Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provide power efficient, high fidelity non-PWM communications of audio signals for reception by a modulating AM receiver at various useful frequency bands, or loud speaker transmission using sound waves.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rotating a part includes a sequence of relays to rotate the part given number of degrees. The apparatus does not require software or complex mechanical gearing.

Abstract: A rifle actuation mechanism is provided for alternately positioning a rifle between stowage within a cylindrical tube having a longitudinal axis and deployment for engaging a target. The mechanism includes a cradle, a yoke, and longitudinal, elevation and azimuth actuators. The cradle holds and fires the rifle. The yoke connects to the cradle. The longitudinal actuator translates the yoke along the axis. The elevation actuator pivots the cradle from the yoke. The azimuth actuator turns the cradle about the axis for pointing to the target. The tube contains the rifle, the cradle, the yoke and the actuators while in stowage. In preferred embodiments, the axis is substantially vertical.

Abstract: A surface vehicle 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 vehicle can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed vehicles for each mission. The joints connecting the modules are designed such that power and data connections between modules are reliably made.

Abstract: A module joining system 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: Provided is a method of polymer molding of cables and connections, such as undersea cables and connections using additive manufacturing. Design requirements for cables/connections, including form, fit, and function data is provided. The requirements are used to produce a three-dimensional model of a mold, which is converted into a file format that allows for three-dimensional printing and computer-aided manufacturing. A mold is printed utilizing a UV cured resin on a high resolution three-dimensional printer. The mold is then checked to ensure it meets form, fit, and function data. Finally, an cable/connection is molded by mixing polyurethane, injecting it into the mold, and baking. The disclosed method provides significant time and cost savings when compared to prior art steel and aluminum mold manufacturing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a head having an obverse side and a reverse side. The apparatus includes a vertical load cell detachably connected to the obverse side. The vertical load cell in operation measures a plurality of vertical loads at a respective plurality of ground depths. The apparatus includes a plurality of pins connected to the reverse side. Each pin of the plurality of pins includes a rod and a cone connected to the rod. The apparatus includes a torsional load cell detachably connected to the obverse side. The torsional load cell in operation measures a plurality of torques at a respective plurality of rotational angles.

Abstract: A single body multi-mode mechanical resonator includes two or more spring-mass devices, one or more anchor springs, a phase 1 parallel plate electrode and a phase 2 parallel plate electrode, a plurality of interdigitated shaped combs, a plurality of interdigitated drive combs, and a plurality of interdigitated sense combs. The spring-mass devices further include two or more lumped masses and one or more anchor springs. The coupling springs couple the motion of the two or more lumped masses. The parallel plate electrodes apply forces to the in-phase mode that yield equal in magnitude but opposite in sign frequency shifts of the anti-phase mode. The shaped combs compensate for a frequency drift of the anti-phase mode and cancels first-order displacement effects. The drive combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode, with a frequency selective excitation. The sense combs are aligned to the anti-phase mode and capable of cancelling common-mode noise effects.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a method of making a ligand for Quantum Dot functionalization, a method of making a functionalized Quantum Dot (QD) with a ligand, and a method of making a transparent luminescent quantum dot thiol-yne nanocomposite with tailorable optical, thermal, and mechanical properties. The prepolymer solution and functionalized Quantum Dot can be used in additive manufacturing.

Abstract: A magnetic induction device is provided for triggering an electric spark discharge in response to a variable voltage. The device includes an inductor; a resistor series having first and second resistors; and a discharge device. These are arranged in a receiver circuit in which the inductor, the resistor series and the spark gap are disposed in parallel. The inductor connects between the first and second resistors to a gate electrode of the discharge device. Magnetic flux induces a current into the electrode responsive to the receiver circuit temporarily overlapping the inductor, thereby inducing the spark.

Abstract: An exemplary inventive molding device includes two mold components characterized by matching rounded-star shapes. Each mold component includes eight congruent rounded-tip projections and eight congruent apertured sections separated from each other by the projections and describing a ring shape. The projections correspond to the equiangular points of a star. Each section has a medial hole and is interposed between and connects two projections. The mold components are joined so that their respective projections and holes are even with each other and fasteners are installed through the holes. Appropriate introduction and curing of a castable material inside the joined mold components produces a flexible device suitable for use as part of a biomimicking soft robot.

