Abstract: High-energy optical disinfection systems inside a commercial airplane using highly efficient, flexible, and durable side-emitting optical fibers optically coupled to high-energy UV-C laser diodes to destroy submicroscopic infectious agents and inactivate microorganisms inside the airplane. With the high-energy UV-C laser diodes optically coupled to the side-emitting optical fibers, which can be easily routed to different areas inside the airplane, the high-energy UV-C laser light emitted from the side of the optical fiber will disinfect the airplane along a wide or long swath continuously without interruption.

Abstract: Alterable aircraft lavatory configurations for improving access for Persons of Restricted Mobility are disclosed comprising incorporating an expandable aircraft lavatory wall-door that can convert from a configuration as a wall in a lavatory having an aircraft lavatory first footprint into a configuration as an expanded door in an expanded aircraft lavatory having an aircraft lavatory second footprint that is larger than the aircraft lavatory first footprint.

Abstract: A data processing system for generating predictive maintenance models is disclosed, including one or more processors, a memory, and a plurality of instructions stored in the memory. The instructions are executable to receive a historical dataset relating to each system of a plurality of systems, the historical dataset including maintenance data and operational data. The instructions are further executable to evaluate correlation between each of a plurality of operational data features and maintenance events of the maintenance data, using a supervised machine learning classification model. The instructions are further executable to display a quantitative result of the evaluation for each operational data feature in a graphical user interface, receive a selection of one or more operational data features of the plurality of operational data features, and generate a predictive maintenance model using the selected one or more operational data features according to a machine learning method.

Abstract: A method for automatic generation of integrated test procedures using system test procedures includes generating a system test case for each system model of a plurality of system models. The method also includes automatically generating an integrated test harness including a group of interacting system models of the plurality of system models. An output signal from one or more of the interacting system models is an input signal to one or more other interacting system models. The method additionally includes automatically generating an integrated test case for each system model in the integrated test harness and automatically running the integrated test case using an integrated test procedure. The method further includes generating an integrated test procedure coverage report in response to running the integrated test case.

Abstract: Air distribution nozzles, aircraft that include air distribution nozzles, and methods of utilizing air distribution nozzles are disclosed herein. The air distribution nozzles include an elongate inlet chamber, an elongate outlet chamber, and an elongate slot that extends between, and fluidly interconnects, the elongate inlet chamber and the elongate outlet chamber. The air distribution nozzles also include a suction inlet chamber that extends from a suction inlet port to the elongate inlet chamber. The suction inlet port opens into the suction inlet chamber. The air distribution nozzles further include a motive fluid inlet port that extends into the elongate inlet chamber. The air distribution nozzles also include a sensor port that extends into the suction inlet chamber. The air distribution nozzles further include an elongate outlet port that extends from the elongate outlet chamber.

Abstract: A method for discovering optimal algorithms is provided. The method comprises defining a starting condition for a program defining a number of program targets, wherein the program targets map program user-specified inputs to expected outputs, defining a number of program objectives, and defining a number of program constraints. An iterative optimization problem is then initialized to solve for the resulting program. A determination is made if defined termination conditions have been met according to the program targets and optimization objectives. Responsive to the defined termination conditions not being met an update to the program is selected by addition or subtraction of operations, the updated program is evaluated according to the program targets, the number of program objectives are evaluated, and the optimization problem is re-iterated. Responsive to the defined termination conditions being met, the program is reassembled into an instruction set.

Abstract: A system and a method include a resource scheduling control unit configured to receive inputs including information regarding pilots and pilot training resources, generate schedules for the pilots based on the inputs, and output the schedules to one or more user interfaces.

Abstract: A removable hot box is disclosed that includes a lower hot box portion, comprising: a lower housing comprising a plurality of lower clamping structures to clamp the lower housing to a press and locating structures to provide repeatable placing in the press; and a lower heating platen, received within the lower housing, wherein the lower housing or the lower heating platen comprises lower electrical connectors to provide a lower electrical connection to a heating system and lower cooling connectors to provide a lower cooling connection to a cooling system; and an upper hot box portion, positionable above the lower hot box portion and comprising: an upper housing comprising a plurality of upper clamping structures to clamp the upper housing to the press; an upper heating platen, received within the upper housing.

Abstract: Antenna elements include a metallic square ring patch and a metallic square ring slot to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) signals. The antenna elements use several dielectric layers that are separated by a low-dielectric foam layer upon which the square ring patch is positioned. The antenna elements may be arranged into an antenna array that is tunable to collectively generate or receive RF signals to and from airborne and mobile vehicles with an agile, electronically scanning antenna array beam, with no moving parts. The antenna array includes a top section to communicate RF signals; a bottom section to generate a desired RF signal; and a foam layer between the top and bottom sections to separate the ring patch from the ring slot. High isolation between the top section and the bottom section allows the antenna elements to be used in higher gain and high-power arrays without adverse feedback issues.

Abstract: An aircraft includes external structures, and one or more thermal emitters integrated with one or more of the external structures. The one or more thermal emitters are configured to generate heat to deice the one or more external structures. The one or more thermal emitters are configured to receive electrical power from one or more of an auxiliary power unit of the aircraft, a power distribution system of the aircraft, one or more engines of the aircraft, or an external power cart that is separate and distinct from the aircraft.

