Abstract: An automated electric portable friction welding system is disclosed for friction welding a fixture onto a substrate, the welding system having a linear actuator received to produce a defined stroke within a tool housing and a rotary motor engaged to said linear actuator to slide therewith. A control module controls welding operations as a function of encoded instructions and the sensor data from the linear actuator and the rotary motor, whereby the control module affords both active control of the linear actuator and rotary motor, individually to performance parameter instructions, and in coordination through phases of the weld process in response to linear actuator operation sensors and motor operation sensors. Another feature of some embodiments of the present invention is a portable friction welding network and a method for supporting portable friction welding on the cloud.

Abstract: Specific devices and systems associated with aligning sensors to targets are disclosed herein. More specifically, systems that utilize light guides for aligning scanning surfaces of scanning devices with target surfaces of scan targets are disclosed herein. One disclosed device comprises a body, a sensor fixed to the body, and at least two apertures aligned with the sensor. The apertures define visible light patterns. The visible light of the visible light patterns can be generated by at least one light source that emits light through the at least two apertures. The visible light patterns exhibit a unique combined representation when projected at a target that is at the optimal front focal distance from the sensor. The visible light patterns also independently exhibit first and second universal representations when projected at a target surface that is at the optimal orientation relative to the sensor.

Abstract: A handheld terahertz wave imaging system is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a housing adapted to be carried by an operator, a terahertz wave camera configured to process terahertz wave energy to detect concealed objects hidden on a target subject, and a hand operated control device to control the terahertz wave camera based on an operator input. Optics are mounted to the housing and configured to adjust a focus of the terahertz wave energy. The terahertz wave camera may have a three axis stage and a laser rangefinder to determine a distance to the target subject to assist in focusing the terahertz wave camera. Further, the handheld terahertz wave imaging system may include video goggles to display terahertz wave imagery generated from the terahertz wave energy.

Abstract: A variable range millimeter wave method and system is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a primary mirror having an aperture to reflect millimeter wave energy to a secondary mirror, where the secondary mirror is disposed in front of the primary mirror and adapted to redirect the millimeter wave energy to a millimeter wave sensor/detector of a millimeter wave camera. The millimeter wave camera is configured to process the millimeter wave energy to visually detect concealed objects hidden on a target and an operating frequency of the millimeter wave camera is between 225 GHz and 275 GHz. In addition, the system includes a laser rangefinder, GPS and altimeter to determine a location of the target and to optimize a focus of the millimeter wave camera. A video monitor displays millimeter wave imagery and video images spatially and temporally relative to the millimeter wave imagery to aid targeting.