Abstract: A passive microscopic Fabry-Pérot Interferometer (FPI) pressure sensor includes an optical fiber and a three-dimensional microscopic optical enclosure. The three-dimensional microscopic optical enclosure includes tubular side walls having lateral pleated corrugations and attached to a cleaved tip of the optical fiber to receive a light signal. An optically reflecting end wall is distally engaged to the tubular side walls to enclose a trapped quantity of gas that longitudinally positions the optically reflecting end wall in relation to ambient air pressure, changing a distance traveled by a light signal reflected back through the optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic flow process for making monomers, monomers made by such processes, and methods of using such monomers. In such process, microfluidic reaction technology is used to synthesize cyanation reaction products orders of magnitude faster than is possible in batch and continuous syntheses. The aforementioned process does require strictly regulated, highly toxic cyanogen chloride. Thus the aforementioned process is more economically efficient and reduces the environmental impact of thermosetting resin monomer production, and produces thermosetting resin monomers in greater purity than obtained through typical processes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a synthetic method, apparatus, and system for the continuous-flow synthesis of 3,4-dinitropyrazole from pyrazole in a microfluidic environment. This synthetic strategy consist of three (3) synthetic steps, including (1) N-nitration of pyrazole, (2) thermal rearrangement into 3-nitropyrazole, and (3) 4-nitration of 3-nitropyrazole. The current technique produces 3,4-dinitropyrazole in yields up to 85% in particular embodiments, in comparison to 40-50% yields demonstrated by the current state of-the-art batch process for large scale synthesis from pyrazole.

Abstract: A method for reducing outgassing from a metal surface comprises applying energy from an energy source to the metal surface sufficient to melt the metal surface; and allowing the metal surface to re-solidify, wherein the re-solidified metal surface comprises larger grains and fewer grain boundaries, reducing outgassing sites for a trapped gas. Applying energy from an energy source is performed in a raster scan pattern. Adjacent passes in the raster scan pattern overlap sufficiently to melt the entire metal surface. The energy source is a laser, such as a CW Yb fiber laser. A spot size and applied energy of the laser energy source applied to the metal surface is sufficient to melt the entire metal surface (appropriate for the absorption and reflection characteristics of the treated material). The application of energy from an energy source releases at least some of a gas trapped in the metal. The trapped gas is atomic hydrogen. The metal surface comprises an electrode of a high power system device.

Abstract: A passive microscopic Fabry-Pérot Interferometer (FPI) sensor includes a three-dimensional microscopic optical structure formed on a cleaved tip of the optical fighter using a two-photon polymerization process on a photosensitive polymer by a three-dimensional micromachining device. The three-dimensional microscopic optical structure having a hinged optical layer pivotally connected to a distal portion of a suspended structure. A reflective layer is deposited on a mirror surface of the hinged optical layer while in an open position. The hinged optical layer is subsequently positioned in the closed position to align the mirror surface to at least partially reflect a light signal back through the optical fiber.

Abstract: An integrated decision making and communication system includes a memory to store a list of resources necessary to execute a mission; a transceiver to send and receive data between communicatively linked devices; and a processor to identify a set of available resources capable of executing the mission based on the data received from the devices; compare the list of resources necessary to execute the mission from the memory with the set of available resources; and identify a combination of the devices to execute the mission based on the comparison of the list of resources necessary to execute the mission and the set of available resources.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an early warning reentry system comprising a high efficiency module for determining spacecraft reentry time and a highly efficient method for determining spacecraft reentry time. The method permits more accurate, earlier spacecraft reentry time determinations using publicly available trajectory information without the need for accounting for the actual design configuration of the spacecraft in question. Thus, a module for making such determinations can easily and inexpensively be added to an early warning reentry system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices for measuring property changes via in-situ micro-viscometry and methods of using same. The aforementioned device is inexpensive and can be used to quickly and accurately measure numerous physical and chemical property changes, including but not limited to the rate of chemical cure, change in tack, and rate of mass loss, for example, rate of moisture, solvent and/or plasticizer change.

Abstract: A Solid Instrumented Spherical Blast Impulse Recording Device (SISBIRD) includes a spherical housing formed of material that is resistant to an explosive blast wave from a test weapon. A test payload bore shaft is accessible through an opening in the spherical housing. A door is fastened over the opening in the spherical housing. A test data module is received in the test payload bore shaft. The test data module includes: (i) a three-axis acceleration sensor; (ii) a memory; and (iii) a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the three-axis acceleration sensor and the memory. The controller executes a data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, acceleration data in three-dimensions from the three-axis acceleration sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

Abstract: An electrically conductive, flexible, strain resilient product is produced by mixing metal coated carbon nanotube networks with a liquid polymeric resin to produce a liquid mixture, and the mixture is cured to produce the product. The networks may include welded junctions between nanotubes formed by depositing and melting metal nanoparticles on the nanotubes to form the metal coating. After the mixing step the liquid mixture may be deposited on a flexible substrate in the form of an electrical circuit. The mixing step may further include mixing the composite with a volatile solvent to produce a selected viscosity. Then, a three-dimensional printer may be used to print the product, such as an electrical circuit, on a substrate. The product is cured in an atmosphere that absorbs the solvent. The conductivity of the mixture may be adjusted by adjusting the weight percentage of the metal coated carbon nanotube networks from 50% to 90%, but a preferred range is between 75% and 85%.

