Abstract: A flying robot (10) with projector, including a movable end (100) and a fixed end (200). A distributed working mode is used on the movable end (100) and the fixed end (200). The movable end (100) includes a top (110), a main body (120) and a bottom (130). The top (110) includes a lift system (112) and one or more proximity sensors (114); the main body (120) is a sealed hollow spherical body or spheroid body made of a film material capable of being used as a rear projection screen, and is filled with a gas of which the density is less than that of the air. The bottom (130) includes one or more rear projectors (131), a wireless communication module (132), a microcontroller (133), a battery (134), a direction and steering controlling device (135), a camera device (136), a sound capturing and reproduction device (137), a height sensor (138) and other sensors, etc. The fixed end (200) includes a wireless communication module (220), a control apparatus (240), a charging port (260), and other data interfaces, etc.

Abstract: Aerial launch and/or recovery for unmanned aircraft, and associated systems and methods. A representative method for operating an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system includes directing a first, multi-rotor carrier aircraft to carry a second, carried aircraft aloft, and release the second aircraft for flight, while powering the first aircraft with an on-board battery. The method can further include directing the first aircraft to position a capture line in a flight path of the second aircraft to capture the second aircraft.

Abstract: A modal tailboom flight control system for a compound helicopter is operable in a plurality of modes including a forward thrust mode and an anti-torque mode. The modal tailboom flight control system includes a tailboom, a drivetrain extending through the tailboom, an anti-torque system coupled to the drivetrain and rotatable to generate anti-torque thrust for the compound helicopter in the anti-torque mode and a pusher propeller coupled to the drivetrain and rotatable to generate forward thrust for the compound helicopter in the forward thrust mode. The pusher propeller is positioned forward of the anti-torque system.

Abstract: A vegetative support and high stress training cultivation apparatus includes a body member having a continuous channel wrought in an upward surface thereof. A first portion of the body member is disposed at 100° to 110° relative a second portion of the body member. A plant limb is securable into the continuous channel by action of each of a pair of hook and loop fastening bands attached to the body member and devised to secure overtop the plant limb and maintain the limb interior to the continuous channel whereby the plant limb is caused to bend between 100° to 110° over a knee-bend. A triangular bracket disposed on an undersurface of the body member enables hooking engagement to existing lines strung to anchor the plant limbs along projected trajectories. The body member is readily installable and removable without damaging the plant.

Abstract: The System for Continuous Observation of Rodents in Home-cage Environment (SCORHE) was developed to quantify activity levels and behavior patterns for mice housed within a home cage that, optional, may be disposed in a commercial ventilated cage rack. The SCORHE home-cage in-rack design provides daytime and night-time monitoring with the stability and consistency of the home-cage environment. The dual-video camera custom hardware design makes efficient use of space, does not require home-cage modification, and is animal facility user-friendly. In various embodiments, a software application integrates the two video streams to extract several mouse activity measures.

Abstract: A dispenser device for dispensing a liquid, the device including a container 20 that communicates with a needle 23 attached to its bottom, the needle projecting to the outside of the container. The container is provided with at least one flexible tab 24 for fastening it.

Abstract: A stackable pancake satellite that is configured so that a plurality of the satellites can be stacked within a payload fairing of a launch vehicle. Each satellite includes sections that are folded or rotated together prior to launch, and unfolded or rotated away from each other when deployed. A first section is a satellite body having a first side that acts as a thermal radiator and a second side opposite the first side that includes an antenna. A second section includes one or more solar panels attached adjacent to the first side of the satellite body. A third section includes a splash plate reflector attached adjacent to the second side of the satellite body that reflects signals between Earth and the antenna. When deployed, the solar panels are pointed towards the Sun and the splash plate reflector directs the signals between the Earth and the antenna.

Abstract: A space divider (4) of a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) for at least one milking parlor (3) for milking milk-producing animals (T), wherein the space divider (4) is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal (T) to be milked, has an arm device (6) having a milking cluster (5), which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device (6) is arranged with the milking cluster (5) in the parking position in the space divider (4) and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal (T) to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof in fully automatic operation or semi-automatic operation. The space divider (4) is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals (T), so that many animals (T) can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) while the smallest possible amount of space is required.

Abstract: A protector device includes a plurality of pairs of multi-pronged elements. Each pair of multi-pronged elements includes a first multi-pronged element having a first C-shaped element that has a first straight section, a first end forming a first end spike, and a second end forming a second end spike, and a first connecting element attached to and perpendicular to the first C-shaped element. Each pair of multi-pronged elements also includes a second multi-pronged element including a second C-shaped element connected to the first connecting element of the first multi-pronged element, the second C-shape element having a second straight section, a third end forming a third end spike, and a fourth end forming a fourth end spike, and a second connecting element attached to and perpendicular to the second C-shaped element.