Abstract: A permeable pavement and cured fiber composition and a related method are provided. The permeable pavement composition includes a quantity of pavement material, and a quantity of cured carbon fiber composite material (CCFCM) configured to be added to the pavement material to produce a reinforced composition having improved characteristics. An example of pavement material includes a pervious concrete material. The method includes providing a quantity of pavement material and adding a quantity of cured carbon fiber composite material to the pavement material to produce a reinforced composition having improved characteristics.

Abstract: A method for detecting defects includes steps of: (1) calculating an average value for intensity of CT image voxels in a neighborhood; (2) calculating a difference value for the intensity of the voxels in the neighborhood; (3) calculating a standard deviation for the intensity of the voxels in the neighborhood; (4) calculating a z-score for each one of the voxels; (5) identifying a cluster of neighboring ones of the voxels; (6) determining a cluster-boundary parameter of the cluster; and (7) classifying the cluster as a defect when the cluster-boundary parameter of the cluster is above a parameter threshold.

Abstract: An aircraft, a method of controlling the aircraft, and a control system for the aircraft has a fuselage and tilt-wing movable relative to the fuselage. A plurality of main propulsors coupled to main propellers that is coupled to the tilt-wing, which are configured to provide a first maximum amount of thrust. A plurality of auxiliary propulsors coupled to auxiliary propellers that are spaced apart from the tilt-wing, which are configured to provide a variable amount of thrust. A controller signals the main propulsors to operate at the first maximum amount of thrust when the tilt-wing moves from the cruise position to the transition position, and signals the auxiliary propulsors to operate at the variable amount of thrust when the tilt-wing is in the transition position in which the first maximum amount of thrust and the variable amount of thrust together provide an overall thrust to descend and land the aircraft.

Abstract: A method for shaping a composite structure includes steps of: (1) holding a composite member in an initial contour along a length of the composite member; and (2) forming a final contour along the length of the composite member by: (3) sequentially shaping formed portions of the composite member while holding unformed portions of the composite member in the initial contour to form portions of the final contour; and (4) sequentially shaping the unformed portions of the composite member to form other portions of the final contour.

Abstract: A wing lock and deployment apparatus for an air launched vehicle includes a ball screw and driver acted on by a single actuation event. The disclosed wing lock and deployment apparatus is capable of unlocking deployable wings of an air launched vehicle, deploying deployable wings of the air launched vehicle from a stored position, and locking deployable wings of the air launched vehicle in a deployed position in sequential order with the one single actuation event.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle control surface actuation system comprises a rotary actuator having opposing output shaft ends that are coupled to first and second torque tubes via actuator universal joints. The first and second torque tubes extend angularly from the rotary actuator. The system further comprises first and second pivot joints that are coupled to a hinged end of a control surface. The first and second pivot joints are coupled to the first and second torque tubes, respectively, via control surface universal joints. In this configuration, rotation of the first and second torque tubes causes rotation of the control surface relative to a hinge axis.

Abstract: A method of chemically stripping a surface is described. The method comprises applying a sealant to at least a portion of a surface of an object, the surface comprising a coating and one or more ingression points, the sealant filling the one or more ingression points to form a sealed surface. The method further comprises applying a stripping agent to the sealed surface to remove at least a portion of the coating to form a stripped surface.

Abstract: A method includes storing technical models in a network-accessible model repository. Each technical model is labeled with descriptive metadata and comprises one or more model views labeled with functional metadata. A request is received from a stakeholder device, the request specifying descriptive attributes and functional attributes applied to an associated stakeholder. Technical model(s) are retrieved based on the descriptive metadata labelling the retrieved technical models being determined to satisfy the descriptive attributes included in the request. For each retrieved technical model, one or more model views are compiled based on the functional metadata labelling the compiled model view being determined to satisfy the functional attributes included in the request.

Abstract: An avionics unit assembly for an aircraft can include an avionics unit (e.g., an underwater locator device, “ULD”), and a battery to power the avionics unit. The avionics unit assembly can further include a housing that encases the avionics unit and the battery. The housing includes a vent port for exhausting an emission from the housing during a failure of the avionics unit. The avionics unit assembly can further include one or more of a suppressor that filters the emission, a shield element that is resistant to chemical and/or thermal effects of the emission, and a bracket for mounting the avionics unit to a surface. A method integrating the avionics unit assembly onto a forward aircraft bulkhead at a mount location under an aircraft radome and for manufacturing the avionics unit, and an aircraft including the avionics unit are also described.

Abstract: Aircraft window assemblies and methods. The aircraft window assemblies comprise a window frame configured to support a window pane on an aircraft skin about a window aperture defined in an aircraft skin. The window frame includes a base formed of a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite and at least one overmolded feature molded to the base. The base defines a central aperture and includes circumferential flange portion configured to support the base on the aircraft skin surrounding the window aperture and a skirt portion extending inwardly from the circumferential flange portion and surrounding the central aperture. The skirt portion is non-planar with the circumferential flange portion and comprises a support surface for the window pane. The methods comprise forming the window frame, which comprises stamp-forming the base of the window frame from a continuous fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite sheet and overmolding the at least one overmolded feature to the base.