Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, a main entry door with an associated passenger loading zone, an auxiliary power unit (APU) in the fuselage, and an APU inlet assembly. The APU inlet assembly has an inlet duct, and inlet door, and means for redirecting sound waves coupled to or integrated with an interior side of the inlet door. The inlet duct has a first end coupled to the APU, and a second end associated with the inlet door. The inlet door moves between a closed position and an open position. The means for redirecting sound waves is positioned at a particular location on the interior side of the inlet door, and includes certain acoustic features and characteristics. The particular location and the acoustic features and characteristics cooperate to redirect sound waves generated by the APU away from the passenger loading zone when the inlet door is in the open position.

Abstract: An exhaust nozzle assembly includes, but is not limited to, a nozzle body configured to be fluidly coupled with an engine and to receive a jet produced by the engine. An outer cover covers the nozzle body. A movable component is disposed and configured to have an effect on either the jet or an exhaust plume when the movable component moves. A linkage is coupled to the movable component and adapted for coupling to an actuator. The linkage transmits the force to the moveable component from the actuator. There is a gap between an inner surface of the outer cover and an outer surface of the nozzle body. The linkage is smaller than the actuator. The gap is smaller than a smallest dimension of the actuator and larger than the linkage. The linkage is partially disposed within the gap, and the exhaust nozzle assembly is free of the actuator.

Abstract: The aircraft threat envelope protection system employs a threat envelope data structure in a computer-readable medium that stores at least one trigger condition for each of a plurality of different types of threats associated with the aircraft, and modeled using a common schema. A processor computes plural different projected trajectories representing different possible aircraft paths through spacetime. The processor associates at least some of the plurality of the threats to specific trigger points in spacetime along each of the projected trajectories. The processor will deprecate ones of the projected trajectories when they are deemed not viable to recover from a threat. The processor initiates an aircraft protective response when all projected trajectories but one have been deprecated and the aircraft is within a predetermined proximity to the closest trigger point in spacetime along the non-deprecated trajectory.

Abstract: An input device for providing user input to a computing device includes a seat portion allowing a user to sit on the device. The input device further includes several human interface devices having positional sensors that detect changes in rotation or translation of a movable tactile surface with respect to a fixed tactile surface and provide a signal indicative thereof. These signals are used are used by a computer to change an image of virtual fixed and movable surfaces within a head mounted display.

Abstract: Energy storage radiators are disclosed. The structure of the radiator may be used as a battery to store and release energy, as well as serving to regulate the temperature of that battery and the associated device or vehicle. The structure may be configured to provide mechanical support, an enclosure, an attachment point, or an extension for a vehicle or a device. By designing an energy storage radiator to function as a battery, a separate battery superstructure may not be required. Also, the heat to be radiated away can be used to keep the battery in its operating temperature range. This may provide mass reduction of the radiator structures or materials, as well as make those materials multifunctional and replace material elsewhere with respect to conventional systems.

Abstract: Self-determined shot geometry for open-configuration portable x-ray computed tomography (CT) includes capturing one or more x-ray shot images into a computing system, and estimating an unknown constellation model and one or more shot geometries. It also includes reconstructing a volume image from the one or more captured shot images and the one or more geometries using computed tomography.

Abstract: Scalable radioisotope power tiles that can provide heat, electrical power, or both, are disclosed. Unlike conventional radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) designs, the scalable radioisotope power tiles do not necessarily seek to minimize the RTG surface area. Rather, a planar design may be used to maximize the radiative surface to increase the temperature difference (?T) and increase system heat to electricity conversion efficiency where electrical power generation is desired. In addition, such a planar design can be one-sided or two-sided, allowing for flexibility in design. For instance, such power tiles may be deployed in a material like a solar sail, on the surface of a vehicle, in terrestrial systems, etc.

Abstract: A method for self-determination of shot geometry for use in open-configuration portable x-ray computed tomography (CT) includes inputting one or more x-ray shot images into a computing system. The method also include determining, by the computing system, one or more shot geometries from the one or more inputted x-ray shot images. The method further includes reconstructing, by the computing system, a volume image from the one or more inputted x-ray shot images and the one or more shot geometries. The method also includes outputting, by the computing system, a reconstructed volume image.

Abstract: A method for enhancing movement or autonomy, including movement or flight of vehicles or flight vehicles in communication and or GPS degraded and or denied and or non-optimal environments is presented, where 3D area maps and or area maps may be employed, and 3D area maps and or area maps employed may include embedded position, location or GPS date, where the location or GPS data may be used in the present invention to determine vehicle location through image recognition, and using the GPS coordinates or location from the 3D area map of the image recognized, or measuring distance to other know aspects of a 3D area map in the real world, and context or system level information may also be used to estimate obstacle shapes and optimal routes in a potential route of travel or for understanding an area.

Abstract: A steering system for a skid steered vehicle has a variable-speed steering motor, and an asymmetrical steering differential operatively connected to the steering motor and rotatably mounted on a first side of the chassis separately from the propulsion system. The steering differential has a first differential shaft and a second differential shaft, where the asymmetrical differential imparts a greater speed change on the second differential shaft than the first differential shaft. The first differential shaft is connected to a first steering output shaft operatively connected to at least one ground-engaging element on the first side of the vehicle. A speed reducer mounted fixedly on the chassis connects the second differential shaft to a second steering output shaft operatively connected to at least one ground-engaging element on the second side of the vehicle so that the second steering output shaft experiences the same speed change but in an opposite rotational direction as the first steering output shaft.

