Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a mechanical actuator based on a fiber optic platform. A material that is configured to be activated by light may be incorporated into an optical fiber that serves as both an actuator and a power delivery network. This platform is adaptable to different materials, types of motions, and length scales and allows for precise delivery of photons to the material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a laser system. The laser system may have at least non-flat gain media disc. At least one pump source may be configured to generate a beam that pumps the non-flat gain media disc. A laser cavity may be formed by the pump source and the non-flat gain media disc. An output coupler may be included for receiving and directing the output beam toward an external component.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making infrared transmitting graded index optical elements by selecting at least two different infrared-transmitting materials, each with a different refractive index, having similar thermo-viscous behavior; assembling the infrared-transmitting materials into a stack comprising one or more layers of each infrared-transmitting material resulting in the stack having a graded index profile; and forming the stack into a desired shape. Also disclosed is the related optical element made by this method.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a laser system. The laser system may have at least non-flat gain media disc. At least one pump source may be configured to generate a beam that pumps the non-flat gain media disc. A laser cavity may be formed by the pump source and the non-flat gain media disc. An output coupler may be included for receiving and directing the output beam toward an external component.

Abstract: The system described herein employs electronic technology to improve the ability to dispense liquid from a container. The container can be programmed to dispense a specific amount of liquid, at a specific time. It can be voice-activated and connected to other electrical components such as a laptop or alarm system. The system may be used in laboratory equipment, medicine bottles, and food processors, although alternate methods may also be used.

Abstract: Systems and methods for maritime infrasound detection can include at least one waterborne platform. A microbarometer, inertial measurement unit (IMU) and heave cancellation component (HCC) can be mounted on the waterborne platform. The HCC can receive a pressure input from the microbarometer and the IMU to generate an output pressure that can be indicative of an infrasound signal of interest (SOI). The HCC can further include a filter and an adaptive algorithm. The filter can receive IMU pressure and environment noise pressure as inputs. An error signal from the HCC output can also be supplied through a closed feedback loop that includes a Recursive Least Squares adaptive algorithm, which can further include a weighted, tapped delay line. The system can further include a remote data center for receiving the HCC output from the waterborne platform(s), which can be buoys, vessel or USV's.

Abstract: System and method for using forecast ocean currents to improve the prediction of an underwater vessel's trajectory as compared to using a simple dead reckoned path determined by vessel commanded heading and speed through the water. System and method for position-tagging long-term underwater time series data collected by a submerged mobile vehicle, and locally storing and uploading the position-tagged data.

Abstract: System and method for discriminating buried clutter from munitions through exploitation of unique clutter/target signatures and characteristics detected from advanced acoustic and magnetic sensors.

Abstract: System and method for using forecast ocean currents to improve the prediction of an underwater vessel's trajectory as compared to using a simple dead reckoned path determined by vessel commanded heading and speed through the water.

Abstract: System and method for adjusting the values of the prognostic variables near the interface between a nonhydrostatic, high resolution model embedded in a hydrostatic, coarser resolution model. The system and method condition the outer domain lateral boundary values to enforce conservation of volume when the variables are interpolated onto the inner domain grid. The conditioning adjusts the baroclinic normal velocities at the open boundaries before interpolation. The system and method also include a relaxation scheme which matches the values of the prognostic variables across a zone near the open boundaries of the submesoscale inner domain to prevent the development of discontinuities, reflections and perimeter currents at the periphery of the inner domain.

Abstract: A method of immersing an electrode in an electroplating solution while under vacuum, to substantially eliminate air and/or other gas from microscopic holes, cavities or indentations in the electrode. A method of electroplating an electrode in an electroplating solution including the application of a vacuum to the electrode while it is immersed in the electroplating solution to thereby substantially eliminate air and/or other gas from microscopic holes, cavities or indentations in the electrode. The electroplating liquid may be applied to only one side of the electrode (“the wet side”) in which case, sufficient time is allowed to pass for the immersion liquid to fill the microscopic through-holes, cavities or indentations in the electrode. An enhancement of this mode is to force liquid through the microscopic holes from the wet side. A highly penetrating solvent may be used as an immersion liquid.

Abstract: System and method for providing access to ArcMap netCDF utilities and adding support for observational data to ArcMap including, but not limited to, comparing observational data to model data in a graphical manner, and maintaining the security classifications for each layer in ArcMap so that the highest security classification of the data being viewed is known at all times.

Abstract: A system and method for converting structured data to unstructured or structured data, the system and method receiving processing options in a flexible format and a reader selection, executing the reader selection to read data, computing a date time group to iterate through observed and/or modeled data, bilinearly interpolating the structured data to create an unstructured or structured finite element mesh, linearly interpolating data in time if necessary, and storing the populated grid on a computer-readable medium in a format compatible with a target numerical model.

Abstract: A method of ocean property forecasting. The method includes generating one of a magnetic field prediction and an electric field prediction between a first observation point and a plurality of uniform ocean cells by generating a vector sum of magnetic field contributions from a plurality of magnetic field vectors and a vector sum of electric field contributions from a plurality of electric field vectors, respectively. The method further includes generating one of a magnetic field forecast and an electric field forecast of the ocean volume at a second observation point in the ocean volume by re-using the magnetic field vectors and electric field vectors and scaling one of the plurality of magnetic field vectors and the plurality of electric field vectors by a plurality of tri-axial equivalent electrical currents with identical geometry to the first observation point.

Abstract: System and method for automatically and regularly predicting water level and currents in coastal areas, without operator intervention. The system and method can enable, automated operational forecasts at regular time intervals without operator intervention by using a grid and a computer forecast model that allows accurate prediction of tidal heights and currents in complex shoreline and bathymetry regions, single or parallel processing capability, optimal available processor assignment based on the size of computing domain, standard and other tidal database forcing in the open boundary, missing data gap-filling, and wind, bathymetry, and model-derived boundary condition model integration.

Abstract: A computer based system and method for real-time display of co-registered historical and current side scan sonar imagery during a side scan sonar survey. Embodiments also include modules for detection of clutter in the current imagery, identification of features, extraction of snippets, filtering based on predetermined size and shape parameters, and determination if a current feature is the same as a previously identified contact from historical imagery.

Abstract: A variable stiffness tow cable comprising a plurality of strands. Most of the strands comprise a polymer with interstitial spaces filled with a ferrofluid comprising nanoparticles. And, least one of the strands is a nanoparticle control field source. The stiffness is varied for a number of control objectives such to dampen motion. In another application, strum is controlled by electrical input rather than by changing the length of tow cable let out.

Abstract: System and method for estimating uncertainty by obtaining conditional probability densities of bathymetric uncertainty due to navigation error and bottom slope using a Monte Carlo technique, using the Monte Carlo results to train a Bayesian Network to provide the causal relationships of navigation error and bottom slope to bathymetric uncertainty, producing a histogram of bathymetric uncertainty from the Bayesian Network of the uncertainty for an area similar to the training set area, and estimating the uncertainty based on the histogram produced by the Bayesian Network.

Abstract: System and method for inducing rapid reentry of orbital debris including determining a spatial extent of the orbital debris, and deploying dust to the orbital debris to enhance the drag on the orbital debris.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator has a hot side heat exchanger comprising: a silicon carbide (SiC) honeycomb support with a plurality of passages. The passage walls are coated with a pyrophoric solid fuel such as red oxide (Fe2O3) in combination with a silicon (Si) binder. A quantum well thermoelectric device is positioned between the hot side heat exchanger and heat sink. The performance of the thermoelectric generator is comparable to fuel cells. The thermoelectric generator is small and portable.