Abstract: A system and a method include a container configured to retain one or more liquids. A liquid level sensor is disposed within the container. The liquid level sensor includes sensing elements configured to sense a level of the one or more liquids within the container. A control unit is in communication with the liquid level sensor. The control unit is configured to determine a status of each of the sensing elements based on signals received from the sensing elements.

Abstract: A system for measuring parasitic capacitance coupling between adjacent first communication transmission line and second communication transmission line is disclosed. The system including: a parasitic tolerant capacitive based coupling measurement circuit (CBCM), the CBCM including: a capacitive auto-zeroing buffer configured to bias the second communication transmission line and displace coupling charge transferred from the first communication transmission line to a switched capacitor storage element; a capacitive trans-impedance amplifier configured to integrate displaced coupling charge onto an output voltage node; and a comparator configured to switch states once the capacitive trans-impedance amplifier integration has surpassed a reference trippoint.

Abstract: A method is provided for supporting a robot in response to a contingency event. The method includes detecting the contingency event during travel of the robot on a route to a destination. In response, the method includes determining a position of the robot, and accessing information about alternate destinations associated with the route. The method includes selecting an alternate destination from the alternate destinations based on a time to travel from the position of the robot to the alternate destination, and the information. And the method includes outputting an indication of the alternate destination for use in at least one of guidance, navigation or control of the robot to the alternate destination.

Abstract: A vacuum support system and vacuum support apparatus to support and maintain one or more workpieces via application of negative pressure. The vacuum support system includes a vacuum source and a vacuum support apparatus to support one or more workpieces thereon. The vacuum support apparatus includes a base frame and a cover member supported on the base frame. The base frame has a recessed region for fluidic communication with the vacuum source, and one or more support members arranged in the recessed region. The cover member has a gripping support surface to anchor one or more workpieces thereon via negative air pressure induced in the recessed region by the vacuum source.

Abstract: A manufacturing system to form a honeycomb core and a method of forming the same includes a sheet of fibrous material is fed into a perforation assembly. The sheet of fibrous material is perforated via the perforation assembly to form holes through the sheet of fibrous material. The sheet of fibrous material is cut to form layers. The layers are stacked on top of each other such that the holes of the layers align with each other and strips of adhesive bond the respective layers together to form a perforated stack. A coating is applied to the sheet of fibrous material at the holes. The perforated stack is expanded to form a honeycomb panel. The honeycomb panel is dipped in a solution, and the coating repels the solution. The solution adheres to the honeycomb panel except at the holes where the coating is applied to form the honeycomb core.

Abstract: A substrate for receiving a print layer includes a reinforcement layer having a first surface and optionally a second surface opposite from the first surface. A first coating layer is coupled to the first surface of the reinforcement layer. The first coating layer is configured to receive and retain the print layer. The substrate is configured to be secured to a component.

Abstract: A system and a method include a phase determination control unit configured to receive position data of an aircraft, determine variables from messages received from the aircraft, apply fuzzy logic to the variables to determine scores for possible phases of flight of the aircraft, identify a highest score among the possible phases of flight, and determine the highest score as an actual phase of flight of the aircraft.

Abstract: A server computing device including one or more server memory devices storing a relational database. The server computing device further includes one or more server processing devices configured to receive an ephemeral graph database request. The ephemeral graph database request indicates a selection of data stored in the relational database. The processing devices generate an ephemeral graph database that encodes the selected data in a graph structure and store the ephemeral graph database in binary large object (BLOB) storage at the one or more memory devices. The processing devices receive instructions to apply a graph analytics algorithm at the ephemeral graph database. The processing devices read the ephemeral graph database from the BLOB storage and apply the graph analytics algorithm to the ephemeral graph database to generate a graph analytics result. The processing devices output the graph analytics result and delete the ephemeral graph database from the BLOB storage.

Abstract: A gearbox decoupling apparatus and method for powering an accessory system. The gearbox decoupling apparatus employs a worm gear mechanism having an input worm pinion engaged with a worm gear wheel. A threaded rod is engaged with the worm gear wheel. A decoupling adapter is connected to the threaded rod. Rotation of the input worm pinion imparts movement of the decoupling adapter between a first position and a second position. When the decoupling adapter is in the first position, the decoupling adapter is mechanically engaged with a power take-off gear and a power take-off adapter. When the decoupling adapter is in the second position, the decoupling adapter is mechanically engaged with the power take-off gear and disengaged from the power take-off adapter thus allowing an accessory system to be powered by an alternate power source other than a main power source that is permanently connected to the power take adapter.

