Abstract: A wheel alignment guide that provides a visual indication of the desired placement of an apparatus. The wheel alignment guide includes one or more body members defining an opening to surround a portion of the apparatus, such as a wheel. The wheel of the apparatus is disposed within the opening of the wheel alignment guide after a desired position of the apparatus is selected, and the wheel may be pivoted via concave edges of the one or more body members. If the apparatus is moved during operation, the apparatus 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: A method and system for rendering the quaternion shape and orientation of a three-dimensional structure. The proposed system and method keeps track of twist/roll angles and updates its effect on pitch and yaw orientations. The system relies on a single or multi-core optical fiber or multi-fiber bundle containing fiber Bragg grating sensors (FBGs) arrayed in rosettes at 45° deltas and spaced at uniform intervals along the entire length of the structure to be monitored. A tunable laser is used to interrogate the sensors using optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR), which detects shifts in the wavelength reflected by the sensors in response to strain on the fibers. Each sensor is continuously queried by software which determines the strain magnitude (?L/L) for each fiber at a given triplet. Given these measured strain values, the software implements a novel quaternion approach to rendering the 3D shape of the fiber including twist.

Abstract: A method for producing a light-emitting diode with a stacked structure, having a first region and a second region and a third region, wherein all three regions have a substrate and an n-doped lower cladding layer and an active layer generating electromagnetic radiation, wherein the active layer includes a quantum well structure, and a p-doped upper cladding layer, and the first region additionally has a tunnel diode formed on the upper cladding layer and composed of a p+ layer and an n+ layer, and an n-doped current distribution layer. The current distribution layer and the n-doped contact layer are covered with a conductive trace. At least the lower cladding layer, the active layer, the upper cladding layer, the tunnel diode, and the current distribution layer are monolithic in design. The second region has a contact hole with a bottom region.

Abstract: Advanced environmental barrier coating bond coat systems with higher temperature capabilities and environmental resistance are disclosed. These bond coat systems can be applied to ceramic substrates such as SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite substrates, and can provide protection from extreme temperature, mechanical loading and environmental conditions, such as in high temperature gas turbines. Example bond coat systems can include either an advanced silicon/silicide component, an oxide/silicate component, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: The invention consists of radiation shielding materials for shielding in the most structurally robust combination against galactic cosmic radiation (GCR), neutrons, and solar energetic particles (SEP). Materials for vehicles, space structures, habitats, landers, rovers, and spacesuits must possess functional characteristics of radiation shielding, thermal protection, pressure resistance, and mechanical durability. The materials are tailored to offer the greatest shielding against GCR, neutrons, and SEP in the most structurally robust combination, also capable of shielding against micrometeoriod impact. The boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) is composed entirely of low Z atoms (boron and nitrogen).

Abstract: A Cooperative Service Valve includes a fitting connected to a valve body via a tube, a stem configured to fit within the valve body. The stem includes a stem first end having a first seal and configured to movably fit within a tube first end, a sealing portion connected to the stem first end and configured, in a first position, to provide a second seal between the sealing portion and an inner surface of the stem body, a fluid flow portion comprising openings for allowing liquid or gaseous media to pass through the Cooperative Service Valve when the stem is in a second position and a stem second end configured to secure a poppet guide, a poppet and a spring associated with the poppet that biases the poppet against a seal to yield a third seal. The first, second and third seals open and close in a particular order to allow or prevent fluid from flowing through the stem.

Abstract: A capsulation satellite module for transferring a payload by an earth-launch vehicle to an outer space. The capsulation satellite module comprises a casing defining a hermetically sealed inner cavity therewithin. The casing includes a continuous sidewall and first and second cover assemblies mounted to axially opposite sides of the sidewall so as to delimit the hermetically sealed inner cavity within the casing. The first cover assembly defines a first gas chamber therein extending over the inner cavity of the casing. The second cover assembly defines a second gas chamber therein extending over the inner cavity of the casing. Each of the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber are fluidly connected to the sealed inner cavity and to each other through the sealed inner cavity to maintain predetermined pressure and temperature within the cavity.

Abstract: A mono-rail crane system (and a corresponding operation method) for use in an aircraft. The crane system comprises a first longitudinal mono-rail installable on the underside of a rear cargo door of the airplane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rear cargo door; a second longitudinal mono-rail, which is installable on a cargo hold ceiling of the aircraft, and, in the fully opened state of the rear cargo door, in aligned continuity with the first longitudinal mono-rail so that the longitudinal axes of the first and second longitudinal mono-rails coincide to form one common longitudinal axis; a crane mobile equipment configured to be moved along the first and second longitudinal mono-rails in order to hoist and transfer the load; and a linear actuator configured to advance and retreat the second longitudinal monorail towards and away from the first longitudinal monorail.

Abstract: A method for operating an, at least temporarily, unmanned aircraft or spacecraft wherein a flight procedure of the aircraft or spacecraft is carried out in controlled airspace using a previously cleared flight plan, wherein a C2 link is at least temporarily unavailable, and wherein at least one sensor device of the aircraft or spacecraft identifies a dangerous and/or emergency situation which makes it necessary to deviate from the cleared flight plan. To have available a method which makes it possible for an at least temporarily unmanned aircraft or spacecraft to react independently to particular dangerous and/or emergency situations and to avoid damaging events, a control device of the aircraft or spacecraft independently uses a wireless data link to a supervisory authority in order to agree to a changed flight plan containing at least one change.

