Abstract: A vacuum lighter than air vehicle (VLTAV) includes a rigid frame of rods connected together to form a hexakis icosahedron. A membrane skin covers the rigid frame and defines therewith a vessel configured to hold an internal vacuum that allows the vessel to float in the air. The plurality of rods and membrane skin have weights and dimensions that result in a neutral and/or positive buoyancy for the vessel while preventing geometric instability.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods for offline data transfer using exclusive point-to-point data communication between a transference device and a reception device. The transference device comprises an outputting subsystem configured to maintain a patient-specific chain-of-care data packet comprising patient-related identification data, health data, and sensor communication data. The transference device encodes the chain-of-care data packet in a machine-readable form (e.g, matrix barcode, haptic pulse, audio signal) that is detected by an appropriate component of the proximately-positioned reception device (e.g., camera, accelerometer, microphone) and decoded to create a cloned chain-of-care packet and to reestablish sensor communication for the subject patient through the reception device.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband linear-to-circular polarizer is disclosed. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the polarizer includes a plurality of cascaded waveplates having biaxial permittivity or cascaded anisotropic sheet impedances. Each waveplate/sheet has a principal axis rotated at different angles relative to an adjacent waveplate/sheet about a z-axis of a 3-dimensional x, y, z coordinate system. Each waveplate is composed of a unit cell of an artificial anisotropic dielectric. Each sheet impedance is composed of an anisotropic metallic pattern. The polarizer further includes impedance matching layers disposed adjacent the cascaded waveplates/sheets.

Abstract: A LADAR that includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes a laser for delivering an original beam pulse. A nonlinear optic receives the original beam pulse and outputs wavelengths as an incident beam pulse. Output optics direct the incident beam pulse onto a target, which reflect from the target as a reflected beam pulse. The receiver includes a dispersive optic for temporally dispersing the wavelengths in the reflected beam pulse, thereby producing a dispersed beam pulse. A single-pixel sensor receives the dispersed beam pulse, and measures and outputs a separate intensity value for each of the wavelengths in the dispersed beam pulse based at least in part on the temporal dispersion of the wavelengths.

Abstract: A wireless Internet-of-Things (IoT) device identification method and framework incorporates machine learning (ML) techniques with information from the protocol used (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy/Bluetooth Smart, and others). A passive, non-intrusive feature selection technique targets IoT device captures with an ML classifier selection algorithm for the identification of IoT devices (i.e., picking the best performing ML algorithm among multiple ML algorithms available). Using an input training label and training dataset (e.g., training wireless IoT packets) associated with the IoT device, a classifier and a filter are selected. An inter-arrival-time (IAT) associated with the filtered training data set and a density distribution for the IAT are then calculated.

Abstract: A framework for estimating image interpretability degradation associated with image compression is provided. An image compression broker system can determine an image compression setting to achieve an interpretability task in accordance with available communication bandwidth or transmission time objectives. Estimating image interpretability degradation includes detecting edge points of an uncompressed image and determining gradients corresponding to the detected edge points; compressing in accordance with a compression parameter setting the uncompressed image to generate a compressed image and determining gradients corresponding to the edge points in the compressed image; determining from the gradients associated with the edge points gradient ratios; and estimating from the gradient ratios an image interpretability loss of the compressed image.

Abstract: In a polarimeter, a polarization modulator changes a polarization phase of an output optical pulse with a modulation function that varies in time over the duration of the optical pulse. A static polarization state analyzer, which includes a one or more static polarization component analyzers and detectors, receives the modulated optical pulse after interaction with a target medium and provides time varying intensities of the polarization components of the received pulse. A signal processing module determines a polarization property of the target medium, such as a Mueller matrix, dependent upon time varied intensities over the duration of the received optical pulse. A time-division optical multiplexer may be used to combine the outputs from multiple static polarization component analyzers to form a single time-multiplexed signal comprising a plurality of optical pulses that are separated in time and passed to a single photo-detector.

Abstract: A cyberthreat detection method and system includes a distributed file system and a commodity cluster. The commodity cluster has a plurality of servers. A data array of key-value pairs related to social media is received; it stores a plurality of predetermined ground predicates. A ground predicate graph is constructed for each user then partitioned into balanced portions Pi each corresponding to a server and the ground predicates stored on that server. In parallel on each server, a plurality of leaned rules are determined for the files stored on that server. From a union of the plurality of learned rules, the system determines a respective weight for each of the learned rules. The plurality of rules are ranked in order of accuracy by the plurality of weights.

Abstract: The forward firing fragmentation (FFF) munition includes a body, a flight system carried by the body and configured to maneuver the munition in flight, and a warhead carried by the body and including an explosive configured to detonate and expel fragments in a pattern. A near field barrier (near field barrier), such as the guidance system, is carried by the body in front of the warhead and communicatively coupled via a communication link to the flight system. A fragmentation adjustment system is configured to physically displace the near field barrier relative to the warhead while maintaining the communication link between the near field barrier and the flight system until detonation of the explosive.

