Abstract: A method of forming a reinforced panel may include engaging a reinforcement component having a faying surface with a first portion of a heated press, engaging an uncured panel component with an opposing second portion of the press, the panel component having a faying surface complementarily-configured with respect to the faying surface of the reinforcement component, treating the faying surface of the reinforcement component such that the faying surface is active for co-bonding with respect to the panel component, actuating the press to direct the first and second portions of the press toward each other, such that the faying surfaces are complementarily engaged under pressure; and heating the first and second portions of the press to a curing temperature associated with the panel component to substantially simultaneously co-bond the faying surfaces of the reinforcement component and the panel component together, cure the panel component, and form the reinforced panel.

Abstract: A foam sheet core, including a plurality of foam sheet walls defining an array of hollow cells, wherein the plurality of foam sheet walls are bonded together to form the array of hollow cells, each of the plurality of foam sheet walls has a thickness from about 0.002 inches to about 0.08 inches, and each of the plurality of foam sheet walls has an average height from about 0.05 inches to about 5 inches.

Abstract: A joining system includes a holding fixture assembly configured to hold a fuselage skin. The stringers are temporarily attached to the fuselage skin. The joining system includes an upper beam assembly including an upper beam and a lower beam assembly. The lower beam assembly includes a lower beam and at least one lower heating element. The holding fixture assembly is coupled to the upper beam assembly. The holding fixture assembly is coupled to the lower beam assembly. The upper beam is movable relative to the lower beam to clamp the at least one of the plurality of stringers and the fuselage skin together prior to and during welding.

Abstract: A panel assembly for use in a vehicle includes a first face sheet, a second face sheet, and a core layer disposed between the first and second face sheets. The core layer is defined by a base material along a first section of the panel assembly, and the core layer is defined by a honeycomb structure along a second section of the panel assembly. The first section and the second section are discrete, and the first section that includes the base material extends along a perimeter of the panel assembly.

Abstract: In an example, a method is described. The method includes causing one or more sensors arranged on an aircraft to acquire, over a window of time, first data associated with a first object that is within an environment of the aircraft, where the one or more sensors include one or more of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor, a radar sensor, or a camera, causing an array of microphones arranged on the aircraft to acquire, over approximately the same window of time as the first data is acquired, first acoustic data associated with the first object, and training a machine learning model by using the first acoustic data as an input value to the machine learning model and by using an azimuth, a range, an elevation, and a type of the first object identified from the first data as ground truth output labels for the machine learning model.

Abstract: A device actuation system for actuating a treatment device includes a first drive gear rotatably mountable to the treatment device, a coupler rail slidably mountable to the treatment device, a second drive gear rotatably mountable to the coupler rail, and a coupler gear rotatably mountable to the treatment device and engageable with the coupler rail. In addition, the device actuation system includes a drive rail locatable between the first drive gear and the second drive gear of the gear system. The coupler gear is rotatable to move the coupler rail in a manner maintaining the second drive gear in continuous engagement with the drive rail against the first drive gear. The first drive gear and the second drive gear are rotatable in a manner causing at least one of translation and rotation of the treatment device relative to the drive rail.

Abstract: A tool is configured to form a composite charge into a stringer having a net shape with at least one out-of-place feature. The out-of-plane feature is formed by a shim removably attached to the tool. A family of the shims may be used to form a range of out-of-plane features having varying characteristics.

Abstract: In one aspect, optoelectronic devices are described herein. In some implementations, an optoelectronic device comprises a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell comprises a space-charge region, a quasi-neutral region, and a low bandgap absorber region (LBAR) layer or an improved transport (IT) layer at least partially positioned in the quasi-neutral region of the cell.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods may provide for an antenna system including a cavity and a broadband antenna coupled to the cavity. The broadband antenna may include surfaces defining a slot, wherein a cross-section of the cavity defines a resonant frequency range of the slot. The broadband antenna may also include a plurality of transmission lines, wherein the plurality of transmission lines bridge the slot and are spaced apart at a sub-wavelength distance with respect to a target frequency range of the antenna system. Additionally, the broadband antenna may include a plurality of inductive tuning elements, each inductive tuning element being disposed adjacent to one of the plurality of transmission lines, wherein the target frequency range is a function of the resonant frequency range and an impedance associated with the plurality of inductive tuning elements.

Abstract: In an example, a method of shimming an uncured substructure for assembly is disclosed. The method comprises emitting a signal from an inspection system proximate a mating surface of the substructure, detecting a reflection of the signal with the inspection system, generating a data set based on detecting the reflection of the signal, the data set representing a shape of the mating surface, determining distances between a plurality of points on the mating surface and respective points on an inner surface of a support structure based on the data set, generating filler dimension data based on the distances, wherein the filler dimension data includes a varying thickness, shaping a filler structure with a computer numerical controlled shaping device using the filler dimension data, adhering a first surface of the filler structure to the mating surface of the substructure to form a shimmed substructure subassembly, and curing the shimmed substructure subassembly.

