Abstract: Augmenting the functionality of an off-the-shelf additive manufacturing machine, such as a 3D printer, by generating a component design having an autonomy characteristic, and that may impart a functionality to one or more components manufactured by the additive manufacturing machine that is based on an interaction between the component and the additive manufacturing machine. The design includes code for instructing the additive machine to build an ancillary component, such as a cantilever spring, and build the primary manufactured object, and use the cantilever spring to propel the object off the build platform. In this manner the functionality of an off-the-shelf additive manufacturing machine is expanded without physical modification of the machine, and can be implemented remotely to embed additional functionality into designed components that are to be fabricated, for example on spacecraft where physical retrofits are impractical. Other applications include parts and material testing and rapid prototyping.

Abstract: Described herein are articles composed of coatings with improved gamma radiation shielding and physical properties. In one aspect, the article is composed of a coating, where the coating includes a first layer composed of a first Z grade material, a second layer composed of a second Z grade material, and a third layer composed of a third Z grade material, wherein the atomic number of the first Z grade material and the third Z grade material is less than the atomic number of the second Z grade material. In one aspect, the substrate of the article is a textile. Methods for making the articles described herein are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for delivering psychophysiological self-regulation training in a virtual, augmented, and/or mixed reality environment that simulates a social situation, such as one involving conflict. A user (e.g., a trainee) may interface with a training computing system directly or via an avatar that may interact with other characters in the simulation who may be programmed at one or more levels of threat to or cooperation with the trainee. The system may provide feedback to the trainee regarding their cognitive and emotional states. The feedback may be designed to encourage them to develop the ability to respond in future real environments with appropriately effective states, where the feedback may take the form of the behavior of the characters, with the trainee's interaction based on their effective states being rewarded by desirable character behavior and the trainee's ineffective states being penalized by undesirable character behavior.

Abstract: A geo-containment system includes at least one unmanned vehicle and an enforcement system that is onboard the unmanned vehicle and configured to limit travel of the unmanned vehicle based, at least in part, on predefined geospatial operational boundaries. Such boundaries may include a primary boundary and at least one secondary boundary that is spaced apart from the primary boundary a minimum safe distance. The minimum safe distance is determined while the unmanned vehicle is traveling. The minimum safe distance is determined using state information of the unmanned vehicle and/or dynamics of the unmanned vehicle. The state information includes at least position and velocity of the unmanned vehicle. The enforcement system is configured to alter and/or terminate operation of the unmanned vehicle if the unmanned vehicle violates the primary geospatial operational boundary and/or the secondary geospatial boundary.

Abstract: A grasp assist system includes a glove, finger saddles attached to a respective glove finger, one or more tendon actuators, and artificial tendons. The saddles have a rectangular body partially circumscribing a respective glove finger. Each saddle includes end lobes at opposite distal ends of the body. A first end of each tendon is secured to one of the tendon actuators. A second end forms a triple Brummel loop defining a main loop and two anchor loops. The anchor loops are disposed around the lobes. The saddles may form a rounded, double-headed arrow shape that is at least double the thickness of the body. The finger saddles are anisotropic, with different bending strengths depending on the axis, and may be constructed of thermoplastic polyurethane-coated nylon. Flexion and/or contact sensors and a controller may be used. A method of connecting the tendon actuator to the finger is also disclosed.

Abstract: An adjustable beam directing optical system for a focused laser differential interferometer (FLDI) instrument according to various aspects of the present technology may include optical half waveplate to achieve an incident linear polarization orientation with equal components of laser intensity aligned to the vertical and horizontal axis of the optical system, and an optical prism for splitting these components of an incident laser beam into two orthogonally-polarized beams equally about an optical axis of the FLDI instrument. A series of beam realignment devices positioned downstream of the optical prism are configured to selectively direct each beam to a predetermined location.

