Abstract: An autonomous flapping wing aerial vehicle can have a vehicle body, a pair of flapping wings, tunable wing hinges, and elastic drive mechanisms. The tunable wing hinges can be coupled to the flapping wings. Each wing hinge can be constructed to deliver a force to a respective one of the flapping wings to alter end points of a stroke thereof. The elastic drive mechanisms can rotate the flapping wings about pivot points to produce the strokes of the flapping wings. The elastic drive mechanism can be driven at or near a resonance thereof. Alterations to the strokes of the flapping wings produced by the combined effect of the tunable wing hinges and the elastic drive mechanisms, operating in parallel, can provide steering control of the aerial vehicle.

Abstract: An approach for increasing transmission throughput of a non-linear wireless channel, and efficient decoding of the transmitted signal via a simplified receiver, is provided. A signal reflects a source signal, and includes linear inter-symbol interference based on a faster-than-Nyquist signaling rate and a tight frequency roll-off, and non-linear interference based on high-power amplification for transmission over the wireless channel. The signal is received over a non-linear wireless channel, and is processed via a plurality of decoding iterations. A set of soft information of a current decoding iteration is generated based on a current estimate of the source signal and a final set of soft information from a previous decoding iteration. The current estimate of the source signal is based on an estimate of the linear ISI and the non-linear interference, which is based on the final set of soft information from the previous decoding iteration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ACM trajectory include receiving data at a communications receiver; decoding the received data based on a selected MODCOD; monitoring a number of iterations used to decode the data using the selected MODCOD; comparing the number of iterations used to decode the data using the first selected MODCOD to a reference number of iterations; and adjusting a SNR threshold value for the selected MODCOD where the number of iterations used to decode the data using the first selected MODCOD is greater than the reference number of iterations.

Abstract: A receive planar phased array antenna on a communications platform is used to estimate a pointing error of the antenna and to orient the antenna boresight towards the transmitter.

Abstract: A radio frequency waveguide is disclosed. The radio frequency waveguide includes: a dielectric including an exterior input surface, an exterior output surface and other exterior surfaces; and a metal disposed on the other exterior surfaces of the dielectric, wherein the dielectric is voidless and adapted to propagate radio frequency radiation from the exterior input surface to the exterior output surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide techniques for reducing quantization errors and side lobe levels in phased array antennas. The states of a quantized phase shifter of a phased array antenna may be dithered to achieve a time-averaged value that reduces quantization errors. By rapidly switching between the different states of the quantized phase shifter, a time-average value close to a desired phase state may be achieved with a low resolution phase shifter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for retaining a removable module (such as a memory card) in engagement with an interface structure of a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB is coupled to a tray, wherein the module is positioned between the PCB and the tray. The tray includes one or more forms configured to receive the module, and prevent the module from moving out of engagement with the interface structure of the PCB. A first form includes a depressed region formed in the tray, wherein the module is fitted within the depressed region. A slot, which extends through the tray, may be located adjacent to the depressed region, wherein an edge of the slot restricts movement of the module. A second form may include a raised lip, which is located adjacent to the module, and restricts movement of the module.

Abstract: Methods and systems for treating skin, such as stretch marks through deep tissue tightening with ultrasound are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a therapeutic ultrasound system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a shallow tissue region, such as a region comprising an epidermis, a dermis or a deep dermis. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a therapeutic ultrasound system can be configured to achieve depth with a conformal selective deposition of ultrasound energy without damaging an intervening tissue. In addition, a therapeutic ultrasound can also be configured in combination with ultrasound imaging or imaging/monitoring capabilities, either separately configured with imaging, therapy and monitoring systems or any level of integration thereof.

Abstract: A method and system for providing ultrasound treatment to a tissue that contains a lower part of dermis and proximal protrusions of fat lobuli into the dermis. An embodiment delivers ultrasound energy to the region creating a thermal injury and coagulating the proximal protrusions of fat lobuli, thereby eliminating the fat protrusions into the dermis. An embodiment can also include ultrasound imaging configurations using the same or a separate probe before, after or during the treatment. In addition various therapeutic levels of ultrasound can be used to increase the speed at which fat metabolizes. Additionally the mechanical action of ultrasound physically breaks fat cell clusters and stretches the fibrous bonds. Mechanical action will also enhance lymphatic drainage, stimulating the evacuation of fat decay products.