Abstract: Methods, architectures, mechanisms and/or apparatus configured to manufacture a component (and components manufactured thereby) by optimizing a location of an internal feature of the component to be manufactured using powder fusion additive manufacturing (PFAM) based on an energy release rate being proportional to the third derivative of a component shape function and the shape function itself; the internal feature comprising one or more cavities having unfused powder disposed therein to provide vibration dampening.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a method and framework configured for modeling a pattern of life (POL) by processing both categorical data and non-categorical data (e.g., numeric, spatial etc.), conducting pattern of life estimation (POLE), and detecting anomalous data in a multi-dimensional data set in a substantially simultaneous manner by comparing statistical PoL results.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide absorption medium. The absorption medium includes a plurality of hollow fibers and a plurality of binder particles. The hollow fibers have walls comprising a selectively permeable membrane that is configured to permit passage of gaseous carbon dioxide but not liquids. The plurality bind particles are dispersed between the hollow fibers and comprise an absorbent material configured to absorb gaseous carbon dioxide and to bind the carbon dioxide in a solid state.

Abstract: A method of forming a hydrophobic and oleophobic surface. The method including spin coating an F-POSS with 3,3-dichloro-1,1,1,2,2,-pentafluoropropane/1,3-dichloro-1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane onto an inert surface. The F-POSS has a structure: Each Rf represents a nonreactive, fluorinated organic group, R1 represents a first monovalent organic group comprising at least two carbon atoms, and R2 represents hydrogen or a second monovalent organic group comprising at least two carbon atoms. The F-POSS with 3,3-dichloro-1,1,1,2,2,-pentafluoropropane/1,3-dichloro-1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane are then dried on the inert surface.

Abstract: The systems and methods provided herein are directed to a stationary device for simulating the periodic unsteadiness typically produced by turbines in an air stream. A streamlined body includes a line of jets along its leading edge that pulses air at an angle against the air stream, and a separate line of jets along its trailing edge to expel a sustained air flow in the same direction as the air stream.

Abstract: A method of treating a substrate comprises applying an electric field to a substrate comprising a layer of a dopant on at least one surface; applying a predetermined temperature to the substrate in the electric field; applying the electric field and the predetermined temperature for a time sufficient to induce migration of the dopant into the substrate to provide a doped substrate; and removing the electric field and returning the doped substrate to about room temperature, wherein the doped substrate is characterized in that a spectral laser output of the doped substrate exhibits a nominally single frequency having a linewidth less than about 5 nm. The substrate may be a glass material, a single crystal material, a poly-crystalline material, a ceramic material, or a semiconductor material, which may be optically transparent. Before treatment, the substrate may be an undoped substrate or a doped substrate.

Abstract: A tripod jack cylinder removal tool including a lifting eyebolt attached through an up flange and further through and up flange aperture to a lock nut. The flange is secured to a pipe at a pipe top end, the pipe further having a bottom end wherein a down flange having a down flange aperture is attached to the pipe and a bolt having threads protrudes through a down flange aperture.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a passive optical sensor on a tip of an optical fiber. The method includes perpendicularly cleaving a tip of an optical fiber and mounting the tip of the optical fiber in a specimen holder of a photosensitive polymer three-dimensional micromachining machine. The method includes forming a three-dimensional microscopic optical structure within the photosensitive polymer that comprises a two cavity Fabry-Perot Interferometer (FPI) having a hinged optical layer that is pivotally coupled to a suspended structure. The method includes removing an uncured portion of the photosensitive polymer using a solvent. The method includes depositing a reflective layer on a mirror surface of the hinged optical layer. The method includes positioning the pivotally hinged optical layer to a closed position with the suspended structure, aligning the mirror surface with the cleaved tip of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A transparent device for use in optical applications, and methods for using and manufacturing the device are disclosed. The device generally requires several layers, including (i) a first layer comprising a transparent conductive oxide (such as indium tin oxide (ITO)), (ii) a second layer comprising a transparent semiconductor (e.g., a pn-heterojunction or a pn-homojunction), the second layer having a surface facing the first layer, (iii) a third layer comprising a liquid crystal (such as E7), the third layer having a surface facing the second layer, and (iv) a fourth layer comprising either a second transparent conductive oxide or a second transparent semiconductor, the fourth layer having a surface facing the third layer. When light illuminates a surface of the transparent metal oxide pn-heterojunction or transparent metal oxide pn-homojunction, it induces photoconductivity, modifying the surface charges.

Abstract: A modular weapon carriage and deployment (MWCD) system includes a strongback structure mountable to an aircraft. Left and right guide struts have respective upper ends attached to the strongback structure in spaced lateral positions. Each guide strut extends downward in a parallel arrangement. Each guide strut comprising a vertically-extending first engaging surface. Left and right suspension modules are engageable to opposite lateral sides of a first airborne store. Each suspension module includes a vertical channel that receives the engaging surface of the corresponding one of the left and right guide struts for relative vertical translation. A locking mechanism controllably locks to first engaging surface of the corresponding one of the left and right guide struts.