Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system and method for performing time of flight estimation of a laser pulse using a LiDAR signal processing. A plurality of digital waveforms are correlated to a transmitted pulse for time of flight estimation. Each of the plurality of digital waveforms can be correlated independently by a corresponding correlator in a plurality of correlators working in parallel. Each of the correlators can include signal processing modules for time of flight estimation including an interpolating filters and peak detect modules.

Abstract: Processes for fabricating structured, relatively large area, ultra-thin polymer films are disclosed. For instance, such a process may include spinning a thermoplastic polymer film onto an etched wafer that serves as a mold for the thermoplastic polymer film, baking the thermoplastic polymer film on a hotplate at a curing temperature, delaminating the thermoplastic polymer film in water, and peeling the thermoplastic polymer film from the etched wafer, producing a structured thermoplastic polymer film that has structures corresponding to areas where the wafer has been etched.

Abstract: Wing structure that includes slat-cove fillers configured to reduce leading-edge slat noise on aircraft, such as transport aircraft.

Abstract: A class of robots specifically adapted to climb periodic lattices. These “relative robots” are designed for a specific lattice structure and use the regularity of the structure to simplify path planning, align with minimal feedback, and reduce the number of degrees of freedom (DOF) required to locomote. These robots can perform vital inspection and repair tasks within the structure that larger truss construction robots cannot perform without modifying the structure. A particular embodiment is a robot designed to traverse a cubooctahedral (CubOct) cellular solids lattice using only two motions: climbing and turning.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide a portable power system for powering small devices that may be small, may be compact, may provide continuous power, and may be lightweight enough for an astronaut to carry. Various embodiments may provide a compact, thermionic-based cell that provides increased energy density and that more efficiently uses a heat source, such as a Pu-238 heat source. Nanometer scale emitters, spaced tightly together, in various embodiments convert a larger amount of heat into usable electricity than in current thermoelectric technology. The emitters of the various embodiments may be formed from various materials, such as copper (Cu), silicon (Si), silicon-germanium (SiGe), and lanthanides. Various embodiments may be added to regenerative thermionic cells with multiple layers to enhance the energy conversion efficiency of the regenerative thermionic cells.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a puncture healing polymer blend comprising a self-healing first polymer material having sufficient melt elasticity to snap back and close a hole formed by a projectile passing through the material at a velocity sufficient to produce a local melt state in the first polymer material. The puncture healing polymer blend further includes a non-self-healing second material that is blended with the first polymer material. The blend of self-healing first polymer material and second material is capable of self-healing, and may have improved material properties relative to known self-healing polymers.

Abstract: A laser communication network implemented with multi-chroic filters that are able to partition signals from a band of wavelengths into different sub-bands that enable more than one relay terminal to interconnect users (i.e., sources and sinks of traffic) is provided. A band of wavelengths may be partitioned to enable users to communicate with relay satellites, and relay satellites to communicate with one another, using a predefined set of transmission and reception wavelengths regardless of which particular relay is in the communication session. In other words, embodiments support both relay satellites and user satellites by constructing distinct passbands for relay-borne terminals and the same passbands for users.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments may provide a fast and precise methods for continuously monitoring and measuring the absolute wavelength of monochromatic radiation sources, such as lasers, etc., irrespective of the temporal profile of the source (i.e., continuous wave, modulated, or pulsed). Radiation power measurement may also be enabled by the various embodiment methods. The various embodiment methods may utilize high-speed low-noise detection to enable fast and accurate measurements. High-precision wavelength and power measurement may be achieved in the various embodiments to monitor radiation source jitters and fluctuations, without relying on frequency transforms or dispersive optics. Both wavelength and power may be measured simultaneously or sequentially in various embodiments.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to devices, systems, and methods for optimized integration of a human operator with a machine for safe and efficient operation. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems, methods, and devices which evaluate and determine a cognitive state of an operator, and allocate tasks to either the machine and/or operator based on the cognitive state of the operator, among other factors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated reflective backshort fabricated with a phononic-isolated kinetic inductance detector or transition edge sensor. The integrated backshort includes: a silicon wafer; a reflective metal layer bonded to the silicon wafer; a silicon first layer disposed on the reflective metal layer; a structural second layer disposed on the first layer; a first superconductor layer disposed on the second layer as a kinetic inductance detector; and a second superconductor layer disposed on the second layer as leads, a microstrip, a capacitor or filter; wherein a phononic structure is etched in the second layer, leaving holes in the second layer; and wherein the etching penetrates through the holes into the second layer, and stopping on the reflective metal layer, leaving a space under the second layer where edges of the first layer etched under the second layer define a length of the integrated backshort.

Abstract: Various aspects include electric generators configured to boost electrical output by leveraging electron avalanche generated by a high energy photon radiation source. In various aspects, an electric generator includes a stator and a rotor positioned within the stator, wherein the stator and rotor are configured to generate electric current when the rotor is rotated, and a high energy photon source (e.g., a gamma ray source) positioned and configured to irradiate at least a portion of conductors in the rotor or stator. In some aspects, the stator generates a magnetic field when the electric generator is operating, and the rotor includes armature windings configured to generate electric current when the rotor is rotated. In some aspects, the high energy photon source includes cobalt-60 and/or cesium-137.

