Abstract: An aircraft diesel engine may be operated at a minimal fuel rate. Shaft output power of the engine may be reduced by initiating combustion during the compression stroke. Combustion may be initiated during the compression stroke by advancing fuel injection, splitting fuel injection, and/or manipulating individual injection quantities. Initiating combustion during the compression stroke may slew torque generation to the compression stroke.

Abstract: An apparatus to measure isometric muscle strength has a table section having a top surface adapted to allow a person to sit thereon. An upright frame section is movably attached to the table section and spans the top surface and includes an open area sized to allow the person's legs and thighs to extend therethrough when the person is seated on the top surface. A cradle is attached to the frame section and holds a force-measuring device that is acted upon by the person's body segment when the person is seated on the top surface. Movement-impeding devices allow or prevent movement of the frame section. Belts and/or straps are attached to the table section and adapted to be secured to various parts of the person's body to stabilize the person on the top surface and to isolate muscle groups that are to be tested for isometric muscle strength.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for winding a filament around a substrate includes mounting the substrate to a rotatable structure and rotating the substrate to wind the first filament around the substrate in a first winding orientation that winds the first filament around a first pair of edges of the substrate to wrap a first filament layer around the substrate. The method further includes changing winding orientations of the first filament from the first winding orientation to a second winding orientation by turning the first filament about a corner of the substrate and winding the first filament around the rotating substrate in the second winding orientation that winds the first filament around a second pair of edges of the substrate, wherein the second pair of edges is different from the first pair of edges, to wrap a second filament layer around the substrate.

Abstract: A modular integrated mounting system includes a plurality of mounting struts secured to a floor or deck surface, at least one cross mounting rail movably attached perpendicular to the mounting struts, a foot lock receiver attached to the at least one cross mounting rail, and a foot lock configured to be attached to equipment and to be retained by the foot lock receiver.

Abstract: A modular shelter system includes a floor panel having a first curved surface along a lateral edge on a top side of the floor panel and a first inside surface located inside of the first curved surface. The modular shelter system additionally includes a wall panel having a second curved surface along a bottom end of the wall panel, wherein the second curved surface is configured to rotate relative to the first curved surface, and wherein the second curved surface is configured to mate with the first curved surface. The wall panel further has a second inside surface located inside of the second curved surface, wherein the second inside surface is configured to mate with the first inside surface when the wall panel is erected over the floor panel.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for diffractive waveplate lens and mirror systems allowing electronically focusing light at different focal planes. The system can be incorporated into a variety of optical schemes for providing electrical control of transmission. In another embodiment, the system comprises diffractive waveplates of different functionality to provide a system for controlling not only focusing but other propagation properties of light including direction, phase profile, and intensity distribution.

Abstract: A system or a method for providing pacing guidance to an individual for a particular activity based on a physiological strain index (PSI) or an adaptive physiological strain index (aPSI). The system in at least one embodiment includes a heart rate monitor, a memory storing multiple pacing templates, a clock, an activity completion module, an output device, and a processor configured to perform multiple steps resulting in outputting pacing information to the individual. The pacing information selected in at least one embodiment is based on the individual's heart rate that provides in part a PSI or aPSI, the elapsed time for the activity, and the amount of progress through the activity.

Abstract: An airdrop platform is provided that includes a pallet. Under the pallet are a first outrigger main body and a second outrigger main body. The first outrigger main body and second main body each include at least one outrigger finger. When airdropped, the outrigger main bodies and outrigger fingers are configured to move from under the pallet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a retro-reflective thread 100 including an internal section 10; a plurality of fibers 12, each fiber comprising a respective longitudinal axis and a respective surface and each fiber comprising a first material that is at least partially optically transmissive, and wherein said plurality of fibers are configured with their respective longitudinal axes substantially co-linearly aligned with one another and said plurality of fibers are interconnected in series around said internal section and wherein a first part 12b of said respective surface of each of said plurality of fibers faces into said internal section; and a reflective material 14 provided on said first part of said respective surface of each of said plurality of fibers.

Abstract: Apparatuses and systems are provided. For example, in one embodiment of apparatus an upper back-plate includes shoulder supports and a connector. The apparatus also includes an articulating spine adapted to connect to the upper back-plate connector. The articulating spine includes a plurality of vertebra. Each vertebra a longitudinal bore. Some vertebra is adapted to mate with another vertebra Compressible discs are provided having a bore adapted to reside on each vertebra. A lower back-plate includes a receiving portion adapted to one end of the articulating spine. A chord interconnects each vertebra by insertion of the chord through the vertebrae bores, a bore in the upper back-plate, and a bore in a lower back-plate. The lower back-plate is adapted to connect to a hip mounted belt. Other embodiments are provided that include apparatuses and systems having features similar to the system described above.