Abstract: Described are solid-state energy storage devices and methods of making solid-state energy storage devices in which components of the batteries are truly solid-state and do not comprise a gel. Useful electrodes include metals and metal oxides, and useful electrolytes include amorphous ceramic thin film electrolytes that permit conduction or migration of ions across the electrolyte. Disclosed methods of making solid-state energy storage devices include multi-stage deposition processes, in which an electrode is deposited in a first stage and an electrolyte is deposited in a second stage.

Abstract: Gas migration rate(s) are determined using gas measurements from gas migration measurement devices. In response to the gas migration rate increasing at greater than a first rate: air ionization measurements are collected from: remote sensing air ionization measurement device(s), meteorological measurements collected from air temperature sensor(s) and relative humidity sensor(s). A latent heat energy release rate is determined using at least two of: the air ionization measurements; the meteorological measurements; and a numerical assimilation model. In response to the latent heat energy release rate increasing at greater than a second rate, transient OLR anomaly are looked for using atmospheric measurements. In response to observing the transient OLR, ionospheric anomal(ies) are looked for using ionosphere measurements collected over a fourth period of time.

Abstract: A motor actuating apparatus includes three phase connections for three motor phase connections, a high-connection for a supply voltage and a low-connection for a reference potential of the supply voltage, three bridge branches having a series connection of a high-switch and a low-switch and a control device for actuating the switches of the bridge branches. The high-switches are connected to the high-connection and the low-switches are connected to the low-connection. Each of the three phase connections is connected to exactly one of the three bridge branches between the high-switch and the low-switch. The control device is adapted for actuating the switches of the bridge branches such that during a first time period a first phase connection is switched to passive and the second phase connection and third phase connection are alternatingly connected to the high-connection and the low-connection in a predeterminable duty cycle if the supply voltage is applied.

Abstract: An optical voltage source and decoupling device is provided, wherein the optical voltage source has a number N of series-connected semiconductor diodes, each having a p-n junction, the semiconductor diodes are monolithically integrated and together form a first stack with an upper side and an underside, and the number N of the semiconductor diodes of the first stack is greater than or equal to two, the decoupling device has a further semiconductor diode. The further semiconductor diode has a pin junction and, the further semiconductor diode is anti-serially connected with the semiconductor diodes of the first stack. An underside of the further semiconductor diode is materially connected with the upper side of the first stack and the further semiconductor diode forms a total stack together with the first stack.

Abstract: A directional coupler (100) comprises two hollow bodies (200, 201) forming two waveguide portions. Each hollow body has an open end arranged at a first side (10) of the hollow body and another open end arranged at a second side (20) of the hollow body in opposite to the first side in a longitudinal direction (30) of the hollow body. The hollow body has a first cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A second cross section along the longitudinal direction defines a first plane of propagation of the electric field. The two waveguide portions have a common wall along the longitudinal direction (30) forming a septum (400) between the two waveguide portions on a second plane orthogonal to the first plane. The septum has an aperture (410) for coupling the two waveguide portions. The aperture has a shape comprising a part (420) slanted with respect to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A solid state power amplifier uses a Doherty power amplifier that can be implemented as a monolithic microwave integrated circuit. By adjusting the DC bias of the amplifying stages in each branch of the Doherty amplifier, the output power, linearity, and DC power can be adjusted to provide a specified output, where the specification for the output can include the maintaining of desired DC power and linearity. The Doherty power amplifier can be used in a satellite payload or other application utilizing solid state power amplifiers, while providing the proper amount of RF output power and DC power. A single amplifier can have its bias levels adjusted for different output levels, helping to minimize the number of designs that are required for a given satellite payload, reducing the variety of parts in a satellite payload.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a wheel assembly (1) comprising a wheel, a deformable chamber (6) containing a transition substance (15) comprising jamming particles and an interstitial gas, and an actuator (14) configured to transform the transition substance (15) between a fluid state in which the deformable chamber (6) can deform into a conformal state as the wheel encounters an obstacle during use, and a rigid state by evacuation of the interstitial gas in which the transition substance is rigidified to maintain the deformable chamber (6) in said conformal state to provide increased purchase on said obstacle.

Abstract: A perforated metal honeycomb structure is described. The perforated metal honeycomb structure may include a metal honeycomb structure having a plurality of laser-drilled holes wherein at least some of the plurality of holes are non-uniform in second, shape, and/or spacing between holes. In another embodiment, the perforated metal honeycomb structure may include an array of intercellular holes between hexagonal cells in the honeycomb structure. The array of intercellular holes may include at least a first hole and a second wherein the first and second holes are different from each other.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a wheel assembly (1) comprising a wheel, the wheel having a hub and a rim concentrically mounted to the hub, a plurality of deformable chambers (6) disposed outwardly of the rim, each chamber extending about a discreet portion of the wheel and containing a transition substance (15), and an actuator (14) configured to transform the transition substance (15) within each chamber (6) between a fluid state in which the deformable chamber (6) can deform into a conformal state as the wheel encounters an obstacle during use, and a rigid state in which the transition substance is rigidified to maintain the deformable chamber (6) in said conformal state to provide increased purchase on said obstacle.