Abstract: The disclosed system and method transmit a signal from the surface (or surroundings) of a celestial object to a satellite (for which you know the orbital elements) that re-transmits the signal back to a transceiver on the surface of the celestial object from which a time delay to obtain a range measurement and a Doppler shift to obtain the range-rate can be measured. With knowledge of the satellite's orbital elements and the range and range-rate, a location of the transceiver can be determined.

Abstract: An androgynous fastener for autonomous robotic assembly of high performance structures is disclosed herein. The androgynous fastener is lightweight and facilitates assembly through simple actuation with large driver-positioning tolerance requirements. The androgynous fastener provides a high-strength, reversible mechanical connection and may be used in high strength-to-weight ratio structural systems, such as lattice structure systems. The androgynous fastener resists tensile and shear forces upon loading of the lattice structure system thereby ensuring that the struts of the lattice structure system govern the mechanical behavior of the system. The androgynous fastener eliminates building-block orientation requirements and allows assembly in all orthogonal build directions. The androgynous fastener may be captive in building-block structural elements thereby minimizing the logistical complexity of transporting additional fasteners.

Abstract: A brain-computer interface system includes a video processor for producing a display signal, a temporal controller for producing a plurality of repetitive visual stimulus (RVS) signals with different respective temporal aspects, a display device that receives the display signal and displays a corresponding image on a plurality of different display regions and receives the RVS signals and displays corresponding RVS in respective ones of the display regions, an electroencephalographic (EEG) sensor for sensing a visually-evoked cortical potential (VECP) signal in a user with eyes fixated on a viewed one of the display regions, and a VECP processor for processing the VECP signal to identify the respective temporal aspect of the respective RVS of the viewed display region to estimate the eye fixation location. The RVS are generated independently of the display update/refresh rate and at sufficiently high frequencies to avoid flicker perceptible to the user.

Abstract: Software and hardware for monitoring, testing, and developing communication and electronic systems on spacecrafts. Several systems are provided to monitor, test, and control a next generation SpaceCube, including a RadHard Monitor (RHM), a Mini ASTM Board, an FMC+ ASTM Board, a Mini Evaluation Board, a MEZZ and an Automated Test Suite. The RHM are FPGA IP and hardware configured to monitor COTS components. The Mini ASTM Board connects a Mini Processor Card to an ASTM for electrical testing. FMC+ ASTM Card connects FMC and FMC+ test cards to the ASTM for electrical testing. A Mini Evaluation Board supplies all necessary power to the Mini Processor card. The MEZZ is a multi-use GSE test board that is compatible with several different development platforms in the SpaceCube to allow developers to develop and test their software. The Automated Test Suite provides functional testing of an assembled SpaceCube board.

Abstract: A spacecraft computing system, including: a first processor configured to process data from a payload and a first spacecraft system; a second processor configured to process data from a second spacecraft system; an interface connected to the second processor configured to interface with a third spacecraft system, wherein the second processor is configured to monitor the first processor and to initiate the recovery of the first processor when the first processor experiences a fault, wherein the first processor's processing capacity is greater the second processor's processing capacity, and wherein the second processor is more reliable than the first processor.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an all-solid-state battery cell includes depositing an interlayer directly onto an anode current collector; depositing a solid electrolyte onto the interlayer opposite the anode current collector; forming a cathode on the solid electrolyte opposite the interlayer, wherein the cathode contains one or more lithium-containing compounds; and applying pressure to achieve uniform contact between layers. The manufactured all-solid-state battery cell is anode-free prior to charging. The interlayer is configured such that lithium metal is deposited between the interlayer and the anode current collector during charging, the interlayer prevents contact between the lithium metal and the solid electrolyte, and the interlayer has a greater density than a density of the solid electrolyte.

