Abstract: A method of preparing a composite article including providing a first bias assembly with a first bias roll; providing a first non-bias assembly with a first non-bias roll; positioning the first bias assembly to a dispensing position; dispensing a bias ply from the first bias roll along a bias path on a mold; cutting the bias ply; positioning the first non-bias assembly to a dispensing position; dispensing a non-bias ply from the first non-bias roll; and cutting the non-bias ply; wherein the bias path and the non-bias path are substantially parallel.

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 above the engine and oriented in a downward-facing direction. The nozzle has at least one opening and is configured to allow liquid to drain out of the at least one opening instead of allowing the liquid to flow into the at least one agent tube. The nozzle may have a chamfer opening that faces downward.

Abstract: The current disclosure describes a cloaking system for an aircraft. 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: Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for providing a control link for an aircraft in which the control link comprises an impact-resistant structure with a redundant load path. The control link has an inner structure that is sized to carry the anticipated load of the flight control system and to meet all safety factors. The control link also has an outer structure that is sacrificial and configured to absorb impact damage during operation, thereby protecting the inner structure. The outer structure is also designed to carry the anticipated load of the flight control system on its own, independent of the inner structure, and to meet all safety factors. If the outer structure fails, the inner structure allows for continued safe operation of the flight control system. The space or cavity between the inner and outer structures may be filled with a material, such as a closed-cell foam, to improve the impact resistance of the outer structure.

Abstract: A pitch horn assembly for an aircraft comprises a pitch horn rotatably coupled to a connector pin along a first axis using a first set of spherical bearings. The connector pin is rotatably coupled to a housing along a second axis using a second set of spherical bearings. A crank is fixedly coupled to the connector pin, wherein the pitch horn and the crank are configured to commonly rotate relative to the housing.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for providing light communication (LC) for an aircraft. An LC transmitter is mounted on an aircraft fuselage and is configured to broadcast light signals within a defined region outside the aircraft. An LC receiver mounted on the aircraft fuselage is configured to receive light signals broadcast by a remote LC device. A controller is configured to manage LC signals in the aircraft, and an interface is provided between the controller and an aircraft data network. The light signals may be in a visible light spectrum, an invisible light spectrum, or both. The remote LC device may be, for example, a ground station, an aircraft, a ground vehicle, a ship, a building, or a portable transmitter.

Abstract: A coaxial rotor system for a rotorcraft includes a mast, a top rotor assembly and a bottom rotor assembly. The top rotor assembly is coupled to the distal end of the mast. The bottom rotor assembly includes a motor configured to provide rotational energy to the mast, thereby rotating the top rotor assembly. The bottom rotor assembly experiences a torque reaction force responsive to the motor rotating the mast such that the top and bottom rotor assemblies counter rotate.

Abstract: A rotor hub assembly that includes a yoke configured to attach blades thereto, a universal joint configured to attach to, and transmit forces between, a mast and the yoke, and an elastomeric member configured to attenuate vibrations transmitted from the universal joint to the mast.

Abstract: A tail sitter aircraft includes a fuselage having a forward portion, an aft portion and a longitudinally extending fuselage axis. At least two wings are supported by the forward portion of the fuselage. A distributed propulsion system includes at least one propulsion assembly operably associated with each fixed wing and is operable to provide forward thrust during forward flight and vertical thrust during vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing. A tailboom assembly extends from the aft portion of the fuselage and includes a plurality of rotatably mounted tail arms having control surfaces and landing members. In a forward flight configuration, the tail arms are radially retracted to reduce tail surface geometry and provide yaw and pitch control with the control surfaces. In a landing configuration, the tail arms are radially extended relative to the fuselage axis to form a stable ground contact base with the landing members.

Abstract: A rotor system for a rotorcraft includes a rotor hub having a plurality of blade grips coupled thereto. Each blade grip has a rotor blade coupled thereto. A fairing is disposed at least partially around the rotor hub. Each of a plurality of lead-lag dampers is coupled to at least a respective one of the blade grips. Each lead-lag damper has a damper heat exchanger and a fluid pump operably associated therewith. A fairing heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the damper heat exchangers and the fluid pumps. Each lead-lag damper is configured to drive the respective fluid pump responsive to damping operations to pump a cooling fluid from the respective damper heat exchanger to the fairing heat exchanger.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for increasing the safety of unmanned vehicles. Failure rates of components can be combined and adjusted if necessary given sensor data or statistical or historical data that impacts failure rates. The failure rates of components can be combined to give an overall failure or success rate for a vehicle and can be compared to an accepted failure or success rate in connection with a hazard. Hazards with heightened safety requirements can be avoided by a contingency maneuver if the unmanned vehicle's failure or success rate is not acceptable.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a flight control system for a helicopter comprises a pilot interface configured to receive a control input, at least one electronically controlled actuator, and a computing device configured to translate the control input to an actuator command, wherein the computing device is further configured to apply yaw rate limits to the actuator command to avoid loss of tail rotor effectiveness. The yaw rate limits are associated with a vortex ring state (VRS) envelope for a tail rotor of the helicopter. The electronically controlled actuator comprises a tail rotor actuator. The control input is a pedal input.

