Abstract: Waterjet cutting apparatus and related methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a tank defining a volume to contain a fluid therein, a fixture extending from the tank, and a tube extending from the tank, the tube to isolate the fixture and a part supported by the fixture from turbulence of the fluid disposed in the tank.

Abstract: An aircrew automation system may comprise an actuation system and a computer system having a processor and one or more interfaces. The computer system can be communicatively coupled with a flight control system of an aircraft and configured to generate control commands based at least in part on flight situation data. The actuation system is operatively coupled with the computer system and comprises a robotic arm, a force sensor, and a controller. The robotic arm can be configured to engage a cockpit instrument among a plurality of cockpit instruments. The force sensor is operably coupled to the robotic arm and configured to measure a force when the robotic arm makes contact with the cockpit instrument. The controller is operably coupled with the robotic arm and the force sensor.

Abstract: A manufacturing system for processing workpieces includes a manufacturing cell, a plurality of pallets supporting workpieces, and at least one robotic device configured to operate on the workpieces. The manufacturing system also includes first and second processing stations configured to support any one of the pallets in fixed position relative to the robotic device. The manufacturing system additionally includes at least one transport device configured to transport any one of the pallets to and from each of the first and the second processing stations. In addition, the manufacturing system includes a controller configured to coordinate the operation of the manufacturing cell in a manner allowing the robotic device to continuously operate on a workpiece supported by a pallet at the first processing station, while another pallet is transported to or from the second processing station.

Abstract: A production utilization planner (PUP) core for a manufacturing cell has a simulation manager configured to simulate the processing of workpieces arranged in a workpiece order, by performing the steps of: creating an instance of a simulation controller and an instance of a software model of the manufacturing cell, determining a next timed action to be performed by state machines, incrementing the simulation to the next timed action, updating the software model and the simulation controller each time a state machine performs a timed action, and repeating the steps of determining the next timed action, incrementing the simulation, and updating the software model and the simulation controller, until all of the workpieces have been processed. The simulation manager is configured to output a simulated completion time for processing the workpiece order.

Abstract: A flexible landing gear system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is disclosed. The flexible landing gear system may comprise a mounting bracket, a plurality of flexible supports, and plurality of surface contactors. The mounting bracket may be configured to couple to the VTOL aircraft. Each of the plurality of flexible supports comprising a proximal end and a distal end. The plurality of flexible supports may be coupled to the mounting bracket at a proximal end. A surface contactor may be positioned at the distal end of each of the plurality of flexible supports. The low-friction contactor may be a lightweight spherical ball, while the flexible support may be a flexible semi-rigid wire comprising a tempered high-carbon steel.

Abstract: A manufacturing monitoring system is disclosed. The manufacturing monitoring system comprises a manufacturing workspace. Technicians wearing force sensor and/or motion capture marker equipped gloves may work within the manufacturing workspace. Motion capture cameras may ring the manufacturing workspace. Motion data from the cameras and/or force data from the gloves may be sent to a remote workstation where they may be processed and analyzed. The workstation may produce quality assessment and/or training outputs based on the motion and/or force data.

Abstract: A workpiece manipulation system to provide high-precision manipulation of a workpiece by an aircraft. The workpiece manipulation system comprises a lifting mechanism to couple with the aircraft, an end-effector, and a processor. The lifting mechanism includes one or more joint actuators to extend or retract the lifting mechanism relative to the aircraft. The end-effector includes an end-effector actuator to control an operation of the end-effector to manipulate the workpiece. The processor is communicatively coupled with the aircraft processor and configured to control operation of the end-effector actuator and the one or more joint actuators. In operation, the processor provides feedback to the aircraft.

Abstract: A micro-fiducial marker arrangement representing a unique ID that is readable by a camera during an imaging operation. The micro-fiducial marker includes a base substrate, a perimeter line, an orientation bar, and a plurality of bit cells. The base substrate may be a first color, while the perimeter line, the orientation bar, and the plurality of bit cells may be a color that is different from the first color. The perimeter line may be positioned on the base substrate and arranged to run along a perimeter of the base substrate. Each of said plurality of bit cells may be either the first color or the second color to represent a binary-coded datum.

