Abstract: Provided is a fixture for concentrically aligning and assembling a Ceramic Stack Assembly transducer during manufacturing. The CSA fixture comprises a base, a top compression cap, a central rod and a fastener, one or more alignment posts, and a driving wedge. The base further includes a groove to accept and align a transducer rear-centering ring at a central axis of the fixture. The transducer rear-centering ring supports one or more copper foil or ceramic rings during assembly. The alignment posts and driving wedge apply radial pressure to the copper foil or ceramic rings during assembly to force concentric alignment. The top compression cap, central rod, and fastener compress and stress the CSA Ceramic once assembled. The fixture simultaneously provides concentric alignment, foil alignment and provides a mechanism for stressing the CSA. A method of use is also provided.

Abstract: A towed array ballasting unit includes a canister, an internal bladder, an external bladder, a motor valve, fluid, a shroud, and printed circuit boards. The canister includes a head endcap and an aft endcap with the internal bladder located within and attached to an internal end of a fluid channel. An external bladder is located outside the canister and attached to an external end of the fluid channel. The motor valve is attached to the aft endcap of the canister and the internal end of fluid channel. The fluid moves between the internal bladder and external bladder via the fluid channel. The shroud forms a shell around the canister, external bladder, and a connector that connects the towed array ballasting system to an array tail. The printed circuit boards execute instructions provided by a computer.

Abstract: Exemplary practice of the present invention provides a pressure-resistant buoyancy device. An entangled mass of fibers, including shape memory alloy fibers, is positioned inside a three-dimensional enclosure. When inside the enclosure the entangled fibrous mass is attributed with austenitic-phase shape memory, such as by heating. The entangled fibrous mass, thus endowed, exerts an outwardly directed force against the interior wall of the enclosure, thereby structurally reinforcing the buoyancy device and mechanically counteracting an inwardly directed force exerted by ambient fluid upon the buoyancy device, such as by water at greater depths. Exemplary inventive practice affords a buoyancy device that has a light, thin-walled, economical design and yet is highly effective in resisting external pressure. Some inventive embodiments implement an auxetic foam material and/or a fibrous magnetic material, in addition to a fibrous shape memory alloy material.

Abstract: Exemplary inventive practice provides a structure that is attributed with superior resistance to loading. For example, an inventive structure includes two coaxial axisymmetric (e.g., cylindrical) shells and a granulation-filled matrix material occupying the peripheral space between the shells. According to some inventive embodiments, the granulation-filled matrix material has a loading-responsive matrix (e.g., shear-thickening fluid or highly rate-sensitive polymer) and granules dispersed therein. When the inventive structure encounters pressure loading at its exterior shell, the consistency of the loading-responsive matrix becomes thicker or firmer and thereby promotes, among the granules, interactive mechanisms (e.g., friction and/or arching) that reinforce the granulation-filled matrix material.

Abstract: Composite materials incorporating high-hardness particulates are provided. Methods for forming composite materials incorporating meta-stable, high-hardness particulates using cold-spray techniques are also provided. The composite materials and methods of the invention beneficially permit the formation of intermixed and graded armors. The composite materials and methods also permit the production of armor compositions with tailored properties.

Abstract: A homodyne encoder encodes light sampled from an object with respective primary apertures for each spectral band. The multi-band homodyne encoder includes an optical spreader and a focusing optic. The optical spreader spreads apart the light from the respective primary apertures for each spectral band to respective secondary apertures for each spectral band. The optical spreader is arranged to spread, for each spectral band, the light from each one of the primary apertures for the spectral band to a respective one of the secondary apertures for the spectral band. The focusing optic focuses the light from the secondary apertures for all of the spectral bands into one or more composite images of the object. For each spectral band, every pairing of two of the primary apertures for the spectral band contributes distinct spatial frequencies to the composite image or images of the object.

Abstract: A junctional tourniquet apparatus and related methods of use. An exemplary tourniquet has an inverted cone shape, wherein a narrower end has a mushroom shaped base that is pressed against a compression target and a broader end has a plurality of pass-through slots for straps. Another exemplary tourniquet has a broad plate component and a handle component. The handle component has a mushroom shaped base on a first end and a handle on a second end. The handle component passes through the center of the plate component with threads that allow the handle component to compress a target by twisting the handle.

Abstract: A target homing optimized routing protocol over an aerial service gateway relay domain. A method of proactive routing comprising the steps of designating each node of a plurality of nodes within a mobile ad-hoc network as either one of a plurality of target homeport nodes, one of a plurality of comms-relay nodes, or one of a plurality of sensor nodes, initializing a target homing optimized protocol by propagating a plurality of route chains to each of the plurality of comms-relay nodes and each of the plurality of sensor nodes, maintaining the plurality of route chains at each of the plurality of nodes, wherein a plurality of routing tables, each associated with one of the plurality of nodes, comprises the plurality of route chains, generating sensor information at the plurality of sensor nodes, and selectively transmitting the sensor information to the plurality target homeport nodes along a primary route chain.

Abstract: A method for growing nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) on Ga2O3 to provide thermal management in Ga2O3-based devices. A protective SiNx interlayer is deposited on the Ga2O3 before growth of the NCD layer to protect the Ga2O3 from damage caused during growth of the NCD layer. The presence of the NCD provides thermal management and enables improved performance of the Ga2O3-based device.

