Abstract: An enclosed space, such as a lavatory within an internal cabin of a vehicle, includes one or both of: (a) a toilet moveably secured to one or both of a floor or one or more walls, wherein the toilet is configured to be moved between a toilet deployed position and a toilet retracted position, and/or (b) a sink moveably secured to one or both of the floor or the one or more walls, wherein the sink is configured to be moved between a sink deployed position and a sink retracted position.

Abstract: A system for calibrating a camera for use aboard a fuel-supplying aircraft (“tanker”) for an automated air-to-air refueling (“A3R”) process in which the tanker offloads aviation fuel to a fuel-receiving aircraft (“receiver”) includes an electronic control unit having a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium on which is recorded instructions for calibrating the camera. Executing the instructions causes the processor to perform a corresponding method, i.e., to receive boom position data indicative a true position of the boom in free space, and real-time image data from the camera. The instructions also cause the processor to use the boom position data and a 3D model of the boom to project a digital representation of the boom into the image space. The processor then minimizes a difference between the projected and real images of the boom to thereby calibrate the camera.

Abstract: A machining system includes a robotic manipulator, a master-side automated tool changer, a master-side data transmission connector, and a plurality of end effectors. Each of the end effectors includes a machine tool, a tool-side automated tool changer coupleable to the master-side automated tool changer, and a tool-side data transmission connector coupleable to the master-side data transmission connector. A controller is in communication with the master-side automated tool changer and the master-side data transmission connector.

Abstract: Wing assemblies (100) comprise one or more wing support structures (24), an inboard-most flap (32), one or more flap supports (28) that operatively couple the inboard-most flap (32) to the one or more wing support structures (24), and one or more flap actuators (31) configured to operatively move the inboard-most flap (32) relative to the one or more flap supports (28). The flap support(s) (28) comprise at least an inboard-most inboard-flap support (106), the flap actuator(s) (31) comprise at least an inboard-most inboard-flap actuator (108) that is outboard of the inboard edge (102) of the inboard-most flap (32), and the inboard-most inboard-flap actuator (108) is spaced-away from the inboard-most inboard-flap support (106).

Abstract: One embodiment comprises a method of operating a robotic system. The method comprises defining a Tool Center Point (TCP) for an end effector of the robotic system, providing a primary control plan that defines a tool path for the end effector, where the tool path has a plurality of pre-defined TCP positions. The method further comprises providing a secondary control plan that defines operation of the end effector at the plurality of pre-defined TCP positions, and determining a deviation between a pre-defined TCP position of the end effector and an actual TCP position of the end effector during implementation of the primary control plan by the robotic system. The method further comprises modifying the secondary control plan for the end effector based on the deviation during the implementation of the primary control plan by the robotic system.

Abstract: Structurally integrated energy supply systems for aircraft and methods of forming the structurally integrated energy supply systems. The structurally integrated energy supply systems include an aircraft structural component, a cell array, and a plurality of energy-producing inserts. The aircraft structural component at least partially defines an interior region. The cell array includes a plurality of cell walls that defies a plurality of elongate cell volumes and is positioned within the interior region. Each energy-producing insert in the plurality of energy-producing inserts is positioned within a corresponding elongate cell volume in the plurality of elongate cell volumes and is configured to produce a corresponding insert electric current. The cell array provides structural load distribution to the aircraft structural component via the plurality of cell walls and contributes to a structural stiffness of the aircraft structural component.

Abstract: Vehicle cabin structures comprising vehicle structure panels with embedded or associated lighting for producing changing and visually detected illuminated images appearing within the vehicle structure panels are disclosed with methods of their manufacture.

Abstract: Methods of hardening a case-nitrided metal article, methods of producing a hardened case-nitrided metal article, and hardened case-nitrided metal articles. The methods of hardening a case-nitrided metal article include heating the case-nitrided metal article to an aging temperature, maintaining the case-nitrided metal article at the aging temperature for an aging time, and cooling the case-nitrided metal article from the aging temperature. The methods of producing a hardened case-nitrided metal article include case-nitriding a metal article to produce a case-nitrided metal article and subsequently hardening the case-nitrided metal article. The hardened case-nitrided metal article comprises a body formed of a metal or a metal alloy, a surface surrounding the body, and a nitrided case layer formed in the body and extending inwardly from the surface of the body toward the core that includes a hardness that is greater than that of an otherwise equivalent case-nitrided metal article.

Abstract: A breather used for vacuum bag compaction of a composite laminate part is semi-permanently installed on a compaction tool. The breather is a channel member having an internal passageway that routes air and volatiles from the vacuum bag to a vacuum port in the tool.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system and method include an additive manufacturing head including an energy emitter that is configured to emit energy into a material to form one or more portions of a component. An ultrasonic laser emitter is configured to emit ultrasonic laser energy onto a portion of the material to generate ultrasonic waves in relation to the portion of the material. The ultrasonic waves control development of one or both of microstructure or size of grains in relation to the portion of the material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for preparing a surface comprising thermoplastic or thermoset material to receive a polysulfide or polythioether sealant or coating, the method comprising applying to the surface an activating composition consisting of a tetraalkoxide of a Group 4 metal, a complex of an alkoxide of a Group 4 metal, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An electronically steerable phased array and switching network connected to an FMCW radar transceiver to enable a low-cost monopulse tracking system that covers a wide field of regard using electronic beam steering. In a first mode, beamformer integrated circuits (BFICs) at each element in the array are switched synchronously with transmit/receive (T/R) switches located at the subarray level. This allows the entire aperture to be switched between transmission and reception, enabling the FMCW radar transceiver to be operated in a pulsed configuration. In a second mode, a portion of the T/R switches at the subarray level and all of the connecting BFICs at the element level are fixed in either transmitting or receiving mode, allowing separate portions of the aperture to concurrently transmit or receive. The arrangement of transmitting and receiving subarrays can be dynamically reconfigured to allow for accurate bearing and azimuth estimation using alternating monopulse.