Abstract: The invention in at least one embodiment includes a system and method for detecting and evaluating an adaptive physiological strain index (aPSI) of an individual with a processor and in a further embodiment taking into account the fitness, age and clothing of the individual based upon physiology. The invention in at least one embodiment includes a system and method to calculate the aPSI using physiological measures. In at least one embodiment, the method obtains an individual's skin temperature and heart rate in order to calculate the individual's aPSI.

Abstract: The present invention is a pyrotechnic time delay system that is improved over prior-art designs. Specifically, the system described herein comprises at least one delay element. The delay element or delay dements each have an input charge, a delay composition, and an output charge. Both the input charge and the output charge are igniter compositions and are comprised of the same components despite having different functional goals. The input charge and output charge compositions preferably contain titanium, manganese dioxide, and polytetrafluoroethylene. The delay composition may be modified from current formulations to include manganese and manganese dioxide, or tungsten and manganese dioxide. The system disclosed herein may be comprised of one delay element, or it may be modular wherein multiple delay elements are connected in series.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus is disclosed, comprising a biomathetical model for optimizing cognitive performance in the face of sleep deprivation that integrates novel and nonobvious biomathematical models for quantifying performance impairment for both chronic sleep restriction and total sleep deprivation; the dose-dependent effects of caffeine on human vigilance; and the pheonotypical response of a particular user to caffeine dosing, chronic sleep restriction and total sleep deprivation in user-friendly software application which itself may be part of a networked system.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method including obtaining ultrasonic images of one or more vessel to be catheterized with an ultrasonic imaging device 212 and identifying the center(s) of the vessel(s) with the ultrasonic images. One of the vessels is punctured with a needle 220 based on the identifying of the center of the vessel. A guide wire 230 is inserted into the vessel and maneuvered with guide wire ultra-sonic feedback control. The guide wire ultra-sonic feedback control includes obtaining ultrasonic images of the vessel and the guide wire 230 in the vessel, and displaying the ultrasonic images of the vessel and the guide wire 230 in the vessel to a user. A catheter sheath 240 is inserted over the guide wire 230 and maneuvered with sheath ultrasonic feedback control. The guide wire 230 is removed and a catheter 250 is inserted into the catheter sheath 240 and maneuvered with catheter ultrasonic feedback control.

Abstract: The rifle system comprises a rifle and an ammunition round for operation with the rifle. The high pressure ammunition round further comprises a cartridge case having an outer wall wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, the outer wall geometry of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor. The rifle further comprising a barrel chamber which fully supports a chambered cartridge case and a rear extraction mechanism for extracting a spent cartridge case through the rear of the barrel chamber.

Abstract: The rifle system comprises a rifle and an ammunition round for operation with the rifle. The high pressure ammunition round further comprises a cartridge case having an outer wall wherein prior to firing of the ammunition round, the outer wall geometry of the cartridge case is devoid of features configured for interfacing with a mechanical extractor. The rifle further comprising a barrel chamber which fully supports a chambered cartridge case and a rear extraction mechanism for extracting a spent cartridge case through the rear of the barrel chamber.

Abstract: A fragmentation pattern is formed on a surface of a warhead using a lithographic process. A photoresistant material is coated on an interior surface of the warhead casing. A portion of the photoresistant material is selectively cured by projecting an image of the fragmentation pattern onto the photoresistant material. The uncured portion of the photoresistant material is removed and an etchant is applied to the exposed portion of the warhead casing surface thereby etching the fragmentation pattern. Alternatively, a protective coating is applied over the entire surface thereby creating the fragmentation pattern.

Abstract: System and methods for simultaneous characterization of tracer light output and velocity by arranging a plurality of photodetectors along the flight path of the tracer and transmitting the detected light output over large distances using an array of analog/digital converter units arranged to correspond to each photodetector. The system can be scaled and configured to operate and control the photodetectors from a remote location.

Abstract: The invention in at least one embodiment includes a method for determining the core body temperature of a person by setting an initial core body temperature with a processor; receiving a heart rate of the person with the processor; calculating a predicted core body temperature with the processor using an extended Kalman filter based on the heart rate and the initial core body temperature; and providing the predicted core body temperature. In another embodiment, a system for performing the method.

Abstract: A novel pyrotechnic composition comprising nanostructured crystalline boron phosphide and oxidizer such as potassium nitrate wherein the crystalline boron phosphide is synthesized by a self-propagating high-temperature reaction. The nanostructured crystalline boron phosphide and oxidizer pyrotechnic composition unexpectedly emits smoke and green flame upon ignition.