Abstract: A disc brake rotor includes an annular portion having a first surface and a second surface in opposition to the first surface. The first surface and second surface traverse a periodic wave. An inner radial edge of the annular portion traverses an inner periodic wave and an outer radial edge of the annular portion traverses an outer periodic wave. A pattern and a period are the same for the periodic wave, the inner periodic wave, and the outer periodic wave. Thermal radiation elements are coupled to portions of at least one of the inner radial edge and the outer radial edge.

Abstract: A mission elapsed time (MET) unit for using during outer space missions. The MET unit comprises a MET core, a crystal oscillator (XO) operably connected to the MET core, an external pulse per second (XPPS) source generating an XPPS input signal and operably connected to the MET core, a synchronization logic and a “Blackout Limit” register. Both the synchronization logic and the “Blackout Limit” register are arranged between the XPPS source and the MET core so that each of the synchronization logic and the “Blackout Limit” register is operably connected to both the XPPS source and the MET core. The MET core includes a sub-seconds counter keeping track of time over scales of less than one second and a seconds counter keeping track of time over scales of larger than one second.

Abstract: A method of controlling operation of an electron beam gun and wire feeder during deposition of pools of molten matter onto a substrate to form beads upon solidification of the molten matter. The method includes providing a substrate and a wire source. A molten pool of liquid phase metal is formed on the substrate by melting the wire utilizing an electron beam generated by an electron beam gun. The liquid metal solidifies into a solid phase. A controller utilizes data from a sensor to adjust a process perimeter based, at least in part, on data generated by the sensor.

Abstract: A laser range finder system to determine the range of a target including a laser pulse generating device and a laser amplifier for amplifying laser pulses to produce amplified laser pulses. Amplified laser pulses are transmitted toward a target and a laser pulse echoes reflected by a target are received by a receiver. The receiver includes a laser light detector and dual signal conditioning channels to condition and amplify signals derived from detected laser light and output conditioned signals. A high-gain channel amplifies laser pulse echoes having relatively lower signal power and a low-gain channel amplifies laser pulse echoes having relatively higher signal power. A digitizer produce samples of laser pulses and converts the samples to digital signals. A processing element processes the digital signals to determine an echo signature, a time of flight to the target and a range to the target.

Abstract: Provided is a portable, hand-held, self-powered, self-calibrated, easy-to-use “iCOBRA” system, a neural/neurological assessment tool for both operational decision-making in military, aerospace, sports, and other high-performance settings, and to assist in diagnostics in medical practice. The system harnesses multimodal 3D imaging technologies for robust, calibration free, head and eye tracking to allow for visual, vestibular, and oculomotor assessment of human neural health and performance.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide for the creation of holey graphene meshes (HGMs) and composite articles including HGMs. Various embodiments provide solvent-free methods for creating arrays of holes on holey graphene-based articles formed from dry compression (such as films, discs, pellets), thereby resulting in a HGM. In further embodiments, a HGM can used as part of a composite, such as by: 1) embedding a HGM into another matrix material such as carbon, polymer, metals, metal oxides, etc; and/or (2) the HGM serving as a matrix by filling the holes of the HGM or functionalizing the HGM body with another one or more materials. In various embodiments, HGM can also be made as a composite itself by creating holes on dry-compressed articles pre-embedded with one or more other materials.

Abstract: A space based multi-band GPS/GNSS navigation system, including: a first RF card with a space grade application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) implementing two RF channels configured to receive and process two different received navigation signals; a space grade navigation processor configured to: execute processor instructions to process the two different received navigation signals to produce position, velocity, and time information; and process measurements using an Extended Kalman filter for enhanced performance at high altitude, including cis-lunar and lunar space.

Abstract: An extremely low frequency hydrophone includes a housing forming an interior space comprising a backchamber. The housing includes an opening to the interior space, and a side of the housing comprises a diaphragm plate. A backplate is disposed inside the housing adjacent the diaphragm plate, and an electronics unit including a preamplifier is disposed in the interior space. The hydrophone further includes dielectric liquid substantially filling the interior space. A passageway permits inert gas to be introduced into the dielectric liquid in the interior space of the housing.

Abstract: A method for laying up a composite material includes steps of (1) depositing the composite material onto a substrate; (2) compacting the composite material with a compaction roller, the compaction roller and the substrate defining a nip; and (3) projecting a plasma flume proximate the nip to heat at least one of the composite material and the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composite comprising a metal alloy matrix; where the metal alloy matrix comprises aluminum in an amount greater than 50 atomic percent; a first metal and a second metal; where the first metal is different from the second metal; and where the metal alloy matrix comprises a low temperature melting phase and a high temperature melting phase; where the low temperature melting phase melts at a temperature that is lower than the high temperature melting phase; and a contracting constituent; where the contracting constituent exerts a compressive force on the metal alloy matrix at a temperature between a melting point of the low temperature melting phase and a melting point of the high temperature melting phase or below the melting points of the high and low temperature melting phases.