Abstract: Nut plate grippers, end effectors that include nut plate grippers, robots that include end effectors, installation systems that include robots, and related methods are disclosed herein. The end effectors include a nut plate gripper, a rivet holder, and a yoke that defines a nut plate gripper side and a rivet holder side. The nut plate gripper is operatively attached to the nut plate gripper side of the yoke. The rivet holder is operatively attached to the rivet holder side of the yoke such that the nut plate gripper and the rivet holder define a structure-receiving region therebetween. The nut plate gripper is configured to grip the nut plate. The rivet holder is configured to selectively retain a plurality of rivet heads of a plurality of corresponding rivets. The robots include the end effector. The installation systems include the robot. The methods include methods of utilizing nut plate installation systems.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optical imaging and scanning of holes machined, drilled or otherwise formed in a substrate made of composite or metallic material. The method utilizes an optical instrument for imaging and scanning a hole in combination with an image processor configured (e.g., programmed) to post-process the image data to generate one complete planarized image without conical optical distortion. The optical instrument includes an optical microscope with confocal illumination and a conical mirror axially positioned to produce a full 360-degree sub-image with conical distortion. In the post-processing step, a mathematical transformation in the form of computer-executable code is used to transform the raw conical sub-images to planar sub-images. The planarized sub-images may be stitched together to form a complete planarized image of the hole.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include compositions and methods of making and use thereof. In at least one aspect, a composition, includes a polyaniline and a polysiloxane having a density of about 1.05 g/cm3 or greater. The composition optionally includes a solvent. In at least one aspect, a method includes introducing a polyaniline with a polysiloxane having a density of about 1.05 g/cm3 or greater to form a composition. In at least one aspect, a method includes disposing a composition onto a substrate. The composition includes a polyaniline and a polysiloxane having a density of about 1.05 g/cm3 or greater.

Abstract: A method is provided for supporting flight operations of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft in an urban air mobility (UAM) environment that includes a vertiport. The method includes accessing first observed weather data obtained by sensors located on-site at the vertiport and second observed weather data obtained by sensors onboard VTOL aircraft. A data fusion is performed to integrate the first observed weather data and the second observed weather data to produce a collection of weather data that describes the weather in an environment of the vertiport, and an environment of the VTOL aircraft. And a weather map is produced based on the collection of weather data, the weather map illustrating one or more meteorological features of the weather in the environment of the vertiport and/or the VTOL aircraft, the weather map produced for use in supporting flight operations of the VTOL aircraft.

Abstract: A computing device, a method and a computer program product are provided to generate realistic synthetic image data that is utilized to train, test and/or deploy a computer vision model, such as to recognize an object from an image, to identify a visual anomaly in the object from an image of the object or the like. In the context of a method, a plurality of computer generated three-dimensional (3D) models of an object are generated. The method also generates realistic synthetic image data representative of each of the plurality of computer generated 3D models. The realistic synthetic image data is generated by utilizing a first machine learning model trained with pairs of computer generated synthetic image data and real image data of the object. The method further trains, tests or deploys the computer vision model to recognize the object from an image based upon the realistic synthetic image data.

Abstract: An example system includes at least two transceivers configured to be coupled to an interior of a cargo compartment of an aircraft, and to detect radio frequency identification (RFID) signals from an RFID tag coupled to baggage stored in the cargo compartment. The system also includes a processor configured to perform operations including receiving the signals detected by the transceivers. The operations also include based on runtimes of the signals, determining a respective distance from the baggage to each transceiver, where the respective distance defines a boundary centered at a known location of the transceiver and along which the baggage is estimated to be located relative to the transceiver. The operations also include identifying locations at which the boundaries of the transceivers intersect and, based on the locations, detecting an estimated storage location of the baggage. The operations also include controlling a display device to display the estimated storage location.

Abstract: A method of preconditioning time-series data for improved efficiency. The method includes repeatedly recognizing new time series entries for each of a plurality of tracked entities. For each of the plurality of tracked entities, a new time-series data entry for the tracked entity is promoted responsive to the new time-series data entry including a changed value in a normalized field. However, a previous time-series data entry for the tracked entity is maintained responsive to the new time-series data entry including an unchanged value in the normalized field. The method further incudes generating a synthetic time-series data entry for every tracked entity without a time-series data entry in a fixed time period.

Abstract: An air distribution coupling interface is configured to removably secure to a floor of an internal cabin of a vehicle. The air distribution coupling interface includes a main tube extending between an air inlet port and an air outlet port. The air inlet port is configured to couple to one or more conduits that are in fluid communication with an air distribution system. A securing flange is configured to removably secure the air distribution coupling interface to the floor of the internal cabin. The air outlet port is configured to deliver airflow provided by the air distribution system.