Abstract: A dynamic function allocation (DFA) framework balances the workload or achieves other mitigating optimizations for a human operator of a vehicle by dynamically distributing operational functional tasks between the operator and the vehicle's or robot's automation in real-time. DFA operations include those for aviation, navigation, and communication, or to meet other operational needs. The DFA framework provides an intuitive command/response interface to vehicle (e.g., aircraft), vehicle simulator, or robotic operations by implementing a Dynamic Function Allocation Control Collaboration Protocol (DFACCto). DFACCto simulates or implements autonomous control of robot's or vehicle's functional tasks and reallocates some or all tasks between a human pilot and an autonomous system when such reallocation is preferred, and implements the reallocation.

Abstract: A method for testing a battery cell includes directing a laser radiation from a laser at a radiation-receiving location on a can of the battery cell to trigger a thermal runaway event. A power, a wavelength, and a beam size of the laser radiation are selected based on a test stability of the battery cell when triggering the thermal runaway event. The test stability includes a likelihood that the can will breach in response to triggering the thermal runaway event. The method also includes ceasing to contact the radiation-receiving location with the laser radiation in response to the thermal runaway event.

Abstract: An anti-phase rotor system for an aircraft may include at least one rotor with at least two rotor blades. The aerodynamic profile of these two blades may be selected to create counteracting blade vortices to break up harmonic reinforcement due to the rotor blade passage. The aerodynamic profile may create a non-planar motion of one or more rotor blade passages, whereby the individual rotor blades are not co-planar during the rotation of said rotor. The rotor system may include a duct, which may include stationary vanes or struts configured in a manner so as to break up harmonic excitation to the rotor. The interior area of the duct at the area of the blade rotation may be designed in a manner so as to create a destructive rotor blade tip vortex interference.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing systems and methods are disclosed. A housing includes a passageway having first and second open ends. A material is fed through the passageway and exits its second open end. A friction stir weld (FSW) bobbin pin tool is mounted in the housing with a radial edge of the pin tool's annular volume disposed adjacent to the second open end of the passageway. The annular volume is adapted to receive a substrate. The FSW bobbin pin tool is operable to be rotated so that the substrate and the material exiting the second open end of the passageway are plasticized in the annular volume for deposition onto the substrate.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the laser surface treatment on stainless steel alloys and nickel alloys may include a computer may be programmed to set a laser path corresponding to a predetermined geometric pattern. A laser may be coupled to the computer and apply a pulsed laser beam to a contact surface of the substrate along the predefined geometric pattern. The pulsed laser beam may have a laser power between 0.1 W and 100 W, single pulse fluence 1 mJ/mm2 and 1025 mJ/mm2 and a laser speed between 25.4 cm/s and 127 cm/s. The laser may generate an open pore oxide layer on the contact surface of the substrate with a thickness of 0.1-1 ?m, an open pore distance of 0.05-1 ?m. The open pore oxide layer may have a topography corresponding to the predefined geometric pattern. The topography may contain open pore structures and promote adhesive bond performance.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) system including: a space-qualified transmitter including a space-qualified microelectromechanical system (MEMS); a space-qualified receiver; a space-qualified short-range imager connected to the space-qualified receiver; a space-qualified long-range imager connected to the space-qualified receiver.

Abstract: A space based multi-band GPS/GNSS navigation system, including: RF card to receive and process the two different received navigation signals; a space grade navigation processor configured to: execute processor instructions to process the two different received navigation signals to produce position, velocity, and time information; and process measurements using a Kalman filter for enhanced performance at high altitude.

Abstract: A visual inspection posable invertebrate robot (VIPIR) borescope camera system can inspect components in difficult to reach locations. The system enables dexterous robotic inspection of worksites and areas that were heretofore impossible to inspect via extravehicular activities (EVA) and fixed situational awareness cameras. VIPIR may include: (1) a main drive assembly; (2) a reel system; (3) a video borescope assembly (VBA); (4) an enhanced motorized zoom lens (EMZL); (5) a fixed camera assembly (FCA); (6) a support structure; and/or (7) a main electronics box (MEB).