Abstract: A method at a computing system is described. The method comprises receiving on behalf of a user a request for information, determining access credentials of the user, and based at least on the access credentials, identifying a first portion of the information that the user has permission to access, and a second portion of the information that the user does not have permission to access. The method further comprises obtaining synthesized data configured to replace at least part of the second portion of the information, the synthesized data being different than the second portion of information, relevant to the request, and not including any information that the user does not have permission to access, and providing a data set for access by the user, the data set including the first portion of the information and the synthesized data.

Abstract: A composite tank for a reusable launch vehicle comprises a composite wall, having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The composite wall comprises a first end, a second end, a central axis, which passes through the first end and through the second end, and a cylindrical interior surface. The composite tank also comprises slosh baffles, formed from a second material, having a second coefficient of thermal expansion that is different from the first coefficient of thermal expansion. Each of the slosh baffles is attached to the cylindrical interior surface of the composite wall. Each of the slosh baffles is annular and is separated from the cylindrical interior surface of the composite wall by a radial gap, selected, in part, based on a difference between the first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion. The radial gap is configured to change responsive to changes in temperature of the composite tank.

Abstract: Cargo-restraining devices and cargo handling systems. The cargo-restraining devices include a body comprising a protrusion and defining a slot extending at least partially through the body transverse to the protrusion. The slot is configured to slidingly receive an axle of an axle assembly that is configured to couple the cargo-restraining device to a guide rail. The cargo-restraining devices also include a torsional biasing mechanism engaged with the body and configured to engage the axle assembly to bias the body toward a default pivotal position, and a linear biasing mechanism engaged with the body and configured to engage the axle to bias the body toward a default deflection. The cargo handling systems include a first guide rail, a second guide rail, and a plurality of cargo-restraining devices, which include a first subset coupled to the first guide rail and a second subset coupled to the second guide rail.

Abstract: A system and method for determining which engine of an aircraft to start first for a taxiing operation and/or for estimating a total amount of fuel needed by the aircraft for conducting the taxiing operation includes receiving or accessing historical fuel usage data for each of the first and second engines, receiving or accessing taxiway information, determining which of the first and second engines to start before the other based on optimizing one or more predetermined factors, and producing a first-to-start alert indicating which of the first and second engines is a first-to-start engine. An engine use plan may be determined, the total amount of fuel needed for executing the taxiing operation may be estimated, and a fuel-estimate indication may be produced.

Abstract: A tacking element for tacking workpieces in composite manufacturing includes a base member, an actuating member and a heating member. The actuating member secured to the base member. The heating member disposed on the base member or the actuating member and configured to selectively radiate heat toward the actuating member. The actuating member is configured to transform from an inactive position to an active position in response to the heat from the heating member. A tacking stick and system that implements the tacking element is provided. A method for tacking workpieces in composite manufacturing is also provided.

Abstract: A system for damping machine-induced vibration in a workpiece includes a plurality of workpiece holders to hold the workpiece in a work cell. The system also includes a machine tool located in the work cell. The machine tool performs a machining operation on the workpiece while the workpiece is held by the plurality of workpiece holders. The system further includes a damping apparatus coupled to the workpiece. The damping apparatus controls machine-induced vibrations in the workpiece during the machining operation.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting and avoiding conflict along a current route of a robot. The method includes accessing or determining trajectories of the robot and a nearby moving object forward in time from their respective current positions, and detecting a conflict from a comparison of the trajectories. The method includes selecting a maneuver to avoid the conflict, and outputting an indication of the maneuver for use in at least one of guidance, navigation or control of the robot to avoid the conflict. Selection of the maneuver includes determining a plurality of angles that describe the conflict such as those at which the robot and moving object observe one another, and/or an angle between their trajectories, and evaluating the plurality of angles to select the maneuver.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for an aircraft at an airport surrounded by an environment, the aircraft having a first engine and a second engine wherein the second engine is to be started after the first engine. The system and method are configured for determining a minimum amount of warm-up time needed for starting the second engine to meet predetermined start-up requirements for the second engine, based on one or more of engine-related information relating to the second engine, aircraft-related information relating to the aircraft, airport-related information relating to the airport, and environment-related information relating to the environment, and producing an alert based on the minimum amount of warm-up time needed.

Abstract: A thermal protection system is provided for a vehicle moving with velocity through a free stream of air. The system comprises a substrate layer having coolant feed holes through which coolant can pass, and an insulation layer bonded to the substrate layer and covering the coolant feed holes of the substrate layer. The system also comprises a honeycomb layer including (i) a first major surface bonded to the insulation layer, (ii) a second major surface opposite the first major surface and exposed to the free stream of air, and (iii) a cell structure that shifts a thermal boundary interface from between the insulation layer and the first major surface of the honeycomb layer to the second major surface of the honeycomb layer. Surface cooling of the insulation layer and the substrate layer is provided by coolant passing through the coolant feed holes of the substrate layer into the insulation layer as the vehicle moves with velocity through the free stream of air.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a fastened structure, the fastened structure having at least one structural member defining a bore therein and a mechanical fastener received in the bore, includes applying acoustic energy to the fastened structure, the acoustic energy being applied over a plurality of frequencies, measuring a response of the fastened structure across at least two frequencies of the plurality of frequencies, and comparing the response of the fastened structure at the at least two frequencies of the plurality of frequencies to predefined values for the at least two frequencies of the plurality of frequencies to determine whether an out-of-tolerance condition is present.