Abstract: A system and method for filtering code blocks to maintain high throughput thru a Forward Error Correcting (FEC) decoder is disclosed. The method includes: monitoring a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for an incoming link; selecting a rank table including a rank, Modulation and Coding Rate (MODCOD), and a minimum SNR; determining a threshold MODCOD range from the rank table based on the SNR; demodulating an incoming frame; identifying, in the incoming frame, the code blocks and an associated MODCOD for each of the code blocks; selecting a code block from the code blocks when the respective MODCOD for the code block is in the rank table and within the threshold MODCOD range; and decoding the selected code block with the associated MODCOD.

Abstract: A fuel deck for on-board storage and delivery of gaseous fuel for a locomotive. The fuel deck is formed between the engine deck and the trucks of the locomotive. The fuel deck includes a base for riding on the trucks, a ceiling configured to separate the fuel deck from the engine deck, and one or more support structures extending between the base and the ceiling. The support structures are configured to support the load from the engine deck, and separate the base from the ceiling to form a fuel storage compartment that is adapted to store one or more fuel tanks that contain the gaseous fuel. A fuel system including one or more fuel tanks is also provided, where each fuel tank may have more than one inlet/outlet port for enabling faster refilling or distribution of the gaseous fuel, among other considerations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stabilizing an aircraft in response to a yaw movement are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a yaw movement of the aircraft. The yaw movement can cause a front portion of the aircraft to move towards a first side of the aircraft. The method can further include, in response to the yaw movement, initiating a trim process resulting in a thrust differential. The trim process can include increasing thrust in one or more engines on the first side of the aircraft and decreasing thrust in one or more engines on a second side of the aircraft. The method can include controlling the trim process based at least in part on a detected yaw movement of the aircraft.

Abstract: A method of operating a video camera includes capturing a scene of imaging data using the video camera, wherein the imaging data is characterized by a first bit depth and processing the imaging data to provide display data characterized by a second bit depth less than the first bit depth. The method also includes framing the imaging data and the display data and outputting the framed imaging and display data.

Abstract: A battery is provided comprising a plurality of cylindrical type cells. Three cylindrical cells may be arranged in a triangular configuration with an electrical isolation spacer positioned between the three cylindrical cells, and a casing may be wrapped around the cells to restrict relative movement of the cells forming a cell group. Multiple cells groups, separated by electrical isolation spacers, may be electrically coupled via bus bars and arranged to form a cell module, where multiple cell modules may be included in the battery, and where the cell modules may be electrically coupled via inter-module connectors.

Abstract: There is disclosed a battery module that includes a housing. At least one terminal is melt joined with the bus member of the housing sealing the terminal relative to the bus member and providing a conductive path to an interior of the battery module. The terminal may be melt joined in an ultrasonic joining operation or in a thermal insertion operation. A plurality of cells are disposed in the housing with each of the cells electrically coupled via bus bars integrated into a bus member. Each of the cells includes a plurality of positive and negative electrodes that are spaced by a separator. The negative electrode includes a substrate having tab meeting at a flange that is connected to an active material portion of the electrode. The positive electrode includes a substrate having a tab meeting at a flange that is connected to an active material portion of the electrode.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recording streaming audio and video by directing an incoming audio visual stream to a discrete memory region serving as a virtual display. The virtual display is configured with a section visible to the viewer and a section invisible to the viewer, wherein a streaming video is hidden from the user's display under all conditions. The user's browser is pre-loaded with hooks to redirect the video portion of the stream to the invisible section of the virtual memory wherein a video capture tool specifically designed to interact with the hooks can now recognize each function call, and intercept each frame as it is rendered in the GPU. Concurrently, the audio portion of the stream is remapped using an audio indexing application. The GPU framebuffers and audio sinks are multiplexed together and saved to disk. The file is immediately accessible for playback or copying.

Abstract: The invention relates to a down-hole device for measuring steam flow and quality in a well, said device comprising an elongate tube-like housing, a power supply, a spinner arranged at the down-hole end of the housing, two pressure sensors arranged at a distance h to each other at the periphery of the housing, and data storage means.