Abstract: A nanoparticle of a decomposition product of a transition metal aluminum hydride compound, a transition metal borohydride compound, or a transition metal gallium hydride compound. A process of: reacting a transition metal salt with an aluminum hydride compound, a borohydride compound, or a gallium hydride compound to produce one or more of the nanoparticles. The reaction occurs in solution while being sonicated at a temperature at which the metal hydride compound decomposes. A process of: reacting a nanoparticle with a compound containing at least two hydroxyl groups to form a coating having multi-dentate metal-alkoxides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a remote tomography system. A filament system generates at least one plurality of plasma filaments. An electromagnetic radiation (EMR) system directs EMR towards the at least one plurality of plasma filaments such that the EMR reflects off of the at least one plurality of plasma filaments towards at least one target region. The EMR system is configured to receive EMR reflected from the at least one plurality of plasma filaments such that EMR reflecting from the at least one target region can be directed towards the EMR system.

Abstract: An optical single sideband generation system comprising a RF signal generator generates a sawtooth drive voltage with a first frequency. A laser source provides the initial optical carrier with a second frequency that is modulated by a first phase modulator. The modulation shifts the optical carrier by the amount of the first frequency, and with added phase errors due to the imperfections of the sawtooth drive. A directional coupler allows the optical carrier to be divided into the error measurement path and the error correction path. The modulated signal goes to a phase detector that measures the phase error and converts the phase error signal to a baseband electrical signal. The optical signal at the output of the second phase modulator is the desired single sideband shifted from the original carrier with the phase errors of the signal generator suppressed by the error correction feedforward path.

Abstract: A central payload manager device may include a network switch, a central payload manager processing device, a plurality of connecting interfaces, a plurality of sensor processing devices connected to corresponding ones of the connecting interfaces and to the network switch, a cell modem or radio link connected to one or more of the connecting interfaces and to the network switch, a data storage device connected to the processing device, wherein the data storage device is configured to receive and store information from the plurality of sensor processing devices and from the cell modem or radio link via the network switch and the central payload manager processing device; and an iridium modern connecting to the central payload manager processing device and to a corresponding one of the connecting interfaces, wherein the iridium modem is configured to receive and transmit the stored information from the data storage device to an iridium antenna.

Abstract: A slotted waveguide array (SWA) antenna is provided for emitting electromagnetic radiation. The antenna includes a base, a pair of brackets, a pair of spars, a plurality of waveguides, and a radome. The base provides longitudinal and lateral support for the antenna on a platform. The brackets are disposed at longitudinally opposite ends on the base. The spars connect the brackets and are disposed at laterally opposite ends of the base. The waveguides are disposed in stagger array. Each waveguide has a pair of broad walls and a pair of side walls that share longitudinal edges. The broad wall is wider than the side wall. The broad wall includes elliptical slots penetrating each waveguide. The stagger array arranges first and second waveguides share respective first and second longitudinal edges. The radome covers the waveguides and connects to the pair of spars.

Abstract: A method of measuring millisecond-scale blast and impact characterization in soft materials includes embedding one or more sensors in soft material, wherein the one or more sensors have mechanical properties approximately matching the soft material; applying a constant current to the one or more sensors; subjecting the soft material to a shock or impact event; measuring a response as a change in voltage; and converting the measured voltage to strain or pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The AUV includes a frame and tunnel thrusters for propelling and orientating the AUV, where the tunnel thrusters have inlets and outlets, each of outlets being directed in a different orientation, and are mounted to the frame. The AUV further includes fasteners for connecting the frame to a hull, where the fasteners have an orientation that is substantially parallel to the tunnel thrusters. The hull has a substantially spherical shape and further includes (1) a bottom plate with inlet openings, (2) a top plate with outlet openings, where the top plate and the bottom plate are affixed to the fasteners and hold plate rings of the hull in place, and (3) each of the plate rings that further includes a corresponding retention ring and corresponding central plates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymeric composite. The polymeric composite includes a polymeric matrix that further includes a thermoset polymer and a phase change material that has been mixed with the polymeric matrix using a thickening agent. In some cases, the polymeric composite is at least 10% by weight of the phase change material.

Abstract: The embodiments are directed to protecting objects having sensitive electronics from electromagnetic energy radiation. An object with the sensitive electronics has a film applied to the object's outer surface. The film conforms to the object's outer surface contours. The film has a substrate foundation, an array in intimate adjacent contact with the substrate foundation. The array has a plurality of radio frequency (RF) witness films overlain on the substrate foundation. Each RF witness film in the plurality of RF witness films is equally-spaced from adjacent RF witness films.

Abstract: A method of forecasting an ocean state via a multi-scale two-step assimilation of Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) observations. The method may include receiving data associated with a prior ocean state forecast associated with SWOT observations, determining a large-scale increment state variable based on a large scale correction associated with the prior ocean state forecast, and determining a small scale initial input value based on (i) a combination of the background state associated with the prior ocean state forecast and (ii) the determined large-scale increment state variable. The method may include generating, based on the determined small scale initial input value, a small scale correction associated with the prior ocean state forecast, determining a small-scale increment state variable based on the small scale correction, and generating a current ocean state forecast based on at least some of this information.

Abstract: The invention relates to discovering and clustering Internet protocol addresses. For example, the invention can include discovering an IPv6 address of an Internet-facing device on a network, where the IPv6 address is associated with a wide area network (WAN) media access control (MAC) address and a WiFi basic service set identifier (BSSID), identifying an associated BSSID in WiFi geolocation databases based on the WAN and WiFi BSSID, and geolocating the Internet-facing device by retrieving a location record in the WiFi geolocation databases for the associated BSSID.