Abstract: A cloaking system for an aircraft is provided. Cameras on the aircraft can detect background colors during flight. Electroluminescent paint on the aircraft can be powered on that resembles the background color. The color and luminescence of the aircraft will allow for dynamic cloaking unachievable by prior art camouflage paint colors.

Abstract: A landing guidance system for an aircraft is described and includes at least one receiver for installation on the aircraft, the at least one receiver configured to receive signals emitted by a plurality of emitters associated with a landing area; and a processing system for processing the received signals to determine at least one of a location, a distance, an orientation, a configuration, and a geometry of the landing area relative to the aircraft.

Abstract: A method for determining a cleaning strategy for cleaning a surface to be cleaned of a motor vehicle. The surface to be cleaned is selected in dependence of a cleaning mode. A sensor is operatively connected to the surface to be cleaned. The sensor exhibits an actual availability. The cleaning strategy exhibits a control quantity setpoint defining a cleaning process for the surface to be cleaned. Moreover, the method relates to a cleaning method, a use of a cleaning strategy, a cleaning system and a motor vehicle.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a rotorcraft comprising an airframe having an engine compartment, an engine disposed within the engine compartment, at least one fire bottle configured to hold a fire extinguishing agent, at least one agent tube coupled to the fire bottle and configured to carry the fire extinguishing agent to the engine compartment, and a nozzle on the at least one agent tube, the nozzle positioned below the engine and oriented in a upward-facing direction. The nozzle has at least one opening that is closed by a spring-loaded valve.

Abstract: A system includes a first sensor configured facilitate detecting a location of a golf cart, a second sensor configured to facilitate detecting tee shots taken at a tee box of a golf course, and a control system. The control system is configured to detect that the location of the golf cart is proximate a tee box area for the tee box, detect one or more tee shots at the tee box, record one or more tee shot timestamps associated with the one or more tee shots, detect when the golf cart leaves the tee box area, identify a respective tee shot timestamp of the one or more tee shot timestamps associated with a respective tee shot of the one or more tee shots immediately preceding the golf cart leaving the tee box area, and set the respective tee shot timestamp as a start of play for the golf cart.

Abstract: A position locking apparatus for a seat includes a track, a lock housing, a piston, a shaft, and a cam. The track has track teeth. The lock housing has a slot. The piston has piston teeth on a first distal end, which is configured to slide in the slot. The cam is attached to the shaft and the shaft pivotably couples with the lock housing. The cam is configured to contact a second distal end of the piston to press the piston towards the track such that the piston teeth engage with the track teeth to lock a position of the track relative to the piston and the lock housing in response to the cam being pivoted in a first angular direction via the shaft.

Abstract: A rotorcraft includes a drive shaft coupled to an engine; a sprag clutch coupled the drive shaft; and an output shaft coupled to the sprag clutch, wherein the sprag clutch physically contacts a first contact surface of the output shaft during operation, wherein a first cross-sectional thickness of the output shaft near the middle of the first contact surface is greater than a second cross-sectional thickness of the output shaft near a first edge of the first contact surface.

Abstract: A wing for an aircraft includes a first end, a second end, and a skin extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end. The wing also includes at least one channel positioned within the skin and extending longitudinally between the first and second ends. The at least one channel defines a longitudinal translation path for translating at least one electrical power source longitudinally between the first and second ends.

Abstract: An aircraft has a seat that has at least one of (1) a nonplanar back surface profile and a touch sensitive film display system carried by the seat and configured to conform to the nonplanar back surface profile and (2) a privacy screen selectively stowed within an interior of the seat. An aircraft has a pilot seat, a passenger seat disposed aft relative to the pilot seat, and a holographic display system configured to project a holographic image in a space between the pilot seat and the passenger seat.

Abstract: A battery cell assembly, including a rolled cell formed from a first electrode and a second electrode rolled together about a longitudinal axis. The rolled cell includes a primary section in which the first electrode and the second electrode overlap in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis, and a first extension end extending from a first longitudinal end of the primary section and formed from a first edge section of the first electrode. The first edge section includes a first folded portion folded to contact an adjacent portion of the first edge section. The battery cell assembly further includes a first end cap coupled to the rolled cell and contacting the first folded portion.

Abstract: A stairway for aircraft is disclosed which includes first and second stair halves, one which nests in the other. The first half is hinged to the doorway and the second half is hinged to the first half. A mechanical resistance system uses different devices to allow for the airstair to be damped when switching between modes. A retracting arrangement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes measuring a first rotational speed of a first element of a sprag clutch of a rotorcraft, measuring a second rotational speed of a second element of the sprag clutch, determining if the sprag clutch is in an overrunning condition, wherein the determining is based on the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed, generating an estimation of an instantaneous wear rate of the sprag clutch, wherein the estimation of the instantaneous wear rate is generated based on the first rotational speed and the second rotational speed, and displaying an indication of the estimation of the instantaneous wear rate of the sprag clutch. The method includes generating an estimation of an accumulated wear of the sprag clutch, wherein the estimation of the accumulated wear is based on the estimation of the instantaneous wear rate, and displaying an indication of the estimation of the accumulated wear.

Abstract: A telescoping tail assembly for use on an aircraft that has a fore-aft length. The telescoping tail assembly includes a housing extending in an aftward direction and a tailboom slidable along the housing into various positions including an extended position and a retracted position. A jackscrew is coupled to the tailboom. An actuator is coupled to the jackscrew and is configured to selectively rotate the jackscrew to translate the tailboom between the plurality of positions. The tailboom has one or more control surfaces coupled thereto. The tailboom increases the fore-aft length of the aircraft in the extended position and decreases the fore-aft length of the aircraft in the retracted position.

Abstract: A rotor-blade weight-carrier system includes a weight carrier positioned within a rotor blade and a plurality of weights positioned within the weight carrier.

Abstract: A vehicle transaxle comprising a plurality of mounting flanges fixedly mountable to an axle tube of the vehicle absent any additional structure for mounting the transaxle to the vehicle. The axle tube houses a wheel axle to which the transaxle is operably couplable. The transaxle additionally comprises a transaxle mounting collar that is fixedly mounted to or integrally formed with a housing of the transaxle. The mounting collar is structured and operable to have a prime mover of the vehicle mounted thereto and to support the weight/mass of the prime mover such that the prime mover is mountable to the vehicle via only the mounting collar absent any additional structure for mounting the prime mover to the vehicle such that the prime mover can be cantilevered from (e.g., suspended from) the transaxle, e.g., the prime mover is ‘free floating’.

Abstract: One embodiment is a control system for a vehicle cutting system, the vehicle cutting system comprising a cutting unit connected to a lift arm of a lift system via a yoke, the lift system comprising a lift actuator for lifting and lowering the lift arm, the cutting unit and the yoke. The control system comprising a sensor for sensing a displacement of the yoke from a nominal position relative to a central support of the yoke and for generating a displacement signal indicative of the sensed displacement; and a controller for processing the displacement signal and adjusting a position of the lift actuator based on the processing.

Abstract: A rotorcraft propulsion system includes a mast coupled to a rotor assembly, a gear coupled to the mast, the gear during use producing an axial reaction force, a flexure shaft extending from the gear, where the flexure shaft does not rotate with the gear and the flexure shaft flexes in response to radial loads from the gear, and a load cell on the flexure shaft to measure the axial reaction force.

Abstract: An aircraft-transport skid system includes a first outer frame rail, a second outer frame rail, a first lower inner frame rail, a second lower inner frame rail, and a plurality of lateral support rails connecting the first outer frame rail, the second outer frame rail, the first lower inner frame rail, and the second lower inner frame rail.