Abstract: A tower stores unmanned aircraft and shipping containers inside. The unmanned aircraft are controlled by the tower's integrated computer to enable immediate distribution of the shipping containers upon a customer request. Upon a customer request, the tower autonomously dispatches the unmanned aircraft stored inside to rapidly fly out of the tower to deliver a shipping container directly to a specified location outside. Once dispatched by the tower's computer system, the unmanned aircraft autonomously fly from storage in the tower through the tower's interior space and exit the tower through internal shafts that lead to an opening in its exterior walls to deliver a shipping container cheaper and faster than traditional means.

Abstract: A method of controlling a tail rotor system includes pivoting a swashplate of the tail rotor system about an axis passing through a diameter of the swashplate. Pivoting the swashplate causes a first linkage of a first pair of linkages coupled between the swashplate and a collective crosshead to move in a first direction and a second linkage of the first pair of linkages coupled between the swashplate and the collective crosshead to move in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. The movement of the first and second linkages causes a plane of rotation of a pair of rotors of the tail rotor system to cant relative to a centerline of a mast of the tail rotor system. A tail rotor system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A phononic material and a method of using a phononic material for use in interacting with a fluid or solid flow are provided. The phononic material includes an interface surface and a subsurface feature. The interface surface is adapted to move in response to a pressure associated with at least one wave in a flow exerted on the interface surface. The subsurface feature extends from the interface surface. The subsurface feature comprises a phononic crystal or locally resonant metamaterial adapted to receive the at least one wave having the at least one frequency based upon the pressure from the flow via the interface surface and alter the phase of the at least one wave. The interface surface is adapted to vibrate at a frequency, phase and amplitude in response to the manipulated/altered phase of the at least one wave.

Abstract: A bee feeding apparatus having labyrinthine passages. The apparatus is useful for dispensing water, bee feeding supplements, or treatments to wild or domesticated bees. The circuitous entryway hinders or inhibits other insects such as wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets from entering the innermost regions of the feeder and accessing the bee feeding supplements.

Abstract: A heat radiator for an aircraft, which cools a heat source installed in the aircraft, includes a heat radiating part in which a contact surface comes into contact with a main flow, the contact surface being formed with a concave portion or a convex portion in which a surface thereof directed upstream in a flow direction of the main flow is curved in a plan view.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for promoting macrobenthic growth in a waterway. The apparatus comprises a biodegradable net bag with a biodegradable panel insert that is adapted to receive a biomass Suitable for attracting and promoting macrobenthic growth. The method comprises providing a suitable net bag, filling it with an appropriate biomass, deploying it in a healthy waterway until macrobenthic growth has become established, and transporting and redeploying it in a second waterway requiring remediation.

Abstract: A tail kit assembly of a guided munition having a tail kit base connected to a trailing end of a projectile body. The tail kit base is rotatable relative to the projectile body. A trimmable rudder has forward and rearward ends. The forward end is pivotally coupled to the tail kit base, such that the trimmable rudder can, relative to the tail kit base, between retracted and extended orientations. An actuator is fixed between the tail kit base and the rearward end of the trimmable rudder. The actuator is electrically coupled to an onboard guidance system that controls actuation of the actuator to pivot the trimmable rudder between the retracted orientation and the extended orientation.

Abstract: A layout of passenger seats in an aircraft cabin including a first passenger seat positioned in a forward-facing direction and parallel to an aircraft longitudinal axis, and a second passenger seat positioned to one side of the first passenger seat, in a forward-facing direction, and at an angle with respect to the aircraft longitudinal axis, wherein the second passenger seat is angled toward the first passenger seat.

Abstract: An aircraft including a fuselage, a lateral support wing (1) and a propulsion assembly (100) mounted under the wing. The wing includes at least two structural spars (11ba, 11bf) extending from the fuselage toward the tip of the wing, one of these (11ba) being upstream and the other (11bf) downstream. The propulsion assembly includes a gas generator (106) and at least two offset fans (102, 104) arranged on either side of the axis of the gas generator. The offset fans (102, 104) are attached directly to one of the spars (11ba, 11bf) and the gas generator (106) is attached directly to the two spars. The leading edge of the wing forms a given sweep of angle (?) with the axis of the fuselage. The two offset fans (102, 104) are axially offset from one another.

Abstract: A projectile incorporates one or more spoiler-tabbed spinning disks to effect flow around the projectile and thus impart steering forces and/or moments. The spoiler tabs may be deployed only during steering phases of travel thus minimizing the drag penalty associated with steering systems. The disks are driven by motors and informed and controlled by sensors and electronic control systems. The spoiler tabs protrude through the surface of the projectile only for certain angles of spin of the spinning disk. For spin-stabilized projectiles, the disks spin at substantially the same rate as the projectile, but the disks may function in fin-stabilized projectiles as well. Any number of such spinning flow effector disks may be incorporated in a projectile, with the manner of functional coordination differing slightly for even and odd numbers of disks.

