Abstract: A system for joining mass-controlling modules comprising modular elements and attachable components, including a male end adapted to join a single-piece female end by rotating the male end into the single-piece female end such that data bus terminals align and power bus terminals align. The system can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed systems for each mission. The joints connecting the modules are designed such that power and data connections between modules are reliably made.

Abstract: A system for joining buoyancy-controlling modules comprising modular elements and attachable components, including a male end adapted to join a single-piece female end by rotating the male end into the single-piece female end such that data bus terminals align and power bus terminals align. The system can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed systems for each mission. The joints connecting the modules are designed such that power and data connections between modules are reliably made.

Abstract: A method for hybrid RF beamforming comprising: providing an antenna structure which comprises: a driven element, parasitic elements configured to couple/decouple a linearly polarized radiation pattern and arranged around the driven elements, a feed system comprising four ports that are 90 degrees out of phase with each other and are connected to the driven element, RF switches electrically connected to the parasitic elements and the four ports, and a controller operatively connected to the RF switches; selectively attenuating an output of each of the four ports with the controller according to a stored configuration, which is stored in a memory, by changing the four ports' respective phase or attenuation; and selectively changing a loading of each parasitic element by activating each parasitic element's corresponding RF switch with the controller according to the stored configuration so as to produce a desired null/beamforming of a main RF beam.

Abstract: Provided is a battery grid pellet adhesion/cohesion strength tester that can accurately determine the push-out strength of a battery grid pellet by measuring the binding of the active material to the battery grid during the pasting and curing process. A programmable test stand and force gage are used with a selectable active material punching tool fixture and a set of selectable set of grid location pins. Active material from a lead-acid battery is forced out of the battery grid at a programmed feed rate with the force gage reporting precise force measurements for each battery grid pellets adhesion/cohesion strength. The inventive device can be utilized as a quality control measure following the battery pasting and curing process, which will ensure that consistent and uniform adhesion/cohesion has occurred during battery manufacture, thereby avoiding battery premature performance failure.

Abstract: A system and related methods that generate encryption keys using two inputs. The first input is random data measured or supplied at the time the encryption keys are created. The second input is predetermined data held by the server and device. Given knowledge of the predetermined data and the random data, the UxS will be able to regenerate its previous encryption keys and also to re-establish communication by the server and device.

Abstract: Magnon excitation and detection systems, apparatus, and methods are provided. The systems and apparatus may include magnon exciters and magnon detectors. The systems and apparatus are used in accordance with methods for exciting and detecting magnons.

Abstract: Provided is a frangible munitions device optimized for a dome and cylinder that yields fragments having shapes corresponding to a predetermined embossment pattern upon explosive rupture. The embossment pattern includes a first set of inner regular hexagonal embossments formed into the dome and cylinder that are aligned with the axis of the cylinder, and a second set of outer pre-deformed hexagonal shapes that distort to produce regular hexagonal shapes after drawing into the cylinder wall. The second set of shapes are separated by sharp transition regions. The shapes are embossed in a repeated pattern around the hollow cylinder and the dome top. The dome yields a plurality of fragments having shapes corresponding to the first set of inner regular hexagonal embossments upon explosive rupture, while the cylinder yields a plurality of fragments having shapes corresponding to the second set of outer pre-deformed hexagonal embossments upon explosive rupture.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) validator instrument is provided for testing functionality of a test article. The instrument includes an RF transmitter, a connection apparatus, an RF receiver, a direct current (DC) bias detector, and an RF verifier. The transmitter produces an emission signal supplied to an in-port and an out-port. The apparatus connects the in-port and the out-port to separate terminals of the article. The receiver receives said emission signal and producing a detection signal. The DC bias detector receives the emission signal through the out-port to a first voltage divider as a first bias signal, through the in-port to a second voltage divider as a second bias signal, and combining the first and second bias signals as a combination bias signal. The verifier compares the detection and combination bias signals to determine whether the article satisfies functionality.

Abstract: A system for configuring mission-dependent vehicle assemblies comprising modular elements and attachable components, including a male end adapted to join a single-piece female end by rotating the male end into the single-piece female end such that data bus terminals align and power bus terminals align. The system can be configured from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed systems for each mission. The joints connecting the modules are designed such that power and data connections between modules are reliably made.

Abstract: A system for joining light-communication modules comprising modular elements and attachable components, including a male end adapted to join a single-piece female end by rotating the male end into the single-piece female end such that data bus terminals align and power bus terminals align. The system can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed systems for each mission. The joints connecting the modules are designed such that power and data connections between modules are reliably made.

Abstract: A system for joining charged scuttle modules comprising modular elements and attachable components, including a male end adapted to join a single-piece female end by rotating the male end into the single-piece female end such that data bus terminals align and power bus terminals align. The system can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed systems for each mission. The joints connecting the modules are designed such that power and data connections between modules are reliably made.

