Abstract: LADAR systems and methods are disclosed. LADAR systems include a LADAR transmitter configured to emit a laser signal from a platform and a LADAR receiver configured to detect the laser signal returning from a target moving relative to the platform. The LADAR receiver includes a dynamic receiver filter with a receiver bandwidth (which may be about equal to the linewidth of the laser signal) and a tunable receiver center wavelength. The LADAR receiver is configured to adjust the receiver center wavelength to a wavelength that is Doppler-shifted due to the target velocity. Methods include transmitting a laser signal from a platform, returning the laser signal from a moving target, adjusting a dynamic receiver filter to a receiver center wavelength that is based upon the center wavelength of the returned laser signal (that includes a Doppler offset due to the relative velocity of the target), and receiving the returned laser signal.

Abstract: Aerial positioning systems and methods include a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device mounted to a hub and one or more reflectors attached to a portion of an aircraft and configured to encode information scanable by the LIDAR device. The LIDAR device is configured to scan a field of view to identify the one or more reflectors and reflector encoded information to determine reflector position data.

Abstract: A device for compacting a contoured elongate composite layup includes flexible first and second fiber reinforced resin flexible sections flexible along their lengths. The first section is flexible within a first plane and the second section is flexible within the first plane as well as within a second plane. The second section includes flexible joints reinforced by a spine.

Abstract: A drill bushing for a drill unit. In one embodiment, the drill bushing includes a base member having an upper surface, a lower surface configured to rest on a workpiece having a pilot hole, and a retaining member that projects from the lower surface of the base member. The retaining member has a cylindrical outer diameter that fits within the pilot hole. The drill bushing further includes a drill hole that passes from the upper surface of the base member through the retaining member to provide a passage for a drill bit. The drill bushing further includes an expandable slit that passes through the base member and the retaining member to the drill hole, and an adjustment member configured to expand the expandable slit to increase the cylindrical outer diameter of the retaining member within the pilot hole.

Abstract: A media system 100 for vehicle 102 having chassis 104 comprises electroacoustic transducer 114, integrated into face panel 108 of stowage bin 110 inside vehicle 102. Stowage bin 110 comprises mounting structure 112 that is stationary relative to chassis 104 of vehicle 102. Interior 130 of stowage bin 110 is accessible via face panel 108. Face panel 108 is movably coupled to mounting structure 112.

Abstract: Lock assemblies for locking female drive receptacles include a portion with a feature that is configured to permit selective insertion of the portion of the lock assembly into the female drive receptacle when the portion is in a first rotational orientation and to selectively restrict removal of the portion from the non-circular receptacle when the portion is in a second rotational orientation that is offset from the first rotational orientation. The lock assembly is configured to receive a padlock to restrict rotation of the portion from the second rotational orientation to the first rotational orientation and thereby lock the lock assembly to the female drive receptacle.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced polymer part is fabricated by rastering a deposition head over a substrate, and additively forming part features by extruding a polymer having an entrained continuous reinforcement from the deposition head onto a substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect, a composite material is disclosed herein that includes graphene platelets dispersed in a matrix. In some cases, the graphene platelets are randomly oriented within the matrix. The composite material can provide improved thermal conductivity and may be formed into heat spreaders or other thermal management devices to provide improved cooling to electronic, electrical components and semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining orbital parameters for spacecraft are provided. A computing device can receive a first plurality of orbital parameters defining a first orbit by a first spacecraft of a particular object. The first orbit can have a corresponding first ground track over the particular object. The computing device can receive a following time for a second spacecraft. The computing device can determine a second plurality of orbital parameters for a second orbit by the second spacecraft of the particular object based on the first plurality of orbital parameters and the following time. The second orbit can have a corresponding second ground track over the particular object that follows the first ground track. The computing device can generate an output that includes the second plurality of orbital parameters.

Abstract: Actuatable microstructures and methods of making the same are disclosed. An example a sheet includes a first side including an elastomeric material and a second side opposite the first side. The sheet defines sealed channels. In response to a pressure differential across the elastomeric material, the elastomeric material is to be in a deformed position relative to the sealed channels to define microstructures.

