Abstract: An autonomous vehicle having sensors advantageously varied in capabilities, advantageously positioned, and advantageously impervious to environmental conditions. A system executing on the autonomous vehicle that can receive a map including, for example, substantially discontinuous surface features along with data from the sensors, create an occupancy grid based upon the map and the data, and change the configuration of the autonomous vehicle based upon the type of surface on which the autonomous vehicle navigates. The device can safely navigate surfaces and surface features, including traversing discontinuous surfaces and other obstacles.

Abstract: A pulse analysis system or method includes a frequency filter that receives an ultrafast pulse under test and disperses the pulse under test over a frequency range. The frequency filter separates the pulse under test into component frequency slices and provides the frequency slices to a detector coupled to a digitizer, which processes the digitized signal and collects a sonogram characteristic of the pulse under test. The frequency slices are arranged to overlap. Ptychography is performed on the sonogram to obtain characteristics of the pulse under test.

Abstract: A pulse analysis system or method includes a frequency filter that receives an ultrafast pulse under test and disperses the pulse under test over a frequency range. The frequency filter separates the pulse under test into component frequency slices and provides the frequency slices to a detector coupled to a digitizer, which processes the digitized signal and collects a sonogram characteristic of the pulse under test. The frequency slices are arranged to overlap. Ptychography is performed on the sonogram to obtain characteristics of the pulse under test.

Abstract: A pulse analysis system or method includes a frequency filter that receives an ultrafast pulse under test and disperses the pulse under test over a frequency range. The frequency filter separates the pulse under test into component frequency slices and provides the frequency slices to a detector coupled to a digitizer, which processes the digitized signal and collects a sonogram characteristic of the pulse under test. The frequency slices are arranged to overlap. Ptychography is performed on the sonogram to obtain characteristics of the pulse under test.

Abstract: A pulse analysis system or method includes a frequency filter that receives an ultrafast pulse under test and disperses the pulse under test over a frequency range. The frequency filter separates the pulse under test into component frequency slices and provides the frequency slices to a detector coupled to a digitizer, which processes the digitized signal and collects a sonogram characteristic of the pulse under test. The frequency slices are arranged to overlap. Ptychography is performed on the sonogram to obtain characteristics of the pulse under test.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a part including steps of (1) casting an ingot, (2) scalping the ingot to yield a scalped ingot, (3) homogenizing the scalped ingot to yield a homogenized ingot, (4) breakdown of the homogenized ingot to yield a slab, (5) rolling the slab to yield a rolled aluminum material, (6) annealing the rolled aluminum material to yield an aluminum starting material, (7) cold working the aluminum starting material to obtain an aluminum cold worked material, and (8) forming the part from the aluminum cold worked material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a part including steps of (1) casting an ingot, (2) scalping the ingot to yield a scalped ingot, (3) homogenizing the scalped ingot to yield a homogenized ingot, (4) breakdown of the homogenized ingot to yield a slab, (5) rolling the slab to yield a rolled aluminum material, (6) annealing the rolled aluminum material to yield an aluminum starting material, (7) cold working the aluminum starting material to obtain an aluminum cold worked material, and (8) forming the part from the aluminum cold worked material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a part including steps of providing an aluminum starting material, wherein the aluminum starting material is in an anneal temper, cold working the aluminum starting material to obtain an aluminum cold worked material, and forming the part from the aluminum cold worked material.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is disclosed having a wearing surface formed from an alloying including tin, a wear material configured to be contacted by the wearing material during use, and the wear material having a smoothed surface. A method of providing superlubricious performance of a bearing assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A nacelle inlet is provided for a turbo-fan engine for an aircraft. The nacelle inlet includes a lip skin having first and second pad-ups, an inner barrel including a forward flange and a bulkhead. The bulkhead, the lip skin and the inner barrel are attached together at mating surfaces. The bulkhead and the lip skin are attached together at mating surfaces. Each mating surface defines a surface geometry which approximates a developable surface having parallel ruling lines. The developable surfaces are formed by machining.