Abstract: An aviary that includes a system and method for providing litter to birds and for circulating the litter throughout the aviary. A litter distribution chain extends through at least some of the scratching platforms. The litter distribution chain receives litter from a storage container and then transfers the litter through the aviary for use by the birds on the scratching platforms. At least a portion of the litter from one scratching platform is directed to move to a scratching platform on a lower level where the litter may be used by birds occupying this lower level. This circulation pattern repeats on the current level, with the recycled litter being deposited on at least one scratching platform near the next lower aviary tower level. Once the litter reaches the lowest aviary tower level, it remains there until it is removed from the aviary by a belt or other means.

Abstract: A tail rotor assembly coupled to a tailboom of a helicopter includes a tail rotor gearbox having top, bottom and aft sides and a shroud surrounding the tail rotor gearbox. The shroud includes a shroud airframe having top and bottom portions. The tail rotor assembly includes a tail rotor gearbox support assembly configured to support the tail rotor gearbox within the shroud. The tail rotor gearbox support assembly includes a support column coupling the aft side of the tail rotor gearbox between the top and bottom portions of the shroud airframe, an upper support crossbar coupling the top side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe and a lower support crossbar coupling the bottom side of the tail rotor gearbox between the support column and the tailboom airframe.

Abstract: A hydroponic cultivation system includes a plurality of seedbeds, a hanging part, and a transport mechanism. A plurality of seedlings of a plant to be cultivated is transplanted to side surfaces of the plurality of seedbeds. The hanging part hangs each of the plurality of seedbeds while the plurality of seedbeds is arranged in a predetermined horizontal direction from a planting side of the seedlings to a harvesting side of the seedlings. The transport mechanism transports the plurality of seedbeds in the predetermined horizontal direction while widening spaces between the seedbeds in the predetermined horizontal direction in a stepwise or continuous manner.

Abstract: An extendible membrane system may include: an extendible central column; one or more membranes; and/or one or more foldable membrane supports configured to support the one or more membranes. Each of the one or more foldable membrane supports may be configured to extend from the extendible central column. In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more foldable membrane supports includes two or more segments that may be configured to couple with each other. A method of deploying one or more membranes may include unfolding one or more foldable membrane supports from a folded configuration to a linear configuration. An extendible membrane device may include one or more membranes and one or more foldable membrane supports configured to support the one or more membranes.

Abstract: A latching mechanism having a camming surface to engage the latching mechanism without human intervention when a door is traversed from an opened position to a closed position is disclosed. Other latching mechanisms are also disclosed. The latching mechanism may also be rotatable to engage the latching mechanism and prevent opening of the door from the closed position.

Abstract: A method for commercially growing mushrooms includes the steps of: placing a layer of compost in a bed; laying a polymer sheet over the layer of compost; placing a layer of peat over the sheet; growing a crop of mushrooms in the first layer of peat; harvesting the crop of mushrooms; removing the polymer sheet and the layer of peat from the sheet; placing a replacement polymer sheet and layer of peat over the sheet; and growing a replacement crop of mushrooms. Mushrooms grown according to the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aircraft including an engine compartment and an engine provided in the engine compartment. The aircraft further includes a ductwork housing positioned above the engine. The ductwork housing includes at least one duct. The at least one duct has an outlet port that faces downwardly. Operation of the engine causes air to flow through the duct and exit the outlet port. The outlet port is configured to direct the air flow downwardly to provide lift for the aircraft.

Abstract: A perforated subirrigation and drainage pipe includes a pipe body and a permeation irrigation inner pipe. The permeation irrigation inner pipe is integrally formed with the pipe body and disposed at a top of an interior of the pipe body along a longitudinal direction thereof; multiple irrigation perforations, distributed along a longitudinal direction of the permeation irrigation inner pipe, are provided on a pipe wall of a bottom thereof; and an opening is provided on a pipe wall of a bottom of the pipe body; two flow guide baffles are respectively located at two sides of the opening and on an inner wall of the pipe body; a first irrigation and drainage channel is formed between each flow guide baffle and an outer wall of the permeation irrigation inner pipe, between each flow guide baffle and the inner wall of the pipe body, and between the two flow guide baffles.

Abstract: A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) including: a fuselage; a first pair of airfoils rotatable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the deployed position extending out from the fuselage and the retracted position extending substantially along a first portion on an exterior of the fuselage; a second pair of airfoils rotatable between a second retracted position and a second deployed position, the second deployed position extending out from the fuselage and the second retracted position extending substantially along the first portion on the exterior of the fuselage; and a rudder foldable against the fuselage in a pre-deployment position.

Abstract: A variable-speed gearbox for a tiltrotor with fixed engine and rotating proprotor includes an input shaft coupled to the respective fixed engine, an output shaft coupled to the respective proprotor; a high-speed clutch integrated into a high-speed gear train, the high-speed gear train having an input coupled to the input shaft and an output coupled to the output shaft; and a low-speed clutch integrated into a low-speed gear train, the low-speed gear train having an input coupled to the input shaft and an output coupled to the output shaft. The high-speed clutch and the low-speed clutch can be freewheeling clutches capable of disconnecting the output and the input of the respective gear train of the high and low-speed gear trains in an overrunning condition when the output rotates faster than the input of the respective gear train. The low-speed clutch can be permanently engaged. In accordance to some embodiments the variable-speed gearboxes may include an accessory drive.