Abstract: A master oscillator configured as a seed laser for a laser optical module includes a reduced size, temperature controlled non-planar ring oscillator, a piezo-electric transducer mounted on the non-planar ring oscillator, a pump laser diode, and coupling optics configured to couple a laser output of the pump laser diode to an end face of the non-planar ring oscillator. The pump laser diode may operate as a single-mode pump.

Abstract: A space-stable thin film composite coating is provided that exhibits high IR emittance properties similar to OSR mirrors, and which is thin enough to be applied to a flexible substrate. The composite coating can include hundreds of alternating layers of aluminum oxide and silicon dioxide vacuum deposited to individual layer thickness of about 150 Angstroms and 50 Angstroms, respectively. The composite coating can be attached to substrates having complex geometries, for example, at various points during integration and production of hardware. The thin film can increase thermal design efficiency, reduce radiator mass and costs, and reduce production time-frames by eliminating the complexity of OSR mirror bonding.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring vapor partial pressures of water and carbon dioxide includes a pair of infrared (IR) sources and a pair of quad filter detectors are placed opposite to one another such that the vapor partial pressures of water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) is measured and quantified in a short pathlength gas cell.

Abstract: Non-destructive evaluation (NDE) systems and methods are provided for monitoring objects being manufactured during a cure or consolidation process and for detecting defects that occur during the cure or consolidation process or to detect conditions of the process that can lead to the occurrence of defects. Information acquired by the NDE system during the cure or consolidation process can be used to adjust one or more parameters of the process in real-time to prevent defects from occurring or to reduce the number and/or severity of defects that occur during the cure or consolidation process.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for dynamically creating and annihilating subsurface electric dipoles having variable strength and variable alignment. The ability of various embodiments to create, annihilate, and control subsurface dipoles may be a useful technology for wide variety of applications including the nondestructive testing of materials and structures, for generating and receiving directed and omni-directional variable amplitude and frequency transmission waves without the need for conductive antennas, for phonon to electromagnetic power conversion, for materials and manufacturing process control, atomic and nanoparticle alignment, and for control and utilization as medical therapies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to utilizing atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques to deposit a layer of boron compound in a light-weight composite carbon-based foam derived from natural precursors, graphene, or other carbon-based materials, to minimize the effects of radiation in space applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to couplers for transferring fluid between space assets, particularly in a vacuum microgravity environment with radiation exposure. In particular, the couplers provide for transfer of fluids, such as propellants, coolants, pressurant gases, or life-support fluids, preferably between assets in the space environment or in terrestrial environments such as Earth, the Moon, or Mars. The couplers provide self-alignment features which enable their use in blind-mate, telerobotic, fully autonomous robotic systems. The invention provides a common design architecture for different fluids accommodating a variety of flow rates and pressure drops depending upon the particular fluid.

Abstract: Systems and devices of the various embodiments may provide a low-drag, variable-depth acoustic liner having shared inlet volumes. Various embodiments may include a low-drag, variable-depth acoustic liner providing aircraft noise reduction. Acoustic liners according to the various embodiments may be used in engine nacelles and/or on external surfaces of an aircraft to reduce acoustic radiation. Acoustic liners according to various embodiments may provide increased broadband acoustic performance with less drag than conventional liners. Various embodiments may provide an acoustic liner with a reduced open area of the facesheet, and therefore reduced drag of the liner, when compared with conventional acoustic liners.

Abstract: The present invention relates to electromagnetic meta-material structures to serve as linear polarization sensitive mirrors. Two distinct classes have been developed, including: 1) a phase cohering reflector which maintains the phase of both polarization states with a controlled delay between polarization states, and 2) a phase de-cohering reflector which preserves the phase of one polarization state and destroys the coherence in the other. These reflective structures enable mitigation of spurious resonances in dual-polarization optical systems and phase compensation between polarization states. These polarization control structures have applications in absorber coupled detectors and receiver systems for space-borne and sub-orbital remote sensing applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-functional platform, including: a printed circuit board (PCB) having a single chip integrated thereon; wherein the single chip includes a substrate having an environmental system disposed thereon, the environmental system including a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) printed, patterned and multi-layered nanostructures disposed on the substrate. The nanostructures include an on-chip heater, a power source, a wireless communication module, and a plurality of sensors, the sensors including at least one of a gas sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor, each of which is directly deposited on the substrate and printed with a plurality of nanomaterials. The 3D patterned nanostructures use functionalized nanomaterials, which are patterned by a template using one of directed assembly or nano-offset printing, to deposit the nanostructures directly on the substrate of the single chip.