Abstract: A method to fixture and inspect contoured aerodynamic surfaces of a part, such as an engine inlet lip skin, is provided. A controlled preload is applied to one or more discrete locations along the contoured surface to constrain the lip skin at the locations the lip skin would be constrained upon assembly on the airplane. The contoured surfaces are then inspected to dimensional requirements. The controlled preload can be applied by use of magnets or elastic bumpers.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is disclosed having a wearing surface formed from an alloying including tin, a wear material configured to be contacted by the wearing material during use, and the wear material having a smoothed surface. A method of providing superlubricious performance of a bearing assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is disclosed having a wearing surface formed from an alloying including tin, a wear material configured to be contacted by the wearing material during use, the wear material having a smoothed surface; and a lubricant composition comprising one or more additives having an affinity for tin. A method of providing superlubricious performance of a bearing assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A nacelle inlet is provided for a turbo-fan engine for an aircraft. The nacelle inlet includes a lip skin having first and second pad-ups, an inner barrel including a forward flange and a bulkhead. The bulkhead, the lip skin and the inner barrel are attached together at mating surfaces. The bulkhead and the lip skin are attached together at mating surfaces. Each mating surface defines a surface geometry which approximates a developable surface having parallel ruling lines. The developable surfaces are formed by machining.

Abstract: A method to fixture and inspect contoured aerodynamic surfaces of a part, such as an engine inlet lip skin, is provided. A controlled preload is applied to one or more discrete locations along the contoured surface to constrain the lip skin at the locations the lip skin would be constrained upon assembly on the airplane. The contoured surfaces are then inspected to dimensional requirements. The controlled preload can be applied by use of magnets or elastic bumpers.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is disclosed having a wearing surface formed from an alloying including tin, a wear material configured to be contacted by the wearing material during use, the wear material having a smoothed surface; and a lubricant composition comprising one or more additives having an affinity for tin. A method of providing superlubricious performance of a bearing assembly is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to test a specimen is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a housing defining a passage having a length extending along a longitudinal axis, an anvil movable in the passage between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis, the anvil comprising a tapered shaft section, an expandable mandrel having an inner surface adapted to fit around a portion of the tapered shaft section and an outer surface adapted to receive a test specimen, and a first block to limit motion of the mandrel. In use, moving the anvil between the first position and the second position causes the mandrel to expand in a circumferential direction, thereby applying a circumferential tension force to the specimen.

Abstract: The disclosure provides bearing sleeves or bushings made of memory shape material, and processes for installing such bearing sleeves or bushings. In one process, inner and outer surfaces of a bearing sleeve, made of a memory shape material, may be compressed at least one first temperature. A bearing may be inserted in a cavity of the bearing sleeve, and the bearing sleeve may be disposed adjacent to a surface of a structure, while the bearing sleeve is at the at least one first temperature. The inner and outer surfaces of the bearing sleeve may be expanded, at least one second temperature, to abut against the bearing and the surface of the structure.

Abstract: A real-time FROG system provides ultra fast pulse measurement and characterization. The system includes direct, integrated feedback that measures how well the system is retrieving pulses and tracking changes in the pulse train. This feedback is provided in real time and may be in the form of the FROG trace error, the display of the measured and retrieved FROG trace, accuracy of background subtraction or other quality measurement. The system includes preprocessing options that can be used to adjust the dynamic range of the measured signal or to perform different types of filtering. The preprocessing of the FROG trace precedes phase retrieval processing and improves the quality of pulse retrieval.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to test a specimen is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a housing defining a passage having a length extending along a longitudinal axis, an anvil movable in the passage between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis, the anvil comprising a tapered shaft section, an expandable mandrel having an inner surface adapted to fit around a portion of the tapered shaft section and an outer surface adapted to receive a test specimen, and a first block to limit motion of the mandrel. In use, moving the anvil between the first position and the second position causes the mandrel to expand in a circumferential direction, thereby applying a circumferential tension force to the specimen.