Abstract: A propellant management device (PMD) may reduce or prevent liquid propellant from entering a thruster manifold (TM) or gas venting manifold (GVM) while allowing propellant vapor and/or gas to pass through the PMD to allow for thrust or venting.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that provides increased operational flight endurance and efficiency. The UAV includes a power generation system, which includes an internal combustion engine and one or more batteries (batteries). The power generation system is configured to generate power for propulsion of the UAV. The internal combustion engine is configured to power a lift propeller, generating vertical lift of the UAV, and the batteries are configured to power a micro-propeller assembly, propelling the UAV in a forward direction or multiple additional directions.

Abstract: A reclining seat including, but not limited to, a seat bottom; a seat back, a leg support, and an arm support forming a seat assembly. The seat assembly is configured to be supported on a floor surface and to move between an upright configuration and a flat configuration. The seat back and the leg support are transverse to the seat bottom, and the arm support is transverse to the seat back, when the seat assembly is in the upright configuration. The seat back, the seat bottom, the leg support and the arm support are each longitudinally aligned with one another when the seat assembly is in the flat configuration. An upper surface of the seat back, the seat bottom, and the leg support are each coplanar with one another and substantially coplanar with the arm support when the seat assembly is in the flat configuration.

Abstract: A throttle quadrant system for an aircraft includes: a first throttle handle to control a first engine of the aircraft, the first throttle handle having a first activatable visual indicator integrated therein; a second throttle handle to control a second engine of the aircraft, the second throttle handle comprising a second activatable visual indicator integrated therein; and at least one controller to control activation and operation of the first activatable visual indicator and the second activatable visual indicator. The at least one controller responds to first engine data related to operating status of the first engine to selectively activate the first activatable visual indicator. The at least one controller also responds to second engine data related to operating status of the second engine to selectively activate the second activatable visual indicator.

Abstract: An expanding battery mandrel includes a cylindrical cell, a cylindrical mandrel having a slit along a length of the cylindrical mandrel, and a plurality of electrolytes wrapped around the cylindrical cell. The expanding battery mandrel also includes an expander screwed inside of or inserted within the cylindrical mandrel, forcing the cylindrical mandrel to uniformly expand in a radial direction and forcing the plurality of electrolytes to compress against each other and to press against an inner wall of the cylindrical cell.

Abstract: A framework for interfacing a blockchain-based ground system with flight software and satellite orbit analysis applications is disclosed. A blockchain application (e.g., a web application) for secure management of satellites has three components—a client, a server, and a private and permissioned-based blockchain network (e.g., a Hyperledger Fabric™ network). The client allows users to configure satellite parameters. The server facilitates the communication between the client and the blockchain. The blockchain allows the secure management and storage of satellite configuration data on blockchain ledgers. For instance, SECCON provides a blockchain-based framework that can be a potential candidate for next generation ground system applications. SECCON allows secure configuration management of satellites, and has been interfaced with OpenSatKit, a software tool kit that can interact with the cFS.

Abstract: A narrowband AJ signaling system includes an AJ processor placed between a high precision analog-to-digital (ADC) converter and a narrowband digital receiver. In another example, the AJ processor is placed between the high precision ADC and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The AJ processor of either example may suppress the jammer power down to the level of the noise floor of the system.

Abstract: A lattice system for structures includes a lattice joint housing and a plurality of structural joints. Each of the plurality of structural joints have a side entry slot for insertion of keyed features on a mating lattice member. Each of the plurality of structural joints are configured to facilitate rotation of the mating lattice member, semi-permanently holding the mating lattice member in place with an electro-permanent magnetic (EPM) retaining device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing multi-objective optimizations with a relatively large number of objectives to which optimization is to be performed. The objectives of the optimization problem may be partitioned to two or more subsets (e.g., overlapping or non-overlapping subsets) of objectives, and partial optimization(s) may be performed using a subset or combination of subsets of the objectives. One or more of the partial optimizations may use one or more pareto-optimized chromosomes from a prior partial optimization. A final full optimization may be performed according to all of the objectives of the optimization problem and may use one or more chromosomes of any preceding partial optimization as a starting point for finding a final solution to the optimization problem. Any variety of processes may be employed to mitigate archive explosion that may be associated with relatively large objective sets.

Abstract: A thermal cart for in-flight distribution of consumables. An enclosure is formed by thermally insulating material, including a first side panel, a second side panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, at least one door frame, and a door in each at least one door frame. A rear panel is provided in half-size carts where only one door frame and door are provided. Full size carts ae provided where a rear door frame and rear door are provided instead of a rear panel as used in the half-size cart. The thermally insulating material may include a thermoplastic inner lining, at least one vacuum insulated panel, and an outer structural panel. A plurality of rods is provided, each having end of rod tooling. Complementary tooled structures such as binding barrels, or sleeves, or threaded holes, are provided for joining with ends of the rods. Joints may be provided and secured to locate and provide resistance for securing the rods in tension.