Abstract: A method includes providing a structure having a surface, treating a portion of the surface to modify a wettability of the portion of the structure, and forming at least one liquid flow path on the surface through said treating.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing material from an object surface is disclosed, including a fluid source, a flexible carrier, and a tubular member. The tubular member is connected to the flexible carrier, which is configured to conform to the object surface. The tubular member is configured to carry fluid from the fluid source to the flexible carrier, and has an aperture configured to release fluid and generate cavitation bubbles proximate the object surface.

Abstract: A modeling system is provided which is configured to retrieve from the non-volatile memory the 3D virtual model of an object; define a domain of a parametric surface; project feature curves in the 3D virtual model into the domain of the parametric surface to generate a mapping based on the 3D virtual model and including a plurality of parametric curves; divide the plurality of parametric curves into horizontal and vertical feature curves; extend each of the horizontal feature and vertical feature curves; construct a horizontal interpolant connecting the extended horizontal feature curves; construct a vertical interpolant connecting the extended vertical feature curves; fit the horizontal and vertical interpolants as coordinates of a map to a new parametric domain; and compose the inverse of the map to the new parametric domain with the parametric surface to create a new parametric surface containing the feature curves as isoparametric curves.

Abstract: A header assembly for an aircraft cabin comprises a plurality of track, each track configured to engage with separate movable panel made from an opaque material, with the separate movable panels deployed within the header assembly tracks to form an enclosed space defined by the deployed moveable panels, and with the movable panels made from an opaque material to block light from entering an adjacent region of an aircraft cabin interior.

Abstract: Systems for forming composite parts, methods of forming composite parts, and methods of precisely performing a plurality of operations on a composite part. The systems include a layup mandrel that includes a mandrel body and a plurality of regions of isotropic surface finish. The methods of forming the composite part include positioning a plurality of plies of composite material on a layup mandrel, conforming the plurality of plies of composite material to a layup surface shape of the layup mandrel, and curing the plurality of plies of composite material. The methods of precisely performing the plurality of operations on a composite part include detecting a corresponding imprinted feature of a plurality of imprinted features, aligning an operating assembly of an end effector relative to the corresponding imprinted feature, and performing a corresponding operation of the plurality of operations on the composite part.

Abstract: There is provided a structurally integrated vacuum tank that includes a vacuum tank main portion extending between vacuum tank end portions. The vacuum tank main portion includes a vacuum tank skin forming a cylinder. The vacuum tank skin has a longitudinal cross section with a profile geometry configured for buckling prevention for the vacuum tank skin under external pressure loads. The vacuum tank skin is configured to provide a pressure barrier between an outside ambient pressure and a vacuum in an interior of the vacuum tank main portion. The vacuum tank main portion further includes a plurality of stiffener members coupled to surface portions of the vacuum tank skin. The vacuum tank skin and the plurality of stiffener members are configured to carry structural loads.

Abstract: Aircraft comprise a fuselage, wings coupled to the fuselage, a wing-to-body fairing operatively coupled relative to the fuselage and the wings and defining a fairing volume between the wing-to-body fairing and at least the fuselage, and a fairing fuel tank positioned within the fairing volume.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a plurality of stereo cameras. The aircraft further includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices. The one or more memory devices store instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to perform operations including generating a three-dimensional depth map based on a plurality of outputs of the plurality of stereo cameras. The instructions include detecting one or more objects represented in the plurality of outputs. The instructions further include transmitting one or more taxi control signals based on the three-dimensional depth map and the one or more objects.

Abstract: A fastening system for aerospace vehicles including a dielectric nut retainer strip formed of dielectric material and having at least one fastener thru hole and at least one cap receiver portion. Also included are an anti-rotation nut retainer portion integrally formed in the dielectric nut retainer adjacent to the at least one fastener thru hole, a cap configured to mate with the at least one cap receiver portion, a fastener covered in a conductive coating, and an anti-rotation nut configured to fit in the anti-rotation nut retainer portion and couple with the fastener.

Abstract: Wing assemblies comprise one or more wing support structures, an inboard-most flap, and one or more flap supports that operatively couple the inboard-most flap to the wing support structure(s). The flap support(s) comprise at least an inboard-most inboard-flap support that is outboard of the inboard edge of the inboard-most flap.