Abstract: An actuator of an aircraft includes at least one limit stop in which at least one of the bearing surfaces, named destructible bearing surface (19), has at least one destructible portion which is able to, and is arranged to, be irreversibly deformed under the effect of the co-operation by limit contact between the driving member bearing surface (19) and the driven member bearing surface (20). Each destructible portion of each destructible bearing surface is mounted to be removable with respect to the stop as to be able to be replaced.

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, and/or velocity gradients, associated with complex motion of a turbulent flow exhibiting a polarity of frequencies 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 pressure, and/or velocity gradients, from the turbulent flow via the interface surface and alter the phase and amplitude of a polarity of frequency components of the turbulent flow in order to reduce or increase the kinetic energy of the turbulent flow.

Abstract: An emergency landing pad is used to capture a vertical landing capable aircraft that has a hung gear. The device is trailer based with the trailer having a series of wheels. At least one capture pad sits atop the trailer so that a portion of the aircraft lands atop the capture pad which cushions the fuselage of the aircraft. The capture pad is made from a resilient material, such as high-density foam, a rubber or similar materials. A cover is placed over the capture pad and one or more straps cinches the capture pad and the cover to the trailer. The cover may have markings on an outer surface thereof, which markings may be light reflective. The trailer is towed to the landing site via an ordinary tug and several trailers can be chained together in series in case more than one trailer is needed for aircraft capture.

Abstract: The invention relates to eye-friendly green-blue mixed LED lighting methods and systems for chicken houses. In a chicken house, an evenly-distributed cyan light environment may be created for rearing broiler chickens. The chicken house may include mixed LED lamps associated with the cyan light environment, and the mixed LED lamp may be formed by combining green LED beads and blue LED beads on a lighting fixture with a mixing proportion of from about 0.2 to about 5. The mixed LED lamps may be used for about 24-hour lighting in the first three days of the breeding period. From the fourth day of the breeding period, the daily lighting duration may be progressively decreased by about one hour every day. The mixed LED lamps may be evenly arranged in the chicken house to form a square array.

Abstract: A space vehicle includes: an aerospike nozzle formed on an aft end of the vehicle; a truncated spike including an outer edge and a surface formed on a rear portion of the truncated spike; and an annular ring outlet formed at the aft end of the vehicle between the outer edge of the truncated spike and an inner edge of the aft end of the space vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a desired amount of mechanical abrasion to plants and selective cutting of undesirable plant material. The apparatus includes a base, a brush and an elevation device for maintaining the base at desirable height. The base has a first longitudinal axis and a plurality of grooves, the grooves being oriented approximately perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis. The brush has a second longitudinal axis and a plurality of bristles and/or blades extending outwardly from the second longitudinal axis. The brush is attached to the apparatus such that the second longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis and the brush is rotatable about the second longitudinal axis. The brush is spaced from the base such that the plurality of bristles engage the plurality of grooves. The base is adjustable enabling the operator to move the base closer or further from the rotating brush/blades.

Abstract: A system and method enabled to increase efficiency during a VTOL aircraft's transition. A VTOL aircraft enabled to operate multiple lift fans arranged into separately controllable groups, wherein the VTOL aircraft initially has vertical flight but transitions to horizontal flight. A first group of lift fans may be kept at full throttle, a second group of lift fans may be throttled to balance thrust and/or weight, and a third group of lift fans may be shut off.

Abstract: A method for the inerting of at least one fuel tank of an aircraft, by means of at least one inert gas generation system, remarkable in that the inert gas generation system is started when at least one oxygen sensor within the tank measures an oxygen level that is above a high threshold.

Abstract: An impulse dampening system reduces peak pressure and impulse acoustic pressures of an acoustic wave to a level that permits initiation of an emergency egress system by personnel in a submerged/flooded cockpit following landing or crashing into water. Initiation of the emergency egress system is available in the air or after the aircraft is in the water. The system attenuates the impulse of the acoustic wave at least 35 dB, where the acoustic wave is usually produced when a detonation chord is initiated. The system includes a first layer of dampening media, a second layer of dampening media, a viscous lensing medium between the layers, and a hard shell.

Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe, an engine mounted to the airframe, and an engine inlet for receiving an ambient airflow and providing the ambient airflow to the engine. An amount of airflow provided to the engine inlet is controllable.

Abstract: A flying wing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft includes an empennageless-fuselage from which foldable wings extend outwardly, an empennageless-nacelle supported on each of the wings and a rigid rotor propeller disposed on each empennageless-nacelle, each of the propellers being drivable to rotate about only a single rotational axis defined along a longitudinal axis of the corresponding empennageless-nacelle and being fully cyclically controllable.