Abstract: A method for determining geolocation of a UAV near a power grid includes detecting, via a transceiver, a carrier signal transmitted from a first grid node to identify the node's fixed geolocation. A response signal may be transmitted from a second grid node in response to the carrier signal to identify a fixed geolocation of the second grid node, or the UAV may process the carrier signal. A processor determines time-of-flight of the carrier signal, e.g., using the response signal, and derives the UAV's geolocation using the time-of-flight. Determining time-of-flight may include referencing a lookup table indexed by time-of-arrival at the transceiver of the modulated carrier and response signals. A timestamp may indicate time-of-transmission of the carrier and response signals, respectively. Deriving geolocation may include subtracting time-of-transmission of the response signal from that of the carrier signal. A system includes the processor and transceiver.

Abstract: A novel assay and a suite of devices may isolate nucleic acids from prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and prepare samples for real-time (quantitative) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The assay may employ an aqueous-based non-alcohol approach that yields robust RNA quality. The suite of ready-to-use devices may provide pre-loaded reagents in liquid and lyophilized formats to enable rapid manual operation in a laboratory or remote field environments. The assay and devices may be particularly suitable to analysis in microgravity or deep space environments.

Abstract: Exemplary methods and systems may generate a point cloud data generated polyhedral geofence for use in navigating a vehicle. The polyhedral geofence may be generated, or created, from point cloud data such as lidar data. Further, a vehicle may utilize propulsion devices and controllers for moving the vehicle based on a point map data generated polyhedral geofence.

Abstract: Blind mate mechanisms that are capable of simultaneously making multiple connections in a single motion are disclosed. Such mechanisms may be useful for applications where two or more of structural, electrical, and/or fluid couplings could be made manually or robotically at the same time using the mechanism. The mechanism may include a removable side and a fixed side.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a recursively subdivided and reassembled first image comprising pixels, each pixel assigned a region label, subdividing the image into overlapping subsections, determining overlapping pixels surrounding seams along which the overlapping subsections are joined together, accumulating a histogram of co-occurrences of region label pairs of the overlapping pixels surrounding the seams along which the overlapping subsections are joined together, merging overlapping pixels having region labels with a co-occurrence histogram count exceeding a predetermined threshold, and merging spatially and non-spatially adjacent regions of the first image to form a second image with reduced artifacts proximate the seams along which the overlapping subsections are joined together.

Abstract: A passive nutrient delivery system for plant growth includes a rooting module having a body portion having a top, a bottom, and a sidewall extending between the top and the bottom. The rooting module further includes a hydrophilic plug, having an opening, in a first portion of the interior of the body portion adjacent the top of the body portion, and a substrate in a second portion of the interior of the body portion between the bottom and the plug. The rooting module further includes an oxygen permeable area in the sidewall of the body portion, a first wicking material extending through the sidewall of the body portion into the interior of the body portion, and a second wicking material extending through the body of the body portion into the interior of the body portion, through the interior of the body portion, and through the opening of the plug. The passive nutrient delivery system also comprises a reservoir wherein a port can receive the removable rooting module.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide Molten Target Sputtering (MTS) methods and devices. The various embodiments may provide increases in the kinetic energy, increases in the energy latency, and/or increases in the flux density of molecules for better crystal formation at low temperature operation. The various embodiment MTS methods and devices may enable the growth of a single crystal Si1-xGex film on a substrate heated to less than about 500° C. The various embodiment MTS methods and devices may provide increases in the kinetic energy, increases in the energy latency, and/or increases in the flux density of molecules without requiring the addition of extra systems.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer readable storage media for generating solution data for autonomous vehicles to negotiate problem situations have been disclosed. The disclosed technology generates state data associated with a vehicle using sensor data received from the vehicle and from external objects within a vicinity of the vehicle. The state data includes any of a location of the vehicle, a destination of the vehicle, an operational status of the vehicle, and information associated with a vehicle environment. In response to determining that the state data satisfies a state criterion, a determination of solution profile data that matches the state data is made on the basis of a comparison of the state data to the solution profile data. Solution data is generated using the matching solution profile data to transmit the solution data to the vehicle for execution.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for correcting distorted images captured of underwater environments. Caustics are used to provide additional illumination to underwater objects, and lenslets from ocean wave fluid lensing are used to magnify a benthic scene for enhancing the effective resolution of the images. The process introduces a fluid distortion characterization methodology, caustic bathymetry concepts, fluid lensing lenslet homography technique, two dimensional image reconstruction process, and three dimensional airborne fluid lensing process for characterizing the aquatic surface wave field, modelling bathymetry using caustic phenomena, and robust high-resolution aquatic remote sensing.