Abstract: Methods of calibrating strapdown heading sensors and strapdown heading sensors are provided. The methods include compensating raw sensor data generated by sensors of an uncalibrated strapdown heading sensor to compensate for errors in an instrument frame of the strapdown heading sensor. The strapdown heading sensor is put in a target apparatus and output data is compensated to compensate for errors in an apparatus frame relative to the instrument frame. The strapdown heading sensors include a housing and a compass module having a first sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of the Earth and a second sensor configured to detect a gravitational force of the Earth. The first sensor and the second sensor are each passively isolated from bending and/or flexing of the housing such that an alignment between the first sensor and the second sensor is not disturbed due to the bending and/or flexing.

Abstract: An attitude sensor system with automatic bias correction having a primary attitude sensor wherein the primary attitude sensor comprises at least one accelerometer and an auxiliary sensor system configured to automatically estimate a bias of the accelerometer of the primary attitude sensor such that the resulting error is removed from an output of the attitude sensor system.

Abstract: A pump as provided includes an inlet, an outlet, and a scroll pumping element. The scroll pumping element includes a fixed scroll component having one or more fixed scrolls and orbiting scroll component having one or more orbiting scrolls for fluid pumping. The fixed scroll component and the orbiting scroll component are arranged so as to be capable of providing pressurized fluid to a thrust bearing and prevent contact between the fixed scroll component and the orbiting scroll component.

Abstract: A cross-connected refrigeration system includes a first refrigeration subsystem and a second refrigeration subsystem that are fluidly coupled by a header, each of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem including a refrigeration loop including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator, and a heating loop including an electrically-controlled valve, and the evaporator, and a header connection that connects the refrigeration loops and the heating loops of the first refrigeration subsystem and the second refrigeration subsystem to a common header, respectively. The compressor in the first refrigeration subsystem is selectively deactivated and the electrically-controlled valve in the first refrigeration subsystem is selectively opened such that compressed gas from the compressor in the second refrigeration subsystem enters the heating loop of the first refrigeration subsystem and heats the evaporator of the first refrigeration subsystem.

Abstract: Methods of calibrating strapdown heading sensors and strapdown heading sensors are provided. The methods include compensating raw sensor data generated by sensors of an uncalibrated strapdown heading sensor to compensate for errors in an instrument frame of the strapdown heading sensor. The strapdown heading sensor is put in a target apparatus and output data is compensated to compensate for errors in an apparatus frame relative to the instrument frame. The strapdown heading sensors include a housing and a compass module having a first sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of the Earth and a second sensor configured to detect a gravitational force of the Earth. The first sensor and the second sensor are each passively isolated from bending and/or flexing of the housing such that an alignment between the first sensor and the second sensor is not disturbed due to the bending and/or flexing.

Abstract: An attitude sensor system with automatic bias correction having a primary attitude sensor wherein the primary attitude sensor comprises at least one accelerometer and an auxiliary sensor system configured to automatically estimate a bias of the accelerometer of the primary attitude sensor such that the resulting error is removed from an output of the attitude sensor system.

Abstract: A method for short detection in a battery pack, the battery pack including a plurality of cells, the method including: connecting a short detection module to the battery pack; determining by the short detection module that the battery pack is at rest; and selecting a first cell in the battery pack for testing for a short, wherein the testing includes: connecting a voltage source to the first cell; measuring a current of the first cell; and determining based on the measured current of the first cell whether the first cell contains a short.

Abstract: A structured material for impact protection includes a plurality of tubular members formed from a thermoplastic elastomer material. The plurality of tubular members are arranged in a bundle such that the central axes of the plurality of tubular members are substantially parallel, and adjacent tubular members are secured to one another along their length. A method of forming a structured impact protection material includes arranging a plurality of tubes formed from a thermoplastic elastomer material into a selected shape. The tubes are arranged in a layer with central axes of the plurality of tubes aligned to be parallel to each other. Heat is applied to adjacent first end portions of tubes of plurality of tubes and the adjacent first end portions are secured to each other via thermal bond. Heat is applied to adjacent second end portions of the tubes and the adjacent second end portions are secured to each other via thermal bond.

Abstract: A strapdown heading sensor includes an elongated housing and a compass module at least partially positioned within an inner cavity of the elongated housing. The compass module is cantilevered within the inner cavity of the elongated housing.