Abstract: An aircrew automation system that provides a pilot with high-fidelity knowledge of the aircraft's physical state, and notifies that pilot of any deviations in expected state based on predictive models. The aircrew automation may be provided as a non-invasive ride-along aircrew automation system that perceives the state of the aircraft through visual techniques, derives the aircraft state vector and other aircraft information, and communicates any deviations from expected aircraft state to the pilot. The aircrew automation may also monitor pilot health and, when needed, function as a robotic co-pilot to perform emergency descent and landing operations.

Abstract: An aircrew automation system may comprise an actuation system and a computer system having a processor and one or more interfaces. The computer system can be communicatively coupled with a flight control system of an aircraft and configured to generate control commands based at least in part on flight situation data. The actuation system is operatively coupled with the computer system and comprises a robotic arm, a force sensor, and a controller. The robotic arm can be configured to engage a cockpit instrument among a plurality of cockpit instruments. The force sensor is operably coupled to the robotic arm and configured to measure a force when the robotic arm makes contact with the cockpit instrument. The controller is operably coupled with the robotic arm and the force sensor.

Abstract: A flexible landing gear system for a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is disclosed. The flexible landing gear system may comprise a mounting bracket, a plurality of flexible supports, and plurality of surface contactors. The mounting bracket may be configured to couple to the VTOL aircraft. Each of the plurality of flexible supports comprising a proximal end and a distal end. The plurality of flexible supports may be coupled to the mounting bracket at a proximal end. A surface contactor may be positioned at the distal end of each of the plurality of flexible supports. The low-friction contactor may be a lightweight spherical ball, while the flexible support may be a flexible semi-rigid wire comprising a tempered high-carbon steel.

Abstract: A micro-fiducial marker arrangement representing a unique ID that is readable by a camera during an imaging operation. The micro-fiducial marker includes a base substrate, a perimeter line, an orientation bar, and a plurality of bit cells. The base substrate may be a first color, while the perimeter line, the orientation bar, and the plurality of bit cells may be a color that is different from the first color. The perimeter line may be positioned on the base substrate and arranged to run along a perimeter of the base substrate. Each of said plurality of bit cells may be either the first color or the second color to represent a binary-coded datum.

Abstract: A manufacturing monitoring system is disclosed. The manufacturing monitoring system comprises a manufacturing workspace. Technicians wearing force sensor and/or motion capture marker equipped gloves may work within the manufacturing workspace. Motion capture cameras may ring the manufacturing workspace. Motion data from the cameras and/or force data from the gloves may be sent to a remote workstation where they may be processed and analyzed. The workstation may produce quality assessment and/or training outputs based on the motion and/or force data.

Abstract: An aircrew automation system relates to the field of flight control systems, methods, and apparatuses; even more particularly, to a system, method, and apparatus for providing aircraft state monitoring and/or an automated aircrew employing a robotic arm with integrated imaging and force sensing modalities.

Abstract: A workpiece manipulation system to provide high-precision manipulation of a workpiece by an aircraft. The workpiece manipulation system comprises a lifting mechanism to couple with the aircraft, an end-effector, and a processor. The lifting mechanism includes one or more joint actuators to extend or retract the lifting mechanism relative to the aircraft. The end-effector includes an end-effector actuator to control an operation of the end-effector to manipulate the workpiece. The processor is communicatively coupled with the aircraft processor and configured to control operation of the end-effector actuator and the one or more joint actuators. In operation, the processor provides feedback to the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircrew automation system relates to the field of flight control systems, methods, and apparatuses; even more particularly, to a system, method, and apparatus for providing aircraft state monitoring and/or an automated aircrew employing a robotic arm with integrated imaging and force sensing modalities.

Abstract: An aircrew automation system that provides a pilot with high-fidelity knowledge of the aircraft's physical state, and notifies that pilot of any deviations in expected state based on predictive models. The aircrew automation may be provided as a non-invasive ride-along aircrew automation system that perceives the state of the aircraft through visual techniques, derives the aircraft state vector and other aircraft information, and communicates any deviations from expected aircraft state to the pilot. The aircrew automation may also monitor pilot health and, when needed, function as a robotic co-pilot to perform emergency descent and landing operations.