Abstract: A vector partially coherent source (VPCS) generator includes a laser that emits coherent light; an interferometer consisting of polarizing beam splitters (PBSs) to split the laser light into its vertical and horizontal polarization components;] first and second spatial light modulators (SLMs) that respectively control the vertical and horizontal polarization components; and a control system communicatively coupled to the first and second SLMs to adjust beam shape and coherence without physically moving or removing optical elements in the interferometer.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods for detecting a set of spectrum sensing falsification (SSF) attacks in a geographic database (GDB) driven cognitive radio (CR) system. Viewing the GDB as a type of non-orthogonal compressive sensing (CS) dictionary, the composite power spectral density (PSD) estimate at a candidate CR is approximated by a small number of sensor nodes listed in the GDB. In a dense CR network, the PSD estimate at a CR may contain a composite mixture of spectrally overlapping signals. An implementation of an optimized, greedy algorithm orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) returns a set of sensor nodes which are suspected to be in the vicinity of the CR. A sufficient match between the PSD estimate reported by a candidate CR and the PSD that is sparsely approximated from the SNs in its area provides confidence (trust) metrics which may be used to detect potential SSF attacks.

Abstract: An antenna array including a foldable substrate having a plurality of fold lines arranged in a Miura-ori folding pattern, and a plurality of antenna elements interconnected by an electrical trace and disposed on the substrate, wherein the substrate containing the plurality of antenna elements is to fold according to a one-step Miura-ori folding pattern sequence, and wherein the plurality of antenna elements directs an antenna beam with a range of directivities caused by a folding of the substrate according to the one-step Miura-ori folding pattern sequence. The plurality of antenna elements may be non-overlapping prior to the folding of the substrate. The antenna beam may include a tunable radiation pattern that changes based on various stages of folding of the substrate containing the plurality of antenna elements.

Abstract: A rapid-setting composition includes fly ash and an activator solution for mixing with the fly ash. The activator solution has a silicate solution including a monovalent hydroxide. The activator solution when mixed with the fly ash produces a composition that has a final set time of no more than about 65 minutes.

Abstract: A reactor system for treating contaminated water is disclosed. The reactor system includes a reactor vessel having first and second end portions and an internal reactor volume defined by interior surfaces of the reactor vessel. A fluoropolymer coating is applied over at least a portion of the interior surfaces of the reactor vessel. The reactor system also includes a water inlet disposed in the first end portion and a water outlet disposed in the second end portion. At least one ultraviolet light-emitting diode (LED) is included and disposed so as to project ultraviolet light into the reactor vessel. A plurality of photo-catalyst substrates are also disposed within the internal reactor volume of the reactor vessel. Each of these substrates includes a coating of titanium dioxide applied to an outer surface of a substrate. A method for remediating contaminated water is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-destructive ultrasonic testing is disclosed that permits focused immersion measurements to be accomplished in a non-immersion, contact mode. The apparatus includes an adaptor for acoustically coupling an elastomeric body to a focused ultrasonic transducer via an acoustic couplant. The adaptor includes a housing for receiving the elastomeric body on one end, and the ultrasonic transducer on another end. A cavity is defined within the housing for receiving a liquid medium that acoustically couples the ultrasonic transducer to the elastomeric body. The elastomeric body has a frontal surface disposed at a face slant angle relative to a longitudinal axis, where the face slant angle can be optimized for the test material. The volume of the housing cavity may be adjusted so as to vary the focal length of the ultrasonic transducer.

Abstract: An estimate of interfacial areas between the liquid and gas, liquid and wall, and gas and wall in two phase flow is determined using a standard 2D sensor in a fashion to infer 3D information about the liquid/vapor profile when the sensor length is much longer than the diameter. Cross-sectional flow areas for the gas and liquid are also estimated as a function of the axial dimension of the sensor, and the centroid of the mass in the sensor element can also be estimated. An electric capacitance tomography (ECT) system creates tomograms of the flow inside a sensor, and estimates of 3D physical area information are produced from the tomograms.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided including a first substrate with a first thermal conductivity. An active layer is deposited on the first substrate. At least one native device is fabricated on the active layer. A window is formed in the active layer, which exposes a portion of the first substrate. A non-native device is fabricated on a second substrate with a second thermal conductivity lower than the first thermal conductivity. The non-native device is flip-chip mounted in the widow on the first substrate and electrically connected to the at least one native device. The non-native device is also thermally connected to the first substrate such that heat generated by the non-native device is removed through the first substrate.

Abstract: An ultra-wideband linear-to-circular polarizer is disclosed. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the polarizer includes a plurality of cascaded waveplates having biaxial permittivity or cascaded anisotropic sheet impedances. Each waveplate/sheet has a principal axis rotated at different angles relative to an adjacent waveplate/sheet about a z-axis of a 3-dimensional x, y, z coordinate system. Each waveplate is composed of a unit cell of an artificial anisotropic dielectric. Each sheet impedance is composed of an anisotropic metallic pattern. The polarizer further includes impedance matching layers disposed adjacent the cascaded waveplates/sheets.

Abstract: A method of evaluating localized degradation of a III-V compound semiconductor. The method includes preparing first and second III-V compound semiconductors. The second III-V compound semiconductor that is similar to the first III-V compound semiconductor and further comprises a shield layer that is configured to alter exposed portions of channels of the second III-V compound semiconductor. The first and second III-V compound semiconductors and irradiated and then electrically tested. Results of the electrical testing of the first and second III-V compound semiconductors are compared.

Abstract: A deformable yet mechanically resilient microcapsule having electrical properties, a method of making the microcapsules, and a circuit component including the microcapsules. The microcapsule containing a gallium liquid metal alloy core having from about 60 to about 100 wt. % gallium and at least one alloying metal, and a polymeric shell encapsulating the liquid core, said polymeric shell having conductive properties.