Abstract: A system for joining counter-rotating propeller assemblies comprising modular elements and attachable components, including a male end adapted to join a single-piece female end by rotating the male end into the single-piece female end such that data bus terminals align and power bus terminals align. The system can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed systems for each mission. The joints connecting the modules are designed such that power and data connections between modules are reliably made.

Abstract: A system for joining door modules comprising modular elements and attachable components, including a male end adapted to join a single-piece female end by rotating the male end into the single-piece female end such that data bus terminals align and power bus terminals align. The system can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed systems for each mission. The joints connecting the modules are designed such that power and data connections between modules are reliably made.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for chemoselectively hydrogenating cyclic monoterpene precursors with reduced PtO2 at low temperatures, to yield products in which the alkene groups are saturated while the cyclopropane rings from the parent hydrocarbons are conserved.

Abstract: An exemplary inventive parafoil includes a soft wing and a semi-rigid skeleton. Configured to effect ram-air flight, the soft wing forms adjacent elongate cells directed from leading edge to trailing edge, with respective inflow vents arranged along the leading edge. The semi-rigid skeleton includes one or more cell-compatible support structures, each joined with a cell in furtherance of maintaining the cell's inflated shape and preventing its collapse under adverse aerodynamic circumstances. Each cell-compatible support structure includes a ring-like frame and two parallel rod-like projections attached perpendicular to the ring-like frame at laterally opposite locations. According to each coupling of a cell-compatible support structure with a cell, the ring-like frame is affixed at or near the cell's inflow vent, fitting onto or inside the cell lip; the two rod-like projections extend backward from the ring-like frame along part of the cell length, each integrated with or interiorly contiguous to the cell.

Abstract: A new, thermally stable conducting material, poly(3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate), can be used in a variety of applications such as thermoelectrics, electron acceptors in light-harvesting (photovoltaic) materials, and thermally stable conducting energetic materials. Related compounds include poly 3-amino-5-chloro-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, poly 3-amino-5-bromo-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, poly 3-amino-5-fluoro-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, poly 3-amino-5-iodo-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, poly 3, 5-diamino-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, poly 3-amino-5-NHR1-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, poly 3-amino-5-NR2-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate, or poly 3-amino-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate.

Abstract: Provided are systems, apparatus, and methods for pushing out and drilling a flare grain in an aerial flare. The system includes at least three stands including a first stand holding a first electric linear actuator positioned to interface with the aerial flare and push out a flare grain of the flare. The second stand holds the aerial flare and is positioned relative to the first stand to facilitate interface of the flare with the first electric linear actuator. The third stand includes a drill and is movable relative to the second stand for drilling a hole in the flare grain. A second electric linear actuator is coupled to the third stand device moves the third stand device relative the second stand to enable the drill to engage with the flare grain. The system also includes a controller/processor automating the pushing and drilling operations by controlling the electric linear actuators.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for determining a radar cross section (RCS) of countermeasure units such as chaff that utilizes ground level testing. An antenna platform is provided that is mounted to a support member at ground level and includes a radar transmit antenna disposed on the antenna platform, a radar receive antenna disposed on the antenna platform, and radar attenuating material disposed on the antenna platform linearly between the transmit antenna and the receive antenna for attenuating linear transmission of signals between the transmit antenna to the receive antenna. Additionally, low power transmitters used to enable safe ground testing are coupled to the transmit antenna for transmitting radar RF signals toward dispersed countermeasure units above the platform and also network analyzers coupled to the receive antenna that are capable of measuring the low power RF signals reflected by the dispersed countermeasure units.

Abstract: An attachment fastener is provided for removably connecting a container onto a platform. The container includes a diagonal mount. The fastener includes a track, first and second lugs, and a tri-lobe block. The track is disposed on the platform and has a longitudinal direction. Each lug has distal and proximal faces along a longitudinal flange. The proximal face includes a tapering tongue that extends outward and along the flange. Each lobe on the block has a tapering groove for receiving and wedging the tongue. The distal face of the first and second lugs respectively engage the track and the mount. The first and second lobes of the block engage the respective tongues on the corresponding first and second lugs. An alternative fastener is provided for removably connecting first and second containers together, with each container having a corresponding diagonal mount. The fastener includes first and second lugs, and a quad-lobe block, each lobe having a tapering groove.

Abstract: Exemplary practice of the present invention assimilates information from various commercial software scanning tools. Distinctive characteristics pertaining to the construction and constitution of the different software items are gathered and tracked. A practitioner is thus afforded the capability of, for instance, generating customized dashboards to present the assimilated information. The data obtained are considered to describe different data types and different data formats. Among the inventive features is a normalization of every data format to a standard data format as part of the analytical methodology. The resultant universalization of the database can be facilitative with respect to a variety of ways in which the database may be utilized.