printing process to a region of the top side, said region comprising the through-hole, and into the through-hole.

Abstract: A payload module (1) of a stratospheric drone including: a casing (10), and a piece of optical equipment (20) comprising an optical axis, mounted in the casing, wherein the module being includes a mirror (40) positioned on the optical axis facing the optical equipment, the mirror being swivelable about at least one axis, within an angular range, wherein the casing has a through-opening (11) shaped so that any light ray received or emitted by the optical equipment parallel to the optical axis and reflected by the mirror passes through the through-opening, over the entire angular range of the mirror.

Abstract: A deployable structure includes a plurality of interconnected elongated support members, deployed from a stowed state to an expanded state in which the support members are arranged in a ring. Each support member is provided with a connector (28) for longitudinal movement during deployment with respect to the support member. An actuating support member (27) has a drive member (50) for longitudinal movement with respect to the actuating support member, and an electromagnetic device arranged to drive the drive member in one direction with respect to the actuating support member. The drive member is connected to the connector by a lost motion connector, thus the connector is capable of moving in said one direction even if the drive member is not moved by the electromechanical device.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing devices operable in various external force environments are disclosed. In an aspect, an additive manufacturing device operable in microgravity is disclosed. In other aspects, devices which are operable in high-vibration environments or varying external force environments are disclosed. Additive manufacturing devices herein may produce parts from metal, polymer, or other feedstocks.

Abstract: A balloon system including a balloon, and optionally including a payload and/or a safety module. A balloon, preferably including a balloon envelope and one or more passive vents, and optionally including one or more active valves. A method of balloon system operation, preferably including maintaining a zero-pressure balloon condition and sealing balloon vents, and optionally including ascending, descending, and/or otherwise operating the balloon system in flight.