Abstract: A compliant tail structure for a rotorcraft having rotating components and a fuselage. The tail structure includes a tail assembly having first and second oppositely disposed tail members. A tail joint connects the tail assembly to an aft portion of the fuselage. The tail joint includes at least four tail mounts configured to establish a nodding axis for the tail assembly. At least two of the tail mounts are resilient tail mounts that are configured to establish a nodding degree of freedom for the tail assembly relative to the fuselage about the nodding axis, thereby detuning dynamic fuselage responses from excitation frequencies generated by the rotating components.

Abstract: A motor assembly is described and includes a housing; a plurality of motors disposed within the housing; and a drive shaft comprising a plurality of interconnected drive shaft segments, wherein each one of the drive shaft segments is driven by a different one of the motors connected to the drive shaft segment via an integrated overrunning clutch.

Abstract: There is disclosed a molding assembly including a mold having a first surface and an opposed second surface. The mold defines a cavity bounded by two side walls converging toward each other from the first surface toward the second surface. Two mandrels are each removably receivable in the cavity and have a first wall, a second wall opposed to the first wall, an inner wall, and an outer wall opposed to the inner wall. The inner walls face each other and define a gap therebetween for receiving a composite material to be cured. The outer walls are angled and each slidably engage a respective one of the two side walls. A method of co-curing a stiffener and a panel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gearbox system for a rotorcraft includes a gearbox housing, an oil pump receiving bore formed into the gearbox housing and having formed therein a first opening having a first diameter and a second opening, and an oil pump positioned within the oil pump receiving bore. The second opening is bounded by a lip that extends radially into the second opening, the second opening having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter.

Abstract: An exemplary static rotor blade assembly balancing tool includes a vertical rod having a top end with a tip located at the top end on a vertical axis of the rod and a sleeve having a bore terminating at a socket, in use the rod is disposed in the bore and the tip and the socket form a pivot connection where the sleeve is balanced to settle in a level position with a vertical axis of the sleeve coaxial with the vertical axis of the rod, and the sleeve has an outer profile configured to mount a hub of a rotor blade assembly.

Abstract: A ducted-rotor aircraft may include a fuselage and first and second ducts that are coupled to the fuselage at respective first and second locations. The first location may be on a first side of a fuselage of the aircraft and spaced from a nominal yaw axis of the aircraft. The second location may be on an opposed second side of the fuselage and spaced from the nominal yaw axis. Each duct may include a rotor that is disposed in an opening that extends through the duct. Each rotor may include a plurality of blades. Each duct may further include a control vane that is mounted aft of the plurality of blades and that is pivotable about a vane axis that is oriented toward the nominal yaw axis.

Abstract: An inflatable pod assembly for an aircraft includes an expandable exoskeleton. The expandable exoskeleton defines a leading edge and a trailing edge of the inflatable pod assembly, and the expandable exoskeleton includes first and second portions selectively attachable to each other. The inflatable pod assembly also includes an internal cargo area configured to receive cargo, and the first and second portions are configured to selectively enclose the internal cargo area when the first and second portions are attached to each other. The inflatable pod assembly further includes an internal inflation chamber configured to selectively receive an inflation fluid for expanding the exoskeleton to thereby transition the inflatable pod assembly from a deflated state to an inflated state.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an aircraft includes a pilot input device, a position sensor coupled to the pilot input device, a flight condition sensor and a flight control computer (FCC). The FCC includes a first microprocessor and a second microprocessor. The first microprocessor is configured to receive input data from the position sensor and the condition sensor and determine therefrom a first output. The second microprocessor is configured to receive input data from the position sensor and the condition sensor and determine therefrom a second output. The FCC is configured to compare the first output and the second output to yield resultant data. Responsive to a determination that the first output and the second output do not match, the FCC is configured to execute first remediation logic if the resultant data satisfies first error criteria and to execute second remediation logic if the resultant data satisfies second error criteria.