Abstract: Example systems and methods are described for validating a manufacturing tolerance of a structure. A method includes receiving a digital image of a cross-section of the structure at an interface of a computing device, identifying an outer boundary of the structure from the digital image, selecting a region of the outer boundary based on changes in a first derivative or a second derivative of points of the outer boundary, identifying a geometry feature of the region of the outer boundary by comparison to stored templates of geometry features of the structure, making a comparison of the geometry feature of the region of the outer boundary to a manufacturing specification for a corresponding portion of the structure, and determining whether the structure is within a manufacturing tolerance based on the comparison of the geometry feature to the manufacturing specification.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a mandrel. A first plurality of transmitting devices is positioned with respect to the mandrel. Signals from a portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices are received at a receiving device. The signals are processed to determine a configuration of the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus, for non-destructively inspecting a sandwich panel defining an enclosed space, has an external and internal probe. The external probe is adjacent an external face-sheet of the sandwich panel and the internal probe is adjacent an internal face-sheet of the sandwich panel. The sandwich panel has a core material that is is interposed between the external and internal face-sheets of the sandwich panel. Each of the probes includes two elements that integrally form the probe. The external probe includes and is integrally formed from one of a magnetic field emitter and a magnetic field sensor, the magnetic field emitter emitting a magnetic field, and one of an ultrasonic transmit transducer and an ultrasonic receive transducer. The internal probe includes and is integrally formed from the other of the magnetic field emitter and the magnetic field sensor and the other of the ultrasonic transmit transducer and the ultrasonic receive transducer.

Abstract: An environmental visualization system is provided for visualization of an energy spectrum. The environmental visualization system may include a front-end system configured to receive input from sensors configured to measure emissions within an environment of a user, and provide a corresponding sensed input that includes a at least one energy frequency of the emissions and that indicates a spatial-temporal distribution of the emissions within the environment. The system may also include an energy spectrum system configured to generate from the sensed input, a multidimensional layout that depicts the at least one energy frequency and spatial-temporal distribution of the emissions from which a significance of the emissions is identifiable, in which the front-end system may be configured to output the multidimensional layout for display by a display device.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for inspecting a composite end portion of a part are disclosed. The apparatus may include first and second members having first and second contact elements, respectively. The second member may be movably connected to the first member. The first and second members may be shaped to define a gap sized to receive the end portion. The apparatus may include at least one ultrasonic array supported by at least one of the first and second members. The at least one ultrasonic array may be configured to transmit ultrasonic waves toward the end portion. The apparatus may include a fluid conduit having first and second ends through one of the first and second members. The first end may be configured to be coupled to a suction system, and the second end of the fluid conduit may be configured to be adjacent to a contact surface of the part.

Abstract: A system and method for cutting at least one of a plurality of features in a workpiece with at least one of a plurality of cutting tools controlled by at least one of a plurality of cutting tool machines is disclosed. The method receives process information describing cutting parameters from cutting tool machines, retrieves predicted cutting tool wear information relating a predicted cutting tool wear value to the cutting parameters, retrieves cutting tool information that include measured cutting tool wear information for the one of the plurality of cutting tools, computes a predicted cutting tool wear value for the one of the plurality of cutting tools from the measured cutting tool wear information, and cuts the at least one feature according to the computed predicted cutter wear value.

Abstract: A system and method for restraining movement using a first adapter and a second adapter. The first adapter includes a first body, a first engagement component connected to the first body, and a first fastening component configured to fasten to a first attachment point of an aircraft. The second adapter includes a second body, a second engagement component connected to the second body, and a second fastening component configured to fasten to a second attachment point of the aircraft. The second attachment point is different from the first attachment point. The first and second engagement components are each configured to connect with a harness, and the first fastening component has a physical structure different from a physical structure of the second fastening component.

Abstract: A device for mounting a weapon system to an aircraft includes an adaptor to couple to an internal structure of the aircraft. The device also include a gun mount and a deployment system. The deployment system is coupled to the adaptor to the gun mount and is configured to move the gun mount from a first position internal to the aircraft to a second position at least partially external to the aircraft.

Abstract: A hand drying system and method for a lavatory includes a blower housing that includes a blower that is configured to generate airflow within an air chamber. An exhaust vent is configured to be secured to the lavatory. The exhaust vent defines an air outlet. A conduit includes a first end in fluid communication with the air chamber and a second end in fluid communication with the air outlet. The conduit distally locates the blower housing from the lavatory.

Abstract: A system and method for mapping the cutting of a plurality of features in a three dimensional workpiece with a plurality of cutting tools controlled by a plurality of cutting tool machines according to process information is disclosed. The method comprises receiving the process information describing cutting parameters the plurality of features from the plurality of cutting tool machines, parsing the process information to extract the cutting parameters, transforming each feature location in the workpiece from a three dimensional space to a two dimensional space, initiating a call to retrieve cutting tool tracking information from each cutting machine for each of the plurality of cutting tools while cutting the plurality of features in the three dimensional workpiece and providing cutting status associated with each feature at the coordinate transformed location of each feature for presentation in the two dimensional space.