Abstract: A method for collecting a compound from a surface, the method comprising providing a silicone adhesive collector comprising a silicone adhesive layer on a backing; contacting the silicone adhesives collector and a first solvent to provide a wetted collector; contacting the silicone adhesive layer of the silicone adhesive collector and a surface to be analyzed to provide a loaded collector; and removing the loaded collector from the surface to collect the compound. The disclosure also relates to a system for collecting a chemical compound from surfaces, the system comprising a silicone adhesive collector comprising a backing, and a silicone adhesive layer disposed on the backing; a first solvent; and instructions to dispose the first solvent on the silicone adhesive collector, the surface, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A system for determining battery characteristics based on differential current monitoring includes a first battery; a second battery, the second battery being connected in parallel with the first battery; and a differential current measurement module comprising at least one current measuring device, the differential current measurement module being configured to determine a differential current associated with the first battery and the second battery. A method for determining battery characteristics based on differential current monitoring includes determining a differential current associated with a first battery and a second battery, the first battery being connected in parallel with the second battery.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly chilling or heating a container of liquid is provided. The method may include angularly oscillating the container in the presence of a coolant to impart inertial flow to the liquid contained in the container. Various devices for achieving accelerated cooling of liquids are disclosed.

Abstract: A particle, including: a plurality of crystallites including a first composition having a layered ?-NaFeO2-type structure and including lithium in an amount of about 0.1 to about 1.3 moles, per mole of the first composition, nickel in an amount of about 0.1 to about 0.79 mole, per mole of the first composition, cobalt in an amount of 0 to about 0.5 mole, per mole of the first composition, and oxygen in an amount of about 1.7 to about 2.3 moles, per mole of the first composition; and a grain boundary between adjacent crystallites of the plurality of crystallites and including a second composition having the layered ?-NaFeO2-type structure, a cubic structure, or a combination thereof, wherein a concentration of cobalt in the grain boundary is greater than a concentration of cobalt in the crystallites.

Abstract: A particle, including: a plurality of crystallites including a first composition having a layered ?-NaFeO2-type structure and including lithium in an amount of about 0.1 to about 1.3 moles, per mole of the first composition, nickel in an amount of about 0.1 to about 0.79 mole, per mole of the first composition, cobalt in an amount of 0 to about 0.5 mole, per mole of the first composition, and oxygen in an amount of about 1.7 to about 2.3 moles, per mole of the first composition; and a grain boundary between adjacent crystallites of the plurality of crystallites and including a second composition having the layered ?-NaFeO2-type structure, a cubic structure, or a combination thereof, wherein a concentration of cobalt in the grain boundary is greater than a concentration of cobalt in the crystallites.

Abstract: A torque sensing device includes a rotating component configured to rotate about an axis of rotation and a first sensor positioned adjacent to the rotating component to sense instantaneous angular position of the rotating component at a first location. A second sensor is positioned adjacent to the rotating component radially inboard of the first sensor to sense instantaneous angular position of the rotating component at a second location. A controller is operably coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor. The controller determines a relative phase shift between a first signal generated by the first sensor and a second signal generated by the second sensor to calculate an output proportional to a torque applied to the rotating component.

Abstract: A structured material for impact protection includes a plurality of tubular members formed from a thermoplastic elastomer material. The plurality of tubular members are arranged in a bundle such that the central axes of the plurality of tubular members are substantially parallel, and adjacent tubular members are secured to one another along their length. A method of forming a structured impact protection material includes arranging a plurality of tubes formed from a thermoplastic elastomer material into a selected shape. The tubes are arranged in a layer with central axes of the plurality of tubes aligned to be parallel to each other. Heat is applied to adjacent first end portions of tubes of plurality of tubes and the adjacent first end portions are secured to each other via thermal bond. Heat is applied to adjacent second end portions of the tubes and the adjacent second end portions are secured to each other via thermal bond.

Abstract: A strapdown heading sensor includes an elongated housing and a compass module at least partially positioned within an inner cavity of the elongated housing. The compass module is cantilevered within the inner cavity of the elongated housing.

Abstract: A torque sensing device includes a rotating component configured to rotate about an axis of rotation and a first sensor positioned adjacent to the rotating component to sense instantaneous angular position of the rotating component at a first location. A second sensor is positioned adjacent to the rotating component radially inboard of the first sensor to sense instantaneous angular position of the rotating component at a second location. A controller is operably coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor. The controller determines a relative phase shift between a first signal generated by the first sensor and a second signal generated by the second sensor to calculate an output proportional to a torque applied to the rotating component.

Abstract: A method for short detection in a battery pack, the battery pack including a plurality of cells, the method including: connecting a short detection module to the battery pack; determining by the short detection module that the battery pack is at rest; and selecting a first cell in the battery pack for testing for a short, wherein the testing includes: connecting a voltage source to the first cell; measuring a current of the first cell; and determining based on the measured current of the first cell whether the first cell contains a short.

Abstract: A rotational position sensing device includes at least one sensor positioned adjacent a rotating component configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. At least one magnet is positioned at the rotating component such that a magnetic field of the at least one magnet affects the sensor and magnetizes a portion of the rotating component. The at least one sensor is configured to produce an output signal indicative of a magnetic flux, and therefore a position, of the rotating component. A method of sensing a position of a rotating component includes magnetizing a portion of a rotating component with a magnet and measuring a magnetic flux of the rotating component as it rotates about an axis of rotation. An output signal is generated that is indicative of the position of the rotating component.