Abstract: The present invention includes fan near vertical incident skywave (NVIS) antennas, communication systems and method of use. Fan NVIS antennas may be configured in either base station or remote station for use with transceivers. Fan NVIS base station antennas may be in configurations of either 3 or 4 dipoles and include waist wires connecting adjacent vertices and skirt wires connecting dipole end points. Fan NVIS remote station antennas may be in a 2-dipole configuration and also include skirt wires connecting adjacent dipole end points.

Abstract: A method for increasing validity of digital signatures comprising: receiving a request from a browser to have a user apply a digital signature to a document; verifying that the document complies with a predefined ruleset (e.g., prescribing font colors); presenting the user with the document on a user-computer interface in such a way that the document's entire content is completely reviewable by the user only if the document complies with the predefined ruleset; upon receiving instruction from the user to sign the document, generating a digital signature according to Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) public key infrastructure (PKI) that protects the document in its entirety, as presented to the user in the previous step; enabling the user to perform one or more of printing, sharing, and saving the digitally-signed document in a memory store; and sending the digitally-signed document with the newly-generated signature to the browser.

Abstract: A sub-surface sensor housing for remote underwater vehicle deployment and recovery. Moreover, a housing for a sub-surface sensor, comprising a housing body, having a top side, a bottom side, and a sensor cavity in which a sub-surface sensor is placed, wherein the housing body further comprises a plurality of slots through its walls slightly larger than a clamp tie; an attachment hoop coupled to the top side of the housing body, configured to receive a gripping hook from an aquatic vehicle, wherein the attachment hoop has a vertical height that extend above an interference zone; and a plurality of outriggers, coupled to the bottom side of the housing body, configured to disperse the weight of the housing the subsurface sensor.

Abstract: A communication method including emitting laser pulses as a signal using one or more transmitters at an atmospheric point. Plasma is generated at the atmospheric point to radiate omnidirectional light. The plasma from the atmospheric point is detected using one or more receivers. The one or more receivers have a direct line-of-sight to the atmospheric point to receive the signal from the one or more transmitters via the omnidirectional light generated by the plasma. The signal is demodulated from the transmitted plasma at each receiver, thereby transmitting information encoded on the signal.

Abstract: A method of making an erasable nanocellulose electronic structure comprising the steps of providing a nanocellulose sheet, adhering metal contacts onto the nanocellulose sheet, applying solder to the metal contacts, and attaching surface mount devices to the contacts. An erasable nanocellulose electronic structure comprising a nanocellulose sheet, a metal contact on the nanocellulose sheet, a layer of solder on the metal contact, and a surface mount device to the contact.

Abstract: Thermoelectric (TE) nanocomposite material that includes at least one component consisting of nanocrystals. A TE nanocomposite material in accordance with the present invention can include, but is not limited to, multiple nanocrystalline structures, nanocrystal networks or partial networks, or multi-component materials, with some components forming connected interpenetrating networks including nanocrystalline networks. The TE nanocomposite material can be in the form of a bulk solid having semiconductor nanocrystallites that form an electrically conductive network within the material.

Abstract: An article having: an elastomeric jacket; a gel within the jacket; and a plurality of gas-filled, polymerically-encapsulated microbubbles suspended in the gel. The microbubbles have a Gaussian particle size distribution. The largest microbubble has a diameter at least 10 times the diameter of the smallest microbubble. The article may exhibit Anderson localization at at least one frequency of sound waves impacting the article.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions containing nanoparticles of a metal nitride, boride, silicide, or carbide, a filler material, and a carbonaceous matrix. The precursor to this material contains nanoparticles or particles of boron, silicon, iron, a refractory metal, or a refractory metal hydride, an organic compound having carbon and hydrogen, and a filler material. Multilayered materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include free-space optical communication systems and methods employing homodyne encoding on the receiver sides of the terminals that are configured to mitigate optical degradation due to atmospheric turbulence.